Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Unexpectedly, Yan Zhen neither got angry nor scolded him, and didn't even frown.

"Alright, go ahead and get busy. Don't let important matters get delayed."

Xiahou Che was initially stunned at the thought of being spared a beating, but then he was overjoyed and walked out of Yihua Palace with incredibly light steps.

In the following days, no matter how busy Xiahou Che was, he would come over every day.

Although the palace had undergone a major upheaval, with Liu Su's people in charge, everything proceeded smoothly, from the late emperor's funeral to the new emperor's enthronement ceremony.

The day the imperial edict appointing her as empress was issued, the entire Yihua Palace was filled with joy.

The happiest person was Green Pearl, whose heart was finally at ease.

Before they knew it, the day of the coronation ceremony arrived.

Xiao Dingfang traveled day and night, making the arduous journey, and finally returned to the capital on the day of the ceremony.

Yan Zhen, dressed in the Empress's auspicious robes, stood on the altar with Xiahou Che, who was dressed in a black and gold crown robe. They could see Xiao Dingfang and the Lady of the Duke of Zhenguo beside him in the distance.

Father and daughter exchanged a knowing glance across the crowd.

After the elaborate ceremony, Yan Zhen was taken to the Empress's palace, Zhaoyang Hall.

Under the watchful eyes of a group of palace maids and nannies, Yan Zhen stood firm, wearing a phoenix crown weighing over ten kilograms.

After waiting for several hours, Xiahou Che finally returned to Zhaoyang Palace.

After the nuptial wine ceremony, Xiahou Che urged Yan Zhen to change out of her auspicious attire and personally removed her phoenix crown for her.

"Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

Yan Zhen changed into a simple palace dress and, like thieves, sneaked out of Zhaoyang Palace with Xiahou Che.

The night was as dark as ink. Although it was the time for the new emperor's enthronement and the empress's coronation ceremony, the late emperor's body was still lying in state in the Qianyang Palace, so white gauze was hung everywhere in the palace.

After wandering around for a while, Xiahou Che led her to the Hibiscus Pond. Yan Zhen immediately saw two people waiting in the rain shelter pavilion in the center of the Hibiscus Pond.

It was Xiao Dingfang and the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo.

She paused slightly, then subconsciously looked at Xiahou Che.

Xiahou Che gently pushed her: "Go on, your parents-in-law have been waiting for you for a long time."

Yan Zhen took a few steps forward, then stopped and turned back: "Aren't you coming with me?"

From the moment the original owner entered the palace, the late emperor had been preventing her from contacting anyone from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, in order to prevent the father and daughter from exchanging information. How could Xiahou Che be so comfortable with her spending time alone with Xiao Dingfang and his wife?

“You haven’t seen your parents-in-law for many years, and you must have a lot to say to each other, so I won’t disturb you,” Xiahou Che said. “I will formally meet your parents-in-law on the third day after your return visit to your parents’ home.”

His trust was written all over his face. Without further hesitation, Yan Zhen lifted her skirt and hurried toward the rain shelter.

"Father, mother!"

The original owner had been in the palace for twelve years and had not seen her parents for a full twelve years.

Thanks to the twelve years they had been separated, Yan Zhen was not worried about being exposed in front of Xiao Dingfang and his wife.

She skillfully helped Xiao Dingfang and his wife act out a scene of parents and daughter reuniting, embracing each other and shedding tears.

Although Xiao Dingfang had many questions for her, he knew very well that this was the imperial palace. It was already against the rules for him to enter the palace to see Xiao Lingyi after the coronation ceremony, and he could not say those rebellious things at this time.

Mr. and Mrs. Xiao did not stay long. They gave Yan Zhen a few words of advice on being careful with his words and actions in the palace, and then left in a hurry.

Yan Zhen watched them disappear down the path at the other end of the rain shelter, and only after a while did he turn around and return the way he came.

