Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

"These things are a long story, I will tell you slowly later."

Zhao Yungui didn't dwell on this question, and excitedly took Shen Zhinian's hand to reminisce about the past.

Seeing his friend's calm and confident demeanor, Shen Zhinian's eyes flashed with doubt.

Although Zhao Yungui's personality was casual, she was also the legitimate daughter of a fourth-rank official and was very well behaved. Shen Zhinian couldn't understand why she had lost her manners in front of the palace in her previous life.

In his previous life, Shen Zhinian asked Shen Nanqiao this question, but she was immersed in the joy of being named a noble lady and had no time to pay attention to Zhao Yungui, so Shen Zhinian didn't know the reason.

In this life, she can only pay extra attention!

"Sister Zhao, I haven't seen you for a while. I wonder if you are here."

A female voice as sweet as the song of an oriole came from behind. Shen Zhinian turned around and saw a delicate beauty holding a teacup, walking slowly towards him.

She was wearing a moon-white soft silver silk long dress, and a belt of the same color was tied around her slender waist.

Her black hair fell down her back like a waterfall. Her hair was not adorned with any jewelry, only a pink and purple Phalaenopsis orchid was pinned in her hair, and two light gauze ribbons were tied and hung in front of her chest.

At first glance, she looked like a lotus flower emerging from the water, pure and elegant. Her delicate and graceful posture, like a willow swaying in the wind, made women feel pity when they saw her.

Zhao Yungui introduced the two people with a smile.

"Sister Chinian, this is my close friend, the daughter of the Yangzhou prefect, Liu Ruyan."

"Yan'er, this is the person I told you about before, my best friend in the capital, the daughter of the Dali Temple's secretary, Shen Zhinian."

The prefect of Yangzhou was of the fourth rank, and the secretary of the Dali Temple was only of the sixth rank, but Liu Ruyan did not put on airs at all and bowed to Shen Zhinian with a faint smile.

"Miss Shen, I always hear Sister Zhao mention you. Now that I see you, you are indeed a rare beauty."

"Miss Liu is truly a beauty, I feel pity for her!"

Shen Zhinian smiled and gave a polite salute in return, feeling slightly surprised.

In her previous life, after entering the palace, Miss Liu was deeply favored by the emperor and was known as a kindhearted woman. Later, she became the virtuous concubine, the first of the four concubines, and the concubine most likely to compete with the imperial concubine for the position of queen!

It’s a pity that until Shen Zhinian’s death, the emperor never appointed another queen, and she didn’t know who had the last laugh.

In her previous life, she had never heard that Liu Ruyan and Zhao Yungui were familiar with each other. She didn't expect that they were close friends.

None of the concubines who can fight their way into the harem are simple. Shen Zhinian does not think that Liu Ruyan is as weak and harmless as she looks on the surface.

She was a little more alert in her heart, but her expression remained calm.

After saying hello, Liu Ruyan handed the teacup in her hand to Zhao Yungui and said with a faint smile: "Sister Zhao, you must be thirsty after talking for so long. Drink some water to moisten your throat."

Zhao Yungui took it with a smile.

"Yan'er is still so considerate and thoughtful. She will definitely win the favor of Your Majesty."

Liu Ruyan blushed with embarrassment.

"Sister Zhao, please stop teasing Yan'er..."

Shen Zhinian's heart suddenly started to ring with alarm bells!

The concubines are all competitors today. Could it be that Zhao Yungui misbehaved in front of the palace in his previous life and the problem lies with this cup of tea?

She stopped her friend from drinking tea and said gently, "Sister Zhao, it should be our turn soon. It's better to drink less water and eat less now."

So as to prevent people from having urgent needs.

Zhao Yungui slapped his forehead.

"Yes, yes, yes! Just be patient."

Shen Zhinian had been observing Liu Ruyan's expression, but she did not show any abnormality. A hint of guilt appeared on her delicate and fragile face.

"Ms. Shen is the one who thinks things through. It's Yan'er who doesn't think things through."

Just at this moment, the eunuch who was singing the ceremony called out Zhao Yungui's name. Shen Zhinian quickly gave her a few instructions and asked her to go over quickly.

Liu Ruyan smiled and chatted with Shen Zhinian about daily life, without any sense of guilt or frustration of a failed plan. Shen Zhinian was not sure if there was something wrong with her, but he was secretly on guard.

Until the next round of beauties came forward to meet the emperor, there was no news of any beauties being punished for misbehaving in front of the palace. Shen Zhinian knew that the reason was really because of that cup of tea!

Shen Zhinian breathed a sigh of relief as his friend finally avoided the catastrophe in his previous life, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

The gentle and kind Concubine Xian in the previous life, very good!

Finally, it was Shen Zhinian's turn to meet the emperor. Liu Ruyan looked at her slender figure, still with a gentle smile on her face, but her hands were clenched under her sleeves.

Dare to ruin her plan!

Was Shen Zhinian unintentional, or did he notice something?

……

The candidates were selected in groups of six, and Shen Zhinian was not familiar with the other five. Led by the maid, they stood in a row outside the palace.

"Lin Xiaoye, daughter of Lin Rumo, Junior Minister of the Imperial Court, fifteen years old!"

The concubine whose name was called stepped forward respectfully and bowed.

Nangong Xuanyu is a very young emperor, only twenty-three years old this year. He wears a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon pattern, revealing his innate noble demeanor.

He had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a handsome face, a cold temperament, and the majesty of an emperor, making people dare not look directly at him.

This was the first beauty contest after Nangong Xuanyu ascended the throne. As he waved his hand impatiently, the eunuch's shrill voice rang out again.

"Lin Xiaoye, put down the sign and give me flowers!"

The girls who were not selected all left with sad looks on their faces and disappointment.

In a blink of an eye, Shen Zhinian was the only one left in this group.

"Shen Zhinian, daughter of Shen Maoxue, the secretary of the Dali Temple, is sixteen years old!"

Shen Zhinian took a step forward and bowed.

"Your humble servant Shen Zhinian pays respects to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother!"

"May Your Majesty and the Queen Mother be blessed with good health!"

Nangong Xuanyu's eyes fell on her and lit up slightly.

He was not interested in women, and selecting concubines was not his original intention. However, he had just ascended the throne and needed to balance the previous dynasty and the harem.

But after a few hours, his eyes hurt from looking at these colorfully dressed beauties. At first glance, they all looked the same.

The girl kneeling below was wearing a light blue dress, fresh and refined. There was no extra decoration on her head, and her long black hair was tied up with a magnolia hairpin, naturally unadorned.

It's like a cool breeze blowing in midsummer, taking away the hot and dry air.

Nangong Xuanyu's eyes deepened.

"Keep your head up."

A concubine cannot look directly at the emperor, otherwise it would be disrespectful. Shen Zhinian kept her eyes down the whole time, but the angle of her eyes was carefully designed.

Nangong Xuanyu saw the girl’s beautiful face.

But what attracts more attention than her beauty is her charming temperament. It seems that every frown and smile can be fascinating!

The emperor was rich and powerful. Nangong Xuanyu had seen many charming beauties. Other men might not be able to resist their flirting, but he only thought it was vulgar.

But the look on the girl's face was one of ignorance and a hint of nervousness, like a deer in the woods.

She is charming without knowing it, so this outfit perfectly combines the two temperaments of charm and purity.

Seeing the change in Nangong Xuanyu's eyes, Empress Dowager Liu's heart suddenly sank!