After swapping bodies with the princess, this prince slaughtered his way through the court and becam

"Your Majesty, I requested leave from the Imperial Secretary in order to return the jade pendant."

Empress Zhang frowned slightly. When did it become so easy to ask the Grand Secretary for leave?

However, since it concerns her jade pendant, it's possible that Si Zan wouldn't dare to stop her.

Empress Zhang didn't think much of it and continued to ask:

"Where did you get this jade pendant?"

"When I was washing clothes in the laundry department, I saw with my own eyes the head of the laundry department, Granny Li, take it out from a piece of clothing."

At that time, I hadn't yet discovered whose clothes they were.

It only dawned on me these past two days that those clothes were indeed the Empress's.

Ren Jingxing fabricated the story on the spot.

He wanted to kill Granny Li, but unfortunately her body was too weak, so he failed.

Empress Zhang's face grew even more somber after hearing this.

"Someone come here!"

"This servant is here."

"Li, the head of the laundry department, has been dishonest; she should be beaten to death!"

"yes!"

In just a few words, Li Mama's fate was decided.

Li Mama never dreamed that, just when she thought the matter was over, she would suddenly be beaten to death by order of the Empress herself.

At this moment, Empress Zhang picked up the jade pendant, examined it carefully, and couldn't help but start talking about her past with the emperor.

"Back then, His Majesty was not in the position of Crown Prince and was neglected by the late Emperor."

His Majesty felt deeply fearful every day and couldn't even sleep.

Later, when I married Your Majesty, I offered you daily encouragement and guidance.

His Majesty worked tirelessly day and night, carving a bloody path through a sea of ​​blood to finally ascend the throne.

"At that time, I was almost stabbed by an assassin while protecting His Majesty."

Empress Zhang reminisced about the past, her eyes becoming misty, and she sighed again.

"Later, I had a big argument with His Majesty over salt and iron affairs."

Even the jade pendant has disappeared without a trace.

I wept every day, but was ultimately disliked and neglected.

Ah, but His Majesty is quite thoughtful; he has never considered deposing me from my position as Empress.

"But those servants in the palace, one by one, want to help their masters climb over my head!"

The empress's expression turned fierce again.

Although she neglected palace affairs, nothing that happened in the palace could escape her notice.

Ren Jingxing stood in the middle of the palace, listening to the Empress's complaints.

Combining this with the information he had received in the harem and the Marquis's residence, he finally understood.

It turns out that the rift between the Empress and the Emperor was caused by two stubborn individuals clashing!

The emperor never expected that the empress would have such a big argument with him over salt administration.

The salt administration was only the surface reason; the deeper reason was Marquis Anren.

This is understandable, though, since the Empress was caught between the Zhang family and His Majesty and had no choice.

Later, the jade pendant symbolizing their past was lost, and the empress began to have wild thoughts, believing it to be an omen of fate, and she cried and sobbed all day long.

Perhaps in the emperor's eyes, the empress seemed like a completely different person.

For the sake of salt administration, they first argued, then cried incessantly to show their coercion.

It seems everyone is a little sad.

As a result, they both assumed that the other party was unwilling to back down.

Is this what women are like? Ren Jingxing thought to himself.

Ren Jingxing finally couldn't hold back any longer, took a step forward, cupped his hands, and asked:

"Back then, Her Majesty the Empress dared to face the assassins to protect His Majesty, so why is she now crying and wailing all day long?"

Empress Zhang glanced at Ren Jingxing and shook her head, saying:

"What do you, an unmarried woman, know?"

Ren Jingxing almost laughed in anger. He continued to ask:

"When His Majesty was feeling lost every day, it must have been the Empress who stood up to comfort him, right?"

When His Majesty is questioned, isn't it always the Empress who stands up for him?

Empress Zhang sensed that Ren Jingxing's tone implied a questioning of the emperor.

She couldn't help but coldly defend the emperor again:

"How can you possibly fathom the actions of the emperor?"

Ren Jingxing raised his hands and clasped them together, saying:

"Your Majesty, I have a way to restore the Empress's favor!"

"You?" Empress Zhang was taken aback.

"Your Majesty, why don't you understand?"

His Majesty does not admire you for your constant weeping, but for your courage to stand before him and face the assassins.