Back at the edge of the Lotus Pond, Xiahou Che was sitting crookedly on the stone steps, holding a withered lotus leaf in his hand, tearing it into small pieces and throwing it into the pond.

He was still wearing a black imperial robe with gold trim, which looked completely out of place with his lazy, unsteady posture.

As soon as Yan Zhen approached, Xiahou Che immediately threw down the leaf in his hand, stood up, and wiped his hands on his ceremonial robes: "Have your parents-in-law gone back?"

"Hmm." Yan Zhen thought for a moment, then added, "Thank you."

"Why say thank you between husband and wife?" Xiahou Che leaned in and took her hand, leading her towards Zhaoyang Palace. "You've been busy all day, are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Then let's go back and get something to eat."

On the way back to Zhaoyang Palace, Xiahou Che was in a good mood, chattering away to Yan Zhen about what he had seen and heard at the ceremony that day.

But this good mood vanished when she entered the Empress's palace and saw the white-furred, blue-eyed Persian cat lying on the phoenix couch.

"Who brought this thing here?" Xiahou Che stared at the cat, his expression unfriendly. "Get it out of here!"

The palace maids serving in the palace were all very perceptive. They knew that this was the Empress's beloved pet that she had raised for many years. However, the new Emperor did not seem to have much say in front of the Empress, so for a time no one dared to make a move.

"Are you all deaf? Get this little beast out of my sight..." Xiahou Che was about to say "get rid of" when he saw Yan Zhen, but he changed his mind and said, "Take him back to Yihua Palace and have someone take good care of him."

Yan Zhen stepped past Xiahou Che, picked up Fanxue, and stroked its glossy fur: "Does Your Majesty not like Fanxue?"

"...I don't like it. I hate cats the most," Xiahou Che said angrily.

"What should we do?" Yan Zhen looked at Xiahou Che, testing his bottom line. "I have been used to Fanxue's company over the years. Without it, I am afraid I will not be able to sleep at night."

"..." Xiahou Che hesitated for a moment, then changed his words, "This cat is old and sheds fur everywhere, it's not clean. You should send it back to Yihua Palace to settle it, and I will give you a prettier and more obedient one."

"So you'll have to send her away when she gets old?" Yan Zhen feigned surprise. "Then when I get old, will Your Majesty replace me with a young and beautiful empress?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xiahou Che finally realized that Yan Zhen was determined not to send the cat away. He sat down on the couch sullenly and said, "Fine, if you don't want to send it away, then don't. Just let me see it less often in the future."

Yan Zhen, holding the cat, sat down next to him, taking advantage of the situation: "Why doesn't Your Majesty like Fanxue? It's very well-behaved. If you don't believe me, pet it."

As she spoke, she took Fanxue's hand and rubbed it against Xiahou Che's hand.

Xiahou Che twisted his body away, his disgust written all over his face: "No, go away!"

"It's really well-behaved and never makes a fuss."

Xiahou Che was cornered on the bed with nowhere to retreat. His face darkened as he said, "How obedient are you? Like Xiahou Jin?"

Yan Zhen was taken aback.

She immediately understood what was wrong with him; he was upset that the cat was a gift from Xiahou Jin and was worried that seeing it would remind her of him.

"What are you thinking about?" Yan Zhen asked with amusement. "The former crown prince has been gone for many years."

Xiahou Che sneered: "Then you still have the cat he gave you... Don't think I don't know, I heard a lot about you and him back in the Yeting Palace, how good he was to you, always giving you this and that..."

His words were practically dripping with sarcasm. Yan Zhen raised an eyebrow and said, "So you're going to get rid of all the things the princes gave me before?"

Xiahou Che said matter-of-factly, "Yes! I will give you something even better!"

“Alright.” Yan Zhen reached out to him, “Then give the things back first.”

Xiahou Che asked, puzzled, "What?"

"The little wooden bird that brought you the news," Yan Zhen said leisurely. "That was a gift from Xiahou Chuan."

Xia Houche: "………………"