A lucky little peasant girl is reborn and brings prosperity to her entire family.

In fact, Consort Yan herself had her own doubts.

I think Princess Xiaowan has no self-awareness.

Does she really think she's a princess of high status and wealth?

She was born into an unknown family and only received the title of princess by chance thanks to the Empress Dowager's protection. In truth, her family's social standing was comparable to that of Princess Shangzhen. If it weren't for the fact that Luo Lanting was decent and favored by the Empress Dowager, Consort Yan would never have allowed her nephew to get involved in this mess.

Consort Yan thought to herself, though she didn't show it on her face. But Luo Lanting could tell something from Consort Yan's meaningful smile earlier.

Roland lowered her head, feeling somewhat embarrassed, somewhat heartbroken, and mostly bewildered.

She always thought she was going to marry her cousin, the crown prince.

Although she was not Huiyi's biological daughter, she grew up in the royal family and knew everything she was supposed to learn by heart.

He was proficient in all four arts: music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

She thought her destiny would be to enter the Eastern Palace.

But right now, the Crown Prince's cousin bluntly told his maternal grandmother that he had always treated her as a younger sister and had never had any romantic feelings for her, and that it was absolutely impossible for him to marry her.

Rolandin had no idea how she got back to her room that day.

Does it hurt? Yes, a little.

But more than anything, there was confusion.

If she doesn't marry her cousin, the Crown Prince, where else could she go?

Over the years, even when she learned that she was not Huiyi's biological daughter, Luo Lanting did not break down. Perhaps it was because Huiyi's long-term neglect and cold treatment had long since extinguished her feelings of filial piety towards her mother.

But marrying her cousin, the crown prince, was a different story.

This incident was the final anchor point for her when she lost control of her emotions and felt wronged and unable to accept it.

She felt that as long as there was still a place where she could belong, she was not a rootless duckweed.

But right now...

Rolandin forced back the tears welling up in her eyes.

She also asked the Crown Prince who the woman he wanted to marry was.

But the Crown Prince only told her that it had nothing to do with her.

How could it have nothing to do with her?

How could it be unrelated!

...Rolandin snapped out of her thoughts and lowered her eyes.

She wondered if the person the Crown Prince wanted to marry was Song Yanyan.

But she also felt it was unlikely.

Even someone as aloof as the Crown Prince's cousin has only met Song Yanyan a few times.

How could such a shallow affection make the Crown Prince cousin choose her so firmly?

Thinking of this, Rolandin felt somewhat uneasy again.

Although she was unwilling to admit it, deep down she was actually a little jealous of that woman she didn't know.

They were jealous that she could marry her cousin, the Crown Prince, and become the apple of his eye.

Luo Lanting looked somewhat melancholy, then pulled herself out of her thoughts, her smile almost flawless: "...Grandmother, the tea is a bit cold. You have a sensitive stomach, so I'll get you a warm cup."

The other three imperial concubines began to envy Empress Dowager Yan'an.

Empress Dowager Yan'an and several imperial concubines played cards for about half an hour. As they were old and easily tired, they all dispersed and went to rest.

Empress Dowager Yan'an held Luo Lanting's hand and said, "Ating, don't take what Consort Yan said to heart."

Luo Lanting paused slightly, then smiled again: "Grandmother, the Empress Dowager didn't say anything, so I didn't take it to heart."

Empress Dowager Yan'an sighed and patted Luo Lanting's hand.

A rare look of hesitation appeared on the kind old lady's face.

"Grandma?"

Empress Dowager Yan'an sighed again: "...A-Ting, I know you have the Crown Prince in your heart. You child, your life has been too bitter. I really want to make you happy..."

Empress Dowager Yan'an seemed to have made up her mind, and her voice softened, "How about this, if you really want to marry the Crown Prince, I will speak to the Empress and have you enter the Eastern Palace as a concubine. What do you think?"

Liangdi... that's actually still a concubine.

Rolandin's face paled.

Her first reaction was that she didn't want to.

Can……

But that was her cousin, the crown prince, whom she had wanted to marry since she was a child…

Rolandin couldn't bring herself to refuse.

Empress Dowager Yan'an genuinely loved Luo Lanting from the bottom of her heart. When she saw Luo Lanting's red eyes, clearly feeling humiliated but unable to utter words of refusal because she couldn't bear to part with the Crown Prince, her heart ached.

Empress Dowager Yan'an was heartbroken to see the girl she had watched grow up become someone's concubine.

Even if this person were her own grandson, the crown prince who was second only to the emperor, she still felt that her girl had been wronged.

That was a concubine!

Her daughter has already suffered enough; how could she be made a concubine?

Even, for a fleeting moment, a hint of murderous intent arose in Empress Dowager Yan'an's heart.

For that girl who occupied the position of Crown Princess in the Crown Prince's heart.

Of course, after realizing her murderous intent, Empress Dowager Yan'an remained silent for a while before finally dispelling it.

Although she felt sorry for Luo Lanting, Xin Yibei was also her own grandson.

...Therefore, the only solution at present is to let her A-Ting enter the Eastern Palace as a concubine.

"Ating, I know that you have always had the Crown Prince in your heart," Empress Dowager Yan'an said softly. "But life is full of disappointments. Since you like him, you should consider whether your feelings for him or your insistence on not becoming a concubine is more important."

Rolandin's lips were pale.

She remained silent for a long time.

Empress Dowager Yan'an waited for her very patiently.

After a long while, Empress Dowager Yan'an heard the girl's faint voice: "...I leave it to my grandmother to decide."

Empress Dowager Yan patted the back of Luo Lanting's hand, feeling a pang of melancholy.

Her A-Ting truly loves the Crown Prince...

Empress Dowager Yan'an then sent someone to invite Empress Wu.

Empress Wu was teaching Tong Jun to write in the Phoenix Palace. Emperor Zhengxuan watched from the side with his hands behind his back, a picture of a happy family of three.

Upon hearing the eunuch's message that the Empress Dowager had invited him, Emperor Zhengxuan frowned before Empress Wu could even say anything.

"Didn't you already refuse when Mother summoned you last time?" Emperor Zhengxuan was still puzzled. "Is Mother still not giving up?"

Empress Wu sighed helplessly and said softly, "Your Majesty truly loves Princess Xiaowan."

But why, why should Empress Dowager Yan'an's love for others come at the expense of her son's lifelong happiness?

Doesn't her son deserve to marry the woman he truly loves and spend his life with her?

Empress Wu looked somewhat listless.

Although Tongjun has the mind of a child, she also possesses a unique sensitivity.

She raised her hand and gently stroked Empress Wu's face, saying with heartache, "Mother, don't be sad, Tongjun is with you."

Empress Wu was taken aback, but then gave a faint smile: "My dear Tongjun, your mother is not sad."

For the sake of her son and daughter, she has to pull herself together!