After the interstellar female general died in battle, she transmigrated into the body of a dashing p

Everyone present prostrated themselves on the ground in deep reverence.

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

"Rise." Zheng Hongyuan glanced at the people below him, and when he saw the little guy sitting cross-legged on the chair to his right, leisurely putting pastries into his mouth, a smile flashed across his eyes.

Today, she really looks like a little lucky baby next to the God of Longevity.

He shifted his gaze with satisfaction, and the elegant and beautiful Consort Li standing beside him looked down at the bright red figure, finding it extremely offensive.

Jiang Yingying smiled charmingly and asked, "Why doesn't Le'an bow to the Emperor?"

The scene was already quiet, so her voice seemed particularly abrupt.

Everyone quickly lowered their heads, their expressions varying.

Zheng Zhian tossed the pastries back onto the plate, patted the crumbs off her hands, and saw Consort De, who was standing next to her, cover her mouth with a handkerchief and cough lightly. When Consort De saw her looking at her, she shook her head slightly.

Zheng Zhian smiled at her, turned around, slid off the chair, looked at her with a simple and innocent expression, and said, "Then please, Your Highness, move aside."

"Why?!"

"In what capacity do you receive my bow?" Zheng Zhian's expression remained unchanged, but what he said made everyone fall into deep thought.

Indeed, as the Empress's legitimate daughter, her status in An Chong was higher than that of any of the concubines. In fact, these concubines and their illegitimate daughters had to bow to her.

However, since the Empress was no longer alive, no one mentioned this matter, and the people in the harem naturally forgot about it intentionally or unintentionally.

Now that she was being asked this so bluntly, Jiang Yingying's face turned pale. This little bastard was telling everyone that even though she was a noble consort, she was still just a concubine.

She bit her lower lip, clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and turned to look at the person beside her with teary eyes.

If she were to step aside today, she would have completely lost face as an Imperial Noble Consort.

Zheng Hongyuan gently patted her slender hand, a hint of coldness flickering in his dark, calm eyes as he looked at the humble yet assertive little fellow, "Do you know what an elder is?"

Although the words were not explicitly stated, the meaning was clear: he was also her elder. Jiang Yingying raised her beautiful eyes, looking down at Zheng Zhian with haughty pride.

Everyone was astonished. Normally, in similar situations, the Emperor would unhesitatingly side with Princess Le'an. This time, however, he was so protective of Consort Li. It seems the position of Empress...

Those with quick minds were already thinking about how to make a good impression on Grand Commandant Jiang.

Zheng Zhian stubbornly lifted her skirt and walked up, deliberately standing in front of Jiang Yingying. The distance between the table and the chair was already close, and with her standing in the middle, Jiang Yingying had no choice but to move back with a dark face, intending to scold her.

Unexpectedly, she suddenly raised her hands high and performed a full kowtow to the Emperor.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Looking down at the back of his head, where a red tassel headband was tied at the temples, Zheng Hongyuan's dark eyes flashed with helplessness and disdain.

"Get up."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhian replied in a low voice, "Thank you, Father Emperor." As he stood up and turned to leave without a trace of lingering affection, he didn't forget to glance sideways at the person beside him with an unpleasant expression.

To outsiders, she seemed like a spoiled child, awkward and rebellious.

But in Jiang Yingying's eyes, she was deliberately provoking her. She almost tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds, but maintained a polite smile on her face.

Zheng Hongyuan turned around, picked up his wine cup, and became more easygoing, as if nothing had happened. "Today is the end of the year. I pray that we may enter the new year, with spring bringing good fortune, peace and prosperity for the people, abundant harvests, lasting peace for the border cities, and the well-being of all people."

The crowd below solemnly raised their wine cups and echoed, "Our Emperor is wise!"

Zheng Zhian returned to his seat and looked with great interest at the ministers who usually argued fiercely in court. Now, they all had faces like Maitreya Buddhas, and their auspicious words were more pleasant to hear than the last.

"Please have a seat, everyone." Zheng Hongyuan put down his wine cup and said jokingly, "The ancients said that heaven and earth are the source of life; ancestors are the source of lineage. Have any of you gone back to pay respects to your ancestors?"

Ancestor worship has always been a major event for the clan. When people return home to worship their ancestors, they will naturally encounter many unexpected events, some interesting and some unpleasant, and the scene will suddenly become lively.

Zheng Zhian saw that the time was about right and was about to ask Danqin behind him to find someone when she saw her father personally carrying a wine glass and walking to the head seat opposite her. She had noticed him earlier.

