Yinzhen turned back and instructed Hongli, "When your third brother returns, have him go find me."

"Yes," Hongli replied.

"You must be tired today, go back and rest early. I won't be coming over tonight." Yinzhen hurriedly said to Qian Shengyan, "Also, you can handle my affairs as you see fit, no need to worry too much."

"Your Majesty, I understand and will follow Your Majesty's instructions," Qian Shengyan said, curtsying.

"It's good that you really understand." Yinzhen said helplessly, then thought for a moment, "Hongli, you go back with your mother. Hongzhou, if Hongshi returns, have him come to see me."

"Yes." Both sons agreed. After everyone saw Yinzhen off, Hongli stood beside Qian Shengyan and said with a smile, "Your subject will escort Mother back."

"Oh, your imperial father probably wants you to educate me, right?" Qian Shengyan said softly.

She knew that today was full of important matters, which delayed Yinzhen's time to review the memorials. He wanted to say a few more words to her, but he was afraid that there would be no time, so he wanted Hongli to speak for him.

"Your son knows nothing about it. Mother, please tell me what happened."

Qian Shengyan walked along, telling Hongli about recent events.

From Liu Erxiang, to the thumb ring, to Lüyun, and all that has happened today, including the Empress's final scheme.

To make a long story short, Qian Shengyan still talked for a long time. Hongli followed her calmly, listening attentively with little comment.

After saying that, Qian Shengyan glanced at him sideways: "Mother understands what your Emperor Father means. Does he think Mother is meddling in other people's business...?"

“No, Mother doesn’t understand.” Hongli smiled. “Mother is kind and compassionate. When she learns of such a matter concerning human life, she would never stand idly by, including Green Cloud. Other consorts might handle it themselves, but Mother, no matter how angry she is, will send the person to the Censorate for judgment according to the law.”

"Your Majesty knows, and so does Father." Hongli said, his eyebrows curving upwards again.

In fact, he noticed that Qian Shengyan's attitude towards servants was completely different from that of the Emperor. Although she also drove them to do things, it was not the kind of condescending attitude. It was somewhat subtle, but it was clear to people.

"What Father Emperor wants me to tell Mother is probably..." Hongli laughed. Just then, he entered the Yongshou Palace. He was no longer so proper and leaned closer to Qian Shengyan, saying, "Mother, what are you hesitating about? If you want to do it, just do it. You have Father Emperor behind you."

"Huh?" Qian Shengyan was taken aback. This was different from what she had expected.

"Do whatever you want, Mother. You still have to think it over and over. No wonder Father Emperor is helpless." Hongli laughed. "I may not be very capable now, but I am still a prince of the court. Mother can tell from Consort Qi that even if she really killed Liu Erxiang for the sake of Third Brother, Father Emperor will not do anything."

"Moreover, Mother is a Noble Consort, and Father Emperor is willing to trust her more," Hongli sighed.

He couldn't be too blunt, but looking at all these years and all these people, he could clearly see how his father treated his mother. The favoritism was so obvious that even when he was out in public, he dared to act more recklessly and arrogantly because of his mother's influence, while his mother lived a life of propriety and restraint.

However, this is probably why his mother has been favored for so many years.

Seeing that Qian Shengyan seemed somewhat moved, Hongli continued, "Besides, given Mother's temperament, no matter what, she would never kill someone in a fit of anger. What is there to worry about?"

Qian Shengyan: ...

Well, if she gets really angry, she probably won't actually do anything, right?

Seeing her like this, Hongli smiled again. Actually, his mother was quite good; she had principles and reason in everything she did. If she were like his mother, who would take a life to set up a scheme, then his father, the Emperor, probably wouldn't dare to sleep in the same bed with such a person every day.

"Alright, Mother, don't worry about it. Do whatever you want, I'll cover for you." Hongli rarely showed such a playful side. "Besides, if I can't cover for you, isn't there still Father Emperor?"

Qian Shengyan chuckled as she saw her son off, only to be greeted by Guo, who was also seeing someone off.

Guo hurriedly directed people to take Xiang'er, who was unconscious after taking the medicine, to the back hall. She watched as people packed up her luggage one by one before she felt relieved.

"Your Majesty, it was all thanks to Your Majesty that Xiang'er was able to save her life this time," Guo said with emotion.

Qian Shengyan shook her head, not saying much, only asking, "How is Consort Qi?"

"She caused quite a scene in the courtyard and even gave me a hard time... but it doesn't matter, at least I won't see her for three months," Guo said with a smile.

After saying that, she sighed again: "But I'm afraid the Empress is still not satisfied."

Speaking of this, Qian Shengyan became quite interested: "Since Her Majesty the Empress wishes so, we should certainly help Her Majesty..."

Guo: ?

Unfortunately, Qian Shengyan couldn't explain it to her in detail. She pulled Guo Shi aside and made some plans, and they had to act quickly to finish before Hongshi and Shanxiu's affair was exposed...

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yinzhen looked at the memorial in front of him, his fingers cracking as he held the pen. A moment later, a vermilion pen snapped in two and was thrown to the ground.

Su Peisheng, who was serving nearby, did not move his eyelids. This memorial had been sent over yesterday, and the emperor had already lost his temper once. He was still not in a good mood to approve it this time.

Yinzhen paused for a moment, then picked up another brush from the brush holder, dipped it in ink, and was about to reply when he paused again, finally throwing the brush away once more: "Nian Gengyao!"

He rose abruptly and paced back and forth in front of the imperial desk, exclaiming, "Nian Gengyao! What a Nian Gengyao!"

"When he strongly recommended Hu Qiheng last year, I said, how could such an incompetent person be an official? But he was stubborn and kept recommending Hu Qiheng again and again!" Yinzhen slammed his fist on the table in anger. "He is utterly incompetent! How could someone like Hu Qiheng be someone that Nian Gengyao would recommend as governor in front of me? This is outrageous!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Su Peisheng quickly knelt down, and the servants in the West Warm Pavilion followed suit, not daring to say another word.

"I won't approve it. Send the memorial back to Nian Gengyao unchanged. Let him think it over!" Yinzhen sat in his chair, panting. He patted his chest, and after a long while, he stood up and said, "Go to Yongshou Palace."

"Your Majesty is departing!" Su Peisheng shouted, and hurriedly followed.

But as he hurried after her, he kept thinking to himself, "I just argued with the Imperial Concubine, and now that I'm angry, the only person I want to see is still the Imperial Concubine..."

Well, Su Peisheng has now witnessed firsthand what it means to be the most favored concubine in the harem.

When Yinzhen stepped into the gate of Yonghe Palace, Lady Guo had just left, while Qian Shengyan sat opposite her daughter, holding her son, listening to their afternoon outing.

“Really, Mother, that little garden over there is even more interesting than the Imperial Garden…” Folgochun was gesturing excitedly when she heard the announcement that “The Emperor has arrived.”

She quickly got up to prepare her formalities, saying, "Mother, come with us to take a look tomorrow. It's right next to the Eastern Six Palaces..."