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

"Mother, don't you think the Imperial Advisor holds too much weight in Father's heart?" Mu Lingxuan asked tentatively as he helped Consort Li back to her palace.

"So what?" Consort Li said nonchalantly. "Whether he's a human or a ghost, as long as he can help us, that's fine. From now on, be more polite to the Imperial Advisor. The Imperial Advisor promised me that as long as you cooperate, His Majesty can give me that position that has been vacant for so long."

The position that has been vacant for so long in this palace is none other than the Empress's seat.

Mu Lingxuan frowned, seeing a burgeoning ambition in Consort Li's eyes.

The words that had been hidden in my heart for so long finally came out.

“Mother, you will like anyone who can bring you benefits. You will not like anyone who cannot bring you benefits.”

Consort Li didn't see anything wrong with those words. She nodded and said, "Of course, if he can't bring me any benefit, what use is he to me?"

"Then, has this always been how you treat your son?" Mu Lingxuan's voice was choked with emotion, his eyes slightly red, and his voice was a little sob. "That's why you only give me a smile when I've secured benefits and earned face for you. As long as I can't bring you any benefits, you'll scold me."

Mu Lingxuan had sensed this attitude from Consort Li when he was very young.

This made him feel that he was not Consort Li's son, but a tool in her hands.

Tools that can help her gain favor.

Although Mu Lingxuan wasn't entirely obedient to her, he had never disobeyed her, much less questioned her. So, Mu Lingxuan's sudden questioning startled Consort Li for a moment before she reacted.

A flicker of panic crossed Consort Li's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and took the initiative.

"Mu Lingxuan, what are you doubting about me? You are my only son. How could I possibly compare you to others? In my heart, you are different from everyone else."

"Alright, since you miss your mother so much, then I have nothing more to say to you. I was just restored to my former rank, which should have been a happy occasion, but now it's all ruined. Go back, I don't want to see you again today."

Consort Li shook off Mu Lingxuan's hand and instead took the hands of other palace maids to enter the hall.

Mu Lingxuan stood there, watching Consort Li's retreating figure, and suddenly began to reflect. He wondered if he had really done something wrong.

He probably wasn't a likable child from childhood to adulthood, otherwise, despite his efforts, he still couldn't gain his mother's approval.

Mu Lingxuan left the palace dejectedly and returned to the Xuanwang Mansion. He walked through the corridor and passed through the garden. The servants he encountered along the way all greeted him.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Xuan."

Mu Lingxuan stopped in front of a cleaning lady; he recognized this lady.

Every time I returned home, whether it was early or late, I would almost always run into her on the road.

This is definitely a hardworking and dedicated servant.

He's just a bit ugly, with scars on his face.

Despite this, Mu Lingxuan inexplicably developed a liking for this nanny.

As if possessed, he suddenly stopped in front of the old woman and asked with interest, "How do you and your son usually get along? If he doesn't do anything to benefit you, would you still like him?"

The old woman trembled with joy at being questioned by Mu Lingxuan.

She glanced quickly at Mu Lingxuan, then continued to bow respectfully: "This old servant has never spent time with my son. He was taken away when he was very young. Although I have never spent time with him, I know very well that I will never dislike him just because he cannot bring me any benefit."

"No matter what, he is still this old servant's son. This old servant only wants him to be happy. What he can bring me is secondary. It doesn't need to be considered."

"It must be so wonderful to be your son," Mu Lingxuan exclaimed.

He found himself somewhat envious of the son the old servant spoke of.

To be loved so warmly by one's own mother.

"Prince Xuan, has the Empress done something to upset you?" After a moment of silence, the old servant suddenly spoke, startling Xingchi so much that he almost lost his soul.

How dare a servant inquire about his master's affairs?

This is like an old man hanging himself, tired of living.

"How dare you!" Xingchi shouted.

The old servant then realized he had said the wrong thing and knelt on the ground.

For some reason, Mu Lingxuan felt dizzy and unwell whenever the old servant knelt before him.

He didn't want to argue with an ignorant and dim-witted servant. He glanced at Xingchi, indicating that the matter should be dropped.

When Mu Lingxuan returned to his palace, he was struck by the image of Consort Li regaining power and then by Qingyanzi's smug and arrogant demeanor, which gave him a terrible headache.

Although he no longer had the same strong desire to keep Gu Junxi by his side as he did at the beginning.

But right now, I really miss Gu Junxi.

night.

Taking advantage of the quiet of the night, Mu Lingxuan appeared near the Ningyuan Marquis's residence and spoke silently into the mansion: "Xixi, get up. Now, get away from everyone and leave the mansion."

Hearing the summons, Gu Junxi, who was already asleep on the bed, suddenly opened her eyes and sat up.

Xi'er, who was on night watch, noticed that Gu Junxi was acting strangely and immediately went to find Ning Hanshuang and Qin Yue.

Ning Hanshuang understood that Mu Lingxuan was exerting control.

Gu Junxi had already given instructions that it wasn't appropriate to expose Mu Lingxuan yet, and that everyone should help them put on an act. For the sake of the so-called bigger picture, Ning Hanshuang and Qin Yue, although they wanted to run out and kill Mu Lingxuan right now, held back.

He waved his hand, telling Xi'er to pretend she didn't know and go back to sleep, while he watched Gu Junxi climb over the wall and leave.

"You've come." Mu Lingxuan sat on the rock, watching Gu Junxi approach with her stiff body.

Perhaps she got up in too much of a hurry; Gu Junxi's clothes were not neat, her hair was a bit messy, and she wasn't wearing any jewelry. Her face was completely bare.

But the more this happens, the more it highlights Gu Junxi's beauty.

Gu Junxi stopped in front of Mu Lingxuan. Mu Lingxuan stood up and gently pulled and tidied Gu Junxi's hair and clothes: "You must be very uncomfortable being controlled like this by me."

“I don’t want to control you anymore, but this is for your own good. Qingyanzi has completely gone mad. If I don’t protect you, he might do something to harm you.”

"Come back to the Prince's Palace with me. Don't worry, I won't hide you forever. Once I become the Crown Prince and ascend the throne, I will give you a legitimate identity again. At that time, no one will know that you were ever married or pregnant. All those stains will be erased."

The more Mu Lingxuan talked, the more feasible this approach seemed.

No matter what Mu Lingxuan said, Gu Junxi in front of him remained expressionless, as if he were performing a one-man show.

Gradually, Mu Lingxuan began to feel bored.

He exhaled a breath of stale air: "I've already had a courtyard prepared for you, along with your favorite food and decorations. It's getting late, let's go back to the palace first."

The courtyard that Mu Lingxuan prepared for Gu Junxi was in the most remote part of the Xuanwang Mansion.

Although the place was remote, he had assigned highly skilled guards to guard the courtyard gate, indicating that he truly intended to imprison Gu Junxi.