Time Travel: The actress's acting skills exploded, and she was favored by the harem

The queen moistened her pen and continued to copy. Although the pen tip danced rapidly, her thoughts returned to the scene when she saw Shen Zhiyao in Renshou Palace just now.

Shen Zhiyao was wearing ink green uniform, her back straight, smiling at herself. Her demeanor was like a delicate and mysterious painting, evoking many past events hidden in the queen's heart.

Gu Yunran is the second daughter of the Pingxuan Marquis Mansion. Although her mother died early, her father loved her deeply and once cried in public: "After the death of my wife, there will be no more wives in the Pingxuan Marquis Mansion!"

Shen Zhiyao, who was only seven years old, knelt in her mother's mourning hall all night with her sister and brother, and accompanied her father. This was the first time that Gu Yunran saw her iron-blooded father cry.

Although Marquis Pingxuan had a concubine, he never took another concubine after his wife died. All of Gu Yunran's views on love came from his parents.

Mrs. Gu had three children in total, and Gu Yunran was the youngest and the most favored one. She had been spoiled since childhood, and her intelligence and beauty had long been known to everyone in the capital.

Gu Yunran matured precociously and discussed her future life with her father very early on. Ping Xuanhou planned that when Gu Yunran came of age, she would not get married and would find a considerate and satisfactory son-in-law.

Although the Gu family was granted the title of nobility for their contributions to the royal family, Marquis Pingxuan believed that the Gu family had too much power in the court and might have been feared by the royal family. It would not be a bad thing if his children could leave the court and live a leisurely life.

The Marquis knew that Gu Yunran was willing to do business, so he bought her good land and property in advance. He also found a teacher to teach her the knowledge in "The Strategy of Goods" and "The Strategy of Markets". She even learned a lot about accounting.

Ironically, all this knowledge became Gu Yunran's capital to take charge of the affairs of the six palaces.

She still remembered that year, when she was seventeen, her father returned to the mansion with a gloomy face as if a dark cloud was hanging over his head, and he locked himself in the study for the entire day.

When Ping Xuanhou called her to his study, a rough hand stroked her hair and said in a voice as heavy as thunder: "Child, I don't think I can keep my promise to you. Can you understand my painstaking efforts?"

It was also on that day that Gu Yunran knew that she might be married into the mansion of the Fourth Prince, the prince that the current emperor disliked the most.

When Gu Yunran heard the news, she was shocked and she didn't want to get married.

She had met the Fourth Prince Bo Muxi several times. His cold eyes and slightly heartless lips left a deep impression on her. She did not think that Bo Muxi would be a good candidate for a husband.

Of course, she also understood that the Fourth Prince was not eager to marry her, but the military power and influence in the hands of Marquis Pingxuan.

She didn't want to be involved in the cruel struggle for succession. If she wasn't careful, she could become a political victim at any time. That was the first time she rose up to resist...

At this time, in Renshou Palace, Nanny Wang was placing flower cakes and various exquisite snacks made by the kitchen on the table.

"These are snacks specially made for me by the kitchen. They are not sweet at all. Please eat more. Don't be restrained here with me." Queen Mother Zhao said with a smile, pointing to the plates of snacks on the table.

"Then I won't be falsely polite to the Empress Dowager!" Shen Zhiyao picked up a piece of cake and ate it happily. It was indeed sweet but not greasy and melted in the mouth.

Queen Mother Zhao looked at her with a kind smile, and she actually liked her a little bit.

Regardless of whether it was an act or not, she couldn't remember how long it had been since someone had eaten, drank, and laughed so relaxedly in front of her.

"I see that you and the Queen get along very well." In order to make her relax more, Queen Mother Zhao added a piece of cake and ate it slowly.

Perhaps she was influenced by Shen Zhiyao's eating habits, she felt that today's pastries seemed to be much more fragrant than usual.

Shen Zhiyao slowly swallowed the cake she had been chewing for a long time, then smiled and said, "The Queen is different from other queens in the palace. She is quiet and calm, elegant and calm, yet she still has the dignity of a queen, and she has the bearing of a mother of the country. How can I not admire such a rare woman?"

"Yes, I agree with you." After saying that, the Queen Mother winked and Nanny Wang immediately removed the teacups and brought freshly brewed white tea.

"Try this white tea. The Governor of Fujian personally sent someone to deliver it to me in the palace." The Queen Mother picked up the teacup, took a sip, and sighed, "It has a rich and fresh flavor, and a sweet and refreshing taste that lasts for a long time."

Shen Zhiyao also picked up the teacup and took a sip, smiling and saying, "It really tastes thick and smooth. This kind of good tea is only possible because of your kindness."

“A cup of tea, if tasted carefully, has a myriad of flavors; a person’s heart is far more complicated than this tea, how can you taste it easily?” The Queen Mother put down the teacup, hinting at something.

Shen Zhiyao smiled and said, "You are right. To be honest, sometimes I can't even appreciate myself, so how can I appreciate others? However, I think as long as the general direction is right, it's fine."

Queen Mother Zhao's eyes darkened when she heard this. "That does make sense, but all the women in the harem are fighting for the emperor's favor. The queen is also a woman. If she doesn't fight, how can she have an heir? I have seen enough ups and downs along the way. How can there be permanent allies in the palace?"

"Your Majesty the Queen Mother has spoken just in time, and I agree with you very much." Shen Zhiyao said with a sweet smile.

"Yes. I am different from the Empress. I am the biological mother of the Emperor. This blood relationship is a strong bond between me and the Emperor. Alas! My son has made great efforts. I have been persecuted for half my life, but I have finally made it through!"

Queen Dowager Zhao was openly praising the emperor for his ability, but she was actually implying that following the current queen dowager was the best choice.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has spoken just in time. You are a blessed person and I pale in comparison. I only hope to live a peaceful life in the palace, nothing else I ask for." Shen Zhiyao looked into the Empress Dowager's eyes and said sincerely.

Nothing else to ask for? Hearing this word, Queen Mother Zhao suddenly remembered the day when she was forced to go to Pingxuanhou Mansion in person to persuade Gu Yunran, which completely changed the trajectory of Gu Yunran's life.

Zhao Yingqing met with Gu Yunran alone and discussed the current situation with her. Gu Yunran had obviously never seen a woman with such a broad mind and her eyes were full of genuine admiration for her.

Zhao Yingqing also knew that her features were somewhat similar to Gu Yunran's deceased mother, and these were her advantages.

Zhao Yingqing took advantage of these in a despicable way. Gu Yunran was young and gullible at that time.

Zhao Yingqing never mentioned marriage in front of her, let alone imagined love. What she expressed were all about her feelings for her country and her dream of revenge, which were very similar to Gu Yunran's ideas, and they resonated with each other very naturally.

Zhao Yingqing told her that this marriage not only concerns the future of the Four Princes' Mansion and the Pingxuan Marquis' Mansion, but will also affect the direction of future struggles for imperial power.

She made Gu Yunran realize clearly that under the current circumstances, it was impossible for her to marry someone outside the royal family as the daughter of Marquis Pingxuan. Otherwise, without any constraints, the Gu family would be even more feared.

If Gu Yunran's sister had not been maliciously slandered, she would not have been unable to enter the royal family. Now, Gu Yunran is the Gu family's last chance and hope...

"Empress Dowager, did I say something wrong?" Shen Zhiyao asked cautiously when she saw that the Empress Dowager had not spoken for a long time.