The Imperial Palace of the Great Xuan Dynasty.

Zhao Yi, draped in a cloak, stood at the highest point of Chunhe Palace, overlooking the entire city of Lingyang.

After parting ways with Qin Sheng at Caishikou, Li An rushed to the palace. He searched everywhere for Zhao Yi, looking for most of the palace until his legs were almost broken, before he suddenly remembered that the emperor might be watching the snow scene in Chunhe Hall.

In the past, when the Emperor and Empress had a good relationship, they always liked to stand together at the highest point of Chunhe Palace, embracing each other and overlooking the snow scene of the entire Lingyang City.

Sure enough, Ang Lee finally found Zhao Yi here.

He followed Zhao Yi's gaze and looked towards the execution ground. He didn't know what the young emperor was thinking, nor did he dare to ask.

After his breathing had calmed down a bit, he spoke softly, "Your Majesty, the Empress has already left."

Zhao Yi hummed in response, and said nothing more.

Li An stood with his head bowed to the side, watching the snow scene with him for most of the day. He couldn't help but advise, "Your Majesty, it's cold and snowy here. This old servant will accompany you back."

Zhao Yi grunted a muffled "hmm" and stood there for a while before slowly lifting his foot and walking down the steps.

"Is Zhizhi about to give birth?" Zhao Yi suddenly muttered to himself as he walked to the entrance of Chunhe Hall.

After he finished speaking, he looked at Li An and said, "I still owe her a grand ceremony to officially confer the title of Princess."

Li An looked at Zhao Yi with heartache, then immediately lowered his head and tentatively said, "Does Your Majesty miss His Highness? Counting the days, His Highness should be giving birth by the beginning of spring."

"Forget it, let's talk about those things after spring," Zhao Yi suddenly sighed.

Yunchao, Dunyang City.

At the morning court session, after all the officials had finished presenting their memorials, they eagerly awaited Qin Han's announcement, "Court adjourned!"

To everyone's surprise, after waiting and waiting, they received an unexpected imperial edict.

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

When I first ascended the throne, the realm was not yet at peace. Yet, by the boundless grace of Heaven, I was able to reunite with my younger sister, Yunhe, in this mortal world. We are bound by blood, and our affection is deep and profound. My sister Yunhe is gentle, virtuous, and talented. She recognized me half a year ago, which is truly a blessing for the Yun Dynasty and a boon for all its people.

Moreover, the political situation was turbulent, with the traitor Yun Shu causing chaos and endangering the nation. At this critical moment, the Emperor's younger sister, Yun He, stepped forward, generously donating funds to raise military supplies and assist the Emperor in suppressing the rebellion. Her contributions to the nation and her virtue benefited all people. Her loyalty and courageous actions serve as a model for women throughout the land.

I am deeply gratified. I hereby issue this decree to confer upon Yunhe the title of "Princess Anping" and bestow upon her the honorary title "Anping" to commemorate her virtue. I also grant her the fief of Chunsheng County, a place of abundant resources and prosperous people, with beautiful mountains and rivers. May Princess Anning live a peaceful and prosperous life in this land, and may her blessings last forever.

Furthermore, considering my sister's exceptional wisdom and unique insights into state affairs, I hereby grant her the "power to assist in governance." In the event of urgent state matters, upon receiving my decree, she may act on my behalf to reassure the people and stabilize the nation. However, this power is not bestowed lightly. I hope my sister will uphold impartiality, act prudently, and live up to my high expectations and the hopes of the people.

Effective immediately, this decree is issued to the entire realm, so that all may know. So be it!

Upon the issuance of the imperial edict, an uproar erupted in the main hall.

Zhao Zhi, dressed in a loose palace gown, slowly walked out of the side hall and stood side by side with Yun Li. She nodded slightly and said in a clear voice, "I am Princess Anping. I greet you all."

