Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Yanxi Palace

In the evening, Su Qianrou was waiting for Mu Jinchen to return for dinner, but instead, Yingfeng appeared instead.

"princess".

Su Qianrou knew what was going on as soon as she saw him, and said, "The prince is not coming back for dinner."

"Yes, there are quite a few memorials that have piled up in the past few days, and I'm afraid we won't be able to finish reading them all in a short time. So, His Highness will not be coming back for dinner. Also, His Highness told you not to wait for him tonight, as he may be coming back a little late."

"understood".

"Then I shall take my leave."

"Wait, give this to him."

“Yes,” Yingfeng said, taking the booklet.

"Let's set out the meal."

Then, Chunzhu and Yingfeng went outside.

After they came out, Chunzhu pulled Yingfeng aside, stammering and unsure how to start a conversation.

"What's wrong? Why do you look like this?"

Do you even know what you're holding in your hand?

Yingfeng glanced at the booklet in his hand and said, "Of course I don't know, I haven't seen it."

"It is a list of all the unmarried noble ladies in the capital."

Yingfeng asked in surprise, "Why would the princess give this to the prince?"

"Because this was given to our princess by the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager wants to find a concubine for the prince and also select maids."

Yingfeng was somewhat surprised, but then he thought about it and realized it was to be expected.

"You can test the prince's attitude toward this matter later."

"The prince wouldn't choose; if he wanted to choose, he would have done so long ago. Why wait until now?"

"That's not necessarily true. In any case, whether Your Highness intends to or not, you must tell me."

"Why should I tell you? You don't have any improper thoughts about the prince, do you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly covet the prince?"

"It's good that you know."

"Are you going to agree or not?"

"What's in it for me?"

"Didn't you say you wanted a sachet the other day? If you had told me, I would have embroidered one for you later."

"really".

"Ok".

“It’s a deal,” Yingfeng said happily.

"Alright, I still need to arrange dinner for the Princess. You should go now," Chunzhu said, walking past him toward the door.

Yingfeng happily followed.

imperial study room

Yingfeng returned from the Prince's mansion and went straight to Mu Jinchen's side. After hesitating for a moment, she tentatively asked, "Your Highness, you and the Princess have been married for almost half a year. Do you want to... take a concubine?"

Mu Jinchen glared at him, his eyes full of warning.

Yingfeng immediately cowered, carefully placing the booklet in front of him, and then said, "Your Highness, this is from the Princess Consort who asked me to give it to you."

Mu Jinchen assumed that Su Qianrou missed him and therefore wrote him a letter, so he eagerly opened it. When he saw that it contained messages from various women, his expression instantly changed. "What is this?"

"A list of unmarried noble ladies from various families in the city."

"Are you sure this was given to me by the princess?"

"To be precise, this was given to you by the Empress Dowager through the Princess."

"What exactly happened?"

Yingfeng knew that if he knew the truth, he would definitely go to the Empress Dowager, and an argument would be inevitable. However, he had no choice but to answer truthfully, so he said, "The Empress Dowager plans to select two concubines and a maid for you."

Mu Jinchen's face was gloomy, and then he said, "Go to Changshou Palace."

"Yes".

Longevity Palace

After finishing her meal, the Empress Dowager was sitting on the couch drinking tea to aid digestion.

Fanghua entered and said, "Empress Dowager, the Regent requests an audience."

Before he could finish speaking, Mu Jinchen walked in.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat surprised, "Why did you come at this time? It's time to eat."

"What did the Empress Dowager say to the Princess Consort when she entered the palace today?"

The Empress Dowager's face darkened instantly. "You've come here to interrogate me."

"I have come to return the things."

Yingfeng then placed the booklet in front of the Empress Dowager.

"What do you mean by this?"

"I will not choose a concubine or a maidservant. My queen is enough for me in this life."

"Do you know what you're saying? You are the Regent, how can you have only one woman?"

"Why not? What's wrong with it?"

"You... is this what that vixen Su Qianrou did? What a hypocritical slut! You say you have no objections, but then you turn around and..."

"Rou'er is my queen consort. You may not like her, but please respect her," Mu Jinchen said sternly.

"You expect me to respect her? Has she ever respected me? What daughter-in-law is like her, not coming to pay her respects for ten days or half a month? Does she even have me in her eyes? Besides, in the six months since you got married, tell me how many outrageous things she has done. I'm already being lenient by not asking you to divorce her. She even disagrees with you taking a concubine. What right does she have? You're so foolish, indulging her so much that she's becoming more and more unruly."

"Not taking concubines is my decision."

"What kind of bewitching drug did she give you to make you protect her like this? She can't have children herself, and she won't let you take a concubine. How can you tolerate all this? Are you crazy?"

"Whether you believe it or not, this is my will."

"I think you're blinded by lust."

"My mother never cared about me before, and I ask that you do not care about me in the future either, and that you do not interfere in my affairs."

"You're still complaining about me."

"If you don't care, why would you have any complaints?"

"I was wrong before, so now I want to make it up to you."

"No need. Besides, whether it's to make amends or out of personal motives, Mother knows the answer in her heart. From now on, Mother will live out her days in peace and comfort in this palace. As for other matters, Mother need not worry about them anymore." After saying that, Mu Jinchen turned and left without looking back.

The Empress Dowager said angrily, "Look, look! This is the good son I raised! He has torn apart his relationship with me for the sake of a woman. If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have given birth to him in the first place."

"His Highness has always been decisive and thoughtful, and of course, he knows his limits. He would never act recklessly. It would be best if you didn't say anything in anger."

"He's just too opinionated and has too many ideas, which is why he always goes against me. Look at Yuan'er and Chang Le, when have they ever disobeyed me? But he never does what I want, as if I would harm him. If Yuan'er were still here, that would be great."

Granny Xu did not respond.

Yanxi Palace

Su Qianrou came out of the shower and saw Mu Jinchen there. She casually asked, "Didn't you say you would be back very late?"

Mu Jinchen walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

Su Qianrou was a little confused and asked, "What's wrong?"

"miss you".

Su Qianrou chuckled, "Why are you getting more and more clingy? We've only been apart for a few hours and you already miss me."

"If I could, I would never want to be separated from you for even a moment."

"Then you might as well just tie me to your belt and take me everywhere you go."

Mu Jinchen released her and said seriously, "I think it's okay."

"You wish! I don't want to accompany you to the palace every day to read those boring memorials."

"You don't have to watch it, just stay with me."

"No," Su Qianrou said, walking to the couch and sitting down.

Mu Jinchen followed.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"I'm going to find my mother."

"You two are arguing again."

"I've already made it clear to her that I won't take any concubines or maids. You're the only one for me in this life," Mu Jinchen said, embracing Su Qianrou from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.

"The Empress Dowager must be furious."

“I also told her to stop interfering in my affairs. She never cared about me before, and she doesn’t need to care about me in the future.”

"Can I interfere?"

"Of course, no one can control me except you."

"It sounds nice now, but you'll get annoyed after a while."

"How could that be? It's good that you take care of me. I'm afraid you won't take care of me. If you stop taking care of me one day, then I'll be scared."

"Why are you afraid?"

"Because that would prove you no longer have me in your heart."

Su Qianrou cupped his face in her hands and said solemnly, "If you don't find me annoying for a day, I'll take care of you for a day. If you don't find me annoying for a lifetime, I'll take care of you for a lifetime. I'll take care of you every day, making sure you eat on time and rest early."

"it is good".

The two embraced each other tenderly, holding each other tightly, inseparable.