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

Jiang Qingyan was surprised that Mo Ting had become so understanding, and she didn't know what to say.

During the morning court session, Lin Zhijie cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the Xia Kingdom has set a date; the Third Prince will be sent here on the fifteenth of next month."

Jiang Qingyan nodded. "You can bring him in from outside the city gate. There's no need to let anyone else into the city."

At this moment, Lord Ning stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I wonder what rank will be bestowed upon the Third Prince of Xia after he enters the palace?"

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Qingyan said, "The Southern Frontier is powerful, so let's bestow upon him the title of Consort."

Lord Ning frowned, feeling quite dissatisfied. General Lu and Military Advisor Yi were important officials in the court, so it was one thing to give them the titles of Imperial Concubine and Imperial Concubine.

The third prince sent by the Xia Kingdom for a marriage alliance is clearly a discarded son of another country. Should his rank be above that of his daughter?

Jiang Qingyan noticed Ning's displeasure and added, "Consort Wen has recently won my favor. Last night, when she served me, I promised her that I would promote her to the rank of Consort Wen."

Lord Ning was overjoyed: "Thank you for your kindness to my daughter, Your Majesty!"

I had assumed the Emperor favored only the Empress and would no longer favor any other women in the harem, but last night it was his own daughter who served him. If she were to conceive a son, then the position of Crown Prince might be within her grasp...

Upon hearing this, the other ministers also had their own thoughts. Their daughters had been living alone in the harem for a long time, and they had previously just thought it was one thing for the emperor to be obsessed with men. But now that Ning Ruyu had been promoted again and again, it had rekindled their hopes.

After the morning court session, Jiang Qingyan was surprised not to run into Gulimi, and felt a little empty inside.

Instead of returning directly to Chaoyang Palace, she went to Gulimi's Chunhua Palace and ordered Eunuch Wang to fetch a talking parrot from the Imperial Household Department to be sent there as well.

Gulimie, still dressed in a red dress, stood expressionless at the door, staring at Jiang Qingyan and the parrot beside her.

Jiang Qingyan smiled and said, "This parrot can talk. If you're feeling bored, you can chat with it."

Gulimi rolled her eyes at her and said coldly, "I'm not stupid, why would I talk to an animal?"

The parrot was displeased. It glared at Gulimi with its big, round eyes and yelled, "You're the beast!"

Jiang Qingyan chuckled: "This parrot is quite amusing. Its stubbornness is just like yours!"

Gulimi turned around angrily and went into the room, where she sat on the tatami mat and stuffed grapes into her mouth.

Seeing that her angry expression was somewhat adorable, Jiang Qingyan smiled and followed her into the room. She sat down beside her and asked softly, "Why didn't you try to run into me today?"

Gulimi peeled a grape and said coldly, "Anyway, you won't let me leave the palace, and I don't want to see you either."

Jiang Qingyan stared at her intently. "Gulimi, I apologize for what happened to your father, but he was killed on the way, which was not my intention. As the ruler of a country, it is only natural for me to recover lost territory."

Gulimi paused in peeling grapes, her heart filled with complex emotions. She hadn't expected the Emperor to say these things to her, much less apologize.

Jiang Qingyan took the grapes from Gulimi's hand, gently peeled them, and fed them to Gulimi. "I hope you are happy and don't let these things trap you for the rest of your life. This is not what your father would want to see either."

Gulimi lowered her eyes, and a crystal tear slowly slid down her fingertip. When she first learned that her father was going to send her to Da'an for a political marriage, she was extremely unwilling and locked herself in her room to refuse to see her father.

She only reluctantly glanced at her father on the day of her wedding, never imagining that it would be the last time she would see him.

Jiang Qingyan gently put her arm around Gulimi's shoulder and comforted her, "I know you hate me, and I am willing to make it up to you. As long as you don't cause trouble to leave the palace, you can make any request."

Gulimee wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down.

After a moment, she slowly said, "You don't need to say these things to coax me. I've said it before, I find you disgusting for having affairs with men."

After saying that, she broke free from Jiang Qingyan's embrace and ran out.

Watching her retreating figure, Jiang Qingyan sighed. It was impossible to resolve the hatred in her heart with just a few words; a gradual approach would be best...

Back at Chaoyang Palace, Mo Ting was waiting for her at the door. Seeing her looking distraught, he quickly asked with concern, "Husband, what's wrong? Did something happen at court?"

Jiang Qingyan shook her head. "It's alright, let's have our meal."

After breakfast, Jiang Qingyan told Mo Ting about the marriage alliance with Xia Kingdom. She thought Mo Ting would be unhappy, but he was surprised to find that he was very calm.

Mo Ting stroked Jiang Qingyan's head and said softly, "As long as my husband has me in his heart, that's enough."

Since becoming empress, Mo Ting's thoughts have gradually changed. He no longer only wanted to possess Jiang Qingyan for himself, but was more like a qualified mother of the country.

Jiang Qingyan felt a warmth in her heart. How could she not love such a wonderful person as Mo Ting?

At noon, Jiang Qingyan stared at the food on the table and asked Liang Cheng, "Is there any leftover food in the kitchen?"

Liang Cheng nodded: "Your Majesty, the small kitchen still has plenty left over."

Jiang Qingyan glanced at Mo Ting, who was washing his hands in the courtyard, and whispered, "Have someone send a portion to Chunhua Palace. Send a portion to her for every meal from now on."

Liang Cheng scratched his head, puzzled, but didn't ask any questions. He would just do as the emperor said.

For half a month, Jiang Qingyan did not go to Chunhua Palace again, nor did she see Gulimi after court. However, the meals sent to her continued to arrive every day.

Soon it was time for Lu Nian to marry into the palace. Unlike the grand wedding of the emperor and empress, Lu Nian, as a concubine, could only have a simple ceremony before being sent into the palace.

Mo Ting offered to move out and find another palace so that the Emperor could summon someone to serve him in bed, but Jiang Qingyan refused.

Chaoyang Palace is her bedroom, and as her principal wife, Mo Ting should live here every day.

Mo Ting was deeply moved. He held Jiang Qingyan in his arms and said softly, "Throughout history, empresses have lived in their own palaces awaiting the emperor's summons. I'm probably the only one in the entire world who can live in the emperor's palace every day..."

Jiang Qingyan gently kissed Mo Ting's lips and said earnestly, "You are my first man, and the most important man in my life. Naturally, you are different from others."

Lu Nian was assigned to the Yuechu Palace, which was closest to the Chaoyang Palace. After sending all the palace maids and eunuchs away, Jiang Qingyan resumed her female attire.

Dressed in a bright red wedding gown, she smiled slightly as she looked at Lu Nian, who was sitting quietly on the bed, and walked over to gently lift Lu Nian's veil.

Lu Nian slowly raised her eyes, and upon seeing Jiang Qingyan's attire, she was greatly surprised, "You...are..."