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The Cold Palace's Favored Empress: A Beauty with a Hidden Allure (Completed, Handwritten VIP Chapter on Jinjiang Literature City)

Author: Yue Chang

He, the peerless youth in the eyes of the world, hides countless identities: he is the owner of "Junjin" Manor, the number one business manor in the world; the young master of "Bi'an", the number one intelligence organization in the world; the leader of the number one assassin group in the world; a business genius with unparalleled wealth; and together with his sworn brother, he becomes the world-renowned "Twin Fiends"...

Unbeknownst to all, the "he" seen as a legend by the world had transformed into a breathtakingly beautiful woman. For her family and her sister, she entered the palace in seclusion, intending to live a quiet and unassuming life. Little did she know, her sworn brother, with whom she shared joy and frequented brothels, was none other than the current emperor. Despite her changed appearance, her beauty easily captured his attention and won his favor. Yet, why did she scheme to twice lose favor, be banished to the cold palace, and even leave the palace to reappear as "he"? And why, both in the cold palace and outside the palace, did she ultimately become a favored empress… She loved the emperor against her will, yet was forced to leave him.

As an emperor, why was he troubled? Who did he truly love? He loved his sworn brother, and she loved his imperial concubine—one a forbidden love, the other an exquisitely beautiful one. Who was he? And who was she?

Finally, by her side were: her master, the master of the most prestigious Jianxian Manor in the martial arts world; the dashing sixth young master of the Huan family; the arrogant and domineering ruler of the Xianbei Yan Kingdom, Murong; the elegant physician who had fallen for the wrong person; the four kings who remained loyal by her side; the cold-blooded number one assassin in the world; the noble emperor who possessed the world; or...

Content tags:

Search keywords: Main characters: An Jin, Xie Weiying, Sima Rui | Supporting characters: Sang Qin, Huan Wen, Xie An, Mai Qi, Dan Yi, Murong Xiao, Chen Anyuan... | Others: Peerless youth, stunning beauty, alluring charm.

Volume 1

Volume Introduction:

He fled in a blaze of glory, his brilliance dazzling. A peerless youth descended upon the world, causing the heavens and earth to shift, and the moonlight to become poignantly beautiful.

Chapter 1 Beginning

"Miss, are you ready?"

"Hmm. Yunying, is Father also participating?"

"The master will attend all the family banquets."

"Oh my god!" I couldn't help but roll my eyes inwardly. Being inexplicably transported to this place was bad enough, but to be "lucky" enough to transmigrate into a wealthy noble family where an annual family banquet is held, attended by the entire clan, to test the academic performance of each young master and young lady. The worst performer would be punished with a beating and confined to their quarters for a month—meaning they couldn't leave the house, which was the most intolerable thing for me! Moreover, according to Yunying, the young lady I inhabited was that poor soul who was beaten and confined every year. Because no one had ever hired a tutor for her. In such a large mansion, the rarely seen feudal patriarch wouldn't care much about a motherless, unloved daughter, so all the blame was placed on the uneducated daughter. He hadn't yet discovered that his daughter was being abused, bullied, or even murdered long ago.

Okay, okay, things will work themselves out. Let's see how things go.

I was supposed to be with a martial arts association to investigate a lost kung fu at a mysterious temple in Jiangnan, but I accidentally wandered into a secluded meditation room and was inexplicably brought here. Even more terrifying, when I woke up, I found my face and body weren't mine; I had taken over the body of a 12-year-old girl. And I woke up in excruciating pain all over my body. The only maid I saw told me that the little girl had been pushed into a pond by her half-brother and drowned. So the poor girl had already drowned. Then why am I here?

The thought of my thriving career in modern times and my ever-growing reputation in the design world made me feel a pang of heartache. It took me several hours to calm down before I summoned the maid named Xiao Hong and inquired about the situation here. As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

Of course, the first thing she did was change the name of the little maid who was supposedly her only companion and had grown up with her, to something more palatable—Yunying. She emphasized several times that if anyone asked where her name came from, she could politely answer that it came from the phrase "clouds break, moon appears, flowers play with shadows." That would be doing right by her master.

