Sure enough.
The next moment, the Queen Mother saw Ling Shan's eyes instinctively light up. They suddenly widened a bit, glinting with an uncertain light.
The excitement, the smugness, the hesitation, the struggle, the madness... in that instant, all finally turned into an undisguised ambition.
All of these were caught in the Queen Mother's eyes, and a strong sense of disdain and contempt welled up in her heart.
Sure enough, she was a person of humble origin. A lowly maid had actually ascended to the position of Consort Zhao but still wasn't satisfied. She even had the audacity to covet the position of the Queen Mother?
It was simply a huge joke!
However, it was good.
This Consort Zhao had great ambition but came from a humble background and had a narrow vision. She was just the kind of easy - to - manipulate knife in the Queen Mother's hands.
As long as she had ambition and wanted to climb higher, the Queen Mother could control her and make new plans.
Even though the power of the Wang family had been repeatedly weakened, as long as her scheme succeeded again.
The Langya Wang family could still become the most powerful official family in the Great Yan Dynasty once again, just like more than a decade ago. Perhaps even...
There was a possibility of reaching the highest position.
"I can't do it..."
Ling Shan shook her head and murmured softly, "Your servant... Your servant is illiterate and has no knowledge. How could I... How could I sit on the position of the Queen Mother... and rule behind the curtain? I can't do it... I can't do it..."
The Queen Mother looked at her, who was clearly tempted by ambition but still looked so petty. A flash of contempt crossed her eyes.
"What can't you do?"
The Queen Mother said softly, "Look at me. Haven't I done a good job? I used to be a noble girl in the boudoir who didn't care about worldly affairs. Now, haven't I firmly held the position of the Queen Mother?
What are you afraid of? As long as you're obedient, you, I, and the Shen family are on the same boat. I and the Grand Tutor will naturally help you."
Ling Shan's eyebrows twitched. Her eyes sparkled with ambition, clearly showing that she was tempted.
The Queen Mother felt even more disdain in her heart, and at the same time, her anger burned even more fiercely.
If it weren't for that ungrateful Jun Wuyuan constantly taking actions to cut off the power of the Wang family and her own, how could she have fallen to the point where she had to play nice with a worm she had never looked up to before?
When had she, a noble girl of the Langya Wang family and the Queen Mother of the Great Yan, ever had to condescend to act with a lowly maid? It was simply a great humiliation.
Thinking of this, a flash of killing intent quickly crossed the Queen Mother's eyes.
When all was accomplished...
"Think about it. The emperor is alone on the throne. His heart is filled with the vast land of the country. How could he only have you for a lifetime? Maybe in a few days, there will be another Consort Zhao or another favored concubine!
If you can't stay in favor all the time, or even fail to give birth to an imperial heir, what will you do when your favor fades and you grow old and haggard? Will you be trampled under people's feet for the rest of your life?"
The voice, as if with magic, drilled into Ling Shan's ears. Every word was luring her to unleash the beast of desire.
The almond - shaped eyes that had been hesitant just now suddenly lit up, with a strange light like that of a person making a desperate attempt.
"Your Majesty the Queen Mother, your servant will listen to you. From now on, your servant will never be delusional about the emperor's love again. Please be discerning, Your Majesty the Queen Mother."
Seeing that Ling Shan had finally "woken up", the Queen Mother was satisfied and naturally agreed readily.
"It's best that you think this way. Don't worry. You came from my palace. I'll treat you just like my own niece. The matter of the antidote is easy to handle."
A look of joy flashed across Ling Shan's eyes.
The next moment, the kind smile on the Queen Mother's face suddenly disappeared, and her eyebrows and eyes were filled with frost.
"However, your betrayal this time really breaks my heart. If I don't punish you, how can I manage the palace servants and subordinates in the future?"
Hearing this, Ling Shan's face turned a bit paler.
"Your Majesty the Queen Mother..."
The Queen Mother stared at her coldly, and the words Ling Shan wanted to plead with were swallowed back.
"Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Consort Zhao, you should know that the last person who dared to betray me like this, the grass on their grave is already as tall as a person. It's also because of your past devotion that I'm willing to talk to you so much and give you another chance."
Ling Shan rolled her eyes silently in her heart.
But a look of timidity accidentally showed on her face: "Your servant thanks Your Majesty the Queen Mother for your kindness. May I ask what Your Majesty the Queen Mother wants your servant to do?"
Seeing that she was so sensible, the Queen Mother's expression softened a bit in satisfaction.
"Don't worry. It's not a difficult task. As long as what Consort Zhao said just now is sincere and you're truly loyal to me, it will be easily accomplished."
"Your Majesty the Queen Mother, this is..."
Ling Shan reached out to take the small porcelain bottle the Queen Mother had handed over with a meaningful smile. Her heart was pounding wildly.
"This is a good thing. Consort Zhao must remember to find an opportunity to administer this to His Majesty... You should know what to do, right?"
A look of panic appeared on Ling Shan's face, and there was still a bit of struggle in her eyes.
The Queen Mother said coldly, "If you want to give birth to an imperial heir soon and sit on the position of the Queen Mother, just listen to me and act quickly. Otherwise..."
"Your Majesty the Queen Mother..."
"If I don't receive good news soon, then you'll have to bear the poison on your own. Even if you die in pain, I won't care anymore. You choose for yourself. You only have this one chance!"
The Queen Mother couldn't wait any longer. If she let that ungrateful Jun Wuyuan live any longer, wouldn't the Wang family lose even more power?
Only by getting rid of this wolf cub as soon as possible could the Wang family regain their former glory and dignity!
A confident smile appeared on the Queen Mother's thin and somewhat harsh face. She reached out and patted Ling Shan's hand gently.
"Tomorrow is the time when the poison will flare up. Consort Zhao should have tasted the pain of the poison flaring up. Without the antidote, the pain will be a thousand times worse."
"You think it over carefully."
At the same time, in the study in the front hall, Jun Wuyuan's face was as gloomy as the sky before a storm, exuding a creepy chill.
There was only one reason. Several reckless imperial censors had actually joined hands to submit a memorial.
They said that Ling Shan was a seductress who bewitched the emperor, was jealous, and was unfit to be a concubine... They requested her punishment.
It was obvious that they were just a bunch of fools who had nothing better to do and only knew to stare at his harem all day long.
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhao, as a concubine, is jealous and extravagant. She doesn't think about serving Your Majesty well. Instead, she bewitches Your Majesty all day long and makes Your Majesty neglect the government. She is just like Daji and Baosi..."
"Presumptuous!"
Jun Wuyuan casually grabbed a memorial in his hand and threw it hard.
"Ah—"
"Come here. Drag this stupid donkey out and behead him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the imperial guards quickly came in, covered the censor's mouth deftly, and dragged him out.
"Your Majesty?"
"Please calm down, Your Majesty. Censor Ma is also loyal—"
"Your Majesty..."