On our wedding night, my wife acted strangely.

Lin Yi sat there watching with great interest.

Zhao Shuyu's face changed from white to red, then to green, several times.

It means she has a strong mentality; if it were someone else, they would have collapsed long ago if their shortcomings were exposed to her face like that.

"Zhao Shuyu, I have a question for you."

Zhao Shuyu turned her head to look at him.

"...What?"

"What do you think you still have to rely on?"

Zhao Shuyu did not speak.

Lin Yi sneered as he counted on his fingers, "I've already figured out all the Zhao family's spies in the capital, and I'll uproot them all soon. Nangong Xiong has been sidelined by me, your son Nangong Ao is crippled, and Nangong Jin has fled to Jiangnan. Although the Zhao family still has some influence in Jiangnan, your younger brother Zhao Boduan was the first to write to us and surrender..."

"Tell me yourself, what do you have left?"

Zhao Shuyu swayed slightly, as if she couldn't stand steadily.

Lin Yi stood up, wrapped his arms around her waist, and said, "Baby, you have nothing left, just an empty shell. The title of Empress is your last shred of skin; if I want to tear it off, I can do so anytime."

Zhao Shuyu suddenly looked up: "You wouldn't dare! If you cripple me, the Zhao family won't let this go!"

"The Zhao family?" Lin Yi laughed. "Hehehe, what did Zhao Boduan say in his letter again? The third condition is to replace that person in Kunning Palace."

Lin Yi had already used Zhao Boduan's letter to stab her once before.

But at that time, she still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that her brother was just saying it and wouldn't really abandon her.

The Zhao family needs her as their empress because she represents a banner.

But the fact that Lin Yi brought it up again today, and spoke with such certainty, proves that the relationship between Lin Yi and the Zhao family goes beyond just that one letter.

It is very likely that some consensus has been reached, or a deeper level of cooperation has been established.

Zhao Shuyu suddenly asked, "Have you contacted Zhao Boduan?"

"What does Your Majesty think?"

"You..." Zhao Shuyu gritted her teeth, truly hating those words in her heart.

Whenever Lin Yi didn't want to say something explicitly, he would use these few words to brush her off.

But every time she heard it, she had a bad feeling.

Because she didn't know how much more Lin Yi knew.

This information gap is the most dangerous thing.

Consort Zhou remained silent the entire time.

Everything that should and shouldn't have been said had been said. What remained was a matter between Lin Yi and Zhao Shuyu, so he sat there obediently, staring at his blue embroidered shoes.

Lin Yi naturally noticed this as well, and in his heart, he added another point to Zhou Guiren's score.

"Alright." Lin Yi patted Zhao Shuyu's bottom. "I'm not here today to dredge up old grievances with you, but to make things clear."

Zhao Shuyu looked at him warily.

"What did you say?"

"How are you going to live your life from now on?"

Zhao Shuyu clenched her fists tightly, waiting for him to continue.

"You will continue to be your empress, Kunning Palace will still be yours, and your allowance will not be reduced, but you must behave yourself."

What does it mean to be honest?

Figure it out yourself.

"You..." Zhao Shuyu was so angry she wanted to bite Lin Yi to death. "You made me empress, but you won't let me manage anything. What am I sitting here for? To be a clay idol?"

"almost."

"you!"

"But even a clay idol has its advantages, at least no one dares to touch you before the sky falls. As long as I am alive, you are the Empress. If anyone dares to bully you, I can stand up for you, but only if you behave yourself."

How could Zhao Shuyu be willing to bow her head like this?

Power was what she had always wanted most, and now that it was being handed over, how could she be willing to accept it?

So she stopped talking, stubbornly turning her head away, refusing to look at Lin Yi.

The latter found it somewhat amusing and was about to speak when Consort Zhou suddenly stood up again and said in a sarcastic tone, "Your Highness, I have something else to report."

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow at her.

She said, "The Empress sent someone to Yongshou Palace the day before yesterday, wanting to take away Consort De's gold bracelet. Consort De dared not refuse, but she kept secretly crying."

Zhao Shuyu turned her head sharply and glared at Zhou Guiren: "Shut up!"

Consort Zhou smiled slightly, ignoring her, and continued, "In addition, half a month ago, a little palace maid was punished by Your Highness for spilling a few drops of tea on Your Highness's skirt. She was made to kneel all night and was sent to the Department of Cautious Punishment the next day."

Zhao Shuyu raised her head and looked at Lin Yi in horror, her whole body trembling.

Because everyone knows that Lin Yi cares most about the people at the bottom of society. If the matter of Consort De is just a minor incident, then Zhao Shuyu's bullying of the palace maids is a big mistake!

Even more so than bullying Consort De, Lin Yi could not tolerate it.

"Zhao Shuyu, I'm really giving you too much credit."

Zhao Shuyu's lips trembled; she wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out.

"Lin Yi, let me explain..."

"What's there to explain? Do you think you're still the same queen who always had the final say?"

"I...please don't be angry...I know I was wrong..."

Zhao Shuyu lowered her head, looking as frightened as a quail.

No one was unafraid, after all, the person in front of them could really kill when angry.

Lin Yi said, "The harsher you are to your subordinates, the more they will hate you! Tell me, how many people around you are truly loyal to you?"

"That's all because of you..."

"Bullshit!" Lin Yi roared angrily when Zhao Shuyu dared to talk back. "You're the one who pushed her out. Consort Zhou just said that she only delivered some snacks to the palace maids a few times and said a few nice words, and they said everything! What does that prove? It proves that you're completely unpopular!"

She was indeed ruthless towards her servants; this wasn't something that happened overnight, but rather a habit she had developed over decades.

In her view, servants were just tools, no better than cattle or horses, and could be thrown away after use, so what difference did it make whether they were good or bad?

But what she didn't expect was that the tools would also backfire.

Lin Yi looked at her expression and knew that his words had worked.

In fact, he didn't want to push Zhao Shuyu too hard, after all, she still held the title of Empress, which would be of great use to his future plans.

This method is too dirty; they need to be properly educated.

"I'm saying this one last time," Lin Yi said fiercely, gripping her waist with one hand. "From today onwards, you'd better mind your own business! My patience is limited. If you insist on courting death, then I can grant your wish, and at worst, I'll just promote another Zhao Shuyu!"

Zhao Shuyu was still unwilling to accept it, wiping away her tears as she cried out, "You! You're so heartless! Lin Yi, I served you and accompanied you as the Empress, how could you treat me like this!"

"This is your own doing... However, Your Highness, please don't be too nervous. I am not an unreasonable person. As long as you behave yourself, I will not make things difficult for you. Your rations will be issued as usual, and you will still be given the proper treatment. Just let me know if you need anything."

Zhao Shuyu stubbornly refused to reply.

Lin Yi didn't care whether she answered or not, and turned to look at Consort Zhou.

"Consort Zhou, come here."

"Yes." Consort Zhou walked over.

Lin Yi glanced at her and asked, "Do you still have relatives outside?"

Consort Zhou was taken aback, not expecting Lin Yi to suddenly ask this question.

"Your Highness, I have an older sister who married and moved to Tongzhou, and a younger brother who lives in our hometown."

Do you miss them?

Consort Zhou lowered her head, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said, "I want to."

How could she not want to? Consort Zhou has been in the palace for ten years and has never returned home once.

The palace rules forbade it, and Zhao Shuyu deliberately suppressed her, preventing her from even having the opportunity to write a letter home.

Since a reward is to be given, let's give a big one. Lin Yi said, "I promise you, I will let you go out to visit your family."