According to her, I should be in the Jin Dynasty now. Probably some dynasty during the turbulent Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties period. Forgive me for being a history idiot; I at least know a little about prosperous and famous dynasties like the Tang and Ming. The Jin Dynasty is completely foreign to me. Good heavens, why am I so unlucky?

Now I'm in the Xie family, one of the four great families of Jiankang, the capital. The others are the Wang, Huan, and Yu families. In this family, I'm the fourth young lady, born out of wedlock, abandoned in this neglected corner of the courtyard, almost forgotten. I only have a maidservant about my age by my side, which explains why, apart from Yunying, no one visited me when I woke up. I guess if I weren't in this body, she would have been buried haphazardly after death. Now I know I'm an unfavored young lady. This is a well-known fact throughout the mansion. The servants and maids, who are subservient to her status, are no longer afraid of this fourth young lady in name only and often bully her. Unfortunately, this young lady is timid and cowardly. Those servants only take advantage of her more.

In this family, the father, Xie Yushi, had one legal wife and five concubines. The first wife, Zhao Yazhi, had a son and a daughter; the eldest son was Xie Yi, and the daughter was Xie Nuanwei. The second wife had a son, Xie An, who was said to be the only one in the family who treated her well. The third wife had no children and preferred vegetarianism and Buddhist chanting, detached from worldly affairs. For some reason, the father respected her greatly and never interfered in her life. The fourth wife, my mother, Su Ranran, died in childbirth while giving birth to Xie Weiying—that is, me. She was said to have been very favored during her lifetime, and the father once said he would not take another concubine for her sake. It was because of her death that the fifth wife was able to enter the family. The fifth wife had a son named Xie Wan, who is only eight years old this year. It's hard to imagine that such a young child would harm others; it must be related to the corrupt parents.

However, I soon noticed a strange phenomenon: although Xie Weiying was not favored, her humble villa contained many gold and silver jewels. As a designer, I knew, of course, that many of them were valuable and rare treasures. Could there be some unspeakable secret hidden here?

Thinking about it, I realized it might be because I've read too many mystery novels, and it's become a natural reaction. So I didn't want to delve into it further.

At first, I had some hope, thinking maybe one day I'd travel back in time. But after a while, I completely gave up hope and decided to just accept it. What's done is done. I'll just settle down and live a peaceful life here. Once I figured that out, I felt a huge sense of relief.

However, from now on, you must be aware of your current situation. And remember that your name is Xie Weiying, not An Jin.

In modern times, although I'm a designer, due to family connections (my family runs a martial arts school with a history of several hundred years), I started learning martial arts from a young age. I've basically mastered all the traditional styles, so after graduating from university, it was natural for me to join the most famous martial arts club in the city. Although my body is really too weak, I still don't want to give up, nor am I in a hurry. Based on my physical condition and the martial arts foundation I remember, I'm starting to practice from the basics, hoping that one day I can regain half of my former skills so that I can at least protect myself in this unfamiliar place.

However, before he could even enjoy the idyllic life he had just planned for a few days, he heard the devastating news from Yunying that he had to attend a family banquet.

Yunying styled her hair into a simple girlish bun and applied light makeup. Only then did he realize that this body was also a beauty in the making. Large, bright, clear eyes, long, smooth black hair, and fair, flawless skin, paired with the white floral maxi dress he had just put on, made her look like a fairy untouched by worldly affairs. Even he couldn't help but be captivated. In a word, beautiful. However, this beauty could become a source of trouble in this house. He thought about picking up an eyebrow pencil and making his eyebrows thicker and darker, which would disrupt the balance of his face and make him look somewhat vulgar. Having achieved his desired effect, he couldn't help but chuckle smugly. Ignoring Yunying's astonished gaze, he lightly patted her forehead, took her hand, and gracefully walked out to attend that damned family banquet.

Oh my god, my butt! I don't want it to burst open.

When Yunying and I arrived at the main hall, everyone from each room was already there. Head down, looking timid and fearful, I slipped in and sat down in a shadowy corner. To my surprise, a handsome young man spotted me as soon as I arrived and ran over to greet me. Looking at this dashing young man, I silently lamented for a few minutes why I hadn't encountered someone so handsome in modern times.

