Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Because there was a Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet on the fifteenth of August, in order not to cause Wen Yuening any unnecessary trouble, Shen Sangwan and her group returned to Zhongdu two days earlier, on the twelfth of August.

First, he went to Xingde Hall to report back, and then he was dragged around and scolded by the Empress Dowager in Chonghua Palace.

"I shouldn't have listened to your nonsense back then. Look at the Empress, you've ruined her."

"The Empress isn't missing any limbs, so what's wrong with her?"

"And isn't your daughter me? How come the Empress has become your daughter after just one trip out of the palace?"

"I've been away from Zhongdu for half a month, has something strange happened again?"

Shen Sangwan frowned, her mind racing.

Wen Yuening and Xiao Tong both wanted to cover their ears.

She usually acts like she's unapproachable, but she's actually such a chatterbox inside.

"Mother is right. It's all my fault that Yue Ning has to suffer with me."

The Empress Dowager patted Shen Sangwan's hand, which was resting on her arm, and said, "You, you!"

"Alright, Mother, I know I was wrong. His Majesty has already reprimanded me on your behalf in Xingde Hall."

The Empress Dowager smiled and joked, "I'd rather believe the sky is falling than believe His Majesty would reprimand you."

Shen Sangwan pursed her lips awkwardly and forced a smile.

"I noticed that the Empress looks quite tired. She should go and rest well. The Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet is in a couple of days, so she should take good care of her energy."

"Yue Ning takes her leave."

Wen Yuening had originally wanted to find an excuse to go back, but the Empress Dowager spoke first, so she readily agreed.

After everyone left, the Empress Dowager pulled Shen Sangwan closer.

“While you were away, that old scoundrel Duke Anguo kept instigating the people in the Ministry of War, trying to take away your military power every morning at court. When Achen came to pay his respects yesterday, he asked me to give you a heads-up so that you would have a plan for tomorrow’s morning court.”

Shen Sangwan was taken aback at first, wondering why the young emperor hadn't spoken up in Xingde Hall earlier. Then she thought about it again and realized that it seemed like she had been subjected to a series of questions ever since she entered the hall.

There were countless inquiries, and the people were so anxious that they almost summoned all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to take her pulse, fearing that something might go wrong.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I have gained a lot from this trip to Wuzhou. Duke Anguo is only interested in military power, so I'm afraid he doesn't have the energy to take it over."

Seeing that Shen Sangwan already had a plan in mind, the Empress Dowager didn't say anything more. Instead, her expression changed and her tone became serious.

"The matter in Wuzhou was extremely dangerous. Now that I see you have returned safely, I can finally sleep peacefully tonight."

"If you continue to gloss over things so lightly in the future, I will truly disown you as my daughter, so that I won't have to live in constant fear."

Shen Sangwan took the Empress Dowager's arm and buried her whole body in her arms.

"Your subject is not downplaying it. The battle at Wuzhou was not as dangerous as a battlefield."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's eyes showed even more worry, and she couldn't help but tighten her grip on Shen Sangwan's body.

"Xiao Tong, I'm so tired. After comforting the little emperor, I have to comfort the empress dowager. It feels like even after I get back to the manor, I still have to comfort Xiao Yan Yan."

【My lord, consider this as compensation for the karmic debts you incurred through your philandering in this world!】

〖.......〗

"Are you even speaking human language? Even though I may have affairs, I have moral principles, okay? How is that creating negative karma?"

[Master, I am not human to begin with, so it seems plausible that I don't speak human language.]

〖I%@*?@〗

After appeasing the Empress Dowager and leaving Chonghua Palace, he hurried back to the Princess's residence.

Shuyan had dinner prepared early and even made two new bowls of iced drinks herself.

When he heard the news from the front yard, he ran out excitedly and saw Shen Sangwan coming towards him from a distance.

Shuyi, who was following behind, stared wide-eyed as she witnessed Shuyan rush into her prince's arms.

Then, while pounding Shen Sangwan's shoulder, he scolded her for only reporting good news and not bad news, and for deceiving her before leaving.

His Highness was letting the other person vent their anger without showing a trace of anger on his face, and even looked at him with a doting expression. Shu Yi felt like she was seeing things.

When she was in the government office, His Highness was always so fierce.

"As expected, Miss Shuyan holds a special place in His Highness's heart! It's a pity that His Highness is... fickle? Or perhaps not, yearning for her day and night? That doesn't seem right either!"

Shuyi pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with a suitable word.

Once her thoughts returned to normal, Shen Sangwan and Shuyan had already entered the room hand in hand.

Since there was no need for anyone to serve the food, Shen Sangwan dismissed everyone else, leaving only herself and Shuyan to dine.

How are your injuries?

"After using the medicine you left me, I was almost fully recovered in less than seven days."

"Hmm, what's this called? It tastes pretty good."

Shuyan paused, her hand still holding the food, as she came to her senses.

This seemed to be the first time she had eaten with Shen Sangwan.

The last time he was saved from dire straits by a bowl of chilled honey lychee, it had been more than two months since the other person was able to enjoy his newly developed iced drink again.

"Huh—? What's wrong?"

Shen Sangwan put down her spoon and waved it in front of Shuyan.

"N-nothing, it's just a new product that was recently developed, and I haven't named it yet."

Shen Sangwan picked up the spoon again and took a few more sips. "The orange flavor is very strong, so let's call it Kumquat Ice Juice."

Shuyan smiled and nodded.

"How have you been at home these past two weeks?"

"It's alright. Aside from looking at the account books, he usually helps Qibo manage the Princess's residence. Occasionally, when he's bored, he'll talk to Yuexin."

Upon hearing Yuexin's name, Shen Sangwan's brow twitched slightly. "You should associate with her less. Although she saved you that day, she is ultimately a spy for the Ming Prince's Mansion. Don't get too close."

“She is very interested in clothing making, which is my specialty, so I taught her. When you’re not around, I’ll have someone to talk to.”

The words carried a hint of melancholy, which sent a shiver down Shen Sangwan's spine.

In this era without the internet and technology, her little Yan Yan is a vulnerable woman, seemingly with nowhere else to go but to be trapped in this corner of the world.

"Little Yan Yan, I..."

“I understand your difficulties and I am well aware of my own situation. I have no other intentions.”

"I haven't tried to open my heart to Yuexin, nor will I. I just have her keep me company in this mansion to pass the time."

Shen Sangwan moved a stool next to Shuyan and held her hands tightly. "I'll have Shuyun train some more bodyguards to protect you in secret. You can leave the manor, go to the outskirts, or go wherever you want."

Shuyan shook her head and refused, scolding, "Now I am your darling. Who in Zhongdu doesn't know that His Highness the Princess is infatuated with a woman and protects her like a treasure in his mansion? Even Miss Cen, who used to be close to her, has to give her some respect."

"Using the prestigious name of the Princess's residence to flaunt your status outside, do you think I have a death wish?"

Shen Sangwan lowered her head in embarrassment, coughing several times to cover up her awkwardness.