Rebirth of the Firstborn Daughter: Life is like a Dream

Wei Bingyan had never seen the Empress Dowager, and she didn't feel good about herself and thought she was worthy of the attention of a figure like the Empress Dowager.

Xiao hadn't let go of Liu Zhu's forehead since she looked at him just now. She looked at Wei Bingyan worriedly, "I'm just worried about how the Empress Dowager would care about your marriage."

"Did Aunt Liu Zhu tell us who the Empress Dowager has met these days?" Wei Bingyan was not as anxious as Xiao looked. She knew that she had not done anything eye-catching since returning to the capital, so it was definitely not a coincidence that the Empress Dowager suddenly mentioned her.

"Except for the Queen who occasionally goes to pay respectful greetings, other concubines and ladies do not receive her enthusiastically and almost never go to Fulu Palace. As for those who go to meet the Empress Dowager from time to time... Princess Mingyue and Princess Ping'an often visit her. I heard from others that when the Empress Dowager was young, she and Princess Ping'an were close friends, and now she cares about Princess Mingyue very much." Xiao said.

Wei Bingyan was stunned for a moment. "Princess Ping'an is ill now. The one who can go to Fulu Palace is...Princess Mingyue? Mother, Princess Mingyue has just arrived in the capital in the past two years, right?"

Xiao nodded slightly, "Princess Mingyue is the eldest princess' only child. The eldest princess and her husband died of illness in a northern border area ten years ago, leaving behind a six-year-old daughter. At that time, the empress dowager took Princess Mingyue to her side and raised her for two years. I don't know what happened, but Princess Mingyue left the capital again and only came back two years ago. Your Majesty also gave her a princess's mansion."

The eldest princess is the only daughter of the Empress Dowager and the only sister of His Majesty. As a poor orphan, how could the Empress Dowager and His Majesty not treat her like a treasure and care for her?

"I think it's because Princess Mingyue mentioned me to the Empress Dowager, so... the Empress Dowager couldn't resist her curiosity and asked about Concubine De specifically. Mother, everything should be fine." Wei Bingyan comforted Xiao.

"Alas!" Xiao sighed, "I'm just worried that the Queen Mother will ask about your marriage and whether she will grant you a marriage. I don't expect you to marry into the royal family."

Wei Bingyan smiled and said, "Mother, that won't happen. Even if the Empress Dowager wants to grant a marriage, it will be to Princess Mingyue. How could it be me? Besides, the Empress Dowager doesn't even know what I look like, let alone assign me to the prince casually."

Xiao frowned and nodded, "The Empress Defei said that she would inquire about it. I hope that no one deliberately mentioned you around the Empress Dowager. You know what people said about you some time ago."

A wicked woman? Would such a small thing of hers reach the ears of the Empress Dowager?

Although she didn't know Princess Mingyue, but from their brief conversation at Prince Ping'an's Palace that day, she felt that Princess Mingyue was definitely not the kind of person who would gossip or talk about others behind their backs.

"Mom, I understand. I will pay special attention to it next time." Wei Bingyan said softly.

"This is not your fault, it's that damn woman Wei Bingru! Keeping her under house arrest in the villa is really too light a punishment for her!" Xiao said in a bad tone, "Let's not talk about this for now. What about your third senior brother? He will take the exam the next day. Whether he can become the top scholar or not will depend on the next day."

Wei Bingyan thought about what Li Yuyan had just entrusted to her. If she went to Wei Zhong and told him about it, Wei Zhong might use her connections to win over Guan Zhuang, or he might do something else.

If my mother had gone to talk to her, it would have been different. She would have been asking Wei Zhong to help take care of Guan's pharmacy based on the deep friendship between her and Mrs. Li.

Wei Zhong didn't think too much, "Mom, there is one more thing."

"An accident happened in the pharmacy of my eldest brother. Someone may use this incident to harm the Guan family. Could you please, father, mediate and not let the Fourth Prince and the Linghu family get involved? Guan Hualang is my eldest brother after all. Mother, I don't want anything to happen to the Guan family." Wei Bingyan told Xiao all the facts without leaving out any, and picked out the most important points.