"Wei Ying, I heard you were sick the other day. Are you feeling better now?" Seeing me looking at him with a puzzled expression, Yun Ying behind me frantically gave me meaningful glances, which brought me back to my senses. The only person in this family who would treat me so kindly was my third brother, Xie An. I then gave what I thought was a sweet smile and said softly, "Third brother, I'm much better now. Don't worry."

"Oh, that puts my mind at ease." Seeing that I kept staring at him, his face actually turned red. Good heavens, where did this pure and handsome young man come from? But the way he looked at me was a little strange, and I couldn't quite put my finger on why.

The noisy hall suddenly fell silent after a tall, stern-looking middle-aged man entered. It turned out that the patriarch, Xie Yushi, had arrived. Xie An smiled slightly at me, then returned to his seat next to Third Sister. As he sat down, he made a playful face at me, though his face inevitably remained slightly red—it was amusing. This was the first time I had felt such warmth since coming into this world, and I couldn't help but return his smile.

I sat in a corner, silently observing the people around me. According to Yunying's introduction, sitting to Xie Yushi's right was his wife, Zhao Yazhi, with an air of elegance and grace, truly befitting a noblewoman. Beside her were my elder brother and elder sister. My elder brother's expression was slightly somber, his gaze cold, and his lips tightly pursed, clearly showing his dislike for this tedious gathering. My elder sister sat there obediently and gracefully, a gentle smile on her face. However, what interested me was that she was another ancient beauty, completely different from Xie Weiying's beauty. Her beauty was that of a genuine, worldly beauty, dressed magnificently, with exquisite makeup, exuding the elegance of a classical beauty. From the moment she appeared, several young nobles present frequently turned their heads to look at her.

Oh, I forgot to mention, to ensure fairness in the tests and to showcase the Xie family's talent and abilities to outsiders, they would occasionally invite some prominent figures as guests. Frankly speaking, the older generation would act as judges, while the younger generation would come for a bizarre matchmaking session. Look at Second Sister's shy demeanor; it's enough to make any man drool.

Next in line were Second Sister and Third Brother. Third Sister never attended such gatherings, and Xie Yushi seemed to have tacitly approved of it.

If I could, I'd rather not attend such gatherings. They're not fun at all. It's worth noting that sitting slightly to Xie Yushi's left is Wu Niang; judging by her smug expression, she's probably showing off her favor with everyone. This is understandable, as women in ancient times always needed men's protection to survive.

However, I once overheard Yunying mention that Wu Niang looked somewhat like my deceased mother, Su Ranran. Was she just a pointless substitute? If so, I don't know what's so special about her; shouldn't we feel sad?

Sitting next to her was Xie Wan, the legendary eight-year-old. The reason she paid special attention to him was that this reckless boy had killed the original owner of this body. Now that she was inhabiting it, she had to seek justice for the dead soul. But there was no rush. If she attacked a child, he would look down on her. Let him grow up a bit more and reap what he sowed.

I was almost forgotten in a corner. Those who sought amusement only vaguely remembered that there used to be a girl for them to laugh at, and once the laughter was over, they forgot about Xie Weiying. Her existence was just a source of amusement. No one would pity her, and no one would treat the child of an unfavored concubine with kindness.

Volume 1, Chapter 2: Family Feast

The family dinner begins. A scene of prosperity unfolds.

First, Xie Yushi casually inquired about the teachers' instruction of the children. To my surprise, I discovered that one of them, who claimed to be a teacher, had inexplicably appeared among them. Women's hearts are truly as venomous as snakes. These young children were treated like thorns in their side, subjected to such hardship. I began to feel sorry for the person who owned this body.

However, I'll help her get justice in the days to come.

Xie Yushi asked casually, and the scholars answered casually as well. Only after Xie Yushi nodded did the family banquet officially begin. A group of beautiful dancers emerged, creating a truly opulent scene of singing and dancing. In this era, many officials kept their own dancers for drinking and entertainment.

I watched him sit upright, seemingly imbued with an air of authority and prestige, like a patriarch on television. Looking at this man who should be called my father, I felt neither disgust nor affection. I simply observed this facade of superficial prosperity with indifference, as if everything here was none of my concern.

