The selected young women all entered the palace, and the Empress assigned them corresponding ranks based on their family backgrounds.

He also arranged for each of them to serve him in bed, and Nangong Qing unsurprisingly chose to see Qu Muyu first.

The person's physique and appearance were strikingly similar to the one he longed for.

Behind the gauze curtain, the girl was both nervous and excited.

She never imagined she would receive such a great divine favor!

She's already twenty this year, practically an old maid.

She had already planned that if she couldn't get into the palace, she would find an honest man to marry at the end of the year.

But fate bestowed upon her immense wealth and honor; the emperor, after merely looking at her portrait, directly bestowed upon her the title of Beauty.

This was even more unbelievable to her than a pie falling from the sky.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects..."

Nangong Qing stared at Qu Muyu's face with tender eyes.

I kept thinking about another person. They looked so much like her, especially when they smiled. They were exactly the same.

"No need for formalities..."

Nangong Qing had never been this happy in the past few years.

"Sit down and drink a cup with me."

Facing this face, Nangong Qing had a lot on her mind that she wanted to tell.

"Your Majesty, I do not drink alcohol!"

Nangong Qing gave a self-deprecating smile, but fearing his dream would shatter, he continued.

"It's alright, you'll get used to it after drinking it a few more times."

He reached out to Qu Muyu, took his hand, and led him to sit at the table.

Gao Yi had already prepared food and wine, and everyone withdrew, giving them ample space.

Nangong Qingchang was gentle and refined, and he treated her well. Qu Muyu was instantly captivated by him.

After a few rounds of drinks, Nangong Qing looked at the person in front of him and smiled.

"How wonderful! Heaven has been kind to me and has finally sent you to my side."

Qu Muyu lowered her head shyly, the slight intoxication of the wine replacing the rouge on her face, giving it a rosy glow.

"It is my great fortune to have met Your Majesty."

Nangong Qing pulled her to sit down beside him and quietly studied her face.

"Do you know how difficult it has been for me to ascend the throne all these years?"

With wolves in front and tigers behind, the army guards the border and pacifies the people.

"To maintain harmony among the ministers in the court, I am becoming more and more like an emperor."

Upon hearing this, Qu Muyu was horrified.

"Your Majesty is terrified. The inner palace should not interfere in politics. Your Majesty should not discuss these political matters with me."

Nangong Qing was slightly drunk, but not to the point of being completely out of it.

"I don't blame you, let me finish..."

Nangong Qing persisted, revealing everything he could, and then he embraced Qu Muyu tightly.

If it were Su Luo, she would definitely be able to give him some advice, and even laugh at him for taking so long to do such a small thing.

"From now on, in the harem and in front of me, you can show your most authentic self."

I've seen too much hypocrisy; I don't want you to be like them.

Qu Muyu's eyes told him that she was not what he saw.

He wished that Qu Muyu not only had a beautiful face, but also a personality like Su Luo's.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

In the end, he still slept with Qu Muyu.

The next day, when Qu Muyu woke up, the person from the previous day was no longer by her side.

But she felt incredibly happy and content; His Majesty perfectly matched her expectations of her husband.

Since she was bestowed the title of Beauty, everyone around her seems to have turned into a good person.

Those who used to look down on her and disdain her are now flattering her, and everyone around her is smiling.

"Consort Qu, this is a tonic that His Majesty sent to you. He hopes that you will give birth to a prince soon."

Is Qu Muyu still half asleep? Her mind seems a little foggy.

When facing Gaoyi, he still asked his question.

"Eunuch Gao calls me Consort Zhao? Isn't she a Beauty?"

Gao Yi laughed and said, "Consort Qu, you may not know this, but His Majesty has already issued an edict to promote you to the rank of Consort."

From now on, this entire palace will belong to you alone. His Majesty, showing favoritism, has also appointed Lord Qu as Vice Minister of Rites; they will be arriving in the capital soon.

This extraordinary wealth flowed like water onto Qu Muyu.

She was just a weak woman from a small town, and she was completely stunned and didn't react.

"Consort Qu, I have served two emperors in the palace, and I have never seen any noble lady rise in rank as quickly as you."

His Majesty cherishes you like a precious treasure; this is a blessing that others could only dream of.

Qu Muyu got out of bed, ignoring the pain in her body, and paced back and forth, so happy she was almost going crazy.

If this weren't the palace, she would have rushed out to fully express her joy.

"Please inform His Majesty, Your Excellency. After I have dressed, I will personally go to thank His Majesty."

Gao Yi smiled and replied, "Congratulations, Your Highness!"

Consort Qu should drink the tonic His Majesty bestowed upon her, so that she may give birth to a prince soon.

"good!"

Without hesitation, Qu Muyu took the medicine bowl from the eunuch's tray and drank it all in one gulp.

Before she entered the palace, she had heard that every concubine who had been summoned to the emperor's bedchamber would drink a bowl of this tonic the next day, supposedly to help with fertility.

She's already twenty, which is considered an old maid by outsiders. If she could become a prince within a year, she would have no regrets in her life.

"Peony, do my hair and makeup."

"yes!"

Peony was a maid who came with her as part of her dowry. Although she was a country girl, she had been with her for so many years and was considered loyal.

"Peony, after so many years of suffering, I am finally free."

Everything I have now is surely thanks to my mother's blessing from heaven, hehehe..."

"Yes! Consort Zhao is destined for wealth and honor, and will no longer be oppressed by the Madam."

She was harsh to Consort Zhao back then; now she's probably having nightmares every night, fearing Consort Zhao will go back for revenge!

Their laughter echoed throughout the palace, making passersby feel envious.

Inside the Mingde Hall, Gao Yi returned to report.

"Your Majesty, Consort Qu has taken her medicine."

Nangong Qing didn't look up, and said calmly.

"I understand!"

Gao Yi stepped aside and remained silent, but he was filled with emotion.

To be promoted from a beauty to a high-ranking concubine overnight is truly unprecedented and unseen.

I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse.

Soon Qu Muyu arrived at Mingde Hall, and Nangong Qing asked her to come in and serve him writing materials.

When Qu Muyu came this time, her head was covered with jewelry and precious stones; she wore all the things she had never worn in her life.

She dressed herself up like a fiery red flower, which was completely at odds with the simplicity that Nangong Qing had seen in her portrait.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects and also express my gratitude on behalf of my father for Your Majesty's great kindness."

Nangong Qing looked up and saw her outfit, and frowned.

"Get up. As long as you obey, I will give you much more than this in the future..."

After saying that, Nangong Qing couldn't help but say, "A head full of jewels doesn't suit you, and your makeup is too heavy. Go back and wash it off. You are a natural beauty and don't need these vulgar cosmetics."