I, Zhu Yunwen of the Ming Dynasty, resurrected Empress Ma at the start.

In a short while, the entire capital was in an uproar.

In teahouses, taverns, and on the streets, everyone was talking about the same thing.

"Have you heard? Empress Ma is alive!"

"Huh? Which Empress Ma?"

"Who else could it be? His Majesty's Empress, the Crown Prince's biological mother, the former Crown Prince Yiwen's biological mother! Empress Ma, who passed away ten years ago!"

"Pah! Are you drunk? Can someone who's been dead for ten years really come back to life?"

"It's true! My third uncle's second aunt's husband is a high-ranking official in the court, and he saw it with his own eyes! He said that the Empress suddenly walked into the Fengtian Hall!"

"Bullshit! That's a ghost, isn't it?"

"You're the ghost! That person has a shadow, warmth, and is a living, breathing human being!"

"This...how is this possible?"

"Who knows? Anyway, it's all over the palace. They say His Majesty carried it back to Kunning Palace himself, and the people from the Imperial Hospital kept watch over it all night."

"My God... this is really weird..."

"Watch your words! Be careful what you say! You might get yourself into trouble!"

……

The Duke of Liang's Mansion.

The doors and windows of the study were tightly closed, creating an unusually oppressive atmosphere.

Lan Yu sat in the main seat, holding a walnut in her hand, turning it around.

Sitting below were seven or eight people, all familiar faces from the noble families of Huaixi: Marquis Jingchuan Cao Zhen, Marquis Heqing Zhang Yi, Marquis Zhulu Zhu Shou, and several burly men dressed as military officers.

No one spoke; the atmosphere was a bit strange.

After a while, Cao Zhen couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Duke of Liang, are you saying this matter... is it true or false?"

Lan Yu didn't say anything, the walnut in her hand was still spinning.

After a short while, he spoke.

"He's alive! I saw it with my own eyes."

He put the walnuts on the table, looked up, and his eyes gleamed.

"No matter how I lived, I survived."

Although he was also puzzled, he felt deeply shocked and surprised.

What exactly happened?

The Empress has been dead for ten years, how could she suddenly come back to life?

This is simply unbelievable!

However, he didn't think too much about it, because Empress Ma's survival was only beneficial to the noble families of Huaixi.

At this moment, the group of people looked at each other in bewilderment.

Cao Zhen tentatively asked, "Then...then let's..."

Lan Yu stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

The sunlight streaming in from outside cut a line of light and shadow across his face.

"Our chance has come."

He turned around and looked at the people in the room.

"Who is the Empress? She is the Crown Prince's biological mother and Xiong Ying's biological grandmother."

"Xiong Ying is gone, the Crown Prince is gone, but the Empress is here now."

"Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress has always been on our side."

"As long as Her Majesty the Empress is around, those civil officials can't really cause any trouble."

Zhang Yi's eyes lit up. "What does the Duke of Liang mean?"

Lan Yu's lips twitched slightly. "Our opportunity is coming. Now, no one should alert the enemy. We need to wait..."

"wait?"

Everyone was puzzled and at a loss, but no one dared to object.

……

The Lü family's sleeping quarters.

Zhu Yunwen recounted the events of the day to Lady Lü in detail.

"boom--"

A teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Zhu Yunwen stood aside, looking at Lady Lü's ashen face, not daring to utter a sound.

"Mother..."

"Don't speak!"

With a wave of his hand, Ms. Lü picked up another teacup.

She lifted it up, wanting to throw it, but then held back.

I took a deep breath and slammed the teacup back onto the table.

"Zhu Yunwen..."

She gritted her teeth and uttered the name.

"Isn't he a good-for-nothing?"

"Isn't he supposed to know nothing?"

"Haven't I spoiled him rotten?!"

She turned her head and stared at Zhu Yunwen.

"Was that really him you saw in court today?"

Zhu Yunwen nodded.

"Yes."

"He was like a completely different person... He silenced the Emperor's grandfather, berated the court officials until they couldn't lift their heads, and even..."

He paused, then added, "They even publicly called me an illegitimate son."

A son born out of wedlock.

These two words were like a thorn, piercing into Lü's heart.

Her face turned even uglier.

Chang family.

That woman who died more than ten years ago, her son, actually managed to jump out and ruin her plans?

She took a deep breath, then another.

"Don't panic."

She looked at Zhu Yunwen.

"Why are you panicking?"

"So what if the investiture doesn't happen today?"

"Which court official doesn't know that you are the only suitable candidate for the position of Crown Prince?"

"Those civil officials, those nobles, haven't they all already chosen sides?"

She took a step forward and grabbed Zhu Yunwen's hand.

"You were personally chosen by your imperial grandfather. The imperial edict has already been written; all that's missing is the ceremony."

"So what if your mother is back? Can she change your grandfather's mind?"

"What is Zhu Yunwen? He's nothing but a good-for-nothing. Your grandfather relies on you the most right now, so there's no need to worry."

Zhu Yunwen's expression gradually improved as he listened.

"What Mother means is..."

"Wait."

Ms. Lü released her grip and sat back down in her chair.

"Once your imperial grandfather has thought it through, he will naturally re- confer titles upon you."

"As for the Empress Dowager..."

She paused, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.

"A person who has been dead for ten years suddenly comes back to life—who knows how that happened?"

"Maybe it'll be gone someday."

Zhu Yunwen was taken aback.

He looked at Lady Lü and suddenly understood something.

"Mother, you..."

Don't ask.

Lady Lü picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"Just remember, you are the Crown Prince, and no one can take that away from you."

Zhu Yunwen nodded.

But for some reason, he couldn't suppress the unease in his heart.

The image of Zhu Yunwen in court today kept replaying in his mind.

That look, that aura, that reckless abandon...

He's completely different from the taciturn person he used to be.

What exactly is going on?

……

Inside Kunning Palace, the imperial physician had already left, and Zhu Yunwen was happily eating his snacks.

Empress Ma sat beside him, watching him eat, her eyes full of smiles.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

With his mouth stuffed full, Zhu Yunwen mumbled indistinctly, "Grandma, you don't know, it's been so long since I've had such delicious snacks."

Empress Ma's smile faltered for a moment.

"What? Do you think the people in the palace would mistreat you?"

Zhu Yunwen swallowed the pastry in his mouth and chuckled.

"I didn't dare to mistreat her, it's just... I feel more comfortable when Grandma isn't around."

As he spoke, he moved closer to Empress Ma.

"Grandma, you must live well. Your grandson will be counting on you from now on."

Empress Ma reached out and poked his forehead.

"Glib-tongued."

Zhu Yuanzhang, standing to the side, felt a surge of anger as he looked at Zhu Yunwen.

Although!

I don't know how this rebellious grandson managed to bring his sister back to life, but this rebellious grandson has been slapping him in the face all day, showing him no respect whatsoever.

This really made him both angry and furious!