Female-dominated society: Striving for the position of powerful minister, doting on Xiao Yunqing

Seeing Mu Yunqing leave, Ling Qi hurriedly got up to check the Gu threads on the ground.

They actually added the Heart-Eating Powder.

Ling Qi almost collapsed to the ground; the Empress had actually deceived her like this.

She said that Mu Yunqing was too intelligent, and if he was not restrained, he might cause future trouble.

He also said that he was just a man, bound by worldly conventions, and could not cause much trouble.

Just use a mild Gu poison on him to restrain him slightly.

But the empress turned around and gave him the Heart-Eating Powder.

Ah, your words are like a joke.

She should never have believed the Empress's words so easily.

Ling Qi felt a pang of regret, but there was nothing she could do.

Neither of them are people she can afford to offend.

She never intended to provoke anyone, much less harm Mu Yunqing.

But everything was out of her control.

Royal Palace

The Empress heard rumors a few days ago.

It is said that Xiao Ran brought a palace maid back with her from the autumn banquet, which may indicate that she has a penchant for illicit relations.

How could her daughter have such a peculiar habit?

Just ridiculous.

However, rumors were rampant in the palace and could not be suppressed no matter what they did.

The Empress had no choice but to select a concubine for Xiao Ran in order to silence public criticism.

Xinghe Hall

When Xiao Ran woke up, the sky had fallen.

She's still young, what kind of man is she going to choose?

She doesn't need a man!

Xiao Ran was unwilling, but she could not disobey her mother's orders. She could only reluctantly walk towards the front hall of Xinghe Palace.

The sons of officials were already lined up, each dressed in fine clothes, some refined and others dashing.

Xiao Ran glanced around with a sullen face, her heart filled with resistance.

"Gentlemen, please be patient and prepare your talents to present to His Highness in a moment," Chaoyue said, maintaining order at the scene.

The once noisy hall fell silent instantly.

The first to appear was Du Bin, the third young master of the Du family. He wanted to show off his sword skills in front of everyone, but he tripped and fell hard as soon as he took a step.

Xiao Ran closed her eyes speechlessly and waved her hand, signaling him to get lost.

The second person to appear was the young master of the Fei family, who was holding a flute. I thought he would at least play a piece, but he just stood there dumbfounded and couldn't say a word for a long time.

Xiao Ran waved her hand again, telling him to get lost.

The same applies to the following sections.

None of them are watchable.

Xiao Ran rejected several candidates in a row.

“Your Highness… His Majesty said that you should at least choose one from among them. If you refuse now, you’ll have even less chance of finding a suitable one later,” Chaoyue gently reminded her.

"Okay, I understand," Xiao Ran replied casually.

Choose one from them?

Absolutely not.

If we actually choose that option, who knows how stupid the child will be?

They're all just pretty faces, all show and no substance.

Even worse, some of them are completely useless.

Xiao Ran sighed, rubbing her forehead, torn between choosing any one of the options to deal with the Empress.

But it really is...

I can't bring myself to eat it.

As she was pondering, a man in a blue robe in the corner caught her attention.

His eyes were clear and calm, unlike others who were eager to show off.

Xiao Ran approached him curiously and asked, "Why do you seem so indifferent to this matter of choosing a concubine?"

The man bowed respectfully and replied, "I had no intention of coming here, but Your Majesty's decree cannot be disobeyed, so I have no choice but to come."

Xiao Ran felt a slight stirring in her heart, sensing that this person was different from others.

Just then, the eunuch Cao, who was by the Empress's side, shouted in a shrill voice, "The time has come, Your Highness, please make your choice as soon as possible."

Xiao Ran frowned, looked around at the people, then at the man in white, and was about to point at him.

Suddenly, a black dog ran swiftly into the hall.

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up when she saw the black dog.

Didn't the Empress say that all living beings are equal?

She needs to ensure that equality is truly implemented; people should be equal, and dogs should be equal as well.

Xiao Ran asked loudly, "Can't we just pick one from this hall at random?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Eunuch Cao nodded to her.

His mission would be complete once His Highness made a choice.

"Then I want this dog!" Xiao Ran said, stepping forward and hugging the dog.

Everyone was astonished; His Highness had actually chosen a dog.

There are so many people inside the hall.

I chose a dog! What a disgrace!

But because of their status, no one dared to say anything more.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch Cao glanced at Xiao Ran with a complicated expression.

That makes sense, since the dog was indeed inside the hall.

But the most important thing is that he can't afford to offend either side.

One is a powerful empress who can kill her with a single word.

One of them is a noble prince, who doesn't seem like someone to be trifled with.

Since that's the case, let's calculate it logically.

After pondering for a moment, Eunuch Cao said, "Now that His Highness has made his choice, all of you gentlemen may leave. I must return to report to His Majesty!"

After finishing his speech, Eunuch Cao bowed to Xiao Ran and then walked away with small, shuffling steps.

