Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

Wei Rong stopped and subconsciously looked at Ling Xianru.

From a woman's perspective, Ling Xianru is an excellent husband, both in terms of appearance and power.

Wei Ning's gaze was direct, and she looked at Ling Xianru with a shy, hesitant air.

Wei Nanfeng was already worried about his two daughters' marriages, repeatedly telling Wei Rong to pay close attention. Now, seeing the way his daughter looked at Ling Xianru, he didn't know whether to be happy or worried.

But he just said that he is not involved in partisan strife.

If the Wei family were to form a marriage alliance with the Ling family, it would be hard to say how the emperor would view Ling Xianru in the future.

But—let's see how Ling Xianru reacts.

Although the daughters of the Wei family could not compare to Wei Rong in appearance, they were all of excellent quality, and as daughters of military families, they all had distinct personalities.

Ling Xianru is at the right age, there's no reason for her to be so arrogant and cling to that so-called cinnabar mole that she's already married.

Wei Rong remained silent, while the esteemed Empress patiently waited to the side.

The cherry blossom pastries on the plate were still warm, showing how much care was put into them; they were steaming and had a faint, pleasant fragrance.

Ling Xianru glanced down at it, showing no intention of taking it: "Since it was made with such care by the young lady, it would be more appropriate for Second Uncle to enjoy it."

He refused.

Wei Ning looked disappointed, but she didn't give up. She raised the tray a little further forward: "My name is Wei Ning. I am three years younger than Her Majesty the Empress. I am seventeen years old this year."

"I am twenty-five this year," Ling Xianru said, putting her hands behind her back and shifting slightly to Wei Rong's side, their sleeves almost touching. "Speaking of which, I have a niece who is the same age as you."

Wei Rong felt a rush of oxygen to her throat and almost coughed.

There's no need to bring up seniority when refusing someone, is there?

Wei Ning let out a soft "Ah!" Even if she was slow to understand, she understood that Ling Xianru had absolutely no interest in her.

But she fell in love with him at first sight.

Compared to the emperor, this prime minister possessed an air that made people want to know more about him. He was young and had already risen to a high position, and more importantly, he had such a handsome face.

How could it not be tempting?

"Although I am only seventeen, I have been approved by the Master in all four books and five classics, music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and I also know a little about housekeeping."

Wei Ning was so anxious that his face turned red, and he couldn't wait to prove that although he was young, he was quite capable.

"Unfortunately," Ling Xianru said calmly, "I happen to like those who are skilled in both literature and martial arts, and who ride horses and shoot arrows."

Wei Rong: "..."

"How could any man like a woman who rides horses and shoots arrows? A woman's place should be in the inner quarters, raising children and serving her parents-in-law."

Wei Rong: "..."

She stared blankly at her fingertips peeking out from under her jacket sleeves.

No woman truly enjoys staying at home; they are all confined there. Being a good wife and mother is an age-old rule, not a woman's mission.

If she had a choice, she wouldn't want to be a woman confined to the inner quarters, constantly scheming and plotting against each other.

She didn't know if Wei Ning's words were sincere, but if she lived like that for three years, she would understand that the world she experienced in her boudoir was the best world.

She was lost in thought and didn't notice that Ling Xianru glanced at her twice.

Suddenly, he said, "The girl will find your inner quarters."

Wei Ning felt that Ling Xianru hadn't understood what he was saying, so he added, "What I mean is—"

Ling Xianru interrupted her and said to Wei Rong, "Your Majesty, if we stay any later, it will delay your return to the palace."

The cherry blossom garden was planted by Wei Rong's mother herself, and every February and March is the best time to visit the Wei family mansion.

Early cherry blossoms are vibrant, while late-blooming cherry blossoms are gentle.

Wei Rong used to love playing in the cherry blossom garden. When the wind blew, the cherry blossom petals would fall softly, like a mother's gentle embrace.

She hadn't seen this scene in three years.

Looking at the cherry blossom tree in front of her, Wei Rong sighed, "Wei Ning must be heartbroken."

"Isn't it normal for a young girl to feel heartbroken?" Ling Xianru didn't think she was wrong: "There aren't that many people who are truly in love."

"Even if you don't like Wei Ning, you could at least be more tactful. An ordinary person would say, 'You deserve better.' What do you mean she'd go to her inner quarters?"

That sounds very strange.

It seems to mean: Go ahead and look for this kind of thing if you want.

Ling Xianru glanced at her.

"Your Majesty is deceiving yourself now. You've already married the best you could hope for, but are you truly happy?"

"..."

If you talk to this person, there will definitely be at least one sentence out of ten that Wei Rong can't refute.

But he seems to be right; if marrying up means living a good life, she herself is a living example.

If she could choose again, she would definitely not choose Xiao Heng.

Wei Rong had never experienced the first stirrings of love, nor did she quite understand the feelings of a young girl in love; Ling Xianru seemed to understand them better than she did.

Ling Xianru didn't think he had said anything wrong, but judging from Wei Rong's expression, he probably thought he had said something unpleasant. Therefore, the Prime Minister explained frankly, "It's better to cut off her thoughts than to give her some unfounded hope."

"What about that one in Chuxiu Palace?" Wei Rong clearly didn't believe him. "The way that person looked at you, sir, didn't it seem like she had given up all hope? Or is it that you, sir, are different for everyone, giving different explanations to different people?"

"Oh, so Your Highness is interested in my private affairs. If you wish to hear, that's fine, unless—"

This guy is probably a skilled angler, Wei Rong scoffed: "Unless what?"

"Unless we are quite familiar with each other, there is no reason for me to report private matters to Your Highness, is there?"

"..."

Now, not only was the Empress's injured neck red, but her face was also flushed with anger: "Fine, don't talk about it if you don't want to!"

She probably didn't realize how eye-catching this high-waisted jacket made her look, and how the pinch marks on her clothes made them stand out even more.

If I hadn't arrived just now, I don't know how far she would have gone in angering Xiao Heng.

What if you accidentally snap that neck?

So thin, so white, like a flower stem, it would break with the slightest touch.

The cherry blossom garden was deserted, with attendants waiting outside.

Ling Xianru raised her hand and gently stroked Wei Rong's injured area before she could react.

As if pricked by a needle, Wei Rong's face showed fear. She took a large step back, but happened to step on a protruding tree root, causing her to lose her balance and fall backward uncontrollably.

But Ling Xianru couldn't let her fall. In a flash, she hooked her waist and steadily pulled her towards herself.