A five-year-old goddess, raised to become an emperor for all time through a bronze mirror.

Although Consort De and Consort Wan were distant cousins, they had only played together in their childhood.

At that time, Consort Wan was more than two years older than Consort De, and later she entered the palace as a consort before Consort De.

However, despite her long years of struggle and hard work, Consort Wan never rose to a high position and remained just an insignificant concubine.

Consort De's words were like a thunderclap, causing Consort Wan, who was about to move forward, to abruptly stop in her tracks.

She slowly turned around, a complex and indescribable expression appearing on her beautiful face:

"Since you have invited me with such enthusiasm, wouldn't it seem too pretentious and heartless of me to insist on declining?"

Consort Wan smiled slightly, her lotus-like steps light as she gracefully walked towards the chair next to Consort De. She didn't want to call her "elder sister"...

When she reached the chair, she gracefully lifted her skirt and gently sat down.

Upon seeing this, a tender, gentle light flashed in Consort De's beautiful eyes.

She gracefully extended her jade-like hand, personally picked up the exquisite teapot, tilted the spout slightly, and a stream of clear, boiling water poured down into the teacup in front of her.

Instantly, steam rose up, and the aroma of tea filled the air.

Consort De stared intently at the tea in her cup until it was eight-tenths full, then slowly stopped pouring.

Then, she carefully picked up the teacup, as if holding a rare treasure, and walked lightly to Consort Wan.

She leaned down slightly, a gentle smile on her face, and said softly, "My dear sister, when you first entered this deep palace, you were still so young and naive."

Time flies, and the years must have been filled with hardship and difficulty during those years spent in the palace.

In recent years, Pei Yunjing has been sharing Pei Chuan's burdens, and as a result, she has regained the Emperor's favor.

At this moment, Consort Wan, who was sitting at the table, slowly stretched out her hands and accepted the cup of still-warm tea.

The moment her fingertips touched the cup, a warmth spread through her skin, making her feel a jolt.

She looked down at the tea swirling in her cup, her thoughts drifting away as if she had traveled back in time to many years ago.

At that time, she had not yet stepped into this deep and mysterious palace; she was still a carefree and innocent young girl.

Every day, simply laugh heartily, chase the blooming flowers in spring, listen to the crisp chirping of cicadas in summer, admire the fluttering leaves in autumn, and revel in the dancing snowflakes in winter.

However, everything changed completely after stepping through the palace gates.

Consort Wan sighed softly, her tone revealing a hint of helplessness and melancholy: "Sister is absolutely right. Life in the palace is indeed always full of hardships and dangers, leaving one exhausted."

After speaking, she gently placed the teacup on the table, her movements as soft as if she were afraid of disturbing something.

Just then, Consort De, who had been watching Consort Wan, suddenly noticed something strange about the person in front of her.

Just now, Consort Wan's eyes seemed a little dazed and confused, but she returned to normal in an instant, and even flashed a few traces of barely perceptible disgust.

However, that feeling of disgust vanished in an instant, so quickly that one almost doubted whether it had ever truly existed.

Consort De couldn't help but feel doubtful. Could it be that she had misread things? Or was there another hidden story?

Although they were cousins, the power struggles in the palace had already made their relationship delicate; she knew Wanpin's resentment and was also aware that her own position was not secure.

But today, she wanted to try to get closer to Consort Wan, after all, it's always better to have an ally than an enemy.

“Sister, I know you are unwilling, but sometimes things in the palace are beyond our control.”

Consort De's words carried a hint of consolation, "We are all women, why make things difficult for each other?"

When Consort Wan heard what Consort De said, her mind was as clear as a mirror, and she clearly understood the profound meaning in her words.

She slightly raised her face, her beautiful and captivating eyes looking directly at Consort De without flinching, and said softly:

"How could I not know what my sister is thinking? However, the path in this deep palace is rugged and long, and everyone must rely on their own strength to walk and explore."

Sometimes, even with a thousand desires in your heart, you are simply powerless to act on them!

Upon hearing this, Consort De smiled slightly and nodded, indicating her agreement with Consort Wan's words.

She knew perfectly well that the Consort Wan before her was an exceptionally intelligent woman; some things didn't need to be said aloud, a hint was enough...

Just then, a hurried announcement came from outside the palace. It was an imperial eunuch reporting that the Emperor would be visiting the palace where Consort De resided that night.

Upon hearing this news, Consort De's originally dignified and serene face instantly blossomed with joy, her smile as beautiful and captivating as a flower blooming in spring.

Consort Wan's heart sank suddenly, and an indescribable bitterness and jealousy surged into her heart like a tide.

But having lived in the palace for so long, she knew how to conceal her true feelings.

So, forcing a smile, she slowly stood up, gave a graceful bow to Consort De, and congratulated her:

"Congratulations, elder sister, on gaining His Majesty's favor! I wish you and His Majesty a wonderful and loving night together."

With that, Consort Wan turned and walked toward the palace gate, her steps slightly hurried, as if she wanted to escape this heartbreaking place as soon as possible.

The moment Consort Wan stepped out of Consort De's palace, a biting cold wind blew in, as if trying to pierce through her thin body.

She clutched her beautiful clothes tightly, trying to ward off the biting cold; however, the cold wind was nothing compared to the desolation deep in her heart.

At this moment, Consort Wan secretly vowed in her heart that she would definitely earn a place in this treacherous and scheming palace and never suffer the cold looks and neglect of others again.

"Pei Lang, you've deceived me so deeply..."

Her eyes, as clear as autumn water, gazed at the delicate, vibrant peony encased in a thin layer of ice before her, and she couldn't help but sigh softly, as if she had endless sorrow and bitterness in her heart that she wanted to express.

Just then, a series of hurried and urgent footsteps suddenly came from around the corner in the quiet courtyard.

Hearing the sound, she slowly raised her head, her beautiful eyes turning towards the direction from which the sound came. She saw a tall, handsome man walking briskly towards her.

Upon recognizing the person, the corners of her mouth slightly turned up, revealing a barely perceptible smile, and then she gracefully nodded in greeting:

"Greetings, Sixth Prince!"

Pei Yunjing was taken aback when he saw the person in front of him, but he quickly recognized that this gentle and graceful woman was none other than Consort Wan, Pei Chang'an's birth mother.

Although he had a very good personal relationship with Pei Chang'an, he rarely met with Consort Wan.