After my whole family overheard my thoughts, they went berserk.

The sound was like that of a pig being slaughtered.

The dog god was lying on her head, scratching her hair.

Before long, the Crown Princess's hair was shaved into a mess, her face turned pale with fright, and she ran out of Huayao Palace in a panic.

Peace returned to Huayao Palace.

The Empress held Shi Miaomiao in her arms and comforted her with gentle words.

"Don't be afraid, Mommy's here, I'm not afraid."

Shi Miaomiao nestled in the Empress's arms, feeling warm inside.

Mother's love is the warmest love in the world.

"Not only is Mother beautiful, but she's also so gentle with Miaomiao. Mother is the best mother in the entire realm!"

The Empress nodded silently.

Yes, Miaomiao is also one of a kind in the world.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

The emperor, clad in his dragon robe, sat majestically on his high throne, but his face was solemn and his heart was filled with melancholy.

The officials, both civil and military, remained silent in the court, even reluctant to offer suggestions or advice.

After the court session, they cornered him in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"emperor!"

Among the dozen or so ministers, the middle-aged man at the head of the group stepped forward.

Although he was short, dark-skinned, and had an unremarkable appearance, his voice resounded throughout the entire hall.

He was the head of all officials, the prime minister of the Huayao Kingdom, 'Rong Lizheng,' and also the father of Consort Rong.

"Yesterday, my daughter Rong Wanwan gave birth to Princess Huayao together with the Empress. This is a joyous occasion. However, while Huayao Palace is bustling with activity, Rongde Palace is deserted and no one cares about her."

"Your Majesty, I am loyal to my country and lead by example. I have taught my children since they were young to put the greater good before their own families. Now that I am old, I have no great ambitions. I only hope that my family will be safe and my children will be happy. I hope Your Majesty will understand my good intentions!"

Rong Lizheng's words were quite heartbreaking; he was almost in tears.

The emperor was also heartbroken.

Prime Minister Rong was only in his early forties, just nine years older than him. His words were deeply moving, as if he were giving his last words.

Lu Lizheng withdrew, and the ministers stepped forward one after another, taking turns to lecture the emperor.

"Your Majesty, my daughter is the apple of my eye. She has been in the palace for five years, but she is still a virgin. If word gets out, where will I put my face? The ministers will laugh at our Wu family for not even being able to give birth to an heir for the royal family!" Minister of Revenue Wu Xu complained loudly.

The emperor was worried for him.

Hasn't it already gotten out?

"Your Majesty, there's also my sister. She fantasizes about you favoring her every day. A few days ago, she was diagnosed with delusional disorder!" General Chen Yizhi also complained.

The commotion was so intense that the emperor was completely overwhelmed and had no way to escape.

They all knew about the affairs of the inner palace, but it was inconvenient to report them in the court, so they brought them to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. But what difference was there between this and reporting them in the court?

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, my cousin misses you so much, she's practically going crazy!" Zhao Meng, the Minister of War, was a stutterer.

The emperor sighed helplessly.

Looking back, it all started more than a decade ago.

When he first ascended the throne, his foundation was not stable. All the ministers assisted him with their best efforts, each fulfilling their duties and doing their best for the court. He was very pleased that his ministers were so understanding and righteous.

After several years of joint efforts, the Hua Yao people have a solid foundation, and no external enemies dare to offend them.

Located at the center of the continent, the Huayao Kingdom is rich in spiritual energy and protected by a spiritual tree, boasting diverse geological formations. The entire population cultivates wasteland and grows medicinal herbs, leading to prosperity for every family. It has now become the wealthiest of the five kingdoms.

But to his surprise, the ministers began to try to force people into his life. Led by Prime Minister Rong, they forcibly placed his daughter in the Empress Dowager's palace.

The Empress, being a woman of great virtue, agreed to let her enter the palace. After this precedent was set, ministers followed suit, and he accepted them all, but never touched her.

Now, the ministers have come together to attack him; this is clearly forcing him into a corner!

"Your Majesty, the royal family has always needed to have many descendants to ensure the prosperity of the nation. Your Majesty must not act arbitrarily and allow the royal family to become sparsely populated, thus hindering the nation's fortune!"

Rong Lizheng's words were all reasonable, and the emperor could not refute them.

But it's his right to choose whomever he wants to favor.

Now look at what they're doing, even interfering with where he plants his seeds!

The emperor was in a dilemma; should he agree or not?

It wasn't until Eunuch Lu returned from Huayao Palace that they saw a glimmer of hope for survival.

After some advice from Eunuch Lu, the Emperor finally spoke.

"Your words are all reasonable, and I understand them all. However... I am unwell, and I am afraid I may not be able to recover for a while... But I will do my best!"

He waved his hand: "Everyone, go home, go home."

Upon hearing this, the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment, but instead of dispersing, they engaged in a heated discussion.

It seems even His Majesty has his own troubles!

but!

They were all men, and they could understand the emperor's feelings. As the ruler of a country, it was only natural to be ashamed to talk about such a problem!

Now that the Emperor has laid his cards on the table, let's all work together to help him overcome his troubles and get through this difficult time!

"Your Majesty, I know of an old man in the market who specializes in selling a secret-recipe plaster. Just three plasters will cure any ailment!" Lu Lizheng said.

The Emperor's gossip-loving nature was instantly piqued, and he asked, "Oh? Could it be that Prime Minister Rong also has some unknown secrets?"

"Your Majesty, I have heard that the spiritual energy on White Jade Mountain is the most abundant. As long as one climbs to the peak, absorbs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and meditates for forty-nine days, one can strengthen one's body and cure all diseases!"

The emperor looked at his ministers, who were racking their brains for him. How come they had never noticed before that each of them loved to meddle in other people's business?

Today, in the imperial court, he inquired about how to address the issue of Gui County, which suffers from severe flooding due to its low-lying terrain, causing immense hardship for its people. Everyone remained silent.

Why focus solely on the topic of hidden illnesses?

"We hope Your Majesty will take care of your health and regain your former glory!" Several ministers stepped forward and said earnestly.

Throughout the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the ministers spoke in unison, shouting loudly.

"May Your Majesty take care of your health and regain your former glory!"

That voice was almost loud enough to be shouted out loud.

"Get out!"

The emperor was furious. He threw down the memorial on the table and flew into a rage.

The ministers knew that only mental illness and hidden ailments are difficult to cure, and it was understandable that the emperor was irritable and unpredictable.

We can only try to be more understanding!

"Let's go, let's go." The officials left the Hall of Mental Cultivation one after another.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation returned to its usual tranquility, but the Emperor was in a terrible state.

He glared angrily at Eunuch Lu.

"What terrible idea did you give me? You're making me sound sick even though I'm not!"

Eunuch Lu was helpless.

I intended to fool them, since no one would bother to verify such a thing.

But I only found out today that the ministers of Huayao are quite gossipy!

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Eunuch Lu knelt in the main hall and begged the Emperor for forgiveness.

The Emperor looked at Eunuch Lu and decided not to make things difficult for him.

It's quite reasonable that this terrible idea came from Eunuch Lu!

Having escaped the courtiers, the emperor was still distracted, his mind preoccupied with Miaomiao.

Inside the Huayao Palace.

"Your Majesty, I greet you!" the Empress said, bowing.

As soon as the Emperor entered the palace, he couldn't wait to ask, "Is Miaomiao sleeping?"

"Miaomiao is playing on the tatami." She doesn't like being held and prefers to play by herself.

Shi Miaomiao had the token tucked in her arms and kept licking it with her little tongue, leaving her face and hands covered in saliva.

"It seems that Miaomiao really likes the token I gave her!"