The legitimate daughter was reborn, and the emperor’s little Jiaojiao went crazy.

Wei Pingting gave birth to another daughter, and the whole country...could no longer rejoice. This was because this was already the fourth princess of the Northern Wing.

She quietly left the palace and returned to her parents' home, locked herself in her room and fell asleep.

After Emperor Wenxuan left the court, he left the palace in disguise and went to the Wei family.

Lord Wei, no, he was now more than Lord Wei, he had been granted the title of Duke of Bang. Upon hearing that the emperor had arrived, he hurriedly brought his wife and a group of servants, and knelt in panic on both sides of the corridor inside the door, forehead pressed against the cold stone slabs, not daring to breathe.

Emperor Wenxuan stepped out of his sedan chair, his eyes sweeping across the crowd of figures on the ground. His brows furrowed slightly. He took a few quick steps, then stepped forward to support Duke Bang. His voice was gentle but anxious. "Everyone, get up. I'm here to see Pingting today. There's no need for such a grand gesture, father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Duke Bang bowed his head, not daring to look directly at the emperor. "Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs every day, working day and night. The government affairs at court are already overwhelming. Now he has to worry about the Empress. I... your whole family, everyone, is truly terrified and ashamed of the grace of God!"

Emperor Wenxuan waved his hand and said, "Pingting gave birth to four princesses for me. I am grateful."

He came to Wei Pingting's bedside alone, filled with joy and guilt. Looking at her pale face, he felt very distressed.

He held her cold hand and touched his forehead to hers, "Pingping Tingting, come home with me, okay?"

He was talking about going home, not returning to the palace.

But Wei Pingting opened her eyes, tears welling up in her eyes, and just stared at him. After a long moment, she finally said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, remember the promise you made to me many years ago..."

Emperor Wenxuan's expression changed drastically. He stood up suddenly, letting go of her hand, and even his voice became furious. "Don't even think about it, Wei Pingting. Have I been pampering you too much these years?"

Wei Pingting struggled to get up, tears welling up in her eyes. "But I tried my best, I tried my best, Your Majesty! I am not a person who favors boys over girls, but..."

However, the number of people in the northern wing royal family is dwindling, like a dying candle, becoming increasingly thin.

The Emperor had more than ten brothers and sisters, but few could stand up for themselves and support the country. Some were mediocre or indulged in pleasure, and their descendants were even less talented. None of them could be entrusted with important border defenses or confidential court affairs.

By the time of Emperor Wenxuan, he and Prince Guizheng were the only two male descendants of the royal family.

While Emperor Wenxuan wasn't a man of exceptional talent, he was known for his diligence and self-discipline. With the support of his cabinet, he managed to create a prosperous era. Historians hailed him as a "wise ruler."

However, he did something that caused an uproar in the court and attracted the attention of the whole world.

He followed the example of the retired emperor and further inherited the current Liang imperial system, leaving the six palaces empty and the Pepper Chamber alone. In that vast forbidden garden, there was only Empress Wei Pingting.

In order to repay Emperor Wenxuan's special favor, Wei Pingting tried her best to give birth to a son to inherit the throne.

However, things went against her wishes and she gave birth to four daughters in a row.

This was like a huge rock pressing on Wei Pingting's heart, and even the emperor's favor became a burden.

Wei Pingting felt like she could hardly breathe.

Ever since the fourth princess was born, memorials from the court requesting the selection of concubines and adoption of relatives by royal relatives have piled up on Emperor Wenxuan's desk like snowflakes.

The nobles secretly colluded with each other, and the upright people talked about it.

Wei Pingting's tears fell like beads. "Everyone is saying that this great kingdom of Beiyi will be destroyed by a queen who can't give birth to a prince!"

She was not afraid of being scolded, but she couldn't bear to see Emperor Wenxuan being scolded.

She had pondered this matter for a long time, and finally the time had come for a showdown. She wiped away her tears and said sadly, "Your Majesty, I have thought of two options. One is..."

