扳龙附凤
bān​lóng​fù​fèng

to curry favor

  1. 扳 pān
    to claim connections
    to seek connections with people of higher status; to claim a relationship
  2. 龙 龍 lóng
    imperial
    (bound form) relating to the emperor or his possessions, such as his face or robes
  3. 附 fù verb
    to adhere to
    to adhere to; to depend on; to go along with or agree to
  4. 凤 鳳 fèng
    [honorific]
    (bound form) An honorific term used to refer to an empress or imperial consort