"Are we really going to do this?"

Ning Yao nodded firmly: "Absolutely!"

Ning Wenyi sighed: "Father understands. You can go to the palace in peace!"

Three days later, before the emperor's wedding attire and palanquin arrived, Ning Yao, dressed in plain clothes, entered the palace with Zhi Lan.

Along with her came a list of people who had bullied the older sister, which she had compiled over the past few months.

Qionghua Palace was formerly the residence of Consort Rong.

On the day the eunuch announced the decree, it was also bestowed upon Ning Yao.

A concubine can become the mistress of a palace, and Ning Yao is now the mistress of Qionghua Palace.

Zhilan came in from outside, looking slightly anxious: "Miss, His Majesty will be coming tonight. Should we make some preparations?"

Ning Yao raised an eyebrow: "Prepare what? To serve you in bed?"

"Your young lady is only fourteen years old, how can she serve you in bed?"

"Don't worry, you scoundrel... His Majesty won't come tonight, and he never will."

Zhilan didn't understand and didn't ask any further questions.

What she didn't know was that, according to the plot of the book, the scumbag would receive an urgent report on the border war at noon today.

Before nightfall, that scumbag man would lead his troops on a personal campaign and leave the capital.

This is why Ning Yao agreed to enter the palace.

With the first battle in full swing, these newcomers to the palace were left out in the cold, their plans for entering the palace or serving the emperor put on hold.

Secondly, now that the scumbag boyfriend is gone, it's uncertain who will be in charge of the harem!

Given Ning Yao's usual temperament, she would have poisoned the person who bullied her older sister to death and burned the house to the ground, leaving no evidence against them.

But things are different now; she has to empty the palace first.

"Zhilan, you should also go and rest. Get some sleep and be well-rested so you can handle what comes next."

Zhilan naturally interpreted it as having to deal with the concubines in the harem.

After all, the young lady made quite a few enemies when she was around.

After Zhilan left, Ningyao's consciousness entered the secret realm.

Her continuous exploration of the secret realm over the past few months has actually led her to discover some useful things besides spiritual springs and spiritual lands.

A medical book written by the ancient Shennong, and a mysterious scroll.

The scroll is unsigned and has no writing; it is filled with small figures in various poses and expressions.

At first, Ning Yao subconsciously imitated the little figure's movements, and before she knew it, she was immersed in the scene. When she came to her senses, she found that her body felt much lighter.

She was certain it was a martial arts manual.

At the same time, a sentence appeared in my mind.

Lightness skill: Passing by without a trace (Beginner, Advanced, Top-tier).

Ning Yao practiced for several months and only managed to unlock the beginner level. There are still advanced and top levels to go.

She had a feeling that this scroll contained something other than lightness skill.

He continued repeating the same movements, practicing countless times, when suddenly he heard Zhilan's anxious voice.

Ning Yao withdrew her consciousness from the secret realm and slowly opened her eyes: "What happened?"

"His Majesty is arriving at our palace soon!"

Ning Yao was shocked and sat up abruptly: "What's going on? Shouldn't he have left the palace? Why is he still in the palace?"

Ignoring the nonsense her young mistress was spouting, Zhilan said anxiously, "You'd better hurry up and get ready!"

Ning Yao let Zhi Lan do her hair and makeup, but the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt.

"That shouldn't be the case. If the plot were to follow, that scumbag should have left the capital. Could it be the butterfly effect, and the plot has been changed?"

"That doesn't make sense! It hadn't changed for the past few months, so why has it changed now?"

Ning Yao racked her brains but couldn't figure it out. There was nothing she could do but take it one step at a time!

"If you want me to serve you in bed, then I'll cripple you first!"

"His Majesty has arrived!" came the eunuch's high-pitched voice.

A bright yellow figure appeared.

Ning Yao, along with a group of palace servants, knelt down to greet them: "Your Majesty, this concubine respectfully welcomes you!"

The atmosphere was eerily quiet.

Ning Yao's legs were numb from squatting, and she was about to explode when she looked up and saw Shen Ce looking at her with a constipated expression.

Ning Yao was completely confused: What's going on?

After a long pause, Shen Ce spoke: "Get up. Everyone else, leave. Consort Rong, stay."

Before long, everyone in the hall had left, leaving only Shen Ce and Ning Yao.

"you……"

"His Majesty……"

The two spoke in unison.

"You go first..."

"You go first..."

They spoke in unison once again.

Ning Yao wanted to roll her eyes in exasperation.

"Ahem, well... I just came to see you, nothing else."

Ning Yao really wanted to ask: Isn't the situation at the front line critical? Weren't you supposed to lead the army in person? Why are you still in the palace?

But I can't ask.

Ning Yao remained silent for a long time before replying, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Knowing he was being rude, Shen Ce asked a couple of casual questions and then left.

Before leaving, he said, "I will be leading the expedition in person. You must be careful in the palace while I am away. I have also given special instructions to the Duke of Zhenguo. If necessary, you can summon them to keep you company."

Before long, the news spread throughout the palace: His Majesty personally donned armor, displaying a heroic and valiant demeanor.

Ning Yao leaned back on the chaise lounge as if she had no bones.

She has maintained this posture ever since Shen Ce left.

"Zhilan, is there something wrong with him? If he had no feelings for me, why did he bring me into the palace and make me a Consort Rong?"

She couldn't figure it out herself, and Zhilan couldn't give her an answer either.

"Forget it! I don't want to think about it anymore! Now that he has left the palace, it's my turn!"

"Zhilan, I'm going to rest now. You should go and rest early too, if there's nothing else!"

Before Zhilan could answer, Ningyao closed the door to the bedroom.

His consciousness continued to sink into the secret realm to practice his lightness skill. It wasn't until late at night that a dark figure flashed past Qionghua Palace and headed straight for the central palace.

The Central Palace is the residence of the Empress, and also Ning Yao's destination on this trip.

Ning Yao noticed that the palace was brightly lit, with many palace maids and eunuchs coming and going, and even some wearing armor. She didn't know if they were the Imperial Guards or something else.

Bypassing the crowd, Ning Yao sneaked outside the main hall.

"Father, this is a brilliant move. If nothing unexpected happens, Shen Ce will be able to die legitimately, and my son will be able to inherit the throne legitimately. At that time, I can rule from behind the curtain and become an empress!"

Ning Yao held her breath and muttered to herself, "That old woman still wants to be a diva? Go be a diva who doesn't have a penny!"

"But this scumbag is too pitiful. His favorite concubine faked her death to leave him, and the empress wanted him dead because she coveted his throne. Tsk tsk."

"However, the Zhang family wants to become emperors? Dream on!"

Ning Yao poked a hole in the corner of the window and blew in the newly developed medicinal powder.

"Go be a bald diva!"

After doing all this, Ning Yao quietly left and went to several side halls, looting all the rare jade artifacts inside.

The central palace was not only the residence of the empress, but also the location of her private treasury.

The Zhang family was very wealthy and powerful. When the emperor and empress got married, the red dowry was not only ten miles long, but a hundred miles long would not be an exaggeration!

How much of this money came from the people's hard-earned money, embezzlement, and bribery, only they themselves know.