Perhaps Emperor Wen is off somewhere having tea.
That's impossible.
But Tang Zhuyun could only lie through her teeth.
Lei Qun said, "Actually, perhaps I'm being petty. Even if the Emperor were here, he would believe the Empress."
Tang Zhuyun wholeheartedly agreed.
We are deeply in love!
It's okay, just tell me.
Being hung up like that must be really nerve-wracking!
"Your Majesty, my grandmother, I mean my biological grandmother; my grandmother from the Lei Family has passed away..." Lei Qun's face showed a brief moment of melancholy.
Tang Zhuyun: Just as I thought.
"My grandmother brought a woman from Nanyue to disguise herself as the Empress... Her skills were superb. Although I had seen the Empress several times, I was still fooled by her on our first meeting."
Tang Zhuyun didn't hide anything from him, saying, "I know about this person's existence."
Lei Qun nodded. "Her Majesty is indeed surrounded by many capable people."
This is the Emperor's most unparalleled favor towards her—whenever it involves her, the Emperor always treats it as a matter of utmost importance.
Lei Qun felt that Tang Zhuyun was worth it.
"They meticulously planned and orchestrated a series of events," Lei Qun said, "Even exploiting the Empress's benevolence."
He wanted to kneel down in shame, but being tied up there, he couldn't, so he could only lower his head.
My grandmother had made two preparations for that assassination attempt.
It would be best if she could kill the Empress; if not, she was certain that the Empress, being sentimental, would plead for her life.
Hearing this, Tang Zhuyun asked, puzzled, "I pleaded for you, and then what?"
At most, they'll just release the Lei Qun.
The old man is quite daring; he actually risked his own grandson's life by betting on his own soft heart.
hehe.
Lei Qun blushed to the roots of his ears, "I shamelessly flatter Your Majesty, wanting to say that my relationship with Your Majesty is as pure as water, and my heart is open and honest..."
Tang Zhuyun nodded.
It's unclear what Lei Qun was thinking, but her appreciation for Lei Qun stemmed mainly from his exceptional skills, kind heart, and desire to do something for vulnerable women.
Tang Zhuyun guessed that Lei Qun's attitude towards her was probably simply that he felt it was a good thing to be able to speak up for women in distress.
Besides that, what else do the two of them have?
"... But there are too few clear-headed people in the world," Lei Qun said. "They want to create a false impression, saying that the Empress pardoned me because she had feelings for me. This is completely fabricated and a deliberate attempt to ruin the Empress's reputation!"
When he got excited, the veins on his forehead bulged.
Damaging someone's reputation is tantamount to taking their life.
Moreover, the other party was the Empress, whom he respected from the bottom of his heart, and Lei Qun was unwilling to collude with her.
My grandmother said that he was of noble birth and should be the emperor.
But wasn't the outcome already decided by my father's generation?
Besides, what's the point of becoming emperor?
For power? For women? For the submission of millions?
No, he didn't want any of those.
He hoped that he was truly a descendant of the Lei Family, inheriting the Lei Family business, living in harmony with his wife, and passing on his skills to his eldest son in the future.
But...
Grandmother wanted to push people into her life.
It wasn't out of consideration for him; it was to monitor him.
My grandmother is obsessed with the throne.
Why?
What good is becoming emperor?
Lei Qun sometimes couldn't help but wonder: was his grandmother's elaborate scheme to put him on the throne to avenge his father, or to support the Nanyue?
He didn't understand; he only felt a sense of heaviness.
I didn't realize it when I was a child, but the older I get, the more I can't help but wonder: does he really have to carry so much burden in his entire life?
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Do you have a good impression of Lei Qun?
Although she admired Lei Qun, in what way could he compare to Emperor Wen?
"They've started spreading rumors everywhere..." Lei Qun gritted his teeth, "They're even trying to slander the Empress, saying she has relationships with other men."
Tang Zhuyun: Got it. Create a female player image for her. She thanked me.
She also realized the purpose of the woman who looked exactly like her...
The next step is to make sure many people see "her" with other men, and she might even be caught in bed with another man.
They could not fool Emperor Wen, but they could fool the people of the world.
Soon her bad reputation will spread like wildfire, known to everyone.
After all, good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast.
People in the capital would discuss the Empress's "romantic affairs" during their leisure time.
Fake?
Debunking the rumors?
Nobody believes it.
People might think the Empress is a vixen who has bewitched so many men; even so, the Emperor still protects her and gives her face.
This further solidified her reputation as a wicked and treacherous empress who brought ruin to the country.
It's truly a series of interconnected events.
They were clever enough to know that their relationship with Emperor Wen was difficult to sow discord, so they came up with the idea of using someone else to do their dirty work, hoping to be drowned in spittle.
"Your Majesty and the Emperor have a deep bond; if anything were to happen to you, the Emperor might not even want the throne himself."
My grandmother once said that the Yuwen Family is full of romantics.
Tang Zhuyun laughed in exasperation.
Emperor Wen didn't want the throne, but he wouldn't hand it over to these demons and monsters!
They have a son!
Is their outstanding son just for show?
Lei Qun said, "I don't want to harm Her Majesty. Her Majesty has the world in her heart and has done so much for all women, without seeking fame or fortune, and without competing for personal gain..."
He doesn't believe what others say; he only believes what he sees with his own eyes.
"Your Majesty, I poisoned that woman, but I don't know if she's still alive! You must find someone to eliminate her, otherwise it will surely ruin your reputation!"
He knew all too well how ruthless his grandmother was.
His grandmother didn't even tell him that much; he found out about it himself later by chance.
If Lei Qun had always wavered between his grandmother's brainwashing and his own conscience, then his grandmother's scheming against the Empress became the final straw that broke him.
Because his beloved grandmother Lei Family, had a very difficult past. As a woman, she fought her way out amidst attacks from various treacherous people in the Lei Family.
--If my grandmother had had the same opportunities as the women in the academy, she could have taken a much smoother path.
Therefore, Lei Qun sincerely admired Tang Zhuyun's courage and execution, and was genuinely willing to do something for the girls' academy.
However, in his grandmother's eyes, there was only power and scheming.
Emperor Wen and the Empress were both working hard to ensure that the people could live in peace and prosperity, and to change the cruel world. However, my grandmother remained stubborn and opinionated.
Lei Qun finally realized what was happening.
He refused to be assigned any further roles.
That led to all the things that happened afterward.
"Your Majesty," Lei Qun said anxiously, "You must find that woman as soon as possible, lest she ruin your reputation beyond repair."
Tang Zhuyun thanked him and said, "I don't understand, why did you have to keep it from the Emperor?"
Lei Qun smiled wryly, "Your Majesty, it's because I'm a man."
Tang Zhuyun was puzzled.
"I said I helped the Empress out of respect, a reason I think no man would believe. But it is indeed the truth."