Disguised as a man, she became the biggest villain in the book.

Why isn't Chapter 170 considered a success?

Zheng Luoqi was holding the letter that Consort Jiang had handed over from the palace, and was examining it carefully.

Consort Jiang, originally named Jiang Wulin, was the daughter of a court attendant. She fell from the viewing platform during the summer examination at the Imperial Academy and was almost injured by the students. Zheng Luoqi quickly threw out his fan, deflecting the arrows shot at her by the students and saving Jiang Wulin.

Jiang Wulin was watching the game when she was pushed off from behind. The person who pushed her off was her half-sister, Jiang Caiwei.

Jiang Caiwei's mother was the legal wife. Jiang Wulin's mother was originally just a maidservant by Madam Jiang's side. It was only after the court attendant got drunk that he forced Jiang Wulin's mother to give birth to Jiang Wulin.

Jiang Wulin's mother died after giving birth to him. Madam Jiang, remembering the time she had served Jiang Wulin's mother, took Jiang Wulin under her wing.

Although she said she placed him on her lap, Madam Jiang always treated Jiang Wulin like a servant, and Jiang Caiwei also disliked Jiang Wulin's face.

Every time Jiang Caiwei's fiancé came to see her, he would always glance at Jiang Wulin standing to the side. When Jiang Caiwei noticed this, she would get angry and take it out on Jiang Wulin every time.

Jiang Wulin originally thought that she would just live out her life like that.

Who knew that on that occasion at the Imperial Academy, Jiang Caiwei took her out as usual, treating her like a servant in front of the other noble ladies, and even thinking of teasing Jiang Wulin. But she accidentally pushed Jiang Wulin off the stage.

Then she met Zheng Luoqi. After learning that she had been saved by Zheng Luoqi, a revenge plan arose in Jiang Wulin's mind. She saw a glimmer of hope and decided to take a gamble.

Then, risking his life, he approached Zheng Luoqi, who at the time was struggling with who to recruit as an informant for the palace's selection of concubines. Jiang Wulin then offered himself up.

Zheng Luoqi highly praised Jiang Wulin's courage and boldness.

This is precisely the key reason why Zheng Luoqi and Jiang Wulin collaborated, since ordinary people wouldn't dare to approach Zheng Luoqi casually.

Therefore, Jiang Wulin willingly became Zheng Luoqi's spy in the harem; in exchange, Zheng Luoqi promised to help Jiang Wulin completely eliminate the Jiang family.

With Zheng Luoqi's help, it would be a simple matter for Jiang Wulin to replace Jiang Caiwei in the palace.

Consort Jiang is now very much favored by Xue Huaiyu, and the relationship between Xue Huaiyu and Chen Xianlin is not the same as before. How can it not be considered a success?

In the letter sent by Consort Jiang, Zheng Luoqi learned that after Chen Tongyu learned that Chen Xianlin was unable to have children, he sent many daughters of officials who were also part of the imperial faction into the palace for Chen Xianlin to take care of.

Chen Tongyu no longer has any daughters to send into the palace. Although Chen Xianlin can no longer have children, she is still a Noble Consort. It is not unreasonable to have someone adopt another daughter into Chen Xianlin's family in the future, so that the glory of the Chen family can continue.

Zheng Luoqi laughed out loud when she saw this. It wouldn't matter who Chen Tongyu sent to the palace now. Not only could his daughter not have children, but the Imperial Hospital also had people from the Prime Minister's residence. Zheng Luoqi already knew that the Empress Dowager had drugged Xue Huaiyu.

However, during Zheng Luoqi's absence, the number of people in the harem did increase significantly. Xue Huaiyu no longer favored Chen Xianlin as much as before and gradually shifted his attention to other concubines. Chen Tongyu also indirectly helped Zheng Luoqi.

If we were to say which concubine could be compared to Chen Xianlin today, it would undoubtedly be Lin Wanwan. Lin Wanwan came from a prestigious family with an illustrious background.

Moreover, Lin Wanwan was healthy, without illness or pain, and could bear children. In addition, in Xue Huaiyu's eyes, Lin Wanwan was a gentle and quiet person who never competed with others for anything.

With all these advantages combined, Lin Wanwan quickly became Xue Huaiyu's next focus.

However, despite Xue Huaiyu's overly attentive advances, Lin Wanwan remained indifferent and aloof, seemingly uninterested in his advances.

As time went on, Xue Huaiyu went from finding it quite challenging at first to gradually finding it boring, so he turned his attention elsewhere—to Consort Jiang.

For some reason, Xue Huaiyu always felt that only when he was by Consort Jiang's side could he truly feel comfortable and at ease.

After the number of women in the harem increased, Xue Huaiyu gradually stopped focusing his attention on Chen Xianlin.

However, Ye Churan visited and cared for Chen Xianlin more and more often, but Xue Huaiyu was completely unaware of this.

Zheng Luoqi felt that their love triangle might continue, and it would be best if their relationship broke down one day.

If Xue Huaiyu loses Ye Churan's help, he really won't be able to make a ripple at all, and even if he were given two more Chen families, it wouldn't make a difference.

As it stands, only Ye Churan seems to have any brains. Xue Huaiyu is only thinking about taking power from others, not about how to make people willingly follow him.

Chen Xianlin initially aimed for the position of head of the six palaces, but now that Xue Huaiyu is no longer willing to give it to her, she probably won't give up so easily.

Ye Churan is also the devoted second male lead and protector of the female lead in the original novel, and we don't know what he will do for her.

Zheng Luoqi thought about this and felt that there would be a lot of exciting dramas to watch in the future.

After reading the letter sent by Consort Jiang, Zheng Luoqi burned it.

Zheng Luoqi was pondering where to begin: the Pei family? The Chen family? The Lin family? Or should she deal with the Jiang family for Consort Jiang first?

At this moment, Zheng Luoqi suddenly noticed the letter that Pei Wenyu had brought to her. The letter was written by Pei Wenyu asking Zheng Luoqi for the antidote.

There weren't many words on it, just two: "antidote".

Zheng Luoqi's lips curled into a wicked smile: "How can you act like a dog if you don't behave like one? I remember Pei Wenyu has some younger siblings, right?"

................

A few days later

Outside the capital, on a wide official road, a magnificent and imposing carriage was slowly approaching. The carriage shafts were carved with exquisite patterns, and the wheels rolled forward with a soft creaking sound.

As the carriage drew closer to the city gate, a faint sound came from inside.

Then, the curtain was gently lifted slightly, and the face of a young man slowly peeked out.

This man had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and his features bore a striking resemblance to Pei Wenyu.

His eyes shone brightly as he surveyed the magnificent capital city before him with great interest.

This man was Pei Wenzhao, Pei Wenyu's younger brother. It had indeed been quite a few years since he had set foot in the capital.

Looking back, I remember visiting this place once with my father when I was just an ignorant teenager, but now, revisiting it, I feel a different kind of emotion.

This trip to the capital was by imperial decree. It is said that the Prime Minister advised the Emperor to summon all the school-age children of officials of the fifth rank and above to the capital for intensive education.

In this way, these children will surely become pillars of the court in the future and better serve the emperor.