"Your Highness, you are like this..." Chaoyue said with a worried expression.

"I know what you're trying to say. No, I am a princess after all. She won't do anything to me."

"That's good."

"Asatsuki, let's settle this dog in!"

"Does Your Highness wish to keep it?"

"Mmm-hmm." Xiao Ran nodded repeatedly.

Chaoyue glanced at the puppy on the ground and said, "I wonder if it has an owner."

"Oh, Chaoyue, don't think so much. If someone comes looking for it, we'll just return it to its rightful owner." Xiao Ran said, then picked up the little black dog and walked out.

"Your Highness, wait for me!" Chaoyue lifted her skirt and chased after Xiao Ran.

Empress' bedroom

The flickering candlelight illuminated the magnificent curtains and resplendent decorations inside the hall.

Ling Qi stood respectfully before the Empress, her head slightly bowed, awaiting the Empress's instructions.

The Empress sat regally on the dragon throne, her posture majestic, her gaze piercing. Her eyes revealed an innate authority and dominance that made people hesitant to disobey.

"Ling Qi, do you know why I summoned you here today?" The Empress's voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the empty palace.

Ling Qi raised her head, met the Empress's gaze, and replied, "Your Majesty, it's about Mu Yunqing."

The Empress nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on her face.

"How are things going?"

"I've already... cast a spell on him."

"Very good."

"But Lingqi doesn't understand, why did His Majesty... give him the Heart-Eating Powder?" Lingqi hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question that was on her mind.

The Empress's expression changed, and she said in a deep voice, "Do you know the way of checks and balances?"

"Ling Qi is foolish and begs Your Majesty for guidance."

"The way to maintain checks and balances lies in balancing and supervising all officials in order to benefit the country. If I want to understand this way of maintaining checks and balances, I must implement this method of supervision. If I don't control him first, how can I supervise him?"

"So... you're going to sacrifice him to achieve your balance of power?" Ling Qi asked timidly.

The Empress's eyes darkened, and she said sternly, "For the sake of the country, who can't be sacrificed? Who can't be abandoned?"

"As for you, Ling Qi, I have warned you many times not to act on your emotions. But you have spoken up for Mu Yunqing time and time again, and even came to question me on his behalf. Tell me the truth, do you have feelings for him?"

"If you have feelings for him, I will immediately send someone to kill him!"

Ling Qi was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground. "Ling Qi has no feelings for him whatsoever."

"Is this true?"

“Every word Ling Qi has said is true. If there is even a single falsehood, Your Majesty may punish me as you see fit!” After saying this, Ling Qi bowed her head and knelt down again.

"Alright, just remember what you said today. If you break it in the future, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Ling Qi will remember this well."

"You may leave now; I have other matters to attend to."

"Yes."

Xinghe Hall

Xiao Ran and Chao Yue made a simple doghouse for the puppy and are now returning to the palace to rest.

As soon as I arrived outside the hall, I saw a handsome man leaning quietly against the hall door.

His face was exquisitely sculpted, his eyes bright as stars, with a hint of intoxication, revealing a trace of confusion and languor. His long hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands falling in front of his forehead, adding to his unruly temperament.

Beneath her high, straight nose, her lips were slightly upturned, as if she were savoring something. Her skin appeared exceptionally fair under the moonlight, seemingly radiating a captivating glow.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing his clothes to flutter in the wind, making him appear even taller and more upright.

He held a wine glass tightly in his hand, with some wine still remaining in it, emitting a faint aroma.

His body swayed slightly, as if he might fall at any moment, but he stubbornly leaned against the door, unwilling to leave.

Upon recognizing Pei Xuan, Xiao Ran asked, "What are you doing here?"

Pei Xuan's eyes reddened as he looked at her pleadingly.

"This servant... is waiting for Your Highness."

"What are you waiting for me for? Go back now!" Xiao Ran waved for him to leave, then stepped into the hall.

Pei Xuan hurriedly knelt behind her, grabbing Xiao Ran's sleeve to prevent her from leaving.

"Why did you follow me again? Go back and rest. Hey... wait, where did you get all that smell of alcohol?" Xiao Ran said, tugging at Pei Xuan's hand.

"Your Highness is choosing a concubine today, and I am feeling troubled, so I drank a few more cups than usual..."

"I chose to serve the emperor; I'm the one who should be troubled, what are you troubled about?"

"This servant..." Pei Xuan paused for a moment before slowly saying, "This servant is afraid that Your Highness's choice of a servant is not satisfactory."

"It's really not satisfactory," Xiao Ran said helplessly.

Even those oddballs and cracked dates can get what they want.

She was really hungry.

"Does Your Highness mean you already have someone you like?"

"No."

Pei Xuan paused for a moment, the gloom in his eyes instantly vanishing. "Since you have no one you admire, why does Your Highness..." He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, cautiously raising his eyes to look at Xiao Ran.

