I married the crippled queen and became the most favored queen in the capital

It seems that Camellia is very determined to become the Crown Princess.

However, she underestimated the Queen's insight.

Chaofeng Palace

She sat in the main seat and looked at the girls standing in front of her. They were all beloved daughters of ministers in the court. They were pretty and were said to be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

She frowned slightly and raised her hand towards Bai Lan.

"First, whip each of them twenty times as a greeting gift."

After hearing this, the girls who were so proud just now knelt down and begged for mercy.

"Please forgive us, Madam, please forgive us, we know we are wrong."

"Then tell me, what was your fault? Whoever says it's right will avoid being whipped."

The first girl hurriedly replied, "My queen, I shouldn't have laughed secretly."

The second girl responded, “I’m standing wrong.”

The third girl replied, "I...I am not dressed appropriately..."

"..."

They were all trying their best to find their own shortcomings, and Luo Nianxi's brows were furrowed.

Until the sixth girl, she replied directly:

"I don't think I did anything wrong. Before entering the palace, Nanny Wu had already taught us etiquette, and we have practiced at home for more than three months. If the Queen wants me to take these twenty lashes for no reason, I won't agree. Please tell me the reason."

She actually dared to question the queen? Everyone present was sweating for her.

Luo Nianxi half-closed her eyes and looked at her.

"Whose girl are you? What's your name?"

"My last name is Yuan Ying, and my father is Yuan Tiezhi, a fourth-rank general of the imperial guards."

She spoke confidently and didn't seem to be afraid at all.

"Then what do you know?"

When this question was raised, Yuan Ying seemed a little nervous, and Nanny Wu stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Your Highness, although Miss Yuan is not very proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, she is eager to learn. She memorized a general history book in just three days..."

Obviously, Nanny Wu was even more nervous than her.

The Empress's requirement is that women entering the palace must be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

Miss Wu is the daughter of a general and she likes fighting and killing. According to her father Yuan Tiezhi's fourth-rank official position, she has no right to participate in the election for the Crown Princess.

The reason why she was chosen this time was because Nanny Wu accepted benefits from Madam Yuan.

Originally, Nanny Wu thought that these girls were all outstanding, only Yuan Ying was a little bit inferior. Anyway, the Queen would not choose her, so she was justified in accepting the money.

Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother set her sights on this girl who came to make up the numbers. How could she not be panicked?

She raised her hand to stop Aunt Wu and asked Yuan Ying again,

"Then what do you know?"

Yuan Ying clicked her tongue, and after a moment's hesitation, she kowtowed three times to Luo Nianxi and said bluntly,

"Empress, I... I can't do anything except wielding a sword or a gun. My mother asked me to learn music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but I only learned the basics. Please have mercy on me, Empress, and don't punish my parents. It was my own idea to enter the palace this time. The last time the prince went out of the palace to hunt, I saw him from afar and fell in love with him at first sight. That's why I asked my father and mother to send me to the palace. If Empress wants to punish someone, just punish me1"

Seeing her speak the truth directly, Nanny Wu was so frightened that her body softened and she knelt on the ground.

"My lady, I am guilty. I am guilty."

Although this girl named Yuan Ying was not outstanding enough, Luo Nianxi became interested in her.

She has been wielding guns and sticks since she was a child.

She fell in love with Jinjie at first sight.

She has a cheerful personality and doesn't give in easily.

Isn't this exactly the person she is looking for?

She nodded immediately,

"Can you read?"

"Yes, my father taught me to read since I was young. I can recognize all the characters, but I can't compose poems or draw."

"Well, you stay, and send the rest back!"

Hearing this, Nanny Wu looked at the Queen as if she didn't understand. The other girls also looked unconvinced.

"Empress, you haven't asked us to do anything yet, why are you sending us back?"

"Yes, I brought my embroidery and calligraphy. You must take a look at them. Let's compete with each other."

Luo Nianxi raised her hand impatiently.

"What the prince needs is a princess. A woman who can treat him with respect is neither an embroiderer nor a teacher. Besides, I gave you a chance just now, but you didn't seize it."

The women looked at each other as if they didn't understand what she said.

She continued:

"I want to find a brave, careful and smart girl for the prince. I used a whip to scare you into confessing those false charges. What's the difference between your behavior and those who curry favor with the powerful and are willing to be fence-sitters? You don't even have your own opinions. When the prince ascends to the throne, how can you assist him in managing the harem?"

Her words left the women present speechless.

After Nanny Wu sent them away, Yuan Ying seemed to have not reacted and stood there in a daze.

She walked forward, pulled her up, and made her sit in front of her.

"Your name is Yuan Ying?"

Yuan Ying was a little nervous.

"Yes."

"Don't be afraid. I like your cheerful personality, and I like girls who are good at wielding spears and sticks even more. You can stay with me in the palace for a few days and find a chance to cultivate your relationship with the prince. If you can make him fall in love with you, I will let you be the crown princess. Are you willing?"

Yuan Ying was very surprised and excited.

She nodded repeatedly,

"Thank you, Queen. I'm not here to become the Crown Princess. I really like the Crown Prince, especially his handsome silhouette when he draws the bow and shoots the arrow..."

At this point, she lowered her head a little embarrassedly, "I'm sorry to have made the Queen laugh."

"How could I laugh at you? You are a girl who speaks honestly, and I like you."

The reason why she wanted to find an unusual girl for Jinjie was to quickly divert Jinjie's attention away from Camellia.

Otherwise, in this treacherous harem, if you find a girl who is weak and can be bullied, and who will only compromise by crying when encountering problems, it would be strange if she is not bullied to death by servants like Camellia.

However, she did not let Yuan Ying meet Jinjie immediately. She had to let them meet in a different way, otherwise, Jinjie would think that she deliberately found a girl to destroy his relationship with Chahua.

Camellia deliberately ignored Jinjie these days, but kept appearing in front of him on purpose, in order to force him to go to the Queen Mother and ask her to agree to let her be the Crown Princess.

She thought too simply. She believed that the Queen favored the Prince, and as long as she could control Jinjie, she could also control the Queen.

"Camellia, why are you ignoring me?"

Although Jinjie was very serious when handling memorials, he was still an ignorant boy of sixteen years old when facing Camellia.

While pruning the plants in the yard, Camellia muttered:

"I'm just a little girl, how dare I look at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for even a second."

"I know you said that in anger, and you're still mad at me, can you give me some time?"

"How can I give you time? The Queen has already chosen a candidate for you. She might let you marry that woman someday. When that happens, I will jump into the Lotus Lake and die."

At this point, she began to wipe her tears. Jinjie frowned and went forward to comfort her.

"No, I will go and tell my mother in a moment that I will not marry anyone else but you."