The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the Forbidden City.

Although the secluded palace where the deposed Empress Xiao Yuzhen lived was known as the Cold Palace, it was not in a dilapidated state.

She was dressed in simple, elegant clothes and was sitting leisurely on the daybed, brewing tea, as if she were not a prisoner, but a noble person who had come here to recuperate.

The Empress Dowager walked in, surrounded by several old nannies, her fingers twirling the string of polished Buddhist prayer beads.

She looked down at Xiao Yuzhen, her tone carrying the imposing authority of someone who had been immersed in power for many years.

"I'm sorry you've had to go through all this trouble."

Xiao Yuzhen didn't even lift her eyelids, continuing to fiddle with the tea set in her hands.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is here. Please feel free to speak your mind."

The old hag doesn't visit the temple unless she has a reason.

The Empress Dowager was not annoyed and simply found a chair and sat down.

"The Emperor is seriously ill. I intend to issue an imperial edict to send you out of this cold palace and to the Buddhist hall to chant sutras and pray for the Emperor day and night."

Xiao Yuzhen paused, raised her eyes, and stared intently at the Empress Dowager.

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager spoke next.

"You may leave. But from this day forward, you must wholeheartedly serve the Crown Prince and have no other thoughts."

Upon hearing the words "Crown Prince," Xiao Yuzhen made no attempt to hide her reaction, a wide smile spreading across her face.

"That good-for-nothing who only knows how to hang out with women all day? He's hopeless."

The Empress Dowager suddenly slammed her hand on the table, making the teacups rattle loudly.

"How dare you! Even if the Crown Prince is dull-witted and lustful, he is still the eldest son of the late Empress..."

At this point, she suddenly sighed and softened her tone:

"You're a smart man, it shouldn't be hard for you to figure out that it's precisely because the Crown Prince is like this... that he's easy to control."

"Yuzhen, don't be stubborn. Compared to the immense power you'll have in the future, what is a mere Pei Yan?"

"Once you're in power and in that position, what kind of man can't you get?"

Xiao Yuzhen scoffed and didn't reply.

Seeing that she was so unyielding, the Empress Dowager moved closer and lowered her voice.

"You're still thinking about Pei Yan, that monster without emotions or desires?"

"Let me tell you, there is no cat in this world that doesn't steal fish."

"Tan Yu sent a secret report yesterday that Pei Yan has recently become infatuated with the Western Region dancer that the Crown Prince gave him, and he's been causing quite a ruckus at night."

"No man is immune to lust; it's just that some show it early, while others are better at pretending."

Upon hearing that Pei Yan was favoring a dancer, Xiao Yuzhen nearly dropped the lid of her teacup.

Salera, that vile foreign woman?

How could Pei Yan possibly be interested in that?!

She didn't believe it at all; the old woman was clearly trying to mislead her with false information.

But right now, this is the only chance to leave.

Xiao Yuzhen suppressed all her resentment and murderous intent, obediently knelt on the ground, and respectfully kowtowed.

"I understand."

"As long as I can get out, I will definitely stand shoulder to shoulder with the Crown Prince and the Empress Dowager, and do my utmost for them."

She adopted an extremely humble posture, as if she had truly come to a realization.

But beneath those lowered eyes churned an extremely twisted malice and mockery.

The old woman is getting old and becoming more and more timid.

They didn't dare take any risks at all, just to protect that foolish crown prince.

She wants power.

Pei Yan, she wants it too!

No one can take it away.

The Empress Dowager looked at Xiao Yuzhen kneeling on the ground, her nails digging into her palms, a chilling murderous intent emanating from her.

If it weren't for that vile woman holding that fatal handle that could bring the entire Tan clan to their doom.

She had already had someone force-feed her a cup of poison, thus ending this venomous woman's life.

Why would they keep her alive until now, and even release her themselves?

But it doesn't matter. For now, she can use her to keep Pei Yan in check. Once the situation stabilizes, she can deal with Xiao Yuzhen.

After the Empress Dowager's grand procession departed.

Xiao Yuzhen slowly stood up from the ground.

She walked to the wall, reached out and touched the moss in the cracks between the bricks, and laughed eerily.

Assist the Crown Prince? Dream on.

