The story of a bullied daughter's rise to power

"It turned out to be the Second Prince."

"Your Highness is too polite. Just call me by my name."

"You are the prince of Lanlin. I am afraid it is not appropriate to call you by your name. I will just call you prince. But what brings you here to see me?"

"Nothing major, but there are some things I'm curious about that I want answers to."

"But it doesn't matter."

"Your Highness, have you ever heard a story?"

"what story?"

"The story of the princess of Lanlin and the emperor of Mingyue Kingdom."

"Are you talking about our ancestor emperor?" Cang frowned.

"Yes, that's the story."

"I've heard a little bit about it, but I wasn't too interested so I've forgotten it."

Hearing the man's words, Tan Tai Yun Yi smiled. Then he said, "Back then, Ming Yue's ancestor, the Emperor, fell in love with Princess Lan Lin and offered her ten cities in marriage. However, Princess Lan Lin already had a lover at the time, and she refused. This move left the Emperor helpless. After all, the princess' lover was the powerful Prime Minister of Lan Lin. If he married her to Ming Yue against her will, it would undermine the very foundations of the nation. However, the ten cities were too tempting. Ultimately, the powerful ministers around him came up with an idea. If he could get the princess to agree, it would be enough. And the solution was simple: just let her know how hopeless her future was.

The Prime Minister at the time was a suave and charming man. Although he loved the princess, he wasn't entirely loyal. The Emperor made a pact with the princess. They devised a plan to determine if the Prime Minister was loyal to the princess. If he was, she would marry him. If not, the princess would marry the Emperor of Mingyue.

To be with him, the princess decisively agreed. Then, they found the most beautiful woman in Lanlin, and she and the prime minister immediately hit it off. And they actually got together. Heartbroken, the princess married off to the Kingdom of Mingyue. After the prime minister had their moment with the beauty, he remembered the princess's kindness, but it was too late.

Tantai Yunyi said lightly.

Hearing this, Cang laughed: "Your Highness, are you staying up late at night just to tell me such a boring story?"

"This story may seem boring to those who don't care, but if you think about it carefully, you will come up with a lot of ideas. That's all I have to say. Goodbye." After saying that, Tan Tai Yun Yi turned around and left.

Cang pondered for a long while, then turned back to his room to rest. It seemed as if he had come to his senses.

A good night's sleep. Situ Yaorao was so tired that she didn't dream at all that night. When she woke up, she felt even more energetic. She yawned.

She looked at the daybreak outside and walked out of the room. When the palace maid saw her coming out, she hurriedly fetched water for her to wash.

"Miss Situ, the Empress has ordered that all women who have passed the female examination must go to the Cining Palace to pay their respects."

After washing up, the palace maid said to Situ Yaorao. Situ Yaorao was a little confused when she heard it, but still said: "Okay, take me there quickly."

"Yes."

The woman spoke respectfully, and then left the house with Situ Yaorao.

When Situ Yaorao arrived at the Cining Palace, it was already filled with people. There were princes, young men from aristocratic families, and women who had passed the women's exam.

Even the emperor and empress were there.

Seeing Situ Yaorao coming over, the Queen Mother smiled even more kindly: "Situ girl, come and sit next to me."

Upon hearing this, Situ Yaorao did not dare to neglect and hurriedly said, "Situ Yaorao pays his respects to the Emperor, Empress, and the Empress Dowager."

"No need to be so polite, today is your good day." The Queen also said with a smile. Situ Yaorao then walked to the Queen Mother's side.

"Is everyone here?" the Queen asked Tan Tai Yun Yi who was standing beside her.

Upon hearing this, Tantai Yunyi nodded and said, "Except for my seventh brother who has called in the troops, everyone is here."

"Well, that's good." After saying that, the queen smiled and said to everyone: "My dear girls, I think everyone must have been tired after the whole day of the female exam yesterday. However, I still want to congratulate all the girls on passing the female exam. From now on, you are the pride of the women of Lanlin. You can tell others without any guilt that you are a girl of Lanlin. After the girls of our Lanlin official families pass the female exam, they will have a chance to be arranged a marriage by His Majesty. If anyone is interested, please take advantage of today and tell His Majesty. After today, there will be no such good thing." The queen looked at everyone with a smile.

