Chapter 162 – A Time for Retribution

Ye Zhen left with Aunt Cheng. Her cheek was still burning, but, contrary to one might expect, she felt no anger. Lu Wushuang’s slap led to fruitful results.

Sometimes, appearing weak and defenseless could be beneficial.

Lu Wushuang acted headstrong and unruly in front of Mo Rongzhan, which would definitely make him doubt the w.a.n.g fei even more.

However, Ye Zhen received the slap, not for the intention of gaining sympathy from Mo Rongzhan. No, Ye Zhen wanted to go back to the Lu family with her swollen cheek, so that both Old Madam Lu and Lu Lingzhi would know that she had been wronged in the palace.

She has now been able to get along with Lu Lingzhi calmly and rationally and act as his cousin very well. From today’s events, Ye Zhen has never understood a truth so clearly.

If she wants revenge, the only thing she could rely on for the time being is the Lu family and Lu Lingzhi.

With Lu Lingzhi’s position in the court and the Lu family’s sudden rise to n.o.bility, she could go further and get everything she wanted.

Didn’t Lu Lingzhi do the same thing to her when she still lived in her previous body? He disguised himself so well that he cheated her of her trust. At the last moment, he took away her most precious jade pendant and gave her a fatal blow. She learned from his methods—she would gain Lu Lingzhi’s affection as his cousin, and at the last moment, she would flash her sword against his very eyes.

As for how to get Lu Lingzhi’s trust and favor, it would start with Lu Wushuang’s slap on her face.

Lu Wushuang got her present status only because of Lu Lingzhi’s love, so he took away what belonged to Ye Zhen.

Now, it’s time for Ye Zhen’s retribution. She would take away Lu Wushuang’s most precious things bit by bit.

“Aunt Cheng, can you take me to wash my face first? I’m a little embarra.s.sed to see the Empress Dowager in this state now.” Ye Zhen felt grateful to have entered the palace today; otherwise, she would not have such clear and profound consciousness.

After her rebirth, she was clueless about the things she must do and was reluctant to face Lu Wushuang, Lu Lingzhi, who became her family.

Aunt Cheng gave Ye Zhen a concerned look, and only then did she notice the red mark on her face. She nodded in haste, “Third Miss Lu, please follow this handmaiden.”

The handmaiden had seen the w.a.n.g fei Ye several times before. The beautiful w.a.n.g fei was different from other misses in the Ye family. Despite her high status, she was very kind to her servants. At that time, even though the Empress Dowager had a relatively low status in the palace, Ye Zhen secretly let people send things to the Empress Dowager. She was very considerate and filial, not only as a daughter-in-law but as a person in general.

Therefore, the Dowager Empress always praised her and even mourned her death. The palace lost such a kind soul when the w.a.n.g fei died.

If w.a.n.g fei Ye were not born in the Ye family, she would have lived a better life. Aunt Cheng morosely thought.

The Emperor’s scorn for the Ye family was too deep; he refused to accept Ye Zhen in his life.

When the Emperor left for war, the Empress Dowager awaited his return. She intended to tell her son that Ye Zhen was not the unruly and willful woman he thought she was, but the Empress Dowager never had the chance.

Aunt Cheng sighed painfully in her heart. Surprisingly, Third Miss Lu doesn’t only look like the w.a.n.g fei Ye, but also bears similar temperament, which is much more decent than Lu Wushuang.

Aunt Cheng brought Ye Zheninto a vacant room and personally brought her a basin of water and rouge. Ye Zhen then patted her cheek with the water and then put on a layer of makeup.

However, her skin was pearly white, and Lu Wushuang’s slap was full of strength. No matter how she used rouge to cover her face, she could not hide the swelling.

Of course, she didn’t want to cover it up but just wanted to show to Aunt Cheng how much she wants to avoid causing a ruckus by hiding the palmprint.

Seeing her struggle, Aunt Cheng advised her, “Third Miss Lu, the Empress Dowager is still waiting for your return.”

Ye Zhen looked at the elderly lady with some embarra.s.sment and hesitantly put down the rouge. “Aunt Cheng, do I look ugly now?”

Aunt Cheng laughed, her heart softened by this innocent remark, “Third Miss Lu is naturally beautiful, and she is not ugly in any way.”

“Really?” With raised brows and a generous smile. Ye Zhen immediately brightened up.

When she saw her swollen cheek, Aunt Cheng expected that the Third Miss Lu would weep in front of the dowager and ask comfort from her grandma. But instead of doing this, she washed her face in an attempt to conceal from everyone the proof of the w.a.n.g fei’s a.s.sault.

Lu Yaoyao surprised her with her rare and mature temperament.

“Third Miss Lu, let’s go.” Aunt Cheng said with a smile.

Ye Zhen patted her cheek, which was not that red anymore. “Alright, Aunt Cheng.”