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

The following day, with a long horn blast, everyone was already waiting in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, anticipating the start of the investiture ceremony.

Jiang Qingyan sat upright on the dragon throne, but her eyes were glancing at Mo Ting, who had a dark expression on his face.

Sensing Jiang Qingyan's gaze, Mo Ting turned slightly, his back to her.

A pang of sadness welled up in Jiang Qingyan's heart; the arrogant regent she had just appeased was angry again...

"Gulimi, Ning Ruyu, enter the hall to receive your titles!" With the eunuch's summons, Jiang Qingyan withdrew her gaze and looked directly at the audience below the stage.

Ning Ruyu, dressed in a violet court robe and adorned with auspicious cloud hairpins, slowly entered the main hall and respectfully knelt before Jiang Qingyan, awaiting the imperial decree of investiture.

Next to enter was Gulimi, the former legitimate princess of Southern Xinjiang.

She was wearing a long, bright red gauze dress, her head covered with a red veil, her face completely obscured, only revealing a pair of large, bright black eyes.

But just looking into her eyes, one could feel an unparalleled charm and allure. She was undoubtedly a beauty!

Eunuch Wang frowned. "How dare you, Gulimi! Why do you not kneel before the Emperor?"

Gulimi glanced at Eunuch Wang, but didn't say anything. She just stared intently at Jiang Qingyan on the dragon throne.

Jiang Qingyan shivered on the spot. Judging from this, they were definitely blaming her for the death of the Southern Border King! But... Gulimi's eyes... could she be trying to assassinate her?

Just as she was thinking about how to get behind Mo Ting the fastest, Gulimi actually knelt down in front of her and slowly lowered her head.

Eunuch Wang snorted coldly before opening the imperial edict and solemnly reading: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Consort Ning Ruyu is virtuous and cautious by nature, diligent and gentle, kind and virtuous, and her character is exemplary. She is hereby promoted to the rank of Consort Wen. This is the imperial decree."

"Your Majesty, I accept the decree and thank you!" Ning Ruyu respectfully accepted the imperial decree from Eunuch Wang's hand, her eyes filled with tears. The Emperor was so kind to her; she would serve him even more diligently from now on!

"Yu'er, get up quickly, your knees hurt from kneeling for so long." Jiang Qingyan said with concern as she looked at Ning Ruyu's red nose.

Ning Ruyu pursed her lips, slowly stood up, glanced at her father standing to the side with a look of satisfaction, and nodded shyly.

Eunuch Wang took another imperial edict from a nearby eunuch, glared at Gulimi, and slowly opened it. After reading its contents, he paused for a moment, then a barely perceptible smile appeared on his face as he read aloud:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Gulimi of the Southern Frontier shall be hereby conferred the title of Shun Zhaoyi. So be it."

That's right, it was just a simple imperial edict of investiture, completely unadorned, as easy as completing a task.

Of course, this was the work of Lin Zhijie, the Minister of Rites.

Jiang Qingyan glanced at Lin Zhijie, who was staring intently at her from below the stage, and quietly gave him a thumbs up. She smiled and thought, "Lin, the Minister, truly understands me!"

Lin Zhijie returned her a doting smile; a little trick, as long as it makes the Emperor happy.

Gulimi remained silent, only kowtowing to Jiang Qingyan, extending her hands to receive the imperial edict, and then standing up on her own.

Jiang Qingyan pinched her chin and scrutinized her. Could this Gulimi be mute? No wonder she was sent here for a political marriage despite being a legitimate princess!

Meanwhile, Mo Ting stared coldly at the two newly appointed officials below the stage, feeling a mix of emotions. He, too, longed for a formal investiture to establish a relationship with the Emperor.

But by what capacity could he bestow titles upon the women in his harem? Consorts? Beauties? Ha, how could he even have such a ridiculous idea…

After the investiture ceremony, Ning Ruyu and Gulimi returned to their respective chambers, awaiting Jiang Qingyan's summons that evening.

Normally, after a concubine is officially conferred a title, the emperor would summon her to his bedchamber that very night. But today, two concubines are being conferred titles at the same time, so it's anyone's guess who will be chosen tonight.

After the ministers dispersed, Mo Ting strode off the stage, intending to leave.

Seeing this, Jiang Qingyan quickly got up from the dragon throne, ran over, grabbed Mo Ting's clothes, and held on tightly.

Mo Ting glanced down at the hem of his robe that had been tugged at, stopped in his tracks, turned around and said to Jiang Qingyan in a low voice, "Is there anything else, Your Majesty?"

Jiang Qingyan quickly grabbed Mo Ting's hand, looking aggrieved. "Mo Ting, last night I told you to let Xia Meier go, but you insisted on letting her in, and then you got angry... I'm so wronged..."

After saying that, Jiang Qingyan pretended to wipe away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes, and then looked at Mo Ting pitifully.

Mo Ting's heart trembled slightly. The Emperor was right. Last night, he had persuaded the Emperor to summon Xia Meier to the palace, but he hadn't expected Xia Meier to use what happened that night to provoke him...

Seeing that Mo Ting's expression had softened, Jiang Qingyan hugged him tightly, then raised her head and kissed his lips, her gaze fixed intently on his eyes.

Mo Ting's body went completely limp. The mental defenses he had built up overnight were easily broken down by Jiang Qingyan, and he couldn't help but laugh at himself.

Mo Ting reached out and wrapped his arm around Jiang Qingyan's waist, a hint of aggression flashing in his eyes. He then lowered his head and captured her lips, sucking deeply. His tongue parted her teeth, exploring her mouth until it intertwined with hers…

The atmosphere heated up again, and Jiang Qingyan was in a great mood. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

She liked Mo Ting, and she liked Mo Ting's kisses...

Mo Ting scooped her up in his arms and strode back to Chaoyang Palace. Their passion, however, didn't cease; they kissed all the way...

The palace maids and eunuchs who were passing by were completely dumbfounded. First, their eyes widened, and then they all turned away, at a loss for what to do...

Inside the Chaoyang Palace, Mo Ting gently placed Jiang Qingyan on the couch, then leaned down and pressed himself against her…

His kisses fell like raindrops, from Jiang Qingyan's forehead, nose, cheeks, and then to her lips, lingering for a long time before slowly moving downwards to her shoulder...

Jiang Qingyan didn't resist, responding and enjoying the tingling sensation Mo Ting brought her... She was ready to completely surrender herself to Mo Ting...

Mo Ting ripped off his own outer garment and slowly removed Jiang Qingyan's. Just as his fingers touched the belt around her waist, that familiar yet annoying voice appeared again from outside the door...

That's right, Empress Dowager Rui has arrived again! And once again, she kicked the door open without waiting for an announcement…

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten your place again?" Empress Dowager Rui's clothes were disheveled, indicating that she had rushed over.

Upon hearing this, Mo Ting immediately got off Jiang Qingyan, then bent down and helped her sit up.

Jiang Qingyan cursed inwardly: It's truly speechless that her mother opened the door for her, speechless to the core!

Jiang Qingyan stood up, straightened her clothes, and forced a smile onto her face. "Mother, what brings you here? I was just about to pay my respects to you!"