You are the one who dares to stand up and directly confront accusations from treacherous officials!

What reminds His Majesty of your past kindness is not a jade pendant, but rather Your Majesty's past words and actions!

Empress Zhang blinked.

She suddenly felt that what the fourteenth princess said made a lot of sense.

"Moreover, the Empress and His Majesty are deeply in love."

Why did you have such a big argument with His Majesty over the salt mine for the sake of Marquis Anren?

Was the Marquis of Anren's status due to the salt mines?

"It's because of your position in His Majesty's heart!"

Empress Zhang seemed to be deep in thought.

She was thrown off balance when Marquis Anren pleaded with her while crying.

Now that I think about it carefully, wasn't it because of her position in His Majesty's heart that Marquis Anren was able to obtain that salt mine?

"If I were the Empress."

Your subject will immediately summon Marquis Anren to the palace and slap him hard across the face.

Then, Marquis Anren, with the slap mark on his face, should proactively express to His Majesty his willingness to give up the salt mine when he attends court the next day!

When His Majesty visits Changchun Palace again, the Empress must not cry and whine like this!

Empress Zhang digested Ren Jingxing's words, finding them increasingly reasonable.

Yes, she used to be stuck in a dead end and couldn't get out.

She and His Majesty are husband and wife, how could she act in such a way?

The Empress finally made up her mind to do as Ren Jingxing had suggested.

Then, looking at the imposing Ren Jingxing, she couldn't help but feel puzzled.

This fourteenth princess is quite extraordinary; she's an unmarried woman, yet she knows more than I do.

Moreover, he was completely different from the timid and submissive person he was rumored to be.

With that kind of personality, there's absolutely no way someone would have washed clothes in the Imperial Clothing Bureau for so many years!

Could it be that the Fourteenth Princess is also a person of hidden ambition, waiting for an opportunity?

Empress Zhang gripped the jade pendant tightly, her face regaining its calm and composed expression.

"The Fourteenth Princess has rendered a meritorious service in offering her plan. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Ren Jingxing immediately kowtowed:

"Your Majesty, it is my duty to help you, and I dare not ask for anything in return."

However, I am of lowly status and have no one to rely on, so Consort Ming has been trying to mistreat me.

"Your subject has only this one request; I have no other desires!"

Empress Zhang stared at Ren Jingxing, her eyes narrowing.

In this statement, getting rid of Consort Ming is a pretense; the real purpose is to show that he has a lowly status!

Empress Zhang understood the implied meaning and nodded:

"I can help you with this matter, but if you want to improve your status in the harem, the key still lies with His Majesty."

"Come join me on my birthday."

Empress Zhang meant that the emperor would also attend the empress's birthday celebrations.

Whether Ren Jingxing can make an appearance before the emperor, gain recognition, and improve his status depends on his own efforts.

And that's exactly what Ren Jingxing wanted!

Ren Jingxing kowtowed again:

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Oh, by the way, I feel I no longer need practical training. Please, Your Majesty, recall Si Zan."

Empress Zhang glanced at Ren Jingxing helplessly.

If this guy is a man of restraint, then his actions are so eccentric.

He'd been washing clothes at the laundry for years, yet he suddenly became so rude.

The same goes for receiving Sizan's education; even though there was only one day left, they would take back their decision on the last day.

Moreover, judging from his words and actions, he showed no signs of being influenced by Sizan.

Empress Zhang waved her hand:

"Step back, Mei'er. Go back with the Fourteenth Princess and call Si Zan and the others back."

"yes!"

Ren Jingxing stood up and stepped back.

He has done everything he was supposed to do.

It all depends on whether the Empress, the Fourteenth Princess, and her own father can provide support.

After Ren Jingxing left, the Empress instructed another maid:

"Send someone to summon Marquis Anren to the palace!"

Inside the Hanlu Palace at this time.

The magistrate and his female officials were tied together and wriggling incessantly.

Sizan glared at Pearl with all his might.

Although Pearl was trembling with fear, she showed no intention of untying the ropes for the lady-in-waiting.

Just then, a knock came from outside the Hanlu Palace:

"Pearl, it's me!"

Pearl immediately burst into tears.

She hurried towards the palace gate, the weight in front of her making her tremble as she cried out:

"Princess, you're finally back!"