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

Jin Chenyuan's series of changes naturally did not escape the attention of the Emperor, who was sitting beside him watching. However, the Emperor did not speak rashly, but raised his eyebrows and watched how things developed.

On the day the Imperial Uncle returned to the capital, he heard Fuquan report that the Imperial Uncle had entered the city gate with a woman disguised as a man.

Yesterday he heard that Prince Chen's mansion had gained another princess, and this morning his uncle went to the palace and asked for several servants to attend to the female relatives.

However, since the Imperial Uncle had not yet brought the person into the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, he did not ask too many questions. Unexpectedly, he suddenly heard about the Imperial Uncle's princess today.

When Jin Chenyuan asked the question, the aura of a superior unconsciously emanated from him and directed it at Huan Yun. Huan Yun was so frightened that he immediately knelt on one knee, and sweat was breaking out on his forehead. He quickly said, "Reporting to Master, the Princess Consort is not in any danger. It was the Young Prince. The Young Prince went to the residence to find the Princess Consort just before I entered the palace."

Upon hearing that it wasn't Yue Li who was in trouble, Jin Chenyuan's tense expression relaxed somewhat. Although Shao Qi's visit to Prince Chen's residence to look for Yue Li made him feel uneasy, it was still better than Yue Li being in trouble.

Besides, he had already prepared for this, hadn't he?

I just didn't expect things to happen so quickly.

After straightening his clothes, which he had disheveled due to nervousness, Jin Chenyuan got off the soft couch and asked, "And then?"

Huan Yun stepped forward, straightening the slightly wrinkled hem of Jin Chenyuan's clothes as she replied, "Before I came here, the young master had not yet seen the princess."

Oh, so that means he doesn't know anything else.

With a wave of his hand, Jin Chenyuan signaled Huanyun to step down. He then turned to face the Emperor, ignoring the Emperor who was still watching the show. Jin Chenyuan bowed and said, "Your Majesty has heard that something has happened in my residence. As for matters that need to be discussed, Your Majesty may issue the decree according to the procedures we have agreed upon. I should also return to my residence."

Upon seeing Jin Chenyuan bow, the Emperor immediately threw the chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard, got off the soft couch, stepped forward to help Jin Chenyuan up, and said affectionately, "Uncle, you can go back if you have something to do. There's no need for us uncle and nephew to be so polite."

After saying that, unable to contain his curiosity, he added, "When you have time, Uncle can bring Aunt to the palace so that Grandmother can see her and put her mind at ease."

At the same time, it would satisfy his curiosity and let him see what kind of girl the Imperial Uncle, who had rejected all the noble ladies in the capital and remained single until now, had finally chosen.

Doesn't Jin Chenyuan understand the emperor he raised himself?

However, it's only a matter of time before Yue Li is brought into the palace.

So Jin Chenyuan readily agreed.

The group walked out of the palace gates. Jin Chenyuan got into the carriage he had come in, while Huanyun ignored Qingyun, who was winking at him, and mounted the horse he had ridden on the way there.

Qingyun was helpless. All he wanted to know was why Huanyun had rushed into the palace.

After all, he had been outside the door the whole time, and he hadn't heard a single sound from inside.

"Go home."

Jin Chenyuan's words completely dispelled Qingyun's lingering resentment. He quickly arranged for the dozen or so people he had brought to sit in the two carriages behind. These two carriages and their drivers were from the palace; after delivering the dozen or so people to Prince Chen's residence, the two carriages would return to the palace.

After arranging the rest, Qingyun immediately returned to sit on the carriage shaft, cracked the whip, and drove the carriage towards the Prince Chen's residence.

………………

Marriage Lake

After Shao Qi and Yue Li got off the carriage, Tian Dong led them towards the flower boat of the Duke of Yi's mansion.

Although it's daytime now, there are quite a few people playing at Yinyuan Lake, and the scenery around the lake is clearer during the day than at night.

