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Auntie Gui stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face, leaving several bloody scratches.

The noise inside naturally drew attention. Auntie An's face darkened, and she was about to investigate.

Suddenly, the curtains were pushed aside, revealing a well-proportioned figure.

The newcomer had an elaborate hair bun and a face like a lotus blossom—none other than Qi Zhen.

Gazing at the emaciated woman in the wooden wheelchair, Qi Zhen smiled and said, "Xiao Fu, I hope you're doing well."

Pausing, she continued in a gentle tone, "Didn't you want me to know that I killed the child with my own hands? Well, now I do."

As her words echoed, Auntie Zhu, who had been slapped repeatedly by Auntie Gui, seemed to regain consciousness and cried out, "It's a trap, Lady, it's a trap!"

Xiao Fu had already guessed this when Qi Zhen entered. She suspected that Auntie Zhu's affair with Wen Xi had been exposed, and today's events were all part of Qi Zhen's plan.

Qi Zhen had long harbored suspicions about Auntie Zhu and Wen Xi.

Xiao Fu's face was gaunt, her large eyes protruding from her thin cheeks, giving her an eerie appearance.

Following Qi Zhen was not only Aunt Gui, but also Liu Ping, disguised as Rong Shu.

Xiao Fu immediately recognized that the girl before her was not Rong Shu. The fact that she could stand there unharmed indicated that the wine that Nurse Zhu had taken to Minglu Yard was not poisoned.

Either the medicine had been switched, or... Master Fan Qing hadn't given the drug to Nurse Zhu at all.

"Has Master Fan Qing pledged allegiance to you?" Xiao Fu smiled slightly. "Back then, he betrayed Crown Prince Qi Yuan to restore Daci'en Temple's status. Now, doesn't he fear that betraying me will completely ruin Daci'en Temple? If the world were to find out that the respected abbot of Daci'en Temple is actually a deceitful monk who has an affair with a married woman, the temple's centuries-old reputation would be destroyed!"

Looking down at her, Qi Zhen spoke softly, "Your Highness, who do you think Master Fan Qing would choose between us?"

Xiao Fu understood Qi Zhen, and Qi Zhen knew Xiao Fu just as well.

Her casual words instantly distorted Xiao Fu's composed expression.

What Xiao Fu hated most in this life was Crown Prince Qi Yuan's stubborn infatuation with Qi Zhen. Even after she was married, lost her innocence, and became pregnant with another man's child, he still refused to let go of her.

Crown Prince Qi Yuan trusted the false prophet blindly because of Qi Zhen's "spilt water cannot be retrieved," which led him to believe the deceptive words of Priest Qingping and attempt to set up an array against heaven using the blood of children to turn back time.

It was precisely due to his insane act that thoroughly disappointed people, causing regional princes to use the excuse of clearing the court of evil to besiege the capital.

It was all because of Qi Zhen!

"You merely rely on your beauty!" Xiao Fu taunted. "But what good is it to have a face that captivates the nation and the world? Didn't Xiao Yan still take in other women and father children with them?"

Xiao Fu laughed mockingly. "Qi Zhen, Qi Zhen, you poisoned Prince Qi Yuan for Xiao Yan and staked your entire family's fate on a gamble, yet you still lost. Now, the Qi family has fallen, and as the queen of a great nation, you must depend on Yan'er to secure your position as empress. How pitiful!"

The Empress Qi was not angered by her words.

She had indeed killed Prince Qi Yuan for Xiao Yan, but also for the sake of Great Yin.

Prince Qi Yuan had been obsessed with alchemy and formations, causing the Imperial Guards and the Eastern Depot to seize countless infants, destroying numerous families. If such a person were to ascend the throne, the entire Great Yin would be ruined under his rule.

"I've never lost a bet. Xiao Qiyuan is neither a wise king nor a good emperor, but Xiao Yan is. From the turmoil of the past to the current prosperity and stability of Great Yin, it is all due to a ruler with enlightenment. Xiao Yan has held the state and its people in his heart for over twenty years since ascending the throne. Do you think why the military officers and citizens of Taiyuan Prefecture support a weak and sickly prince with no foundation?"

It was precisely because of Emperor Jiayou's qualities that she had fallen for him and transferred her affections.

If Xiao Qiyuan hadn't forced her hand, she would have preferred to stay in Taiyuan Prefecture with Xiao Yan for their entire lives, as a couple forever.

"Stop! Shut up! No one has the right to speak ill of my brother, except you!" Qi Zhen's words ignited Xiao Fu's fury. Her chest heaved violently, indicating her rage had reached its peak. "Why did Prince Qi Yuan believe in that demonic cultist? It was all for you!"

How could Xiao Fu not feel resentment?

"Implying he did all that for me?" Empress Qi's eyes flickered as she gazed at Xiao Fu and smiled. "Back then, he vowed to marry no one but me, swearing eternal love on the mountaintops. Yet, with just a casual probe from the former emperor, he forgot his promises and promptly wed another woman. Later, he even personally delivered me into Xiao Yan's hands."

The former emperor had been wary of the Qi family's military power and was reluctant to have Xiao Qiyuan marry Qi Zhen. As the emperor's favorite son, he had always been the center of attention since childhood. To avoid displeasing the former emperor, he abandoned her.

He promised Qi Zhen that once he ascended the throne, he would bring her back to his side.

When Emperor Jiande's health deteriorated, Xiao Qiyuan assumed regency. Indeed, he intended to retrieve Qi Zhen, but it was all too late.

At that time, she only wanted to stay in Taiyuan Prefecture, by Xiao Yan's side, as his queen.

In response to Xiao Qiyuan's coercion and temptation, the Qi family plotted to eliminate Xiao Yan.

She was already pregnant then. Fearing that Xiao Qiyuan might abandon both her and the Qi family upon discovering her pregnancy, Qi Heng poisoned her food on the anniversary of her mother's death, causing her to miscarry.

Even Xiao Yan believed then that she would forsake her own child to return to Xiao Qiyuan's embrace.

"You hate me for killing Xiao Qiyuan, but why don't you hate him for forcing me to kill Xiao Yan? Back then, it was Xiao Qiyuan who gave that 'Third Watch Pill' to my brother, compelling me to poison Xiao Yan with my own hands. My brother told me that the pill would ensure a peaceful death in one's sleep. Thus, I administered that very pill to Prince Qiyuan himself."

Qi Zhen's smile faded, and she looked coldly at Xiao Fu, saying, "See, this is karma. Xiao Qiyuan wanted Xiao Yan to die in the most miserable way, so he took the 'Third Watch Pill' from you. Yet, in the end, that pill was used on him. Xiao Fu, the pill that killed Xiao Qiyuan came from your own hand. Why don't you hate yourself for it?"