?

  Li Ying looked at Zheng Yu's increasingly haggard and gloomy face, clearly knowing that if her good friend continued like this, she would truly be ruined. So, she had already prepared herself, and this time, even if it meant severing ties with Zheng Yu, she wanted to wake her up. Of course, the reason she was so brave was also because now the Li family's power was gradually increasing, while the Zheng family was gradually declining, and Zheng Yu had become an object of ridicule for the entire city behind her back, so she didn't need to care too much about her relationship with Zheng Yu anymore.

  Li Ying looked at Zheng Yu and said solemnly, "Ayu, it's not worth dragging on like this, let's get a divorce. After the divorce, Yang Jing or Li Yuan would both be good matches. You won't lose out to Gao Changgong by much." Of course, that last sentence was meant to comfort her. Those people from before were only slightly inferior to Gao Changgong, but now they can't even compare.

  Zheng Yu's face looked terrible.

  She doesn't like others mentioning this. She always feels that everyone who says this is not kind-hearted, but rather comforting her on the surface while actually ridiculing her.

  Do they know how much she has paid? Their words are easy to say, but when it comes to their turn, can they still be so nonchalant?

  Seeing Zheng Yu's dark face and silence, another noblewoman poked Li Ying, signaling her to shut up.

  Li Ying didn't shut her mouth, she looked at Zheng Yu seriously and said slowly: "A Yu, you also said that Gao Chang Gong is a single-minded person. In the past, he believed in you with all his heart, later he loved Zhang Shi, and then he continued to love her. Since you understand him so well, can you tell me if he has the possibility of changing his mind?"

  Before Zheng Yu could speak, Li Ying said resolutely: "You're actually very clear about it. From the moment that cheap woman pretended to die on your wedding night, she inserted a knife between you and Chang Gong! Not just you, but also this Lanling Wangfu in Yecheng where you currently reside, every time he sees it, his heart aches!"

  This remark was too direct, even Autumn Princess couldn't bear it, she frequently glanced at Li Ying with a warning look, hinting her to shut up.

  Li Ying didn't waver, thinking that no matter whether Zheng Yu remembered the grudge or not, they had been friends for many years. Someone had to clearly wake her up. Now that Gao Changgong's reputation was getting more and more attention, the Zheng family had finally climbed to a high branch and were even more reluctant to let go. Of course, she wouldn't advise Zheng Yu to let go either.

  Although Princess Qiu knew this, she was a person who spoke without reason. To persuade someone to do something, one had to take matters into their own hands. Even if it meant that Zheng Yu would turn against her from then on.

  She stared at Zheng Yu without blinking, ignoring her pale face. Li Ying continued: "Ayu, you're guarding that mansion, guarding a title, is it really that interesting? Autumn Princess is also here, if you want to divorce, we'll all go to the Emperor and ask, he will definitely agree. After the divorce, you'll be a fine young woman again, riding horses and traveling freely, where won't you be comfortable? Moreover, until now, Yang Jing still hasn't married. Although he has taken in two concubines and raised a group of maidservants, and is also pursuing other noblewomen, if Zheng Yu wants to turn back, he will definitely be delighted."

  ...can't be picky, among all the Junyans in the city, Yang Jing is considered one of the best and most excellent. Of course, Gao Changgong is an exception.

  Zheng You's face remained dark. Seeing her expression, Li Ying continued to speak, and she became annoyed, saying heavily: "I won't divorce!" She sneered, saying: "What's the point of divorcing? To make way for that cheap woman? Let everyone in the world laugh at me, pointing at that cheap woman and saying, 'That's the queen whom Lanling King insisted on remarrying no matter what'?"

  She raised her chin proudly and said, "It's great now. She used to be the queen of last week, but what about now? Just a nameless and insignificant concubine! Bah! A lowly thing, she didn't want to be a good queen, but instead chose to degrade herself! I hate her to the bone, why should I help her? Why should I let her have a good life, with status and wealth, just like you and me, living a glorious and dignified life, wherever we go, people will greet us with respect?" She had another sentence that she didn't say out loud. Among Yang Jing's people, who could compare to Gao Changong? After divorcing Gao Changong and marrying Yang Jing, a man without royal title, military power, or prestige, would she have to bow to Zhang Shi, that lowly woman, whenever they met in the palace or on the road? Would she have to step aside and let her go first? When people talked about Gao Changong's achievements and honors, would that lowly person get to enjoy the glory?

  If it were given to someone else, then it would be gone, but after giving it up, the position of queen would have to be given to that lowly person, she would rather die than do so!

  Zheng Yu's words left the noble ladies stunned. What she said did sound reasonable.

  It was also the autumn princess who thought that if one day, that lowly born private concubine became the Lanling King's consort, wouldn't she be on an equal footing with herself from then on, wouldn't she have a retinue of servants attending to her every need, and wouldn't she too have a share in the New Year's ceremony at the palace?

  It's simply an unimaginable humiliation. If it were some other concubine who had received such honor, they would have just watched with envy. But thinking that the person was someone they despised and looked down upon, someone they had always trampled underfoot like Zhang Shi and Qiu Gongzhu, made them feel as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed a fly.

  Li Ying stretched her mouth.

  She had prepared a flood of words to say when she came, but now they were all blocked. For the time being, she also felt that Zheng Yu's words seemed reasonable and unreasonable at the same time, but she couldn't find out where they were unreasonable for the time being.

