The Emperor, with more men than women, made me his mistress.

Jin Chenyuan, of course, saw immediately that the gate of Zichen Palace had been opened.

They also saw the Emperor and Yue Li walk out of the gate of Zichen Palace together.

During this time, although his eyes were looking elsewhere, his gaze was empty, because his mind was always on the two people in the Zichen Palace.

What were they talking about?

What were they doing?

Did they think the two might have a closer encounter?

Is Yue Li going to like the Emperor even more?

Jin Chenyuan was restless and uneasy here.

Jin Chenyuan felt that if Yue Li and the others had come out any later, he would definitely have barged into the Zichen Palace.

Yue Li stepped onto the pavilion and looked at Jin Chenyuan, who was staring at her intently. She called out, "A-Yuan!"

Those two words instantly made Jin Chenyuan stand up from the stone bench. His sleeves billowed, and the hem of his robes fluttered with his strides, showing how urgent his steps were. He came to Yue Li's side, stretched out his arms and hugged her tightly, burying his head in her neck and smelling the pear fragrance emanating from her.

"Li Bao, you're finally out." These words carried so much emotion.

He never knew he could be so preoccupied with someone, so anxious and insecure.

However, after pulling her back into his arms, Jin Chenyuan felt that it was all worth it for her!

Yue Li also stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Jin Chenyuan's waist, giving him silent comfort.

At the entrance of Zichen Palace

Seeing the two embracing in the pavilion, the Emperor restrained himself from stepping forward and, with his back to Fuquan not far away, instructed, "Summon the ministers of several ministries to the main hall of Xuanzheng Hall for a meeting."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Fuquan dared not look any further or think any more, and hurried to the Xuanzheng Hall.

As the ruler of a country, Jin Jinxuan was usually very busy. This morning, he specially set aside the morning to see Yue Li. However, before Yue Li arrived, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of War, and the Minister of Works suddenly came to request an audience. But since he had arranged to see Yue Li in advance, he asked them to wait for him in the side hall of Xuanzheng Hall while drinking tea.

Yue Li had gone back by then, and he also had to attend to official business.

Before leaving, I glanced at the group that had already left the pavilion and headed towards Shou Kang Palace.

The Emperor adjusted his wide sleeves and said to Xiao Shuanzi, Fu Quan's apprentice who was still waiting at the entrance of the Zichen Palace, "Come in and help me change my clothes."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Shuanzi immediately bowed and said respectfully.

………………

After Yue Li and Jin Chenyuan left the pavilion, they led Qingyun and the others to Shou Kang Palace.

They passed many palaces, lotus ponds, and imperial gardens along the way. The group leisurely admired the palace architecture as they made their way to Shou Kang Palace.

By the time they arrived at Shou Kang Palace, it was already noon.

When Zhu Xi, who had been waiting for the two at the entrance of Shou Kang Palace, saw them, she immediately greeted them with a smile, "This servant greets Prince Chen and Princess Chen."

"Get up. Why are you waiting outside? Where is Mother?" Jin Chenyuan asked.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Xi smiled and stood up before explaining, "It was the Empress Dowager who asked me to wait at the door. Lunch is already being prepared. The Empress Dowager said that if the Prince and Princess haven't arrived by then, I should go and check."

"Now that Your Highness and Princess have arrived, please follow me inside," Zhu happy said, bending down and gesturing for them to enter.

"Yes, Mother is so thoughtful. Let's go in quickly then." Jin Chenyuan turned his head and smiled at Yue Li.

"Hmm, it seems I'll be bothering the Empress Dowager again at noon today," Yue Li said with a smile.

The two chatted and laughed as they followed Zhu happy into the main hall of Shou Kang Palace.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager, who had received news of their return, was also helped from the rear hall to the main hall.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, the two of them bowed to her in unison.

After the two had finished their greetings, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You've returned at just the right time. The people from the Imperial Kitchen just came to report that lunch is ready and asked when I would serve it. I was just wondering if you had already eaten at the Emperor's place. I was also planning to have Zhuxi ask you about it."

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhu happy, who was standing to the side.

Zhu Xi immediately understood the Empress Dowager's meaning. After bowing to the Empress Dowager, she went to inform the imperial kitchen to prepare the meal.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager also said, "Then let's go to the side hall as well."

"Then we'll have to bother the Empress Dowager again at noon today." Yue Li said, stepping forward to take over from one of them and supporting the Empress Dowager's left side.

Jin Chenyuan smiled and followed behind the two, and the three of them headed together towards the kitchen in the side hall.

"What do you mean by disturbing me? I'm an old woman, all alone in the palace. I would be more than happy if you could come and keep me company from time to time. If you could give me a grandson soon, I would be smiling in my sleep." The Empress Dowager's wrinkles deepened as she spoke of her grandson.

Yue Li: ……

It's here, it's here! The eternally unchanging force has arrived.

Before Yue Li could even hesitate about what to say, Jin Chenyuan chimed in, "Don't worry, Mother. Whether it's a grandson or a granddaughter, you'll be able to hold them sooner or later."

"Really? Then I'll be waiting!"

The Empress Dowager smiled as she looked at Yue Li, who was beautiful yet exceptionally well-behaved, beside her, and then glanced at her son following behind her.

At this moment, the look in his eyes towards Jin Chenyuan was no longer so disdainful.

"Of course, don't you believe in your son's abilities?"

Yue Li: ……

Her face flushed slightly, and she glanced sideways at Jin Chenyuan who had come to stand beside her.

Why does this person blurt out everything?

Unexpectedly, when the Empress Dowager heard Jin Chenyuan say this, she looked at him with disdain and said, "I don't know what skills you have. I only know that without A-Li, you have no skills at all."

Jin Chenyuan looked at Yue Li's sideways gaze, and then at his mother's disdainful look, and instantly began to doubt his own abilities.

As the three of them were talking, Zhu happy was leading a group of people to set out a meal at a round table nearby.

At this moment, a servant brought three basins of water for washing hands and came to the three men to help them wash their hands.

After washing my hands, I picked up the towel that was specially prepared next to me and dried them.

As soon as everything was settled, Zhu happy came to the three of them and reported, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, lunch has been prepared."

"Hmm," the Empress Dowager responded faintly.

At the same time, he turned his gaze to the dining table and saw that there were still so many servants standing around it today.

The Empress Dowager said impatiently, "You may all leave today. I wish to have a quiet lunch with Prince Chen and his wife. I do not need so many servants to wait on me."

As the Empress Dowager grew old, she was always surrounded by servants, whether she was eating, bathing, or sleeping. Over time, this inevitably led to some resentment.