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

Chu Nianci's red lips curled slightly.

Leaning against Duanmu Qingyu's chest, she did not directly answer his question.

Of course, she couldn't say that she had been reborn and had seen too many underhanded tricks in the inner quarters of the household, so this little scheme was nothing.

So she said sweetly, "I love reading miscellaneous books, and there have been similar cases in them."

Duanmu Qingyu then remembered the storybooks she often read and couldn't help but pinch her cheek: "Chu Maolin is indeed good at raising his daughter. If he is truly talented, I will not hesitate to give him an important position."

"Your Majesty flatters me," Chu Nianci said softly. "My father has just taken office as the prefect of Suzhou and has not yet achieved any political accomplishments. If we were to bestow further honors at this time, it would only invite criticism from the court officials, which would not be a good thing."

She knew in her heart that her father had been promoted twice in one month, and another promotion would surely invite impeachment by the censor.

Besides, she didn't want her selfish father to reap all the benefits for nothing.

"I grew up at my maternal grandmother's house since I was a child," she added softly.

Such grace should rightfully fall upon the mother's family.

"I heard your uncle came out on top in this year's provincial examination." Duanmu Qingyu glanced at her, understanding the situation.

A smile spread across Chu Nianci's eyes. She had already received the news that her uncle had passed the imperial examination with the highest score, and her cousin had also passed the county-level examination.

She hoped that His Majesty would show favor to her maternal family, but she did not want to appear too eager, so she just smiled and remained silent.

Duanmu Qingyu raised her eyebrows slightly, a faint smile appearing in her eyes: "Regarding the Hanshifen case, it's inconvenient for me to reward you openly. You're already a Noble Lady, and another promotion would be to Consort. A sudden conferment of the title of Consort would inevitably cause trouble. How about this, in a few days I will bestow upon you the title of 'Lady'. Also..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The next imperial examination will be held in three years. After spring, I plan to hold an additional special examination, at which time your uncle will be able to go to the capital to take the exam."

"Really?" Chu Nianci's eyes lit up, and she threw herself into his arms.

"Madam" was just an empty title, and she didn't care much about it.

What truly surprised her was Enke… he was willing to hold a special imperial examination for her family.

At that moment, she suddenly felt that if he really became a "tyrant" for her... it wouldn't be so bad.

"Hui'er, the Empress Dowager is probably displeased that this case is being thoroughly investigated to clear her name. The Qiao family is a distant relative of the Empress Dowager, so Hui'er should keep a low profile at the New Year's Eve banquet," Duanmu Qingyu reminded her.

Chu Nianci then realized why the Qiao family dared to be so arrogant.

But since she dared to mess with me, even if she offended the Empress Dowager, there was nothing I could do.

"Hui'er, I'm afraid the Empress and the Grand Commandant's mansion are also displeased?" Duanmu Qingyu's tone remained casual, but her words shifted, revealing a hint of warning in her eyes.

Whether it's the Empress's and Grand Commandant's mansions, or the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

He didn't want to see the woman he loved under any threat.

Chu Nianci pretended not to understand, her clear eyes wide with confusion: "Your Majesty, shouldn't the Grand Commandant's Mansion be grateful that I helped uncover the truth?"

Duanmu Qingyu lightly lifted her eyelashes, glancing at her indifferently, her eyes deep and unfathomable: "Hui'er, don't you know that Lady Qiao is close to the Empress, and that the Grand Commandant's mansion is already preparing to send a new concubine to the palace?"

He had this look on his face: "Try pretending to be stupid again."

Chu Nianci quickly put on a knowing smile.

The Grand Commandant's mansion clearly intended to use the death of a useless commoner to secure a higher rank for the newly entered legitimate daughter of the emperor.

If the case remains unclear, in order to appease the Grand Commandant's office, he would at least have to offer a concubine.

Now that the truth has come out, they'll be lucky to get a concubine rank.

How could the Grand Commandant's office be happy?

Chu Nianci nodded and said, "Even if new concubines enter the palace and they don't remember my kindness... they shouldn't make things difficult for me. Who would let go of the real culprit who killed their own sister just because of these things?"

Duanmu Qingyu sighed softly, hugged her tightly, and said nothing more.

She was still thinking too highly of those people.

In the inner palace, many women always prioritized self-interest over family ties.

They will seize every opportunity and climb upwards by using everything they can.

His Hui'er ultimately underestimated the limits of human nature.

Perhaps it wasn't that she didn't understand the power struggles within the imperial harem, but rather that she still retained a sense of kindness in her heart.

And isn't it this clarity that he likes?

"You're right, I was just joking with you," he said gently.

