The delicate little cabbage was pushed by the old emperor

Dazhao Kingdom.

In March, spring is in the air.

Prime Minister Shen's Mansion, Chunyang Courtyard.

Warm and soft sunlight shines through the window onto the beauty bed.

The girl has her hair in two buns and a pearl hairpin.

She was wearing a light white soft satin cross-collared top and a light crimson long skirt with twined flowers, which were spread out on the couch.

From a distance, she looks like a holy and noble fairy who has strayed into the mortal world.

Shen Leyan gently raised her hand to block out the light before slowly opening her eyes.

She adjusted her dress gracefully, then stood up from the beauty bed and walked towards the study.

This is the eighteenth year that Shen Leyan has been in this world, and she enjoys life here very much.

Her family conditions are not good nowadays. She had to study hard and rely on knowledge to change her destiny since she was a child. She worked part-time to earn money for her studies and started working after graduating from college.

Because of long hours of high-intensity work, I finally fell ill...

After a deep sleep, I woke up and found myself turned into a baby in swaddling clothes!

Looking at my gentle mother and father Prime Minister, I realized that I had traveled through time, and this immense wealth has finally become my turn!

Shen Leyan knew very well that it was not easy for women to survive in ancient times. She thought that it was always better to have many skills, so she worked hard to practice music, chess, calligraphy and painting since she was young, and she also took great care of her appearance.

After all, in modern times, she is fully focused on study and work, and has no time to dress up properly. Of course, she is reluctant to spend money to buy herself beautiful dresses and cosmetics.

In the study of the Shen Mansion, the famous Prime Minister Shen was massaging his wife's shoulders. If other officials of the Da Zhao Kingdom saw this scene, they would definitely be shocked.

At this time, Mrs. Shen said worriedly:

"Master, as everyone knows, the purpose of the Spring Banquet hosted by the Empress is to find a concubine for the Third Prince. Yan'er has also received an invitation."

"Although the Third Prince has a noble status, he has not yet been appointed Crown Prince. We only have one precious daughter, Yan'er, and we only hope that she can marry into an ordinary family and live a stable and happy life!"

Upon hearing this, Father Shen immediately responded, "Madam, don't worry too much. Your husband will never let our Yan'er suffer any injustice."

"After this palace banquet is over, I will choose a suitable husband for Yan'er."

"I originally wanted her to stay with us for another year, but now it seems we should make plans early to avoid any complications."

After saying this, Prime Minister Shen gently took his wife into his arms.

Prime Minister Shen, who came from a poor family and was originally named Shen Hongan, fell in love with his wife Liu Wenwen, the eldest daughter of the Liu family, at first sight.

The Shen family and the Liu family were not a good match back then, but Liu Wenwen still married Shen Hongan without hesitation.

After the marriage, Prime Minister Shen and his wife loved each other very much. At the same time, he also worked carefully in the court to become the prime minister who was second only to the emperor.

Mrs. Shen also gave birth to brother and sister Shen Lebai and Shen Leyan.

My elder brother Shen Lebai won the third place in the imperial examination last year with his talent, and is now a compiler in the Hanlin Academy.

My younger sister Shen Leyan has been spoiled by her family since she was a child. She is not only well-educated but also has a stunning appearance.

The girl sat by the desk, brushing her sleeves lightly, and practicing calligraphy over the desk.

Her hair was as black as ink and fell to her waist. She moved gracefully, and from the side, her curled eyelashes shimmered with golden light.

At this time, the maid Zhiyue hurried in and whispered to Shen Leyan, "Miss, what are your plans for tomorrow's Spring Banquet?"

"I just heard from Master and Madam that the Empress is using the excuse that the Third Prince's wife is infertile and is planning to find a concubine for the Third Prince at the Spring Banquet."

"Madam is worried that the Queen will choose Miss!"

"The young lady is the legitimate daughter of the prime minister. How can the queen let our young lady become the concubine of the third prince?" Caiyue on the side also said excitedly.

The girl paused writing and raised the corner of her lips slightly. "Silly Caiyue, don't make rash assumptions. Don't let outsiders hear this."

"I know I was wrong. Thank you for your advice, Miss."

Zhiyue eased the atmosphere and said, "Madam also said that she will choose a suitable husband for you after the palace banquet tomorrow!"

"With our young lady's beauty and status, people who come to propose marriage will surely break down the door." The other maids and nannies also said with joy.

