When Lin Yuxin and her group entered the main hall, many officials and their families were already waiting. Some of the acquaintances were already chatting and laughing, while others were trying to curry favor. Subordinates and superiors need to maintain good relations, so they always have to flatter and fawn over each other.

Lin Yuxin obediently followed her mother to find a seat, while her scumbag father and brothers sat a little in front of them.

The position of Minister is actually quite high, ranking as a third-rank official in the Xia Kingdom. However, Lin Xiong'an did not get the position through merit; it was largely a hollow title with little real power.

However, this did not prevent him from enjoying the treatment of a third-rank official. Lin Xiong'an was always proud of this, feeling that everything he had earned was due to his own efforts.

"Mrs. Lin, it's been a long time!"

"Madam Xu, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

At this moment, a lady who was close to Zhao Hanya started talking to Zhao Hanya, leaving Lin Yuxin sitting alone, bored.

Lin Yuxin had been sitting there for over an hour. Everyone who was supposed to have arrived had arrived, but the meal hadn't started yet. Lin Yuxin was feeling really hungry!

[I'm so hungry! When will the feast begin? When will the Emperor arrive? Oh, and I haven't seen that envoy from Qi yet; I wonder if he's come?]

Lin Yuxin quietly clutched her stomach, swallowed hard, and thought of the envoy from Qi. She then looked around discreetly but didn't see anyone.

Just as Lin Yuxin was trying to figure out a way to sneak a bite to eat, she heard a hoarse voice shout:

"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived! His Majesty the Empress has arrived! We respectfully welcome the Regent!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Regent!"

All the ministers, ladies, and young women rose and knelt to pay their respects. Lin Yuxin was no exception and obediently followed her mother's example.

After the Emperor and Empress were seated on their high thrones, the Emperor smiled and spoke:

"My beloved subjects, please rise. Today is a state banquet, so there is no need for formalities."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Everyone answered in unison and got up to return to their seats.

Lin Yuxin looked up and saw that the Emperor looked to be in his forties and was quite handsome, but he couldn't compare to Li Xiaochen.

However, the emperor's aura alone is enough to inspire fear.

The Empress, on the other hand, appears dignified, elegant, and noble—a model of womanhood.

[Hmm, the Emperor and Empress look quite pleasing to the eye standing together. It's said that their relationship was very good, it's just a pity that the Empress didn't live more than two years!]

After losing that child, the Empress was devastated and her health suffered greatly. Coupled with poisoning, her body is now nearing its breaking point; the slightest mishap could trigger a relapse.

[The plot states that after the empress's death, the emperor did not appoint another empress during his lifetime, so there are still devoted lovers in the imperial family!]

Thinking about this, Lin Yuxin felt that the emperor was actually quite pleasing to the eye.

But the emperor and empress, seated on their thrones, were startled. What was that sound? What kind of poison? I'll die? (The empress will die?)

Before the Emperor and Empress could figure out where the sound was coming from, it rang out again.

However, if I could find a chance to detoxify the Empress, she might live for several more decades! Besides, the Empress's son is still in my household! If the Empress dies, Xiao Hao would be heartbroken!

I promised to take good care of him, so I'll take care of his mother too!

Lin Yuxin was thinking of a solution. She felt it would be a great pity if the Empress died, and Xiao Hao would be heartbroken when he found out the truth.

Unbeknownst to her, several people present had already changed their expressions.

Zhao Hanyue was now covered in cold sweat. Her daughter's daring had returned; she dared to meddle in royal affairs.

I rescued Xiao Hao because I felt sorry for him, and since he was a royal child, I couldn't just settle him down anywhere, so I raised him at home.

How come attending a state banquet means getting involved in the Empress's affairs again? But as her daughter's mother, she can only support what her daughter wants to do.

She had already decided that after the state banquet, she would find an opportunity to take Lin Yuxin to meet the Empress. She didn't know if she could meet her successfully; she could only do her best and leave the rest to fate.

The three older brothers also looked distressed. "Little sister, you've really given us a difficult task. We brothers can't manage the affairs of the inner palace, let alone the emperor's harem. We'll do our best for you this time."

Li Xiaochen picked up the wine glass on the table, glanced at Lin Yuxin with a half-smile, and then put it back down.

Ha! This girl is quite nosy. Isn't she afraid that the harem will devour people?

When the Empress heard the word "son," her face turned pale. Was it referring to her son? She only had one son left, her eight-month-old son.

Back then, Lin'er was in poor health and would fall ill at the drop of a hat, so she went to Lingquan Temple outside the capital to pray for Lin'er's well-being. But in the blink of an eye, Lin'er disappeared.

She searched for a long time but couldn't find it. After three months, she finally found one of Lin'er's bloodstained shoes by the river at the foot of the mountain.

Everyone said Lin'er was dead, but she didn't believe it and thought Lin'er was still alive.

Now that she heard that voice, could it be that her Lin'er was really alive? Still in her house? Who was she?

She looked up and scanned the room one by one, trying to find out who had spoken just now, but after looking around several times, she couldn't see anything unusual. Could this be a hallucination caused by her longing for her son?

Although the emperor was also shocked by the news he heard, he was, after all, the emperor, and he managed his facial expressions very well. No matter how much he lost control, he remained very calm on the surface.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!