Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Upon hearing the sound, the Empress looked over sharply.

It turned out that Qi Wanyin was preparing to bring tea to chat with the Empress, but as soon as she reached the door, she heard the Empress's words about finding a husband for her, and she was instantly stunned as if struck by lightning.

The tray in his hands began to tremble, so much so that he lost his grip, and the tea spilled out instantly, falling directly to the ground with a "crash".

Qi Wanyin then suddenly realized that she had lost her composure.

She knelt down as if she had lost her soul, her voice trembling as she said, "Aunt, please forgive me, Wanyin's hand just slipped."

She lowered her head, her body trembling uncontrollably, whether from the teacup falling to the ground or from hearing the news of the marriage proposal, it was hard to tell.

The Empress frowned as she looked at her, sighing helplessly in her heart.

She naturally knew what Wan Yin was thinking, but since the Crown Prince had clearly refused, the Empress could not force him to take her as a concubine.

The Empress only cared about her son and would never ruin her relationship with him for the sake of a niece.

"Get up, it's alright."

"Thank you, Aunt."

Qi Wanyin stood up, trying hard to suppress the fear in her heart. She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, and her knuckles turned white from the force.

Princess Minghui couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth when she saw Qi Wanyin's distraught appearance, her eyes full of schadenfreude.

Didn't she want to marry her brother, the emperor?

Ha, what a fool's dream.

"Mother, why don't we hold this marriage recruitment banquet under the pretext of Miss Qi finding a husband, and postpone my own marriage?"

Princess Minghui wore a smug smile, glanced at Qi Wanyin with disdain, and said in a coquettish voice.

The Empress knew that the two of them were not on good terms, but it was just minor squabbles, so she didn't care.

However, as the empress, it was perfectly legitimate for her to hold a banquet for the princess in the palace, but it was against the rules to hold a banquet for Qi Wanyin, making her position rather awkward.

"Nonsense! You are a princess. This banquet held in the palace can only be for you."

After rejecting Princess Minghui, the Empress turned to look at Qi Wanyin.

"Wanyin, at this banquet, I will announce to all the invited noble families that you are a daughter of the Qi family and have been officially included in the Qi family genealogy. I will also choose a husband for you at the banquet."

The Empress's expression was serious, and her tone left no room for argument.

When Qi Wanyin heard that her aunt was really going to choose a husband for her, her face turned pale and she staggered to the Empress and knelt down.

"Aunt, Wanyin is in love with her cousin, the Crown Prince. Even if she becomes his concubine, Wanyin still wants to enter the Eastern Palace. Please grant her wish."

Qi Wanyin gripped the Empress's skirt with both hands, her voice trembling with sobs, tears welling in her eyes.

"Wanyin, your father has returned from beyond the Great Wall. From now on, you are a proper daughter of the Qi family, with a noble status. Even if you marry into a family of slightly lower social standing, you can still become the matriarch. Why bother entering the Eastern Palace?"

Looking at Qi Wanyin's humble and pitiful appearance, the Empress leaned down slightly, her eyes filled with pity, and gently patted Qi Wanyin's shoulder.

She knew her son's temperament; if he truly disliked her, he would likely suffer after entering the Eastern Palace.

"Aunt, I..."

The Empress interrupted her when she saw that she was about to continue speaking.

"It is the Crown Prince's will that I choose a husband for you. If the Crown Prince does not want to take you as a concubine, there is nothing I can do."

Qi Wanyin's eyes widened instantly, her pupils dilated, and she stared at the Empress in disbelief.

Why did my cousin...?

"Yes, Wanyin will follow her aunt's arrangements."

Qi Wanyin lowered her head, and tears finally welled up in her eyes, falling drop by drop to the ground.

Is she really that annoying?

When she first entered the palace, only her cousin did not ridicule her. He would even speak up and teach the other princesses and princes a lesson when they insulted her.

Therefore, she always regarded her cousin as her only salvation in the palace. She wanted to marry into the Eastern Palace and wanted to have a sense of belonging in the capital.

