When Zhou Weiqi brought up Han Zhi, he subtly furrowed his brows and hesitated as he looked at his mother. "This is the only time in his life that he's asked you for something... He's always been loyal to us, dedicated to the point of disregarding his own safety. He's sacrificed everything, even his dignity. Such a loyal person, asking for a wife he truly desires just this once, yet we won't grant it. Isn't that a bit too harsh?"

  Consort Fan y on her side in a rocking chair, gncing at Zhou Weiqi with a hint of a smile. Her voice, as always, held a soft allure—even though her words were chilling: "At first, I wasn't against granting his wish. But didn't he ruin his chances with that future wife himself? Opportunities, once missed, don't come again. Besides, aren't you aware of the wonder that is Sixth Miss Song? Having her is like possessing a living treasure. Just the Cui cn and the Song family behind her would allow you peace of mind."

  Otherwise, why would the Chen family be so desperate to bring down the Cui cn? It's because the Cui family's growing influence has started to threaten his interests in the Northwest and his standing in the Eastern Pace. Showing compassion in politics and officialdom is a sure path to ruin!

  After this major csh, the Song and Cui families had truly proven themselves as loyal subjects before Emperor Jianzhang—willing to risk their lives and fortunes to expose Zhang Tianhe for the Northwest matters, with Ye Jingkuan's assistance pushing things along...

  Thinking of this, a sharp glint crossed her eyes—the Cui family seemed more inclined to lean toward Zhou Weizhao.

  Zhou Weiqi shared her thoughts. Even Grand Secretary Chen couldn't bring down the Cui and Song families, so people would naturally form their judgments in the future. At least for now, no one would dare y a hand on the Song family.

  Besides, Sixth Miss Song did seem to be a lucky star. Though Master Yuanhui was a revered monk, both Zhou Weiqi and Consort Fan knew whose side he leaned toward. Saying Sixth miss Song was a "camitous star"? Yet, she'd led the Song and Cui families past one crisis after another.

  With a bnk expression, Zhou Weiqi nodded and said to Consort Fan seriously, "I'll speak to my cousin. Apart from Sixth Miss Song, he can have any other noble daughter he desires. Mother, please also speak to Aunt and have her try to persuade him."

  Consort Fan's gaze was icy, and her smile lost its usual charm, repced with pure mockery and scorn—Speak? Why bother? In Han Zhi's eyes, Lady Fan was nothing more than the heartless, insane woman who once tried to poison him herself. Such a person wouldn't be alive if she weren't needed to bind the Fan and Han families together.

  As Zhou Weiqi left, her personal maid, Nanny Fang, stepped forward to massage her shoulders gently, sighing, "You shouldn't push her too hard. Even a rabbit bites when cornered. A woman's strength comes from being a mother..."

  The Japanese envoy this time was a legitimate delegation sent by a prominent daimyo to seek marriage with a princess, who would need to bring a retinue. While other noble dies would do anything to avoid such a position, Lady Fan was considering sending Han Yueheng.

  Nanny Fang, who had served Consort Fan since their days in Xingyang, knew her temperament well. She could have allowed Han Yueheng to live more comfortably; if not to marry into the imperial family as a royal consort, she could at least marry into a suitable noble family. But Consort Fan refused to relent. She squeezed every drop from Han Zhi and Lady Fan and wouldn't even spare Han Yueheng, willing to send her off as a mere companion, exiled from home, severed from her kin.

  Consort Fan let out a disdainful scoff, her expression turning colder. "Bite me? I'd like to see her try. Her mother couldn't defeat mine back in the day. Do you think she can stand a chance against me?"

  In the Marquis of Jinxiang's estate, she was nothing more than a decoration, a pawn used to keep Han Zhengqing bound. If it weren't for these two advantages, she would have been long dead, right after giving birth to Han Zhi over a decade ago.

  Nanny Fang lowered her head, her hands continuing to work, though her face involuntarily showed a trace of worry. The young dy hadn't learned much else but had mastered her mother's sharpness, hypocrisy, and double-faced demeanor to perfection. While it was good to have cunning and means, a heart too cold and bitter was far from ideal; those under her were all filled with reverence, but few felt any warmth toward her. Even Nanny Fang, who had raised her since childhood, felt more fear than affection and, in times of trouble, would rather turn to the Prince than seek her help.

  The Empress had always been perceptive. Men might struggle to see through women, but women saw each other clearly, and because of this, the Empress had always kept a polite distance from the young dy...

  Thinking of her children back in Xingyang, and her husband still living under Consort Fan's authority there, Nanny Fang gathered her courage to gently remind her, "These matters, Madam never permitted them to be discussed at home... It happened so many years ago. My Lady is magnanimous; why trouble yourself over a dead person? If the Second Young Miss were to find out..."

  If Lady Fan learned that the woman she'd called "Mother" for over thirty years wasn't her real mother, it might drive her to madness. She'd suffered too much over the years; if even her st shred of soce vanished, with her son turned into a pawn and her daughter sent far away, never to reunite—who knew what she might do?

  Consort Fan, listening with a trace of restrained impatience, finally leaned back in her chair and looked expressionlessly at her own painted red nails. The fact that Lady Fan's mother had once climbed into her father's bed, only to raise her child as a legitimate daughter, naive, lively, and adored—this had always been a sore spot for her.

  Since learning the truth on her coming-of-age day at fifteen, she had instinctively despised this simple, naive fool who loved to act coquettish. And when Lady Fan came to the capital and gained fame with her "High Mountains and Flowing Waters" performance, it was even more unbearable.

  For a maid's daughter to live as the legitimate daughter under the main wife's name for over a decade was fortune enough. After basking in a life of privilege and peace for so many years, it was only fitting that she should now pay the price.

  Consort Fan's mother had raised her for over ten years, given her the respect and status of a legitimate daughter, and allowed her to marry into the Marquis of Jinxiang's family as the dy of the house. Whatever she sacrificed in the future would be her duty and her rightful debt.