From cute to empress

"It seems that your talent is far more than this..." The emperor's words carried a subtle hint of deep meaning, and my heart couldn't help but lift...

"I have decided to confer upon you the title of..." The emperor paused, as if considering something, "to confer upon you the title of a Fifth Rank Talent, and to grant you the residence of Yong'an Palace. Are you willing?"

My eyes widened in shock, unable to believe my ears. Fifth-rank talent? That's the rank of a concubine in the imperial harem! How could a commoner like me have the chance to ascend to heaven and become the emperor's woman?!

"Why, you don't want to?" The emperor frowned slightly when he saw that I didn't respond.

"Your humble servant...Your humble servant thanks the Lord for His grace!" I knelt down hurriedly to express my gratitude, but my heart was in turmoil.

I had originally only wanted to carve out a niche in this world through my own wisdom and hard work, never dreaming of marrying into the imperial palace and becoming a canary. However, the emperor's gift opened my eyes to another path.

Becoming the emperor's woman means possessing power and status, which will make it easier for me to realize my ambitions. I can use my influence to benefit the people and change this country!

But, if I do that, won’t I have to give up my relationship with Brother Zhen?

In my mind, Brother Zhen’s resolute face emerged. His voice, smile, gentleness and thoughtfulness all turned into fine needles, piercing my heart.

I can't let Brother Zhen down, I can't betray our relationship!

"Your Majesty, I am just a commoner..." I mustered up the courage to refuse the emperor's reward.

"Why, do you have any other requests?" The emperor looked at me with interest, as if he had expected me to refuse.

"I am born in a humble family and dare not seek the emperor's grace. I only hope that I can stay by the emperor's side, help him solve his problems, and do something practical for the people." I lowered my head, not daring to look into the emperor's eyes.

"Oh? Do you really think so?" The emperor's voice showed no emotion.

"Every word I said is true!" I raised my head and looked at the emperor firmly.

The emperor was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Excellent! What a loyal and patriotic woman! In that case, I will grant your wish!"

"I hereby decree that Niu Mengmeng be appointed a fifth-rank female official, in charge of the Royal Academy, responsible for educating the princes and princesses!"

My heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled down.

I know that this is just the first step in the Game of Thrones. The road ahead is still long and I will face more tests and temptations.

But I believe that as long as I stick to my original aspiration and don’t forget my original intention, I will be able to overcome all difficulties and realize my ideals!

I thanked the emperor for his grace and left the imperial study. The sunlight outside the palace had grown increasingly glaring. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Mengmeng!" A familiar voice sounded in my ears. I turned around and saw Brother Zhen walking towards me quickly with a hint of worry on his face.

"Brother Zhen..." I forced a smile, but for some reason, I didn't dare to look him in the eye.

"Are you okay? The emperor...didn't make things difficult for you, did he?" He looked me up and down, his tone full of concern.

"I'm fine. The emperor...appointed me as a fifth-rank female official, in charge of the Royal Academy." I answered evasively, not daring to tell him that I had refused to become the emperor's concubine.

"Madam? That's great too, you can..." He paused, frowning slightly, "But in this deep palace, people's hearts are unpredictable, so you have to be extra careful."

I nodded, but my heart was a whirlwind of emotions: sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty. Brother Zhen still cared about me and cared about me as always, but what about me? Could I truly accept his kindness?

In the next few days, people came to visit me one after another.

Minister Liu was the first. Stroking his graying beard, he said earnestly, "Sir Niu, you are young and promising, and the Emperor values ​​you highly. I am deeply gratified. The Imperial Academy is responsible for educating the princes and princesses. You must assist the Emperor and cultivate talented individuals for our dynasty!"

I quickly agreed, but I knew in my heart that Minister Liu had other intentions. He was reminding me to be loyal to the emperor and not have any unreasonable expectations.

Then General Li arrived. Dressed in military uniform, he exuded dignity without anger and spoke directly to the point, "Sir Niu, I heard you rejected the Emperor's reward and chose to remain at court. Your integrity is truly admirable!"

I was caught off guard by his sudden praise and could only respond with a dry laugh.

"I know you have ambitions and want to do something practical for the people," General Li paused and lowered his voice, "but you must remember that power is a double-edged sword. If used well, it can benefit the people, but if used poorly, it can hurt both you and others!"

General Li's words struck me like a hammer, hammering at my heart. I realized then that I had been moving too fast, too eager for success, and ignoring the risks and costs of power.

The last person to arrive was the current Prime Minister, Lord Zhang. He was old but vigorous, his eyes seeming to see through people's hearts. He simply asked me a few questions about my views on state affairs and my plans for the future.

I didn't dare to be negligent and answered his questions seriously.

"You are very thoughtful and capable," Prime Minister Zhang said meaningfully. "But you must remember that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. I hope you can always maintain a pure heart and not be blinded by power."