It turns out she was just imagining things.

The capital city never tolerated her; her foreign bloodline made everyone hate her and stay away from her.

Who will take a liking to her at this banquet?

They were merely there to serve as a foil to the princess.

After exchanging a few words with the two women, the Empress lost interest, and both of them seemed distracted.

The Empress leaned back on the couch, rubbing her forehead with her hand. "I am tired. You may all leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty, Wanyin, takes her leave."

Princess Minghui and Qi Wanyin said in unison, then bowed and slowly withdrew from the palace.

Qi Wanyin's steps were unsteady, as if she were a walking corpse, while Princess Minghui looked smug. Although Young Master Yan was not at this banquet, her mother had not said that she must choose a consort for her from the banquet.

Princess Minghui felt comforted by Qi Wanyin's distraught state.

As soon as she stepped out of the main hall, Princess Minghui immediately raised her chin and became arrogant.

She glanced at Qi Wanyin with disdain, a mocking smile on her face.

"Qi Wanyin, you should put away those thoughts. How could the Emperor possibly take a liking to you? You even want to enter the Eastern Palace, ha."

She raised her eyebrows high, threatening Qi Wanyin.

"After some time, you can choose a suitable son from a concubine at the banquet that the Empress Dowager is holding for me, and then arrange a marriage."

When Princess Minghui spoke, she emphasized the words "this palace," implying that Qi Wanyin was not even qualified to hold a banquet in the palace.

After saying that, he walked past Qi Wanyin, even bumping into her slightly, and went back to his palace.

Qi Wanyin watched Princess Minghui's retreating figure, her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, yet she seemed to feel no pain.

She kept asking herself what she had done wrong that made them hate her so much.

Half a month later.

The Empress hosted the Lingxi Banquet, inviting noble young men and women from the capital to attend.

The news caused a sensation throughout the capital.

After all, it's not common for the Empress to hold palace banquets for the public.

The Empress did not explicitly state that it was for the princess's sake to find a husband; only families with inside information received some vague rumors.

However, upon hearing that His Highness the Crown Prince would also be attending the Lingxi Banquet, Ye Yaqin was quite excited and began making meticulous preparations.

She repeatedly tried on one gorgeous outfit after another in front of the mirror, selecting the most dazzling jewelry, striving for perfection in every detail.

This was the first banquet the Crown Prince had ever attended. Upon hearing the news, the young ladies at the Lingxi Banquet were even more alarmed, and each of them put in their best effort to dress up.

Ye Yaqin naturally wanted to make an impression on the Crown Prince.

Su Jingyao came with her brother today.

Su Jingyao originally thought her brother wouldn't come back so soon. It's quite a coincidence. Could it be that her brother and Qi Wanyin have some kind of connection?

Su Jingyao didn't want her brother to be involved with Qi Wanyin for the rest of his life.

Although Qi Wanyin hasn't done anything excessive yet, her personality is somewhat extreme due to her childhood experiences.

Su Jingyao didn't sympathize with her, but she also wouldn't look at her with malice.

Everyone has their own pain in life. If Qi Wanyin can't get over it, perhaps her life will be no different from her previous one.

Qi Wanyin has always stayed in the capital. If her brother and Qi Wanyin become entangled, she doesn't know whether her brother can give Qi Wanyin a new life or Qi Wanyin will drag her brother into the abyss.

That's why Su Jingyao didn't want her brother to see Qi Wanyin again.

Unexpectedly, my brother returned from his study abroad trip a couple of days ago.

After Qi Wanyin died in her previous life, her brother met her sister-in-law from that life a year later at the Flower Festival, and the two got together.

Her sister-in-law was younger than her, only ten years old...

But so much has happened in this life, and everyone's path seems to have changed considerably.

Su Jingyao could only let things take their course.

"Yaoyao, you look absolutely stunning and graceful in that light purple brocade dress with a fitted waist!"

