Jun Zhe lowered his head and pondered for a while before he understood what the Empress Dowager meant by "how the Empress should act".

"What the Empress Dowager means is that if the Prince of Qinyang's mansion has ambitions, it will naturally value the favor of the harem. If the Prince of Qinyang's mansion has no ambitions, the Empress will naturally advise the Prince of Qinyang's mansion to be humble and back down. They should refuse this honor and let Yue Qingyin not accept such a high position?"

The Empress Dowager looked at him, feeling somewhat dazed. The banished son was truly clever and quick-witted. With just a little guidance, he could grasp the essence of things. She sighed, "You're right. Whether the Prince of Qinyang's mansion has any intention of interfering in politics can be found out with this test."

“But Mother, Father once said that if you employ someone, you should trust them; if you don’t trust someone, you shouldn’t employ them. The Prince of Qinyang’s family has always been loyal and devoted, fighting on the battlefield for three generations. Even if they send their daughter into the palace, they only want a share of the emperor’s favor and to consolidate the emperor’s grace. I believe that although the art of emperors is not without ingenious schemes and tricks, it must also be aboveboard. Such a test is not appropriate.”

The Empress Dowager was furious. She had fought her way through the palace to put him on the throne, and she had been betrayed by others as well. Today, the son she had worked so hard to put on the throne was telling her that she should trust those she employed and not employ those she didn't trust. What a ridiculous joke!

"Hmph! You've only been emperor for a few days, and you're already talking to me about the art of employing people. Has His Majesty's wings really hardened? He no longer needs me."

These words carried great weight, and the emperor immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I have no such intention. I only thought that this action was no different from framing someone. To try to lure someone in before anything has even happened and then wait for them to fall into a trap is not the right way."

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table and rose to her feet, sneering repeatedly.

"Good, good. So what I did was considered heretical in His Majesty's eyes. Don't forget, it was this heretical method that put you on the throne."

"Mother, your son...your son..."

Jun Zhe was at a loss for what to do. He was still young, and his sense of right and wrong was at odds with the Empress Dowager's way of life.

The Empress Dowager coldly watched his struggle, a pang of sorrow passing through her heart. She closed her eyes and waved her hand.

"You may leave!"

Jun Zhe stared in astonishment at the Empress Dowager, his heart filled with extreme sorrow.

"It is my fault, Mother. I have troubled you."

"Go down!" The Empress Dowager waved her hand again, unwilling to say more.

The emperor felt a pang of sorrow. "Your subject takes his leave!"

He bowed and slowly walked out of Xiankun Palace. The plaque of Xiankun Palace was solemn and dignified, just like before, but he could no longer find the warm, sweet, and loving feeling he once had.

The Empress Dowager distanced herself from him.

He was young, but sensitive; he could sense things without them being spoken.

"Zhou Yuan'an, tell me, was I wrong? I only wanted to be a good emperor."

Zhou Yuan'an was drenched in cold sweat and dared not utter a word. Even a small tiger is still a tiger. He had risen from a lowly eunuch to the chief eunuch, relying on his keen observation skills and his tendency to do more and say less. But he could not remain silent when the emperor asked him a question, so he could only say, "Your Majesty, your intentions are better than those of many emperors before you."

"Is that so?" Jun Zhe lowered his head and walked back the way he came, looking dejected. The beautiful spring scenery seemed to have a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Let's go!

"Yes, Your Majesty. Where are you going? This servant will have people prepare accordingly."

Jun Zhe looked around. Although the palace was vast, it seemed there was nowhere he could go. The Empress Dowager disliked the Empress, so he naturally couldn't go to the Empress's place. It seemed the only place he could go was his own Yong'an Palace.

"Return to Yong'an Palace!"

"Yes, sir!"