Wanjin Lady

Chapter 483 Tsundere
With gentle care, she removed the hairpin from her hair, picked up the wooden comb from the makeup box, and pinned up her loose hair.

Wenwan then moved the bronze mirror in front of Empress Wei.

"Your Majesty, look at the beauty in the mirror. How can you be angry when you see such a stunningly beautiful face?"

Empress Wei sneered, "I always knew you were a sycophant!"

But his complexion brightened slightly, and his gloomy aura dissipated.

Empress Wei stared at the person in the bronze mirror and clearly saw the five finger marks on her face.

"Wenwan, don't think that you can win my favor by trying to please me like this."

"Your Majesty, you are the most honored woman in the world. But you also bear the surname Wei, and you are the family of my two children. If I may presume to say so, you are also my family. Perhaps others cannot empathize with you, but I am certainly not one of them."

Empress Wei's expression froze slightly. "I still think you hold a grudge against me for making you copy books."

"Why hold a grudge over such trivial matters? If anyone should hate someone, it should be Zhao Yingzhen."

Empress Wei sat before the bronze mirror, looking at the face reflected in it, tears streaming down her face.

She didn't want Wen Wan to see her in such a disheveled state, so she turned her face away, raised her hand to wipe away her tears, but the tears kept flowing down her cheeks.

Wen Wan didn't ask any questions.

She simply used a wooden comb to gently comb Empress Wei's hair, tidying her appearance.

Empress Wei gradually calmed down.

After Wenwan fixed her hair in a bun, she ordered Granny He to bring over some ointment.

She scooped out a dollop of ointment with her finger and gently spread it on Empress Wei's face with her fingertip.

Empress Wei frowned.

The humiliation was far greater than the pain of a slap.

The cool ointment landed on her skin, and Empress Wei's anxious heart was gradually soothed.

Finally, Empress Wei spoke.

"A-Lan brought news today that the Emperor intends to pardon Zhao Yingzhen."

"Ah Lan... was also beaten to death in court."

Wen Wan's brow twitched, and her fingertip lingered on Empress Wei's face.

Empress Wei raised an eyebrow. "You've already guessed it, haven't you?"

"There is only one thing that has made Her Majesty the Empress so concerned these past few days."

Although Wen Wan lived in a side hall, when she got up at night, she saw that the lights in Empress Wei's palace were still on.

Clearly, while the Duke's remains were returned home, the murderer could not be brought to justice, a matter that kept Empress Wei awake at night.

The Duke disappeared without a trace, and was tortured and humiliated by Zhao Yingzhen for several years, ultimately meeting a tragic and unjust death.

Not to mention Empress Wei, even Wen Wan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. All she could think about was tearing Mo Sufang to pieces.

If Zhao Yingzhen hadn't died, this hatred would have fallen on Zhao Zhao and Hui Ge'er.

Wenwan put the remaining ointment back into the white porcelain jar and wiped her fingers with a handkerchief.

Her voice was soft but firm: "Your Majesty, let the hatred end in my generation and the Marquis's generation. I don't want Zhaozhao and Hun'er to carry the burden of hatred like the Marquis did."

Empress Wei's eyes were bloodshot: "How could I not know this principle? But His Majesty has already decided to protect Zhao Yingzhen. I think he will soon build her a grand princess's residence!"

At this point, Empress Wei's face twisted in pain. "Now that His Majesty's position is secure and peace has prevailed for so long, I'm afraid he has long forgotten that my brother once risked his life for him. His Majesty's insistence on protecting Zhao Yingzhen is truly disheartening to his meritorious officials."

Wen Wan's gaze fell on Empress Wei's right cheek, where, although medicine had been applied, it remained swollen and red, a testament to the intensity of the argument between His Majesty and the Empress. "You warned me a few days ago that Zhao Yingzhen was cunning and wouldn't easily confess and submit to the law. Did you already foresee today's situation back then?"

Wen Wan smiled and shook her head. "Your Majesty, I do not have the ability to foresee the future. However, back in the Bozhou prison, I could already see that Mo Sufang might have multiple escape routes. At that time, she had already been reduced to a lowly position, but she remained calm and composed. I was vaguely uneasy, fearing that she had a backup plan. But I really did not expect that her last trump card was His Majesty."

"Since you were prepared, do you have a plan to deal with this?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Wen Wan gently rubbed her shoulder.

Wen Wan knew that Empress Wei's request for her advice was both a test and an opportunity for her to get closer to Empress Wei.

If she succeeds in this endeavor, Empress Wei might open her heart and fully accept her.

"Your Majesty, I remember the last time the Marquis met with His Majesty to explain the case, Zhao Yingzhen had a private meeting with His Majesty. Afterwards, His Majesty ordered someone to check the late Emperor's daily records from twenty years ago. Do you recall this?"

Empress Wei nodded. "I remember."

“I suspect that the Emperor’s actions were not out of consideration for his brother, but rather—” Wen Wan paused for a moment, her eyes turning cold as she looked at Empress Wei, “Perhaps Zhao Yingzhen has something on her that makes His Majesty hesitant to act against her, and thus he has no choice but to spare her life.”

Empress Wei's eyes lit up, and then she suddenly stood up.

She opened her mouth, but then swallowed her words back.

In the short time they had spent together, Empress Wei could not fully trust Wen Wan. However, when she thought of Wen Wan's words earlier that they should not leave the hatred to Zhao Zhao and Hun Ge'er, and also of the woman that Wei Zheng had taken a liking to... she couldn't possibly be a treacherous villain.

Empress Wei's heart softened...

The candlelight inside the palace was dim, illuminating Empress Wei's deep, melancholic eyes.

Empress Wei leaned closer and lowered her voice: "I remember there was a rumor back then that the late emperor favored Prince Fu to be emperor and secretly issued an edict. But later, this imperial edict disappeared without a trace."

Wenwan's heart was pounding.

Is this a royal secret she can hear?
She's really accomplished.

"Does Her Majesty mean... perhaps... Zhao Yingzhen is using this imperial edict to blackmail His Majesty?"

The two women looked at each other and both saw a hint of unease in each other's eyes.

The worst happened.

Zhao Yingzhen used the whereabouts of Prince Fu, or this imperial edict, to preserve her life and prolong her existence.

If she were to receive a title and remain in the capital, how could the Wei family ever have a peaceful life?

"That Zhao Yingzhen! I really underestimated her! If I had known this would happen, I should have advised the Marquis to secretly kill her on the way back to the capital!"

Now they want Zhao Yingzhen to pay for the old Duke's life, but I'm afraid His Majesty will be the biggest obstacle.

Empress Wei sat back in her chair in a panic, gripping the armrests tightly with both hands, the veins on the back of her hands bulging. "If that's the case, this matter is going to be very difficult."

She pursed her lips in quiet gentleness.

If Zhao Yingzhen really escapes punishment this time, who will be held responsible for the lives of the people on the isolated island?

Whose fault is it that the Duke of Wei lost his life?
Zhao Yingzhen harbors deep hatred for the Wei family. This will surely implicate Zhaozhao and Hunge'er in the future.

The two women spoke at the same time: "Zhao Yingzhen must die."

Their eyes met, and they both saw a hint of decisiveness and ruthlessness in each other's eyes.

This brief moment of mutual appreciation and inexplicable tacit understanding made Empress Wei feel very uncomfortable.

So she turned her head away and snorted coldly.

Wen Wan: You arrogant brat! You clearly like me!