Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 512: What is Your Ambition? Revenge?

In the evening, Jun Yuyan returned and said to Murong Jiu with a smile,

"Guessing is too much trouble. Tomorrow, I will have someone call Zhen Huailin out, and we can ask him directly in person. If the Empress has no issues, she could come out of the palace and listen in behind the screen. However, we might have to get up early, it could be a bit of a hassle."

Officials of the Fifth Rank or above needed to attend the morning court, but since the Emperor spent his days in the military camp, the court meetings of the past few days had been canceled. Thus, Jun Yuyan could find time to summon Zhen Huailin before his duty began.

Murong Jiu’s eyes lit up: "Sure, I don’t mind the hassle. Leaving the palace and then returning wouldn’t be considered late."

Jun Yuyan watched her expression, a smile in his eyes.

He knew she was interested, otherwise she wouldn’t have specially had Zhou Li investigate the Zhen Family’s affairs.

He hadn’t expected his little Empress to be quite so gossipy.

But as long as it made the Empress happier, he was willing to do anything.

"Actually, it was Your Majesty who saw potential in Lord Zhen and promoted him to the capital. When I was listening to government affairs from behind the curtain, I also felt that Lord Zhen was quite insightful, gentle, and elegant, not quite like the person Eunuch Li described, who allegedly favored concubines and destroyed his wife."

Jun Yuyan nodded, "I seldom make mistakes in judging people. If Zhen Huailin truly has a blemish in his private morals, his official career will come to an end here, with no further advancement."

After finishing the discussion about the Zhen Family, Murong Jiu asked,

"Your Majesty must already know about Wang Yingluo’s misunderstanding by now. I wonder what Your Majesty plans to do? Should I keep Senior Brother Miao inside the palace, or should I let him leave?"

Despite knowing that Jun Yuyan wouldn’t suspect her, she understood him too well. In the past, he was even jealous of a wolf, annoyed that Kai Xuan was too clingy with her; as well as Lou Zixi and Miao Wuxie—he wasn’t too pleased about them getting too close to her either. And it wasn’t just those two. In short, he didn’t like any man getting too close to her.

He was a man with a strong sense of possession.

Although Jun Yuyan was possessive, he rarely showed it in an uncomfortable way, which was one of the reasons Murong Jiu liked him.

Murong Jiu herself also needed to avoid creating misunderstandings as much as possible. She was someone who spoke her mind; any misunderstandings would be nipped in the bud before they even started.

Miao Wuxie had stayed with her for nearly an hour, and of course, Jun Yuyan was aware of what happened, but she still needed to bring it up herself, to see what Jun Yuyan planned to do, whether he had a counter-strategy or something else.

"Just let him stay. Weren’t you discussing using the Gu insect to counteract Wang Yingluo’s abilities?"

"Yes, Senior Brother Miao has started implanting the Gu insects into our people today. They are being watched closely so they can react in time when Wang Yingluo uses hypnosis." freewebnσvel.cøm

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a little bird flew in through the window.

This was Miao Wuxie’s bird, usually not let out unless there was urgent news.

Murong Jiu quickly went over, took the note from the bird’s leg, and said to Jun Yuyan, "Wang Yingluo is using her hypnotic abilities! The Gu has stirred."

Jun Yuyan reassured her, "Don’t worry, even if the Gu doesn’t work, someone will come out to interrupt Wang Yingluo’s hypnosis."

She nodded and let the bird fly back.

Elsewhere.

The Palace Maid Fu Rong was kneeling in front of Wang Yingluo, being looked down upon with a vacant gaze, and a pendant swinging left and right in her pupils.

Wang Yingluo asked slowly, "Fu Rong, what was your original name and how many people are there in your family?"

"This servant..."

Wang Yingluo narrowed her eyes.

Fu Rong frowned, rubbing her temples as if in pain.

"Fu Rong, look at me."

The pendant in Wang Yingluo’s hand swung even faster.

Fu Rong’s gaze became vacant and wooden again, with sweat covering the palms of her hands.

"Answer me, what was your original name, and how many people are in your family?"

"My name is Zhou Xiaoyu, and there are ten people in my family."

"Why did you enter the palace?"

"My father and two older brothers worked as long-term laborers. They were hit by falling rocks in the mines and became disabled. They needed expensive medicinal herbs to preserve their lives. There were also several young nephews and nieces at home, and my grandparents were there too. Even making a living was a problem. To earn silver coins, I sold myself into the palace."

Fu Rong answered woodenly, tears falling from her eyes.

Wang Yingluo breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Fu Rong’s hesitation earlier was because she had not been completely hypnotized—but now she was fully under, revealing everything without reserve.

"What is your ambition? Just to earn money? You have been in the palace for two years, haven’t you?"

"I want to earn money! I want to cure my father and brothers, and make life less hard for my mother and sisters, so they don’t have to work so hard from dawn till dusk! I also want to make that family of bullies pay! There will certainly be a Noble Lady willing to help me. Even if I have to work like an ox or a horse for the rest of my life, I am willing!"

Intense hatred blazed in Fu Rong’s eyes.

"They refused to compensate my family, and they even insulted my father and brothers as useless. Even the Official Master protected them!"

"How pitiable."

Wang Yingluo said so with her mouth, but there was not a trace of sympathy in her eyes; instead, she smiled with a curl of her lips.

It would be more difficult to exploit Fu Rong if she didn’t have a bit of ambition—Wang Yingluo was more concerned that someone else might buy her over.

Like Eunuch Li, Fu Rong had seized her last lifeline.

Only she could use a mere sentence to solve the problems they could never solve in their lifetimes.

Eunuch Li must have tried to please the Empress before, but as the master of the harem, would the Empress need his flattery?

It was different for herself, who had just entered the palace, knew nothing, and only had the Emperor as her backer. To choose her was like sending charcoal in snowy weather; to choose the Empress was merely gilding the lily. Everyone knew how to make the right choice.

Fu Rong was even more passive. Having been in the palace for two years, she was just a marginal Palace Maid who rarely even saw the Empress—how could the Empress seek vengeance for her family?

It was also her good fortune that, by some misfortune, she had been assigned to serve Wang Yingluo, and so had her day in the sun. If it weren’t for Wang Yingluo’s support that let her shine in the palace recently—almost overshadowing the head Palace Maid who served the Empress—would she have her current status?

However, Wang Yingluo continued to sway the pendant, speaking in an entrancing tone:

"Fu Rong, tell me, who sent you to my side?"

Fu Rong’s body shook invisibly.

Inside her bloodstream, a Gu insect wriggled frantically, and Miao Wuxie was drenched in sweat.

"It was His Majesty."

Fu Rong said dully.

Not bad at all—those serving around Wang Yingluo were all arranged by Jun Yuyan.

These people were likely not the Empress’s, mostly marginalized eunuchs and palace maids from before.

But they were obedient and could be put to use, which showed how careful Jun Yuyan had been when picking people for her.

How could the Empress get involved here with Wang Yingluo then?

Wang Yingluo collected the pendant with a triumphant expression.

Fu Rong’s gaze remained empty, but her heart was thunderously pounding. She did not know how to react. Eunuch Li had been awakened by Wang Yingluo; as for herself, if Wang Yingluo did not call for her, would she just remain like this or suddenly snap out of it?