"Empress Dowager, how can this be so embarrassing?"

"Why are you embarrassed about this? Ask your sisters-in-law. Which one of them didn't receive so many gifts?"

Ning Shuyuan immediately agreed, "Isn't that right? I was just as embarrassed as you at first, but now it's different. I'm not accepting gifts, I'm giving gifts. What do you call that?"

"Things change over time, haha, so Seventh Sister-in-law, please don't do this, otherwise how will they have the nerve to ask you again in the future?"

Ling Yuan's face turned even redder after hearing this, but unfortunately her face was dark, so no one could see it. →＿→

However, Xia Yunhe, who was sitting in the back row, forgot the fear she had just felt after seeing everyone's attitude towards Ling Yuan. She clenched her fists tightly and stared at Ling Yuan fiercely.

Why does this ugly girl get so much attention?

Why does she receive so many gifts?

And she was being chased into this corner like a fly?

The women in the harem all knew that Empress Dowager Wen had hidden a lot of good things. If she didn't take any out, it would be fine, but once she did, it would definitely be something extraordinary.

So when they heard that the Queen Mother was going to give a gift, everyone stared straight ahead with their eyes wide open, so that no one paid attention to who this Concubine Xia was.

However, when the Queen Mother took out the gift prepared for Ling Yuan, the scene suddenly became quiet.

When Ning Shuyuan and Ling Yuan realized something was wrong and looked at the gift, they were stunned for a moment.

Logically speaking, other people’s reactions were normal, but Ling Yuan’s reaction was a little unpredictable.

While everyone was immersed in the shock brought by the Queen Mother, Ling Yuan had already stood up and slowly walked to the table covered with red cloth. She gently lifted the red cloth, and it fell off, revealing the peerless guqin that had been passed down for thousands of years.

When her slightly plump fingers gently touched one of the strings, there was a "clang" sound, and the beautiful tone immediately made her open her eyes wide in surprise.

"As expected, Nong Yue is the number one on the world's musical instrument rankings. Wonderful, wonderful."

Ling Yuan's voice immediately brought everyone present back to reality.

After they reacted, the first person to stand up was Qiu Zhen, who had just been smiling at Ling Yuan but now had a complicated expression.

"Empress Dowager, are you really going to give Nong Yue, my sister's most cherished possession, to Princess Feng?"

The Queen Mother glanced at her calmly and asked back without any expression: "Why? Do you have any objection?"

"No, no, I dare not object, but this guqin has extraordinary significance to the emperor. How can you give it away like this?"

"Hehe, Your Majesty? This belonged to the late Queen, what does it have to do with him? Even I have no right to control it, but..."

"Forget it. Even if I tell you, you won't understand. Anyway, there is no one in this world more suitable than Ling Yuan to receive this zither."

Hearing this, Qiu Zhen suddenly turned around and stared at Ling Yuan, "Why is it her? Why is she the most suitable? Queen Mother, shouldn't you explain it clearly?"

Seeing Qiu Zhen becoming aggressive, Ling Yuan quickly stepped forward and said, "Empress Dowager, this gift is too expensive. Ling Yuan cannot accept it."

"You also have the right to interfere in the decision of the Empress Dowager? Qiu Zhen, don't you think that you are the only one who is most suitable to take over the things of the late Empress?"

Even Qiu Zhen, who was always outspoken, was not expecting Concubine Xi's sudden rebuke, and she immediately looked at her with displeasure.

"Sister Xi Fei, what you said is wrong. I have never thought of touching your things, but these are your relics. How can I just give them away?"

Concubine Xi raised her beautiful eyebrows, "I'm glad my sister doesn't covet it. After all, haha, in terms of qualifications, it's not your turn anyway. As for the Princess of Phoenix, she's not someone you can just take for granted. Mother, you'd better make it clear, lest some people won't give up and try to trip you up behind your back!"

"Sister Xi Fei, are you feeling unwell today? Or did my sister offend you in some way that makes you target her like this?"

Concubine Xi glanced at her calmly, "Sister has not offended me, but I suddenly realized something. Do you want to know?"

Concubine Zhen's expression suddenly changed, and subconsciously, she looked behind Concubine Xi, but today, she did not see the person who was always inseparable from her. However, Concubine Xi's words were clear to her.

