The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 1286 - 479: Palace Scheming Is No Match for Rebellion (Part 16)_3

Zheng Youliang and his two sons were utterly captivated, their three similar honest faces shining with a strange light.

The only "clear-headed" person seemed to be Zheng Nianer, whose core had been exchanged.

"..." Zheng Nianer didn’t want to dampen her family’s spirits.

She indeed disagreed with what Lady Hu had done, but she was now "Zheng Nianer."

Since she had taken over someone else’s body and identity, she had to bear the responsibilities and consequences of the original owner.

As for Lady Hu, perhaps she wasn’t truly a kind mother, but she wasn’t bad to her children either.

Although there was some calculation involved, there was also sincerity, and she provided her children with the best life.

Even if Zheng Nianer could not treat Lady Hu as a close relative, she would not regard her as an enemy.

Alas, they could be a nominal mother and daughter, without too much expectation, but also without specific grievances.

Maintaining a certain distance yet undertaking the obligations as expected, this was the best!

Therefore, knowing well that Lady Hu’s words were a bit far-fetched, Zheng Nianer just listened casually without refuting her.

But soon, reality gave Lady Hu a resounding slap—

The rumors in the Capital City about Zheng Nianer gradually disappeared, and Wang Mingqi, that cursed leech, seemed to have vanished.

It seemed that the matter concerning Zheng Nianer had reached a conclusion, and after observing for a few days, Lady Hu felt it was time for her daughter to return to the Capital City.

After all, always staying at the villa, although the Emperor would visit every few days tirelessly, it was still inconvenient.

Especially now that the Emperor was engaged, he would be getting married soon, and in the short term, it would be very inconvenient for the Emperor to visit the villa.

If Emperor Yongcheng did not come, then how would their Nianer deepen her relationship with the Emperor?

"Back to the Capital! We’re going back to the Capital! It’s just as well since the weather is turning cold, and there are many celebrations at the end of the year, with many banquets. Our Nianer, who has been quiet for these days, should go to some gatherings and make some connections!"

Lady Hu’s background was humble, yet her ambitions were high as heaven.

She knew the nobles in the Capital City despised her, but with Emperor Yongcheng favoring her, no matter how much those noblewomen disliked her, they had to be polite in her presence.

Sometimes, they even hypocritically complimented her.

Lady Hu loved seeing those noble, glamorous noblewomen pretend to smile at her when they clearly disliked her!

And as for her daughter, although she didn’t become the Empress, she was still the Emperor’s most beloved woman.

Previously, due to that scoundrel Wang Mingqi’s persistent harassment, Nianer became the laughingstock of the Capital City.

Now that things had passed, Lady Hu wanted to let the noble ladies of the Capital City know, their Nianer, even with her reputation tarnished, was still charming and beloved, treasured by Emperor Yongcheng.

Lady Hu had already discreetly spread the news in the Capital that Emperor Yongcheng had visited Zheng Nianer on multiple occasions at the villa.

So that when Zheng Nianer returned to the Capital and made a stunning appearance at various banquets... hmph, Lady Hu wanted to see who would dare to mock them!

Especially Tao Youwei!

So what if she became the Empress?

Didn’t she still fail to obtain the little Emperor’s genuine affection?

Did she really think the little Emperor married her because of her as a person? What the Emperor valued was nothing more than the power and support of Duke Dingguo’s Mansion.

A totally political marriage, and what of having the dignity of an Empress?

As a woman, without the admiration and affection of her husband, in the end, Tao Youwei was just another Empress Dowager He!

Lady Hu detested and envied Empress Dowager He, yet deep down, she still harbored that lowly person’s envy for those of high status.

She merely covered her inner inferiority with the greatest malice.

Now, with Empress Dowager He seemingly "yielding", Lady Hu had won the trust and favor of the little Emperor.

The battles of the older generation had temporarily concluded, while the grudges among the younger generation were beginning anew.

Lady Hu prided herself on her daughter obtaining the little Emperor’s true affection, while the future Empress Tao was destined to be a childless, uncherished figurehead.

She couldn’t help but secretly revel in her success.

Getting pleased with oneself often leads to folly.

And deliberately having the little Emperor personally run to the villa to visit Zheng Nianer was the most foolish thing Lady Hu did.

Lady Hu assumed Tao Youwei to be like Wang Shijiu.

Knowing their "fiancé" eagerly went to visit another woman, a noble family daughter like Wang Shijiu would just faintly smile and not take it to heart.

But Tao Youwei was not a noble family daughter; though her mother was from a noble family, in her bones, she was more like her father, Tao Yong.

And Tao Yong was a crude Martial Artist, who gained wealth and nobility by wielding his fists and following the late Emperor.

The entire Tao Family, above all, believed in martial strength!

On this day, the legitimate second son of Duke An’s Mansion was getting married, and the nobles from the Capital City came to the feast.

Zheng Nianer also came; this was her first public appearance in the Capital since her return.

Busy trying to rectify the foolish actions of the original owner, she unexpectedly saw a woman in a red dress break in front of her...