Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

The emperor rested in Jing'an Residence for half an hour and then returned to Qianming Palace to handle state affairs.

On Gu Youning's side, he ordered He'er to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Half an hour passed before He'er brought a palace maid into Jing'an Residence.

"Your servant Yulian pays respects to the Empress Zhaoyi."

The palace maid was wearing a blue-gray palace dress, with a single spiral bun on her head and only a wooden hairpin on it. She was dressed like an ordinary palace maid in the Ye Ting Bureau.

"Master, I've inquired with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The oleander powder was given to Eunuch Cao by Yuxiang, the senior palace maid beside Lu Yunv, and Yuxiang..."

When He'er said this, she looked at Yulian.

"Yuxiang's mother fell ill last year. My brother and I gave her most of our savings to save her life. So this time... she happened to see Zhao Cainu's maid burying the packet of medicine powder in the back yard, so she came to the Palace Hall to tell me her plan."

"My brother and I tried to persuade her, but she was determined to avenge us."

"I beg Zhaoyi not to tell anyone about this."

Yu Lian kowtowed heavily.

"Get up. Since I've asked He'er to investigate secretly, I won't make this matter public."

"Repay kindness with kindness, and take revenge with revenge. There is nothing I can do."

Gu Youning raised his hand.

Looking at the palace maid in front of him who was dressed in coarse cloth but whose stunning appearance could not be concealed, an idea flashed through Gu Youning's mind.

"You seem to be fully recovered now. What are your plans for the future?"

She wants to hire people, but she won't force them.

A forced melon is not sweet and it can easily hurt yourself.

"Thanks to the grace of the Empress, I was lucky enough to save my life, but my appearance is too eye-catching in the palace, so I am inevitably..."

Yu Lian couldn't continue, but Gu Youning understood what she meant.

Most of the people in the Ye Ting Bureau are guilty, and they have to work very hard every day. All the people in charge, big and small, are eunuchs. Although the eunuchs have no roots, the powerful eunuchs in the palace often have favorite palace maids, but they dare not show it in public.

Although she asked her aunt to take care of her, the relationships in the Yunting Bureau were complicated, and a rare beauty like Yu Lian would surely be coveted by the eunuchs in charge.

"This servant wants to leave the palace to seek an opportunity."

Yulian knelt upright.

"Chance? Do you want to leave the palace early and marry into an ordinary, kind family?"

Gu Youning asked.

Yu Lian hesitated for a moment, a look of struggle on her face, but she finally knelt on the ground with a determined look on her face: "With this face of mine that is born to invite disaster, ordinary people can't protect me at all. Rather than hurting others and myself, it's better to enter a high-class mansion and fight for a future."

When such ambitious words were spoken, He'er's eyes widened in shock, but Tan Yin's eyes were full of approval.

It is not foolish for people in this palace to have ambitions, as long as their scheming can match their ambitions.

"As they say, wealth and honor are sought through risk. If you succeed, you will surely be blessed with splendor, but if you fail, you might even lose your life. Have you really thought this through?"

"I have made up my mind and am willing to give it a try."

Yu Lian's upper body was still lying on the ground, but a surge of joy surged in her heart.

She knew that Gu Zhaoyi asked this because she must have a way out for herself.

"Well, I do have a path that suits you..."

General Shen Huan, the husband who serves the eldest princess?

After hearing what Gu Youning said, Yu Lian was stunned.

General Shen is deeply in love with the eldest princess, and everyone in the palace knows it.

"Don't worry, you will have your own opportunities when the time comes, but how you use these opportunities depends on you."

Having experienced her past life, Gu Youning guessed that the emperor should have known earlier that his sister, Princess Shouchang, was secretly keeping a male lover, and what the emperor said today when she tested him made her certain of this.

The reason why Shen Huan was so infatuated with Princess Shouchang was, firstly, because of the life-saving favor that happened by chance; secondly, because Princess Shouchang was willing to marry him when he was still an ordinary general.

These two points are enough to make a man tempted, not to mention that Shen Huan is a stubborn person.

"My slave is willing."

Yu Lian thought about it carefully for a while this time before she raised her body and agreed.

"Tanyin, please take a seat."

Gu Youning called out gently.

"Don't refuse. If this can be accomplished, it will also be beneficial to me. I may still be able to count on you at that time."

Seeing Yu Lian holding her hands back and not daring to sit down, Gu Youning said with a smile.

"Thank you, empress."

Yu Lian then sat down, thinking to herself that it was no wonder that the emperor doted on Gu Zhaoyi so much. Not to mention her beauty which was even more outstanding than hers, even her bright and pure smile made people feel very comfortable when they saw her.

After sitting down, her pounding heart finally calmed down.

"I have a few words to tell you. General Shen came from humble beginnings, back then..."

Gu Youning recounted all the stories he had heard about Shen Huan's family background in his previous life. Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you win every battle. This is true for both enemies and men.

"I will keep this in mind."

Yu Lian was quite shocked.

This Concubine Gu was of ordinary origin and was a concubine's daughter, but she was very knowledgeable. She knew everything about Princess Shouchang's temperament and General Shen's family affairs.

Yu Lian felt more confident. If her master could do it, her chances of success would be much greater.

"I have another request."

Before leaving, Yu Lian bowed and begged, "Please, Your Majesty, take care of my younger brother. He has a gentle nature and it is not easy for him to survive in the palace."

"After you leave, I will take him to Changchun Palace to serve. As long as I am favored, he will be safe."

Gu Youning agreed.

"Thank you for your grace, Madam. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will serve you wholeheartedly."

Yu Lian bowed to Gu Youning three times solemnly.

"Get up, and wait patiently for a few days. I will give instructions to the Ye Ting."

"If there's anything you need, feel free to tell me."

Gu Youning was very satisfied with Yu Lian.