Chapter 503: Still the Youngest with the Greatest Ambition

Chapter 503: Still the Youngest with the Greatest Ambition

Zheng Jinyu sneered inwardly but showed no sign of it on her face, nodding lightly in agreement.

She looked at Lady Zheng with a playful expression and asked, "Then, was it really not Fang Erya who harmed her child?"

"Of course not," Lady Zheng replied without hesitation, vouching for Fang Jinxiu.

Seeing that she did not seem to be lying, Zheng Jinyu realized she had underestimated Fang Jinxiu's innocence.

"How could Jinxiu do such a thing? They are sisters."

"Oh, if it wasn't her, then why would Fang Erya say it was?"

"Obviously out of jealousy. She lost her own child, so she must envy Jinxiu, who has children."

"If it wasn't Fang Jinxiu who harmed her, then who did?"

"Lady Lu, she made someone give Fang Erya an abortifacient. It's no secret."

"But doesn't Lady Lu want more children for Lu Shen? She should be happy to hear that Fang Erya is pregnant. Why would she harm the child?"

"That... she miscalculated the dates and thought the child wasn't Lu Shen's."

Zheng Jinyu found this amusing. It was more logical that Fang Jinxiu had incited Lady Lu to harm Fang Erya, yet Lady Zheng refused to believe it, preferring a more absurd reason.

Forget it, some lies she probably couldn't even explain herself, so there was no point in arguing.

She asked again, "Then why did Lu Shen choose to believe Fang Erya instead of Fang Jinxiu, who bore him two children?"

"That little vixen has bewitched Lu Shen. Whatever she says, he believes."

Mentioning Fang Erya made Lady Zheng angry. She had deceived Xiao Luo and taken her money.

In the end, she took the money and still spread lies to Lu Shen.

A faithless wretch.

Zheng Jinyu laughed, "How could that be? I've heard that Lu Shen is a playboy with many lovers. And they say he likes Fang Erya because she resembles the former Fang Jinxiu, innocent and lovely."

She deliberately emphasized the last four words.

Lady Zheng opened her mouth but said nothing.

Zheng Jinyu continued, "Why don't you find out why Lu Shen trusts Fang Erya more. Could it be that she has some evidence?"

Lady Zheng's face turned sour. She didn't want to believe Fang Jinxiu could be so malicious.

But she was curious why Lu Shen trusted Fang Erya over Jinxiu, who had borne him two sons.

"You're right, Your Majesty. I should indeed look into it."

"Alright, go and ask around. If she was wronged and bullied, I'm willing to help her for your sake."

Hearing this, Lady Zheng's face lit up with joy, and she nodded repeatedly, praising Zheng Jinyu.

She said Zheng Jinyu truly had the demeanor of a queen, forgiving small grudges and showing great virtue.

Zheng Jinyu almost gagged from the flattery and quickly had the palace attendants arrange a meal to invite her to eat.

After the meal, she hurried Lady Zheng out of the palace, or else she might have been suffocated by her presence.

Once Lady Zheng left, Zheng Jinyu was finally at peace, while Lady Zheng walked away happily.

Back home, she told Cui Yongnian about Zheng Jinyu's magnanimity and willingness to forgive.

Even though Jinxiu had been so bad before, Zheng Jinyu was still willing to help her.

Cui Yongnian listened, finding it hard to believe.

Could Jinyu forgive Fang Jinxiu and help her?

Impossible. She hadn't stabbed her in the back only because she was too lazy to care.

"Aunt, tell me more. How will Her Majesty help Jinxiu?"

Lady Zheng smiled, "I told her about how Jinxiu was falsely accused by Fang Erya. Lu Shen is easily swayed, and Fang Erya whispered in his ear..."

She recounted the events, and Cui Yongnian suddenly laughed.

He knew it. How could Jinyu help Fang Jinxiu? That would be a real injustice.

Could Fang Jinxiu be innocent?

What a joke.

Only Aunt would believe she was innocent.

"What are you laughing at?" Lady Zheng asked.

Cui Yongnian said, "Your Majesty's magnanimity is admirable. I laugh because Aunt's wish has come true, and your two daughters can finally get along."

Immersed in her joy, Lady Zheng didn't catch the underlying meaning in his words.

Cui Tai and Cui Huai approached, their faces growing darker.

"Qingqing, try not to visit the Empress in the palace. Don't cause her trouble."

Lady Zheng pouted, "Fifth Brother, she's my own daughter. Helping me shouldn't be considered a trouble."

Cui Huai shot her a withering glance and was about to say something when Cui Tai held him back.

"Forget it, Fifth Brother. This is their family matter; we'd better not get involved."

"But she—"

"Enough, let's go. Yongnian, come over here for a moment; we need to talk to you."

Cui Yongnian followed them back to the guest courtyard, and once the door was closed, Cui Tai sighed, "It's still your Uncle Five, making a fuss about going home. The Emperor has already said that he should stay here and help out for a while, at least until after the New Year. But he insists he can't take it anymore and wants to leave now."

Cui Yongnian smiled, "What could Uncle Five not be able to take at his age?"

Cui Huai snorted, "What do you mean 'at my age'? Where did your thoughts go? When I say I can't take it, I mean your aunt, Cui Qingqing. Watching her act foolishly all day is unbearable for me. You two stay here; I'll take her back to Qinghe to discipline her."

Cui Yongnian thought seriously for a moment and said, "That could work."

Cui Tai, "Hey, what did I call you here for?"

Cui Yongnian replied, "Uncle Five is right. Now that everything is settled, we can manage here. Let Uncle Five go back and take Aunt with him. That way, Uncle doesn't have to resign from his post."

Indeed, Zheng Ji was planning to resign, especially after seeing Lady Zheng using the Empress's name to socialize with noblewomen of prestigious families.

She was so pleased with herself, which annoyed him.

Let her do as she pleases; he wasn't going to join in.

Now that Cui Yongnian was siding with Cui Huai, he was torn.

Don't think that they were united against external threats, but internal conflicts were no less intense.

Staying in the capital to build connections with various families was a rare opportunity. Could he bear to leave?

He wanted to go, but the Sixth didn't want to.

It was like this: if no one else took the piece of meat, he didn't want to either.

But if someone else took it, he felt uncomfortable and wanted it too.

"Forget it, we came together, so we'll leave together."

He changed his mind again.

Cui Tai gave Cui Yongnian a meaningful look.

"That works. What are your plans, Yongnian?"

"I'll continue my studies at the Imperial Academy," Cui Yongnian said with a casual smile.

In fact, his future was already arranged. Xie Peiyu had promised to let him succeed as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and it was almost certain. All they needed to wait for was the old Chancellor to pass away.

So he wasn't in a hurry to return. The head of the family was in his prime and wouldn't be replaced anytime soon. Returning would serve no purpose.

He decided to stay in the capital, waiting until his students were spread far and wide, and the old head of the family was ready to step down. Then he would return, with both reputation and connections, who could compete with him?

Cui Tai guessed his intentions almost perfectly. Studying at the Imperial Academy?

Ha, did he think he didn't know the old Chancellor was on his last breath?