Are You the Only One Allowed to Dream?

She dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, looking aggrieved as she said, "I really do care about you. I was just worried you'd make a mistake at this crucial moment before entering the palace, so I hurried to tell Madam and the Prime Minister about it!"

Wan Xuezhen’s words actually reminded Qingluan of something.

Before the decree from Suzaku Kingdom arrived, she was probably obsessed with destroying the two of them—mother and daughter.

But now, she probably doesn’t think that way anymore.

The reason she exposed this wasn’t to get rid of her.

Instead… she’s really afraid Qingluan might get tangled up with the General’s Manor, isn’t she?

She’s still hoping I’ll enter the palace and take the fall for her precious Guan’er!

That’s why she couldn’t wait to report to Madam and drag me back from the General’s Manor…

Thinking of this, Qingluan pretended to calm down a little and said, "Auntie, you’re right. If you really wanted Xiner to enter the palace, all it would take is a word from you. I was just upset and misunderstood you!"

Wan Xuezhen nodded in relief.

But then Qingluan added, "However, this matter is definitely connected to Xiner!"

Wan Xuezhen said nothing.

For a moment, she couldn’t figure out why Xiner’s jewelry ended up with Jing’an.

Zhuo Minghan’s face darkened as he shouted, "Someone! Bring Zhuo Xiner here!"

A servant went off to fetch Zhuo Xiner.

Soon, she appeared at the entrance of Longevity Hall.

Before she could figure out what was going on, Qingluan stormed over and—smack!—slapped Zhuo Xiner right across the face.

She might be a good-for-nothing, but that aura of a young lady—carefully cultivated by Wan Xuezhen—was truly intimidating and noble.

Zhuo Xiner was stunned, clutching her face and yelling in disbelief, "Zhuo Qingluan! Are you crazy?"

"Zhuo Xiner! I always treated you as my real sister! Who knew you’d stoop so low and frame me just to enter the palace!" Qingluan pointed at her and demanded.

Zhuo Xiner had barely stepped inside before getting slapped by Qingluan. She was furious, but with so many elders around—and knowing her place as a concubine’s daughter—she couldn’t fight back. Gritting her teeth, she demanded, "Who framed you? What nonsense are you spouting now?"

"Still pretending!" Qingluan said coldly. "Are you going to say you don’t want to enter the palace as the Imperial Noble Consort?"

"So what if I do?" Zhuo Xiner blurted out, her anger getting the best of her. "Are you the only one allowed to want it? Why can’t I? You’re just a good-for-nothing—why should you get to enter the palace? I’m the Empress’s real sister!"

"Xiner!" Wan Xuezhen’s face changed dramatically. She rushed over and yanked Xiner aside. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"How am I talking nonsense? What’s so special about Zhuo Qingluan?" Zhuo Xiner snapped. "She’s not only useless, she’s a crazy woman who chases men everywhere—a hopeless flirt! How could she be fit to enter the palace as Imperial Noble Consort?"

Qingluan slapped Zhuo Xiner just to provoke her.

Looks like it worked pretty well!

Zhuo Xiner’s resentment was no joke—she just let it all out, consequences be damned…

Qingluan’s inner little devil snickered.

Wan Xuezhen wished she could shut Zhuo Xiner up, hissing each word: "You—shut—your—mouth!"

"Am I wrong? Everyone in Danyang City knows she’s always hanging around His Majesty—ah!"

Smack! Wan Xuezhen slapped Zhuo Xiner, furious. "Shut up! Qingluan is the legitimate young lady of the Zhuo family. You’re just a lowly concubine’s daughter. How could you possibly get to enter the palace?"