In her previous life, Yun Wu's birth mother had divorced her father and remarried into a powerful family, so her father elevated a concubine to the position of legitimate wife.
From a young age, she had to face a broken home, an indifferent father, a vicious stepmother, and an elder legitimate sister who competed with her for everything.
She struggled and schemed her way through hardship, and only after coming of age did she manage to pick out a poor scholar—one her elder sister looked down upon—as her husband, settling down to live a steady life.
Later, the poor scholar passed the imperial examination with the highest honors, and she married him to become the top scholar's wife.
The poor scholar went on to become the Shoufu of the court, and she was granted the title of First-Rank Gaoming. She enjoyed boundless glory in public, was fawned upon and envied by others, and lived out the rest of her life in peace and prosperity.
Unlike Yun Wu.
Yun Liao was determined to become an imperial favorite.
Relying on her parents' doting, she bribed palace attendants at the Empress Dowager's Qianqiu Banquet and crawled into the Emperor's bed, believing she could rely on her beauty to dominate the harem.
What she didn't know was that the Emperor detested being manipulated above all else. Though he still granted her a rank, once she entered the palace, he ignored her completely.
Yun Liao lost favor the moment she rose to power, living worse than a servant.
When Yun Wu became the Shoufu's wife, Yun Liao met a miserable end amidst the treacherous palace intrigues, dying a tragic death… a perfect hand of cards played terribly.
Now, the two of them had both been reborn.
What surprised Yun Wu was that Yun Liao no longer dreamed of entering the palace to become an imperial favorite—but she had now set her sights on Yun Wu's marriage instead.
Could it be that Yun Liao thought that if she married Qi Jinxiu in this life, she could defy fate and become the Shoufu's wife?
If it were just a marriage, that would be one thing.
After all, if Qi Jinxiu was out of the picture, there could always be a Zhang Jinxiu or a Wang Jinxiu.
Yun Wu didn't care at all.
But Yun Liao actually wanted to push her down the same dead-end path she had walked in her previous life—to have her scheme against the Emperor, earn his disgust, and ultimately become a pawn in palace intrigues and die a miserable death?
In response, Yun Wu's strategy was naturally—seize this opportunity.
In her previous life, she had toiled day and night managing the household for that fool Qi Jinxiu, and on top of that, she had to devise strategies for him to navigate officialdom and court politics. Even his top scholar ranking back then required her to highlight the key points for him. She lived more exhaustingly than his own mother.
If she could have the chance in this life to comfortably become an imperial favorite, wielding even greater power and status than before, why wouldn't she do it?
As for her elder sister's failure in the previous life…
That was simply because she was too stupid.
This Qianqiu Banquet was actually the Empress Dowager's opportunity to select consorts for the Emperor.
As the daughter of a Third-Rank minister, Yun Liao already had a chance to enter the palace, yet she insisted on going through the trouble of scheming.
Scheming was one thing—after all, which consort in the harem wasn't scheming to win the Emperor's favor?
But Yun Liao's methods were so crude and low-class.
A dignified Emperor, forced to take her into the harem, would naturally seek revenge.
And for revenge, he didn't even need to lift a finger himself—he only had to keep ignoring her, and the harem was full of people who would trample on the fallen and torment her.
As the saying goes: a wife is not as good as a concubine.
A concubine is not as good as a stolen affair.
And a stolen affair is not as good as one that can never be had.
Today, Yun Wu had given the Emperor a taste of forbidden, thrilling pleasure he had never experienced before—yet she made no demands whatsoever, and even seemed afraid of being associated with him any further, slipping away without the slightest reluctance.
When had a dignified Emperor ever been used by someone?
When had he ever been so scorned by a woman?
Especially when, after being used by her, it seemed to suggest he was inadequate, not good enough.
The Emperor would surely feel aggrieved in his heart.
Afterward, Yun Wu concealed her identity and deliberately left behind provocative words, playing hide-and-seek with the Emperor.
Even if the Emperor gritted his teeth in anger at her for a time, once he searched everywhere and couldn't find her, he would only be left to think of her in his heart and savor her in his body. Whenever he remembered her, he would desperately want to know—who exactly was she… and want to do it again, to prove his prowess.
