The cannon fodder heiress trembled with fear after being recognized as a member of her family.

The Cining Palace was brightly lit.

Empress Dowager Liu dismissed all the palace servants around her, leaving only Liu Min.

"Your Majesty!"

A stern warning was followed by a "thud".

Liu Min's face turned pale, and she knelt on the ground without daring to raise her head.

A thin layer of cold sweat had already seeped out on his forehead.

"Do you know your mistake?" Empress Dowager Liu's stern voice came from above.

Liu Min's face paled even more, and her teeth chattered. "Please give me some pointers, Great-Grandmother!"

This was a day she had worked so hard to achieve. She had considered herself to be well-behaved and had not seduced any wealthy young men.

The Liu family had no power or influence, and none of them held any official positions. The fact that they were able to enter the palace and the Mingyue Terrace today was already an immense favor from Empress Dowager Liu.

Liu Min knew right from wrong; Empress Dowager Liu was the foundation upon which their Liu family stood.

She was beautiful, and her father wanted her to relive her great-aunt's glory, but he didn't know how.

"I know what you're thinking, but you're too impatient! Did you try to curry favor with the Empress today? And did you disappear for a quarter of an hour?"

Empress Dowager Liu's low, hoarse voice made Liu Min even more alarmed.

Why is my great-aunt so averse to entering the Fourth Prince's harem?

"Indeed." Liu Min didn't dare to deny it, as Princess Jialuo had already told her whereabouts.

It's hateful that my great-aunt is old, yet she treats Princess Jialuo, an outsider, better than members of the Liu family.

If her grandmother hadn't swallowed her pride and begged her great-aunt, she probably wouldn't have been able to enter the palace today.

"Don't even think about the fourth prince. Your intentions have been exposed in front of the Empress, and she will definitely not let you off easily."

Empress Dowager Liu knew her daughter-in-law's methods well. The two had been fighting each other in the palace for many years, and she had lost out and was banished to a temple.

“The old man is good. If I step in, I should be able to get into his backyard.”

Both the eldest and second princes lost their birth mothers, but the eldest prince was better off than the second prince, as he was favored by Emperor Chuyuan.

If a member of the Liu family were to enter his backyard, he could be guaranteed a lifetime of wealth and status.

The old master of the Liu family was Empress Dowager Liu's brother. The two depended on each other for survival. It can be said that without her brother, she would not be alive today, let alone enjoy her current prosperity.

Now that she enjoys this glory, she naturally thinks of her brother.

She had just started to think about gaining power for the Liu family when she was suppressed by several forces working together, and even her good son did not stand on her side.

The fourth prince is of noble birth and will surely inherit the throne in the future. If Liu Min has the opportunity to go to his harem, the Liu family will only get better and better.

The old master of the Liu family said that Liu Min's father's mistress had given birth to a son who was intelligent and studious. At a young age, he had already become a scholar and was very likely to pass the imperial examinations in all three categories, just like Han Zhen.

The situation can't be changed overnight; we can only try to fix it gradually.

If Liu Min had entered the fourth prince's harem, the child would probably have already passed the exam by the time the fourth prince ascended the throne.

It wouldn't be difficult for the Liu family to rise to prominence; Han Zhen is a prime example.

Empress Dowager Liu did not reveal these matters to Liu Min. However, today's events aroused suspicion in the Empress's court, and it seems unlikely that she could find a way to get through to the Fourth Prince.

Liu Min, recalling the eldest prince's dejected appearance, felt displeased and quickly recounted the day's events, "Grandmother, today the palace maids beside the Empress..."

"Are you telling the truth?" Empress Liu was startled and hesitated. "The Empress doesn't want you to enter the Fourth Prince's harem, and there's no need for her to send you to the Emperor's side. Having another person in the palace to share the Emperor's favor would not be good for her."

With a lowered gaze, Empress Dowager Liu's eyes fell upon Liu Min's beautiful face as she knelt on the ground.

"Back then, I did have my own thoughts about your aunt. But the Emperor was not happy about it, and as his mother, I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't force him to favor his niece from my own family."

“Minmin, you’re different. Your aunt didn’t live to see the good times.”

“If you are truly destined for this, your great-aunt will definitely help you.”

Liu Min was in the prime of her life, while Emperor Chu Yuan was no longer the spirited young man he once was.

After thinking it over, Empress Dowager Liu felt it was even more feasible. No wonder her son had glanced at her several times; he was looking at his grandniece.

Back then, her niece stripped naked and climbed onto the emperor's bed but failed. This grandniece, however, only met him once, yet she might enter the harem.

Marrying her son is naturally better than marrying her grandson; the son is still in power, and it's unknown which grandson will ascend the throne.

If by some stroke of luck... Empress Dowager Liu glanced at Liu Min's belly and imagined another prince bearing the blood of the Liu family. If there were some opportunity, this prince might ascend the throne... Coupled with the Liu family's promising child, Empress Dowager Liu seemed to see the Liu family's reputation completely transformed.

During her years in the imperial harem, she suffered because of her humble origins.

If she had come from a better family, she wouldn't have risen from a lowly foot-washing maid to this position.

The imperial concubines of her generation huddled together in one palace, so crowded that it was impossible to move.

The arrogance of those people from the past never returned after they met her.

Empress Dowager Liu's background was a major weakness for her, which also led to Emperor Chuyuan experiencing discrimination during his childhood.

She just couldn't understand why the emperor, with his childhood experiences, wouldn't grant his uncle a title. What was wrong with giving him a marquis title?

Princess Jinghe's granddaughter and grandson both have titles, yet their maternal uncle is inferior to them.

Liu Min knelt on the ground, keeping a close eye on Empress Dowager Liu above her.

Empress Dowager Liu was seen chuckling and getting angry at the same time, her expression constantly changing, and she was looking at her as if she were looking at some rare treasure.

Liu Min was startled and dared not say anything more.

She's just a young girl now, how could she dare to go against the Empress Dowager of the Great Ye Dynasty?

She had heard her grandmother say that even before Empress Dowager Liu entered the palace as a slave, she was not a good person.

Having endured years of hardship in the palace, he couldn't help but feel resentful and frustrated.

Liu Min didn't dare to disturb them, so she just moved her legs slightly to ease her discomfort.

As long as she isn't forced into the First Prince's residence, that's fine. That Lin Jiabao is not someone to be trifled with; she seems kind, but who knows what tricks she'll use to deal with people behind the scenes.

If Lin Jiabao's mother, Princess Jialuo, can hold a place in her great-aunt's eyes, how could her daughter be any less? It would be better for her to enter the harem and be favored by Emperor Chuyuan, where she might have a better chance of survival.

Han Cuiyin watched with great interest through the light screen.

The three most powerful members of the royal family were indeed surrounded by a lively atmosphere.

If Liu Min is used properly, she will be able to know in time if Emperor Chu Yuan makes any moves against her.

Han Cuiyin had no idea what Empress Dowager Liu was thinking. She just hoped that the two of them would go back to their rooms to rest soon, so that she could leave something with Liu Min.

Empress Dowager Liu gave a few more instructions and then put Liu Min to bed.

"The opportunity has finally arrived. Don't let me down." Han Cuiyin looked at the screen with a sly smile. "With this informant, I'd like to see who's trying to trip me up in front of the Emperor."

Han Cuiyin quickly lay down on the bed, preparing to drift off to sleep.