The story of a bullied daughter's rise to power

"Don't be sad, Xiu'er thinks the Emperor might be too tired, so he doesn't want to rest," Xiu'er comforted her. But in her heart, she had a new understanding of the Empress. In the eyes of outsiders, the Empress was high and mighty, the mother of a country, and could be said to have her way with everything she wanted. However, in reality, the Empress was more pitiful than anyone else.

She is so pitiful that she can't even take care of her own husband.

She never wanted to be a woman like the Queen in the future. Fortunately, the Queen was like this. The more lost one is, the more they need someone to accompany them. As long as this period of time passes, the Queen will definitely value her more. Thinking of this, Xiu'er felt a little happy. However, her face still had that sad and understanding look.

The queen looked at Xiu'er and felt a warmer heart. Xiu'er was a scheming woman, she knew this too well. But because of this, she felt that Xiu'er was more compatible with her. She had been like this before, doing whatever it took to climb the ladder. But in the process, she had lost the most important thing in her life. Inexplicably, she wanted to help Xiu'er.

"Xiu'er, go and rest first. I will make arrangements for you to marry the prince." said the queen.

Xiu'er's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and she knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, Xiu'er has no improper thoughts. Now that Your Highness is going to marry the princess of Wu Country, Xiu'er dare not embarrass you. Let's just forget about this matter."

"Princess? Humph!" The Queen snorted coldly, "Whether that princess can marry into the Crown Prince's mansion alive is another matter. Do you really think that the court in Lanlin is so peaceful? Do you really think that the emperor's words will be fulfilled? Ridiculous! That princess of the Wu Kingdom really doesn't know how to choose the time. She chose to marry the prince when he was at the peak of his popularity. Who knows how much the other princes would want her dead. As long as she dies, the position of Concubine Ping will be yours."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Rest." The Queen, weary, waved her hand, signaling her to leave. Xiu'er respectfully withdrew, but she didn't take the Queen's words seriously. It was obvious which was more threatening: a foreign princess who had just arrived in Lanlin, or a princess who was already married to the Crown Prince and was deeply favored by him. Even if someone had to die, it should be Situ Yaorao! Thinking of this, a ruthless look flashed across Xiu'er's eyes.

"Miss Xiu'er."

Xiu'er left the Queen's bedroom, and the maids outside knelt down when they saw her. Xiu'er nodded, feeling a sense of superiority in her heart, which made her feel much better. "I'm going to Princess Bingli. If the Queen has a message, please help explain it to her." After saying that, Xiu'er left.

Within the inner court of the imperial palace, the princesses all lived in seclusion. Only Princess Lianqiao stood out, having always been favored by the Emperor and appreciating the hustle and bustle. Then there was Princess Bingli, born under the Empress's name. Though not a biological child, it was still a great honor. Even if she struggled, no one would blame her. And Xiu'er, the Empress's goddaughter, was somewhat awkward.

However, this does not hinder Xiu'er's plan.

Princess Bingli's bedroom.

"Sister Bingli, have you heard the recent rumors in the palace?"

Princess Lianqiao sat on a chair, holding a teacup, her eyes sparkling, and she looked very energetic. When she spoke, she even had a hint of a sly smile on her face.

"Rumors?" Princess Bingli was dressed in a gorgeous silver dress today, with a white jade hairpin in her hair. She was as graceful as a fairy, her eyebrows soft and her red lips slightly parted, exuding an indescribable gentleness and nobility.

"Isn't it? Recently, the Queen got a wild girl named Xiu'er from somewhere, and she is very popular with the Queen. Everyone says that you will soon be forgotten by the Queen. Then Xiu'er is only missing the title of princess."

Lian Qiao spoke of Xiu'er with a hint of disdain. In her view, outsiders were just outsiders. Even if she managed to gain the Queen's favor, she was still just a wild girl, not a real princess.

Princess Bingli, on the other hand, paused slightly when she heard the name: "Lian Qiao, doesn't the name of this girl named Xiu'er sound familiar to you?"

"There are so many common names like this." Princess Lianqiao said disapprovingly.

Princess Bingli chuckled softly and said clearly, "Gu Xiu'er is the illegitimate daughter of the Gu family. Her mother and Madam Situ are sisters, but they are not born from the same mother. That's why she lived in poverty over the years. Later, Gu Xiu'er came to the capital and was raised in the Situ family. The Crown Princess treated her like her own sister. But when the Crown Princess married the Crown Prince, she secretly became a dowry maid. Everyone knows what she was thinking. I haven't heard from her since then. I think this Miss Xiu'er and that Gu Xiu'er might be the same person."

"How is it possible? That timid-looking coward?" Lian Qiao was incredulous. "When I asked her to take off her clothes in front of others, she didn't even dare to resist. How could it be this Xiu'er who had the Empress in such a mess?"

"Perhaps, she was the one who fooled you around in the beginning."

Princess Bingli's tone was very light, with a hint of intriguing smile. Her eyes fell on the outside, and she saw a woman in a pink dress slowly walking in. Jin Buyao above her head moved, her eyebrows and eyes were delicate but sharp. She slowly walked into the house. Under Princess Bingli's strange smile and Princess Lianqiao's look of seeing a ghost, she slowly bowed: "Xiu'er greets Princess Bingli and Princess Lianqiao. Long live the two princesses."

The woman's voice was sweet and gentle, making it impossible for Princess Lianqiao to deceive herself. This woman was indeed Situ Yaorao's cousin.

For a moment, Princess Lianqiao felt she had been deceived, and angrily said, "Hey, isn't this the Queen's favorite? Why is he here? Is he trying to show off? How ridiculous! A crow standing on a phoenix tree can't turn into a phoenix."

"Lianqiao." Princess Bingli interrupted Princess Lianqiao, looked at Xiu'er, and smiled: "Young lady, please sit up."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Xiu'er said, then slowly stood up and sat on the chair.

"Miss Xiu'er, do you have any advice for me?" Princess Bingli's tone was gentle, but it made people feel dangerous. Xiu'er had no doubt that if she couldn't give a good explanation, Princess Bingli would become her enemy.

Thinking about it, Xiu'er said, "I wonder if the princess has heard the imperial decree today?"

"Imperial edict? Is there an imperial edict today?" Princess Bingli was puzzled. She had been staying at home recently and rarely paid attention to what was happening outside. Princess Lianqiao was also stunned. "I don't know, Sister Bingli, I've been here with you these days. If you don't know, then naturally I can't know either." Princess Lianqiao said helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Xiu'er said, "The Emperor has issued an imperial decree that the Crown Prince will marry the Princess of Wu as his concubine."

"Princess Ping?"

Both of them were stunned.

Since ancient times, some people have married concubines, but it is rare to see a prince marry a concubine. Two princesses? What does father mean by this?

"There's no room for two tigers in one mountain... I'm afraid one of these two will eventually withdraw from this fight?" Xiu'er said thoughtfully. Princess Bingli and Princess Lianqiao looked at each other in surprise.

Princess Lianqiao didn't think too much about it, just thinking that there would be something exciting to watch later. Princess Bingli's eyes fell on Xiu'er: "Miss Xiu'er, why are you saying this to me?"