Yunying once told me that the so-called test consisted of three parts: the first was the Four Books and Five Classics; the second was composing a poem on a given topic by Xie Yushi; and the third was composing a poem based on the specific scene of the banquet. However, I didn't take it to heart. I only prayed that heaven would make everyone forget about me, this insignificant little woman.

Halfway through the banquet, it was finally time to get down to business. However, I didn't realize this and continued to diligently devour the unfamiliar delicacies.

Suddenly, bursts of applause erupted around us. Though I was puzzled, I couldn't care less about the delicious food in front of me.

Yunying, standing nearby, was far from relaxed. Such a significant matter seemed completely unconcerned about her young mistress. Yunying, worried that her mistress would be punished again this year, was practically in tears. She kept reminding her of tonight's events. Although her mistress seemed different after waking from her coma, Yunying was too anxious to think about that. It was almost her mistress's turn. Watching her wolf down her food, she could only pray that no one would notice.

Things in life rarely go as planned. I was concentrating on my food when Yunying suddenly woke me up. Yunying didn't care about any rules and just hoped that I wouldn't just focus on eating.

I looked at everyone somewhat awkwardly, secretly touching my greasy little hands on the hem of my clothes. Amidst the disdainful gazes, I seemed to gradually understand what had happened. The fourth young lady, forgotten by everyone, was suddenly remembered by everyone only after her eight-year-old brother asked in a childish voice, "Daddy, where is fourth sister?" If the second young lady's knowledge and manners were the glory of the Xie family, then the fourth young lady's ignorance was the shame of the Xie family.

I saw the man called "Father" frown slightly, but still calmly say to his daughter, who was hiding in the corner, "Fourth son, since you've brought it up, just recite any poem from the Book of Songs."

I stood up expressionlessly, a stark contrast to my earlier awkwardness. I calmly bowed to the man who looked like a father and said coldly, "Father has said so, and I will do my utmost."

Facing the imminent burst of mockery from the crowd, I smiled slightly and, amidst their astonished gazes, began to recite:

A rat has skin, but a person has no manners.

If a person lacks manners, what is the point of living?

Even rats have teeth, but humans have no limits.

If a person has no end, why wait to die?

A rat has a body, but a person lacks manners.

If a person is so rude, why doesn't he die quickly?

Seeing everyone's faces darken, turning from red to white, then from white to pale, I mischievously thought: Did they all step in dog poop? Sure enough, choosing this highly ironic poem was the right decision. Looking at Yunying's incredulous expression, I could only apologize in my heart. Although scaring you was inhumane, my own backside was more important.

Compared to the astonished expressions of everyone, especially Fifth Sister who was almost ashen-faced, I knew she must be wondering why she could do this without having any tutors... The feudal patriarch's expression only changed slightly before he quickly recovered.

He continued in an authoritative tone, "Well done. Now let's begin the second challenge. I see the moon is beautiful tonight, so let's use 'Gazing at the Moon' as our theme."

I sat there nonchalantly, still focused on eating the food on the table, as if nothing around me was happening. Everyone looked at my bewilderment, thinking the poem I had just recited was just a coincidence, while secretly hoping to see me make a fool of myself.

I patted my round belly contentedly, but my ears didn't miss the poems my older siblings were reciting. To be honest, they were really talented. If I hadn't been forced to memorize so many poems in high school, I would be crying my eyes out right now. My eldest brother wrote a bold and unrestrained poem about the frontier, my second sister's poem was a typical graceful style, which suited her well-bred upbringing. My third brother's poem, though ordinary, still won applause for its breadth of vision and ambition.

How come it's so soon? It's my turn again, this fourth daughter who's accomplished nothing in her studies. Looking at everyone's expectant expressions, their anticipation of my embarrassment, I thought to myself, "I'm sorry everyone, I might have to disappoint you this year because of my butt. What a sin!" But seeing my third sister's genuinely worried expression, I gave her a reassuring smile.

I thought about it for a moment and decided it wasn't best to be too shocking. So I recited Zhang Jiuling's "Looking at the Moon and Thinking of a Distant Friend":

The bright moon rises over the sea; we share this moment though we are far apart.

