The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

The Empress's birthday falls in autumn, and the palace does not hold a grand celebration every year. Instead, it invites court officials and their families to the palace for a meal, which is considered a family banquet.

The Ruan family entered the palace early in the morning to talk with the Empress.

The day before, Madam Ruan discussed with her daughter, asking if she wanted to bring Miaoyin to the palace banquet.

Ruan Xianrong had no objection, but seeing that Madam Ruan was inclined to do so, she went along with her words and gave her a way out.

"It's good to go out and see the world. Miaoyin lives in the Prime Minister's residence, so she's one of the people there. She'll naturally encounter these kinds of situations in the future, so it's good for her to get used to them."

Madam Ruan's heart softened immediately. Her daughter, even if she wasn't her biological daughter, was so sensible that she was lovable.

She was even more reluctant to tell her daughter the truth. Niannian was so sensible; if she knew Miaoyin's background, she probably wouldn't want to stay in the Ruan family any longer.

She couldn't bear to part with her daughter.

When they entered the palace, Ruan Xianrong and Miaoyin rode in the same carriage.

Miaoyin's palms were sweaty with nervousness. "Is it really alright for me to go to the Empress's birthday banquet? Maybe I shouldn't go, in case I embarrass Sister Ruan."

"Don't worry, once you enter the palace, you'll stay by my side and observe carefully. If you can't find me, just ask my mother. Don't follow strangers."

"just in case......"

"It's alright, I'm here."

The Ruan family's carriage entered the palace, and the group headed towards the Fengyi Palace.

The Empress was talking to Xie Chengyue, but neither of them looked well.

Seeing them come in, Xie Chengyue stood up, glared at her, and without even exchanging pleasantries with Madam Ruan, turned and left.

The Empress sighed, then immediately put on a smile. "Niannian is here? Come and sit down."

No one mentioned Xie Chengyue. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the Empress finally noticed Miaoyin.

"Who is this...?"

Mrs. Ruan paused, unsure how to explain.

Ruan Xianrong took the Empress's arm affectionately and said:

"My aunt, the Empress, may not know this, but Miaoyin is my sister. She is currently living in the Prime Minister's residence, and from now on, she will have another person, Niannian, to help take care of you, my aunt."

The Empress looked Miaoyin up and down and found her very pleasing to the eye. "She is a clever and beautiful girl."

"Don't you think Miaoyin looks somewhat like you, Aunt?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Ruan's face stiffened, and she clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

The Empress looked up again and, to be honest, they did look somewhat alike.

"It seems that Miaoyin and her aunt, the Empress, are destined to be together," Ruan Xianrong said with a smile.

"Come, come to me." The Empress beckoned to Miaoyin.

Miaoyin quickly stepped forward and knelt down. The Empress took off her hairpin and inserted it into Miaoyin's hair. "Since you are from the Prime Minister's residence, then we are family. Consider this a gift for our first meeting."

Miaoyin was momentarily at a loss for how to react and subconsciously looked at Ruan Xianrong.

Ruan Xianrong smiled and said, "I'll accept what my aunt gave me; we're all family."

Miaoyin then expressed her gratitude.

The Empress said kindly, "Go out and have some fun, don't be so reserved. I'd like to have a word with your mother."

After leaving the Empress's residence, Miaoyin was in a daze.

At this time last year, she was a villager in the north, struggling to get enough to eat and wear, and not even knowing if she would live to see the next day.

Now I can not only live in the Prime Minister's residence, but also enter the palace and just met the Empress. It's like a dream.

The two turned into the corridor and passed through the gate. There were people standing in the courtyard. When they saw who it was, Ruan Xianrong subconsciously looked at Miaoyin beside her.

She gave a slight curtsy: "Second Prince, Third Prince."

"No need for such formalities, Cousin Ruan."

Miaoyin also bowed and stood obediently beside her.

"Did my cousin go to see the Empress?"

"Indeed, what brings Your Highnesses here?"