The two seats were not occupied by Prime Minister Jian and Grand Commandant Jiang, but by two middle-aged men of similar age to their fathers.

One of them had a round belly, almost as big as the Minister of Revenue's potbelly, and regular features. He had a rather simple and honest look when he smiled.

The other one looked much thinner, and Zheng Zhian seriously suspected that he was starving. He looked like he would be blown away by the wind, and his skin was obviously pale and lacked blood and energy.

She had a distinctly aloof and cold demeanor that kept people at arm's length, but when she saw her father, the way he smiled made people feel that he shouldn't be like that.

Their families were sitting next to them.

The three of them talked about something, and then they all looked in her direction.

After her father said a few words, Liu Fuquan walked over to her and bowed, saying, "Princess, His Majesty requests your presence."

After speaking, he habitually reached out his hand.

Zheng Zhian helplessly let him pick her up.

Liu Fuquan approached and looked at the group of people chatting happily. Zheng Zhian quickly pursed his lips and whispered, "Father."

Children can't escape being dragged into the 'battlefield' of small talk by adults, no matter where they go.

Zheng Hongyuan turned around and naturally took her, first looking at the thin one, "This is your seventh imperial uncle," then looking at the honest-looking one, "Your tenth imperial uncle."

"Seventh Imperial Uncle, Tenth Imperial Uncle, hello."

Prince Kangxian and Prince Jingning, were they summoned back by Father? And what about the Third Imperial Uncle, Prince Ruikang?

Clearly, no one can answer her question right now.

As if he had been prepared, the Tenth Prince, Prince Jingning, took out a round ball made of nanmu wood from his sleeve and handed it to her, saying, "This is a nanmu lock that I learned to make from a carpenter. Take it and try to unlock it."

Zheng Zhian looked up at her father, and only after receiving a look from him did she accept the gift, saying, "Thank you, Tenth Imperial Uncle."

She had never played with this before. Although it looked like a sphere, it was actually made up of wooden blocks of different shapes pieced together. She couldn't figure it out in a short time.

This looks like a brain-intensive task. I never expected that a prince would like such strange and unusual things.

The Prince Kangxian beside her awkwardly raised his hand to his lips and coughed lightly. Although he looked pale and weak, he had a handsome face that was no less than his father's, and she could see a carefree spirit in his every move.

Zheng Zhi'an couldn't help but marvel in his heart.

"An, An'an, cough cough... cough... I'm not as skillful as your tenth uncle. How about I look for it when I get back?"

Perhaps due to a chronic cough, his gentle voice was hoarse. The black cloak he wore was old and thin, making Zheng Zhian want to replace it with a thicker one.

"It's alright, Seventh Imperial Uncle," he looked up at his father worriedly, "Father, could you please have someone get Seventh Imperial Uncle a thick cloak?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Kangxian waved his hand and said, "It's alright." He looked at her with a smile in his eyes.

Zheng Zhian only felt that this Seventh Imperial Uncle was very gentle. His eyes were always smiling when he looked at her. He had the affection of an elder for a junior, but it was much deeper than the feeling of Prince Jingning. The doting on him was obvious. There was something else she didn't understand.

But the feeling he gave her was that he was very sincere and pure. For a moment, she reflected on herself and wondered, "Am I really that charming?"

Zheng Hongyuan frowned and looked at him, "Why is your body like this? Haven't your old injuries healed yet?"

"I'm much better now. The royal physician said that with proper care, it won't have any impact." Prince Kangxian shook his head, not taking the matter to heart at all.

He knows his own body best.

"When you leave the palace today, take some medicinal herbs with you. Winters in the capital are much colder than in Kangning, so you need to take good care of your health, understand?" Zheng Hongyuan raised his left hand and patted his left shoulder.

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

The group of brothers continued their old conversation in a friendly and respectful manner. Zheng Zhian reached over his father's shoulder and met the gaze of Yuan Zhu, who was sitting a few rows behind him. She quietly gestured for them to go outside.

Yuan Zhu had been watching her for a long time, wanting to find an opportunity to speak to the little one, but it was clear that given her insignificant status in the palace, it would be difficult for her to speak to the little one in this setting.

Zheng Zhian nodded, waving her little hand to signal her to go out first, and that she would follow her in a little while.

Yuan Zhu, however, thought that the little guy wanted her to come over, so she quickly waved her hand and refused.

The emperor was having a pleasant conversation with the two princes. What was he supposed to do by going over there? Was he looking for death?

Seeing her start gesturing with her hands and feet, Zheng Zhian couldn't understand what new dance she was learning.