Thinking of how urgently the Emperor had been with her today, a slight smile curved at the corner of Yun Wu's lips.
This imperial favorite—she was certain to become it.
The carriage soon arrived outside the Yun family estate.
Yun Liao was helped down from the carriage first.
After steadying herself, she carefully patted her lower abdomen, then raised her eyes and sneered coldly at Yun Wu, who had just descended from the carriage. Gloating triumphantly, she said, "Yun Wu, don't say I didn't warn you out of kindness—men all love the kind of charming, seductive beauty like me. As for someone like you, your looks are passable, but your temperament is bland and boring. That's why Jinxiu went behind your back to be with me.
"Barring any surprises, you'll be a consort in the palace from now on. Think carefully about how to win the Emperor's favor—don't lose it the moment you enter the palace and disgrace the Yun family's name.
"And also, Jinxiu's fate with you has run its course. Stop pining over m-y m-a-n."
With that, Yun Liao shot Yun Wu another glare, lifted her chin high, and turned to walk away.
Yun Wu was momentarily speechless.
Just because Yun Liao herself had lost favor the moment she entered the palace in her last life, she was convinced Yun Wu would make the same mistake?
Did she think everyone was as stupid as her?
Beside her, Yun Wu's personal maidservant, Tuan Jiao, was immediately furious.
"What nonsense! She was clearly the third party, shamelessly inserting herself between Miss and Second Young Master's marriage, and now she's turning the tables and warning Miss! How outrageous!"
"There's no need to mind her. No matter how sweetly she speaks, she'll only prove herself once she actually marries into the Qi family and manages to live well." Yun Wu's tone was indifferent, unconcerned.
"I truly don't understand how Second Young Master's heart could change so suddenly. Just last month, he was still promising Miss that he wouldn't take concubines after marriage…"
Tuan Jiao still felt aggrieved.
"Enough. My elder sister said one thing right—my fate with him has run its course. He is no longer your Second Young Master, but the eldest son-in-law of the Yun family. From now on, remember to be cautious in words and deeds."
Yun Wu added.
Hearing this, Tuan Jiao thought of how her young lady might truly be entering the palace in the future, and quickly nodded. She cursed the pair of adulterers a few more times in her heart, then said no more.
Yun Wu dragged her exhausted body back to her own courtyard, ordered hot water to be prepared, and took a comfortable bath before resting.
Over the next few days, she ate and slept, building up her strength.
Until one day.
Yun Wu slept until the sun was high in the sky before rising.
"Second Miss, an imperial edict has arrived from the palace. The Master requests your presence to receive it." At that moment, the steward from the front courtyard came to deliver the message.
"Understood. I'll be there shortly."
When Yun Wu arrived at the front courtyard, her father Yun Qingnan and stepmother Madam Wen were already conversing with the eunuch sent from the palace.
Seeing her arrive, the eunuch immediately read out the imperial edict.
Yun Wu was conferred the title of Sixth-Rank Cairen.
Her rank was half a grade higher than the Junior Sixth-Rank Guiren that Yun Liao had received in her previous life.
After reading the edict, the eunuch instructed an accompanying elderly matron to conduct a physical examination of Yun Wu.
Yun Wu had been prepared for this.
She led the elderly matron to a side chamber nearby.
Before long, the two emerged.
The elderly matron nodded to the eunuch.
This confirmed that her identity had been verified—Yun Wu was still a virgin!
"Second Miss, the palace will send someone to fetch you tomorrow," the eunuch said.
From then on, she would become a member of the imperial harem.
"Thank you, Eunuch."
Yun Wu ordered her maidservant to present the eunuch with a heavy pouch of money as a token of gratitude.
The eunuch did not decline and accepted it graciously.
He then observed her stunningly beautiful features, her cold and pure temperament that rivaled snow, yet with a hint of startling allure that flickered perfectly in her eyes.
This blend of purity and seductiveness was truly one of a kind in the harem!
The harem was full of beauties, but what it lacked was someone as unique as her!
"Second Miss is blessed with exceptional gifts. In time, you will surely win the Emperor's favor!" The eunuch offered this meaningful compliment before taking his leave.
Once the eunuch was sent off.
Her father and stepmother, who had been all smiles and flattery moments before, both changed their expressions.
"Yun Wu, this opportunity to enter the palace as a consort was originally your sister's. She kindly gave it to you, which is the only reason you have this chance to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Otherwise, someone like you—abandoned by your own mother since childhood and disliked by all—would never have such good fortune in a lifetime."
Her stepmother Madam Wen was the first to put her down.
"If that's the case, then let my elder sister have this wonderful opportunity. I'm willing to step aside." Yun Wu immediately shot back.
"You! You know full well your sister is with child, and the edict naming you a Cairen has already been issued—what's done is done. Why are you pretending to be magnanimous?" Madam Wen glared at Yun Wu, somewhat irritated.
"So what? Just have the child aborted."
Yun Wu raised an eyebrow and deliberately said, "Although Qi Jinxiu has placed first in the imperial examinations and is exceptionally talented with boundless prospects—he might even become the Shoufu of the court, second only to the Emperor—he still isn't necessarily a good match for my sister. After all, his family is poor and his household relations are complicated. If my sister follows him and can't manage his family members, she'll suffer for it.
"But that's fine. I'm willing to endure that hardship in my sister's place."
Hearing this, Madam Wen recalled how Yun Liao had been unconscious with a fever last time, and upon waking, had insisted with conviction that she'd received guidance from an immortal, claiming that Qi Jinxiu was destined to become Shoufu and that following him would lead to a glorious and prosperous future.
She thought Yun Wu was trying to back out, and immediately turned angrily to Yun Qingnan: "Husband, did you hear what your good daughter just said! Usually, Liao'er as the elder sister gives in to her in everything and always thinks of her when there's something good, yet she still wants to snatch her own sister's marriage! She's nothing but an ungrateful wolf!"
"Who exactly is snatching whose marriage?"
Yun Wu nearly laughed out loud at Madam Wen's shameless attempt to turn the tables.
Madam Wen was struck speechless.
She was already in the wrong on this matter, and now she rolled her eyes before tugging at Yun Qingnan's sleeve with a bitter face: "Husband, you saw it all, didn't you? Her usual obedience and thoughtfulness are all an act!
"Now that she thinks she's spread her wings, she's showing her true colors!
"If she truly gains favor in the palace, what then? She might not even acknowledge you as her father anymore!"
Madam Wen deliberately tried to sow discord.
"Yun Wu, even if you enter the palace, you are still a daughter of the Yun family. You must understand that." Yun Qingnan immediately fixed Yun Wu with a stern gaze.
"Father, your daughter shares the same fate as the Yun family—rise together, fall together. Only when your daughter prospers can the Yun family prosper."
Yun Wu curled her lips slightly, her demeanor neither humble nor overbearing.
Her entry into the palace was already a foregone conclusion.
Madam Wen still thought she could manipulate her as she had before—utterly impossible.
Yun Qingnan would have to make a choice now!
Would he cling to his beloved wife and daughter, vainly trying to continue suppressing her, or would he be wise and adapt to the times?
At this moment, Yun Qingnan naturally understood the meaning behind her words.
Recalling the eunuch's confident assertion that Yun Wu would gain favor upon entering the palace, he ultimately only let a flicker of complex emotion pass through his eyes. He sighed and said, "Enough. You enter the palace tomorrow—go down and prepare yourself well."
"Your daughter takes her leave."
Yun Wu bowed slightly and departed.
"Husband, are we just going to let her climb over our heads from now on?" Madam Wen's face was full of resentment.
"What else can we do? The imperial decree has already been issued—who dares to disobey? If you must blame someone, blame that fine daughter of yours for being bewitched and insisting on swapping the marriage!" Yun Qingnan's brows furrowed, his tone laced with impatience.
Madam Wen sensed his attitude and silently schemed to herself—she absolutely would not let Yun Wu have an easy time once she entered the palace!
Meanwhile, in the palace.
"Seven days have already passed, and you still can't find a single person. What use do I have for a useless waste like you?"
Emperor Lu Yao's face was cold as he kicked Chief Eunuch Chen Yu'an once more, his voice low with fury.