After hearing this, Xiao nodded slowly, "Your father can help with this matter. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince probably doesn't want the Fourth Prince to take over the Guan Family Pharmacy. I will try to talk to your father about it."

Since her mother said so, Wei Bingyan naturally felt relieved. Wei Zhong was very attentive to her mother at this moment.

Ever since they came back from Jinyun City, Wei Zhong slept in the main room almost every night, and rarely went to other concubines or maids' rooms. It was estimated that after three years of careful conditioning with Xiao, and with the nourishing experience taught by Mrs. Li, Xiao now looked younger than three years ago, and her skin was more jade-like. No wonder Wei Zhong liked her so much.

……

After Li Yuyan left Wei Bingyan and stepped out of the auspicious door, a servant came up to him and invited him to the study.

Wei Zhong and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were already waiting for him in the study.

"Master Li, congratulations. You are the first person in the Tang Dynasty since ancient times to have won the top three places in the imperial examination at such a young age." When Wei Zhong saw Li Yuyan coming in, he opened his mouth with a smile and congratulated him.

"Master Wei, Your Highness." Li Yuyan clasped his fists and said in a low voice, "How dare you claim to be the first when the big exam hasn't even started yet?"

The prince asked Li Yuyan to sit down. He had a gentle smile on his slightly bloated face. "Master Li is too humble and polite. You are Mr. Baili's student, so you must have real talent and knowledge. When His Majesty saw your paper the other day, he praised you for your brilliant talent and insights. I think the exam will not be difficult for you."

"I believe that Young Master Li will be my colleague in the near future. Here I will use tea instead of wine to wish Young Master Li great success tomorrow." Wei Zhong raised the cup high and said with a smile.

Li Yuyan smiled faintly without saying anything, and clinked his glasses with Wei Zhong across the void, taking a sip of tea.

"There will be many things that I will rely on Young Master Li for in the future. I toast to you as well. Cheers." The prince looked at Li Yuyan deeply. Since His Majesty attached so much importance to Li Yuyan, if he could pull Li Yuyan into his own faction, I believe His Majesty would feel that he is a person who likes talented people.

"Your Highness, your words are too harsh." Li Yuyan's pretty face contained a faint smile, without expressing any attitude.

Li Yuyan had no intention of taking part in the intrigues between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince. Just as Mr. Baili had said, as a subject and a common citizen, they could only be loyal to His Majesty, not the Crown Prince, and certainly not the Fourth Prince.

He also knew that the reason why the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince wanted to win him over was related to Mr. Baili, and felt that as long as he stood on one of their factions, he could represent Mr. Baili's opinion. In fact... Mr. Baili had no interest in the fierce confrontation in the court.

“No matter whether you can become the top scholar in the imperial examination tomorrow or not, I will not neglect you and will definitely plan a good future for you.” His Royal Highness the Crown Prince directly threw down the tempting but deadly bait, and the arrogant Li Yuyan would definitely not firmly refuse it.

Li Yuyan's handsome and proud face flashed with wanton sarcasm as fast as a meteor, so fast that the Crown Prince and Wei Zhong didn't notice it. "Whether I can pass the imperial examination or not, I will devote all my heart and energy to serving Your Majesty and supporting His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

First it was His Majesty, then the Crown Prince. Although Li Yuyan's words were not obvious, any smart person could hear that he did not take the Crown Prince's tempting but deadly bait at all.

But these words made the Crown Prince and Wei Zhong unable to get angry, let alone scold him for being stubborn, otherwise they would be considered treasonous to the emperor.

"Of course, of course!" The prince's expression froze a little, and he cursed Li Yuyan inwardly whether he was pretending to be confused or he really didn't understand.

Li Yuyan chatted with the prince for a few words in a neutral tone, then immediately left on the grounds that it was getting late and he had to prepare for the big exam the next day.

The prince and Wei Zhong did not keep him.

"This guy is not easy to deal with." The prince sighed, feeling angry and helpless towards Li Yuyan. Deep down, he still hoped that he could be used by him.

"If he is not one of us, we must get rid of him!" Wei Zhong said with concentration.