Since there were no joyous occasions in the palace after Liu Heng ascended the throne, the upcoming first birthday banquet of the third prince was a great opportunity to hold a banquet and celebrate with the court officials.

Although the Empress wanted to salvage her image by holding a grand first birthday banquet for the Third Prince to enhance her reputation, she still felt somewhat resentful after informing Liu Heng that he had also agreed to the grand banquet.

After all, the Empress reported according to the format of the Crown Prince's first birthday banquet. She thought Liu Heng would take the initiative to request a reduction in all arrangements and expenses. To be honest, the Third Prince was just a son of a concubine.

As a result, Liu Heng acted as if he hadn't noticed anything and agreed to the Empress's arrangement without making any changes.

This made the Empress feel as if she had made a mistake. The Third Prince was not her son. No matter how grand or elaborate the event was, it was all for someone else's benefit. In the end, it was the Consort who would steal the spotlight.

The first birthday banquet was to be handled by the Empress, while Lin Yuqiao remained in her palace taking care of the child. She only thought that Lady Li would come to the palace to receive the banquet, and that she would be able to see her mother, which gave her something to look forward to.

"Is it time to start feeding Mengmeng solid foods?"

After receiving the milk from the wet nurse, Mengmeng looked satisfied. Lin Yuqiao suddenly remembered that he had grown teeth and should be able to eat something, so she turned to ask her "all-powerful little helper" Granny Jiang.

If a child only drinks milk, won't they get enough nutrition? Although Mengmeng is currently so chubby that she has no neck, she doesn't seem to be malnourished at all.

"Yes, we can start feeding him after his first birthday. We'll have the cooks make some fish soup and meat porridge, and feed the Third Prince a little bit each time."

After receiving Jiang Mama's approval, Lin Yuqiao touched Mengmeng's chubby face and said with some regret, "Won't Mengmeng lose weight once we start feeding her complementary foods?"

Babies who are breastfed tend to be chubby in infancy, but this is mostly due to excess fat. Once they are weaned, they tend to lose weight very easily.

She still prefers her son, who is round and chubby like a dumpling, easy to squeeze and delicate, and easy to push over.

"If Your Majesty is worried, you can delay introducing complementary foods for another six months. There are quite a few children who were breastfed until they were three years old."

Jiang Mama thought she was worried about her son's health, so after thinking for a moment, she offered her advice.

"No, no, let's start introducing solid foods sooner."

Eating more vegetables and meat is better for a child's daily development. Lin Yuqiao felt a pang of melancholy as she thought about her son soon leaving the "meatball" stage.

When Lin Yuqiao met Mengmeng's father that evening, she couldn't help but sigh to him, "Children grow up so fast, it's so hard to let them go."

Liu Heng held his son in one arm and Lin Yuqiao in the other, sitting together on the couch. After listening to his words, he leaned over and kissed his son's face.

"Mengmeng, grow up quickly! It's good when you grow up so you can study, write, attend court, and do errands for your father."

"What's so great about reading and writing? Enjoying childhood is the most important thing." Lin Yuqiao raised an eyebrow, her mind filled with differing opinions.

Liu Heng gently poked his son's chubby chin with his finger, and when he looked up, he saw her disapproving expression.

"When Mengmeng starts his formal education at three, I won't expect you to supervise his studies anymore. I'll keep an eye on him, but you're not allowed to cause him any trouble."

Feeling that Lin Yuqiao was definitely capable of doing something to sabotage things, Liu Heng felt it was necessary to give her a heads-up beforehand.

"It's still early, let's not talk about studying for now, lest we scare our son to tears."

With a forced laugh, Lin Yuqiao put her arm around Liu Heng's neck, trying to change the subject.

"How could that be? Mengmeng is so smart, she must have been looking forward to learning for a long time."

Liu Heng looked at his son and said with great confidence.

When it comes to his three sons, Liu Heng feels that Mengmeng is the one who resembles him the most. Therefore, even though Mengmeng is the youngest son, he still can't help but have high expectations for him.

