Li Changyu subtly lowered his gaze, glancing only briefly at Mi Shan and Qiao Yunsheng before looking away.

A hint of coldness settled on his seemingly undistracted handsome face.

Although I knew from the start that this woman was extremely materialistic,

She desired both royal power and wealth, and also coveted male beauty.

Unable to curry favor with Prince Rui, it's not surprising that they turned their attention to Qiao Yunsheng.

A woman like her, who is inherently promiscuous and can seduce men anytime, anywhere, would normally fall in love with every man she meets.

For some reason, a hint of displeasure was revealed in his cold eyes.

His voice was cold and deep.

"They're gone."

After saying that, he walked past her without looking at her, his profile as cold and aloof as ever, his temperament as unattainable as a snow pine on a distant mountain.

Qiao Yunsheng nodded to them again and followed the Crown Prince.

A look of worry gradually appeared on his clean and refined face.

"Doctor Qiao, is this an old acquaintance?"

Li Changyu glanced at him sideways, his eyes indifferent and calm.

"He's just an impossible person."

Qiao Yunsheng looked dejected, his eyes filled with sadness.

He had frequent contact with the Crown Prince, often going out with him and Prince Rui, and over time they began to speak more casually.

Seeing that the Crown Prince remained silent, he suddenly realized that he had said something wrong and quickly came to his senses. "Your Highness, please forgive me. I was just speaking casually. Those are all the Emperor's concubines. How could I possibly have the opportunity to know them?"

Li Changyu saw that he was covered in cold sweat.

This further solidified my belief.

His eyes darkened.

Mi Shan, she really is a womanizer and a flirt.

"It's alright. Physician Qiao, you should calm down and go check on Father's pulse."

"Yes." Qiao Yunsheng's expression turned slightly somber.

Thinking of the emperor's current situation, his mood became even more heavy.

It is truly perplexing that the Emperor is not taking good care of his health at this time, but instead is recruiting concubines to fill the harem.

However, he dared not speak much in front of the Crown Prince, unlike Prince Rui, who loved traveling and womanizing.

Although this prince often went out with them, he always had that cold, creepy, and unapproachable demeanor, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

"You've been visiting the palace more frequently lately than before. Is the Emperor unwell?" Li Changyu suddenly asked coldly.

There was not a trace of concern for her father in her tone; only an unfathomable chill.

"Your Highness, His Majesty is in good health, though he has been sleeping poorly lately, but there are no major problems."

"oh."

Li Changyu's eyes were icy cold.

-

The two parted ways.

Not long after.

They met again in the imperial court.

In the spacious and imposing hall, ministers and high-ranking officials were gathered.

The crown prince, as the head of all officials, stood in the very front row.

Li Changyu stood tall and straight, with a cool and aloof expression and long, flowing black hair, making him stand out from the crowd like a crane among chickens.

Beside him was Prince Rui, whose smile was warm and gentle.

Next to him was the Prince of Pingxi, a veteran of three reigns and the elder brother of the Empress. He was about sixty years old, with a thick beard and a haughty expression, standing proudly.

Alongside him was Prince Li Huaiyan, a man with a gaunt face and sharp eyes, like a slender brush handle, exuding an aura that was both righteous and wicked.

"His Majesty has arrived."

The crowd had been waiting for a while when the emperor finally arrived at court.

He was dressed in a gorgeous outfit, looking relaxed and casual, with his long hair tied up loosely, revealing a large expanse of his muscular chest and a bright red lipstick mark.

The ministers all closed their eyes, unable to bear to look.

"Your Majesty, please compose yourself and refrain from disrespect before the throne!"

Prince Li Huaiyan was the emperor's uncle and the only remaining collateral branch of the imperial family in the previous Da Yue Dynasty.

When he assisted the emperor in ascending the throne, he was only five years older than the emperor, but he always dared to speak frankly and offer advice. In order to dispel the emperor's doubts, he remained unmarried for life and is still single to this day, devoted to the court.

Therefore, the emperor could disregard everyone else's feelings, but he couldn't disobey this Uncle Yan.

"Uncle, I understand. You don't need to say anything more. I had important matters to attend to today, which is why I'm late. My beloved ministers, please rise and get to the point."

The emperor's leisurely and lazy demeanor infuriated the ministers below, who were so angry they were practically fuming, yet dared not utter a word.

You look at me, I look at you.

As usual, he only reported on some important matters, especially the floods in the south, which had not been effectively resolved for a long time.

As always, the emperor would either leave the matter to the official to handle or, without much further thought, postpone the discussion.

On the contrary, Crown Prince Changyu presented several solutions with clear logic, which won the hearts of the people.

"It is still my Crown Prince who has a solution."

Li Shengyuan's gaze was deep, and his expression was quite complicated, with a hint of displeasure. "Seeing your talent, I am relieved."

Li Changyu's eyes were cold and aloof, and he calmly lowered his head.

“Father, you flatter me. I am only fulfilling my duty to you and the suffering people. I eat the king’s food and bear the king’s worries.

"Yes, this method was devised by the Crown Prince after several sleepless nights," Prince Rui added.

"Prince Rui also stayed up all night with me."

Li Changyu's gaze remained fixed as he spoke in a low, cold voice.

Li Yu was quite embarrassed. Would he say that he didn't actually stay up all night at all, but that while his second brother was studying diligently by candlelight, he was sleeping soundly with the beautiful maid in his arms?

Li Shengyuan looked at Li Yu, and seeing that he did not deny it, then looked at Li Changyu, and his expression softened a bit. He laughed heartily:

"Very good, very good. With you two so talented in governing the world, why should I worry about the flood? Li Huaiyan, I hereby order you to go and provide disaster relief and flood control, and save the people from the suffering of the people!"

"I obey the order."

"Is there anything else? If not, the court is dismissed!"

"Wait a minute."

But then the Prince of Pingxi, looking grave, stopped the Emperor. “Recently, Your Majesty has been recruiting concubines and expanding the harem. I have heard that a young woman named Mi Shan was selected as a Jieyu during the selection process. As far as I know, she is merely a lowly concubine’s daughter, and she may even have blood from the Western Regions.”

"Although the Western Regions have long since surrendered to Great Yue, our dynasty is of noble blood. Is it not inappropriate for the Emperor to bestow such an honor upon this woman?"

“I can favor whomever I want? What’s wrong with that? Then, according to you, Prince Pingxi, what would be the most appropriate?” Li Shengyuan’s face darkened.

Thinking of Mi Shan's charming face, his heart fluttered a little, and when he looked at the old man with the long beard, he felt even more disgusted.

"I believe that her title of Jieyu should be revoked! She should be reinstated, or she should be sent out of the palace to prevent her from causing trouble for His Majesty in the future!"