After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Chapter 491 Fighting for Acting Skills

The second prince put down the osmanthus cake in his hand, looking puzzled.

"Third brother, I don't have an uncle! Are you crazy? My uncle? He's been dead for ages!"

The second prince's expression was exaggerated, slightly terrified, and his fingers began to tremble. "Ah! No way! Third brother saw a ghost! Third brother encountered a ghost!"

The third prince frowned, his expression slightly disgusted, but he still patiently said, "Second brother, I'm talking about the Marquis of Chengen, the Marquis of Chengen, Yang Guozhong!"

"Yang Guozhong... Yang Guozhong?"

"Yes, yes, Second Brother, you remember now?!"

"I don't know him!" the second prince said innocently.

"You!" Don't argue with a fool! The Third Prince suppressed his anger. After all, the Empress was still there. He couldn't very well call her stupid son in front of his mother.

The Third Prince took a deep breath and softened his tone, saying, "Second Brother, Yang Guozhong is the Empress's brother, which means he is your uncle."

He's now imprisoned in the Dali Temple, deep in jail, waiting for his second brother to rescue him.

The second prince scratched his head, then suddenly realized, "Oh! It was him! I remember now, I saw him in the palace last time. He had shifty eyes and didn't look like a good person!"

The Third Prince's heart was in turmoil, and he was almost driven to the brink of death by the Second Prince's anger. Just as he was about to speak, the Empress coughed lightly and said, "Alright, stop talking. You know what's going on with your Second Brother."

He's just a kid, what does he know about all this complicated stuff? He's only met this person a few times, how would he know anything?

The third prince nodded in agreement, but the second prince muttered, "Mother, I'm going to find the nanny. I want some soup!"

"Go on, go on. Granny will be worried if she can't find you. Eat less sweets, or you'll rot your teeth."

The Empress gently saw the Second Prince off, then turned around with a sharp look in her eyes. The Third Prince felt uneasy and dared not mention the matter of Marquis Yang Guozhong again.

"Well... if there's nothing else, I won't disturb Your Majesty's peace any longer. I'll take my leave now!"

The Empress nodded slightly and served tea to the guests.

Only after the Third Prince came out did he dare to relax his expression. Although this Empress did not have much real power, her aura was indeed not something that ordinary concubines could have.

People really do need to be in high positions; high positions provide a good environment for people to thrive.

Hehe, but an empress can only have the honor of an empress. With such a legitimate son, her glory in this life ends here.

The position of Empress is the end; forget about becoming Empress Dowager.

When he ascends the throne, he will only bestow titles upon his birth mother; titles such as Empress Dowager or Empress Mother will not be considered at all.

After all, once he ascended to a high position, his father's harem should be cleaned up to avoid making his mother feel uncomfortable looking at the harem full of concubines and consorts.

"Is the person gone?"

"gone."

"Hmph! He wants to be a good guy, making me plead for him and hoping Yang Guozhong will remember his kindness. What a generous man, using other people's money!"

"That's a clever scheme! He really thinks everyone's a fool. Even if someone is a fool, we shouldn't fall for it!"

"Your third brother is a bit too presumptuous. He actually came to us for help, so he must have run into a snag elsewhere."

He's no saint, what kind of Marquis Cheng'en is he? He's just a fake, only he would take him seriously.”

The second prince removed his mask, but he was still chewing on a snack. This habit was hard to break in a short time; over the years, he had become too immersed in the role.

"I've already told you to eat less. It's not convenient for you to practice martial arts right now, so don't get any fatter."

The second prince paused, his hand holding the pastries slightly awkward.

"What difference does it make whether I practice martial arts or not? With capable subordinates, I don't need to lift a finger."

Besides, who would lay a hand on a prince who poses absolutely no threat to the throne? Let them fight like dogs first.

It was expected that the eldest brother, being the most foolish, would fall, and the third brother's actions over the years were not entirely without trace.

But this fifth brother is really unexpected! He's been hiding his true strength so well, he's almost as good as me, the second brother!

The Empress was not surprised at all, thinking it would be strange if all the princes were honest.

"So what if the fifth brother is good at hiding his strength? The resources and power he controls are still not as good as the third brother's. Hiding one's strength can sometimes be a double-edged sword."

The second prince nodded in agreement, "Yes, actually, of these brothers, I trust the fourth one the most, even though his maternal family is quite powerful..."

But now I actually think this person genuinely doesn't have that intention; it doesn't seem like they're pretending.

The Empress seemed to be deep in thought. "You mean that incident a few years ago? I heard that the family is still raising a boy who looks remarkably like a young official in the court."

However, it's just hearsay and speculation; who knows if it's true or not?

The second prince's gossip-loving spirit was instantly ignited, and even the osmanthus cake in front of him lost its aroma. "Who is it? Who does it look like?"

"Uh, why are you asking about this? It's all unpleasant stuff. You should be mindful of your status."

The Empress was helpless. Sometimes she really felt like she was raising a child, but other times she would suddenly turn into an adult when it came to serious matters. The Empress herself was a little confused.

"Oh dear, you should just stop talking. You have to start something and then not finish. This is no different from treating human life like dirt!"

"What do you mean by 'treating human life like dirt'? How did you study? You're just wasting your time. Alright, go back to your study and read for a while. Let me have some peace and quiet."

The second prince looked like he wouldn't leave until he told me, and the empress sighed again.

How could she, the mistress of the harem, discuss the secrets of court officials? She was just talking casually while analyzing the affairs of a few princes.

Suddenly, she remembered the gossip she had heard from the palace maids and nannies. Her son was still trying to win over young officials from all sides, so how could she possibly reveal the most representative name of one of them?

"Sigh, it's the one you most want to be by your side, handsome and refined, unlike any ordinary person..."

"What?! Fourth Brother has some nerve! How dare he? How could he be worthy of this?!"

The Second Prince has become famous. I originally just wanted to listen to the gossip for entertainment, but I never expected to find myself following the drama about my beloved!

This is intolerable! I want to go beat up the fourth brother right now; he's even worse than the third brother!

"Alright, alright, calm down. He didn't kidnap Jiang Zhuangyuan to be his wife. He just found someone who looked about 70 or 80 percent similar."

It is nothing new for the powerful to keep male favorites. Now that you are out of the palace and beating people up, how can you continue to act?

If you're still angry, just make a note of it for the fourth brother and settle the score with him later!

"Jiang Qing's policy essays have touched my heart. Father may not care too much about those policies for governing the country, but I would like to try them in the future."

Ensuring that children are cared for, the elderly are supported, all people are well-fed and clothed, that wealth is stored among the people, and that maritime defenses are strengthened are all good policies that benefit the country and its people.

I think Jiang Qing is really wasting his talents in the Hanlin Academy. He deserves a wider world to change the Great Zhou with me.

"Mother, you've also read his policy essays. What do you think?"

The empress recalled those innovative policies, which seemed difficult to implement, but were not entirely impossible after one, two, or even three emperors.

What would it be like then? Peace and prosperity, abundant people, doors left unlocked at night, no lost items picked up on the road, and all nations paying tribute!

“He is indeed a rare talent for governing the country. Chang’er, you should go there yourself. His sincerity can move even the heavens.”