Shen Youxia's tone was even lighter, so light that it was hard to discern the intonation, but the meaning behind it was crystal clear.

  The empress sighed inwardly, this girl was indeed too clever for her own good. How could the people in their clan have thought she was simple, naive and easy to control before?

  Yes, what a sight the Shen family is. She's clearer than anyone else about that. The reason why the people in the clan didn't stop Shen Youxia from pursuing Zhu Yunyan, and after what happened, she insisted on marrying them off despite everyone's objections, is simply because the Shen family has already declined.

  They urgently need a new master. Only when the new master takes office can the Shen family continue to rank among the four major families by virtue of their meritorious service to the dragon.

  What backing the Shen family has, she is clear about it, and Zhu Yunyan is also clear about it. So when the Shen family threw an olive branch at Zhu Yunyan, Zhu Yunyan didn't even give it a glance, because this is the Shen family, not the Dingguo Marquis Manor.

  The decision made by the Dingguo Marquis's estate represents the Shen family's decision, but the Shen family's decision cannot represent the Dingguo Marquis's estate. Only by marrying the Dingguo Marquis's legitimate daughter to Zhu Yunyan can the Dingguo Marquis's estate be forced to get into bed with Zhu Yunyan, and the Shen family can enjoy the benefits that come with it.

  In the past, Shen Youxia didn't know that she would also spend those dark days in a big prison after a long, long time, when she was using all her strength to crash into the wall, and when she was reborn and rearranging her thoughts.

  She has just realized the subtlety and mind games involved.

  "If he becomes the crown prince, you will be the crown princess; if he becomes the emperor, you will be the empress. Is this also something you want to separate from?"

  At this time, the Empress Dowager couldn't care less about other things, she was worried that some of her words were not conveyed clearly, and Shen Youxia would continue to pretend to be stupid, even prompting the Dingguo Houfu to break away from the Shen family.

  "The position of being a mother figure to the world is not something everyone wants. That position isn't worth me giving up on my own persistence, giving up everything."

  The Empress's expression was somewhat despondent, for this position she had spent everything, her youth, her loved ones, her children. A pair of children died in the struggle for the throne, and she became known as the "Mother Empress", becoming the most respected woman in the world. If she could do it all over again, she would rather not have the position of Empress, nor contend for the honor of being the Queen, just so that those two children could live well in this world.

  "Get up," the empress dowager said, supporting her forehead and waving her hand. "Go and bring Rui Wang in."

  Zhu Yunyan felt the tense atmosphere as soon as she entered, and was very puzzled. The Empress Dowager had always been extremely fond of Shen Youxia, and Shen Youxia would usually try to please her, so why did it feel like a drawn bow at this moment?

  Was it Shen Youxia who didn't want to part with Li and said something that displeased Empress Dowager?

  Zhu Yunyan wanted the supreme position, and although the Empress Dowager in power was not his biological grandmother, she was his paternal grandmother, and her words carried weight in front of his father, so he did not want to make an enemy of her at this time.

  Or rather, Zhu Yunyan was keeping a low profile at this time. He didn't want to be an enemy of anyone except Shen Youxia.

  "King Rui sat," Empress Dowager corrected her posture, "Xia Er said you all discussed and agreed to divorce, is that true?"

  "Yes, Imperial Grandmother."

  "You've always been a steady child, how can you follow Xia'er's nonsense? Not to mention whether your separation is true or false, don't forget that you've only been married for half a year. Getting divorced after just half a year of marriage, where do you put the royal family's face?"

  The empress dowager's face was stern and her words were proper, making Zhu Yunyan feel a bit guilty. She secretly glanced at Shen Youxia, who seemed completely unaffected.