Hearing how eager the child's father was to get his son into school, Lin Yuqiao looked down at her son, filled with sympathy.

Mengmeng, this is all the help your mother can give you.

"By the way, Mengmeng is almost one year old, it's time to get a name. What do you think of the name Liu Yang?"

Liu Yang?

Lin Yuqiao held Mengmeng's hand, but it didn't feel very good.

What an ordinary name! Where did the high-class, domineering, and arrogant vibe go?

In my past life, if I shouted "Liu Yang" on the street, at least two out of ten passersby would turn around.

Lin Yuqiao sensed that although Liu Heng had asked for her opinion, he had already made up his mind, so she wisely refrained from complaining and nodded with a smile, "Not bad."

Sure enough, Liu Heng then said with satisfaction, "I thought about it for a long time before choosing the character 'Yang,' and I even had the Grand Historian perform a divination. This character is very compatible with Mengmeng's destiny."

People in this era generally believe that a name has an unspeakable influence on a person's life. Once a name is chosen, it will affect the rise or fall of a person's fortune.

And so, Mengmeng officially got a name, which will be announced on his first birthday.

"No matter how old he gets, he will always be my Mengmeng."

Lin Yuqiao looked at Mengmeng, who was yawning, and kissed his chubby cheek.

Even Liu Heng was charmed by the way the little boy rubbed his eyes with his chubby little hands. He watched him for a while, reluctant to let go, before handing him over to the wet nurse.

"Aren't they supposed to be strict fathers and kind mothers? You seem to dote on your son. Are we going to have to be the kind father and kind mother?"

After the two finished washing up, Lin Yuqiao recalled the look of affection and reluctance on Liu Heng's face when he looked at Mengmeng earlier, and couldn't help but speak up jokingly.

"The youngest son is naturally lovable."

When the Crown Prince and Liu Yan were young, Liu Heng was busy accumulating power and secretly plotting various ways to overthrow the Crown Prince or rise to power himself. He didn't have much energy to get close to the children. Moreover, Liu Heng was still relatively young at that time and didn't have the patience to appreciate the cuteness of children.

Now, Mengmeng is at the perfect age. Liu Heng has achieved great things and is mature enough. He is at the age where he has the energy and loves children.

"I wish Mengmeng would never grow up, that she would stay this small and cute, and I could hold her in my arms. She'd be so adorable."

Lin Yuqiao once again expressed her wish, feeling that she and Liu Heng should be able to have common ground.

"That's easy. When Mengmeng is older, you can have another baby."

Hearing Liu Heng's words, Lin Yuqiao puffed out her cheeks. She knew that he wouldn't receive a signal on the same frequency as her.

Mengmeng is still too young for her to get pregnant again. She wants Mengmeng to be older; that would be better for both of them.

On the day of Mengmeng's first birthday party, Granny Jiang specially dressed him up nicely.

Wearing a small tiger-head hat and a bright red silk robe, Mengmeng looks just like a lucky baby.

"Cute".

Mengmeng occasionally utters relatively clear single words, such as "ma" and "no," but she still can't say "daddy" or "mommy."

"You know you're cute, huh!"

Seeing her son beaming with joy at changing his clothes, Lin Yuqiao kissed him on the cheek several times.

My son is so cute, I always feel like I want to devour him whole. What should I do? Lin Yuqiao feels like she's on a path of perversion, running headlong down a road with no turning back.

Trying her best to control her emotions, Lin Yuqiao personally carried her son to the Guangning Palace where the banquet was being held.

Since they were riding in a sedan chair, it wasn't too tiring. On the way, Lin Yuqiao pointed out the artificial hills and green trees they passed with great interest to Mengmeng.

A little bird flew past the treetop, fluttering its wings, attracting Mengmeng's attention. Even after it flew away, Mengmeng still pointed at it with her finger.

"Those are birds. Little birds. When you grow up, you can raise a few pretty ones yourself, and there are also talking parrots, you can raise them if you like."

After repeating the word "bird" several times, Lin Yuqiao, remembering how much she loved parrots when she was a child, generously made a promise to her son.

