At this moment, Qin Susu was already extremely sleepy, but she dared not sleep for fear of losing her composure in front of the palace.

Ling Qi and Ling Ba had already left the hall.

Although Qiu Yan and Gu Qian were sitting quietly, their thoughts had already drifted to Gu Xiaoran's attempt to assassinate him.

They instinctively felt that the murderer must be sitting among them.

He couldn't help but look around.

Suddenly, fireworks burst forth outside the palace. The officials looked up at the outside world, their faces beaming with joy for the New Year.

Thump, thump, thump—

As the midnight bells rang, the banquet came to an end.

Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new,

New Year's Eve ends, and New Year's Day begins.

Although it was the middle of the night, with His Majesty present, no one dared to leave early.

Gu Xiaoran was dreaming when she was suddenly awakened by the sound of fireworks. She jumped up.

Only then did he realize that he was still in the palace.

He looked at the two people in the front row.

"Father, Mother, what time is it?"

"Midnight." Before hearing a reply from her parents, she heard He Lin's response.

Gu Xiaoran looked up and realized that He Lin was already standing in front of her.

Meanwhile, inside the hall, everyone's eyes were on He Lin, wondering what he was going to do.

He Lin reached out to pull Gu Xiaoran closer, but Gu Qian suddenly stood up, stopping him.

"Your Majesty, it is past midnight. Shall we end the banquet?"

Qiu Yan knew that He Lin's intentions were definitely not simple; he didn't just want Xiao Ran to attend the banquet at the palace.

His visit definitely had a purpose.

Sure enough, the next moment, He Lin said:

"What's the rush?" He Lin said gently. "Gu Qian, the child is grown up and can't always hide behind you."

Gu Qian made his move, but was caught in a dilemma.

Qiu Yan looked at Gu Xiaoran, who had just woken up and still looked dazed.

She felt that He Lin's words made some sense; Xiao Ran was ready to grow up.

Gu Xiaoran put his hands behind his back in a defensive stance, but He Lin stepped forward and still grabbed his wrist.

"Jin'er, please sit with me."

Before Gu Qian and Qiu Yan could stop him, He Lin had already pulled the man out of his seat and headed straight for the dragon throne.

Gu Xiaoran...

He was forced to move, and tried to pull his hand away, but could not.

He looked at Gu Qian and Qiu Yan with pleading eyes.

However, at this moment, He Lin had already pulled her to sit next to the dragon throne.

He Lin tucked him into a seat.

Finally, his gaze swept over his concubines, imperial brothers, and all the civil and military officials.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today I have some good news to announce to you. My eldest son, who was lost many years ago, has returned."

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone around her turned their gaze to Gu Xiaoran.

Duan and the other civil and military officials were all speechless with astonishment.

Qin Susu was a little confused. She wanted to ask, "Isn't Yu'er a girl?"

Her gaze began to dart back and forth between His Majesty and Gu Xiaoran, and suddenly, she was so shocked that she couldn't close her mouth.

Gu Xiaoran and the development of events were too rapid, catching him off guard.

He looked at the Crown Prince's parents with a complicated expression, his thoughts unreadable.

Gu Qian and Qiu Yan nodded to Gu Xiaoran at the same time, their eyes affirming, meaning that he should not do anything out of line.

After all, recognizing each other was already a done deal.

Gu Xiaoran's body stiffened, but at the same time, she was also somewhat displeased.

His mother said he was too stubborn, but he felt that he was far inferior to He Lin.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on finding your eldest son!" The officials and concubines realized what was happening and began to congratulate He Lin.

Only Gu Qian and Qiu Yan were preoccupied with their own thoughts.