"I just came from Fengyi Palace and saw that the chrysanthemums in this courtyard were blooming beautifully, so I came to take a look."

Ruan Xianrong didn't believe it. She thought that Miaoyin knew she was coming and had come to ambush her.

"In that case, Your Highness will not disturb you any longer."

As he spoke, he pulled Miaoyin away.

"Wait a minute," Xie Chengming suddenly spoke up, "I have something to say to Miss Ruan."

She looked over, puzzled, and Xie Chengming gestured for her to proceed.

She told Miaoyin to wait for her there, and then walked to the tree.

Xie Chengming reached out and handed over a box. "This is for you."

Ruan Xianrong frowned. "Give her a gift?"

"What is this?"

"Open it and take a look."

I opened the box with some skepticism, and there lay two ears of corn lying quietly inside.

Ruan Xianrong was incredulous: ?

"You gave me sweet potatoes last time, this is a return gift."

Are you serious?

His voice was calm, and his expression was serious; he showed no sign of teasing her.

She said that the emperor's son was abnormal, how could he return a gift of corn?

She glanced at him without making a sound; his face was still that expressionless, lifeless mask.

"It's nothing valuable, Your Highness, there's no need to return the gift. It was originally my way of apologizing to Your Highness."

Xie Chengming raised an eyebrow. "Take it. I heard you like these."

Ruan Xianrong: ......

Oh well, it's just two ears of corn.

"Then thank you very much, Your Highness."

Turning around, Xie Chengli was talking happily with Miaoyin.

"Miaoyin, we should go."

After the person disappeared into the courtyard, Xie Chengli patted Xie Chengming on the shoulder and said, "As expected of my second brother, even his gift-giving is unique."

Xie Chengming naturally understood the sarcasm in his words, but did not refute it. His return gift was also carefully selected by him, and she should like it.

"Father doesn't want my cousin to marry my elder brother, the Crown Prince. Doesn't my second brother have any thoughts on this?"

Xie Chengming glanced at him. "No."

He spoke with absolute certainty, without the slightest hesitation, and then looked at his third brother with a meaningful gaze.

After the birthday banquet in the main hall, the women from each family went to the garden to drink tea and admire the chrysanthemums.

As soon as Zhao Xuelan came out, she went to find Xie Chengyue. "Today is the Empress's birthday, why does the princess seem unhappy?"

Xie Chengyue did not answer, so Zhao Xuelan asked again, "Is it because of Ruan Xianrong?"

Xie Chengyue then looked at the person not far away, her expression displeased.

"Why should the princess care about her? She's just a useless good-for-nothing."

Xie Chengyue's gaze turned cold. Yes, she was a good-for-nothing, yet she could still be taken seriously by her mother and the Crown Prince.

It's as if Ruan Xianrong was the Empress's biological daughter, while she was the one who was adopted.

"Does Miss Zhao wish to become the Crown Prince's consort?"

Zhao Xuelan's ears turned red, and she lowered her head shyly. "Why does the princess ask such a question? The choice of the Crown Princess is naturally to be decided by the Empress and the Crown Prince."

"If we wait for the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince to make a decision, you will really have no chance."

Zhao Xuelan naturally knew that Ruan Xianrong was always the first choice for the Crown Princess, and she was naturally unwilling to accept this, and hated Ruan Xianrong even more.

A thought struck her. "Does Your Highness have any ideas?"

Xie Chengyue chuckled lightly, "Once Ruan Xianrong loses her face, do you think my Crown Prince will still like her?"

Zhao Xuelan was taken aback. "...What does the princess intend to do?"

"Naturally, it's to help you win the position of Crown Princess."

Who doesn't know that the Empress dotes on this niece the most? She loves her even more than her own daughter.

Xie Chengyue almost bit her teeth to pieces. Since childhood, she had been competing with her for her mother, her brother, and everything else.

Now that Ruan Xianrong has become the Crown Princess, she will never have a peaceful life!