After hearing her gossip, all the civil and military officials went crazy.

Chapter 1 Flower Appreciation Banquet

"What?" Fang Lingchu, who was happily gnawing on a large pork knuckle, was stunned when she heard her father say that he wanted her to enter the palace to become an official.

Fang Yelin was furious when he looked at his silly daughter.

"His Majesty wants you to accompany me to court tomorrow."

"Why?" Fang Lingchu didn't understand. She was also very famous in the capital, but the way she became famous was different from her sister's.

Her sister was good because of her talent, while she was good because of her wealth.

Does His Majesty not know what I look like? Doesn't my own father know?
"There aren't that many questions. Just come with me tomorrow."

Fang Lingchu looked at her father pitifully and said, "Father, I can't get up. Can I refuse?"

Minister Fang said with exasperation, "His Majesty has already issued the imperial edict, and now the entire court knows about it. Do you want our whole family to be executed for disobeying the imperial edict?"

Fang Lingchu looked pitiful; she really didn't want to go to work.

What's the difference between attending court this time and going to work before?

At this moment, the system spoke up, saying: "Host, why are you so reluctant to go to court?"

Fang Lingchu explained weakly, "In my past life, I was already exhausted from working 996 (9am-9pm, 6 days a week). Now, going to court means working 001 (12am-1pm), and it's so early, I can't sleep in anymore."

The system replied: "Alright, but judging from your father's expression, it seems he can't refuse."

When Minister Fang heard his daughter's thoughts, he really wanted to beat this lazy girl to death. Not wanting to see her again, he could only snort and leave.

Fang Lingchu watched her father's retreating figure and complained unhappily to the system: "It's all because of that poem."

Memories return to yesterday.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

The Empress looked at everyone, slightly raised her jade-like hand, and said, "No need for formalities."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The noble ladies knelt and took their seats, and Fang Lingchu returned to her mother and sister's side.

"Seeing that the flowers in the palace are in full bloom, and thinking that I haven't seen everyone for a long time, I thought I would invite you all to the palace for a chat."

"Yes," everyone replied, standing up once more.

Fang Lingchu followed behind her sister, muttering softly, "Going to the palace is so tiring, I'd rather stay at home..."

Before she could finish complaining, the older sister next to her pulled her back, and she realized what was happening and sat down.

She has gotten up countless times; she is so tired.

The eldest princess tugged at the empress's sleeve and said coquettishly, "Mother, didn't you say we should compose poems on the theme of chrysanthemums? Have you decided what to use as a prize?"

The Empress affectionately flicked the princess's nose and said, "You! It's just a prize, and you still have your mother pay for it."

The eldest princess chuckled.

This event, ostensibly a flower-viewing banquet, was actually a concubine-selection banquet for the Crown Prince.

The Empress smiled and then said to those below, "Whoever wins first place today will receive a phoenix hairpin from my hand."

The noble ladies all wore expressions of joy. They knew that today was not just an ordinary flower-viewing banquet, but a banquet for the Crown Prince to choose his consorts. However, they did not expect that the eldest prince and even his other sons might also be choosing consorts. If they could not get the Crown Prince, that favored son of heaven, they could accept it if he had his other brothers.

Receiving a prize from the Empress is equivalent to having a chance to participate in the selection of imperial concubines, and everyone is very excited.

After all, the royal children are all outstanding individuals.

Soon, palace maids presented the noble ladies present with paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones.

Fang Lingchu looked at the things on her desk. She didn't want to touch them. She felt a strong aversion to these things now. In her past life, she had experienced the brutal college entrance examination, followed by job hunting. She didn't want to take any exams in this life.

Fang Lingyan, standing beside her, shook her head helplessly as she watched her younger sister like this, and continued writing her own.

Although she didn't want to become the Crown Princess, given her father and brother's abilities, someone from their family was bound to enter the palace.

Fang Lingchu propped her head up and looked around, watching everyone diligently writing, then let out a dejected groan, "Ugh... so boring..."

Everyone! ! ! !
Everyone's hands trembled slightly, and some of the words became crooked.

The crowd glared at each other.
Who's howling like a ghost?!

The Empress above looked at the noble ladies below with a puzzled expression. Seeing that everyone was bowing their heads and pursing their lips in silence, she thought she had misheard.

The sound rang out again at that moment.

[Guagua, can you help me think of an ancient poem about chrysanthemums?]

The system said with a hint of schadenfreude: [Host, I'm a gossip system, not a genius system. I don't have that kind of knowledge.]