As soon as Chu Yinxue saw Su Jingyao arrive at the banquet, she couldn't wait to walk over, her eyes shining, and immediately praised her.

Su Jingyao knew that when she praised her, she wanted Su Jingyao to praise her back, so she didn't hold back and pondered for a moment.

Smiling, she praised, "Yinxue looks extremely beautiful today. Her delicate face is as fresh as a crabapple blossom, and her beauty surpasses that of a fairy."

When Su Jingyao praised her, her tone changed, sounding quite mischievous.

Chu Yinxue raised an eyebrow and smiled with satisfaction; she was truly radiant and captivating.

She loved it when Yao Yao praised her. Every time, the praise was different, and it was always so beautiful that it made her feel as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

Then, Chu Yinxue's gaze fell on Su Jingxuan behind Su Jingyao.

Su Jingxuan was dressed in a blue brocade robe, with a handsome face and a gentle smile, giving people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

A fleeting hint of shyness crossed Chu Yinxue's face. After lingering on him briefly, she quickly lowered her eyes again.

Seeing this, Su Jingyao smiled and introduced her: "This is my brother, Su Jingxuan."

Chu Yinxue suppressed the inexplicable nervousness in her heart and said softly, "Young Master Su."

"Miss Chu." Su Jingxuan nodded politely.

Su Jingyao noticed that Chu Yinxue seemed different from her usual carefree self, and felt a little strange.

He then subtly observed her expression carefully.

Her eyes darted away, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

Could it be that Chu Yinxue has taken a liking to her brother?

That's it. She doesn't like being a matchmaker. She'd rather not get involved in other people's love lives. Let nature take its course...

Soon, the banquet officially began as the Empress brought the princess and Qi Wanyin along.

The Empress glanced at everyone and stated clearly at the banquet that she hoped Princess Minghui could choose a husband from among the many outstanding young men.

Although many powerful families in the capital did not aspire to be the sons-in-law of princesses, some men did hope to marry a princess and elevate their families to prominence.

Princess Minghui sat in her seat, listlessly glancing at the men who had come today. Her eyes were full of boredom, and she fidgeted with the wine glass in her hand without much interest.

Not long after, the Empress announced that Qi Wanyin had been included in the Qi family genealogy and had officially become a member of the Qi family.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingxuan turned his gaze to Qi Wanyin, his eyes filled with complex emotions—a mixture of relief and感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of mixed emotions), at least she now had a place to stay in the capital.

Su Jingxuan hoped that she could get what she wanted.

He had known Qi Wanyin for several months in the palace and had some understanding of her.

Qi Wanyin was extremely cautious; every movement and every word she uttered was carefully considered.

She lived a life of great misery, as if fate had choked her and she could not break free.

However, she had more self-esteem than others, and was both insecure and sensitive.

Su Jingxuan was not someone who judged people by their status. He admired Qi Wanyin's perseverance in studying hard and trying to please the Empress despite being suppressed by the princesses and princes in the palace.

When he left the palace, he was still young and did not think he liked Qi Wanyin, but he did feel pity and sympathy.

Perhaps because of Qi Wanyin's kindness towards him, Su Jingxuan wanted to repay it, or perhaps deep down, Su Jingxuan longed to be a savior and pull this woman, who was trapped in darkness, into the light.

Later, when he learned that she liked the Crown Prince, Su Jingxuan suddenly realized that only the Crown Prince could pull her into the light.

Halfway through the banquet, Chu Yinxue turned around, but couldn't find Su Jingyao anywhere!

Yao Yao used to be inseparable from her at every banquet, but she's nowhere to be seen today!

Chu Yinxue left the banquet to look outside, but somehow she found Qi Wanyin and Young Master Su walking side by side.

Yao Yao said that the Empress is also preparing to help Qi Wanyin choose a husband for this banquet. Could it be that Qi Wanyin has taken a fancy to Young Master Su?

Chu Yinxue felt hurt and helpless.

For some reason, she wanted to find out what was going on between the two. Chu Yinxue bit her lip and followed them.