Having many handsome men means no worries; pampering them all keeps me in good spirits.

After paying her respects to the Empress Dowager as usual, Jiang Qingyan went to Qingliang Palace for a meal. Ning Ruyu was as obedient and ingratiating as ever, but she also restrained herself and followed proper etiquette. Jiang Qingyan felt very relaxed in her company.

After breakfast, Jiang Qingyan was about to get up and leave when Ning Ruyu grabbed her hand. A hint of grievance seemed to appear in her eyes as she murmured, "Your Majesty, may I serve you tonight?"

"What?" Jiang Qingyan didn't quite hear.

Ning Ruyu pursed her lips, raised her voice slightly, and asked again, "Your Majesty, may I serve you tonight?"

Jiang Qingyan was speechless for a moment. She had just told Mo Ting that she wanted to choose him tonight, but... since Mo Ting said he was unwilling, he probably wouldn't come even if she chose him, so she might as well agree. Anyway, Ning Ruyu was very obedient and just slept quietly next to her.

"Okay." Jiang Qingyan patted Ning Ruyu's head and agreed with a gentle smile.

Back at Chaoyang Palace, Jiang Qingyan looked anxious, pacing back and forth in the palace, wondering if Mo Ting knew about her leaving the palace.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects." Yi Luo, dressed in black robes and still wearing Lu Nian's face, suddenly appeared behind Jiang Qingyan, her voice clear and crisp.

"Who? Who? Who?" Jiang Qingyan was startled. After recognizing the person in front of her, she gently patted her chest and glared at him unhappily: "Yi Luo, you scared me!"

Yi Luo asked in confusion, "How could Your Majesty tell at a glance that I am not General Lu?"

His disguise skills were no joke. If the Emperor recognized him at their first meeting because he knew the reason behind it, then later, when he was with Lu Nian, he always used his own voice. But this time, he used both Lu Nian's appearance and voice, yet the Emperor still saw through his disguise at a glance…

Considering everything that has happened before, could it be that the emperor is really pretending to be an incompetent fool, while actually concealing his talents?

Jiang Qingyan smiled smugly at him, "That's because I have discerning eyes! No matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve, I can see right through you!"

If it were before, Jiang Qingyan would never have recognized him, but now, the way Lu Nian looked at her... it was so intense that she could tell whether the person in front of her was Lu Nian himself.

Yi Luo was speechless. The Emperor was still the same unreliable Emperor. Never mind, let's get down to business.

"After returning to my residence, I inquired with Ying. The Regent has not visited Chaoyang Palace in the past few days, nor has he spoken to him. Presumably, he has not been exposed."

Jiang Qingyan touched her nose. Mo Ting really held a grudge until now. But since he hadn't been discovered, what did he mean by what he said?

"By the way, have Lu Nian and Lv Yao returned to the General's Mansion?" Jiang Qingyan asked.

"I have already returned to my residence, but I have not yet informed Miss Green Medicine of the Emperor's true identity. This humble subject has come here today also for Miss Green Medicine's sake..." Yi Luo nodded, a hint of difficulty appearing on his face.

Seeing his stammering, Jiang Qingyan frowned slightly. "What's wrong? Just say it!"

Yi Luo glanced at Jiang Qingyan, took a deep breath, and said, "When General Lu brought Miss Lüyao back to the manor, they happened to be seen by Old Madam Lu. Seeing that Miss Lüyao was pretty and charming, and well-mannered, Old Madam Lu took a liking to her at first sight and immediately wanted to arrange a marriage between General Lu and Miss Lüyao..."

"What?" Jiang Qingyan's eyes widened. Why hadn't she thought of this before? No, she had to bring the green medicine back to the palace as soon as possible, lest something unexpected happen!

Yi Luo lowered his eyes. He knew about the relationship between the Emperor and Lu Nian, but this Green Medicine... was, after all, a legitimate woman. If Lu Nian really married her, it would be better than marrying this unreliable Emperor...

