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

The Empress Dowager was getting a little annoyed that the Emperor remained silent despite all she had said.

She had no idea what the Emperor was thinking.

As the ruler of a country, why is he not in a hurry to have children or to cultivate the next generation of successors? What is he thinking about every day?

Seeing that his mother was a little upset, Jin Chenyuan immediately stepped forward, patted her back, and picked up the teacup on the table, letting his mother drink a couple of sips to calm her down.

However, Jin Chenyuan never spoke up to persuade the Emperor on behalf of the Empress Dowager.

After all, the current emperor is just like he was back then, not having met someone he likes.

These princes, who had everything they wanted since childhood, naturally wanted to find someone they liked under the conditions of the current society.

However, there is one difference: if he didn't want to be emperor, he could pass the throne to his nephew, but now his nephew has no one to shield him.

After taking a couple of sips of tea to calm her temper, the Empress Dowager placed the teacup back on the table. Ignoring the Emperor's silence, she made a decision: "You don't need to worry about the Hundred Flowers Banquet or the invitation of noble ladies. You just need to come to the banquet and choose an Empress."

"Grandmother." The Emperor finally spoke, surprised that his grandmother had made the decision so quickly.

“Calling me Empress Dowager won’t help this time. So many officials in the court have submitted memorials requesting that you establish an Empress, but you’ve ignored them all. Jinxuan, you’re not young anymore. You can’t wait until you’re as old as your uncle to establish an Empress.”

At this point, the Empress Dowager thought of Jinxuan's father, the late Emperor, who was also her eldest son.

Jin Xuan's father was also stubborn and unwilling to establish an empress, which led to his sudden illness and death. At that time, Jin Xuan was only 13 years old and could not inherit the throne at all, so he issued an edict to let Chen Yuan succeed to the throne.

Unexpectedly, Jinxuan now wants to emulate his father, the Emperor.

However, this time she will not let Jin Xuan act willfully.

Hearing his mother use him as an example, Jin Chenyuan had to speak up and remind her, "Your Majesty, I already have a princess consort."

Hearing her youngest son interrupting again, the Empress Dowager rolled her eyes at him, then looked at Yue Li with a kind smile and said, "You were able to marry the Princess because A Li took a liking to you, otherwise you would still be living a lonely life."

After saying that, he looked at the Emperor, who was sitting in his seat and seemed to be lost in thought, and said, "This matter is decided. On the day of the Hundred Flowers Banquet, you should also bring A-Li to participate. At that time, you can also help the Emperor choose an Empress who suits his taste. That way, the people of the capital can recognize our future Princess Consort Chen, and we won't let her be offended by those ignorant people outside."

"Mother, rest assured, this concerns Jinxuan's selection of an empress. Your son will definitely bring A-Li with him when the time comes."

If a suitable empress could be chosen for the emperor, his elder brother would surely be very happy.

Now that things had come to this, the Emperor no longer refuted the Empress Dowager's words. However, the final decision on how to choose an Empress, or whether to choose one at all, was up to him.

"Grandmother, you can't interfere with what kind of empress I will become. Besides, not just anyone can become empress. You might not be able to choose her after one or two banquets. I will definitely choose my future empress carefully."

He couldn't refuse the Hundred Flowers Banquet, but that didn't mean he couldn't find other excuses to refuse. Of course, he would choose someone who suited his heart to spend his life with and have children with him. Besides, he already had someone he was attracted to, so how could he possibly choose someone else casually?

While verbally responding to the Empress Dowager's words, a complex and dark light flashed in his eyes when he looked at Yue Li, but this light was quickly concealed by his lowered eyelids.

Seeing that the Emperor had finally agreed, the Empress Dowager was also happy. As long as the Emperor agreed to start the selection of an Empress, that was fine. As for when the selection would take place...

With so many noble ladies in Kyoto, surely one of them will suit the Emperor's taste.

So the Empress Dowager repeatedly assured her, "Of course, the Empress will be living with you after all. I will definitely not interfere. Ah Li and I will just keep an eye on things for you."

Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Jin Chenyuan raised an eyebrow. It was clear that the Emperor was being forced into this situation by his mother, and his words made no promise about when an Empress would be chosen.

If he doesn't find a noble lady he likes, wouldn't he just have to keep putting it off?

Jin Chenyuan glanced at his mother, who was enthusiastically discussing with Yue Li how to hold the Hundred Flowers Banquet, and then glanced at the Emperor, but did not expose his little scheme.

Maybe?

Perhaps if we hold a few more banquets, a noble lady who truly pleases the Emperor will appear.

Carrying the Empress Dowager's gifts and prepared pastries, Yue Li relaxed on the low couch in the carriage as she sat on the carriage leaving the palace. She hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to be so enthusiastic, chatting with her for a full half hour before letting them leave the palace. Her face was almost frozen from smiling.

Watching Yue Li leave the palace felt like a release from all restraints, and he felt completely relaxed.

Jin Chenyuan chuckled and said, "Why do you look so tired? Your mother and the emperor are quite easy to get along with, aren't they?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Li propped her head up with one hand and said, "The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are quite easy to get along with, but for some reason, I always feel tense in the palace."

"This is because it's your first time entering the palace. I'll take you there often in the future, and you'll get used to it over time."

"Let's not. There are plenty of fun places outside the palace. Why bother coming to the palace so often?"

Although the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were both easy-going people, she still disliked the custom of bowing to everyone she met.

"Okay, if you don't want to go and there's nothing else to do, then we won't go."

At this moment, Jin Chenyuan did not shatter Yue Li's little fantasy.

After all, once she marries him, as the Princess Consort of Prince Chen, she will need to attend many banquets, whether it's the New Year or other holidays, in the imperial clan or the palace.

The slight swaying of the carriage made Yue Li, who was lying on the low couch, drowsy.

Seeing that Yue Li was about to close her eyes, Jin Chenyuan helped her take off the embroidered shoes she was still wearing and put her feet on the low footstool, saying, "Since you're sleepy, then sleep for a while. I'll wake you up when we get to the palace."

"Mmm." Exhausted, Yue Li vaguely heard Jin Chenyuan's words and responded in a daze before turning over and falling asleep.

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

in the palace

After returning to Zichen Palace from Shou Kang Palace, the Emperor was restless and uneasy. The image of Yue Li in the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, with her bright smile like a peach blossom in full bloom, kept flashing through his mind.

Putting down the book he had been using to distract himself, the emperor rose from the soft couch and went to the window. Looking at the scenery outside, he was momentarily at a loss as to how to deal with the complex thoughts in his mind.