Mengmeng couldn't understand her words yet. She just stared at the blue sky with her round eyes, wanting to see the bird fly by again.

Upon arriving at Guangning Palace, Lin Yuqiao couldn't help but smile when she saw Li Shi arrive. However, since Li Shi's seat was quite far away from hers, it was inconvenient to start a conversation. She could only wave to her by holding her son's arm, but was met with a glare from Li Shi.

The banquet for the women was nothing special; despite the abundance of delicious food, everyone only ate a few bites and then stopped.

After the banquet, it was time for the main event of the day: Mengmeng's first birthday celebration.

On the long mahogany table were various writing brushes, inkstones, paper, inkstones, coins, flowers, scriptures, abacuses, food, trinkets, ribbons, bamboo slips, seals, jewelry, and even rouge.

"Send the Third Prince to capture one."

The Empress smiled lovingly at Mengmeng, as if she were looking at her own child.

Lin Yuqiao placed Mengmeng on the table. He looked at the things on the table, sat there for a moment, then looked back at Lin Yuqiao, full of confusion.

"Mengmeng, go catch one you like."

Pointing to something not far away, Lin Yuqiao gestured for Mengmeng to go and get it.

Mengmeng tilted her head and suddenly uttered, somewhat unclearly, "了".

"The Third Prince can call me 'Mother' now!"

A second-rank noblewoman standing next to Lin Yuqiao spoke up with delight, looking at her with a fawning expression.

Then everyone congratulated her, praising Mengmeng for being clever. Even the Empress had to publicly praise her a few times, and Li Shi, who was in the distance, smiled with pride.

Although Mengmeng was making her look good, Lin Yuqiao, as her mother, knew what was going on. Considering what happened that morning, she felt that Mengmeng was talking about birds, not her mother.

After understanding his mother's meaning, Mengmeng crawled over and grabbed a seal. Before he could reach for the flowers, the nanny quickly said, "Congratulations, Third Prince! You will surely hold a high position of power in the future!"

This was just a very ordinary auspicious saying, but when the Empress and Consort Ning heard it and looked at Mengmeng, their eyes held a deeper meaning.

Liu Heng, who was entertaining his officials outside, was delighted to hear that Mengmeng had caught the seal. He immediately rewarded his son with a set of the newly compiled Fengyuan Grand Ceremony, which was sent by the Hanlin Academy.

At the banquet where the ministers were all sitting happily, Liu Kang felt a tightness in his chest as he watched his father, who was in high spirits and repeatedly urged to drink by the ministers.

They are now celebrating for a younger brother who may become a formidable rival to him in the future. Liu Kang is going through the motions of socializing, but he feels completely out of place at this lively banquet.

Listening to the commotion in the hall, he drifted into a reverie, wondering if his father had been just as excited when he turned one year old.

Looking at Liu Yan, who was speaking with other ministers across from him, Liu Kang was overwhelmed by loneliness and began to miss his deceased younger brother, Liu Feng. Only they were true brothers, bound by blood and whom he could trust and befriend.

After the banquet ended in the afternoon, Lin Yuqiao kept Li Shi behind and they went back to Yanqing Palace to talk.

"The Third Prince has grown up."

Holding Mengmeng in her arms, Madam Li sighed deeply. Time flies, and before she knew it, she had lived for so many years in this life. Her youngest child already had a son, and she herself had long since turned gray.

Looking back on the first half of her life, Li felt as if it had all been a dream.

Then, remembering the recent events at the Chen Lianghou Mansion, Madam Li couldn't help but sigh with Lin Yuqiao.

“It seems Xing’er won’t make it. He’s too weak; he hasn’t been able to get out of bed for the past two years. I wonder what your father will do with the Marquis’s title after he’s gone. Logically, it should go to your second brother. But every time I start to mention it, your second brother tells me not to even think about it, saying it definitely won’t fall into our family’s hands and that I shouldn’t even bother. What do you think he means by that?”

