Repeatedly broken branches

The newly appointed princess is very fortunate. She fled to the Chen Kingdom when she was young and was rescued by the princess. She was treated the same as the princess. Later, she married the young general and became pregnant with his first child. If she gives birth to a son, she will definitely be honored because of her son.

Qingxin Pavilion was filled with singing and dancing, and everyone was celebrating her birthday. I wonder if she's so happy she could fly away.

The main character is Ye Wanwan, so she sits at the head table, receiving congratulations from everyone. Even if some of them are being insincere, she still looks incredibly glamorous.

Xiao Mu wore a light autumn-colored brocade dress embroidered with blue lotus flowers. Her long black hair was styled into a high single bun, revealing her fair neck. She wore a peacock gold hairpin, which was the late empress's favorite item.

Every gesture, every smile, her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, her skin was as white as snow, and her waist was slender and delicate.

She walked step by step to Xia Yuyi, raised her hands to her eyebrows, and knelt down on both knees. "Heyang greets Father, wishing Father a long and healthy life, and endless blessings and peace."

Xia Yuyi waved his hand, gesturing for her to get up, and asked kindly, "Didn't you say you weren't feeling well? Why did you come in person?"

Xiao Mu stood up, raised her hand to express her gratitude, revealing the dragon and phoenix bracelet on her fair wrist. Ye Wanwan noticed it at a glance. When they were at the Zhou residence, Xue Shi would often take it out to look at it, and then carefully put it back. She actually gave it to her. What about her and the child in her belly?

Xiao Mu slowly said, "I missed Father a little, so I came to see you. I wanted to go out for a walk today, and I came to pay my respects to you before I left. Now that I have finished paying my respects, I must go."

Xia Yuyi smiled and said, "Go ahead. Are there enough guards? Should we bring my personal guards as well?"

Xiao Mu smiled and said, "No need, Father. My bodyguard Han is very good and highly skilled in martial arts. With him around, I am very safe." She looked at Yu Yanjing behind her and smiled sweetly.

Damn it, that smile struck his heart again.

Zhou Tingxi also looked at Yu Yanjing. This person seemed somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

Zhou Tingxi stood up and tentatively asked, "Princess, why don't I accompany you? I know there's a tavern outside the palace that serves delicious plum blossom wine. I'm sure you'll love it."

"No need, Guard Han knows a lot too. You should stay here and keep Wanwan company. She and the baby in her belly are more important." Xiao Mu refused outright and gave him a gentle smile.

Zhou Tingxi felt bitter. She had been pushing him away, but he really didn't like Ye Wanwan at all. He didn't know why they had this child, and he didn't want it at all.

Stepping outside the palace, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere just now was truly suffocating. The eyes of those concubines were like flames, threatening to burn me to death.

And then there's Zhou Tingxi. He's so good to her, but she feels inexplicably nauseous, her chest feels tight, and she can't breathe, as if she's being poisoned.

Yu Yanjing opened the kettle lid and handed it to her, his eyes filled with tenderness. He said softly, "Are you alright now? I noticed something was wrong with you earlier."

Xiao Mu took a sip of water, and her breathing became much easier. Her chest felt less tight, but she still had difficulty breathing and her head was buzzing.

"I feel disgusted when I see Ye Wanwan's appearance. I don't even want to continue acting anymore. I don't know how they can put on such a fake smile."

Yu Yanjing said, "They're all used to it. They gravitate towards whoever is in power. You don't need to care about them. As for Ye Wanwan, she's just a petty person in power. She won't cause trouble for long. If you don't want to see her, I think you should find an opportunity to kill her." He then revealed a sinister smile.

Xiao Mu shivered and said with a forced smile, "There's no need to kill her now. Besides, I'd have to do it myself. You're an emperor, don't just talk about death all the time. Human lives aren't like ants. You should care for your people and have compassion for them, instead of resorting to violence against them all the time... Also, don't try to solve problems with violence. You should be a wise ruler."

Yu Yanjing's eyes widened in disbelief. This girl's words of advice were exactly the same as Shen Ruoxuan's. Were these two twins?

Yu Yanjing smiled faintly and pinched Xiao Mu's round face. "Then you will be my empress and instruct me like this every day."

“Being an empress is not easy. You have to teach so many concubines and manage so many accounts. Look at Consort Chen, she has held the Phoenix Seal for so many years and is still only a Consort. My father still doesn’t trust her that much.”

