There's more to the story

Chi Ying used her family's internal conflicts to lure out Cui Jie's whereabouts and his confession of framing his brother and killing his own child. Initially, most officials did not support Cui Yi's usurpation, but upon hearing Lady Fan admit her husband and the crown prince's conspiracy, they quickly switched sides, supporting Cui Yi.

Officials, especially those skilled in rhetoric, played a crucial role. From Shan Jian's shocking revelations to Bai Lichan's strategic maneuvering, Cui Jie's image as a filial and wise ruler had already begun to crumble. Now, with a large group of officials joining in the criticism, Cui Jie was soon vilified as a villainous tyrant in popular songs.

Cui Yi was delighted, feeling for the first time that his father's officials were somewhat useful.

Conversely, when Changsun Tai woke up and heard about this, he nearly fainted again from anger.

If everyone doesn't surrender, the first to surrender would be despised. But if everyone surrenders, the one who refuses becomes an "outcast," waiting to be crushed.

Poor Changsun Tai neither maintained his reputation as a "loyal and unyielding" official nor joined the mass surrender. Opening his eyes to find himself condemned by former colleagues, he survived by sheer luck.

He decided to play dead and wait for the storm to pass.

But Cui Yi wouldn't let him off so easily. Hearing from the imperial physicians that Changsun Tai had fainted again and hadn't woken up, Cui Yi entered the room with interest: "Lord Changsun?"

Changsun Tai lay motionless on the bed, pretending not to hear. Cui Yi glanced at him and ordered: "Lord Changsun hates me the most. Now that I'm standing here, he hasn't jumped up to fight me. It seems he's dead. Take him away and burn him."

Changsun Tai was instantly terrified, rolling off the bed. The entire room burst into laughter.

"Oh, he's not dead." Cui Yi calmly sat down.

Changsun Tai, disheveled, tried to climb back into bed. The head eunuch of Wansheng Palace, Du Zhongquan, snapped his dust whisk: "How dare you ignore the Emperor! Lord Changsun, what crime have you committed?"

Cui Yi was in a good mood and didn't press further: "Well, I haven't officially ascended the throne, so Lord Changsun is my elder. Formalities aren't necessary."

Changsun Tai, wearing only a single layer of clothes, turned his eyes: "Since you haven't ascended the throne, why do you call yourself 'I'? As the eldest legitimate son of Emperor Jingzong, you should follow ancestral rites..."

Cui Yi's good mood vanished, his face darkening: "Changsun Tai, are you tired of living! Is it your place to comment on my affairs?"

Changsun Tai lifted his head: "As your elder..."

Cui Yi smashed the teacup on the floor: "Drag him out and give him twenty strokes!"

Changsun Tai panicked, begging for mercy as he was dragged away. After two or three strikes, Cui Yi called it off symbolically. Despite the brief punishment, Changsun Tai was already struggling to breathe.

"What's going on? Why is he lying in the courtyard?" Chi Ying arrived.

Cui Yi wasn't officially crowned yet, so Chi Ying's status as empress wasn't confirmed either. But this didn't stop her from appearing in full regalia. Changsun Tai looked up to see his daughter adorned with a golden tiara, draped in a red robe embroidered with gold and silver phoenixes. Her entourage included incense bearers and parasol holders, dazzling him.

Changsun Tai, clutching his waist, struggled to rise: "Daughter..."

Chi Ying laughed suddenly: "Lord Changsun, are you delirious? Where is your daughter? I don't see her."

Changsun Tai was speechless, kneeling awkwardly. Chi Ying waved her hand: "Xiaoqiu, help Lord Changsun up." Xiaoqiu, with a mocking tone, extended her hand. Changsun Tai reluctantly accepted her help, glaring at her.

"Why did you come?" Cui Yi walked out.

Chi Ying sobered up: "Sister Cheng has returned."

After returning from Gong County to the capital, Cheng Fengyi didn't return to the palace but went directly to the empty Cheng residence. Zhong Lüping left a maid to take care of her and reported back to Chi Ying.

Cui Yi and Chi Ying returned to Yaohua Palace, where Zhong Lüping was already waiting. After greetings, the three sat down, and Zhong Lüping recounted the events.

"We set out in the afternoon...," she began.