She pursed her lips and shook her head at Concubine Xi: "I don't want to know about my sister's private affairs. It's just..., this Nong Yue,"

Queen Mother Wen sneered, "Since you must know, Ruyan, go and take it down for them to see, so that they will give up completely."

Who among you doesn’t know Ruyan?

She is the most suitable person to announce the late queen's relics than anyone else.

But...what no one expected was that what Ruyan took out was a letter.

Ruyan did not read the contents of the letter, but handed it directly to Qiu Zhen. After all, she was the only person in the audience who expressed dissatisfaction.

The moment Qiu Zhen received the letter and saw the handwriting on it, his heart skipped a beat and the blood in his body seemed to be frozen, making him unable to move.

"No, this can't be true, this can't be true!"

Qiu Zhen's face was as pale as paper, and his hands and feet were shaking constantly. He couldn't even hold the letter in his hand and it slipped quietly.

Everyone was about to see what was written on the letter, but Ruyan did not give them the chance and put the letter away.

"Sister Zhenfei, tell me quickly, what is written on it? What scared you like this?"

Concubine Jing didn't mind the big deal. She stretched her neck out of curiosity and looked at Qiu Zhen's embarrassed face full of fear with a meaningful smile.

The two of them had never gotten along. Seeing someone who usually acted so arrogant now so nervous and scared, he felt like a cat scratching his head. He looked at Ruyan and said, "Aunt Ruyan, what's in the letter? Why did you only show it to Sister Zhenfei?"

Ruyan looked at her expressionlessly: "Madam Concubine Jing, are you also dissatisfied with the Queen Mother's decision?"

Concubine Jing coughed lightly and waved her hands repeatedly, "How could that be? No, no, I have no objection to the decision of the Empress Dowager, no objection."

"Since you have no objection, it would be better for Concubine Jing not to watch it."

Concubine Jing was stunned for a moment, as if she understood something, then nodded and sat down.

Seeing Qiu Zhen's distraught look, Ling Yuan swallowed her saliva and looked at Ning Shuyuan beside her: "Sister-in-law, what should we do?"

Unexpectedly, Ning Shuyuan looked at Qiu Zhen with a cold gaze, "This matter has nothing to do with you. It's a grudge between the previous generation. Just continue with it."

"But, that is the legacy of the late queen. How can I, your concubine, do that?"

Ning Shuyuan looked at Ling Yuan's cautious look and couldn't help but smile: "Don't worry, maybe you are the most suitable candidate?"

Although she was also curious about what was written in the letter, Empress Dowager Wen had always been very fond of Du Yunge, and she would certainly not give away her things casually. There must be a reason behind this.

While Ling Yuan was puzzled, Mu Han supported Qiu Zhen, who looked terrified, and left first on the grounds of feeling unwell.

Concubine Xi looked at someone fleeing in panic. She, who was always gentle and warm, showed a hint of contempt and mockery: "So, you are just like this. You are scared already. Haha, this is just the beginning."

The open and covert struggles between the Empress Dowager, Ruyan, Concubine Xi and Concubine Zhen were all started by Du Yunge's Nong Yue. Everyone saw it but dared not say a word. They all lowered their heads and pretended to be invisible. They wished they could all withdraw from such occasions.

The atmosphere at the scene was too depressing, and the Queen Mother was tired after having been up all morning, so she asked everyone to disperse and come back at lunchtime.

Ling Yuan's nerves, which had been tense all the time, finally relaxed as the show ended.

Unexpectedly, she didn't have the chance to leave, and was invited by Ruyan to the Empress Dowager's bedroom, along with Concubine Xi.

To her surprise, when they arrived, Shangguan Qingxi was waiting for them with the Queen Mother.

Ling Yuan raised her eyebrows calmly. She had heard that she had entered the palace a long time ago, but she didn't expect that she was doing quite well. The Queen Mother was a strong supporter of hers!

The Queen Mother was resting with her eyes closed. When she heard the voice, she slowly opened her slightly cloudy but sharp eyes.

"Little girl, there are no outsiders here, please sit down."

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

"Okay, you don't need to act so pretentious. Just be yourself on a normal day. I want to ask you, are you curious as to why you were pushed to the forefront right after you entered the palace?"

For no reason, and without the emperor's consent, he gave her the best musical instrument in the world. Isn't that just putting her on the spot?