Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Just then, Mu Xinchen walked in and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Regent."

"The imperial edict has been delivered to Princess Ping Le."

"Your Majesty, Princess Ping Le has already received the decree."

"Very well. The Imperial Observatory shall immediately select an auspicious day. The Ministry of Rites shall also begin preparations for the Regent's wedding immediately, without any delays."

Everyone looked bewildered, not understanding what was going on.

Mu Jingfeng asked, "I wonder who the Regent intends to marry?"

"Princess Ping Le," Mu Jinchen replied.

"What? Princess Ping Le?" Duke Su was shocked.

"The Regent is truly selfless; he's even willing to marry Princess Ping Le himself just to keep her here," Mu Jingfeng mocked.

"I finally found someone I liked, but you all forced her to marry a foreign ruler. If I don't take action, won't I end up alone forever?"

“Your Highness, isn’t this a bit too sudden?” said the Duke of Su.

"We have never heard of any relationship between the Regent and Princess Ping Le before, but now he has suddenly bestowed a marriage upon them. It is inevitable that people will have doubts. Shouldn't the Regent give us a reasonable explanation?"

"Hasn't Prince Qing heard that I went to the mountain villa with Princess Ping Le some time ago? It's all over the streets and alleys. Doesn't Prince Qing know about it?"

"If that's the case, why didn't the Regent say so a few days ago, but waited until today?" Mu Jingfeng asked.

"I did not intend to express my feelings under these circumstances, but you all insisted on a marriage alliance, even going so far as to kneel outside the Imperial Study for several hours. If I do not make my intentions clear, Lord Wang, Lord Xu, and the other officials will probably kill themselves right here in this hall to show their resolve."

"May I ask, Regent, is your refusal to agree to a marriage alliance for the public good or for personal reasons?" Prince Qing questioned.

"It is for both public and private purposes. Now that our Yunyue Kingdom is at its peak and our army is strong, why should we be humble and subservient?"

"What Your Highness says is very true."

"Your Highness is wise."

"Alright, there's no need to discuss the marriage alliance any further. Court is adjourned," Mu Zexuan said, standing up and leaving the court.

Mu Jinchen followed closely behind.

"Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty, respectfully seeing off the Regent."

As soon as Mu Jinchen stepped out the door, he saw the palace maids beside the Empress Dowager.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Your Highness. Your Highness, the Empress Dowager invites you."

Mu Jinchen knew without a doubt why the Empress Dowager wanted to see him, but he did not refuse. "Your Majesty, please return to the Imperial Study. I will be right back."

"Imperial Uncle, I will go to Changshou Palace with you."

"No need," he said, and walked away.

Mu Zexuan watched his departing figure and then instructed, "Little Li, quickly go and invite Princess Chang Le to the palace and have her go to Changshou Palace."

"Yes," Little Li replied, then quickly ran towards the palace gate.

Afterwards, Mu Jinchen arrived at Changshou Palace and said, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

"You still know that I am your mother? You bestowed upon her the title of Princess before without informing me, and now you even went so far as to arrange such a major marriage without informing me beforehand. Do you still consider me your mother?"

"Now that Mother Empress knows, doesn't she?"

"How dare you!" The Empress Dowager angrily slammed the teacup down in front of Mu Jinchen, shattering it into pieces.

"Your Highness," Yingfeng said anxiously as he stepped forward to check on him.

Mu Jinchen gestured for him to step back.

Yingfeng had no choice but to stand still.

"Hasn't Mother always hoped that I would get married? Now that I am about to get married, shouldn't Mother be happy? Or is it because I am not marrying a woman from the Duke of Su's mansion that Mother is unhappy?"

"You..." The Empress Dowager was furious, but powerless to refute. "I had already promised to make Yi'er your princess. Now, how am I supposed to explain this to your maternal grandfather?"

"That's the Empress Dowager's business; I never agreed to it."

"What's so good about Su Qianrou besides her looks? You've got such a wonderful woman like Yi'er to marry a vixen instead. I think you've been blinded by lust."

"Mother, please be careful with your words. She is my future queen."

“If I do not acknowledge her, then she is not him. You should immediately persuade His Majesty to rescind his decree.”

"Mother, are you joking? When have you ever seen an imperial edict that has been revoked? Now that the edict has been issued and the marriage has been arranged, even if you don't acknowledge it, it won't change anything."

"I think you're just trying to make me angry to death."

"In fact, Mother, there is no need for this. You never cared about me before, and you don't need to now. This is better for both of us."

"You are complaining about my family."

"It's nothing. If Mother has nothing else to say, I'll take my leave now," he said, turning and leaving.

The Empress Dowager looked at him, furious, and immediately ordered, "Summon Su Qianrou."

"Yes".

At the entrance of the Su family home, Su Qianrou was about to leave and get into the carriage when someone called out to her.

"Princess Ping Le, please wait."

Upon hearing this, Su Qianrou looked in the direction of the voice, only to find that she did not recognize the person.

"I have met Princess Ping Le."

"Who are you……".

“This servant is a maidservant of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager has summoned you. Please accompany this servant to the palace, Princess Ping Le.”

"The Empress Dowager summoned me."

"Yes".

Su Qianrou thought for a moment and understood why, so she said to Li An, "Go to Shengming Academy and tell Teacher Li that I have something to do and today's class will be changed to self-study. Please ask her to keep an eye on things."

"Yes".

"Princess, please."

Without hesitation, Su Qianrou turned around and got into the carriage sent by the Empress Dowager.

Then, upon arriving at the Longevity Palace, she found Chang Le there as well, though she looked worried. Without a second thought, she immediately bowed and said, "This humble woman greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

The Empress Dowager did not call out, as if she had not heard.

"Mother!" Chang Le couldn't help but call out.

The Empress Dowager glared at her, signaling her to be quiet.

"I wonder what the Empress Dowager has summoned me for."

"You have bewitched the Regent so much that he has become so infatuated that he has lost his senses and committed such a foolish act. Do you know your crime?"

"This humble woman does not understand the Empress Dowager's meaning, and begs the Empress Dowager to enlighten her."

"Dare you say that you didn't seduce the Regent and make him marry you?"

"This humble woman has never done such a thing. I beg the Empress Dowager to investigate."

"A woman with such a wicked heart and immoral conduct as you is not worthy of being the Regent's Consort. If you know what's good for you, you should abdicate. I might even make you a concubine for the sake of Lord Su. Otherwise..."

"What else?" Mu Jinchen walked in and saw Su Qianrou kneeling on the ground. He walked to her side, helped her up, and asked, "Are you alright?"

Su Qianrou shook her head, indicating that she was fine.

Then, Mu Jinchen looked at the Empress Dowager and asked, "What does Your Majesty want to do by summoning her here?"

"What? Now I don't even have the right to summon someone to the palace."

"If the Empress Dowager wants to talk to her and exchange feelings, I will not stop her. But if she wants to make things difficult for her, then I cannot ignore it."

"Hmph, you're really protecting her."

"She is my future queen consort, and I will naturally protect her. Therefore, Mother Empress, you'd better not touch her. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that the Duke of Su's mansion will still be in such a state."

"You are threatening me."

"This is a piece of advice I would like to give to Mother. If Mother has nothing else to say, we will take our leave now." After saying this, he took Su Qianrou's hand and led her out.

So much so that Su Qianrou didn't even have time to bow before he pulled her away.