Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

The night was deep and silent.

The Empress had not yet rested.

She lay on the wind bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Her heart felt empty and occasionally a wave of panic surged through, as if she had an ominous premonition.

A light footstep approached, and the door was slowly pushed open.

There was always an oil lamp left on in the Empress's room.

She thought it was her personal palace maid coming to add oil to the lamp and did not pay much attention.

It wasn't until the footsteps stopped inside the room and lingered that she softly asked, "What is it?"

"Can't I come to see my sister-in-law without a reason?"

In the darkness, the unhurried voice of Meng Qianqian rang out, like a heavy blow striking the Empress's heart.

The Empress sat up, lifted the curtain, and looked closely, her brow furrowing.

Meng Qianqian was wearing Lu Fengyin's clothes and using Lu Fengyin's voice, but her face was clearly not Lu Fengyin's.

The Empress recognized this face even if it turned to ash.

On the Empress's face flashed shock, complexity, suspicion…

After a long while, she said dazedly, "Who exactly... are you?"

"Sister-in-law, have you already forgotten Fengyin?"

Meng Qianqian walked to the incense burner and gently fanned the warm incense, "The calming incense Fengyin prepared for you, does sister-in-law still like it?"

The Empress felt a chill down her spine, "No wonder I have been so lethargic and sleepy lately, thinking it was due to physical weakness, but it turns out it was your doing! You've truly eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall, daring to impersonate the Eldest Princess of Great Liang and drug me! Are you aware… this is a crime punishable by extermination of your entire family!"

"Oh, Empress, Empress."

Meng Qianqian reverted to her own voice, "Your sister-in-law has been impersonated, and your first reaction is to be indignant and outraged, feeling deceived. Shouldn't you first be concerned about Lu Fengyin's whereabouts? Or perhaps all these years your affection for her has just been a show for His Majesty? An elder sister-in-law is like a mother, truly a joke!"

The Empress's gaze cooled, yet after all, she had been through many trials and tribulations, and even though she had been hit right on the mark, she didn't show a trace of panic.

"What have you done to Fengyin? She is His Majesty's own sister, if you dare to harm her, His Majesty will not spare you lightly!"

Meng Qianqian said, "Now you show concern for her, but it's too late. Instead of worrying about me, why not think about how you might end well yourself, Empress? I won't be executed, but it's not certain for you."

The Empress frowned, deeply scrutinizing Meng Qianqian, contemplating the underlying meaning of her words.

Meng Qianqian met her piercing gaze and said airily, "I hold grudges, and the Empress has harmed me multiple times; these accounts must be settled clearly with the Empress."

The Empress said coldly, "You say I harmed you, do you have evidence?"

Meng Qianqian said directly, "No."

The Empress sneered.

Meng Qianqian went on, "I have no evidence, but I have news related to the Empress."

The Empress said indifferently, "I'm not interested in your news."

Meng Qianqian smiled, "Oh? Not even about Great General Hu?"

The Empress's expression paused, unable to hide her surprise as she looked at Meng Qianqian, "What exactly…"

Meng Qianqian said, "I know nothing, I've just come to deliver a piece of good news to the Empress. The Black Armor Army has won a great victory over the Hu Family's Rebel Army, beheading Hu Lie, and has returned triumphantly to the city at midnight."

The Empress's face drained of color.

-

The sky seemed light yet not light, the firmament was a gray melancholy color.

Emperor Liang was gravely injured in the underground palace, and after returning to the palace, he had caused quite a stir in Jinluan Palace. After returning to the Diligent Governance Hall, he immediately lay down to rest.

Half awake and half dreaming, he vaguely felt someone approaching his bedside.

He opened his eyes cautiously, only to see the Empress holding a bowl of medicinal soup, looking at him with tear-filled eyes.

"Your Majesty..."

The Empress choked up.

Emperor Liang's expression softened, "Why has the Empress come?"

With genuine emotion, the Empress said, "I heard that Your Majesty returned to the palace, so I specifically came to see Your Majesty."

Emperor Liang said, "You yourself are unwell, from what little nine says you've been bedridden for many days, it's been hard on you."

The Empress hesitated, "Little nine…"

Emperor Liang remembered something and explained, "Ah, it's Fengyin, she impersonated Fengyin as a temporary measure, the Empress need not worry."

The Empress smiled self-deprecatingly, "Your Majesty once adored Fengyin the most, now someone impersonated him, I thought Your Majesty would be angry."

Emperor Liang didn't want to discuss this matter with the Empress further, so he changed the subject, "I'm fine, you go back and rest."

The Empress asked calmly, "Little nine… didn't mention me to Your Majesty?"

Rare warmth crossed Emperor Liang's brow, "She did say you treat Fengyin very well. She is a bit envious of Fengyin, actually, if she were willing, I could treat her as my own granddaughter."

Typically sparing with words, Emperor Liang became unexpectedly talkative when mentioning a little girl, making the Empress feel unfamiliar with this version of him.