Jiang Qingyan grabbed Yi Luo's arm and said seriously, "Tell Lu Nian to stay calm! Tomorrow I will summon Lü Yao to the palace!"

Yi Luo cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave. Since that was the case, he would immediately return to the General's Mansion to deliver the message.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Qingyan did not let go of his arm. Instead, she suddenly pulled him even closer.

Jiang Qingyan narrowed her almond-shaped eyes slightly, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Since you're already here, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Yi Luo was taken aback. What kind of trouble was the Emperor going to cause this time? Could it be that he was thinking about Lu Nian and wanted to use him to satisfy his thirst for food?

"Your Majesty...this humble subject must return to deliver a message to General Lu..."

"Hey~ no rush, no rush, stay with me for a while before you go." Jiang Qingyan's tone was teasing, and she stroked Yi Luo's cheek with one hand, then gently tore off the human skin mask, revealing Yi Luo's original bewitching and handsome appearance.

Yi Luo was completely stunned... He didn't dare to move at all... Only his eyes darted around following Jiang Qingyan's movements...

Jiang Qingyan gazed at the stunningly beautiful face with satisfaction, a slight smile playing on her lips. She said softly, "This face is too beautiful. From now on, you are not allowed to show it to anyone else, only to me. Do you understand?"

"I...I remember..." Yi Luo was speechless. Why couldn't he let others see it? He needed this face to marry a good wife! Fine, since the emperor had given the order, he would just disguise himself with an even more beautiful face!

Jiang Qingyan seemed to see through his thoughts and added, "From now on, you are not allowed to wear handsome human skin masks. You can only wear ones with ordinary appearances. Hmm... and don't be too ugly, otherwise I will feel disgusted if I see them occasionally!"

Yi Luo was completely devastated. It didn't matter if he looked good or not, what did they want from him...?

Suddenly, he felt a wetness on his lips. Yi Luo snapped back to reality, his pupils dilating instantly... The Emperor... was actually kissing him!

Startled, he fell to the ground with a thud, then quickly got up and fled Chaoyang Palace in a panic…

"Hahaha... How interesting is this strange Luo?" Jiang Qingyan held her stomach, almost laughing until tears streamed down her face.

Meanwhile, in the Regent's Palace, Mo Ting sat in his study reading memorials, occasionally glancing towards the door, as if waiting for something.

“Your Highness, you have been bringing memorials back to your residence to review these past few days. I believe this is inappropriate. If this continues, His Majesty will surely be displeased,” said Yun Ao, Mo Ting’s personal guard, bowing.

Mo Ting frowned. "I know what I'm doing."

A few days ago, the Emperor stopped going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to review memorials. He was also angry and unwilling to stay in the palace, so he had no choice but to take the memorials back to his residence to review them.

“But…” Yun Ao wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Mo Ting.

"Alright, I know what I'm doing." Mo Ting waved his hand impatiently. "You may leave now."

Yun Ao cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave, but was stopped by Mo Ting.

"Um...did Eunuch Wang come today?" Mo Ting looked down at the memorial, his tone indifferent, as if he were asking casually.

"Eunuch Wang? What's he doing here? The Emperor summoned Consort Ning to his bedchamber today, so Eunuch Wang must be preparing right now," Yun Ao replied, scratching his head.

Mo Ting paused, his hand holding the memorial pausing, then unconsciously tightened its grip, tearing the memorial in two...

The Emperor summoned someone else to his bedchamber again… Wasn’t she supposed to choose him tonight? Turns out she was just deceiving him again…

Mo Ting felt incredibly gloomy. If she liked the beauties in the harem, why did she provoke him in the first place? And why did she have to announce to the ministers in court today that he belonged to her?

Yun Ao was startled; he had never seen the prince so enraged before… He quickly left the study…

After Yun Ao left, Mo Ting looked at the door again, a self-deprecating smile on his lips. He would never believe that emperor who was spouting nonsense again!