The prince she wanted to support was the tenth prince, whose birth mother was just a lowly palace maid, and who was the most powerless and young.

Once the tenth prince ascends the throne, she will become the Empress Dowager Regent.

At that time... everyone who stands in her way will die!

Night falls in the Qingyi Garden of the Pei residence.

The room was filled with a warm fragrance, and the orange sunset shone on the canopy bed.

Jiang Guo'er leaned against the soft pillows, holding a book in her hand, but she couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

My belly is starting to show, and I don't know if it's because of twins, but my calves have been sore and swollen these past few days, and I feel really uncomfortable if I sit for a little while.

Pei Yan took off his outer robe, leaving only a jade-colored inner garment.

He sat on the edge of the bed, placed Jiang Guo'er's right leg on his knee, and gently massaged her calf with his large hand.

Jiang Guo'er was a little embarrassed and gently struggled.

"Prime Minister, it's best to have Lüyi come."

Pei Yan pressed down on her ankle.

"Don't move. Master Longchuan said that pregnant women are prone to blood and qi stagnation. Let me massage you so you can sleep more soundly at night."

Just then, Xiao San's extremely soft voice came from outside.

"master."

Pei Yan continued what he was doing, "Come in and talk, there's no need to hide anything."

Xiao San pushed open the door and entered, standing properly outside the screen with his eyes straight ahead.

"It has been confirmed that the Xiao family accepted the money from the second master of the Tan family. Everything is as the master expected."

"In addition, news has spread from the palace that the Empress Dowager, under the pretext of praying for the Emperor's well-being, has decided to release the deposed Empress Xiao Yuzhen from the Cold Palace."

Upon hearing the first part of the sentence, Jiang Guo'er felt that things were progressing smoothly.

Upon hearing that Xiao Yuzhen was leaving the Cold Palace, she instinctively leaned forward and grabbed Pei Yan's wrist.

Xiao Yu is a complete madman. Once he gets out and regains his freedom, he will definitely cause trouble.

"She's out..."

Jiang Guo'er's fingertips felt a little cold. "Could she, in order to get revenge, do something harmful to you or... to Lingyi?"

Lingyi is currently under the guise of being "pregnant" and is the legitimate wife of the Prime Minister, making her Xiao Yuzhen's most direct thorn in her side.

Pei Yan, in particular, was the object of her unrequited love.

It's also quite possible that if you can't have it, you'll destroy it.

Pei Yan grasped her hand, enveloping her cold fingertips in his palm, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"Shunshun, you underestimate her."

"Xiao Yuzhen's greatest strength is not how ruthless her methods are, but that she is extremely intelligent and knows how to seek advantage and avoid harm."

Jiang Guo'er was stunned, somewhat puzzled.

Pei Yan tucked her stray hairs behind her ear and lowered his voice.

"She should have realized long ago that the person I care about most is you."

Jiang Guo'er's breath hitched suddenly, and her heart trembled.

Pei Yan's gaze suddenly turned sharp and cold, and the chaotic clues in his mind were quickly connected at this moment.

In a flash, a hypothesis emerged.

There are countless beauties in the Eastern Palace, so why would the Crown Prince set his sights on Jiang Guo'er for no reason?

"I've always found it strange that since you entered the Pei residence, you haven't left the house. How would the Crown Prince know that you resemble the deceased Consort Yu?"

"Someone must have told him."

Pei Yan's face was gloomy.

Jiang Guo'er felt a chill in her heart: "This person must meet at least two conditions to have the motive to do this."

"Which two? Tell me." Pei Yan looked at her with great interest.

Jiang Guo'er frowned deeply.

"First, this person must hate me deeply and is adept at using others to do his dirty work, so he wants to use the Crown Prince to completely destroy me."

"Secondly, this person was able to contact the Crown Prince and easily pass on messages to him, making the Crown Prince willing to spend time verifying them. Therefore, she must be someone in the palace, and of a high status."

Pei Yan nodded in agreement.

"Thirdly, she is well-informed and knows the Crown Prince's temperament."

"Not only did he know that the Crown Prince had coveted the former Consort Yu, but he also understood that once he learned of any woman who resembled her, he would do everything in his power to get his hands on her."

Jiang Guo'er and Pei Yan exchanged a glance. "It's Xiao Yuzhen!"