Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Wang Yuyan's heart ached as she thought about the hardships and injustices she faced in the palace, tears blurring her eyes. She knew that as the mother of a nation, she shouldered greater responsibilities, but also faced greater pressure and challenges. Despite enjoying endless wealth and splendor, she felt a deep sense of loneliness and helplessness.

She thought of her son, that innocent, intelligent, and lovable child. She hoped he could grow up happily, away from the darkness of palace struggles. However, if he didn't learn the principles of social interaction and being a human being, how could he cope with the turbulent times in the palace?

Wang Yuyan knows that palace life is like a war without gunpowder, with everyone vying for power and status. As queen, she must remain vigilant and never let down her guard. She knows that only by constantly learning and growing can she protect herself and her family.

Wang Yuyan decided to personally teach her son, to help him understand the complexities of life and the wickedness of human nature. She wanted him to learn how to get along with others, how to handle interpersonal relationships, and how to remain calm and rational in difficult situations. She believed that if her son possessed these abilities, he would be able to gain a foothold in the palace and even become an outstanding emperor.

Wang Yuyan wiped away her tears and pulled herself together. She knew the road ahead was long, filled with unknowns and challenges. But she firmly believed that as long as she worked hard, she would be able to protect the happiness of herself and her family.

But after learning those things, he is destined to have an unhappy childhood. However, he wants a happy childhood and also wants to have the ability to make a living. How can he have both?

Wang Yuyan was almost driven crazy by this torment. He didn't know where his way out was. And what about his son? Would he hate himself for forcing him like this since he was a child?

Wang Yuyan has been living in this tangled mood day after day, and more than three years have passed. When will this end?

In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the window lattices into the palace, bringing a touch of warmth to the entire room. This day, as usual, was the time for the concubines to come and pay their respects to the emperor.

Qiao Xinran put on her pearls, followed by Meng Wanjun, and several newly appointed beauties entered the palace together. They were dressed in gorgeous clothes, with charming faces, each showing their unique charm.

Wang Yuyan looked at everyone with a smile and said softly, "Now that the mourning period is over, it is time to select beauties for the emperor. Now that the sisters in the harem are dying out, it is time to enrich the harem for the emperor and add new people." Her eyes swept over everyone present, revealing expectation and hope.

Qiao Xinran and Meng Wanjun exchanged a glance, each understanding the significance of this selection for the harem. They knew the arrival of new concubines would alter the structure of the harem, bringing them both new challenges and opportunities. The other beauties, however, expressed concern. They had been conferred the title of beauties, and it hadn't been long before someone else came to compete for their favor. They were filled with resentment, but what else could they do? Their voices were insignificant, and no one would listen. They could only hope for the best.

Wang Yuyan continued, "We must approach this selection with the best attitude possible, showcasing our elegance and charm. Let the Emperor see our beauty and talent, and strive to gain his favor. At the same time, we must support each other and work together to create a harmonious and prosperous harem environment."

The concubines nodded in agreement, expressing their full cooperation. They knew that only by working together could they secure a firm foothold in the harem and win Emperor Qian's favor. So, they began to discuss how to prepare for the selection. They all hoped to have someone close to them help them quickly spread the word through their trusted confidants outside the palace, stating that Emperor Qian was planning a grand selection. Each of them then used their own influence to place someone in the position.

At this moment full of hope and longing, everyone in the harem is looking forward to new changes and opportunities. This selection will be an important test in their lives and determine their future destiny.

If the emperor helps any of their forces this time, the power of the former dynasty will tilt. Since ancient times, there has been no reason to separate the former dynasty and the harem. In this miniature world, the harem is closely linked to the entire body.

Regarding this talent show, various forces have different performances and attitudes. Wang Yuyan herself actually did not want to participate in the talent show, but this is a convention after all, and the Empress Dowager was urging her, so she had to make a decision. Speaking of the Empress Dowager, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has been difficult to be harmonious since ancient times. The story started three years ago. At that time, Wang Yuyan had just ascended the throne, but unexpectedly, the emperor passed away the next day. After the emperor was buried in the imperial mausoleum, some rumors began to spread in the palace, saying that Wang Yuyan had killed the emperor. Originally, Wang Yuyan thought that these were nonsense and no one would believe it. But unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager took these words to heart, and has been dissatisfied with her for the past few years, often making trouble for her.

The Grand Empress Dowager, worthy of being the reigning champion of palace intrigue, mastered the art of subtle manipulation to influence the Emperor's opinion of Wang Yuyan. Whenever the Emperor visited her palace, she subtly and unintentionally displayed Wang Yuyan's disrespect and indifference. For example, during one of the Emperor's lunch visits, the Grand Empress Dowager deliberately placed less fresh or inferior dishes before him.

