Crowns and robes were arranged according to rank.

Empress Dong was demoted by half a rank from Empress to Imperial Noble Consort, while Huan Yue was promoted by half a rank, the same.

Consort Dong has no real power, but Huan Yue does.

The Dong family still left behind some things and real power, so it's still a draw.

The score was tied, so Huan Yue was no longer in a hurry. He was dressed neatly and appeared exceptionally dignified.

We warmly welcome Your Majesty!

The current emperor, the crown prince, Prince Peng, and others accompanied several elderly members of the royal family.

The King of Song was not too old, but he was of a high generation.

After the ceremony, everyone took their seats.

There were many chrysanthemums, of famous varieties, displayed in the Linde Hall, with a faint fragrance. The wine and dishes began to be served.

The atmosphere suddenly became strange.

Chen Zhen ran to the front.

Huan Yue blinked. Perhaps Miss Chen had heard something?

She indulged in wishful thinking for a while, but when she couldn't become the Princess Consort of Qi, the young girl became rather impatient.

Chen Zhen was quite bold, and it wasn't the first time: "With so many chrysanthemums, why don't we compose a poem about them!"

Huan Yue asked, "Whoever makes the best choice will be granted a marriage by His Majesty, is that right? I wonder what Consort Dong thinks?"

"What are you looking at, Dong?!" Her eyes widened suddenly.

Before she even spoke, a group of people had already responded and were about to start a movement based on this.

Many of the younger members of each family have stepped forward.

Huan Yue watched as Miss Kong was pushed out.

The group went straight to the point, showering Miss Kong with compliments: "Kong Tingsen and his son are both Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). Miss Kong has the style of her father and the virtue of Guan Ju (a legendary osprey)."

Huan Yue, ever outspoken, asked, "Does Miss Kong aspire to be the empress?"

The scene became incredibly awkward.

Mrs. Dong felt a chill run down her spine. Was this not a daughter-in-law, but someone trying to become her son's mother?

Thinking about it more deeply, is it possible that the son and daughter-in-law conspired against his father? This isn't just a wild guess.

Several people ran over and yelled at Huan Yue: "Watch your words!"

Lady Dong, with her dignified demeanor, said, "She's better than a blue moth."

Huan Yue said modestly, "Your Highness is only suited to someone like a concubine."

Xie Zhou comforted her, saying, "Qing'e, there's no need to feel inferior."

Huan Yue called out from a distance, though the two sides were quite far apart: "As long as Your Highness doesn't feel inferior."

The emperor, acting as a go-between, said: "I feel inferior. Erlang is truly my own son."

Xie Zhou hurriedly knelt down: "Your son is unfilial." He has disgraced his father.

Sitting in the middle, Madam Dong seemed to be the one who felt uncomfortable with the family of three, so she felt extremely uncomfortable looking at Miss Kong.

Praising someone is a common thing, the question is whether you can stop praising them in the end.

With the saying that "green moths" exist, they are almost all useless.

But Madam Dong stared at Miss Kong, her eyes narrowed. She stood there like a wooden statue, neither ashamed nor reacting. This wasn't a matter of the innocent being innocent; there are many things in this world that are difficult to explain.

Xie Zhou suddenly narrowed his eyes. What is Miss Kong going to do?

He snorted coldly. Trying to spy on him? Looking at all these people, they're still doing the same thing. Hmph.

The heavens were enraged, their fury like thunder exploding in her ears, nearly causing Kong Zhenjun to vomit blood! She quickly regained her senses and knelt down.

Kong Zhenjun didn't speak, but suddenly she was struck by the Crown Princess and fainted.

The scene was very strange.

Huan Yue blinked and glanced at the sage.

Looking into her eyes today makes me feel much more at ease; she truly deserves the destiny of a phoenix.

There are many who want to spy on the emperor all day long. No matter what means are used, it doesn't count once he finds out.

Kong Tingsen hurriedly knelt down. Even if the Crown Princess was talking nonsense, he wouldn't care, but his daughter had fainted, and Kong Tingsen was worried something bad might happen!

The question is now being asked: "How many years has Kong Qing served in the Secretariat?"

Kong Tingsen's heart sank: "Your Majesty, it has been sixteen years."

Xu and Fan also came out and knelt down.