Now the Empress heard it clearly and looked around, trying to find the source of the sound.

At the same time, observe other people, look at their micro-expressions, and you can hear them.

The Empress looked at the eldest princess beside her and frowned slightly.
No one else dared to move. If the Empress found out that they could hear this strange sound, not only would the Crown Princess be arrested as if she had epilepsy.

Only Fang Lingyan knew what was going on, but they couldn't say anything. They were also afraid that their younger sister would overthink things, and that their whole family might be executed.

So everyone present went about their own business, pretending they hadn't heard anything. Fang Lingchu, looking somewhat unhappy, drooped her head and said, "Then tell me some gossip so I can clear my head and see if I can remember anything."

The system chuckled and said, "See that girl opposite your sister? She's the granddaughter of a Grand Secretary. She's always been known for her gentle, charming, and dignified demeanor, but secretly she's quite the womanizer and even keeps male lovers!"

Fang Lingchu looked up in surprise. Opposite her was Lu Chuyu. [Really? Playing such a wild game, and she can still participate in the Crown Princess selection? I heard my mother say the Empress likes her quite a bit. Can someone like that really be the Empress?]

These words reached the Empress's ears without fail, and also resonated with everyone present.

Some are happy and some are sad.

At the same time, everyone also knows that it's not that something is wrong with them, nor that there are any demons or monsters in the palace, but rather it's the inner voice of the girl opposite Lu Chuyu.

They glanced at each other; everyone should be able to hear.

And just like that, Lu Chuyu's reputation, which she had cultivated for so long, was completely ruined.

Lu Chuyu's face was pale, and her hand holding the brush trembled uncontrollably. She looked up and saw strange looks coming from all directions, and she immediately wanted to lash out.

Fortunately, the girl next to her pulled her back in time. She composed herself, stood up, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble woman did not..."

"Miss Lu, what's wrong? You look so pale. Someone, take Miss Lu away and let her rest."

The palace maids behind the empress immediately pulled the person away.

Everyone here is shrewd; the Empress's words are already telling everyone that Lu Chuyu and the Crown Princess are not meant to be.

Fang Lingchu looked at the people being taken away with some confusion, completely bewildered.

Fang Lingchu was also given a strange glare.

Fang Lingchu: [What's going on? Why is she glaring at me? What did I do to her?]

Fang Lingyan, standing nearby, silently thought to herself, "You've exposed someone's secrets in your mind! They don't just want to glare at you, they want to kill you!"

Fang Lingyan was terrified and prayed that her sister wouldn't gossip.

Otherwise, their family would really die.

This palace is full of noble people.

Guagua: [Tsk tsk tsk, you can tell she has a bad temper, and she still plays such tricks.]

Fang Lingchu nodded subconsciously, looked up to see her sister, and then met everyone's gaze...

What's going on? Why are they all looking at me? Do they know I'm not answering the questions properly?

Everyone...

Everyone quickly looked away and went about their own business.

The Empress above has also found the source of the sound.

The Empress looked at everyone and said, "How are your poems coming along?"

"This humble woman is finished. Please take a look, Your Majesty..."

A series of neat voices came from the front of Fang Lingchu, who looked at the blank paper in front of her.

[Were they rehearsing secretly without telling me? They're all talking in unison.]

Everyone...

System: [That's what you call a well-bred lady. Look at your sister.]

Fang Lingchu retorted, unconvinced, "Me too!"

System: [Yes, yes, yes, host, you are a lady from a very wealthy family.]

Do you want to be punished again?

Listening to her adorable conversation with that little boy, the Empress couldn't help but ask, "Which family's daughter are you from?"

When Fang Lingchu saw the Empress looking at her, she quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I am from the household of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

The Empress looked at Fang Lingchu kindly, seemingly wondering if she should ask Madam Fang privately. She had two daughters, and the younger one seemed to be in good health, yet she had never appeared in public before. Could it be...?

I guess they allowed this girl to enter the palace today because she said she wanted to bring all the eligible young ladies with her.

"I heard that Miss Fang is not in good health. She just happened to come to the palace today. Should we have the imperial physician take a look at her?"

annotation:

1. Everyone can only hear the conversation between the female protagonist and the system; some parts will be blurred to prevent them from being heard.

2. No one can reveal their true feelings to the female lead, or they will suffocate. However, they can discuss their feelings with others.

3. There are many pairings; please exit if you mind.

4. After the Bagua system is upgraded, there will be many tasks available.

5. The system can only gossip and issue tasks; it has no other functions.

(End of this chapter)