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

According to custom, after the morning court session, the emperor should go to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. Although Jiang Qingyan was very reluctant to see that vicious old woman, she had no choice but to do so.

Jiang Qingyan patted her rumbling stomach, took a deep breath, and decided to have some fresh air to tide her over...

Before even reaching the entrance of Yongshou Palace, Jiang Qingyan could hear a middle-aged woman laughing loudly from inside, which gave her goosebumps...

"How could there be crows cawing in the palace? How unlucky!" Jiang Qingyan muttered under her breath, frowning.

But...the one who dares to laugh so wildly in the Empress Dowager's palace...it must be the Empress Dowager herself!

"The Emperor has arrived!"

As soon as Eunuch Wang announced the news, all the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace knelt down to pay their respects.

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"

"Flat body."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Jiang Qingyan let out a breath and strode into the hall. There she saw a middle-aged woman, about fifty years old, dressed in a royal blue gown, leaning against a chaise lounge in the center of the hall…

That's right, that person was none other than the legendary Empress Dowager Rui...

Judging by her age... the Empress Dowager was over thirty when she gave birth to the original owner of this body, so she must have some skill...

Empress Dowager Rui's lower abdomen was slightly protruding, and her figure was somewhat plump. She half-closed her wrinkled eyes, and a smile that had not yet faded remained on her face.

The Empress Dowager was surrounded by two handsome young men, who looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old.

The two of them were seen massaging the Empress Dowager's legs and shoulders, both with smiles on their faces... It seemed they had used some method to cheer her up.

Judging from their attire, they were neither eunuchs nor guards. Could they be... this old woman's male lovers?

Jiang Qingyan frowned slightly, a wave of nausea rising in her heart. How could this old woman bring herself to take two young men, each the same age as her daughter, as male concubines?

"You two little brats, why don't you pay your respects to the Emperor?" Empress Dowager Rui suppressed her smile and feigned anger towards the two of them.

The two immediately stopped what they were doing, stood up and knelt before Jiang Qingyan: "Your servants pay their respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

“This servant has been serving the Empress Dowager with utmost care and has failed to notice the Emperor’s arrival. Please forgive me, Your Majesty…” one of them whispered.

What? I'm so beautiful and he says he didn't notice?

Jiang Qingyan rolled her eyes at the two of them, then glanced at the Empress Dowager who was half-closing her eyes on the couch. She instantly understood that the Empress Dowager wanted to give her a hard time!

After a moment's thought, a mischievous smile crept into Jiang Qingyan's eyes, and she teased:

"Mother, I see these two handsome men serving you with such joy and focus. They are deaf and blind, so why don't you give them to me and let them serve me too!"

Empress Dowager Rui suddenly opened her eyes and said unhappily:

"That won't do. I'm used to employing these two. What kind of people doesn't the Emperor have around him? Are you trying to compete with me?"

Empress Dowager Rui sat up slightly and gave the two men a look, signaling them to leave.

After the two left, Yinxing also dismissed the others and closed the door. At this time, only Empress Dowager Rui and Jiang Qingyan remained in the hall.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager remained silent, Jiang Qingyan found a seat, poured herself a cup of tea, and casually asked, "Does Your Majesty remember the prophecy made by the Imperial Observatory on the day I ascended the throne?"

"Of course I remember, I was prepared." Empress Dowager Rui picked up a peeled orange and slowly put it in her mouth, looking indifferent. "In a few days, news will come that the beauty is pregnant. The emperor can just wait patiently."

Am I pregnant remotely? IVF? Sperm donation?

Jiang Qingyan paused, then frowned and said:

"Oh? The preparations Your Majesty speaks of are to obscure the royal bloodline? To make me appoint this nobody's child as Crown Prince?"

Empress Dowager Rui slammed her hand on the table, spitting out orange juice, and roared:

"What does the emperor want? To wait to be deposed? Don't forget that the poisonous woman's son, Prince Yun, is still eyeing the throne beneath you!"

Seeing the orange juice sprayed at her, Jiang Qingyan grabbed the tea tray on the table and used it to shield her face. She was determined not to let the juice turn her beautiful face yellow!

Jiang Qingyan put down the tea tray, looking indifferent. "Then I will abdicate the throne to Prince Yun and take my mother to his fiefdom to live a carefree life as a prince. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Empress Dowager Rui was so angry that her veins bulged. She looked around the table, then suddenly grabbed the teacup in her hand and smashed it hard against Jiang Qingyan…

It seems the heaviest thing on this old woman's table is the teacup...

Caught completely off guard by the sudden teacup, Jiang Qingyan felt a sharp pain in her chest...

Is this old woman a superhero? She's so ruthless! Luckily, her chest is wrapped thickly enough, otherwise her breast tissue...

We can't afford to offend this old woman, but we can at least avoid her, right? Jiang Qingyan flicked her sleeves unhappily and got up to leave.

"Do you think you can become a carefree prince by relinquishing the throne? That's wishful thinking!" Empress Dowager Rui raised her voice. "The imperial astronomer's prophecy of a heaven-sent emperor has taken root in everyone's hearts. No matter who becomes emperor, you cannot be allowed to live!"

Jiang Qingyan stopped and turned to look at Empress Dowager Rui. She said coldly, "But the emperor predicted by the Imperial Observatory is my deceased elder brother, not me."

The Empress Dowager paused, her tone becoming even more agitated:

"You know that much! If your brother hadn't been killed by that poisonous woman, how could you have gotten that position? Don't forget, everything you have now belongs to your brother. I wish it had been you who was killed instead of your brother!"

Listen to how vicious this old woman is. She carried and gave birth to the original owner of this body for ten months, so why doesn't she show any motherly affection towards the original owner?

Jiang Qingyan was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth, and didn't want to waste her breath arguing with her. Of course she knew these things, she was just deliberately saying some lame things to annoy the old woman.

Jiang Qingyan said coldly, "It's a pity that I've disappointed my mother. It was I who survived, and now this throne belongs to me."

After saying this, Jiang Qingyan ignored the Empress Dowager, whose face was contorted with anger, and walked straight out of Yongshou Palace.

"Eunuch Wang, I'm hungry." Jiang Qingyan rubbed her chest and mumbled wearily.

"Your Majesty, which concubine's palace do you intend to dine in?" Eunuch Wang asked with a smile, his face full of wrinkles.

Jiang Qingyan rubbed her slightly sleepy eyes and said indifferently, "Whatever, you decide."

The eunuch was flattered and surprised. "Oh ho, today my family can also be in charge of the emperor!"

Then she mentally reviewed the appearances of the newly arrived beauties... Apart from Consort Xia, who was sent back in the middle of the night, she was the most beautiful, followed by Consort Ning from Qingliang Palace! She's the one!

"Prepare the carriage for the Qingliang Palace!"