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

"I plan to establish a female-only unit within the rebuilt Li Clan Army and recruit any women who want to join the army. Whether they're unmarried daughters, married women, widows, or those abandoned by their husbands, as long as they're willing to serve and can pass the test, I'll accept them. We'll call it the 'Women's Unit.' I'll personally pay for the unit's food, fodder, weapons, and all other expenses—of course, I can't afford it myself. Besides the Empress, you're the richest person in the palace, so please contribute."

Concubine Hui directly stated the reason.

Asking for money should be done with confidence.

Fei Wan wasn't disgusted at all, but delighted instead: "Sister, are you really going to do this? I fully support you. How much do you want?"

"It will cost about 10,000 taels to initially establish a team."

Concubine Hui briefly talked about the expenses.

We won’t recruit too many people in the early stage. We will set a quota of about 500 people first, and then expand the recruitment after this group of people have been trained.

Ten thousand taels may sound like a lot, but it is only enough to support a month or so. After all, in the early stages, every soldier needs money for food, housing, and training expenses.

"Just now I said my sister was the richest, I was just kidding. I know you've received a lot of rewards, but not much gold and silver. Asking you to take 10,000 taels is unreasonable. Give as much as you can. I'll collect the rest from the ladies who come to the palace to pay New Year's greetings during the New Year."

Fei Wan smiled and said, "Sister, you underestimate me. I'll give you 20,000 first to build up the army. You should continue to collect donations from the women of high rank. More money will make things easier. Since you are recruiting women, you can't let the women who dare to join the army have worse food and clothing than men."

Concubine Hui's eyes lit up.

I didn't expect Fei Wan to be so generous.

"Is it really okay for you to give me these? If His Majesty asks about the source of the money later..."

"I've made it clear with His Majesty. Ever since I accepted his reward, I've been selling it to the Imperial Household Department for silver. I've made nearly five thousand taels in total. This time, my sister is in great need, so I'll take two more valuable items and send them to the Imperial Household Department. Do they dare to object to the Imperial Noble Concubine's reply? Let's act first and report to His Majesty later. Even if His Majesty is unhappy afterwards, he can't go back on his word and stop me from exchanging more silver."

Concubine Hui thought about it and found it feasible.

"Then I'll trouble you, sister. When the women's team finishes training, I'll assign a few of the best female soldiers to serve as your guards."

"Thank you sister!"

After the two finished their meal, Fei Wan washed and changed her clothes.

The imperial concubine wore a dress embroidered with gold and colorful threads, shining like a rainbow, and was extremely luxurious.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine."

Concubine Hui smiled and bowed.

"Be flat."

Fei Wan raised her hand jokingly.

The two looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.

Concubine Hui is not interested in the palace, and Fei Wan has other plans. They don't care about the status of others.

Mutual support and affection, and mutual appreciation are more important than anything else.

So they went together to the place of enthronement.

When we arrived, the sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear. Flowers and willows were blooming beside the frozen Taiye Lake. The palace was strictly guarded by guards and the palace ladies were arranged in neat rows. The scene was grand.

Concubine Hui got off the car early and took a detour to join the welcoming team of concubines.

The auspicious time has arrived.

The salute sounded.

Fei Wan, wearing a formal dress, walked step by step towards the incense table at the entrance of the main hall.

There were tablets symbolizing heaven and earth, as well as tablets of virtuous empresses and imperial concubines of Daliang throughout the ages. After bowing and receiving the golden book and golden treasure, the ceremony was completed.

Wherever she passed, more than a dozen court officials and princes and nobles who came to attend the ceremony bowed down in order.

The concubines all knelt down.

She stood at the foot of the jade steps, listening to the master of ceremonies singing the congratulatory speech, and fragments of her past and present lives flashed before her eyes.

Imperial Concubine...

In her previous life, when she was lingering in the dark corners of the palace and waiting to die, it was Yu Tingjin who became the imperial concubine with the honor of having a pair of children.

The past is long gone.

Now, she is the one standing in this position.

Moreover, her steps don’t stop there!

"Your humble servant, Yu, bows in gratitude for the grace of Heaven."

After kowtowed three times and nine times to the ancestors of heaven and earth, Fei Wan took the golden book and golden treasure in his arms and turned around.

Standing high on the steps, accepting the kneeling worship of everyone below.

"Long live the Imperial Noble Consort!"

The sound of congratulations filled her ears. She smiled dignifiedly and ordered everyone to stand up.

Next, there was a ceremony in which she kowtowed to the Emperor and Empress as the Imperial Noble Consort.

The emperor was bedridden recuperating, and only Empress Yan was present.

Queen Yan accepted the audience as usual, without any embarrassment, but rather with joy and encouragement. Holding Fei Wan's hand, they stood on the steps and accepted the audience together.

The voices shouting "Long live the Queen" and "Long live the Imperial Concubine" pierced the sky.

For a moment, Fei Wan suddenly felt that it didn't matter whether there was an emperor in the palace or not.

No, it's not the same.

She thought again, how could it be the same whether she had it or not?

Everyone is very upset when the emperor is around.

"As my sister and I knelt down to receive the homage, I remembered the day we were crowned queen. It was also the day we stood on top, listening to the people chanting, 'Long live the queen!' My sister and I are feeling a lot like that day today."

Unexpectedly, Queen Yan also had such an idea.

After the ceremony, when the two of them went to Chenqian Palace to kneel down and pay homage to the emperor, Queen Yan whispered in Fei Wan's ear.

"Sister, you are truly rebellious." Fei Wan jokingly lowered her voice, "Do you think you want to wear the dragon robe?"

Queen Yan was not annoyed at all.

The tips of his flying eyebrows curled even higher.

The two entered Chenqian Hall, where the emperor was sleeping.

Empress Yan whispered to Cao Bin, "Why? I sent someone to report ahead, but hasn't he arrived yet?"

Cao Bin smiled bitterly, "Your Majesty, the messenger has arrived. His Majesty knew that Your Majesty and the Imperial Consort were about to arrive, but... he suddenly fell asleep again. This..."

"Never mind. I don't blame you."

Queen Yan and Fei Wan went to the outer room to wait.

It was common for the emperor to fall asleep suddenly due to exhaustion while recuperating from his injuries.

If he was woken up suddenly, he would lose his temper. The palace maids who made sure he took his medicine on time were well aware of this.

Although the ceremony for the imperial concubine to pay a visit to the emperor had to be completed, the emperor was asleep. What else could we do but wait?

Both of them were wearing heavy gowns and heavy jewelry, so it was uncomfortable for them to sit down.

But we can only wait.

As a result, the emperor slept for half an hour and showed no signs of waking up.

Queen Yan didn't want to wait any longer, so she had to wake him up even at the risk of the emperor waking up and getting angry.

Queen Yan stood up and walked towards the inner hall.

At this time, a palace servant rushed in from outside.

He hurried to Empress Yan and whispered, "Empress, there's a fire in Chunxi Palace!"

Queen Yan's expression changed. "What?! Where is the fire? Tell me again?!"

Her voice was not loud.

In the inner hall, the emperor suddenly woke up.

"Cao Bin, what's going on outside?"

Cao Bin hurried out to check.

I only heard the palace servant say, "Someone from Chunxi Palace just came to report that there was a fire in the back hall of the main hall of Chunxi Palace. There was a lot of thick smoke, and it has just been put out."

Queen Yan was furious: "Why are you reporting it after you've destroyed them? Can't you report it later after we get out?"