Chapter 1740 - 631: The Female Lead Who Was Reversed (Part 20)

Chapter 1740: Chapter 631: The Female Lead Who Was Reversed (Part 20)

The Empress had a reason for looking down on He Yingying:

Firstly, He Yingying’s status was indeed quite low. She was not even as good as He Tiantian was initially.

At least He Tiantian was an innocent farmer’s daughter, but He Yingying, without land, only focused on doing business and had become a merchant.

In the hierarchy of society, merchant, although wealthy, are at the bottom rung.

Secondly, the Empress not only had confidential letters sent by her confidant but also had related information about He Yingying.

Regardless of other things, just the way she married Xu Changsheng was not very honorable.

There are no parents in this world willing to let their children be calculated against, forced into marriage!

Especially the Empress, who harbored guilt towards her second son, pitied him as a princely child raised in the countryside.

Following these emotions, the Empress wanted to compensate her son with the very best of everything.

But then, just days before her confidant found her son, he had been manipulated to marry a scheming woman of low status!

How could the Empress not be angry?

Thirdly, this was also a crucial reason.

He Yingying was at odds with He Tiantian.

The Empress had come to believe in He Tiantian’s generations of virtuous ancestors and held hopes of "respecting and befriending" her.

As an empress and elder, she was trying every method to approach and please He Tiantian.

But He Yingying, possessing the best opportunity, became sworn enemies with He Tiantian?

"Jealous of her cousin being favored, she malignantly slandered her as a disaster star? As a demon?"

No need to say her heart was narrow, actions venomous, just her ignorance of the principle "One’s honor is the honor of all, one’s disgrace is the disgrace of all" made the Empress resent her greatly.

In ancient times, clan concepts were particularly important.

"Arms broken but hidden within sleeves" served not only as biased mediation but as a means for family harmony and the entire family’s reputation.

But He Yingying, considering personal gain, slandered her own cousin.

If He Tiantian became a demon, what benefit did it bring to Miss He?!

Such people, vision too shallow, lacking manners, no wonder they can only stir trouble in small families.

Yet this very person, using vile methods, clung onto her own son; seeing such information, the Empress was intensely furious with He Yingying!

Taking a deep breath, the Empress suppressed the surging anger inside, reassessing the whole situation.

Wait a moment—

The Empress quickly discovered a problem.

Although He Yingying transitioned from a farmer’s daughter to a merchant girl, lowering her status further, her family conditions had greatly improved.

Merchants have money.

And she knew some methods to make money, bringing wealth to the entire first branch of the He Family.

Just the secret recipe for hot pot base alone sold for thousands of silver taels.

Such an amount, placed in truly wealthy families, wouldn’t mean much.

But for ordinary people, it was a monumental fortune.

He Yingying had money, and knew how to earn more, possibly alienating some high-status families due to her actions against her cousin.

However, some wealthy merchants, even imperial merchants, didn’t care about these things and took an interest in her.

She could have married into such wealthy merchant families.

She didn’t!

She chose Xu Changsheng, a poor countryside young man with many burdens.

The Empress, being his mother, naturally viewed her son through the lens of affection, believing her son was excellent in every way.

But even she had to admit, before his lineage was revealed, Xu Changsheng’s condition was genuinely not good.

Yet He Yingying, despite his lack of money, culture, and having a family of scoundrels and leeches, was still willing to use cunning to marry him.

This, this... was truly unreasonable.

Of course, maybe He Yingying fell for Xu Changsheng at first sight, completely appreciating him as a person.

"The one who made the most of the Prince Liang’s Mansion banner, selling the shop and secret recipe at high prices before the second branch was taken away, was she truly a love-blinded sentimental woman?!"

The Empress did not believe it!

But if not this, He Yingying’s clingy behavior couldn’t be explained.

"Could it be that He Yingying had foreknowledge? She knew Changsheng was a Prince?"

Suddenly the Empress had this absurd guess flash through her mind.

If it was before, a typically rational, clear-headed Empress would never have such fantasies.

But having personally experienced the Crown Prince’s innocent injury and sudden recovery.

And having heard Master Hui Tong’s various hints and speculations, the Empress began to believe in some ghost and god stories.

"After all, He Yingying is the cousin of Princess Liang, and Princess Liang is a generations-long virtuous person, maybe He Yingying has a great background too!"