Reincarnated as the daughter of my mortal enemy, all I want is to ascend the throne.

The morning mist obscured the sunlight, but gradually dissipated under the sunlight.

Li Qingyan sat on the swing, swinging back and forth, looking bored.

Not having to attend court with Li Yan today is rather boring. Cui Zhu is still tidying up, and Cui Ping is going to get her some pastries.

This swing was set up in a rather secluded corner of the Imperial Garden, a place where no one usually came. She had never encountered anyone before, but today was an exception.

An uninvited guest has arrived.

"Which princess are you?"

A slightly sweet voice rang out, and when Li Qingyan looked up, she was surprised to see Liu Yao.

Li Qingyan recognized her at a glance, but she didn't expect that the other woman wouldn't recognize her. However, this was normal, since they had only met once.

Children change every day; even their own parents will feel disoriented if they don't see them for a few days, let alone strangers.

"My name is Li Qingyan." Li Qingyan moved aside, patted the empty seat, and said, "Sit."

Liu Yao was stunned. She hadn't expected that this was the little princess that others said she couldn't offend. The old nanny even told her to use the majesty of an empress to discipline this little girl, but the child was clearly very cute.

And she looks just as lonely as she does.

In fact, Liu Yao really liked children, but unfortunately the children at home were not close to her, while the children in the palace treated her with more respect than affection.

The Empress is the legal mother of all the children. They respect her but are not close to the other mothers, and they will not allow her to be close to them.

Thank you.

Liu Yao sat down next to Li Qingyan and looked in the direction she was looking. She saw a sparrow land on a branch and then fly away in the blink of an eye.

The two of them sat quietly without saying a word.

Aren't you cold?

Liu Yao noticed that Li Qingyan was dressed in thin clothes, and although it was summer, there was still a slight chill in the air in the morning.

As he spoke, he placed the cloak on her shoulders so that she could wear it and avoid being blown away by the wind.

Overwhelmed by the unfamiliar temperature and smell, Li Qingyan felt a little lost. She wasn't used to strangers' clothes, but she didn't refuse because it was a kind gesture.

Are you adjusting well to life here?

Li Qingyan's bright eyes were full of questions. The difference between the deep courtyard and the palace was huge, especially for the empress who was subject to many restrictions.

The Empress is never allowed to be without someone by her side, and it took a lot of effort and temper for Liu Yao to be able to hide here by herself.

Upon hearing the question, Liu Yao's smile suddenly froze, her eyes gradually became red and moist, and her nose even felt a little sore.

Who would have thought that the first person to care about me would be a three-year-old child who had no relation to me?

None of her father, mother, or grandfather asked her how she was doing, how she was eating, or whether she was adapting to life there. They all urged her to gain the emperor's favor and not to damage the Liu family's reputation.

The women were making sarcastic remarks, as if she had gotten a huge advantage.

In their eyes, she wasn't even a human being.

She had never been valued, yet when it came time to sacrifice her daughter, she was pushed out.

Liu Yao sometimes feels pathetic.

Seeing Liu Yao crying, Li Qingyan frowned and took out a handkerchief from her bosom. "Did someone bully you?"

Who is so audacious as to dare bully the Empress? This is a slap in the face to Li Yan.

"You can tell me, or it could be my father, and he will surely seek justice for you."

Li Qingyan spoke with particular seriousness, her tone carrying a hint of age.

Liu Yao shook her head. "I'm doing very well, at least much better than before."

When she was in the Liu family, she was not valued and didn't even have anyone to serve her. Now, she has people to take care of her, and she is well-fed and warmly dressed. It's so much better than before.

"Your Highness." Cuiping hurriedly returned and bowed to Liu Yao, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

Liu Yao slightly raised her hand, her every gesture exuding the majesty of an empress. "Rise."

Seeing that the two had something to say, Liu Yao wisely prepared to leave, and even told Li Qingyan to visit her palace sometime.

Her slender figure was supported by elaborate clothing that seemed out of place for her age.