"Why what?"

"It's nothing." Pei Xuan lowered her head, tucked her hair behind her ear, and hid her emotions. "It was my fault for being so talkative."

"It's nothing," Xiao Ran said softly, then quietly instructed Chao Yue beside her to prepare a hangover soup.

"Your Highness..."

Pei Xuan suddenly stood up and moved closer to Xiao Ran, his body reeking of the rich aroma of fruit wine. "Your Highness... it's getting late, you should rest."

“I think you’re the one who should be resting the most,” Xiao Ran said, taking a step back.

"I'm not sleepy yet. I'd like to spend more time with Your Highness." Pei Xuan stepped forward again to get closer to Xiao Ran.

"Your Highness... the hangover soup is here."

"Quickly, bring it here and give it to him to drink!"

Xiao Ran was truly terrified.

Is this her punishment for not paying attention in class and only caring about following celebrities and reading novels when she was in school?

She was punished by being sent to Phoenix Kingdom, a land teeming with handsome men, more beautiful than women.

My goodness, she's no longer obsessed with looks, and she's no longer making empty promises.

Good-looking people are scary.

"Yes." Chaoyue brought the hangover soup to Pei Xuan.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Pei Xuan took the hangover soup and drank it all in one gulp, coughing a few times because he drank it too quickly. "Cough cough..."

"Drink slowly, drink slowly." Xiao Ran reached out and patted his back.

Pei Xuan seized her hand and wouldn't let go, his eyes fixed on Xiao Ran. "Your Highness is so good to me, I... I really don't want to leave Your Highness."

Xiao Ran blushed and hurriedly pushed him away.

"It was this servant's rudeness." Seeing that Xiao Ran was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, Pei Xuan dared not be presumptuous any longer, stepped aside, lowered his head and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness."

"Ahem." Xiao Ran coughed lightly, trying to appear calm. "You..."

"Your Highness," Pei Xuan looked up at Xiao Ran, his eyes filled with even deeper affection, "Actually, I have long admired Your Highness. I wonder... what are Your Highness's feelings for me?"

Xiao Ran: "..."

She suddenly remembered a post she had seen before: "If someone confessed their feelings to you, what would you do?"

What else can we do? Just give them a perfunctory response, of course.

"Your Highness, there is no need to answer me in time. I know that I am of lowly status and dare not ask for too much. I only hope that I can stay by Your Highness's side. That would be enough for me."

"That's good."

A hint of melancholy flashed in Pei Xuan's eyes, but he quickly concealed it. "Your Highness, please rest early. I will be waiting outside the palace. Please call me if you need anything."

"You should go back and rest too, it's cold at night."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am not cold."

Pei Xuan stubbornly stood still and refused to move. "This servant will stay and guard Your Highness. Only then will this servant feel at ease."

Xiao Ran pushed him towards the door. "Listen to me, go back now!"

Pei Xuan refused to leave, instead closing the door behind her, her voice tinged with pleading, "Your Highness, please let me stay here and watch over you. I won't disturb you."

"That's enough, go back immediately! I don't need anyone guarding this place," Xiao Ran said, feigning seriousness.

"Yes, I will take my leave now." Pei Xuan reluctantly looked away from Xiao Ran and retreated to the door. "I will stay outside the door. If Your Highness needs anything... please feel free to give me your orders."

Seeing that he was determined to do so, Xiao Ran decided not to interfere any further. She told Chaoyue to close the palace door, then blew out the candles and went to sleep.

江府

The doctor was examining Mu Yunqing, while Su Qin paced anxiously back and forth beside him.

They were eating lunch during the day.

His brother suddenly fell off the wall.

If he hadn't caught her in time, who knows what would have happened to her.

Even if you manage to protect them, it won't help.

He's been unconscious since morning, and to make matters worse, we can't even feed him water or food.

Already physically weak and prone to cold, how could he withstand it?

Three doctors were consulted, but none of them could explain the cause of the fainting.

Su Qin was both anxious and angry, but there was nothing he could do but wait quietly for his brother to wake up.

"Doctor, have you found out yet?"

“Young Master Jiang, you’ve asked me four times already. Please wait a little longer, and I will tell you my diagnosis.”

"Wait, wait! All you do is make me wait. If I were waiting, why would I keep asking you?"

The doctor, upon hearing this, immediately became angry and retorted, "You are being unreasonable! A doctor treats illnesses by asking questions. How can one arrive at a result in a moment? It all requires step-by-step analysis and a slow, deliberate explanation!"

"Everyone says to take it slow, everyone shakes their heads and leaves, what more do they want from me?" Su Qin said excitedly, almost crying.

"Sigh... I also want to tell you the results as soon as possible, but... there's really no way to say it."

"He has no external injuries, and his pulse is very steady. No matter how you look at him, you can't figure out what's wrong with him," the doctor said, shaking his head and sighing.