"Look at our little fourth princess," Emperor Wenxuan interrupted her, leaned over and gently picked up the fourth princess who was sleeping in the cradle, handed her in front of her, and put her in her hands.

The baby in the cradle has a pink face and breathes evenly.

Emperor Wen Xuan carefully rubbed his daughter's cheek with his fingertips, a gentle smile spreading across his eyes. "Her eyebrows and eyes are like yours, her nose is like yours, her little mouth is like yours... Hey, isn't she just a little, pretty girl?"

He sat down beside the couch, his eyes blazing as he gazed at his weeping queen. "Pingting, I don't want to hear your depressing words. Trust me, everything can be resolved. At worst, we can return the throne to our father, and we can flee far away to Liang State to seek refuge with the charcoal seller. What do you say?"

Of course, he knew the two options the queen mentioned, which were to select a concubine from the imperial concubines, or to let her leave the palace and then select a queen from the imperial concubines.

He had promised that if he betrayed her, or if she grew tired of him, he would send her off with the rank of prince, grant her the three most prosperous prefectures in Jiangnan as his Tangmu County, allow her to travel freely like a lark, and ensure she lived a life without worries. But now he hadn't betrayed her, and she wasn't tired of him, it was just that reality forced her to retreat.

Neither of these paths is acceptable to Emperor Wenxuan.

He is just a puppet!

It was clearly stated back then that he was a puppet of the emperor and all he needed to do was contribute his horoscope.

What happened next? He couldn't even remember how he ended up taking on this huge task.

Oh, now I remember it. It was because he stayed with the charcoal seller for three years, and my father said he wanted to see the results of his studies and whether he had wasted his time in Liang State.

Who knew that I would see it until now.

The retired emperor is now enjoying his second spring like a god, and doesn't care about his son's life or death at all!

No! Emperor Wenxuan kissed Wei Pingting's cheek in a rage, "You must stay at your parents' home and raise yourself there first. Don't let your imagination run wild, don't abandon me, and don't force me to take a concubine."

He ran away without waiting for Wei Pingting to respond.

Madam Wei looked at the emperor's son-in-law from behind, then walked into the house and took her daughter's hand. "See, I told you he wouldn't let you go. We've been married for so many years, don't you understand him?"

"Mother, you don't understand the current situation," Wei Pingting patted her daughter gently, cradling her in her arms. "I've even considered adopting a relative's child. But... there really aren't any suitable ones. They're all mediocre and simply can't handle the responsibility."

Madam Wei smiled and said, "Ah, my daughter has really grown up. She keeps talking about the great responsibility of the country. She is no longer the little girl who used to act like a spoiled brat and ask for candy in front of me."

"Mother!" Wei Pingting lowered her eyebrows in embarrassment. "I already have several daughters myself. How can I still act like a spoiled child in front of you?"

Mrs. Wei touched her daughter's face lovingly. Her cheeks were wet with tear marks, which made her feel distressed. "In your mother's eyes, you will always be a child. You will never grow up..."

On the other side, Emperor Wenxuan broke into the Nanshan Palace without being informed.

Eunuch Qi was a little out of breath after chasing, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... I said, the retired emperor is not in the study. Could I really lie to you?"

Emperor Wenxuan was furious and sneered at Eunuch Qi, "How come you haven't lied to me enough?"

"Ouch!" Eunuch Qi was shocked and knelt down to kowtow. "Your Majesty, please understand! Even if I die, I will never hide a single word from you!"

Emperor Wenxuan bent down and helped him up. "You are already old! Didn't I tell you long ago that you can be exempted from the formalities? You don't need to kneel when you see me! Do you still need those knees?"

Eunuch Qi smiled until his eyebrows curved, then he trembled and got up from the ground. "I knew that the emperor was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. He is a very good master." He leaned closer and asked, "The emperor came to see the emperor today, but what good news do you have?"

"Good news!" Emperor Wenxuan said, "I am here to return the throne!"