Yan Cheng slammed his hand on the stool and stood up abruptly, barely managing to suppress his anger.

Jiang Luo couldn't sit still any longer. She got up, grabbed Yan Yi's ear, and pulled him off the stool.

"Well, Yan Yi, you've really grown some guts! I've raised you with such care for over twenty years, and you actually give me that kind of place! Are you tired of living? I'll send you on your way."

"Ah! Ah! It hurts, it hurts!" Yan Yi covered his ears with both hands. "Mother, Mother, I didn't do anything! I just had a little wine!"

"You really didn't do anything?" Jiang Luo released Yan Yi's ear, somewhat disbelieving.

"Really, I was invited by some friends to Xianrenzui for a few drinks, and I only went twice. I didn't do anything, and I didn't even drink much. I ran into Yue Zhixiao on one of the occasions."

Yan Yi looked at his parents' disbelieving eyes and said, "I swear! If you don't believe me, ask the Regent. Immortal's Drunkenness is his territory."

Yue Xiyuan shook his head, "I never go to Xianrenzui. The business of Xianrenzui and Yirenxiao is handled by An San. I never interfere. An'an can rest assured about this."

Yan An smiled and said, "I believe you. I know you would never go to a place like that for a drink, just like my older brother."

She's a master at tricking her brother; she just "sold him out" for a gun.

"Sister, don't mess with me by showing off your love! I really didn't do anything bad, I'll never go again! Not even for drinking!"

Yan Yi was on the verge of tears. Of his family of five, not a single person stood by him.

Because of Yan An's influence, they also occasionally speak some modern language and find it very interesting.

“You said you would never go again. You don’t even have a fiancée now. If you can’t even keep your chastity, how can you face my future daughter-in-law?”

Yan Yi's lips twitched involuntarily. He didn't even have a woman he found attractive, let alone a fiancée. A fiancée? When would he ever have one...?

"Mother is absolutely right. I promise to keep myself pure and honest and to make Yue Zhixiao a disgrace!"

"Alright! I'll forgive you this time, but you're not allowed to go again."

Yan Yi nodded repeatedly, "Good, good, good!"

"That's not right. I only went out for drinks twice. Mother, why don't you mention the Regent? That 'Beauty's Intoxication' drink belongs to him!"

Since my sister is so heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless.

Since Yan An returned, Yan Yi has spent so many days with Yan An that he has long lost the excitement he felt back then, and now he and Yan An are constantly in a love-hate relationship.

"You still dare to talk? The prince himself said he's never been there. Who's like you, with zero self-control?"

"How could I possibly have zero! Do I look like that kind of person?!"

The four of them looked at Yan Yi in unison, glanced at him up and down, and nodded. "He looks like him."

"Ah! Ah! You're all bullying me, I can't live anymore!"

Yan Yi stormed out of the room.

"What's wrong, brother?" Yue Xiyuan thought they had gone too far with their jokes. After all, he was born into the royal family, and even though his father and mother doted on him, such relaxed moments were rare.

"Don't worry, he's probably just going to Linglong Pavilion to get that Purple Flame Serpent Spear. We don't need to worry about him."

Back at Prince Xiao's residence, after Yue Zhixiao returned, she ordered Zebin to bring three large buckets of hot water. She spent over an hour washing herself, but still felt she couldn't get rid of the odor on her body.

"Your Highness, this is some light food that I ordered the head chef to prepare for you. Please have some."

Yue Zhixiao looked at the food on the table and groaned, "Ugh..."

Since returning from the Yan residence, Yue Zhixiao had vomited dozens of times. At this moment, his stomach was empty, and he could only dry heave.

"I can't eat anymore, let's leave." Yue Zhixiao waved his hand, as if he were completely exhausted.

Zebin cleared the food away. "Consort Chen? Your subordinate greets Consort Chen!"

Consort Chen ignored Zebin and walked quickly toward Yue Zhixiao's bedroom.

"Mother Empress? What brings you here?"

"Hmph, if I hadn't come, you would have gone completely berserk. Tell me, what exactly happened today? And what's the deal with Liu Xuening?"

Consort Chen sat in her chair, waiting for Yue Zhixiao's explanation.

Yue Zhixiao gritted his teeth and endured it. For him, this humiliation was more painful than death. His hands, hidden in his sleeves, were already clenched into fists.

"Speak!" Consort Chen slammed her hand on the table, her face full of anger.

"It was Yan An. Your son was tricked by Yan An."

"Yan An? Didn't I tell you to be more careful? She's Bai Qing's disciple, how could she be dealt with so easily?"

"Your Majesty is right. I was careless. My scheme failed and I was framed by others instead."

Yue Zhixiao felt a tightness in his chest, and the intense humiliation made it hard for him to breathe. He felt like vomiting but couldn't. He couldn't let his mother know that he disliked women.

"Since things have come to this, let's leave it at that for now. If you can marry Minister Liu's daughter, you'll have another assistant like Liu Youlin. He's in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, which will be very helpful for your ascension to the throne. However, it's good that you're sensible to leave the position of princess to Chen Yuexin. A concubine's daughter who has just been promoted to the position of legitimate daughter is not suitable to be my son's princess."

Consort Chen's eyes were full of disdain for Liu Xuening.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, the position of my Queen Consort will always belong to my cousin Yuexin."

"Yes, tomorrow you should go to the Minister's residence to apologize and discuss the marriage. Remember not to neglect the Liu family."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

"Yan'an, stop thinking about it. So many years have passed, and we have waited for so long. Why don't we just..." Consort Chen made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Does Mother mean assassinating the emperor and seizing the throne?"

Yue Zhixiao was stunned by Consort Chen's words and remained silent. Over the years, he had never stopped thinking about that position, but he did not want to be remembered with a bad reputation. He wanted to ascend to that position legitimately.

Consort Chen noticed Yue Zhixiao's hesitation. "Xiao'er, think about it. So many years have passed, and neither of us has succeeded. Now, Yan An has come along, and we know nothing about her. We have no choice but to go all in."

"Your Majesty, I will seriously consider what you have said. I would like to ask Zebin to escort you back to the palace."

"No need. He's been following you around all this time, and you've fallen into someone else's trap. I don't trust him. How about I find some more powerful assassins to protect you?"

"Mother, you don't need to worry about your son. This is not Zebin's fault. I sent him to do other things, so he wasn't by my side. I don't need any other guards."

"Alright, whatever you want. Think it over carefully. I'm going back to the palace now."

"Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager."