Upon hearing the Emperor call out "Empress Dowager," Ertai, who had been absent-minded, suddenly raised his head and began searching the crowd in front of him for the figure he had been longing for.

Unfortunately, he searched everywhere but couldn't find it, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Since returning to the palace two days ago, I haven't seen her at all. Unless she comes to me, I can't see her at all.

I finally had a chance to see her, but she didn't come out.

"Your Majesty, where is Niannian?"

Seeing that there was no one pondering beside the Empress Dowager, the Emperor asked Ertai the question that had been bothering him.

"Niannian is resting in Cining Palace. She went to bed late last night."

Thinking of the person lying in bed falling asleep again, the Empress Dowager glanced at Yongxuan standing beside the Emperor, her emotions understood only by the two of them.

The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with deep, unyielding worry. She could only grant Shen Nian's request to bring Qing'er out so that she could sleep peacefully.

Standing on the other side of the Emperor, Fu Yuxing listened to their conversation and noticed the obvious disappointment in his good brother's eyes, which aroused his curiosity.

Who exactly is Princess Shen, who is favored by the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress, and who makes Ertai lose control of his emotions?

As for the incident at Jinxinlou, Shen Nian made up an excuse to get by, so Fu Yuxing didn't know that the girl he met at the restaurant was the Shen Gege he was curious about.

"We held E'ting's wedding this spring, so shouldn't we hold Qing'er and Niannian's wedding next? After we get through Ali and Zhuo's matter, we'll hold yours, okay?"

The Emperor glanced at Qing'er, who was supporting the Empress Dowager, and then at Yongxuan Ertai, who was standing beside him, and said with a smile.

"We will obey His Majesty's will."

The others naturally had no objections. Yongxuan glanced at the joy in Ertai's eyes beside him, and a pang of pain flashed across his own.

Hearing Ertai obediently respond to the Emperor's words, Fu Yuxing felt a pang of heartache for a moment.

The person who promised him they would never marry has now abandoned him.

They were even eager to get married as soon as possible.

Hearing the Emperor give a rough time, Ertai felt a surge of joy, and the disappointment of not seeing Chennian disappeared.

The Empress Dowager looked at Ertai's visible changes and a hint of regret flashed in her eyes.

What a wonderful child.

...

Hanxiang's entry into the palace also arrived as scheduled.

"Have you really thought about telling the Emperor? Are you sure you're going to expose your identity? Do you know what the risks are?"

Fu Yuxing looked at the person sitting beside him, calmly sipping tea, whose eyes and brows seemed gentle but actually exuded a sinister aura, and whispered a reminder of the risks of being exposed.

The Emperor knew what the consequences would be, but none of them did. If they succeeded, Ertai's status would rise; if they failed, it would be a crime of deceiving the Emperor.

The Fu family is also very likely to be viewed with suspicion.

But seeing Ertai suppress all his brilliance and become an ordinary prince's companion, he felt a sense of disappointment and frustration.

"Yes, I want to marry her. My current status is too low, and I am not good enough for her. I don't want her to be criticized because of me."

Hearing Fu Yuxing's reminder, Ertai lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and spoke softly.

Only by using those identities could he barely be worthy of her.

Besides, he only went all out for her, and he was afraid that if he met her again in the future, he wouldn't be good enough for her.

If he were to treat her as inferior out of fear of the consequences, that would not be what he wanted.

A princess, pampered and of noble birth, should not fall from grace because of him.

"Alright, the credit that belongs to you should have been given to you long ago."

...