The regent is determined to get the daughter of a minor official.

Xu Keke and Chu Musheng were sitting on the high platform, so naturally they couldn't see the undercurrents surging among the guests.

The ladies in the imperial court were already whispering warnings to their ladies.

"The Prince Regent is currently deeply in love with Miss Xu. You must remain patient and avoid causing trouble for the family."

The young ladies nodded helplessly, but they could not hide the jealousy and unwillingness in their eyes.

One of the ladies muttered softly.

"What is so good about Xu Ke that could make the Regent so fond of him?"

Another lady took over.

Humph, she's just relying on her looks to play some tricks."

Although their voices were low, they were still heard by the people next to them, who quickly coughed lightly to remind them.

At Prime Minister Li's seat, Li Yueran was enjoying the food with a peaceful look on her face.

Turning around, he saw his brother staring at the Regent and Miss Xu, and whispered a reminder to him.

"Brother, it's very rude of you to keep looking at the Regent and the others like this. Where's your usual gentlemanly demeanor?"

When Li Yueze heard his sister's kind reminder, he immediately lowered his head in shame.

"Yuer, is this Miss Xu the lady you met at the flower viewing banquet last time?"

"Well, I had a very pleasant conversation with her that day. I didn't expect Miss Xu to be the Regent's sweetheart. Why would you care about Miss Xu? Could it be that you also know her?"

Li Yueze picked up the wine glass and drank a glass of wine.

"I did meet Miss Xu once, on the official road below the White Jade Taoist Temple.

Today I learned that Miss Xu is the beloved of His Royal Highness the Regent, so I should put my mind at ease."

Li Yueran was stunned when he heard this. His brother had been asking about an unknown girl these days, but he never thought it was Miss Xu.

So he gently enlightened him.

"Brother, you are a man of noble character and outstanding talent. You will surely meet a woman who is more suitable for you in the future."

Li Yueze smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Yu'er, please don't comfort me. It's just that fate cannot be forced."

Li Yueran smiled sweetly.

"Brother, you are naturally open-minded. I believe you will be able to let go of it soon. Besides, there are many beautiful women in this world. There will always be one who can catch your eye and enter your heart."

Li Yueze looked at his sister, his eyes full of relief.

"Okay, then I'll borrow Yue'er's good words."

At the seats for the princesses and consorts, several princesses who had just returned to Beijing were reminiscing about the past with their mothers in low voices.

They don't care which girl the Regent falls in love with or who he will marry to become the Regent's Princess in the future.

It doesn't affect their interests at all.

Only Princess Jianning felt somewhat unhappy, but she did not show it on her face and continued to chat and laugh with the other princesses.

Xu Keke sat next to Chu Musheng, feeling many different gazes.

He keenly sensed the Queen Mother's deep hatred.

Xu Keke thought that the empress dowager had sent people to destroy her face, and was now eyeing her covetously.

He tugged at Chu Musheng's sleeve under the table and asked in a low voice.

"My Lord, does the Queen Mother have feelings for you?"

Chu Musheng was slightly startled, then chuckled.

"Don't talk nonsense. How could the prince and the queen mother have any feelings for each other?"

Xu Keke glanced at the Queen Mother again and wrinkled her nose like a puppy.

"Then why is she looking at me like that? It's as if I've stolen her most beloved bone."

Chu Musheng held her little hand, his expression serious and his words firm.

"No matter what others do, I will protect you as long as I am alive."

Xu Keke felt a little relieved, but when she glanced at the empress dowager, she still felt a chill down her spine.

At this time, the Queen Mother, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

"Lord Regent, this Miss Xu is quite pretty. I wonder which family she belongs to?"

Chu Musheng replied without moving or even raising his eyes.

"In reply to the Queen Mother, Miss Xu is my beloved."

The Queen Mother chuckled.

"Oh? The Regent has a good eye. I wonder what talents this Miss Xu has?"

Today is the Queen Mother's birthday. Why not show off your talents in front of all the civil and military officials in the court? It would be a blessing for her to be able to make the Queen Mother smile."

When Xu Keke heard that they were asking about her talent, she quickly stood up and saluted.

"Your humble servant may grant me permission to see the Queen Mother. Although I am not very talented, I can play the piano..."

Gu Qin was interrupted by Chu Musheng before she could finish her words. He pulled Xu Keke to sit down and spoke softly.

"But didn't you say you would only play for me?"

Xu Keke blinked her innocent big eyes and looked at Chu Musheng.

"But the Queen Mother wants to hear it?"

Queen Mother...I don't want to listen. I just want to make you look bad in public.

Chu Musheng patted Xu Keke's back and coaxed her.

"Keke, don't forget that today is the Grand Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, not the Queen Mother's birthday. Come with me and give the Grand Empress Dowager a birthday gift."

Eunuch Otomo promptly delivered a large brocade box to the Regent.

Chu Musheng took it with one hand, and with the other hand, holding Xu Keke's hand, walked to the bottom of the Empress Dowager's throne.

The two men knelt down and saluted deeply.

"Mother, your son and Miss Xu wish you a long life, as long as the Southern Mountains. This is the thousand-year-old blood jade ruyi that I found especially for you. May it bring you good fortune and longevity."

Chu Musheng said respectfully, and Xu Keke followed him in saluting silently.

The Empress Dowager looked at the young and attractive couple and couldn't stop smiling.

"You two are so thoughtful, get up quickly."

Chu Musheng and Xu Keke stood up, and Xu Keke secretly looked up at the Empress Dowager.

I saw that her face was very similar to my mother's in my previous life, and it was full of kindness, and I suddenly felt a sense of closeness to her.

However, this was a grand birthday banquet, and it was also the first time the emperor and his ministers met, so Xu Keke was not in a position to approach and get close to the Empress Dowager.

The banquet continued, and with the two of them taking the lead, it naturally entered the stage of giving birthday gifts.

The royal family members came forward one by one to present birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager.

Xu Keke was sitting in a very advantageous position, and after watching for a while, she felt something was wrong.

I couldn't help but ask Chu Musheng beside me.

"Why are they all princesses? Besides the children, there are only two or three adult princes in the royal family?"

After a long time without receiving a response, Xu Keke turned to look at Chu Musheng and saw that he was hesitating, not knowing how to answer.

"Did I ask something I shouldn't have asked? Your Highness, just pretend you didn't hear it!"

After Xu Keke finished speaking, she turned around and continued to watch the ministers presenting birthday gifts.

Chu Musheng sighed softly and spoke in her ear in a low voice.

"It's not that you're asking something you shouldn't be asking, it's just that the reasons behind this are quite complicated. I wanted to find an opportunity to discuss this matter, but with so many people around here, it's inconvenient to go into detail!"

Xu Keke smiled indifferently.

"I was just asking casually. Your Majesty, you don't need to tell me. This has nothing to do with me anyway."

Chu Musheng looked at her pretty profile, and thinking that he only had nine years left to live, he was a little confused about whether he should tell her or not.

If she knew that men in the Chu royal family could not live past thirty, would she still be willing to marry me?

Chu Musheng pinched his brows and wondered when he became so indecisive.

I don't need to worry about whether others are willing to do what I want to do, even if it's the woman I love.