Anxiang Courtyard.

The New Year is a time of joy and celebration.

Yang Chu'er and the others were having a great time singing and dancing whenever they had free time.

With lots of New Year's gifts and little pressure, it's like going back to when I was three or five years old.

In contrast, the two beauties from Binzhou in the west wing were quite cold.

It's really cold. They didn't have much charcoal. They won't freeze to death, but it won't be very comfortable either.

According to the Empress, it's similar to the countryside. Country folks, even if they have firewood, are reluctant to burn it too hot, just like wearing an extra layer of clothing.

The two beauties had to be wrapped up thickly, but thankfully they are still alive.

Thinking about the two who died, this year has been heartbreaking.

When it comes to beauties, the palace is never short of them. Yang Chu'er, for example, looks like a fairy when she's dressed up.

The two beauties waited at the door until His Highness returned, then rushed up to him.

Huan Yue took his son into his arms and put him to sleep.

Xie Zhou felt he had lost an important treasure, and thought it best to kill anything that suddenly appeared.

A maid rushed up to the prince and started acting provocatively. Before her master could even react, she died in the snow.

The two beauties shivered in fright; the cold wind outside was blowing, much colder than inside.

Huan Yue carried the child home first, as the adults were tired during the New Year holiday and the little one shouldn't get tired too.

Many people want to see the eldest grandson of the emperor, but don't even think about it, it's impossible.

Huan Yue himself was pregnant, and the palace maids were all extra careful.

The two beauties blushed with excitement, thinking they could keep the prince.

Even with a scratch on her face, she's still incredibly beautiful thanks to her youth and the makeup she puts on at night.

"Your Highness..." Her voice was filled with an intense, melancholic, and alluring tone.

Xie Zhou coldly replied: "One hundred strokes of the cane."

Yes. The eunuch dragged the beauty away. Such things shouldn't have been kept until the New Year.

The last remaining unharmed beauty fell silent when she met the prince's cold eyes, unable to utter a single word.

Xie Zhou was too lazy to deal with any more people during the New Year, so he left.

Yang Chu'er and her group of beauties watched the prince leave, then watched this beauty make a fool of herself.

This beauty isn't anything special, and everyone shouldn't have any unrealistic expectations of His Highness.

I just want to think of Wu Meiren.

The members of Anxiang Courtyard were of too low a rank to participate in the harem, but since they were the closest, they knew a little about it.

Fei Hegu said, "I heard that Consort Wu is gentle and kind, and she has been in the palace for a long time. Everyone treats her very well, and even Consort Li gives her some leeway."

In fact, Consort Li had no reason to do that; there was no such kindness in the palace.

Yang Churong said in a low voice, "Most likely, they were defeated in the palace intrigues and are unwilling to accept it."

The Dong and Cui families are gone.

But the first to rise to prominence was Consort De, followed by Consort Xian. This was understandable, as Consort De had Prince Jun.

Besides, Consort De is excellent in both family background and character. What makes Consort Wu think she can compete with her?

Not counting the Shi family members after them, they're no longer under anyone's control. And the Eighth Prince wasn't that outstanding either.

The resurgence of Qian Sha is dazzling; having a son and a daughter is truly enviable.

In the harem, apart from Lady Dong and Lady Cui who have both sons and daughters, the others are not. Could it be that Consort De is also jealous?

Consort Wu entered the palace early, wasn't she good to Qian Sha? So her heart was so unsettled?

Besides, even though Consort De was favored and Consort Xing was favored, it seemed that Consort Wu was not out of favor either.

Xing Meiren is here, but Wu Meiren isn't. What's there to complain about?

Yang Dong'e said in a low voice, "No matter how unwilling you are, you shouldn't come to the Eastern Palace."

Yang Quenu chimed in, "It's not just about being unwilling to accept it."

Fei Hegu said, "Xing Jieyu's family didn't offer any great rewards either. In fact, the Wu family is better off than the Xing family."

Yang Chu'er said in a low voice, "Isn't it Consort Xing who should be vying for favor? It is said that she was very favored when she entered the palace."

Yang Chu'er entered the palace late and knew little.

But after Xing Jieyu became pregnant, people talked about it more and learned some things.

Although he was favored back then, he may not be able to regain favor now, but the facts prove that the emperor still prefers Xing Jieyu.

Xing Jieyu is also lucky; she was able to conceive twice back then, and now she has another one.

Hua Mei whispered, "Will Lady Wu discover that the Emperor doesn't only like the Cui type?"

Yang Chu'er blinked: "Didn't you already know that back then? Perhaps the Cui family was too powerful back then?"

Hua Mei said, "It's probably a dream that Lady Wu had. After Cui is finished, it's her turn."

In the end, it was just a dream. When she woke up, she found that the old lady had been promoted, the new lady had been favored, and there was nothing left for her.

Yang Quenu said in a low voice, "I only ever saw her as gentle, and then what?"

Huang Li nodded. Seeing that she had become gentle, he didn't do anything else.

Fei Hegu concluded: "Some people are just scheming. Just because they have a pretty face doesn't mean they deserve to be favored. I think the Empress is the best. A woman's beauty will fade. What's wrong with looking good when you're young? Live happily and do whatever you want."

Yang Churong nodded: "That's really great. Where else can you live such a carefree life?"

The thrush nodded: "I just love Your Majesty."

Yang Chu'er couldn't say she liked the Empress very much, but the Empress was indeed a good person.

Besides, His Highness likes the Empress, so it wouldn't be worth it for him to get closer to her.

Di Liangdi was able to live such a carefree life.

Anyone who compares themselves to Di Liangdi will feel much more at ease.

Yang Quenu said, "Even women who marry into wealthy families often have terrible marriages. They just put on a facade and live their lives like that."

Your Highness, he's actually a pretty good person when you don't provoke him.

There are plenty of wicked men in this world.

Yang Dong'e heard: "The man that Madam Anle's niece married is a scoundrel."

Huang Li said, "He won't have a good ending."

Bai Ling said, "The Empress is protective of her own."

The Empress's cousin is good enough that she hasn't bullied anyone.

Some princesses are bullied because of their family background and other factors.

The Empress's cousin married a country bumpkin. How could he possibly compete with the Chang family?

Yang Churong said, "If we get divorced, there will probably be plenty of men willing to marry me."

Marrying her would make you related to the Empress, and you could even treat her like an ancestor.

To say that the villager didn't benefit? Impossible.

Some people are just despicable.

Cheng'en Hall.

Huan Yue coaxed his son to sleep.

Xie Zhou held his wife in his arms, just like a son clinging to her.

Huan Yue looked at him and wondered how he could be so forgetful after being pregnant for three years. Could he ever recover?

Xie Zhou's beloved wife carefully protected her belly with one hand.

At least all four children should come back. Or they could have a few more, so they can have a house full of children and grandchildren.

Huan Yue looked at his face; he was quite handsome, but a bit silly.

Xie Zhou was overjoyed; he truly thought he would never return. He never expected that God would grant him so much.

Huan Yue didn't even know that this kind of person was worthy of the title?

Xie Zhou will strive to be worthy of the position. To be a good emperor would be a great merit. To be a bad emperor would be a sin.

Huan Yue didn't know what the emperor was doing, but asked, "What strange things does the second son know?"

Xie Zhou looked at his wife and became more serious.

The eldest son shouldn't just dream.

Will the eldest brother dream about the second brother?

Xie Zhou reassured his wife, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things."

Huan Yue nodded. He was afraid that disciplining the eldest brother would result in him getting hurt again.

It seems that even in dreams, one can only reason with others.

Xie Zhou isn't afraid of the boss; he's cunning.