She also pleaded with the Empress that the harem could not be without a ruler, and requested that Consort Li Lin become the new Phoenix Consort.

She also revealed many of the eldest princess's secrets to the second princess, and frequently spoke well of Consort Lin in front of the Empress while belittling the eldest princess.

...

Thinking about this, Shen Wangshu felt that the Third Princess deserved to be deposed, demoted to a commoner and exiled to the border in her previous life, and eventually freeze and starve to death.

However, now that she is the Third Princess, although she is somewhat unhappy, she does not want everything from her previous life to repeat itself. She is not that hedonistic, easily swayed Third Princess, nor is she a beast who brings pain to her loved ones and joy to her enemies.

Lin Guijun drove Fengjun to his death, trying to bring down the eldest princess and kill her. Since that's the case, she will certainly not let Lin Guijun and her father get away with it. Shen Wangshu will help them get back what they owed the deceased Fengjun and the current eldest princess, as... the third princess's atonement for their debts.

Shen Wangshu quietly watched the emerald green wine swirling in the jade cup, a faint smile on his face.

Although she was useless and mediocre, her face was so beautiful that she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Even the ambitious young man, whose ambitions had been stirred by her words, couldn't help but turn around and look at her in amazement.

At this moment, the only one who couldn't even look at her was Consort Lin. He never imagined that the Third Princess, who used to beam with joy at the sight of any beautiful woman, would suddenly become so averse to them. Moreover, he sensed the Third Princess's change and felt a chill run through his body.

If the Empress refused outright, it would mean that she wasn't even attracted to the handsome, delicate-looking young man below her, whose face was so beautiful it seemed like it could be squeezed for water.

But the silence sent chills down Lin Guijun's spine. He looked at the snow-white, semi-transparent veil covering the young man below and suddenly shivered.

"He seems somewhat familiar." After a long while, the Empress's voice slowly came.

The Empress was not an incompetent person; she was decisive and efficient in the previous dynasty. The only thing that was criticized was her aesthetic sense in the harem.

He doesn't like elegant and dignified young noblemen; he prefers alluring and seductive vixens.

"I've heard that the Noble Consort danced for the Empress in a snow-white veil, like a fairy from the clouds, incomparably beautiful. This young man's attire does bear some resemblance to the Noble Consort's back then. However, I am too young to have witnessed the Noble Consort's graceful movements, and I don't know how much of her charm this young man possesses."

Below, a woman in a silver crown rose to her feet. Her countenance was radiant, her demeanor serene and upright, her spirit inspiring admiration in all who beheld her. Her smile was beautiful and composed, as if it could resolve anything.

The words he spoke also brought a faint smile to the Empress's not-so-beautiful face.

“That’s right, what the eldest princess said brings back some memories for me. She really does resemble you back then.” She turned her head and smiled at Consort Lin.

Lin Guijun tried her best to smile more attractively, looking at the young man below, and gripping the wine glass in her hand tightly.

He was certainly not the same as he used to be, for a man's youth fades quickly, and he had begun to age. When he was shocked to find the first wrinkle on his face, he was terrified, knowing that he could no longer fawn over the Empress with the same allure he once had.

Young beauties are considered femme fatales, but old beauties who insist on flirting with wrinkles are simply ugly and pretentious. Moreover, while concubines in the harem can be charming and alluring, the Empress, the ruler of the harem, must be dignified, possessing the virtues and grace of a phoenix ruling the world.

In order to become the Phoenix Lord, he had to cultivate his character and temperament over the past few years, transforming himself from his former charming and seductive self into a composed and serene one.

Even her clothes were no longer the white veil of the past, but a brocade robe as blue as jade.

He had lived like this all these years, and the Empress hadn't said much. He thought the Empress had gotten used to it.

Unexpectedly, the Empress still prefers the way she used to be.

“Back then, I was no match for him,” Lin Guijun said with a smile, suppressing her fear.

"Indeed, I am not as bold as you." Seeing the young man timidly lying on the ground, not daring to lift his head, the Empress smiled nostalgically.

She looked at the thinly dressed boy with interest, then her gaze fell on Shen Wangshu.

Although she did not love the deceased Feng Jun, she truly loved the two legitimate daughters he left her.

The eldest princess is like her, decisive and efficient, respectful to the virtuous and talented, and able to uphold the proper etiquette between ruler and subject, mother and daughter, always protecting her mother, the Empress. She is outstanding in both talent and virtue and is an excellent successor.

Although the Third Princess was bad at studying and martial arts, and simple-minded and somewhat stupid, she had an exceptionally beautiful face.

A beauty is a delight to behold; who wouldn't love to have a beautiful daughter? Moreover, the Empress and the Third Princess never need to overthink their conversations; the Third Princess is straightforward and honest, which is why the Empress dotes on her more than the First Princess.

.

She relied heavily on the eldest princess, but her true love was the third princess.

Therefore, even though the Third Princess was very presumptuous in front of her, the Empress never reprimanded her. It was for this reason that Consort Lin went to great lengths to win over the Third Princess, and finally succeeded in suppressing the First Princess and her sisters.

The Empress only had three daughters. With the eldest princess no longer around, it was naturally the turn of her second princess.

"Are you really willing to part with it?" the Empress asked Shen Wangshu with a smile.

She was clearly already interested, and asking this question was just a formality. Lin Guijun's vision blurred, but she managed not to fall down and looked at Shen Wangshu with the same expectation.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!