You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

The next morning, it was another sunny day.

Just as Chu Nianci entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Duanmu Qingyu returned from the Imperial Study.

He changed into his formal court attire, but now he was only wearing a bright yellow casual robe. He stood by the window and painted over the pot of wintersweet.

As soon as she entered, Yue Zixia glanced at her with a graceful and charming expression.

Chu Nianci felt that the young emperor was actively flirting with her.

She immediately leaned over to look, her words as sweet as honey: "Your Majesty's painting is just right, the shades are perfect, the branches are strong, the wind carries fragrance, the snow enhances the beauty of the flowers, even the breath condenses the fragrance, it's a feast for the eyes, proud yet not vulgar. Just looking at it, I feel the fragrance of plum blossoms wafting over me, so elegant, so incredibly elegant!"

Jingxi, who was standing to the side, blinked repeatedly as he listened, thinking to himself: He thought he was the best at flattery, but he didn't expect this person's flattery skills to have surpassed his own.

Duanmu Qingyu smiled and turned to look at her.

His eyes were full of curiosity.

Chu Nianci's bright and beautiful eyes were full of sincerity, without the slightest hint of pretense.

He withdrew his gaze, his pen still writing: "You like it? Then it's yours."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Chu Nianci was overjoyed.

A painting by the Emperor is prestigious to hang up, but if taken out of the palace, it can be exchanged for real gold and silver.

She had not yet paid her respects to the Empress since being granted the title of Consort, but she did not want to go alone.

Thinking this, I said, "Your Majesty, I have not yet performed the rites of a concubine to the Empress."

At this moment, Li De'an entered the hall and whispered a few words in the emperor's ear. After hearing this, Duanmu Qingyu instructed Jingxi: "Go to the private treasury and fetch a pair of jade pendants with the character '喜' (happiness) on them."

Before long, the jade pendant was retrieved.

Those jade pendants were lustrous and radiant, truly of superior quality.

Duanmu Qingyu held it in her hand, playing with it, her eyes lowered and silent.

Chu Nianci glanced at it discreetly, her heart pounding: What's going on here now?

She found herself often unable to fathom the Emperor's thoughts, which was somewhat frustrating... She needed to think more carefully if she wanted to gain a foothold in the palace.

Duanmu Qingyu suddenly spoke, carefully putting the jade pendant back into the brocade box and tying it with a ribbon. "She seemed quite satisfied with the pastries you brought to the Empress last time. Prepare another plate of them and come with me to the Empress's palace to pay your respects."

Chu Nianci was delighted and casually picked up a plate of exquisite pastries from the table next to her.

Duanmu Qingyu took the brocade box in her own hands, got up and walked out.

Chu Nianci didn't say much, holding the pastry box, and quietly followed behind the emperor.

When the group arrived at the Kunning Palace where the Empress resided, the palace servants immediately knelt down upon seeing the imperial procession.

The palace maid guarding the entrance was about to go in to announce the arrival when Duanmu Qingyu waved her hand and walked straight in.

The Empress had already received the news and quickly went to greet them at the door, bowing respectfully.

Chu Nianci followed behind and noticed with her sharp eyes that Lin Jingrui was also kneeling at the back of the crowd.

A slight displeasure crossed her mind, but she immediately thought: He is the Empress's brother and the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, so it is common for him to run into her in the inner palace.

If you are upright and honest, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Duanmu Qingyu sat down in the center seat and gestured to the Empress, saying, "I heard you were unwell, so I came to see you."

Then he added, "Hui'er has not yet paid her respects to the Empress after being bestowed with the title. Why don't you come and pay your respects?"

Chu Nianci bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I, a concubine of the Hui Clan, have met Your Majesty the Empress. I am delighted to hear your teachings."

The Empress smiled kindly and said, "Sister, please get up."

Lin Jingrui, who was kneeling below, couldn't help but let his eyes drift towards Chu Nianci ever since she entered.

This unrequited love is the most powerful filter in the world.

Seeing her porcelain-white and delicate skin, which complemented her bright red lips and a rouge mole between her eyebrows, her face was as smooth as a lychee stained with rouge. He really wanted to taste whether she was as sweet and tender as she looked, and he was so infatuated that he felt half-weak.

He couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions as he watched.

The imperial court and the harem were closely connected, and besides, he was in the Imperial Hospital, so there were no secrets in the palace for him.

Chu Nianci suddenly became a high-ranking official, and Chu Shunqing was beaten again; he already knew this.

Lin Jingrui felt a mix of emotions.

Even the slowest person would know that Shunqing's medical skills were inadequate and his virtue was unworthy of his position, which aroused the dissatisfaction of Consort Shu. Consort Shu's grandfather was the prime minister, so what hope was there for her future?

His mouth was full of bitterness, and he truly felt that Nanzhao Shi had acted impulsively and failed to resist temptation, which was a huge mistake.

Chu Nianci noticed his burning gaze and quickly looked away as soon as they met.

But that gaze was so persistent that even Empress Lin noticed something was wrong, her face stiffening slightly. However, she couldn't say anything directly, so she gave a wink to Xia Dong, the head palace maid beside her.

Xia Dong understood and quietly stepped forward, subtly placing herself between Lin Jingrui and Chu Nianci.

Duanmu Qingyu saw it.

Her clear gaze swept over him, her eyes shining brightly like unsheathed swords, and a cold, mocking smile curved her lips.

Empress Lin coughed loudly.

Lin Jingrui withdrew his scorching gaze.

Duanmu Qingyu turned his head and his gaze fell on the sandalwood table next to him... On it were a dozen or so portraits of young noblemen, each dressed in fine clothes, clearly of noble birth.

Seeing the emperor's interest in the portraits, Empress Lin smiled and explained, "Your Majesty, my younger sister is fifteen this year. She's not young anymore, and it's time for her to be matched with a suitable family. These are some of the young men selected so far; their family backgrounds and appearances are all acceptable."

"Since the Empress is unwell, she should rest more. There's no rush to choose a husband; we can talk about it later when she's fully recovered," Duanmu Qingyu said gently, but her eyes were clear as she looked at her.

"Your Majesty is right," Empress Lin readily agreed, "but I've been looking at them for a while and still can't make up my mind. Your Majesty has a discerning eye, why don't you help me take a look?" With that, she gently handed over the stack of portraits.

Duanmu Qingyu smiled slightly and took the portrait: "Your Majesty is joking. How can I possibly make decisions on such a family matter?"

"To be personally betrothed by His Majesty would be the greatest honor," the Empress hurriedly said.

Duanmu Qingyu no longer declined, and his gaze slowly swept over the portraits.

The Empress introduced them softly from the side: "This is the third son of the Grand Commandant's family, this is the sixth son of the Prime Minister's family, and this is the eighth son of the Duke of Zhenguo's family..."

The emperor looked carefully, his expression calm, and finally his gaze settled on the portrait of the youngest son of the Minister of Rites.

Empress Lin understood, but was somewhat unwilling...

Why choose the son of a civil official who has no real power when there are sons from top noble families?

But she dared not refute, and only went along with it, saying, "These young men are all of extraordinary appearance and character, refined and courteous, but it is difficult to decide for the time being... In the end, we must ask my sister's own opinion, and summon them to the palace another day so that they can meet and make a decision. What does Your Majesty think?"

"Your Majesty's consideration is thorough," Duanmu Qingyu nodded, handing over the brocade box he had been holding. "This pair of auspicious jade pendants with the character '囍' (double happiness) is bestowed upon your younger sister as a small token of my appreciation."

As the emperor left, he gave Lin Jingrui a half-smile, then strode away with Chu Nianci.

After he left, Kunning Palace was silent.

Empress Lin's face darkened. She had clearly seen the Emperor's last glance before he left; it was obvious that he was dissatisfied with Jingrui.

She intended to give her younger brother a lecture and reprimand, but Lin Jingrui knelt down first and hurriedly left.

It's obvious that they were chasing after the Emperor, even if it was just to catch a glimpse of Chu Nianci's back from afar.

Empress Lin was so angry that she felt a tightness in her chest, and her chest tightness problem suddenly flared up again.

She coughed repeatedly.