Along the shores of Yinyuan Lake, willows sway gently in the breeze. Young men and women dressed in various styles chat, whisper, or play intimately beneath the willows, creating a series of beautiful scenes.

Because of their intimacy in the carriage, Shao Qi now wanted to stick close to Yue Li all the time, and his eyes never left her side.

Yue Li walked ahead, admiring the scenery by the lake, while Shao Qi lagged behind, walking close to her. His clothes and arms would occasionally brush against Yue Li's side.

When Yue Li gets annoyed by being rubbed, she looks at Shao Qi, who then gives her a somewhat silly smile.

Seeing such a smile, Yue Li felt somewhat helpless and could only turn her head to continue admiring the scenery by the lake.

The ambiguous atmosphere between Yue Li and Shao Qi was felt by Tian Dong and You Yun, who were standing beside them.

Tian Dong, who was leading the way, was naturally happy for his young master, but You Yun, who was following behind, was not so happy.

Although he knew in his heart that the princess could not possibly have only one husband, his master, in his mind, none of the maids were worthy of his wise and mighty master.

Tian Dong led the way, and the group stepped onto a two-story flower boat using a boardwalk.

After boarding the ship, Shao Qi left Tian Dong and You Yun behind and took Yue Li with him, saying that he wanted to show Yue Li around the ship first.

After they were out of everyone's sight, Shao Qi couldn't help himself and reached out to take Yue Li's hand, which was placed at her side.

Yue Li: ……

She now suspects that when Shao Qi deliberately bumped into her on the road earlier, he wanted to hold her hand.

Seeing that Yue Li didn't shake him off, Shao Qi was extremely excited and wished he could hold that soft, boneless little hand in his hand and kiss it.

However, fearing that Yue Li would dislike him, Shao Qi ultimately held back.

After visiting the flower boat, Yue Li thought that although it wasn't as tall as the flower boat at Prince Chen's Mansion, it was about the same size.

Both flower boats have their own merits. The flower boat from Prince Chen's Mansion is decorated in a magnificent and grand style, while the flower boat from Duke Yi's Mansion is decorated with exquisite details in every aspect.

As the two approached the deck, Yue Li released Shao Qi's hand.

Yue Li felt that she should tell Jin Chenyuan about her relationship with Shao Qi first.

After all, they were the two of them who got together first. If she were to secretly contact Shao Qi behind Jin Chenyuan's back, Yue Li would always feel like she was betraying Jin Chenyuan.

Although, such things are extremely common in this world.

However, Yue Li's action made Shao Qi feel very disappointed.

He thought that Yue Li didn't want others to know about their relationship yet.

However, Shao Qi's disappointment was short-lived. He figured that Yue Li didn't want anyone to know because he hadn't done a good job. Once he had satisfied her, Yue Li would definitely acknowledge his efforts in front of others.

Looking at Yue Li standing on the deck, dressed in a light red, thin, cloud-like dress with embroidered peonies in full bloom at the hem, with a beautiful and refined face and a graceful figure, Shao Qi couldn't help but want to get closer.

He stepped forward and stood beside Yue Li, closed his folding fan, and introduced to Yue Li which Kyoto family owned the flower boats moored on the lake.

After arranging things at the manor, Jin Chenyuan hurried to the location where the flower boat of the Duke of Yi's manor was moored at the Marriage Lake, and saw this scene from afar.

On the deck of a beautifully decorated two-story flower boat, stood a handsome young man dressed in a blue brocade robe and wearing a jade crown, smiling brightly as he spoke to a stunningly beautiful woman standing beside him.

The woman had skin as white as snow, red lips, and delicate eyebrows and eyes like a solitary orchid in a secluded valley. However, her slightly upturned fox-like eyes held a captivating smile. At this moment, she was also smiling at the man beside her, as if she had endless love for him.

The two would sometimes exchange a smile when they looked at each other.

To an uninformed person, this scene would appear to be a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman.

But this scene was so horrifying to Jin Chenyuan that it nearly blinded him.