Before the Empress Dowager could continue, Lu Yuyan interrupted, "Empress Dowager, in my eyes, the princess is the most pure and innocent. Not to mention that the princess was rescued by me and Prince An at the time, and nothing happened. Even if something did happen, I would only worry that I am not worthy of the princess."

The Empress Dowager finally breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, walked to Lu Yuyan, personally helped him up, patted his hand, and her eyes were red: "Good child, I am very happy that you think this way."

Lu Yuyan was overjoyed: "So, Empress Dowager, you've agreed?"

"I agree, I agree. You've put it that way, how could I refuse?" The Empress Dowager smiled and wiped away her tears.

Lu Yuyan kowtowed three more times to the Empress Dowager.

"Get up, get up quickly." The Empress Dowager, feeling sorry for Lu Yuyan, personally helped him up again.

"Since the palace is going to hold weddings, then let's just hold Yu'er and Ruoling's weddings together. Tell the Empress Dowager that other things in the palace that can be suspended should be suspended first, and the weddings of these four children should be prioritized."

The palace maids hurriedly agreed and congratulated Lu Yuyan and Ruoling.

“Ayan, yesterday the Emperor was talking to me about bestowing upon you a Marquis’s mansion. Oh, and Ruoling’s Princess’s mansion is also to be built. But since the wedding is imminent, you will have to make do with the Duke’s mansion for now. Once the Marquis’s mansion and the Princess’s mansion are completed, you can live wherever you like.”

Originally, Ruoling should have had her own princess residence, which was built by the Ministry of Works after she came of age, and she and her husband would live in the princess residence after the princess's wedding.

However, when Ruoling came of age two years ago, the national treasury was short of funds, so the matter was postponed. Last year, with so many events occurring in Shengjing, the national treasury was even more depleted. Furthermore, Ruoling was to be married off to the Southern Liang, making the construction of a princess's residence even less necessary.

Lu Yuyan shook his head and declined with a cupped hand: "Empress Dowager, I have not done anything. I am already ashamed to accept the title of Marquis of Yongyi bestowed upon me by the Emperor. Moreover, the national treasury is empty, and we must not build any more marquisate. I beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to withdraw the decree to build a marquisate."

Ruoling also said, "Grandmother, Ruoling doesn't want the Princess's Mansion either. After the wedding, I will live with Ayan in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion."

Lu Xiaoyun stepped forward and said, "Grandmother, I consider Ayan my own younger brother, and he also has a courtyard in the Prince An's Mansion. After the wedding, they can also live in the Prince An's Mansion."

The Empress Dowager wiped away her tears and choked out, "You are all good children, good children. Just listen to yourselves, live wherever you want."

"yes."

The Empress Dowager held Lu Yuyan's hand and said, "Good child, I'm sorry you had to go through this."

Lu Yuyan smiled: "I am more than grateful that the Empress Dowager married Ruoling to me. How could I feel wronged?" He could only think that Ruoling would feel wronged, but he also knew that she didn't care about that.

"Hey, where is the Emperor? Go and invite the Emperor here. I want the Emperor to personally bestow a marriage upon Ayan and Ruoling."

Zhu Dan had drunk a bit too much and sat alone in the imperial study, propping his head up with his hand, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhang Zhongwei knew the emperor's thoughts and wanted to say a few words of comfort, but he didn't know where to begin. He glanced at Zuo Xiu, who was standing to the side like a wooden stake.

Zuo Xiu shrugged at him, indicating that he couldn't do anything about it either.

At this moment, Duan Yunsheng, the chief eunuch of Cisui Palace, arrived: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence at Cisui Palace."

Zhu Dan looked up, his face flushed from drinking too much: "I understand."

Zhu Dan stood up unsteadily, and Zhang Zhongwei hurriedly went forward to help him, but Zhu Dan was a withered old man, and his tall stature made it quite difficult for Zhang Zhongwei to help him.

Duan Yunsheng cried out in pain and rushed to help her up: "Should this old servant go and inform the Empress Dowager?"

Zhu Dan shook his head: "No need, I'm fine."

Zuo Xiu took Zhu Dan from the two of them, and Zhang Zhongwei hurried to prepare the imperial carriage.

The group arrived at Cisui Palace a quarter of an hour later.

Laughter and cheerful voices came from Cisui Palace. Zhu Dan paused as he dismounted from his imperial carriage. His fourth brother and Yun'er were also there.

"The Emperor has arrived!" The laughter inside stopped as the eunuch's announcement rang out.

Zhu Dan stepped off the imperial carriage, and the cold wind instantly sobered him up.

Zuo Xiu tried to help him up, but he pushed her away.

When he entered, everyone bowed to him.

Zhu Dan waved his hand. When he sat in that seat, people would bow to him wherever he went, even his fourth brother and Yun'er.

He gave a bitter laugh to himself. Since ancient times, emperors have always been lonely and isolated.

He glanced at the two of them casually; with them standing together, there was no room for a third person. He turned his face away and walked toward the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager, oblivious to his strange behavior, beckoned to him: "Your Majesty, come here quickly. I want to ask you for a reward on behalf of my two children, Ayan and Ruoling."

"Grandson greets His Majesty the Empress."

"Oh dear, how much wine did you drink? Why do you smell so strongly of alcohol? Someone, quickly go and make some hangover soup." The Empress Dowager ordered the palace servants.

Zhu Dan then followed the Empress Dowager's gaze to the two people standing together: "Grandmother, do you want your grandson to bestow a marriage upon Marquis Yongyi and Ruoling?"

The Empress Dowager laughed loudly: "It seems you know everything. What do you think? Don't you think they are a good match?"

Zhu Dan looked at Ruoling: "Why?"

Ruoling was confused by the question: "What? Fifth Brother, what did you say?"

"Why are you all leaving me? Why?"

The Empress Dowager's smile gradually froze: "Emperor, what are you saying! Ruoling has come of age, and it is natural for men to marry and women to marry. Ayan is very good, and I like him very much. If you are unwilling to grant the marriage, I will issue another imperial decree!"

Zhu Dan turned to the Empress Dowager: "Grandmother, have you asked them if Fourth Brother will leave Shengjing for his fiefdom after the wedding? Will Ayan take Ruoling with them? They are all leaving me and leaving you!"

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!