I remained silent, the words of Minister Liu, General Li, and Prime Minister Zhang echoing in my mind. I felt lost and uneasy. What should I do to live up to everyone's expectations while remaining true to my original aspirations?

After Prime Minister Zhang left, I sat alone in my study for a long time, pondering their words. Is power truly a double-edged sword? Holding this sword, will I sever the thorns and carve a path of light, or will I be wounded by it and ultimately lost in the maze of power?

Just as I was lost in thought, a maid's voice came from outside the door: "Master Niu, Madam Wu wants to see you."

Madam Wu? I was taken aback for a moment, then remembered that she was the wife of the current Imperial Tutor, a renowned talent and a well-known figure among the noble ladies of the capital. Not wanting to be indifferent, I quickly rose to greet her.

Mrs. Wu was dressed in a simple, elegant dress, with a kind smile on her face, making us feel like we were bathed in spring breeze. We exchanged a few pleasantries and then sat down at the table. The maid served us fragrant tea and then quietly withdrew.

"Master Niu, I came here today because I wanted to talk to you." Mrs. Wu took a sip of tea and spoke slowly, "I know you must have been having a hard time recently and feeling very confused."

I looked up at her in surprise, not knowing why she said that.

"Don't be surprised. Although I'm in the inner chamber, I'm not completely oblivious to what's happening outside." Mrs. Wu smiled. "You're so young, yet you hold a high position. It's inevitable that you'll feel pressure and encounter various temptations. This is human nature."

I was silent, not knowing what to say.

"I know you're a good child. You have a sincere heart and want to do something practical for the people." Mrs. Wu held my hand and spoke sincerely, "But you must remember that power is a poison. It can bring you sweetness, but it also makes you pay a price. It's good that you want to use it for good, but you must also be careful not to be exploited by it."

I took a deep breath, tried to calm my excitement, and asked, "Mrs. Wu, what should I do?"

"Only by remembering your original aspiration can you achieve your goal." Madam Wu looked me in the eye and said word by word, "You must always remind yourself why you came here and why you fought. Don't be deceived by the glory and wealth in front of you, and don't be consumed by the desire for power."

Mrs. Wu's words were like a revelation, instantly bringing me to my senses. Yes, wasn't the reason I first traveled to this world to change my fate, to give myself and those around me a better life? Now, I possess power unattainable by ordinary people, but that doesn't mean I can do whatever I want, nor does it mean I can lose myself.

I stood up, bowed deeply to Madam Wu, and said gratefully, "Thank you for your teachings, Madam Wu. I will definitely keep them in mind."

Mrs. Wu smiled and nodded, then stood up to leave. As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped, looked back at me, and said meaningfully, "Master Niu, I know you're ambitious, but remember, even the tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Some things can't be rushed or forced."

I watched Mrs. Wu depart, a mixture of emotions welling up in my stomach. I knew she was reminding me to keep a low profile and not show off my talents. But did I really have to give up my ideals and ambitions just to save myself?

I returned to my study and pulled the imperial edict from the drawer. The words "Noble Consort" were particularly striking. I had already decided: I would refuse the emperor's gift. I would stick to my original aspiration and forge my own path.

However, I know that my refusal will cause an uproar...

I took a deep breath, dipped my brush in ink, and wrote on the paper, "Your humble servant is terrified and would never dare to overstep the bounds." Then, affixing my official seal, I ordered this resignation letter to be delivered to the palace. After doing all this, I felt a sense of relief, a sense of peace. I knew this road would be fraught with obstacles, but I would not regret my choice.

However, the situation unfolded far beyond my expectations. The next morning, at court, the emperor saw my memorial and flew into a rage. He slammed it to the ground, pointed at my nose, and cursed, "Niu Mengmeng, you're so bold! I want to make you a noble concubine. It's your honor, and you dare to disobey my order!"

I knelt on the ground. Although I was terrified, I still forced myself to remain calm and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I did not intend to disobey your order. However, I am of humble origin and unworthy of the position of Imperial Concubine. I beg Your Majesty to revoke your order."

"Not worthy? Who do you think you are?" The emperor was furious. "I said you are worthy, and you are worthy! Come, drag this ungrateful person out and give him twenty lashes of the cane!"

As soon as I finished speaking, two guards rushed over and lifted me up. I panicked and struggled desperately, but to no avail. Just then, a figure suddenly rushed out and blocked my way. It was Zhen Youcai.

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Zhen Youcai knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Lord Niu was just confused for a moment. Please, Your Majesty, consider her past contributions and forgive her this time!"

"Zhen Youcai, get out of here!" the emperor roared. "You're just a small guard, how dare you stop me? Come, capture him too!"

Zhen Youcai said nothing, simply standing firmly in front of me, shielding me with his body. Looking at his back, I felt a surge of warmth in my heart, but also a surge of worry. I knew that this time, we were all doomed...