Prime Minister Li Mu stepped forward first, bowed deeply, and spoke earnestly: "Your Majesty is wise, and Princess Anping is both virtuous and talented, truly a blessing to our Yun Dynasty. During the national crisis, the princess spared no effort to help quell the rebellion, and her loyalty and courage are admirable. Now, with Your Majesty's trust in her and the granting of the power to assist in governing, it is truly the will of the people. We, your ministers, are willing to do our utmost to assist the princess and work together to ensure the prosperity of the Yun Dynasty."

After he finished speaking, the ministers echoed his words, and their praises were endless.

General Li Ye, unable to hide his excitement, declared loudly, "Princess, you are a woman of exceptional talent. In the past, you raised military supplies and helped our army advance with unstoppable momentum. Today, you have been entrusted with this important task by His Majesty. Although I am just a soldier, I am willing to swear to protect the princess and His Majesty with my life and safeguard the peace of our Yun Dynasty!"

Among the civil officials, Lin Wanqing, the only female official promoted by Yun Li, said softly to her colleague beside her: "The princess is not only exceptionally talented, but also possesses such magnanimity and courage. She is truly a role model for us women to learn from. May the princess assist in governing effectively and lead the women of our Yun Dynasty to an even more glorious future."

After the court session ended, the officials gathered in small groups to discuss the matter.

"I knew it! The Crown Prince had been hiding his talents for over ten years. How could he suddenly become so valiant? It turns out he had Princess Anping's help behind him!"

"It's not hard to tell from the imperial edict that our Princess Anping must be very wealthy. Now, our major problem of an empty treasury can be easily solved," an official from the Ministry of Revenue said with a smile.

Li Ye listened for a while, then left with a silly smile.

The Emperor's trick of substituting the crown prince for a cat really worked! Even though the Emperor himself funded the war, he claimed it was Princess who paid for it.

Li Ye then understood why, when the emperor explained the issue of military funds during the attack on Dunyang City, he claimed that a noble person had helped him. It turned out that he had been paving the way for Princess Anping all along.

The imperial edict quickly spread to every street and alley of Dunyang City, and to the five prefectures and twelve counties.

"Your Majesty, isn't it a coincidence that the new emperor of the Yun Dynasty also adopted a woman from among the common people, bestowed upon her the title of Princess Anping, and granted her the fief of Chunsheng County? Both Chunsheng County and our prince's fief of Chaoyang County are excellent places!"

In the imperial study, Li An reported the news he had just received about the Yun Dynasty to Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi's vermilion brush, which was used to correct the memorial, suddenly stopped, and the crimson ink immediately soaked through the memorial.

He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Li An, what did you just say?"

"The new emperor of the Yun Dynasty has conferred a title upon a princess," Li An replied.

"The sentence before that."

"The new emperor of the Yun Dynasty also recognized a woman from the common people and bestowed upon her the title of Princess Anping." Li An, not understanding the situation, repeated what he had just said.

Zhao Yi abruptly stood up, his expression extremely ugly. "Is she planning to stay in Yun Dynasty and abandon me, her elder brother?!"

Suddenly, Li An had a flash of inspiration and realized what was going on. His voice trembled as he tentatively asked the question that had been nagging at him: "Your Majesty, do you mean that Princess Anping of the Yun Dynasty is our Princess?"

Zhao Yi suddenly turned to look at him. The coldness in his eyes sent a chill down Li An's spine.

"Your Majesty, perhaps there's more to this than meets the eye. It's freezing cold today, and Your Highness is about to give birth; it wouldn't be easy for her to travel. Perhaps we could send someone to invite her back after she has given birth to your son? What do you think of this plan?"

Zhao Yi did not reply to Li An.

He emerged from behind his desk and paced back and forth in the imperial study. After a long while, he sat heavily on the dragon throne and said in an unquestionable tone, "I will not let her stay in the Yun Dynasty. She can only be the princess of my Great Xuan. And she can only be the empress of my Great Xuan."