Chu Nianci said softly and affectionately, "With Your Majesty by my side, I have nothing to fear."

Duanmu Qingyu saw her smile at him, a smile that was genuine and radiant.

Duanmu Qingyu felt a tightness in his throat, and a glint of fire rose in his clear eyes.

The next morning, the emperor went to court with a smile on his face, feeling quite satisfied.

Chu Nianci's legs were sore and weak that she could barely straighten her back...

He walked briskly on his way to the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Suddenly remembering something, Duanmu Qingyu said to Li De'an, "Issue an imperial decree to the six palaces, bestowing the title of Lady upon Consort Hui, and to retrieve the Manjusaka hairpin, a tribute from Persia, from the private treasury and send it to Tangdi Palace. Also, issue another decree: to establish a special imperial examination."

Li De'an was deeply shaken.

The rare and precious Manjusaka flower, though a treasure, is still just a trinket...

What alarmed him even more were the other two imperial edicts.

This title of "Lady" is an honor.

But it was a great glory.

Many palace women spend their entire lives without ever being granted the title of Lady.

Moreover, why did His Majesty suddenly add a special imperial examination...? Having learned his lesson last time, he was wiser and no longer asked any further questions.

He lowered his eyes and calmly said, "Yes."

This wasn't Chu Nianci's first time serving the Empress. Although she wasn't required to pay her respects to the Empress according to the rules, many things in the palace depended on strength rather than rules, and she felt it was unnecessary to have a conflict with the Empress over such a matter.

But since the Empress was confined to her quarters, she was able to sleep a little longer and ease the soreness in her body.

She slowly woke up when the sun was almost at noon.

The palace maid reported that Shen Lanbing had come in the morning, but seeing that she was asleep, she went back first, saying that she would come to see her again when she woke up.

Tuan Yuan's face beamed with undisguised excitement, her voice practically leaping with joy: "Your Highness is finally awake!"

Granny Lan approached with a tray, smiling and whispering, "Constable Li secretly delivered His Majesty's reward early this morning. If word gets out that such a fine thing is out, the ladies of the harem will probably be envious."

Even the Grand Eunuch Li was so cautious, which piqued Chu Nianci's curiosity.

She gently opened the brocade box, and her eyes suddenly lit up...

Inside the box lay a very unique hair ornament. It was entirely inlaid with rubies, their color as clear as water, and the tiny gemstones along the edges shimmered with a neon-like brilliance, making it sparkle brilliantly... Rubies of such quality are truly rare.

Tuanyuan couldn't help but sigh softly, "This is so beautiful..."

Chu Nianci inserted the hairpin into her hair at an angle and looked in the mirror... The shimmering light made her eyebrows and eyes even more radiant.

No woman is immune to the allure of rare jewelry, and she was naturally delighted with it as well.

Sweet words are ultimately empty, but this hairpin was worth the effort I put into pleasing you last night.

As her fingertips brushed against the cool gemstone, she suddenly remembered this time in her past life... She married into the Lin family, exhausted her dowry to manage the household finances, only to be betrayed by her husband and given poisoned wine by her mother-in-law in return.

The person in the mirror smiled gently.

This life is different after all.

Just then, a joyous commotion came from outside the door... It turned out that everyone in the palace knew that she had been promoted to the rank of "Lady" that morning, and the Empress Dowager had even sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts.

A precious jade mountain, and many rare delicacies from Jiangnan.

The palace servants gathered around, all beaming with joy.

Just as Chu Nianci was about to remind the palace servants to keep a low profile, Granny Lan hurriedly approached and whispered, "Your Highness, Consort Shu is cracking down on gambling in the Four Treasurys and has caught several people from Tangdi Palace... She summons you to come immediately."

"My lady, Consort Shu is powerful now and her strength should not be underestimated. If she makes things difficult for you, you must not argue with her for the sake of a momentary verbal exchange," Aunt Lan said worriedly.

Chu Nianci understood.

Because of Consort Qiao, the Empress Dowager took action.

She was indeed deep in thought and cunning in her methods.

Their moves were equally seamless.

This kind of lavish praise and flattery elevates oneself to the point of being lauded by the entire court.

However, his actions immediately provoked Consort Shu.

Consort Shu came knocking on our door.

She stood up and smiled, then asked Tuanyuan to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see if the chicken soup that Consort Shu had sent to His Majesty had arrived.

The reply from Tuanyuan has been delivered, and Eunuch Li will send His Majesty's return gift shortly.

Hearing this, Chu Nianci felt reassured. She took a few storybooks and then led Tuanyuan to Consort Shu's residence...