Only Shen Leyan fell into worry and sighed softly.

"I'm afraid there won't be such an opportunity anymore."

Caiyue knew the young lady's worries and quickly comforted her, "Even if the Queen intends to grant the marriage, it depends on the master's wishes. The current emperor also values ​​the master very much."

"That's why they want to win over Daddy."

"Forget it. Zhiyue will accompany me to the palace for the banquet tomorrow. Just be careful and handle it carefully."

Because I often stay in my father's study and see what goes on in the court, I have some knowledge of it.

The current emperor of Dazhao, Xiao Jin, is in his early thirties and in the prime of his life, and has not yet appointed a crown prince.

Excluding two sons and one daughter who died young, there were still four princes and three princesses surviving.

The third prince Xiao Yu is the queen's legitimate son and has a noble status, and the eldest prince Xiao Duo, the imperial concubine's son, is also deeply loved by the emperor.

The fifth prince Xiao Chuhan himself was not favored by the emperor, and his biological mother, Concubine Lin, also had a low status in the harem.

The seventh prince Xiao Tianyou, born to Concubine Yun, is only six years old this year. He is still in the playful stage of childhood and does not know much.

Therefore, the most popular ones were the eldest prince Xiao Duo and the third prince Xiao Yu.

The two princes are less than two years apart in age. The eldest prince is decisive and cruel, while the third prince is well-read and has a rather gentle temperament.

This is a good thing, but if you are born in an imperial family, the emperor needs to be both civil and military in order to lead all officials.

However, the Queen's mother's family is gradually declining. In order to fulfill the family's important tasks, she must help the third prince become the crown prince and then ascend the throne smoothly to continue the Lu family's century-old glory.

Imperial Concubine Ye Yun was born into a family of military commanders, and her brother Ye Huan was a general with a large army stationed at the border.

Therefore, although the eldest prince is not the legitimate son, he is the emperor's eldest son and has the support of the Ye family, so he is very powerful.

Prime Minister Shen was an important official in the court. He was honest in his official duties and never got involved in party disputes.

The Queen wanted to get the help of Prime Minister Shen, which would be a great help to the Third Prince. Not only the Queen had this idea, but the Imperial Concubine also wanted to win over the Shen family.

Royal Palace

Yikun Palace

In the imperial concubine's bedroom, the floor paved with fine white jade sparkles with a warm light.

The tables and chairs in the hall are all made of the finest pear wood, exquisite and luxurious, and the fragrance of agarwood rises and fills the entire room.

A person in gorgeous clothes was sitting on the chaise longue by the window, teasing the canary in the cage with her fingers.

Its chubby body kept chirping when she poked it, and even when she pecked it fearfully, it seemed as if it was unconscious.

Suddenly, a sneer appeared on her lips: "How can such a good opportunity be monopolized by the Queen? I will not let her have her wish."

"Go and summon the eldest prince to the palace. I have something important to discuss with him." Concubine Ye ordered.

"Yes, your majesty, I will go and tell the eldest prince to enter the palace." The personal maid Xia He said goodbye.

After getting married, the princes of Dazhao all lived in the princely palaces outside the palace. Except for palace banquets and special circumstances, they rarely stayed in the palace.

Kunning Palace

The queen wore a long gown with a gold-woven phoenix pattern, two white jade pendants around her waist, her long black hair was tied up in a high bun, and phoenix feather hairpins were inserted on both sides of her head, which swayed gently as she drank tea.

"Your Majesty, I just received news that the Imperial Concubine has summoned the eldest prince to the palace." said the little eunuch.

Upon hearing this, the Queen clenched the teacup with her slender fingers, and her graceful and dignified expression gradually broke.

"The Imperial Concubine is becoming more and more arrogant and domineering, trying to make trouble for me everywhere."

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Even if the Imperial Concubine relies on her family's power, you are the master of the harem, and the throne of the Crown Prince will definitely belong to His Royal Highness the Third Prince." Yingqiu, the personal maid, said.

"My daughter Yu'er is too soft-hearted. If it weren't for me, I'm afraid the crown prince's position would have been snatched away by that bitch long ago."

"No, the Lu family's status is far lower than before. If Yu'er wants to gain the support of more ministers, he must start with Prime Minister Shen."

"But the Shen family only has one legitimate daughter, I'm afraid the Prime Minister won't agree so easily."

The Queen curled her lips and sneered, "Then I will make him agree!"