Her fingernails dug into her flesh, and the handkerchief she was clutching was almost torn to shreds.

The head palace maid, Xia Dong, quickly helped her take the medicine and lie down.

The Empress has indeed caught a cold these past two days, and this matter is causing her even more headaches.

"Your Majesty, please don't be upset about the Imperial Brother-in-law," Xia Dong gently advised. "He is a man of deep feelings and couldn't control himself for a moment."

"Unable to control his emotions?" Empress Lin's voice was cold. "How many times have I warned him? Keep your eyes shut and your mouth shut. That's His Majesty's man. No matter how much he can't control himself, he has to restrain himself. Has he listened to a single word? The moment he sees Chu Nianci, he's out of his mind. His eyes are practically glowing green. He wants to stick to her like glue. His Majesty has been staring at him several times, but he's completely oblivious. He's courting death, and he wants to drag his whole family down with him?"

She grew angrier as she spoke, her chest heaving slightly.

Xia Dong quickly tried to soothe her and whispered, "The Imperial Brother-in-law's deep affection may have become a source of trouble."

After a moment of silence, Xia Dong tentatively asked, "Then... what does Your Highness intend to do with that person? Should I find a safe way to end things once and for all?"

Empress Lin took a breath, shook her head, and her expression returned to its usual solemnity: "She is now living in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and cannot be easily touched. Qu Changzai is not a big threat. However, we cannot let her lead my muddle-headed brother by the nose like this."

She hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "The winter solstice is approaching. I heard that Chu Nianci was raised by her maternal grandparents since childhood and had a very deep affection for her late great-grandmother. In that case, let's be 'kind' and have someone secretly send her some paper money to express our grief... I'm not afraid she won't be moved."

Xia Dong immediately understood his master's intention.

This is to entice Chu Nianci to perform a private sacrifice in the palace.

If she were to burn paper offerings on the winter solstice, she would be breaking palace rules, and would be justifiably expelled from the Hall of Mental Cultivation or banished to the Cold Palace.

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and she replied in a low voice, "This servant understands, Your Highness. Rest assured, this matter will be handled properly."

Empress Lin waved her hand wearily, her expression returning to calm: "I'm tired today, you may all leave."

A few days later, it was the winter solstice.

The entire palace was busy with sacrificial rites.

Duanmu Qingyu did not summon Chu Nianci to serve tea for several days, which made her quite happy to have some free time.

After dinner, the snow that had been falling all day stopped.

Chu Nianci leaned against the incense burner, holding a cup of wine in her slender hand as she admired the snow scene outside the window.

Manbao came in carrying a packet of paper money, just as Tuanyuan brought in a plate of dumplings, smiling broadly as she said, "Your Highness, the snow outside has stopped, and the moon is full. His Majesty, along with the palace ladies, held a 'flaming mouth' ceremony at the Empress Dowager's residence; it was quite a spectacle!"

The ritual of "releasing the flames" involves each palace making paper figures and horses to commemorate the deceased.

"Really?" Chu Nianci asked casually, then glanced at the paper money in Man Bao's hand. "Where did it come from?"

"An eunuch from the Hall of Mental Cultivation delivered it this afternoon. I guess His Majesty intended it for the young mistress, for a secret memorial service. We'll keep the door closed, and no one will know."

Because of her social status, she couldn't go to the Empress Dowager's palace.

Chu Nianci said, "Mother will also burn paper money for Grandma today..."

She stood up, took the paper money, incense burner, and sandalwood, and said, "The jade tablet in Plum Blossom Pavilion has been opened; I will go to offer sacrifices on that day."

Manbao hurriedly said, "Burning paper money is not allowed in the palace. Everyone goes to the Empress Dowager's palace to offer sacrifices. Plum Blossom Pavilion is a forbidden area, so Your Highness cannot go there."

A forbidden area means no one goes there.

On a snowy night under the bright moon, one can stroll through the snow in search of plum blossoms, and at the same time, express grief for the deceased—a win-win situation.

Chu Nianci stood up, put on a bright red feathered satin cloak, pulled up the hood, and said as she walked, "At this time, the entire palace is with the Empress Dowager. I will be right back and will not attract attention."