"Sometimes I let you guys do whatever you want because I think it's not a big deal and I'm too lazy to care."

"But if I really take charge, will you two still have any say?"

"Where do you and your son put your pride?"

Zhao Huan got up to help Mu Zhaojun, and said softly, "Madam, this has nothing to do with me..."

Mu Zhaojun retorted angrily, "He is your son, and everything he does is related to you!"

"He...he...he..." Zhao Huan exclaimed anxiously, "He's seeing so many women, but he's not enjoying me!"

"So you mean you're actually quite disappointed?"

"Alright, alright..." Mu Zhaojun pointed at Zhao Cheng and said, "Eldest brother, go find a few young women for your father, and let him take five concubines at the same time, no... ten! I'll visit his grave next year!"

Zhao Cheng immediately helped Mu Zhaojun up and took the opportunity to pry Zhao Huan's hand away, saying softly, "Mother, let's not stoop to his level. He's an old lewd man."

Zhao Cheng led Mu Zhaojun to a chair, wiped the chair with his sleeve before letting Mu Zhaojun sit down, acting like a complete lackey.

"Mother, please calm down and have a seat."

Seeing this, Zhao Huan was completely distraught.

What does that mean?

How come you two are working together?

Zhao Cheng looked at Zhao Huan and said, "Father, quickly apologize to Mother!"

Zhao Huan exclaimed in surprise, "What did I do wrong?"

"Dad!" Zhao Cheng winked and said, "Do you and Mom have a question of right and wrong? You have to apologize every morning when you wake up, and then you'll be happy all day. Hurry up!"

Seeing that Mu Zhaojun remained silent with a stern face, Zhao Huan brushed aside his long hair that was falling in front of him, walked up to Mu Zhaojun, and was about to apologize when Mu Zhaojun said, "Alright, I don't have time to watch you two act."

As she spoke, Mu Zhaojun looked up at Zhao Cheng and said, "Tell me the truth, what are your thoughts on your relationship with Yuan Yun?"

Zhao Huan walked to the door and closed it, then turned around and said, "Tell your mother the truth: were you just putting on an act at the state banquet, or were you forced to?"

Mu Zhaojun hummed in agreement and said, "You are our son, and our bottom line is to respect your wishes."

After Zhao Huan finished speaking, he sat down next to Mu Zhaojun. At this moment, only Zhao Cheng was standing, like a child who had done something wrong and was being punished by his parents.

After thinking for a while, Zhao Cheng's expression turned serious, and he said earnestly, "Yuan Yun and I are truly in love with each other."

"I... really want to marry her."

"Phew..." Zhao Huan let out a long breath and exchanged a glance with Mu Zhaojun.

“He’s a man of action and responsibility, just like my son, Zhao Huan!” Zhao Huan chuckled softly.

Mu Zhaojun said, "If you truly want to marry Yuan Yun, your father and I won't object. Defying an imperial decree and refusing marriage is a very troublesome matter. But I must remind you, Yuan Yun has been extremely cunning and ruthless since childhood. Do you really understand her?"

Mu Zhaojun's evaluation of Yuan Yun stunned Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng asked doubtfully, "Does Mother know Yuan Yun?"

“It’s more than just knowing her.” Mu Zhaojun chuckled and said, “Back when she was very young, she was already a regular at our house. You were too young then to remember her. By the way…”

Mu Zhaojun looked at Zhao Huan and asked, "How much older is Yuan Yun than Cheng'er?"

Zhao Huan thought for a moment and said, "It seems to be three years old."

"A woman three years older than her husband is a lucky match." Mu Zhaojun muttered to herself, "If she truly cares for our Cheng'er, then the age is just right."

"Mother! Father!" Zhao Cheng was even more confused and asked, "What exactly happened? What's going on between you and Yuan Yun?!"

Zhao Huan and Mu Zhaojun locked eyes.

...

(Bonus Chapter: Yuan Yun's Story)

(The Eldest Princess's Advance)

In the third year of Dajing's reign, winter.

The wind was biting cold. Compared to Yanchuan and the eastern counties of Jingdong and Jiangyang, the winter climate in Changsui was extremely harsh, with a layer of snow covering the ground that could bury one's feet.

Accompanied by a group of personal guards, Zhao Huan left Jing Palace at night and rode his horse home.

In front of his house, Zhao Huan caught a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing past the corner of the wall on the left, his expression calm.

"Who?" The young bodyguard He Zhi noticed something was wrong.

"It's late, don't make a lot of noise," Zhao Huan said, dismounting and walking into the darkness.

He Zhi and his personal guards followed closely behind.

Zhao Huan said, "You've been following me since we left the palace. If you came to kill me, you wouldn't have had a chance. If you need something from me, and you don't say it now, you won't have a chance after I get home."

After a moment of silence in the darkness, a girl's voice came through.

"I want to talk to you alone."

Zhao Huan smiled, turned around and left.

"Does a Grand Marshal like yourself not even have the courage to speak to a girl alone?"

"I do not talk to people who have no name or surname."

“My surname is Huang, Huang Da.”

He Zhi looked at Zhao Huan suspiciously, wondering, "Huang Da? Or Huang Da?"

What a strange name.

Especially since the person with this name is a girl.

Zhao Huan thought for a moment, then said, "I don't need you to prove my courage, but if you have the guts, come into the manor to find me. Half an hour later, the northwest back gate will be open for you. I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

After speaking, Zhao Huan entered the mansion.

Half an hour later.

Zhao Huan sat in a room in a courtyard in the northwest. The door was open, and he sat upright at the table reading a book.

He heard light footsteps, but did not put down his book.

A figure wearing a black cloak walked in, pulled down the hood in front of him, revealing a handsome, youthful, and aloof face.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the girl's expression; her gaze was resolute.

"Grand Marshal."

Zhao Huan then put down his book, looked closely at the girl, stood up, bowed, and said, "Your subject Zhao Huan greets the Princess."

Fifteen-year-old Yuan Yun stared blankly at Zhao Huan, her gaze filled with scrutiny, trepidation, and courage.

"You knew it was me?"

Zhao Huan smiled and said, "It's best not to use the name 'Huang Da' carelessly in the future. It's only good for fooling my simple-minded soldiers."

Yuan Yun nodded and said, "Yuan Yun understands."

"I wouldn't dare." Zhao Huan waved for Yuan Yun to sit down and asked, "What brings the Princess here so late at night?"

Yuan Yun glanced at the chair but did not sit down. Instead, she said, "After my brother ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Feng abused her power and interfered in politics. She and her brother Feng Bao appointed relatives and formed cliques for their own private gain. Although the regents Erzhu Hua and Tu He opposed the Empress Dowager's faction, it was not for the sake of national stability and a clean government, but rather for their own selfish interests."

"These four men are growing stronger and more audacious, treating the emperor as a puppet and disregarding imperial power. If this continues, the Great Jing dynasty will collapse, and the chaotic period of division between the north and south in the east will be repeated. At that time, the people will suffer and countless people will be displaced."

With that, Yuan Yun bowed deeply to Zhao Huan and said, "Yuan Yun earnestly requests the Grand Marshal's assistance to eliminate the wicked and remove those treacherous from the court!"

Zhao Huan was stunned.

It wasn't because of Yuan Yun's words that he had already guessed what was going on when she came to see him alone late at night.

To his surprise,

Yuan Yun was surprisingly direct.