First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

Mu Lingxuan pursed his lips, concealing the part about his infatuation with Gu Junxi and drugging her. He then revealed that Qingyanzi wanted Mu Zhuoyue to become the Crown Prince in exchange for his help in eliminating Mu Lingye.

After hearing this, Consort Li didn't hesitate for long and immediately began to lecture: "Since that's the case, what are you still hesitating about? Mu Zhuoyue is your child, so what's wrong with making him the Crown Prince? Once you've secured your position as Crown Prince, you can promote him to that position... At that time, it will be up to you to decide who becomes the Crown Prince."

It can only be said that not everyone possesses a sense of contractual obligation.

Consort Li and Leng Xuanjue shared the same idea.

Mu Lingxuan had a feeling that Qingyanzi's purpose was not so simple. But seeing Consort Li so happy, he suppressed his unease.

"Then I will obey Mother Consort in everything."

"Yes, bring the child over, let me hold him again." With her request being responded to and progress made, Consort Li finally smiled again, and she waved to Mu Lingxuan in a much better mood.

Mu Lingxuan felt a sense of satisfaction watching his mother holding and playing with her son.

Gu Junxi, who was dressed separately from Mu Lingye, suddenly received an imperial decree from Emperor Sheng.

Gu Junxi asked the summoned eunuch to wait outside, citing the need to bathe and change her clothes.

Ning Haitang and Mu Qingfu rushed over upon hearing the news.

Gu Junxi changed out of the clothes she was wearing, which were covered in the smell of medicine from researching poison, and into a simple and clean palace dress.

When Ning Haitang and Mu Qingfu came in, she was walking out from behind the screen.

"Xixi, your imperial uncle spends his days either refining elixirs or indulging in pleasure with those women in the harem. He's becoming more and more outrageous. I'm afraid he has ulterior motives for summoning you to the palace now," Mu Qingfu said anxiously.

Ning Haitang nodded: "How about I have your uncle accompany you to the palace?"

Gu Junxi smiled: "What's meant to happen can't be avoided. Don't worry, I'm still the Crown Princess and the Heir Apparent of Ningyuan Marquis. Without a good reason, Father Emperor won't touch me."

This situation was foreseen when the Imperial Preceptor's residence was burned down.

If you dare to do it, then you must be willing to bear the consequences.

"Xixi!" Mu Qingfu wanted to persuade her further.

Gu Junxi touched her belly: "It's okay. Don't forget, I'm carrying a child in my belly now, who is also his grandchild."

That's what they say, but if even their son, Emperor Sheng Mu Lingye, doesn't care about him, how could they possibly like this child?

But they also understood that Gu Junxi's decision not to let Prince Su accompany her was for Prince Su's own good.

Wu Zhao's decision to accompany Gu Junxi into the palace at this time is clearly an attempt to oppose Emperor Sheng, which will definitely displease him.

It should be noted that Prince Su has always maintained a cautious and self-protective attitude.

Gu Junxi only learned after entering the palace that, besides herself, Mu Lingye had also been summoned. Qingyanzi, Leng Xuanjue, and Mu Lingxuan were also present.

This lineup made Gu Junxi feel uneasy.

Because of Long Yao's situation, Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye are still in a state of cold war with each other.

So when the two entered the palace, their eyes met briefly, and then they naturally and tacitly looked away.

"Crown Princess, I heard that you are unhappy about the Crown Prince's marriage to Princess Longyao and have been staying at Prince Su's residence for several days. Do you know that this is against the virtues of a woman?" Emperor Sheng began to attack Gu Junxi the moment they met.

Gu Junxi could only listen to the reprimand in silence.

On the surface, they were having a cold war over this matter, and Mu Lingye couldn't very well defend Gu Junxi at this point, so he could only remain silent.

After reprimanding Gu Junxi, Emperor Sheng began to reprimand Mu Lingye: "Crown Prince, as the heir apparent of a nation, you cannot even control your own wife. How will you manage the entire Sheng Kingdom in the future?"

