Chapter 120: The Performance of a Lifetime

On the surface, Yueying appeared as a pitiful, coerced victim, but in reality, she recounted every detail of Shangguan Qinglan’s instructions with meticulous precision.

Of course, she didn’t hesitate to add a bit of “oil and vinegar” to the story, embellishing the facts here and there.

After all, the stage belonged to the one who was performing.

Eldest Miss Shangguan was currently lying unconscious and stark naked in front of the entire crowd—it wasn’t like she could suddenly leap up and stop her. Even if she did, Yueying wasn’t afraid. At worst, she would just claim she had been too nervous and misremembered the details. She had the Empress Regnant backing her, after all.

As for her secret identity as a mole planted in the palace by the Shangguan family, Yueying had no intention of revealing that just yet.

Although Her Majesty had said it was time to close the net, Yueying felt that whether that net actually tightened depended largely on Shangguan Liqian’s attitude.

If Miss Shangguan pleaded for mercy, Her Majesty might very well continue to suppress her temper and maintain this disgusting facade with the Shangguan family. If the Empress was willing to play along, a small fry like Yueying certainly couldn’t afford to be the one to break the illusion.

She couldn’t cut off her own retreat so recklessly, so a bit of disguise was still necessary.

At the very least, she needed the Shangguan family to believe her identity hadn’t been compromised and that she still possessed utility. That way, no matter what she said now, the Shangguan family would have to swallow their anger and accept it.

As for what happened later… she would worry about that later.

Right now, her desire to perform was at its peak. She was going to enjoy this show to the fullest!

Under Yueying’s masterful performance, the few members of the Shangguan family who knew her true identity were furious, yet they didn’t dare push her too hard. They were terrified that if they rattled her, she would lose her composure and spill everything.

If the Empress found out that Yueying was a mole planted in the palace by the Shangguan family, the consequences… would be far worse than what they were facing now!

Thus, in the face of Yueying’s accusations, the family members in the know remained silent. Those who wanted to argue were forcefully suppressed by their elders.

The current situation was already disastrous for the Shangguan family; they could not afford to let things spiral further out of control.

As for Shangguan Qinglan, since she was destined to be a Discarded Pawn, there was no reason to let the family suffer further for her sake.

…Even her own biological brother shared this sentiment.

The rest of the Shangguan family had no idea why the patriarch and his sons weren’t refuting the maid’s words, but no one wanted to draw fire to themselves at such a moment—except for Madam Shangguan.

She was Shangguan Qinglan’s biological mother!

Just as she was about to argue and defend her daughter, Shangguan Wanqing leaned in and whispered something into her ear. Madam Shangguan’s face turned ashen instantly.

The flickering flame of determination to fight for her daughter died out.

It was true; Qinglan wasn’t her only child. She was a mother, and she had to consider the future of her other children as well.

But her poor Qinglan…

Luo Wushuang took in the reactions of the Shangguan family, a trace of knowing mockery flashing in her eyes.

The cold-bloodedness and selfishness of hypocrites were being performed to perfection by this family. As expected, self-preservation and avoiding harm were the strongest human instincts.

So what if they were blood relatives? So what if she had been pampered since childhood and enjoyed every luxury? In the end, wasn’t she just a piece that could be discarded at will?

As Yueying continued her rhythmic, dramatic narration, the crowd finally pieced together the full story. They couldn’t help but exchange bewildered glances.

“This…”

The Shangguan family really knew how to put on a show. The Legitimate Eldest Miss, driven by jealousy of her concubine-born sister, had actually hired someone in the palace to ruin the girl’s purity.

Didn’t Shangguan Qinglan know that this younger sister was the person Her Majesty cherished most? The Empress had even considered appointing her as Empress Consort…

Was the Eldest Miss tired of having a head on her shoulders, or did she think her Nine Clans were living too comfortably?

Fortunately, Her Majesty was wise and eagle-eyed. She hadn’t allowed this wicked woman’s plot to succeed. Otherwise, who knew if the rest of them would have been implicated?

How fortunate! Truly fortunate!

After the initial relief, someone in the crowd muttered, “Shangguan Qinglan deserves this ending. She isn’t being wronged at all!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd voiced their agreement. The gazes directed at Shangguan Qinglan and the rest of her family were filled with disdain and contempt.

A grand Chancellor, yet the children he raised were so beneath contempt. Shangguan Qingyun truly lacked the ability to discipline his own household.

The ancients said, “Cultivate oneself, put the family in order, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.” If Chancellor Shangguan couldn’t even handle the filth within his own home, how was he fit to be a role model for the civil service?

Because of Shangguan Qinglan’s scandal, Shangguan Qingyun’s already unstable position as Chancellor, which had been wavering for years, shook once more.

Several officials who had long coveted his position exchanged subtle glances, reaching a silent consensus.

They would pull this old dog down from his pedestal first. Afterward… they would compete for the seat based on their own merits.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Shangguan Qingyun frowned. He instinctively looked toward “his people” in the imperial court.

When they met his gaze—a gaze clearly seeking help—the officials of the Shangguan faction all looked away in unison.

While they might have been close friends with the Chancellor or shared financial interests in the past… that was then. After today, things would be different.

Any person with eyes could see that today’s events were likely orchestrated by the Empress Regnant herself. Otherwise, who else had the power to quietly neutralize a plot against Miss Shangguan while simultaneously ensuring the culprit, Shangguan Qinglan, suffered the consequences?

It had to be the Empress.

However, remembering the rumors that the Empress intended to crown Shangguan Liqian as her Empress Consort, they felt a wave of confusion. If the Empress wanted to marry into the family, why was she targeting the Shangguans so ruthlessly?

These men, who prided themselves on their political sensitivity, found themselves unable to grasp the Empress’s intentions. They only felt a vague sense of foreboding… that the winds of the world were about to change.

[Xiaobai: Hahaha! Even the smartest old foxes in politics can’t fathom the mind of a love-struck fool…]