"Imperial Consort, what do you think of this?"

Chen Yuwei: ... She didn't think much of it. After all, whether she said it or not wasn't a decisive factor. In the end, it was the Emperor himself who made the final decision.

However, the question Hongli asked was really a dog. Did he want to see her panicked or happy? He hid his thoughts very well.

She gave a soft hum in her heart, but Chen Yuwei appeared slightly nervous and at a loss.

After all, the selection of a new emperor has nothing to do with the empress and concubines. Hongli's question was an attempt to drag her into the matter.

"Your Majesty is joking. I dare not speak presumptuously on this matter. I leave it entirely to Your Majesty to decide."

"I decide? If I decide, then Mianjin is the best candidate for the new emperor."

"Whether it's her abilities or her management skills, Mianjin reminds me of my younger self."

Hongli sighed, but it was unclear whether his words were praise or criticism.

Mianjin's style of doing things is like his? Then the country and its people are probably doomed.

After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Chen Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief and gestured to Xingkui, who was not far away, to quickly prepare the sedan chair.

Beside him, Gao Yu seized the opportunity to sidle up and whispered that Prince Mianjin had been visiting the Hall of Mental Cultivation more frequently lately.

"Usually, it is the Emperor who orders the servants to invite them. Prince Mianjin is more favored by the Emperor than others."

At least Gao Yu had never seen anyone else who could make the Emperor laugh heartily.

Hongli's increasingly unpredictable daily life is like a ticking time bomb.

It might explode with a bang at any moment, showing no mercy.

Mianjin is a rather special imperial grandson; in any case, Gao Yu didn't see the same aura in anyone else as Mianjin.

Chen Yuwei smiled upon hearing this, "Mianjin is young and doesn't know how to hide things."

"I hope Eunuch Gao will be accommodating when I visit the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the future. I thank you in advance."

Gao Yu smiled sincerely, "Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort, you are too kind. It is all what this servant should do."

Chen Yuwei shook her head, "You can't say that. I've always known that Eunuch Gao has worked hard and made great contributions."

So there's no need to hide anything; if you want her help, just do your job well.

The two exchanged a few witty remarks, and then Chen Yuwei boarded a sedan chair and returned to the palace.

Wu Yunzhu specially came in from outside the palace and stood at the entrance of Yikun Palace to wait for her.

"Why are you here at this hour? Come inside and rest."

Chen Yuwei got out of the sedan chair, placed her hand on the back of Wuyunzhu's hand, and whispered that Wuyunzhu really didn't know how to enjoy life.

Wuyunzhu chuckled and explained that she missed her mother, "but I wasn't thinking about anything else."

Chen Yuwei: ...

Chen Yuwei shook her head helplessly, "They actually said nice things to deceive me."

Your mouth, just like your imperial father's, is all about saying pretty words.

Hongli is not pretending now, and he is much more sarcastic, but he seems more real, at least he won't give Chen Yuwei any unrealistic fantasies.

When Wuyunzhu heard her mother mention her father, the Emperor, she asked her mother what she was doing at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Father Emperor hasn't seen many people lately. I only get to chat with him when we settle business accounts."

At other times, they couldn't even see a soul, because Hongli completely ignored them.

Chen Yuwei smiled and said, "Your father is used to doing whatever he wants."

You've been by your father's side for so many years, don't you even understand these things?

Wuyunzhu sighed, "I understand, but Mother, I still feel that Father Emperor looks too unfamiliar."

Who would believe that the Emperor at this moment is the same person as the Emperor before?

She just couldn't understand it. Was this how the true nature of emperors always came to light? It was as if there was no tomorrow after today.

Chen Yuwei advised Wuyunzhu to think more positively, saying that as long as she stayed by Hongli's side long enough, she would be able to understand Hongli's personality perfectly.

Wuyunzhu's confusion stemmed from her lingering fatherly affection for Hongli.

"Your father, the Emperor, must have been somewhat self-centered to have lived this long."

"You are different from your other sisters. Your father has been quite devoted to you." Although the father and daughter drifted apart as Wuyunzhu grew older, their feelings for each other were genuine before.

In conclusion, Chen Yuwei advised Wu Yunzhu to adjust her mindset and take things calmly.

"Otherwise, you'll be the one who gets hurt in the end. Do you know what your father and mother said today?"

Wu Yunzhu shook her head; she truly didn't know. "Is it someone chosen for the new emperor?"

Wu Yunzhu guessed that since she had a consort in the previous dynasty, she should be able to know some of the recent developments in the court.

Chen Yuwei poured a cup of tea and handed it over, "Not bad, she's the candidate for the new emperor, and it's Mianjin."

Wu Yunzhu's eyes widened. "The Emperor himself said this is the candidate?"

Is the Emperor serious or is he setting a trap, deliberately deceiving them at Yikun Palace?

Chen Yuwei nodded, "Yes, Mother doesn't understand what your Emperor Father means."

However, you can't escape all sorts of tests; your father, the Emperor, is very vigilant.

At least in Hongli's eyes, Mianjin wasn't really that important.

The fact that Hongli could use it as a tool at will shows that he had other motives.

Wu Yunzhu took a sip of warm tea and then said that among his nephews, there really wasn't one who was presentable and without any faults.

Wu Yunzhu: ...It's so frustrating, finding the right person for a relationship is so difficult.

"Relax, there's no use worrying now. Let's wait for the Emperor's arrangements."

As for how the Emperor would arrange things, Chen Yuwei put down her teacup and went to sit down on the couch.

Wu Yunzhu caught up, her expression unusually showing a hint of annoyance.

Mother

Chen Yuwei reached out and stopped Wu Yunzhu from speaking, "Don't continue. Remember, we are just concubines and princesses. We don't have the right to say those things."

Wuyunzhu: ...

Wu Yunzhu kept quiet and instead grabbed two dried fruits from the side and ate them.

Chen Yuwei told her to be careful when eating, and to be careful not to choke.

"Taking your anger out on yourself is useless. Just do your job well. No matter who your father chooses in the end, you will live a good life."

At least they don't have to entrust their entire fortune and life to the new emperor.

Faced with her mother's earnest advice, Wuyunzhu naturally listened to it all.

After returning to the mansion, he summoned the prince consort, and the two sat in the study to discuss matters concerning the new emperor.

Wu Yunzhu definitely hopes that her own family member will take the position, so that even in the worst-case scenario, she can remain safe and sound.

Heshen, on the other hand, thought much further ahead, considering his family's vast business empire.

Even if the new emperor is one of their own, they will most likely still be tempted to take action against them.

Wu Yunzhu rolled her eyes at Heshen, "Don't talk nonsense."

If everyone's eyeing those kinds of businesses, then what's the point of her working so hard?

Heshen shrugged. "I just wanted the princess to be able to analyze these issues objectively."

Your personal safety is more important than business; you can sacrifice it if necessary.

Wu Yunzhu stubbornly refused. She wouldn't take it. It was all money she had worked so hard to earn. If she gave it away for nothing, what would happen to her child?

Heshen: ...

Heshen advised Wuyunzhu to calm down, saying that if the business was given away, they could earn it back from other sources.

"The princess's main concern is survival," after all, she is just a princess, and her status will have many limitations.