Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Changsun Ying returned to the palace and quietly watched the palace maids and eunuchs bustling in and out of the hall.

Jiang Lan got completely drunk and vomited all the way to the imperial palace, making the palace courtyard a mess.

His two children, Jiang Feng and Jiang Yan, had never seen their father like this before. They were both shocked and frightened, and dared not make a sound.

Upon seeing his mother arrive, he instinctively shrank back in front of her.

"Mother, what happened to Father? Is he alright?"

Jiang Feng looked up at Changsun Ying and uttered a childish voice.

Changsun Ying shook her head, stroked the child's head and said, "Feng'er, tell your mother, do you like this kind of father?"

Jiang Feng didn't understand Changsun Ying's words. He just nodded blankly, then shook his head, looking completely at a loss.

Changsun Ying lifted him onto her lap and smiled slightly: "Feng'er, your father really disgraced the royal family at the banquet today."

Look at him, he's completely drunk, yet he still has not a trace of a prince's demeanor. How about I get you a different father?

She briefly recounted what had happened in Lingxuan Palace that day to the two children, and concluded by saying, "Feng'er, one should be like the Regent."

Be spirited and composed in the face of any setback. Never try to be a hero and emulate your father, who brought shame and disgrace upon himself. Understand?

"I've remembered it."

Jiang Feng responded with a slightly childish tone.

"Mother, if my father were the regent, wouldn't that bring honor to my Prince Xiang's mansion today?"

Changsun Ying's eyes lit up: "Feng'er, tell your mother, do you want the Regent to be your father?"

Jiang Feng: "But there can only be one father. How can the regent be my father?"

"Just answer your mother, whether you want to change your father."

After a moment's thought, Jiang Feng nodded: "The Regent is renowned throughout the land and his achievements are unparalleled in this era. Naturally, I would like to be his child."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Ying was overjoyed and hugged her child tightly: "Feng'er, how about I change your father?"

"Tomorrow is the main banquet. Your mother will take you to see the Regent and ask him to adopt you as his son. Is that alright?"

"Really, Mother?"

"Of course it's true."

“That’s wonderful, now I have two fathers.”

Young Jiang Feng had no idea what Changsun Ying's words meant.

On the other side, Jiang Yan also grabbed Changsun Ying's skirt with her little hand: "Mother, I also want to recognize the Regent as my godfather."

The little child doesn't understand anything at all.

"Good, you are all my good children!"

Changsun Ying excitedly hugged the two children in her arms, her heart filled with immense joy.

By this time, the palace villa had been almost completely tidied up. After the palace maids brought incense and lit it, the smell of alcohol in the room gradually dissipated.

"Your Highness, the house has been cleaned inside and out. Is there anything else we need to do?"

"No need. You've all worked hard. Go back and rest early. Musk Moon, reward me."

"Yes."

Musk Moon immediately stepped forward, took out her purse, and gave each of the kneeling palace maids and eunuchs a two-ounce silver melon seed.

"Thank you for the gift, Princess Xiang. Please rest early, we will take our leave."

The palace maids and eunuchs who received the reward money were all beaming with joy. After bowing in farewell, they left the courtyard in an orderly manner.

"Yuanbao, take the child to rest as well."

"Yes, ma'am."

After her personal maid Yuanbao took the two children away, Changsun Ying asked Mushe, "Have you found out where the Regent has been all this time?"

Musk Moon immediately replied, "Madam, we have already found out. After the Regent took over the administration, he always waits until His Majesty is settled before acting."

She went to the Xuanzheng Hall to handle official business. Judging by the time, the Regent would depart in about an hour. If Miss Xiangling wanted to contact the Regent…

We have to get there before he arrives at the Xuanzheng Hall.

Changsun Ying thought for a moment: "After the Regent leaves, His Majesty should be the only one left in Shuixuan Residence, right?"

Musk Moon: "Madam, Shui Xuan Residence is heavily guarded inside and out. No outsider can get close unless they receive a written order from His Majesty."

"Okay, I understand. Go and call Xiangling and Pan Shijun over."

"Yes."

A short while later, Xiangling and Pan Shijun entered the villa.

Just as the two were about to bow, Changsun Ying interrupted them: "Let's skip the formalities. I called you here tonight to tell you that it's time to start making plans."

Xiangling immediately knelt down and bowed her head: "Madam, I am sorry that I was unable to see the Regent during the day. Please forgive me."

“This isn’t your fault,” Changsun Ying replied. “If the Regent were so easily seduced by you, he wouldn’t be the Regent.”

However, I have already made arrangements for you. You should set off immediately. Musk Moon will take you to the Regent's usual route.

When you meet him, use every trick in the book to make the Regent fall for you.

Xiangling raised her eyes: "Please rest assured, Madam, this servant will certainly not disappoint you!"

"Ah."

Changsun Ying responded, then looked at Pan Shijun: "As for you, wait until the Regent leaves Shuixuan Residence before going in to meet the Emperor."

Pan Shijun immediately knelt down and replied, "Madam, the palace is heavily guarded. I'm afraid it would be difficult for me to even get close to the Imperial Residence, let alone to have an audience with the Emperor!"

Changsun Ying glanced at Mushe.

Musk Moon immediately understood and took out a booklet from her bosom, handing it to Pan Shijun.

"Give this to the guards at Shuixuan Residence, and you will surely be able to see His Majesty."

Then it will all come down to how well you know how to please a woman; success or failure hinges on this, so you must seize the opportunity.

Pan Shijun looked at the booklet in his hand, somewhat puzzled: "May I ask, Your Highness, what is this?"

"The evidence of the crimes committed by the powerful families of Guanzhong in favoritism and perverting justice involves forty-three families. His Majesty will be very pleased to see it."

Changsun Ying glanced at Pan Shijun, whose body was trembling slightly, and smiled slightly: "You don't need to be afraid. The pursuit of power and wealth is inherently risky. Now the opportunity is right in front of you. If you miss it, you'll never have another chance."

Pan Shijun took a deep breath: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"

He had made up his mind that even if it meant death, he would win the Empress's favor. Even if it meant just being a male concubine, it would be far better than being homeless like this.

After seeing the two off, Changsun Ying got up and went back to her room.

On the bed, Jiang Lan was already fast asleep and unconscious.

After dismissing Musk Moon, she sat down next to Jiang Lan, her eyes full of disdain and contempt.

"What use are you? It's one thing that you can't match their military achievements for the country, but now you can't even outdrink them."

What use are you besides being a member of the royal family? And yet you openly and secretly look down on Shen Lang. I don't know where you get the audacity.

I feel disgusted every day I'm with you. I, Changsun Ying, am a heroine among women. How could I have married such a good-for-nothing!

"Sleep, sleep, sleep! You're so useless! You're not even as good as one of Shen Lang's toes! How can you sleep like this with such peace of mind!"

After venting her frustrations in a low voice, Changsun Ying lay down beside him, looking quite annoyed.

"If my man were Shen Lang, if he were lying next to me, how happy I would be! That's the kind of man I want to marry!"

"Look at this thing again, it's so utterly uninteresting. Sleeping? Might as well just stay asleep and never wake up."