After I got into the drama, I led the plot astray

Thinking of this, Zhao Fangping forced herself to suppress her emotions, bowed to me, and said, "I would like to thank the Empress Dowager Shu for the reward on behalf of my sisters. I will take my leave."

Looking at Zhao Fangping's departing back, I couldn't help but sneer. I was probably angered by Zheng Yan's several boxes of rewards, so she couldn't wait to come to my palace to seek a sense of presence.

Yang packed her luggage and came over to ask me in a flattering manner when I would leave the palace.

Zheng Yan had a habit of coming to my hall to sit for a while before dinner every day, and then eating dinner with me. Seeing that it was getting late, Yang became anxious, fearing that if they didn't leave now, we would not be able to leave when Zheng Yan came.

I didn't want to stay in this palace either, so I quickly asked for a carriage, and we rushed out of the palace as if we were fleeing.

After returning to the Marshal's Mansion, Yi Ping went to inspect the shops, and Zhao Zhenyuan was not idle either, as he went on duty.

Zhao Zhenyuan made great contributions in pacifying the Xihe Kingdom and was granted the title of Duke Dingguo, an official of the first rank, and his title was hereditary. Zhao Zhenyuan did not want to sit idle, so Zheng Yan gave him the position of chief instructor of the Imperial Guards and asked him to train the newly recruited Imperial Guards.

As the Duke of Dingguo, Zhao Zhenyuan would receive a salary even if he did not have to go on duty, but he could not sit idle, and he rushed off to work before the imperial edict to confer him the title of marquis came down.

Jinping is still in the academy and has not returned. I am the only master in the entire Marshal's Mansion. I feel so free. In comparison, I don't want to go back to that crappy palace at all.

After Yiping came back in the evening, I told her about the pearl hairpins. She immediately told her servants to notify Manager Chen of Xingyaoxuan to rush to make this batch of pearl hairpins.

The jewelry produced by Xingyaoxuan is of high quality and has a great reputation. Moreover, it is customized according to my requirements. Shopkeeper Chen did not dare to slack off and personally delivered the finished drawings to me that night. I decided on several styles. Shopkeeper Chen left in a hurry with the drawings and said that it would be made for me within two days.

Seeing how concerned I was about this matter, Yi Ping couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why do you want to do this thankless task that costs money and effort?"

I put down the book in my hand and said, "Who said I can't please you? As the only concubine in the palace, I have to show some appreciation to these new people who have entered the palace. I can't let them look down on me and say I'm stingy."

Yi Ping disagreed and said, "Shouldn't they show respect to you first when they enter the palace? Why do you want to reward them instead?"

I extended my index finger and tapped Yi Ping's forehead, saying, "You, where there are many women, there are many gossips, and there is also Zhao Fangping, that troublemaker, who is always slandering me behind my back. I gave these pearl hairpins to them just to make them recognize the facts. Zhao Fangping will never be able to suppress me. If you want to say bad things about me behind my back, you have to think twice."

Yi Ping was adept at dealing with the intrigues in the business world, but she had never experienced the open and covert struggles among the women in the harem. Madam Du had also not experienced much of this and had no experience to pass on to Yi Ping. Therefore, Yi Ping could never imagine that the struggles in the harem were actually more brutal than the fighting on the battlefield.

Seeing Yi Ping still looking confused, I couldn't help but say with a smile, "If you marry the Seventh Prince in the future, you will go to his fiefdom, and you won't have the chance to experience the palace fighting, so it doesn't matter if you don't know."

Yi Ping heard this and said in distress: "What will happen to these businesses if I leave Beijing?"

I said, "Just give it to my sister-in-law when the time comes."

Yi Ping held his chin up and said thoughtfully, "My eldest brother has such a strange personality. I don't know what kind of woman will be willing to marry him."

Does Jinping have a weird personality?

I couldn't help but think of the day when I married into the palace and Jinping rushed to give me a bracelet. I felt distressed and uneasy but helpless. How could such a Jinping have a weird personality?

I shook my head and said, "My eldest brother's personality is not strange. No matter which girl marries him in the future, she will be happy."

Yi Ping rolled his eyes at me and said, "Big brother and I have lived together since we were young, so I know him better than you do. He is as stubborn as a cow and only believes in his own opinions. When you talk to him, he always uses the abstruse ideas from books, which makes me dizzy and I can't understand what he is saying at all. What girl do you think would like a man like him?"

I laughed out loud and said, "Maybe there is a girl like this who likes our eldest brother."

As he was speaking, a servant came to report that Zhao Zhenyuan had returned.

Yiping and I quickly stood up to greet them.

Zhao Zhenyuan wore the official uniform of the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guards. Although it was not as majestic as the marshal's uniform, he had his own aura and walked with great vigor. Even a sack on his body could not conceal his imposing heroic spirit.

After receiving the notification, Zhao Zhenyuan strode in. He was a little surprised to see me and asked, "Why is Ah Man here too?"

I smiled and said, "I came back because I felt uncomfortable living in the palace."

Zhao Zhenyuan hesitated for a moment and said, "You are now the Queen Mother after all. You must strictly abide by the palace rules to avoid being criticized."

I said, "When the late emperor was alive, he said that he would not confine me to the palace. I can go wherever I want. Father, don't worry."

Zhao Zhenyuan became even more worried after hearing this. He frowned and said, "The late emperor has passed away. You must not mention the late emperor casually. His Majesty will be unhappy. Your father also did not expect that the late emperor would take you as his concubine before his death in order to connect you with the royal family. You have suffered so much."

I did resent Zheng Xian for being so ruthless, but now I have let it go. Zheng Yan has countless beauties in his harem. Even if I were the queen, I would have to fight with them all day long. This kind of life would make me gradually lose myself. This is definitely not the life I want to live. As for Gongsun Wen, he really has a weird personality and is very scheming. Others can't guess his thoughts at all. Being with such a person would either make you tired to death or annoyed to death. There is no way to talk about a happy life.

So I shook my head and said, "Father, I am not suffering. I have money and power now. I am not burdened by a family or tied down by children. I am happier than a god. Father, you should be happy for me."

Zhao Zhenyuan shook his head helplessly and said, "It's a good thing that you have come to terms with it. Now that this matter has been decided, there is nothing your father can do. Although you are the imperial concubine, the door of the Duke's Mansion is always open to you. If you are wronged, just come back to the mansion to find your father, and your father will definitely seek justice for you."

I smiled and said, "Thank you, father. Ah Man will remember this."

Seeing Zhao Zhenyuan's tired face, Yi Ping asked, "Did father have dinner? There is hot soup in the kitchen. Can I make you a bowl of hot soup noodles?"

Zhao Zhenyuan nodded and said, "I haven't had my meal yet. I just took office today and there are many things to do in the camp. I'm so busy that I'm only returning home now. I'll have to trouble Ping'er."

Yi Ping smiled and said, "Don't bother me, father. Please wait for a moment. I will cook noodles for you right away."

These things could have been done by the servants, but Yiping still went to cook the noodles herself. In the eyes of her and her siblings, their father was like a god. Yiping felt very happy to cook noodles for her father, so Zhao Zhenyuan and I did not stop her.