The Emperor's heart is won, she sits on the Phoenix Throne! The Divine Physician's Eldest

"I told you to kill people, so why are you stealing any treasures?"

“Master, we strictly followed your orders, killing only and not taking a single penny.”

"Then why did the Emperor say that the treasure he entrusted to Prince Zhen and his wife for safekeeping has gone missing?"

"Master, is it possible that this treasure is fabricated out of thin air, with the purpose of getting Princess Youfeng involved? If Princess Youfeng gets involved, we will be in danger."

"I understand. You may all leave."

"Yes, master."

If Song Siyao can solve this case, then let her die before she can solve it.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Qixi Festival.

Although Song Siyao was already engaged to Shen Pei, the Empress still sent her an invitation.

“Princess, you’ll have a relaxing day. You can sit and watch the other young masters and ladies perform their talents,” Hong Shao said with a smile.

Such festivals are for unmarried men and women to perform their talents to attract the opposite sex.

“Yes, that’s what I think too.” Song Siyao smiled brightly.

When she arrived at Qiwu Palace, she saw that it was already full of people.

She found her seat and sat down.

Emperor Changlong would not normally appear on an occasion like this today.

The Qixi Festival was organized by the Empress.

The Empress and her concubines had just sat down when a eunuch's voice rang out from the doorway, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived!"

Everyone was surprised, as the Empress Dowager had not participated in the Qixi Festival for many years.

As the eunuch's voice faded, the Empress Dowager, supported by Aunt Wujing, stepped into the public eye.

Jiang Yu walked beside the Empress Dowager. She was originally the next empress whom the Prime Minister's Mansion had nurtured with all its resources, so her demeanor was naturally impeccable.

In that instant, she shone brightly, attracting everyone's attention.

She held her head high, appearing composed, but secretly harbored a hint of pride.

Song Siyao once appeared in everyone's sight walking beside Emperor Changlong.

Now she is accompanying the Empress Dowager.

What Song Siyao can do, she can do too.

"Long live the Empress Dowager!" Everyone bowed to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager walked slowly to the Empress's side. The Empress bowed to the Empress Dowager and asked with a smile, "Mother, what brings you here?"

The Empress Dowager sat down, gestured for the people who were bowing to rise, and then said to the Empress, "What's wrong? I can't come?"

"Your Majesty, I am of course very happy that you could come, but I am worried that I might disturb your rest." The Empress said with a smile.

"It is because I have neglected my duties for many years that the harem has become so chaotic. If I do not step in, the harem will surely descend into chaos!" The Empress Dowager still wore a smile on her face, but her eyes were filled with coldness.

The Empress smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Although you, Mother, have not interfered in worldly affairs all these years, your prestige remains."

"Alright, Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities. Let's begin," the Empress Dowager instructed.

"Yes, Queen Mother."

The Empress looked at everyone with a polite smile on her face, "Please don't be shy. The reason I invited you all to the palace today is so that you can eat and have fun."

"Today we have a talent show, and the winner will receive a gift from me. Now, would any young lady or gentleman like to come up to the stage?"

Her voice faded, but no one came forward.

"Your Majesty, why don't you let me do it? I'll offer my humble opinion as a starting point," Jiang Yu said.

"Alright, Miss Jiang, please come in." Seeing that Jiang Yu had recently won the Empress Dowager's favor, the Empress's dead heart was revived.

"Yu'er, perform well. If you win first place, not only will the Empress give you a gift, but I will also give you a gift."

The Empress Dowager looked at Jiang Yu with a loving expression, her eyes filled with affection like a grandmother looking at her granddaughter.

Jiang Yu, unperturbed by honor or disgrace, wore a joyful smile. This joy was not due to the value of the gift, but rather to the Empress Dowager's affection for her.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly do my best."

Jiang Yu came prepared; she performed a dance that amazed the entire audience.

After the dance, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. The young ladies' eyes were filled with envy, while the young gentlemen's eyes gleamed.

After finishing her dance, Jiang Yu obediently returned to the Empress Dowager and said, "Your Majesty, I have disappointed you."

"No disappointment. My son has always been the best." The Empress Dowager smiled broadly.

After Jiang Yu, no one else has come close to achieving such brilliance.

Unsurprisingly, Jiang Yu won first place.

"Congratulations, Miss Jiang, on winning first place in today's Qixi Festival talent show. This is my dowry, which I have treasured for many years and never dared to wear. Now I am giving it to you."

The Empress took the jewelry box and personally handed it to Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will cherish this treasure."

The Empress smiled and nodded, her gaze toward Jiang Yu becoming even more amiable.

The Empress Dowager said, "Yu'er, I just said I wanted to give you a gift. A beautiful and virtuous lady is sought after by gentlemen. Today is the Qixi Festival, so I will bestow upon you a good marriage. What do you say?"

Her question, though seemingly a question, was in fact one that left no room for refusal.

"I will leave everything to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." A sense of joy and anticipation welled up in Jiang Yu's heart.

How she wished that the marriage bestowed by the Empress Dowager was the one she had always dreamed of.

"Alright." The Empress Dowager raised her gaze and landed on the men's area, looking at Shen Xuan and saying, "Xuan'er, come up here."

"Yes, Grandmother." Shen Xuan stepped forward, looking at the Empress Dowager with a respectful expression.

The Empress Dowager asked with a smile, "If I were to bestow my son upon you as your wife, would you be willing?"

"Grandson is willing." Shen Xuan glanced at Jiang Yu, and seeing that Jiang Yu's eyes were somewhat dejected, he looked away and said with a smile, "Grandson has long admired Miss Jiang and is willing to marry her. Thank you, Grandmother, for your blessing."

Jiang Yu looked at Shen Xuan, not expecting him to say such a thing.

She didn't even like Shen Pei when his legs were injured, so how could she possibly like Shen Xuan?

But now that things have come to this, there is no turning back.

She could only lower her head slightly, concealing the sadness in her eyes, and express her attitude through silence.

"Good, good, I love doing things that bring happiness to others. From now on, you two must love each other, respect each other, support and tolerate each other, and live a good life together," the Empress Dowager instructed.

"Yes, Grandmother."

"Yes, Queen Mother."

Shen Xuan and Jiang Yu spoke in unison. After they finished speaking, they looked at each other, their eyes meeting, but there was no love between them.

As the Empress watched Shen Xuan take away the power that originally belonged to Shen Heng, a surge of hatred welled up in her eyes. However, she did not hate Shen Xuan, but Song Siyao.

If it weren't for Song Siyao's constant interference and repeated sabotage of Jiang Yu, she would have already arranged for Shen Heng to marry Jiang Yu and gain the power of the Prime Minister's mansion.

Hatred welled up within her, and the Empress began to speak in a sarcastic and unpleasant tone.

"If His Majesty knew that today's Qixi Festival has brought about a happy marriage between Prince Li and Miss Jiang, he would be overjoyed. Now that Prince Jin is married and Prince Ling and Prince Li are engaged, both Prince Li and Prince Jin have good marriages. It's a pity that Prince Ling married someone he shouldn't have, bringing shame to the royal family."