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

Jiang Qingyan glanced at the Empress Dowager's arm and felt a little nauseous. She quickly went to the table and took a sip of tea to calm herself down.

She slowly began to speak: "Has Your Majesty heard about Consort Xia's pregnancy?"

The Empress Dowager withdrew her arm, glanced at Jiang Qingyan, and said coldly, "I did not do this."

Jiang Qingyan knew, of course, that the Empress Dowager hadn't done this. Xia Meier's family was of such low status that the Empress Dowager would never choose her to get pregnant, no matter who she wanted.

Jiang Qingyan sat in her chair, her tone indifferent: "I know that this was not done by the Empress Dowager. Xia Meier was sent by my brother."

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes. "Does the Emperor mean that Xia Meier's child was also caused by that bastard's men?"

Seeing that the Empress Dowager had been successfully guided step by step, Jiang Qingyan snorted coldly, "Your Majesty's purpose is surely clear to Mother. My harem has no heirs. If I were to establish a woman as Empress, she would certainly have to be pregnant first. If Xia Meier becomes Empress because of her son, then Mother thinks... what will Your Majesty do next?"

The Empress Dowager tilted her head back and pondered for a moment before saying, "If that's the case, then let's do as the Emperor wishes. However... what are the Emperor's plans regarding Xia Meier's child?"

Jiang Qingyan took a sip of tea and said softly, "At this time, Your Majesty must have sent people to secretly protect Xia Meier to avoid alerting her. I want to observe for a while before making a decision."

The Empress Dowager nodded: "Since it's related to that bastard, the Emperor really has to be careful. That bastard is just as ruthless and cunning as his mother. We must be on guard!"

Seeing that the Empress Dowager's face was gradually turning red and her body was rubbing against the bed, it was clear that she had desires again.

Jiang Qingyan curled her lips into a smile. Since she had already achieved her goal, she didn't want to stay any longer and quickly left under the pretext of reviewing memorials.

When passing by the Imperial Garden, Jiang Qingyan specially picked a few flowers, thinking that she would take them back and put them in her bedroom, so that Mo Ting would feel better if he saw them.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Xia Meier, who was taking a walk accompanied by palace maids.

When Xia Meier saw Jiang Qingyan in the Imperial Garden, she ran over with a happy expression. The maid beside her was so startled that she quickly supported her and said with a worried look, "My lady, you are pregnant. You can't run like this!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Meier lifted her skirt and slowly slowed her pace.

Jiang Qingyan raised an eyebrow, signaling the others to move away, leaving only her and Xia Meier.

Xia Meier bowed and said, "Meier greets Your Majesty."

Jiang Qingyan waved her hand, signaling her to get up, and then went straight to the point: "Tell me, whose child is it?"

Hearing this, Xia Meier looked blank. "Of course it's the Emperor's!"

Jiang Qingyan frowned. "Stop pretending. I haven't even touched you, so where would a child come from?"

Xia Meier looked utterly astonished: "Does Your Majesty intend to deny it? Meier's child is yours!"

Seeing Xia Meier's stubbornness, Jiang Qingyan grew impatient. "If you tell the truth now, I will spare your life and the child's, and then find a chance to send you out of the palace. If you continue to be stubborn, you'd better think carefully about the consequences of confusing the royal bloodline..."

Upon hearing Jiang Qingyan's words, Xia Meier's eyes suddenly reddened, and two streams of tears welled up in her eyes. With a sob in her voice, she said aggrievedly, "Meier is confident in her beauty, which is no less than any other woman in the palace. But the Emperor is always so indifferent to Meier. Meier doesn't know what she did wrong to make the Emperor so disgusted with her!"

Seeing Xia Meier crying so heartbrokenly, Jiang Qingyan didn't want to get too involved. She figured it would be better to use Xia Meier's pregnancy as a pretext to smoothly secure Mo Ting's position as Empress, and also to ensure Lu Nian and Yi Luo's status...

