Prince Fu'an didn't know why His Majesty's expression suddenly changed, and he lowered his head in fear and trepidation.

[Oh no, I've most likely been discovered. I'll pack up and return to my fiefdom tonight. The gentlemen in the capital aren't as charming as those in Shu, and the emperor is also fierce...]

Emperor Chengjing: “…”

"Your Majesty, the matter of adoption concerns the very foundation of the nation. I believe we should plan for it early. The Prince of Huaiyang is a gifted and intelligent man. He could write at the age of three, and by the age of five he had memorized the Hundred Poems. Now, at ten, he can easily compose a poem in seven steps. He is truly an exceptional writer, akin to the God of Literature descending to earth."

The Canglang Prince possesses exceptional martial arts skills and unique abilities. He is well-versed in military tactics and history books. He joined the army at the age of fourteen and is well-versed in the art of deploying troops. The Fuan Prince…"

"That's enough!" the emperor interrupted the censor, "We'll discuss the adoption later."

Next, all the officials were surprised to find that the emperor was often distracted. He often stared at someone intently, as if he was completely immersed in his own thoughts and motionless.

Even when an official came forward to report important matters, the emperor looked absent-minded.

All the officials could not help but look at each other, secretly wondering what could have made the emperor so distracted.

After the court session was finally over, Emperor Chengjing could no longer contain his anxiety and quickly sent his trusted people to verify whether the news he heard at the morning court session was true.

If the news was true, then he would not be able to adopt the three princes of the royal family that he had originally chosen as the crown prince no matter what.

The youngest son of Prince Huaiyang and the crown prince of Prince Canglang both have a father who is eyeing the throne. It is conceivable that growing up in such an environment, their minds would not be simple.

Perhaps there is no need to wait until Long Yu passes away. As long as their power grows and they become more powerful, they will be impatient to launch an abdication in an attempt to usurp the throne.

When he thought of this, Emperor Chengjing couldn't help but frown and became worried.

As long as they don't endanger the country, it doesn't matter if he dies, but Chao Yan is his life, and he will not allow her to be harmed.

Emperor Chengjing walked to Chaoyan Palace with a heavy heart.

"Father, you're here!" Yun Yuan went over and hugged his arm.

Emperor Cheng Jing heard her inner voice: "Father seems unhappy. I need to act more lively and cheerful. This way he will be happy too."

Emperor Chengjing felt warm in his heart, "Good boy."

Yun Yuan looked at him suspiciously. Emperor Cheng Jing coughed lightly and said, "The early plum blossoms in the other palaces outside the capital are in bloom. I will hold a plum blossom viewing banquet for you and invite all the outstanding and unmarried young men from the royal and noble families. If you like any of them, tell me and I will grant you a marriage."

Yun Yuan pouted and said, "Is Father really that eager for me to get married?"

Emperor Cheng Jing heard her inner voice: [I don't want to get married, I want to stay by my father's side forever. I finally understand. My father is the only one in the world who will love me unconditionally.]

Emperor Cheng Jing couldn't help but think of Mu Nan, and guessed that Yun Yuan had been wronged by the Mu family, which was why she was afraid of getting married and came up with such an idea.

A cold look flashed in his eyes, and he silently took note of Mu Nan. He said to Yun Yuan in a gentle voice, "Don't worry, I will definitely find you a husband who is truly worthy of entrusting your life to. He will definitely not be like Mu Nan."

Yun Yuan's eyes flickered slightly and she nodded.

"My father is so stubborn. I want to find my husband, but I don't know how to tell him that any children I give birth to in the future will be of royal blood, with my father's blood flowing through their veins. My father is still young, and he is more than capable of raising my children."

Emperor Cheng Jing's body trembled, and he stared at Yun Yuan sharply.

Yun Yuan was startled: "What...what happened, Father?"

"It's okay." Emperor Cheng Jing looked away and continued to listen to Yun Yuan's thoughts.

[I was so shocked I almost thought I'd spoken out my innermost thoughts. Alas, I was just fantasizing. After all, getting married is a huge gamble. I can't be sure the person I meet in the future won't be like Mu Nan. If it's a servant, it's different. If I'm unhappy, I can just kick them out.]

Emperor Cheng Jing did not blame Yun Yuan, but thought about it seriously and finally concluded that there was nothing wrong with Yun Yuan's idea.

Yun Yuan is his daughter. It is better to let his daughter's son be the crown prince than to let his enemy's son be the crown prince.

Prince Huaiyang and Prince Canglang were both opponents he defeated in the previous fight for the throne. If he allowed their son to become the king, they would inevitably take revenge on his daughter. They might even secretly take his body out of the imperial mausoleum and grind it into ashes.

Thinking of that scene, Emperor Cheng Jing felt a chill in his heart and made a decision instantly.

"Chao Yan is a princess of a country, my only daughter. You are of noble status and do not need to marry like the daughters of ordinary families. You can choose a few more young men for the plum blossom viewing banquet. I will check their character for you."

Yun Yuan's eyes widened: "Father...Father!"

Emperor Cheng Jing knew that she was shy and embarrassed to express her thoughts, so he smiled and said, "I have thought about it. It is better to give the throne to my grandson than to the son of my enemy. My daughter is in the prime of her life, so I will not worry about not having an heir to the throne in the future."

Yun Yuan's delicate face flushed slightly as she said solemnly, "Zhao Yan will not let my father down!"

Emperor Cheng Jing laughed loudly, and the depression that had lasted for many years was swept away. Chao Yan was right, he was just stubborn. Why hadn't he thought of such a simple method before?

If the Wolf King wants him to have no descendants, forget it! All the children Chaoyan has in the future will have the same surname as him!

Emperor Cheng Jing was like a chicken with its blood pumped up. When he got back, he ordered a list of all the eligible sons of high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital. Only sons were removed, as were those with bad conduct, ugly looks, and those who spent all their time in brothels. In the evening, he showed the remaining list to Yun Yuan.

Yun Yuan took a look and saw that the young masters of the Chu and Xu families were among them.

"Anything is fine."

Seeing her perfunctory response, Emperor Chengjing raised his eyebrows and asked, "Anything is fine?"

Yun Yuan smiled and said, "I trust Father's judgment. I won't know for sure who to choose until we see them at the Plum Blossom Viewing Banquet."

Emperor Chengjing nodded, and after the morning court the next day, he called several adults he had selected to the imperial study for a talk.

Including Prime Minister Chi, Grand Tutor Chu, Duke Xi, Prince Xiao, Marquis Wei Yi, and Minister Yan, the six people went in with puzzled expressions and came out with rosy faces.

No one thought of refusing. Although being a male servant to the princess sounded unpleasant, who wouldn't want their own bloodline to inherit the throne in the future? Moreover, the emperor chose them because he trusted them, and they were very grateful.

On the third day, no one in the court talked about the adoption anymore.

On the fourth day, a plum blossom viewing banquet was held in a palace outside Beijing.

………………

The Mu family lived in the dilapidated yard for three days. Every day when Mu Nan went to the Hanlin Academy to perform his duties, he hoped that Princess Chaoyan would come to see him, but Princess Chaoyan never showed up.

He was very anxious and made a mistake at work. The emperor took the opportunity to suspend him from his post and let him stay at home to reflect on his mistakes.