The entire Marquis's mansion regrets it? Too late, their little one has become the darling of t

"Your Majesty need not worry. I believe that our ancestors and the gods will approve of my choice of Crown Princess." Yun Chubai's words completely silenced the Empress.

"Alright, take your Crown Princess and prepare for the sacrificial ceremony." The emperor waved his hand, dismissing them.

Throughout the entire process, Yu Ningyao was like a background figure. Both the emperor and the empress clearly felt that she could not pass the test of the sacrificial ceremony, so they were too lazy to waste words on her.

Yun Chubai didn't argue with them, and took Yu Ningyao's hand, leading her back to the East Palace.

"Didn't you say your brother prepared a lot of things you usually use? Have your trusted maid keep an eye on them and try to get you to use them tonight."

Yu Ningyao never expected that the first thing Yun Chubai said to her after returning to the East Palace would be this.

I was stunned for a moment.

"Also, if you are not used to the food of the Cloud Dragon, have your people make it separately for you."

Yun Chubai only cared about whether she was comfortable and whether she was living there well, without mentioning the sacrificial ceremony at all.

Yu Ningyao immediately became anxious.

"Tell me first what the sacrificial ceremony is all about?"

Although she can have the system check, she needs a legitimate way to find out.

Yun Chubai then explained to her.

“Every Crown Princess and Empress must undergo the test of the sacrificial ceremony.”

"During the sacrificial ceremony, the Emperor and Empress would touch the dragon egg to perform a ritual and summon the divine beast."

"The stronger the divine beast you summon, the more your ancestors approve of you."

"After all, our ancestors were dragons."

Yu Ningyao nodded, somewhat curious: "What did the Empress summon back then?"

“A five-colored phoenix,” Yun Chubai explained.

This is why the empress was able to oust his own mother and ascend to the throne so quickly.

Thinking of her deceased mother, Yun Chubai's smile faded slightly.

"Then what should I summon to be considered qualified? A phoenix? Or a dragon?" Yu Ningyao scratched her head anxiously.

"No, I've never learned how to summon these."

Yun Chubai noticed her nervousness and took her hand: "Don't worry, you are the most talented person in my beast taming team. You will definitely be able to summon a qualified divine beast. Tomorrow I will have someone teach you how to chant the summoning incantation."

"You're only giving me one day to study?" Yu Ningyao was dumbfounded.

“One day is enough. But for you, an hour would probably be enough.” Yun Chubai finally showed her first smile since returning to the palace.

Yu Ningyao: ...

Yun Chubai is really confident in her.

She herself doesn't have that much confidence.

"Okay, okay, you go ahead and do your work. I want to rest for a while," Yu Ningyao said listlessly, trying to shoo her away.

Yun Chubai nodded, leaving the space to her.

As soon as he left, Yu Ruowei came in.

"Second sister, I'm not leaving."

"Huh? Why?" Yu Ningyao asked, somewhat surprised.

What Yu Ruowei wanted most was freedom.

"I'm worried about you being alone in this ruthless palace," Yu Ruowei said anxiously.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is tyrannical, and the Empress is at odds with him. What should we do?"

Yu Ningyao felt a warm glow in her heart upon hearing this.

She grasped Yu Ruowei's hand: "Elder sister, you don't need to worry about me. The Crown Prince and I are now husband and wife. We share the same fate, and he won't do anything to me. Today's event was just to get rid of the Empress's people."

“Look at us all the way here, he’s been so friendly, he’s never lost his temper.”

After hearing her say that, Yu Ruowei thought about it and felt much more at ease: "It's good that you know what you're doing."

Yu Ningyao nodded: "Eldest sister can stay in the East Palace for now, and my third brother can take you out later."

Yu Ruowei was somewhat surprised: "Your cousin Ziying is here too?"

"Yes. Yunxiao Tower is going to open a branch in Yunchi." Yu Ningyao briefly mentioned this matter.

Seeing that she had planned everything in an orderly manner, Yu Ruowei was finally relieved.

After seeing Yu Ruowei off, Yu Ningyao asked the system to check on her family. She was relieved to learn that they were all well.

However, the fourth prince is dead.

A single sentence from the system jolted Yu Ningyao, who had been starting to feel sleepy, awake.

Pei Wuji is dead? How did he die?

They've only been gone for two months, and Pei Wuji has already been killed?

The evidence you left behind has been put to good use by the First Prince and the Second Prince.

Pei Wuji suspected it was you who did it, so he wanted to tell Emperor Xiangwu what you had done.

Unfortunately, Emperor Xiangwu is terminally ill and is currently in seclusion, cultivating immortality and refusing to see anyone.

[Feng Ting learned of his plan, poisoned him, and framed his death at the Crown Prince's residence.]

The eldest prince and the second prince are currently locked in a fierce power struggle.

Yu Ningyao never expected that she had left such a big hidden danger.

She initially planned to take revenge on Pei Wuji, but she forgot that Pei Wuji knew she possessed many mysterious firsthand information.

If this matter reaches the emperor, the Yu family will definitely be subject to a thorough investigation.

Thanks to Fengting's timely action.

Yu Ningyao breathed a long sigh of relief.

What about the Lu and Zheng families? How are my master and the others?

Yu Ningyao then inquired about her relatives and friends.

On the day you got married, Lu Qingyun and Shen Chuyu cried their eyes out.

[This is the first time Judge Zheng has ever been drunk.]

As for Lu Lingguang...

The system is sluggish.

What happened to Lu Lingguang?

Yu Ningyao couldn't help but press for more information.

Lu Lingguang escorted you all the way to the border of Yunchi before leaving.

Yu Ningyao: !!!

How come she didn't discover Lu Lingguang's presence? Has that kid's counter-surveillance skills improved again?

She thought about it again and realized that during that time she had been focused on learning how to control beasts from Yun Chubai and hadn't been distracted by other news, so it was normal that she didn't know he was following her.

"Why bother?" Yu Ningyao sighed.

Her goal was to become a favored concubine, and Lu Lingguang was never a consideration in her marriage plans.

That's why she clearly distinguished her identity from Lu Lingguang early on.

She could only be his great-aunt, his father's junior sister.

She will never be his wife.

[System, can you tell me where my progress bar for becoming a favored concubine is?]

Yu Ningyao changed the subject.

After a moment of silence, the system spoke: "0%"

Yu Ningyao was shocked. She questioned the system: "How is this possible???"

Strictly speaking, you are not yet the Crown Princess.

Because the Yunchi royal family has not recognized you.

[You are only the Crown Princess in Yun Chubai's own eyes.]

Yu Ningyao: ...

Fine.

So what she thought was just one step away from success was actually an illusion; she hadn't even stepped inside.

It seems that she can only succeed in the sacrificial ceremony; failure is not an option.

Only if I succeed can I become the Crown Princess, and then I can complete my mission.

She decided to study the spell carefully and make a name for herself.

However, before the sacrificial ceremony could even begin, she encountered her first problem.