Jiang Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, her tone softening slightly, "Alright, stop crying, it's not good for the baby in your belly. Go back and rest, it's windy outside."

After saying this, he gestured for a palace maid to come and help Xia Meier back, and then casually picked a few flowers before returning to Chaoyang Palace.

As soon as she entered the hall, Jiang Qingyan was stunned by the table full of delicious food, while Mo Ting was sitting at the table, resting his chin on his hand and looking out.

Upon seeing Jiang Qingyan return, Mo Ting quickly stepped forward and took her hand, smiling gently, "Didn't my husband go to the Empress Dowager's palace? How come you still have time to make so many delicious dishes?"

Jiang Qingyan was completely bewildered when Liang Cheng walked in carrying a plate of roast goose, looking anxious. "Your Majesty, you're back..."

Jiang Qingyan suddenly realized that Liang Cheng had made all of this. As expected of the most famous craftsman in Da'an, he really had a pair of skillful hands!

Jiang Qingyan curled her lips into a smile: "Not bad, it looks and smells delicious, but the taste... well, I'll have to wait until my man has tried it before I can give my opinion..."

After saying that, he picked up the chopsticks and handed them to Mo Ting, indicating that he should try them one by one.

Mo Ting took the chopsticks with a puzzled look. Could it be that Liang Cheng made all these dishes?

After tasting all the dishes on the table, Mo Ting nodded in satisfaction, "Hmm... although it's not as delicious as what my husband makes, it's still nine-tenths similar! From now on, my husband won't have to trouble himself to cook; let Liang Cheng do it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingyan also picked up her chopsticks, casually picked up a dish, took a bite, and gave it a thumbs up, praising, "The taste is really good! Liang Cheng, you are too amazing! It seems that I should write more recipes for you, so that Mo Ting won't get tired of these few dishes."

Upon being praised by Jiang Qingyan, Liang Cheng's ears instantly turned bright red. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty... Then this humble subject will take his leave..."

Mo Ting glanced at Liang Cheng's back and, seeing how sensible he was, casually remarked, "He's much more pleasing to the eye than those two."

Jiang Qingyan tore off a goose leg and handed it to Mo Ting, raising an eyebrow and asking, "Hmm? Which two people?"

Mo Ting took the goose leg, still letting Jiang Qingyan take a bite first, before putting it in his own bowl. He shook his head and said, "It's alright, husband, please eat first."

Jiang Qingyan smiled. Since Liang Cheng's cooking skills had been recognized by Mo Ting, Mo Ting would no longer have to wait for her to come back and cook for him on an empty stomach.

The next morning at court, Eunuch Wang read out the imperial edict, officially naming Mo Ting as Empress.

With the support of Lu Nian and the Empress Dowager's faction, the few remaining dissenting old ministers remained silent, simply standing there shaking their heads and sighing.

Seeing that Mo Ting's investiture was going so smoothly, Jiang Qingyan took the opportunity to mention Lu Nian and Yi Luo again.

She coughed lightly, "By the way, I have another announcement to make. I am pleased with General Lu Nian and his strategist Yi Luo. I hereby bestow upon Lu Nian the title of Noble Consort and upon Yi Luo the title of Consort, along with their official positions in the court."

The room erupted in chaos. Making Feng Moting empress was already outrageous enough, but how could they make General Lu and Yi Junshi concubines?

But when they met Lu Nian's icy gaze, they all fell silent. He was the Jade-Faced Yama... If they opposed him now... they would probably be beheaded on the spot...

Seeing the ministers' cowardly appearance, Jiang Qingyan chuckled and said, "Alright, since everyone has no objections, then this matter is settled. Minister Lin, you will be in charge of preparing the wedding ceremony."

Lin Zhijie, who was looking at Lu Nian with envy, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant obeys the decree."

Jiang Qingyan could clearly see that Lin Zhijie's expression was somewhat complicated, seemingly tinged with disappointment. She curled her lips into a smile, thinking: Don't worry, you're next...