When the women heard this, they all looked at each other in bewilderment.

Just when many women were embarrassed and didn't know what to do, Mu Wanwan came out: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen Mother. Wanwan has a request."

"Oh? Whose son have you taken a fancy to, little girl?" The Queen Mother had always liked Mu Wanwan, and she couldn't help but tease her when she saw her come out. Hearing this, Mu Wanwan shyly looked at Cang, who was sitting beside her with an indifferent look.

"Wanwan fell in love with the Crown Prince of Mingyue Kingdom at first sight. Please grant her blessing, Your Majesty." After saying that, Mu Wanwan knelt on the ground.

As soon as she said this, everyone's eyes fell on her. You know, there are many people here who like men. But only Mu Wanwan dared to say it so boldly.

Not to mention the women, even the emperor frowned.

"Your Majesty, what do you think about this?" The Queen Mother looked at the Emperor and asked calmly. Upon hearing this, the Emperor said, "Mother, although the Crown Prince of Mingyue Kingdom has come to choose a Crown Princess, it is not for me to arrange the marriage. Mu Wanwan, you might as well ask the Crown Prince of Mingyue Kingdom if he is willing." After the Emperor finished speaking, he looked at Cang.

However, he didn't want to do that either. After all, Mu Wanwan was the Prime Minister's daughter. She wasn't as trustworthy as a princess from the royal family. If they joined forces inside and outside in the future, Lan Lin would be in danger.

Mu Wanwan looked at Cang shyly: "Your Highness, I am sorry for you..."

"Sorry, I have someone in my heart." Mu Wanwan was interrupted by Cang before she could finish her words. This sentence shattered all the fantasies in Mu Wanwan's heart.

Looking at the man, Mu Wanwan felt her eyes redden. Without even thinking, she blurted out, "Who? Who does His Highness like?" She regretted it immediately after she finished speaking. Was she crazy? How could she ask such a question?

Upon hearing this, the man stood up and saluted the emperor. "Emperor Lanlin. Feng Ziqi has come here to seek a Crown Princess. Now that a choice has been made, I ask Your Majesty to make the decision."

Cang... Oh, that's not right. As soon as Feng Ziqi said this, everyone's eyes fell on him. They were all very curious about what kind of woman this prince, who was said to be so powerful, would like.

"Prince Mingyue, there's no need to be so polite. Just tell me whose daughter it is. As long as she agrees, I will definitely arrange a marriage for the two of you." The emperor's words did leave some room for maneuver. Of course, this was also to prevent the daughter of a minister from marrying into the family.

Especially the important officials of the court.

You know, the daughters of important officials in the imperial court can only marry with the royal family or their own country. If they marry with the princes of other countries, the emperor will be suspicious.

This also gives women room to refuse.

Feng Ziqi cursed the emperor for his treachery in his heart, but still walked step by step to Situ Yaorao under the gaze of everyone.

At this time, Situ Yaorao was close to the Queen Mother.

When everyone saw this scene, they found it incredible.

However, even though he couldn't believe it, the man still looked at Situ Yaorao and said in that extremely gentle voice: "Miss Situ, I felt a sense of familiarity with you from the moment I saw you. I long for you. I wonder if I can spend my life with you?"

The man's voice was quiet, but in this silent room, it pierced everyone's heart. Situ Yaorao felt a pang in her heart. Looking at Cang, she suddenly remembered when she had told this man that she wanted to be with him.

At that time, he was also so serious and happy.

She never knew things would be like this between them. It would be a lie to say she didn't like him. But to say she loved him was impossible.

She couldn't spend her life with someone she didn't love.

However, the guilt towards Cang still lingered in my heart.

On this side, Situ Yaorao stared at the man in a daze. Meanwhile, Tan Tai Wu Yue was getting restless. Just as he was about to stand up to stop them, he heard Tan Tai Yun Yi whisper, "Your Highness, where is your sanity?"