The emperor, showing mercy, said, "Go down."

Neither Xu nor Kong Tingsen pursued the matter further. Even if His Majesty dealt with it later, they would find a solution then.

At this moment, Kong Zhenjun opened her eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Madam Dong asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you unwell? Quickly, let the imperial physician take a look."

Being unwell is a serious matter.

Kong Zhenjun quickly stood up, then knelt down again: "My daughter is alright."

Madam Dong nodded: "Then go down and sit down. If you need anything, don't delay."

Mrs. Xu hurriedly took her granddaughter away.

The old lady looked somewhat disheveled, though she tried her best to hold on.

Di Baose blinked rapidly, "That's it?"

However, Lady Huan said one sentence that made her so angry she vomited blood. Will Miss Kong hang herself?

Guo Bing shook his head. "No, that would tarnish the virtue of a saint."

Sometimes, the inability to die is just like that, but this is something a group of people created themselves.

How could an ordinary person dare to boast so much? The closer one gets to that position, the more cautious one must be. Besides, is it really that unhumble?

Di Baose laughed loudly and whispered to Guo Bing, "Sanlang has a sharp eye. Is this all the virtue of Guanju?"

Guo Bing replied, "She wasn't given a chance to perform; Her Majesty's words shattered the illusion."

Di Baose was very clever: "It seems like things aren't so simple."

Guo Bing seemed thoughtful, but she didn't need to interfere. He vomited blood after just one round; a few more rounds wouldn't do much better.

Up ahead, Chen Zhen, who had started the trouble, was quite pleased. Everyone almost wished she was the one who had done it.

A group of people who praised Miss Confucius are now exposed in front of the sage, as if they've been stripped naked.

Without being a spoilsport, he casually remarked, "Feel free to compose poems and paint whatever you like."

Chen Zhen, fully recovered, challenges the Crown Princess again: "Let's have a competition."

Huan Yue quickly shook his head: "I can't, you should ask Lady Dong."

While thinking, Madam Dong casually said, "I'll offer a prize." She then pulled a phoenix hairpin from her hair.

Chen Zhen's eyes lit up. This gold phoenix hairpin inlaid with gemstones was not only beautiful, but also had special significance.

Huan Yue glanced at it and pointed to a pot of yellow fragrant pear and chrysanthemum in front of him: "This one is good."

The princess, the eldest princess, and the county princess on the other side burst into laughter.

Someone jeered, "The moth is using this as a prize; it's not yours to win."

Huan Yue said, "I'll bring two pots from Qing'e Palace to make up for it. My cucumbers are doing quite well now."

The eldest princess asked, "How are the sweet potatoes growing?"

Huan Yue said, "It's growing quite well. The leaves are long, and it tastes pretty good when stir-fried."

Di Baose added, "It's a bit like water spinach. But water spinach doesn't tend to grow too deep into the soil, while sweet potatoes love to grow on the ground and have lots of roots."

The young princess asked, "Can the roots be eaten?"

Di Baose said, "No, then just pick the leaves and eat them."

People were curious, but not particularly curious. Even if someone brought out a plate of water spinach, how curious would they be?

Chen Zhen, in a hurry, said she was composing poems and painting, provoking the Crown Princess: "Don't you dare?"

Huan Yue held his head with one hand.

Some people have already reprimanded Chen Zhen. Although everyone wants to reprimand Pei Huanyue, they're not saying it like that.

Everyone composed poems, and Pei Huan Yue's inability to do so naturally led to a conclusion.

Chen Zhen was dissatisfied. If she didn't act, she'd have an excuse. Chen Zhen should show some promise first.

Master Fushan wants to show off, oh dear.

Lady Dong asked anxiously, "How is Master Fushan? He hasn't been to the palace for many years..."

Huan Yue added, "His cultivation has become increasingly profound. Apart from the occasional fainting spells, it's probably because his body can't withstand the strain on his primordial spirit."

Princess Changning cried out, "What will happen to my spirit if my body can't withstand it?"

Huan Yue boasted, "His body might shatter, or it might be reshaped into a Dao body, making him a terrestrial immortal. Except for undergoing a tribulation once every five hundred years, he will live forever."

Di Baose chimed in, "Congratulations to True Man Fushan on his advanced cultivation and the reshaping of his Dao body!"