Pei Zhi received the news when the Left Chancellor's wife entered the palace.

Upon hearing the news from the doorway that the Empress Dowager had arrived, Pei Zhi quickly put down her pen and stood up to greet her.

"Why has the Empress Dowager come?"

Empress Dowager Zhong smiled and said, "I was afraid that Your Majesty was too busy and forgot to take care of your health, so I brought you something to help you recover."

"Thank you for your concern, Mother."

Pei Zhi helped Empress Dowager Zhong to sit down on a chair to the side, and then sat down next to her.

“It’s not right for Your Majesty to be alone in the palace without a trusted servant by your side.”

After taking their seats, Empress Dowager Zhong got straight to the point.

Empress Dowager Zhong wanted to ask what His Majesty's plans were.

His Majesty is already married, yet he refuses to bring his son-in-law into the palace.

Since there was no one else by his side, it was inevitable that many people would have their eyes on him.

Pei Zhi feigned ignorance and said, "Don't I have so many palace servants serving me?"

“The palace servants are all slaves. Your Majesty has no one to confide in, and I am always worried about you.”

Empress Dowager Zhong sighed dramatically and then asked, "What does Your Majesty intend to do with that Qin family member?"

"At least he and His Majesty have sworn an oath of marriage, His Majesty should at least give him a proper title."

Pei Zhi feigned distress and said, "He comes from a merchant family. It was the late emperor who forced me to do this. If I were to bestow an honor upon him now, wouldn't I be making trouble for myself?"

Empress Dowager Zhong sighed inwardly, thinking that regardless of gender, they were all ungrateful wretches.

"Your Majesty, why not first establish a consort and give the Qin family a position as a secondary ruler? I'm sure the ministers won't object."

Pei Zhi: "Your Majesty... I don't have a suitable candidate right now."

"Your Majesty, what do you think of the youngest son of the Left Chancellor?"

"I've heard that Your Majesty and he are destined to be together. If Your Majesty finds him suitable, I can help make arrangements."

Pei Zhi was silent for a moment, "The youngest son of the Left Prime Minister's family, his status is indeed worthy of the title."

"However, I cannot remember what he looks like."

Empress Dowager Zhong immediately understood. "I have some personal connections with the Left Chancellor's wife. I will ask her to bring her young son to the palace another day, so that His Majesty can come and take a look."

Pei Zhi was overjoyed, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mother."

With Empress Dowager Zhong acting as a go-between, Pei Zhi soon met the youngest son of the Left Chancellor.

For a smart person, making friends with anyone is a piece of cake.

Pei Zhi had managed to confuse and bewilder the people with just a few words.

The Zuo Cheng family also believed that His Majesty valued their youngest son.

They had only met a few times, and the rumors circulating outside were already outrageous.

It is said that the youngest son in the Left Chancellor's family will surely become the Emperor's consort.

All sorts of absurd news have been circulating.

For example, His Majesty Pei Zhi did this and that for the sake of the youngest son in the Left Chancellor's family.

Even Pei Zhi, the person directly involved, found it absurd.

Pei Zhi met the youngest son of the Left Chancellor three times in the palace.

Pei Zhi casually broke off a willow branch and gave it to the other person, praising him for being as handsome as a willow tree.

As a result, rumors circulated that His Majesty Pei Zhi spared no expense in trying to please the youngest son of the Left Chancellor.

A beautifully crafted flower was transported from thousands of miles away.

Late at night, several people gathered in Pei Zhi's temporary sleeping quarters.

Xie Qi glanced at it and said, "Your Majesty's bedchamber is so shabby, yet you have the money to transport rare and exotic herbs from thousands of miles away?"

That's enough.

Pei Zhi glared at Xie Qi, "I'm so poor I'm selling myself, can you please stop mocking me?"

Yuan Chengyu couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Xie Qi quickly replied, "The Xie family has some assets. If Your Majesty is considering selling yourself, why not consider me?"

Xie Qi added, "As long as Your Majesty sets the price, I will sell everything I own to buy it."

Yuan Chengyu said with dissatisfaction, "Hey, I'm still here, don't go too far."

Pei Zhi coughed twice, her face flushing red from Xie Qi's sudden remark.

"Not tonight, I haven't been back to the princess's residence for several days."

Yuan Chengyu was a straightforward person. "Your Majesty, what are your plans for Qin Xiangyang?"

"It's not good to keep him living in the princess's residence indefinitely."

Xie Qi glanced at Yuan Chengyu, picked up his teacup, and said nothing.

“I have been thinking about these things these days.”

“If I allow Qin Xiangyang to enter the palace, given his affection for me, he will definitely come.”

Xie Qi reminded Pei Zhi, "Given Qin Xiangyang's background, His Majesty's desire to make him the Imperial Consort will likely face difficulties in getting past the court officials."

Pei Zhi waved her hand, "This isn't a big problem."

"If he is willing to come to the palace to accompany me, I will overcome all difficulties and treat him well."

So what if Qin Xiangyang's status is a little low?

Pei Zhi could find a way to change Qin Xiangyang's social standing. Pei Zhi was the Emperor; whatever she did was just a matter of a word from her.

Yuan Chengyu's tone was somewhat sarcastic, "Since His Majesty has already made up his mind, why is he still delaying issuing the decree?"

"I just think that letting him into the palace might not be a good thing."

"It's easy to get into this palace, but difficult to get out. I don't want him to be trapped in this harem for the rest of his life, with all his thoughts on me alone."

Xie Qi is a smart man; Pei Zhi has been delaying in giving Qin Xiangyang a formal title.

Xie Qi roughly understood what was going on.

Yuan Chengyu, however, was a rough and uncultured man who didn't understand these things. "Why isn't it a good thing?"

"Wouldn't it be good if he could stay by His Majesty's side?"

Before Pei Zhi could speak, Xie Qi countered with a question to Yuan Chengyu, "Now I'm giving you a chance to enter the palace and accompany His Majesty. Are you willing?"

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