Li didn't understand. Even if Lin Yucheng couldn't inherit the title because of his career, Lin Yufeng could inherit it. Besides, Xingge'er was still young and had no heirs. If the title wasn't inherited by her sons or grandsons, wouldn't the lineage of Marquis Chen Liang of the Marquis's mansion just end like that?

No matter what, Lady Li couldn't believe that Marquis Chen Liang was really so stubborn as to prefer letting his younger brother's child inherit the title rather than his own son.

"That's what my second brother means. Just listen to him and don't worry about it. In any case, he doesn't care about this Marquis's mansion, and my other brothers must think the same way. We finally managed to get out of this mess, so how can we let ourselves be tied to the Marquis's mansion again?"

Lin Yuqiao comforted her mother, thinking that her second brother must have a plan for this matter.

Moreover, Lin Yuqi and her husband plotted to harm Liu Feng back then, so how could this grudge be resolved peacefully? Liu Heng only refrained from publicly punishing them because of her and his second brother, but that doesn't necessarily mean he wouldn't hold a grudge against the Marquis's mansion.

The fact that her father, Marquis Chenliang, did not bestow a title upon her after she was granted one reveals Liu Heng's intentions.

"Sigh, I just feel sorry for your second brother and the others!"

Li recalled how she and her children suffered a terrible fate in her previous life because of the struggle for the position of heir apparent. In this life, they each had their own way of life, but they could only miss out on the right to inherit the Marquis's mansion, which made her feel a little regretful.

"Don't feel wronged, your second brother and the others will forge an even brighter path for themselves!"

Lin Yuqiao had complete faith in her brothers' abilities. They didn't need to rely on the Marquis's mansion to realize their self-worth, nor did they want the mansion to hinder their progress.

Nodding, Madam Li finally let the matter drop. Since none of the children had any interest in the Marquis's mansion, she no longer persisted. What happened to the Marquis's mansion was no longer their concern.

When Liu Heng returned home that evening, his first words were, "I heard Mengmeng can call me 'Mama' now?"

He had been trying his best to teach Mengmeng to call him "Dad," but Mengmeng called him "Mom" first, which made Liu Heng a little jealous.

Before Lin Yuqiao could reply, Liu Heng was greeted by a clear, soft "bird."

Lin Yuqiao snorted and, with Liu Heng smiling, recounted how Mengmeng had been very interested in seeing the birds that morning.

"Haha, good son, you like birds? Tomorrow, your father will have two beautiful ones sent to you!"

After making the promise, ignoring Lin Yuqiao's glare, Liu Heng happily patted Mengmeng's head and continued teaching him to call him "Dad".

To get his son to greet someone, Liu Heng first addressed Mengmeng as "Dad," a word she repeated dozens of times a day. Lin Yuqiao smiled maliciously, desperately wanting to answer for Mengmeng, "Sigh, son!"

Liu Heng was in high spirits today. Besides his son turning one year old, his plans over the past few days had reached the point of culminating. This morning, he received a letter saying that he had found irrefutable evidence of the Prince of Xinyang's collusion with the Left Guard General.

After he dealt with the Prince of Xinyang and the Prince of Luyang, he continued to discipline his remaining brothers, and he also reorganized the eunuchs and palace maids in the harem.

Sure enough, not long after, news broke that the officials in the fiefdom of the Prince of Luyang had reported that the Prince of Luyang was raising a private army and preparing to rebel. Then, news also broke that the Prince of Xinyang was colluding with the General of the Left Guard and preparing to raise an army to cause chaos. The court and the public were shaken.

Liu Heng showed no mercy to his two brothers, stripping both the Prince of Luyang and the Prince of Xinyang of their titles and punishments. Not only were the brothers executed, but their families, along with their household members, were exiled. The General of the Left Guard was also executed along with his entire family.

When Mengmeng was able to clearly call out "father" and "mother," Lin Yuqiao heard the news that Xingge'er and his grandmother Zhang had passed away one after another.

Since Lin Yucheng and the others had no intention of inheriting the Marquis's mansion, the usually low-key and obedient Second Master Lin couldn't help but be tempted and wanted his son, Quan Ge'er, to inherit the Marquis's mansion.