They traveled overnight, arriving at Gong County early the next morning. Cheng Fengyi knew the location of the Zhai family home from previous visits. She rushed to the gate, calling out Zhai Rang's name. Neighbors came out to see what was happening.

A pregnant woman emerged from the house, apologizing with a smile: "Zirang took his father to the county town for treatment. What brings you here?"

Cheng Fengyi's eyes widened in disbelief, her breath catching.

Chi Ying sighed softly: "I remember Cheng Fengyi mentioning that the Zhai family had only one son."

Zhong Lüping added sadly: "It's clear now. Poor Cheng Fengyi, losing her father and being rejected by her daughter, sought comfort from her husband, only to find he had remarried."

Cui Yi angrily slapped the table: "Zhai Rang! An ungrateful scoundrel! Without Cheng Fengyi's father recognizing him, he'd have no chance to serve in government!"

Chi Ying coughed lightly: "Your Majesty, watch your language."

Cui Yi vented his frustration: "Last time we returned to the capital, he betrayed us without hesitation. Though he apologized later, he nearly sold us out again. Such a fickle and greedy man deserves to be drowned in a pig cage!"

Zhong Lüping was shocked: "There's more to the story!"

Chi Ying patted Cui Yi's clenched fist reassuringly: "Let's continue, Zhong Lüping."

In Gong County, Cheng Fengyi stood frozen, staring at the woman. Zhong Lüping didn't know how to respond. Cheng Fengyi had endured so much, clinging to the hope of her family, only to find it shattered.

Inside, an elderly woman appeared, her hair white and back bent.

Cheng Fengyi trembled: "Mother-in-law..."

The old woman, Zhai Rang's mother, showed no signs of remorse or apology. Instead, she angrily pointed: "Go back! Never come here again! Our family can't afford to lose face!"

These words infuriated Zhong Lüping: "Watch your words! What do you mean by losing face? Cheng Fengyi's father was the Minister of Personnel, and her mother was a renowned doctor. How could she not match your son?"

The pregnant woman seemed to realize something: "Are you..."

Zhai's mother defended fiercely: "Minister or not, you go back!"

"No matter how skilled a doctor she is, our Zhai family does not want a daughter-in-law who has been tainted by another man. Leave as far as you can, and don't blame this old woman for being rude!" Cheng Fengyi hung her head and wept silently. Zhong Lüping was even angrier, placing her hands on her hips and shouting back, "What are you saying! If it weren't for your son's incompetence, would Cheng have been taken away by someone else? Cheng is the lawful wife of your son, the mother of his child. She hasn't done anything wrong, so why do you just discard her like that?"

Madam Zhai snorted disdainfully, "Now you know to despise Zhai Zicheng for being useless. Who was it that begged to marry into our family? It's clearly your own family's mess that hasn't been sorted out properly, but you're blaming us? Our Zhai family has only one son in three generations. He married a lady who cannot carry heavy loads or lift buckets, and now she can't even come home to serve us. Moreover, she gave birth to a girl—what use is that?"

"You!" Zhong Lüping was too angry to speak. Cheng Fengyi shook her head, "Sister Zhong, forget it..." With both hands clinging to the fence, she seemed about to collapse at any moment, struggling to hold on as she said shakily, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I failed to fulfill my duties as a daughter-in-law. I didn't help my husband or raise our children, nor did I serve my in-laws. It's all my fault..."

Madam Zhai scoffed arrogantly, rolling her eyes, "Good that you know. Now leave!"

Cheng Fengyi forced herself to endure the pain, "I am already broken. My husband doesn't want me, my daughter doesn't recognize me, and my father is no longer alive. There's no point in living anymore."

Zhong Lüping grabbed her arm urgently, "Sister Cheng! You can't think like that!"

Cheng Fengyi weakly shook her head, looking at Madam Zhai and Wen Juan with pleading eyes, "Shujin may be a girl, but she is still a descendant of the Zhai family. I hope you..."

Wen Juan seemed kind-hearted and nodded before Cheng could finish, "Don't worry, I will treat Shujin as my own daughter." But Madam Zhai harshly replied, "Take her back and raise her yourself! From now on, our Zhai family will act as if we never had such a daughter-in-law, and we don't care about the child you bore!"

In just two days, Cheng Fengyi suffered numerous blows, leaving her mentally exhausted. Hearing that her daughter was also rejected, she felt a surge of anger, coughing up blood and collapsing.