"Then Mother, when will you become Empress? I can't wait!" Bao'er shook her hand.

"Don't rush, it takes time and opportunity." Yan Nangui patted her head: "Bao'er, just wait and see."

Yan Nangui was overjoyed by his daughter's thoughtfulness.

Bao'er also genuinely wanted to see it.

She thought that since her father loved her mother so much, even if he were in heaven, he would probably be both angry and happy at the same time.

Yes, her mother went against her father's wishes, but she knew very well that her mother never intended to seize the Shu family's throne. Even if she became empress, it wouldn't be a coup.

Although she didn't know why at the time, that's just how she felt.

At the end of the fourth year of Jingkang, Wei Xiao was summoned to the capital again.

Inside Fengxiang Palace, he sat waiting for the Empress Dowager.

Yan Nangui usually stays at Zhaochun Palace. However, if she needs to meet with ministers or the like, she comes to Fengxiang Palace.

Anyway, the new emperor doesn't have an empress yet.

There won't be any more before he abdicates.

Yan Nangui wore a deep purple dress. It wasn't like the dress worn by empresses or concubines in the past, but it was also quite different from the style of the Empress Dowager. Although she was over forty, she showed no signs of aging.

Although there are some fine lines around her eyes, she still doesn't look old.

Her hairstyle was simple, adorned with red gold jewelry.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Wei Xiao rose and knelt down.

"Get up and speak," Yan Nangui waved his hand.

“The last time you came back, it was right when the new emperor ascended the throne and the late emperor was being buried. We didn’t have time to talk. We all came from the same manor, and you, Ding Min, and Yun Ji are all old acquaintances,” Yan Nan Gui said.

"Your subject dares not," Wei Xiao said cautiously.

"What's there to be afraid of? You all know my personality. I'll do what I want to do; there's no need to pretend." Yan Nangui accepted the tea.

Only sandalwood and white peony remained in the room.

"Your Majesty's mind is open and honest, and I naturally admire that." Wei Xiao was well aware of the current situation in the court.

But it would be a lie to say that he wasn't nervous at all when he was called back.

"The new emperor has been on the throne for almost five years." Yan Nangui glanced at him. "Although the new emperor was young, he is no longer so. He should get married and go on a military campaign. Many officials are making this request." Especially the Cheng family, who are always jumping up and down about it.

Unfortunately, the emperor's own mother completely ignored it.

"I wonder what Her Majesty the Empress Dowager means?"

Wei Xiao's heart raced.

“The fourth and fifth sons are both married. Logically, the new emperor should also be married. You should know why I’m not in a hurry,” Yan Nangui said.

"Your Majesty... I dare not speculate. If Your Majesty has any ideas, please just give them. I will certainly go through fire and water for Your Majesty," Wei Xiao said.

"Would you go through fire and water for me? If I wanted the empire, would you go through fire and water for me too?" Yan Nangui asked.

Wei Xiao was taken aback, then stood up and knelt down again: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty is willing."

Needless to say, his son likes the Seventh Princess, what can he do about it?

“Wei Xiao, I called you to the capital for only one thing. I need you to keep Meng Haijiang in check. No trouble can arise within a year, no matter what happens in the capital,” Yan Nangui said.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly do it."

“It’s okay if you can’t do it. If you can’t, I’ll call you Big Brother and take your place,” Yan Nangui said directly.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly do it. I am loyal to Your Majesty. However... I have a question for Your Majesty."

"Speak," Yan Nangui said, looking at him.

"After Her Majesty... who is next? If it's the Seventh Princess, then who comes after that?" Wei Xiao asked quite bluntly.

"I can only tell you that the empire still belongs to the Shu family. The dynasty is still the Dayan Dynasty." Yan Nangui smiled. "So, do you understand now?"

Wei Xiao nodded: "I understand."

“Now that you understand, try to persuade Ding Min. I value you all and don’t want to deal with you personally behind his back,” Yan Nangui said.

"He" naturally refers to the late emperor, Wei Xiao sighed inwardly.

Indeed, in the past few years, they never thought that Yun Ji would be alive and well serving the new emperor.

The eldest prince, who was imprisoned, is also still alive.

Wei Xiao knew very well that this was the Empress Dowager's leniency, but also her bottom line.

After the New Year, Wei Xiao left the capital and returned to Meng Haijiang.

On the night before he left, he drank with Ding Min, just like he did when he was young.

The two faced each other, but remained silent for a long time.

Finally, Ding Min smiled and said, "My son-in-law is the second prince of the late emperor. He is the Empress Dowager's most loyal son. What else can I do if I can't bear to part with my daughter?"

Wei Xiao sighed and shook his head.

Well, neither of them are the kind of heartless and ruthless people.

Everyone has people they can't let go of.

Then what's there to say? Just bow your head.

Soon, what's the point of opposing it now if you didn't object back then?

It's too late.

In the fifth year of the Jingkang era, Emperor Jingkang abdicated, and the court officials kowtowed to Empress Dowager Yan to ascend the throne.

There are people who disagree, but unfortunately there aren't enough of them, and they're not powerful enough.

These dissenting voices were quickly silenced.

The capital city was once again stained with blood.

The Empress Dowager's ascension to the throne is a foregone conclusion.

After returning to Nan'an Prefecture, Xie Yuan from the South also expressed his agreement.

Needless to say, the North is another story.

The Bailu Prefecture's Yan Nanji had long since completely replaced the Huo family. General Huo retired to his hometown two years ago.

Only the title remained; the official position was gone.

He did leave behind a son and a grandson, but they were merely subordinates of Yan Nanji.

So what's the point if the civil officials disagree?

Inside the Beichen Palace, Yan Nangui sat in the Imperial Study, listening to everyone discuss the matter of ascending the throne.

The heated debate revolved around setting a date, how to change dynasties, and the era name.

Yan Nangui gently tapped the table.

Everyone stopped talking.

"There's no need to talk about a change of dynasty. It's still the Dayan Dynasty. Even if I become the emperor, I'll still be a daughter-in-law of the Shu family. The Shu family isn't particularly prestigious, but the people are used to it. My Yan family isn't particularly prestigious either, so there's no need to change it."

"Your Majesty means...you...won't replace the Yan Dynasty? This...how can this be?"

"If a woman can be an emperor, what else can't she? The late emperor treated me well, so I wouldn't scheme against his empire. Therefore, Dayan will remain Dayan. My imperial title will also include the character 'Jing'. You need to understand one thing: I am only acting as emperor for the Shu family for a few years, not trying to change the dynasty."

Everyone looked at each other in surprise; this was truly unexpected.

Which emperor didn't want to change the world with his own surname?

This... I really don't know how to put it.

"Your Majesty's meaning is clear to me. This is for the best, to prevent some people from being dissatisfied and causing trouble. However, this will only cause Your Majesty some distress," said Lord Song, the former Prefectural Assistant and now Minister of Revenue.

"It doesn't matter. In any case, I am the female protagonist who ascended the throne, and the world can't erase my achievements."

"Your Majesty is right."

"Since you've said it, then say it all. I'm not satisfied with that dragon robe you mentioned either."