"Alright. Crown Princess, I hereby order you to move back to the Crown Prince's residence after leaving the palace today. Your Highness, take good care of the Crown Princess. After all, she is pregnant. If she suffers any loss, I will hold you responsible."

Finally, Emperor Sheng spoke, and after he finished speaking, he waved his hand to let Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye leave.

Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye entered the palace less than a quarter of an hour ago.

Gu Junxi felt that this was too abnormal.

Such a grand gesture, just to let her move back to the Crown Prince's residence.

Qingyanzi, Mu Lingxuan, and Leng Xuanjue, who were standing nearby, did not play any role.

Gu Junxi wasn't the only one with this concern; Mu Lingye felt the same way.

However, both of them suppressed their doubts and maintained an attitude of not compromising even with the Emperor's orders, as if they were still in a cold war.

Inside the palace.

Watching Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye leave.

As if completing a task, Emperor Sheng hastily rose from his dragon throne: "Grand Preceptor, I have done as you said. The rest is up to you. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

"Your Majesty, please take care." Qingyanzi bowed.

"Imperial Preceptor, what exactly did you give my father? Why does he look so haggard?" Mu Lingxuan questioned Qingyanzi after watching Emperor Sheng leave.

Qingyanzi smiled and said, "It's just some pills. If Your Highness wants to know, why don't you ask His Majesty yourself?"

Mu Lingxuan wasn't stupid; of course he knew that Qingyanzi had given Emperor Sheng a pill.

But what he wanted to know was whether those pills had any side effects.

It should be noted that Emperor Sheng had not attended court for several days in a row, spending his days indulging in pleasure with his concubines in the harem.

Emperor Sheng was not a wise ruler, and there had never been such a situation before.

But as a son, where can I ask about such things?

Leng Xuanjue had no interest in such trivial matters; even if Emperor Sheng died soon, it would be none of his concern. He glanced at Mu Lingxuan and Qingyanzi, then left the main hall.

Upon arriving outside the palace, we boarded a carriage.

Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye, who had just been ignoring each other, suddenly hugged each other.

Gu Junxi nestled in Mu Lingye's arms, gently stroking his chest, and analyzed, "Father made me return to the Crown Prince's residence. I think it was because of Leng Xuanjue and Mu Lingxuan's instigation. They probably want to take action against us again."

"Hmm." Mu Lingye smelled the unique scent on Gu Junxi, a scent that reassured him: "Qingyanzi, Leng Xuanjue, and Mu Lingxuan must have formed an alliance. That idiot Mu Lingxuan keeps teaming up with outsiders."

When Mu Lingye was commenting on Mu Lingxuan, he kept a close eye on Gu Junxi's expression, afraid that she would show any reluctance towards Mu Lingxuan.

Seeing that Gu Junxi's expression remained unchanged, Mu Lingye knew that he was being petty. But he simply couldn't be magnanimous towards Gu Junxi.

Mu Lingye hugged Gu Junxi even tighter: "No matter what conspiracy they are plotting, I will never hurt you."

The carriage stopped in front of the Crown Prince's residence.

Gu Junxi got off the carriage, and Mu Lingye followed behind her, walking one in front of the other.

The guards at the gate of the mansion glanced up casually and noticed that the Crown Princess, who had not returned home for several days, had very red lips and even the corners of her eyes.

The Crown Princess was so angry with the Crown Prince that she cried.

My lips are red; could it be from eating too much chili?

The unmarried guard couldn't help but overthink. The guard who already had a wife and was experienced in human affairs understood that the Crown Princess's behavior was a result of being "bullied" severely by the Crown Prince.

Who says the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince are in a cold war? There's probably some exaggeration involved.

Some people noticed the flaw, but fortunately, the people in the Crown Prince's residence kept their mouths shut and were all 100% loyal to Mu Lingye.

As Gu Junxi entered the Crown Prince's residence, Mu Lingye, who was following behind her, suddenly froze and stopped in his tracks.

When Gu Junxi turned around and saw Mu Lingye's expression, she knew that Mu Lingye had been controlled again.

Xuan Ying also discovered this.