The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

After hearing Fei Wan's advice to her, even if she felt resentful, she shouldn't show it, and she shouldn't slack off in her courtesy to the Emperor...

Concubine Yue lowered her head.

After a moment of silence, he laughed at himself and said, "I know."

He added, "I'm just here to say a few words to you. Who else is worthy of listening to my honest words?"

Fei Wan's heart softened.

My Lady Imperial Concubine, I have never stopped plotting against you.

Even though she felt somewhat touched, Fei Wan had no intention of truly opening up to Concubine Yue. She was a dark and cruel woman, and she didn't dare to share her thoughts with anyone.

He just had a very faint smile on his face.

She warned Concubine Yue: "Even in front of me, sister, don't be too open-hearted."

Concubine Ke Yue's expression was clearly one of disdain.

She snorted, "How could your little tricks escape my scrutiny?"

The topic ends here.

The two chatted about what they had experienced during this thrilling adventure.

Since returning to the palace, Fei Wan has claimed to have escaped the Empress Dowager's captivity and braved all dangers to return to the capital alone. On the way, she encountered fleeing soldiers and was stabbed several times, but luckily escaped death. After the battle, she entered the city and encountered Madam Shixiang. She persuaded her to show her affection and brought the Empress Dowager back with her.

Say this to the emperor, say this to everyone.

Talking to Concubine Yue was just adding some fictitious details to appease the other party and himself.

If you tell too many lies and believe them completely, it will be difficult for them to be exposed at any time.

Concubine Yue also talked a lot about the chaos and thrills in the palace at that time.

As they talked, they turned to the topic of Concubine Hui.

"She's got a good job," said Concubine Yue, feeling quite emotional. "From now on, she can leave the palace freely and do what she likes. It's great."

"Sister Yue, do you also want to leave the palace?" Fei Wan was a little curious.

Concubine Yue stroked the golden lotus pattern on her bracelet, a hint of melancholy growing between her brows. "What concubine wouldn't want to leave the palace? Once you enter the palace, it's hard to see your family. Even for someone like me, I can see my family often, but it's still not enough, let alone others. Being locked up in this golden cage for a lifetime, while looking noble, is worse than being an ordinary woman. At least women still have the opportunity to travel and roam."

"Then, if one day, sister could leave the palace, what would you most want to do?"

"I want to visit Jiangnan the most," Concubine Yue thought without hesitation. "The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, and they are endless and green. I heard that the lotus flowers there are more gorgeous than those in the capital. The pastries are soft and crispy, the wine is mellow, the girls are like they are made of water, and the talented men are gentle and elegant..."

She smiled and suppressed her longing expression, "It's just a foolish thought. I can only dream about it in this lifetime."

Fei Wan whispered, "That may not be the case."

"What?" Concubine Yue didn't hear clearly.

Fei Wan said: "I have never been to Jiangnan either. If there is a chance in the future, sister, remember to take me with you."

"Of course." Concubine Yue made an empty promise, but she knew she couldn't fulfill it.

What Fei Wan was thinking about was that after the emperor passed away, she would have the final say on who would stay and leave the palace. Would it be difficult for Concubine Yue to go to Jiangnan for a visit? Even if she wanted to stay in Jiangnan and not come back, that would be very simple.

Just for now...

But she couldn't leave.

News arrived from outside the palace that after the battle, chaos reigned as the capital, both inside and outside, was in chaos as the enemy troops were eliminated, the mess was cleaned up, spies and spies were captured, and the dead and wounded civilians and soldiers were comforted. Meanwhile, rumors circulated that the court had been arguing furiously since yesterday, with ministers arguing over several issues, nearly turning the argument into physical combat, with fistfights erupting right in the imperial palace.

One of these things is to establish a queen.

Some people argue that the Queen Mother colluded with the enemy and disrupted the capital and the palace because of her ambition and heinous crimes, but there is one reason that cannot be ignored, that is, Daliang now has no queen.

The chaotic harem fueled the Queen Mother's ambition and caused great disaster.