After tasting it, the Emperor Qian found the taste strange and frowned. Seeing this, the Grand Empress Dowager immediately said with concern, "My son, try this! The imperial kitchen has just made it. They say it's made with the finest ingredients. Try it." In reality, these so-called premium ingredients were simply food that had been sitting around for a long time and had lost its freshness. However, the Grand Empress Dowager cleverly used this opportunity to create the impression that the Emperor Qian was disrespectful towards Wang Yuyan. Furthermore, the Grand Empress Dowager would intentionally or unintentionally bring up Wang Yuyan's inappropriate behavior or words during her conversations with the Emperor Qian, further deepening the Emperor Qian's dissatisfaction with her.

As for expired or substandard food, the Grand Empress Dowager would deliberately serve it to the Qian Emperor when he dined in her palace, schemingly saying, "My son, I am old and cannot eat so much." This practice not only demonstrated her frugality but, more importantly, made the Qian Emperor feel that Wang Yuyan lacked respect and care for him. Through these tactics, the Grand Empress Dowager successfully sowed the seeds of dissatisfaction with Wang Yuyan in the Qian Emperor's heart, laying the groundwork for Wang Yuyan's future difficulties.

For example, the dress she was wearing was something she always wore. Whenever the Emperor Qian visited her palace, she would put it on. The Emperor Qian couldn't help but ask curiously, "Mother, do you really like this dress? I see you wear it all the time." Upon hearing this, the Grand Empress Dowager immediately expressed deep affection and replied, "Alas, Mother is old and a bit nostalgic. She doesn't like wearing anything fancy. Besides, life is difficult for the people these days. If I dress too extravagantly, wouldn't I be criticized by the world?"

Hearing this, Emperor Qian was filled with indignation. He thought, I'm the master of the world, so what's the big deal if my mother wears a few pretty clothes? If anyone dares to scold her for this, he will never let them go!

These little things left a thorn in Emperor Qian's heart. He couldn't help but think of Wang Yuyan, as the queen, who should have taken on the responsibility of managing the harem, but now she had made his mother suffer so much injustice. He recalled that his mother had once complained to him that her life in the palace was very difficult and she couldn't even get some basic necessities.

Meanwhile, he saw Wang Yuyan enjoying abundant food and gorgeous clothes every day, leading a comfortable life. This contrast left him confused and angry. Why was the Queen so stingy with his mother? Didn't she know that his mother was also a member of the royal family and deserved to be treated accordingly? The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He decided to find an opportunity to question Wang Yuyan and find out how she managed the harem and why she allowed his mother to suffer so much.

Therefore, the Emperor Qian was not in a good mood when he went to Wang Yuyan's place. Wang Yuyan was also arrogant and would not lower herself to the Emperor Qian, nor would she sit down to please him at dawn. She had the pride and self-esteem of a noble lady from an aristocratic family, unlike them who could lower themselves and their face to please him. Therefore, the number of times Qian Huang went to his place in the past few years was few and far between. He would still give him the respect he deserved. She would stay at his place on the first and fifteenth day of each month, but there was no longer the intimacy between them.

Wang Yuyan didn't know that the Empress Dowager had played so many tricks in the middle, but by the time she found out, it was too late. The misunderstanding and estrangement between them had become deeper and deeper. Wang Yuyan was too lazy to explain. They had lived in mutual respect for the past few years, and Wang Yuyan didn't care anymore. I heard you today that the eldest prince was deeply hurt by the interaction between Emperor Qian and Gao Xinran, their sons. Why can he favor one over the other when they are both his children? If he doesn't fight for himself, he should fight for his son.

Wang Yuyan wanted to use this opportunity to win over several noble ladies from aristocratic families and use them for her own purposes. They united to deal with Qiao Xinran and break up the emperor's favor for her, slowly lobbying to squeeze Qiao Xinran out.

Wang Yuyan sat in the study room in the main hall, thinking over and over again about the plan. If he didn't do this, his position in the harem would become increasingly low. Then he called Nanny Li into the room and said to him:

"Go and convey this matter to father, and ask him to select a few stunning beauties from this selection and send them to the palace." Wang Yuyan said with a firm look.

"Yes, your Majesty. But... will the master agree?" Nanny Li was a little hesitant.

"Father naturally understands the interests involved." Wang Yuyan's lips curled slightly. "As long as we can seize this opportunity, we will definitely be able to turn the situation around."

At this point, Wang Yuyan already had a complete plan in mind. She wanted to use the newly arrived concubines as her pawns and gradually win back Emperor Qian's heart.