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

The Empress Dowager was thinking of saying some harsh words so that her youngest son could find someone who cared for him at the upcoming Hundred Flowers Banquet.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing her youngest son say that he had someone he liked, the Empress Dowager instantly forgot her intention to make a harsh statement and asked with a delighted expression, "Really! Where is she? Whose noble lady is she? Has she been married before? Has she had any children? And when will you bring her here so that I can see her?"

Jin Chenyuan felt somewhat helpless at the Empress Dowager's words. Couldn't his mother think of him for once?

However, seeing that the Empress Dowager was so agitated, Jin Chenyuan immediately stood up and stepped forward, patting her back and soothing her, saying, "Mother, please don't get agitated, please listen to me first."

With Jin Chenyuan's reassurance, the Empress Dowager immediately took a few deep breaths to calm her somewhat agitated emotions.

After sensing that the Empress Dowager's emotions had calmed down, Jin Chenyuan, urged by the Empress Dowager's gaze, recounted how he met Yue Li.

After listening to her youngest son's words, the Empress Dowager understood the meaning behind them: the young woman was unaware of her son's feelings for her.

The Empress Dowager was starting to look down on her youngest son. Where had his usual decisive and efficient manner gone?

Now that you've finally found a girl you like, why aren't you making a move? Why are you still hesitating here? Don't you know how sought-after a good girl is these days?

Moreover, that young lady is currently in Kyoto, a place teeming with talented individuals.

If this had happened before him, and that woman had taken a liking to someone else, he would have had his share of trouble.

Looking at Jin Chenyuan, whose face softened as he spoke of the woman named Yue Li, the Empress Dowager knew that her youngest son probably already liked that woman very much.

She knew her youngest son's temperament well. He wasn't as gentle and tolerant as her eldest son, and he was quite cold-hearted towards outsiders.

She was always worried and afraid that when she died, her youngest son would have no one by his side to care for him.

But it seems there's no need to worry anymore.

Looking at her youngest son, who had finished speaking and was now sitting down to slowly sip his tea, the Empress Dowager urged, "Since the person you've taken a fancy to is already in the capital, why aren't you going to keep her company? What are you doing in the palace keeping an old woman like me company? You should leave the palace now."

Seeing his mother's attitude change so quickly, and then looking at the tea bag he had brought for her when he arrived—a whole bag of flower tea given to him by Yue Li, which he hadn't even brewed once before giving to his mother—he was shocked.

Seeing her youngest son's gaze, the Empress Dowager immediately turned to the side, blocking the packet of flower tea and also blocking Jin Chenqin's view.

"What are you looking at? Didn't you say this was a gift from that young lady? Now that you've brought it into the palace and given it to me, it belongs to me. Go back now. After you leave the palace, spend more time with that young lady. Young ladies like to hear nice things, wear pretty clothes, and adorn themselves with beautiful jewelry. Take her around the capital and buy her some pretty clothes and jewelry, understand?"

Jin Chenyuan: ...

This was the first time in his life that he had been driven out of the palace by his mother.

However, he did indeed give that packet of flower tea to his mother, and he had no intention of taking it back!

Although he hadn't been able to drink the tea that Yue Li had given him every day because of his travels, he could still feel the benefits that the tea had for his body, even if he only drank it occasionally.

So he didn't touch the packet of flower tea at all and gave it to his mother unopened. After all, his mother was getting old, and he hoped that drinking this tea would improve her health.

After listening to his mother's nagging, Jin Chenyuan decided to leave the palace.

During his time away from the capital, he had accumulated a considerable amount of official business, not to mention that he still did not know what Yue Li was doing out of the city today.

Seeing his mother urging him to return again, Jin Chenyuan could only stand up helplessly, bow and say, "Then I'll go back, Mother. If you need anything, just send someone to the manor to let me know. Also, don't forget to brew this packet of flower tea I brought today."

"I know, I know. Go back now and get along well with that young lady named Yue Li. When you two are settled, bring her to meet your mother." The Empress Dowager waved her hand and instructed.

"Don't worry, Mother. We'll bring you here as soon as we're sure," Jin Chenyuan assured her.

He also knew that his mother had worried a lot about his marriage over the years, and now that he finally had someone he liked, he naturally hoped that his mother would be happy.

By the time Jin Chenyuan led Haoyun out of the palace, it was already noon.

Haoyun followed behind Jin Chenyuan, walking towards their carriage while asking, "Master, shall we return to the manor, or...?"

Without hesitation, Jin Chenyuan said directly, "Let's go back to the manor."

He had no intention of going out of the city to find Yue Li. Moreover, according to Hao Yun's description, Yue Li had gone out of the city alone this time and had even changed her clothes, which clearly meant she had her own business to attend to.

Since she isn't coming to find him, it means she doesn't want him to know.

Since he didn't want to know, he pretended not to know.

As for what Yue Li did when she left the city this time?

Anyway, with his people protecting her, we can just send someone to inquire after Yue Li returns to the city.

Thinking of Qingyun, whom he had left in Qingyuan Prefecture to investigate Yue Li, he wondered when Qingyun would be able to return.

Thinking this, Jin Chenyuan had already boarded the understated yet luxurious carriage of the Prince Chen's residence.

From the outside, the carriage looks like an ordinary carriage, but once inside, you can smell a faint sandalwood scent, clearly indicating that the entire carriage is made of sandalwood.

The interior of the carriage is as spacious as a small room, and the decor reflects the owner's taste. Even the rare and precious Yun brocade, which is hard to find elsewhere, is only used to make cushions here.

After Jin Chenyuan was settled on the couch in the carriage, Haoyun drove the carriage towards the Prince Chen's residence.

..........................................

Meanwhile, on Yue Li's side...

Yue Li had already passed through two villages on her horse, but she had no intention of settling down in either of them.

According to her observation, the two villages she passed through were relatively wealthy.

Her goal this time was to settle in a relatively poor village.

After all, it's easier for people to settle down in poorer villages than in wealthier ones.

After all, if you're paid the same amount of money, it's definitely easier for the poorer person to get things done.

As for the two tails that had been following her ever since she left the city gate, Yue Li didn't pay them much attention.

When she first discovered that there were two tails following her, she was even thinking about whether she should deal with them.

However, after her investigation, she discovered that the two people were actually the guards who had been protecting Jin Chenyuan.

Seeing this, Yue Li gave up the idea of ​​resolving the issue between the two.