"Actually, Your Majesty, there’s no need to be so courteous with the Zui Family. They’re taking advantage and trying to use you as a stepping stone," the nanny said to Zui Yiming.

This nanny had followed Zui Yiming from the Zui Family.

However, she really couldn’t stand the people of the Zui Family and truly felt sorry for Zui Yiming. She was the one who investigated the matters of the Zui Family, uncovering not just a small part. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Back when the Empress was still Princess Consort Niu, she had the nanny secretly investigate the Zui Family.

As a result, she discovered an enormous secret: Empress Zui Yiming was not actually the daughter of the Zui Family but was adopted by the head of the Zui Family from outside.

This revelation shocked her; after all, she had been by Zui Yiming’s side ever since she was a little child, even before she could walk, yet she hadn’t known about this.

Evidently, there must be some unspeakable purpose hidden in all of this.

Although she came from the Zui Family, she was now by the Empress’s side, and naturally, her loyalty lay with the Empress. She truly looked down on the people of the Zui Family.

"Heh heh."

Zui Yiming merely let out a cold chuckle.

Back when she was still Princess Consort Niu, the Emperor used to carouse with Yin Lvqing all the time to deceive him.

At that time, she suggested bringing Zui Yichun into Prince Niu’s Mansion. However, her so-called ’good’ parents were utterly unwilling; their only thought was to marry Zui Yichun to Prince Rui.

This was because, at that time, Prince Rui seemed most likely to become the next king of the Ziyan Kingdom.

They probably never imagined that Prince Niu, who had always ignored state affairs and focused on finding women outside, would ascend to the throne and rule the entire Ziyan Kingdom.

So now, they have the idea to use her to get Zui Yichun into the palace, hoping the Emperor would make her a consort.

"Make her a consort? Their ambitions are quite grand!" she laughed.

"I’m afraid their plans go beyond merely making Fifth Miss a consort, Your Majesty," the nanny reminded her softly.

The ambitions of the Zui Family were vast, and if Zui Yichun truly entered the palace, who knows what means she might employ. At that time, the inner palace would plunge into chaos, and even the Emperor might neglect the Empress because she allowed Zui Yichun into the palace.

"What, do they plan for me to relinquish my position as Empress to Zui Yichun?" Zui Yiming laughed coldly, having long been disappointed with the Zui Family.

"This..."

The nanny was at a loss for words, stumped by her question.

"Logically, as you are also a daughter of the Zui Family, they shouldn’t have such thoughts, but..."

After all, Zui Yichun was the biological daughter of the Zui Family couple, whereas Zui Yiming was not. Which parents wouldn’t stand by their biological daughter?

"It seems they might have already sensed something, knowing that the West Palace assigned you to investigate your lineage," Zui Yiming spoke thoughtfully.

"How could that be?"

The nanny turned pale, thinking it unlikely.

She had been exceedingly cautious when investigating, so the Zui Family shouldn’t have detected anything.

"Your Majesty, could you be overthinking it? They’re likely just considering their daughter’s future. Perhaps they have other motives?"