  After a moment of silence in the carriage, a delicate noblewoman giggled and said: "Ah, we've arrived at Tianxiang Building, let's go eat something to fill our stomachs."

  "Let's go down."

  At this moment, a group of people walked towards Tianxiang Building.

  Tian Xiang Lou is one of the most famous restaurants in Ye City. What it's best at are pastries and various beverages, plus there are private rooms designed specifically for noblewomen, so they're very popular among these noblewomen.

  It's New Year's now, and Tianxiang Building is packed with people. Autumn Princess had to use her threats and bribes to get a private room. However, the location of this private room isn't ideal - there are other rooms on all sides, and they're all bustling with noise.

  There was no other way, this was the only room available, so the noble ladies reluctantly sat down.

  As they entered, the specially assigned handsome young waiters flowed in like a stream, burning incense and cooking wine in the elegant room, hanging up beaded curtains, and then standing there with their heads bowed to serve.

  Qin women are expensive and have the same rights as their husbands. They can even secretly meet with a handsome young man, without the knowledge of men, for a one-night stand.

  As soon as the wine was served, Zheng Yu stood up with a smile and poured a cup of wine for Li Ying. In a gentle voice, she said: "Ah Ying, I know you're doing this for my own good, but I just can't save face. Don't blame me. Let's drink this wine." This is Zheng Yu, even if she's not happy, she will take the initiative to show weakness. Although it's hard for her to forgive others in her heart.

  Knowing this, Li Ying was also moved. She hastily picked up the wine cup and smiled: "Don't say that, A Yu, it's my fault for speaking too rashly, I'm really glad you're not angry with me." After saying that, she drank the wine in one gulp.

  At this time, Zheng Yu poured another cup of wine for Qiu Gongzhu and said: "A Qiu, you have always taken care of me, I know it all." After drinking the wine with the delighted Qiu Gongzhu, she turned to other noble ladies.

  But in a moment of fragrance. The noble ladies were laughing and chatting with Zheng Yu again, and the subtle dislike that had been rising for her on this road also disappeared completely.

  After drinking so many cups, Zheng Yu also felt a bit tipsy. She quickly sat down, eating pastries while forcing herself to smile and listen to their interesting stories.

  Just as it was getting lively, a loud voice suddenly came from a side room. "Now that Zhou Ren is here, he's extremely respectful of our Prince Langya."

  They were still discussing that battle, and didn't think it was outdated. Autumn Princess muttered to herself and ignored them.

  Suddenly, another person spoke out loudly: "Reverence? Reverence is secondary, the main thing is fear! Is there something you all know?" The man paused for a moment. His voice slightly lowered, and he said with a hint of pride: "It's said that Gao Changgong defeated the Turks with 50,000 men, and after sweeping away the shame of the Zhou kingdom, he took the beloved concubine of the Zhou king and swaggered around inside the Zhou kingdom."

  He saw the eyes cast around him and his interest was greatly aroused. He spoke in a tone that was like reading a book, with a rise and fall of pitch.

  The atmosphere in the hall became much quieter, and everyone was listening to his words. The man's voice rose again as he continued: "When he arrived at Jingzhou, what did you say happened? Haha, that governor of Jingzhou and a king of Zhou Guo immediately had ideas when they knew Gao Changgong had arrived."

  The surroundings gradually quieted down, and even Zheng Yu's side heard the fresh news coming over there, and they were also listening intently.

  In the gaze of those looking up at him, the man's voice became more undulating, "Guess what they're thinking?" Amidst a string of "I don't know"s and "Hurry up and say it", the man made a few clicking sounds with his tongue and said: "Actually, if you all think carefully about what's going to happen next, you can probably guess. Think about it, how stunningly beautiful is that Zhang woman? She's one of the most beautiful women in the world, if she weren't so breathtakingly beautiful, would that Zheng imperial concubine still be holding on to her widowhood till now?"

  As soon as she heard this, Zheng Yu's face turned pale, and reflexively, she looked at Autumn Princess. However, she saw that Autumn Princess was still intently listening, seemingly unaware of the humiliation she had just suffered. She couldn't help but bite her lip, secretly annoyed in her heart.

  In the midst of this hubbub, the voice outside grew more and more complacent, "Now you know, don't you? That Governor of Jingzhou and that royal highness of Zhou thought highly of Zhangshi, and also thought that our King of Lanling was brave and good at fighting, making Zhou almost without an opponent, so they wanted to get him killed..."

  As soon as this was said, a buzz of discussion erupted all around, like boiling water suddenly coming to the boil.

  In the midst of the commotion, everyone urged the man to continue. The man had been proud just a moment before, but now he was a bit hesitant. After a while, he said: "Then, our King of Lang didn't know what kind of magic he used, not only did he force two high-ranking officials of Zhou to treat him as their grandfather, but now the entire officialdom of Zhou would retreat three houses upon hearing the name 'Gao Changgong'. The Zhang family was so beautiful that they were afraid to look at them even once."

  He snorted twice, and the man couldn't help but say: "Our King of Lanling is indeed a sentimental person. He went to great lengths for that woman. I heard that those people from Zhou, they treated Zhangshi with utmost respect, even the highest officials would lower their heads and not dare look her straight in the eye. They were afraid that if they accidentally lost their composure, our King of Lanling would take revenge on them."