Therefore, the second master sought help from several clan elders while also having his wife, He Qifang, assist Li in handling the funeral arrangements for the Marquis's residence.

Since Xingge'er left no heir, Chen Lianghou fainted upon hearing the news. When he awoke, his illness had worsened, and he lay there in a daze, unable to move.

After learning of the second master's thoughts, Chen Lianghou hesitated for a while, but ultimately couldn't bear to let the title fall to the second branch of the family. Therefore, he specially asked someone to send Lin Yucheng to see him.

Lin Yucheng was not tempted at all by Chen Lianghou's offer to let him inherit the marquis's mansion, and immediately and unequivocally refused.

After years of hard work, he finally earned his current official position, and now he is in the hands of a wise ruler. It is time for him to show his talents. To him, the Marquis's mansion is just a burden, and he doesn't care about it at all.

"You unfilial son!"

Although Chen Lianghou knew that Lin Yucheng's intentions were not with the Marquis's mansion, when he tried to soften his stance towards Lin Yucheng while he was ill, Lin Yucheng still refused, which made Chen Lianghou so angry that he could hardly breathe.

“Not only me, but also my younger brothers have no interest in the Marquis’s mansion. Besides, we have already separated and are no longer part of the Marquis’s branch. Second Uncle has had a hard time these past years. Father, why don’t you let Quan’er from Second Uncle’s family inherit the title, so that your brotherly bond can be fulfilled?”

Lin Yucheng looked at Chen Lianghou, whose face was red with anger, and felt a pang of sadness. Their father-son relationship had been shallow throughout their lives; he could only try to make up for the regrets of his own childhood by being a good father to his son.

Marquis Chen Liang was unwilling to give up and wanted Li to persuade the children. He understood that whoever became the heir and inherited the Marquis's mansion would still be of his blood, and his branch of the lineage would not be severed.

"No need, don't waste your time. Have you forgotten how you and the old lady guarded against them back then? Now you're begging them to inherit the Marquis's mansion, don't you find that ridiculous?"

Lady Li quietly looked at Marquis Chen Liang. She had been advised by her children beforehand, so she was not moved by the current situation.

"you……"

Enraged, Chen Lianghou felt dizzy for a while. When he opened his eyes again, Li Shi had already turned and left.

After being husband and wife, things have come to this, which Li finds absurd.

In her past life, she died tragically in a nunnery. In this life, consider it Chen Lianghou repaying her. From then on, she held no more resentment or grudge, only hoping that in the next life, she would never meet him again.

Ultimately, the title of Marquis of Chenliang was given to Quan Ge'er from the second uncle's family. However, after Liu Heng approved the decree, he demoted the title of Marquis of Chenliang because the second branch of the family had inherited the title and the direct line had been severed.

After that, the Chen Lianghou Mansion, which had a history of more than a hundred years, ceased to exist and was replaced by the Chen Liangzi Mansion.

Lin Yuqiao wasn't too sad; instead, she was more focused on the subsequent purge of the harem.

The palace conducted a serious purge and rectification of a group of palace maids and eunuchs, and also uncovered many secrets of the inner palace.

For example, the man who impregnated Consort Lü of Emperor Jianwu was not the deposed crown prince, but a eunuch in Consort Lü's palace. This eunuch entered the palace at a young age, and his castration had not been complete. Later, as he grew, he developed again, thus enabling him to impregnate women.

Furthermore, it was discovered that eunuchs had committed acts of debauchery against the concubines in the harem, including Huang San, who had already been killed by Ji'er. After their acts of bullying men and women in the harem were discovered, not only were the Empress and others appalled, but Liu Heng was also furious, never expecting that such filthy things could happen in the harem.

After executing all the eunuchs and palace women found to have acted improperly, Liu Heng rearranged the operation of the harem, taking the opportunity to cut expenses and reduce the overcrowding and redundant officials in the palace.

After dealing with these matters, Liu Heng would take the Crown Prince on an inspection tour to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to Heaven and perform the Fengshan ceremony.