“I’m not your father, so you don’t need to do anything. You just need to instruct me.” Yu Yanjing’s eyes showed expectation.

Xiao Mu said calmly, "There are no such things as smooth sailing. Besides, you'll have three wives and four concubines, so many beauties in your harem. Do you think I'll have a say in how you manage things?"

Yu Yanjing laughed, "So you mean you've agreed to be my empress?" He looked at Xiao Mu teasingly, "I don't need any harem beauties, just you are enough. I can't handle so many people."

Xiao Mu stomped her foot angrily, "If you can handle it, will you accept it?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant!"

"Go away!" Xiao Mu pushed him away and walked faster and faster by herself.

"Look at me!" Yu Yanjing followed.

"I'm sorry, no, please don't step on me, it hurts."

"Xia Yunzhi? Xiaozhi? Your Highness?"

Yu Yanjing had never fawned over anyone like this before. Xia Yunzhi was an exception. He didn't know why, but when he met her, he would restrain his irritable emotions, cherish beautiful things, laugh uncontrollably, be moved by her emotions, feel jealous and heartbroken.

Xiao Mu rubbed her stomach and said, "I'm hungry!" Her eyes sparkled like spring water, and her red lips parted slightly as she said, "Take me to eat something delicious, and I'll forgive you."

Yu Yanjing said smugly, "Okay, then call me Brother Jing and let me hear it?"

Xiao Mu nodded, then said defiantly, "Who wants to call you brother? Besides, you're Han Xingbai now, you know. If I call you Brother Jing, I'll give myself away!"

Yu Yanjing chuckled softly, his brows and eyes sparkling. He reached out and ruffled Xiao Mu's hair, gently touching the tip of her nose. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "It's okay if you don't call me brother. From now on, you can call me husband." He then laughed, his eyes crinkling with joy.

Xiao Mu's ear tips turned slightly red, and her earlobes and neck felt itchy. It felt like countless little deer were desperately pounding against her chest, trying to escape.

She took Yu Yanjing's arm and said, "Alright, alright, let's go get something to eat, I'm starving."

Yu Yanjing deliberately said, "Didn't you ask me to put on an act? If you're going to put on an act, then you have to go all the way!"

Xiao Mu was somewhat disappointed. So he remembered her saying it was all an act. Was it all just an act? Yes, just an act.

How did she get herself into this mess? But Zhou Tingxi isn't here now. Who is she putting on this act for? What is she hoping for?

Xiao Mu then said, "If it's just an act, then it's just an act. Anyway, I'm still going to marry Zhou Tingxi in the future. I'm just angry that he found Ye Wanwan."

Yu Yanjing's heart tightened, and he could hardly contain the fire in his heart. He wanted to find someone to whip him hard, to whip him to death.

He smiled and said, "What kind of woman doesn't exist in this world? Do you think you're special?"

Yu Yanjing ordered a table full of dishes and several bottles of strong liquor, drinking them by himself without paying any attention to Xiao Mu next to him.

But he can't get drunk. He really wants to get drunk, but no matter how much he drinks, he remains sober.

It's really painful.

Xiao Mu snatched his wine glass, looked into his bloodshot eyes, and slowly said, "Don't drink anymore, how are you going to get back to the palace later?"

Yu Yanjing glanced at her, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "I'm going to have some fun. You can go back by yourself."

Xiao Mu looked at him in disbelief. "Are you sure?"

Yu Yanjing replied lazily, "Otherwise what? You still want me to take you? Don't you have Zhou Tingxi? Have him pick you up!"

Xiao Mu asked again, "Are you sure you want me to go back by myself?"

Yu Yanjing raised an eyelid slightly. "What else do you want me to say?"

Xiao Mu stood up, pointed at him, and said in a low voice, "Fine, Han Xingbai, drink yourself to death, nobody wants you to take them home!"

Although he said that, on the way back, Yu Yanjing secretly followed behind her, but she never turned around, not even once.

He didn't know why, or why he couldn't control his emotions again. Perhaps it was because he heard her say that it was all because Zhou Tingxi had found Ye Wanwan.

Then what is he? Why didn't she refuse? Why did she let him take liberties with her? Did she see herself as a tool for Zhou Tingxi to put on a show?

Yes, he shouldn't have trusted anyone. Wasn't Consort Jing, who raised him from childhood, a perfect example?

They never learn their lesson; they deserve to be abandoned.