The Female Psychology PhD Who Time Traveled to the Royal Harem

Jiang Xinyue affectionately patted her little sister's head: "When you grow up to be as old as your sister, you'll be even taller than me."

"You two sisters are so close, you don't even pay attention to your mother anymore," Lady Ruan teased, but with a hint of worry as she looked at her increasingly beautiful eldest daughter. "Yue'er, your father mentioned to me this morning that you and the Emperor... is it true?"

The words "quarrel" were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't dare say them out loud, as the thought of quarreling with the Emperor was something she couldn't even dream of.

"It's true," Jiang Xinyue nodded. "Consort Yu suspected that I was having an affair with a court painter and brought the Emperor to catch us in the bamboo grove, insisting that I was planning to elope with the painter. The Emperor was jealous and started yelling at me, so I scolded him and sent him away."

Wow!

That single explanation left Lady Ruan and Jiang Xinyan stunned.

Affair with a painter, elopement, caught in the act, witnesses, the Emperor's jealousy, scolding the Emperor, sending the Emperor away.

Whether you looked at it piece by piece or as a whole, every word was significant.

"What's with that expression, Mother?"

Jiang Xinyue laughed at her shocked face. "Since I'm sitting here just fine, it means I didn't do any of those things. I've already cleared my name, so there's no need to be afraid."

"That's good, that's good..."

Lady Ruan patted her chest, but then realized, what's good about it?

Her daughter was suspected of having an affair with a man outside the palace and even dared to quarrel with the Emperor. It didn't seem good at all!

She wanted to say something but didn't know how to phrase it more delicately to avoid making her daughter resistant or annoyed.

"I'm sure the Emperor feels bad for Sister and has already realized his mistake," Jiang Xinyan comforted Lady Ruan. "I just saw palace attendants carrying many precious jewels and ornaments, probably sent by the Emperor-brother-in-law to appease Sister. Mother, you're worrying too much. Sister must have her reasons for doing this."

The reason was to take advantage of every time the Xuanwu Emperor was in the wrong to PUA and KTV him, making him trust her unconditionally in the future.

People don't cherish things that are easily obtained.

The Xuanwu Emperor was the ruler of the world, and anything he wanted, he could get.

There were always women trying their best to please him, never the other way around. Often, just a flick of his finger, and countless women would flock to him.

Women like the dignified Empress, the scheming Consort De, the proud and straightforward Consort Li, the pure and virtuous Consort Shu, Consort Yu, Consort Rong...

Each of these women had their own strengths, yet they all bowed down to the Emperor's robe, vying for his favor and plotting against each other.

None of them made the Emperor taste the bitterness of love, so even the pure and virtuous Consort Shu, who was the Emperor's white moonlight, was easily abandoned when the time came.

Jiang Xinyue wanted him to put in effort for her, to scratch his head and worry, to lose sleep and appetite, constantly wondering when she would forgive him.

She wanted the Emperor to keep testing, to figure out what he needed to do to satisfy her.

Only then would the Emperor clearly realize how difficult she was to appease.

The more he invested, the harder it would be to let go, even if he no longer loved her, because the cost was too high, the emotional investment too deep, and he couldn't afford to lose it.

Jiang Xinyue didn't lose herself in the Xuanwu Emperor's affection, thinking she was extraordinary.

She always planned ahead, choosing to pave her future path when the Emperor loved her the most.

That way, even if the Emperor stopped loving her and had someone else in his heart, he would always be reluctant to harm her.

Staying vigilant and planning her retreat while love was still strong was what Jiang Xinyue was doing.

She could be a consort, but she had to be the Empress Dowager.

Not being the Empress allowed her to skip the part of being the Emperor's mother, and becoming the Empress Dowager meant she could just sit back and enjoy her retirement.

Just thinking about it made her want to laugh.

Seeing her eldest daughter and younger daughter so calm, Lady Ruan's tense mood relaxed.

But then she frowned at Jiang Xinyue: "Yue'er, someone from the Pei family came to propose a marriage between your sister and the Pei family's eldest grandson. Your father couldn't make up his mind, so he asked me to ask for your opinion."

The eldest grandson of Minister Pei of the Privy Council, wasn't that Pei Wu's brother?

What was Minister Pei thinking?

Although Consort Li and her mother didn't die at Jiang Xinyue's hands, they were all connected to her.

Pei Wu was even executed by the Emperor for bringing a snake woman into the palace to poison Jiang Xinyue.

Each and every incident should have made them mortal enemies, so why did they come to propose a marriage to her sister?

Jiang Xinyan, seeing her deep in thought, added: "It's the eldest son of Minister Pei's second son, named Pei Zhishuo, who is seventeen this year. Father said he investigated privately and found that Pei Zhishuo is very talented, gentle in nature, and handsome, one of the eight great talents of the capital."

"Have you met this Pei Zhishuo, Sister?"

"Yes..."

Jiang Xinyan nodded. "He came to the summer palace with his grandfather this time. We met once on the road. He is indeed good-looking, but..."

She hesitated, unsure if she should say more.

Jiang Xinyue glanced at Shuang Jiang, who immediately understood: "It seems the ice in Her Highness's room is running out. You all, come with me."

The maids and eunuchs were all taken away, and Xiao Xiangzi also followed them out, standing guard outside the door. The princess was having a private conversation with her family, and no one should eavesdrop.

With everyone gone, Jiang Xinyan whispered a few words into her sister's ear, then blushed, looking very embarrassed.

"Playing so wild?"

Jiang Xinyue widened her eyes and looked at Lady Ruan beside her: "Is Father really considering this for Sister? Is he crazy?"

Lady Ruan put her finger to her lips and shushed: "Your father doesn't know. How could such things be spoken of casually?"

Jiang Xinyue sneered: "The Pei family has no shame, wanting my sister to suffer this silent grievance. There's no such good thing!"

She patted the uneasy Jiang Xinyan: "Stay in the ChuangChun Pavilion these few days. Wherever you go, stay by my side. I want to see if he has the guts."

Turning to Lady Ruan, she said: "The summer palace is crowded and complicated. Mother, be careful too. Don't fall into the trap of evil people. As long as Father is not busy, stay with him. If Father is busy, bring more attendants with you. In short, don't be alone, okay?"

Seeing her suddenly serious, Lady Ruan quickly nodded: "I understand, I won't cause you trouble."

"I'm not afraid of you causing trouble," Jiang Xinyue also held her hand. "I just don't want you to encounter any danger. But if you do, don't be afraid. Send someone to me, and no matter what trouble you're in, I'll help you solve it."

As long as you don't panic.