Therefore, it is better to treat the root cause than to treat the symptoms. We should quickly establish a queen and take control of the harem so that we can correct the problem.

Whether this can actually get to the bottom of the matter is another matter.

There is no mention of the minister's intentions in raising this point.

However, once the matter was discussed, it reached a fever pitch. It was said that the court officials spent more time and energy on it than on the post-war resettlement arrangements.

The capital had just experienced a catastrophe, and the bodies of the dead were still warm, but the civil and military officials began to harbor their own ulterior motives, seeking their own interests in the national crisis... The decline of the Daliang Dynasty was lamentable, ridiculous, and tragic!

After Fei Wan got the news, she sneered in her heart.

Since they are so anxious to have a new queen, let them have their wish.

"Sister, when you become the Empress one day, we can follow the example of our grandfather and go to the south of the Yangtze River together. When that time comes, please don't forget to ask His Majesty to take me with you."

Fei Wan used the events of Jiangnan to lead Concubine Yue into discussing the selection of the new queen.

Concubine Yue scoffed, "Stop testing me with your words, you cunning fellow! Are you assuming I'm unaware of the discussions surrounding the new empress? Honestly, I don't think His Majesty will choose me. Perhaps it'll be Concubine Qing. She may be frail, but she possesses the divine stone, a power no less powerful than the Duke's Mansion and the nobles behind me."

Fei Wan smiled shyly, "My little attempt to find out was seen through by my sister."

Concubine Yue snorted, rolled her eyes, and told her the truth: "In the past, I would have thought that the throne was only worthy of me, and that everyone else, including you, was nothing. But now, having been saved by you and Concubine Qing, I will not argue with you. Whether it is Concubine Qing, Concubine Hui, or you, whoever ascends to the throne, I will be convinced and will never oppose you. Are you relieved now that I have said this?"

"There's nothing to worry about, sister." Fei Wan also said frankly, "Anyway, the Phoenix throne is not my turn this time."

She knew very well that no matter how favored she was, she was just a concubine.

Minister Yu did not contribute anything in the defense of the capital. Compared with the Duke of Zhenguo's commander-in-chief of the city defense, Concubine Hui's Li family flag, and Concubine Qing's magic stone, the power behind her was too weak.

The Empress Dowager was dead, so the Emperor no longer needed to use her as a pawn in his game with the Empress Dowager, and there was no need to honor her anymore.

Didn’t he say it himself the night before? He promised her the position of imperial concubine.

Fei Wan and Concubine Yue were privately speculating about who would be the new queen. People in various parts of the palace who had heard the news from the previous dynasty were also secretly discussing the matter.

After the palace was looted, people were in a panic. Before they could settle down, they were plunged into a new state of anxiety.

Not only the concubines, but even the lowest-level palace maids and eunuchs were talking about this matter in private with their close friends.

After all, who the new queen is will affect everyone's future treatment.

For example, Imperial Concubine Qing was a Buddhist and kindhearted. If she had become Empress, she would have certainly taken good care of everyone. But if Imperial Concubine Hui had taken the throne, with her violent temper, life would have been difficult for everyone.

"How wonderful it would be if Concubine Zhao became the new empress! Concubine Zhao is beautiful and kind-hearted. Not only is she good to others, she also has good luck. Just ask yourself, who can go from a palace maid to a favored concubine in just a few months, and who can return to the palace safely during the chaos of war? It is obvious that Concubine Zhao has the deepest blessings and the best luck in the entire palace. If she becomes empress, she will definitely bring us good luck. This is a very mysterious thing, and it is hard to explain, but it must be so!"

I don't know where this statement came from.

Soon, many people followed suit and began to preach.

Thus, Fei Wan became the fourth popular candidate for empress after Concubine Qing, Concubine Hui, and Concubine Yue.

At noon the next day, after the emperor finished his official business, he summoned the important concubines to his presence for dinner.

Before the meal was even served, he glanced at the concubines and asked with a smile, "I am planning to appoint a queen. Do you have any opinions on this? Who do you think is the most suitable candidate for the new queen?"

This is what I asked...

For a moment, everyone looked at each other, not daring to speak.