The phoenix robe embroidered with gold and silver threads looked like a mountain pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.

Li Qingyan stared intently, and finally let out a heavy sigh.

"Young Master Cuizhu has finished preparing."

Cuiping lowered her voice.

There was a reason why Li Qingyan hid here; it was said that many people impeached her as soon as the morning court session began.

Those officials said things like a three-year-old child making a fuss, mobilizing the Imperial Guards was against regulations, and so on.

Li Yan will naturally help her, so there's nothing to worry about.

However, once she gained power and made it public, some wives of wealthy families had their own ideas and sent invitations to her, even to a three-year-old child.

Li Yan could have easily intercepted these things, but she insisted on delivering them right in front of her.

"Old Deng is just petty; he's settling personal scores for personal reasons."

Li Qingyan gritted her teeth in anger, but there was nothing she could do.

Thinking about it, it's really frustrating that they have to hide from others, especially the mothers of those concubines, who are elders by definition.

If they insist on meeting, she really can't resist, so she can only hide for the time being.

After some time, those people would have to leave if they couldn't see him, otherwise staying in the palace would be against the rules.

Cuizhu's abilities were no less than those of current officials. Li Qingyan's eyes lit up after reading her. "Cuizhu, would you be interested in becoming a female official?"

"Young Master, is it really possible?"

"nature."

After the roll call, the open and covert struggles among the princes began. Even though they were all young, none of their maternal families were easy to deal with.

She also needed to plan for herself and cultivate her own confidants.

She naturally trusted the people Li Yan sent, and could gradually arrange for them to enter the harem; however, how high they could climb depended on her own efforts.

"I'll talk to my father when we get back," Li Qingyan rubbed her eyes and yawned. "I'm going to take a nap first; I'll be very busy this afternoon."

As they were talking, Li Qingyan lowered her head and was about to fall asleep. Cuiping quickly picked her up and put her on the bed, changed her clothes and covered her with a blanket before the two of them left.

The Misty Courtyard fell silent.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. At the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), Li Yan arrived in the courtyard and saw Cui Zhu and Cui Ping standing outside.

Where are they?

The two men clasped their hands in greeting, "Master, the young master is taking a nap, and half an hour has already passed."

Upon hearing that Li Qingyan had slept for half an hour, Li Yan frowned, sensing something was amiss. Li Qingyan usually only slept for a quarter of an hour at most during the day. He hurriedly prepared to go inside.

"Don't come in."

Li Qingyan shouted.

She woke up groggily when she heard the noise outside, feeling dizzy and burning hot, with red spots on her arms.

These symptoms resemble chickenpox, but are more like smallpox.

Upon hearing her voice, Li Yan said, "You little brat."

"Li Yan, you are not allowed to come in. Cui Zhu and Cui Ping, drive him out of the courtyard, quickly."

"Summon Physician Zhao and Doctor Liu."

The tone was unusually panicked, which startled Cuizhu and Cuiping.

Both Physician Zhao and Doctor Liu had experience treating smallpox, which Li Qingyan learned from their conversation and had paid attention to at the time.

People say illness can strike in an instant. Li Qingyan had tried her best to stay conscious, but she was already exhausted after uttering those few words. She collapsed to the side, coughing, and touched her forehead, noticing that her temperature was rising.

A smile played on her lips. "It really is smallpox."

This is not chickenpox; chickenpox wouldn't be this serious.

"Flying Fork, if I die here, do you think you'll die with me?"

[Host... hang in there, I'll save you right away.]

"Sizzle sizzle..."

The sound of an overloaded current stimulated the eardrums, especially since the system was in Li Qingyan's brain, directly stimulating her auditory nerves.

"Alright, alright, save your energy. I'm going to rest for a bit too."

Li Qingyan leaned against the bedpost behind her, afraid to fall asleep, lest Li Yan barge in. Ever since she became Li Yan's daughter, she had truly suffered many misfortunes.

"Old Deng must have a birth chart that clashes with mine."