Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Then, everyone sat down at the table, which was laden with delicious barbecue, various kinds of mooncakes, and plenty of fruit—a truly sumptuous feast.

Su Qianrou raised her wine glass and said, "People have sorrows and joys, separations and reunions, just as the moon has its phases of waxing and waning. Nothing in this world is perfect. May we all live long and share the beauty of the moon, even though we are thousands of miles apart. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I wish us, and our families thousands of miles away, peace and prosperity."

"Peace and prosperity," the crowd echoed, then downed their wine or water in one gulp.

"Let's eat."

Everyone ate heartily and without any hesitation, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

“Mom, look, the moon is so big and round tonight,” Xiao Yaxuan said, pointing to the moon.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked up at the same time.

The bright moon, accompanied by a sky full of stars, is a beautiful sight; however, everyone's mood is different.

Xiao Yan held Chang Le in his arms, and Chang Le held Xiao Ya Xuan in her arms. The family of three was undoubtedly the happiest people present.

Next are Su Qianrou and Mu Jinchen.

Mu Jinchen secretly took Su Qianrou's hand.

Su Qianrou looked at him, and their eyes met. They smiled at each other, and at that moment, they only had eyes for each other, nothing else.

Li Nanyi was thinking about Yang Lin, wondering if he was doing well and if he had been injured.

Similarly, Yang Shanshan is also missing someone. He used to always go against her, so she found him annoying. But now that he's not here, she finds it less interesting and can't help but miss him. She wonders when he will come back.

The most enigmatic one is Mu Zexuan. Despite his young age, he always seems preoccupied, lost in thought.

After looking at it for a while, Xiao Yaxuan wanted to continue eating, so she said, "Mom, I want to eat chicken wings."

"Okay," Chang Le handed her the chicken wings, but seeing that no one was eating, she asked, "Why isn't anyone eating?"

Everyone then came to their senses and continued eating.

"Cousin, let me toast you, thank you."

"Why thank me?"

"Thank you... for preparing the barbecue and mooncakes for us. Anyway, thank you so much. I'll drink to that first."

"You should drink less."

"It's nothing," Yang Shanshan said. By this time, she was already a little drunk, whether from happiness or because she had something on her mind. Afterward, she went to drink with Li Nanyi.

Li Nanyi did not refuse and drank with her until she was satisfied.

Since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, Su Qianrou didn't stop them and let them drink to their hearts' content.

Then, Su Qianrou took care of Mu Zexuan, Chang Le took care of Xiao Yaxuan, while Mu Jinchen and Xiao Yan chatted. The scene was peaceful and cheerful.

Yanxi Palace

The next day, Su Qianrou returned from Shengming Academy and sat on the couch drinking tea.

Juxia came in and said, "Your Highness, news has come from the He residence."

"What news?"

"Young Master He seems to be considering a divorce."

"It seems he was persuaded by Liu Xiang after all," he said, then added, "Go and make an appointment with Mrs. He for me."

"Yes".

Pinshixuan

Su Qianrou sat on the couch, looking at the pedestrians outside the window, lost in thought.

A short while later, Wang Hui entered and greeted the Regent's Consort.

"Madam He, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."

So Wang Hui walked over and sat down.

Then, Su Qianrou asked, "Madam He, do you know why I summoned you today?"

"I know, because of Liu Xiang, the princess wants me to agree to a divorce."

"I do want you to get a divorce, but not for Liu Xiang's sake, but for Mrs. He's sake."

"For my sake," Wang Hui said, somewhat surprised.

“Young Master He once promised you that he would never take a concubine in his life, but now he not only keeps a mistress, but he even wants to divorce you because of it. It is clear that he is not a person you can entrust your life to. Are you sure you want to continue to waste your time with him?”

"Why not? Even if it means dying, I will not give way to a mistress, much less let an illegitimate child steal my son's things."

"As far as I know, the He family has been supported by your dowry all these years. Now that the He family has proposed a divorce, you can take all your dowry with you. If you are divorced, you should know that half of your dowry will have to stay in the He family."

“I have done nothing wrong. Even the Regent cannot allow that unfaithful man He Qi to divorce his wife.”

“Once people are blinded by power, they will become unscrupulous. Are you sure they won’t do something?”

Wang Hui fell silent, then said worriedly, "Luo'er is only three years old now. What will happen to him if I leave?"

"I can let you take your son with you."

"That's impossible. No one has ever been able to take a child away."

"It depends on human effort."

"Why would the princess help me?" Wang Hui looked at her warily, her eyes full of distrust.

“Some people want to use me to climb the social ladder, so I have to help them.”

"I don't quite understand what the princess means."

"No matter what, Liu Xiang is my cousin in name only. She wants to use her relationship with me to become the matriarch of the He family. How can I, as her cousin, not help her? But I hate being used. And you should know what kind of people are in the He family. She wants to marry into the He family, so I will grant her wish. But the consequences... she will have to bear them herself."

"The He family is full of people who only care about profit. At first, I thought He Qi married me because he truly liked me. Later I found out that it was because his father wanted to become the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, or even the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, so he forced him to marry me."

"So, do you want them to reap what they sow?"

Wang Hui did not answer.

"Do you still have any concerns?"

"Divorce will always damage one's reputation, I'm afraid..."

"You're afraid Lord Wang won't agree."

"Ok".

"Don't you have a dowry? If the Wang family doesn't welcome you, you can find a small house outside and live with your child. It might be a bit tough, and you'll have to face gossip. But as long as you're strong enough, gossip won't break you; it will make you stronger."

Wang Hui fell into deep thought.

Then Su Qianrou said, "Now it's up to you to choose whether to stay in the He family and continue to outwit and outmaneuver them, or to find another way and forge your own path. No matter what you choose, I will help you."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Hui asked, "Do you really have a way to let me take Luo'er away?"

"You said it yourself, they are people who only care about profit. As long as the profit is big enough, do you think they can resist the temptation? Now I have only shown a little goodwill to Liu Xiang, and they have abandoned you. If I give Liu Feng an official position, what do you think the He family will think? Besides, Liu Xiang is pregnant now. Do you think they will still care about your son?"

“You said you were doing this to get revenge on Liu Xiang, but I feel like you were helping her more. You helped her marry into the He family and made her brother an official. Isn’t that helping her?”

Su Qianrou smiled and said, "I can lift them to the sky, and I can also make them fall to the bottom. You should know that losing something after you've gained it is the most painful thing."

"Can you let me think about it some more?"

"Of course, you can take your time to think it over, and come find me anytime when you've made up your mind."

"Thank you very much".

"You're welcome. I just couldn't stand by and watch."

Wang Hui stood up and said, "Luo'er is still waiting for me at the manor, so I'll head back now. Farewell."

"Take care."

Then, Wang Hui went outside.

Su Qianrou sat and drank tea.