Mo Yan sat above, watching the concubines come in to pay their respects, and finally looked at the newly arrived Cheng Yan.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

They all immediately bowed, and Mo Yan looked at them indifferently.

"Get up, everyone, and sit down."

Three women make a drama, many women make a grand drama. Before Mo Yan could say anything, someone spoke up.

"Consort Cheng, I've heard that your poetry collection is quite good. Could you explain its meaning to us?"

Mo Yan looked over and thought that this person seemed to be an important person. Why did he suddenly ask this question? Was he trying to clear Cheng Yan's name?

"Sister, you misunderstand. That collection of poems is just one I collected. There are indeed a few poems in it written by me, but most of them are poems written by reclusive scholars."

In just a few words, Cheng Yan told everyone that the poetry collection was not written by her alone, and that it would be useless for anyone to use it to scheme against her.

This Cheng Yan is really interesting.

"I see, I misunderstood."

Mo Yan looked at the distinguished person; the two of them were working together very well.

"The imperial concubine selection will be held in two days. I wonder how many sisters will be added to the harem this time. Sister Cheng, you have become a noble person even before the selection. You are so lucky."

"Thank you, sister. I am deeply grateful."

No matter what others said, she was able to handle it with ease. She truly deserved to be the daughter-in-law chosen by the Dowager Consort.

"It's getting late, you should all go back and rest."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."

Everyone then left, with Cheng Yan staying behind.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

Mo Yan raised an eyebrow. Oh, they've come looking for her.

"What is it?"

Cheng Yan had been paying attention to the Empress. She thought the Empress would be sarcastic and cynical. Rumor had it that the Emperor and Empress were deeply in love back then, and the Empress would not even step out of the palace because she did not want the Emperor to hold a selection of concubines. However, this time she found that this was not the case at all.

"Your Majesty, I wish to cooperate with you."

Cheng Yan reiterated that she has enough trump cards to ensure her invincibility.

"cooperate?"

Mo Yan was surprised that Cheng Yan would be so direct.

"Cooperate with what? I don't need to cooperate with anyone."

Cheng Yan is quite cunning; she actually wants to cooperate with her.

"Now all the ladies in the harem are choosing their favorite new concubines. I am willing to share your burdens. I only wish that in the future I can have a quiet place where I can live."

Cheng Yan understood that she had become the target of everyone's criticism, and she couldn't deny it even if she didn't admit it. The emperor was too high-profile, directly declaring that he had fallen in love with her at first sight.

She knew perfectly well that the emperor could not possibly fall in love with her at first sight; their relationship was mostly about using each other. Although she didn't know what the emperor wanted to use her for, she had to start planning for herself as soon as possible.

One of her plans was to become the Empress. By aligning herself with the Empress, she could claim that she was acting on the Empress's orders. Her only desire was to survive.

"It's good that Cheng Yan is smart, but don't be so presumptuous. I don't need anyone to serve me. You can leave now."

Cheng Yan: "!!!" How could this be?

"Isn't Your Majesty afraid that anyone will become a threat to you in the future? Although I am only a Noble Lady, I can do many things for you."

Mo Yan: "..."

"No need. I am already the Empress, and no one can shake my position."

Could it be that she's scheming and plotting all this, and now she can immediately become the Empress Dowager?

Although pig's trotters are trash, they're a target. With them around, those with ill intentions will aim at them, letting the brat grow up for a few more years.