Lovers lament the long night, their longing rising with each passing evening.

Extinguishing the candle, I cherish the remaining light; donning my robe, I feel the dew's dampness.

I cannot bear to give you all this; I will return to my bed to dream of our happy reunion.

The crowd was so astonished they forgot to speak; a deathly silence fell. The effect of a celebrity, especially a famous poet.

I bowed gracefully to my father again and said in a cool tone, "Father, I am not very good at this poem. I wonder if it will pass the test?"

"Excellent! What a beautiful line, 'A bright moon rises over the sea, we share this moment though we are far apart!' No one before or since has ever written such a masterpiece. It is truly a blessing to have the opportunity to appreciate such a fine poem today. Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, is indeed very fortunate!"

I looked over to hear the sound and saw some unknown fool adding fuel to the fire. You see, I'm just an unloved concubine's daughter; if looks could kill, I'd be dead hundreds of times over by now. Then I saw a truly honest-looking middle-aged man with a thick beard, a rugged and upright appearance. I like this kind of unpretentious person, but now I'm a little worried about his future.

The patriarch remained impassive, but I clearly saw a fleeting look of surprise in his eyes. Did he know that Wei Ying hadn't received any instruction? He quickly continued calmly, "Good poem. You should all learn from the fourth son." As he spoke, his sharp gaze swept over his other children.

I saw my eldest brother staring intently at me with a complicated look, my second sister still maintaining her demure demeanor, my youngest brother looking slightly embarrassed and glaring at me resentfully, and of all, only my third brother was genuinely smiling at me, giving me a thumbs-up. I couldn't help but smile knowingly.

The final round was underway. The patriarch only asked everyone to recite a poem at random. The eldest brother's poem praised the court—no wonder he was an official. The second sister recited a poem about longing for her lover. The third brother, seemingly less adept at poetry, wrote a poem, like the previous one, brimming with ambition. The eight-year-old brother also joined in with a presentable poem. Finally, it was my turn.

Seeing the girls' lovesick expressions and the boys' arrogant, spoiled attitudes, I chuckled and said with a hint of amusement:

Red beans grow in the south; how many branches will sprout in spring?

I wish you would gather more of this, for it is the most evocative of longing.

Look how understanding I am! I've expressed everything you're thinking. Since you like them, pick more red beans and support the red bean industry! I was laughing my head off inside, but my face remained expressionless. Looking at Yunying beside me, who seemed to understand but not quite, I wanted to grab her by the neck and say, "Your master is about to choke! Please don't make that face!"

Looking at her second sister's blushing face and the patriarch's calm expression, she figured she had passed the test. The dreaded family trial should be over now.

Just as I was about to sneak away with Yunying, the patriarch's words abruptly pulled me back from my tracks. Helplessly, I moved my foot back.

The sentence meant: "Hmm. Everyone performed very well this year. Thank you for your hard work. After discussion among the adults present, the fourth son is slightly better this year. The others are about equal, so let's waive the punishment this year. Now, fourth son, tell me what your wish is. I will definitely help you fulfill it."

By the way, Yunying seemed to have said that the winner this time could have one wish granted, but in previous years it was Second Sister's privilege, and this year it was ruined by her own reluctance to get a spanking.

Although I know it's a bit unfair to win, I can't worry about that now. I've got it! Since he's going to grant me one of my wishes, I can't let this good thing go to waste.

Adhering to the principle of not wasting resources, I spoke my mind: "I hope Father can promise me that no one will be allowed to step into Qulan Garden without my permission." Actually, it's just that unnoticed, run-down corner; I've really surprised everyone so many times today, I feel so guilty!

For the first time, the patriarch's expression turned strange, as if the wish I expressed was inappropriate for someone my age. However, this time my thoughts were simple: I simply didn't like outsiders disturbing my peaceful life, and I had no ulterior motives whatsoever.

Thinking of this, I looked up at him calmly in response to his probing gaze.

After a long silence, he calmly replied, "Okay."

I took a deep breath; the tedious test had come to a satisfactory end.

However, I was unaware of the aftermath of this incident. If I had known, I would have preferred to be humiliated and ridiculed by those bored people rather than stand out.