"Queen Mother, why do you say that?" Hua Qingcheng asked in confusion.

"The biggest hidden danger of exclusive favoritism is that it is easy for foreign relatives to monopolize power. Looking at history, such things have happened in the history of my Dalaifeng Kingdom." Nalan Yunzhi put down the imperial pen, tapped the table with his fingers, and spoke word by word.

"My Lady, treating everyone equally is what a superior should do. The harem and the imperial court have always been inextricably linked. Ordinary people can sleep with any concubine they want, but a superior cannot."

Nalan Yunzhi closed his eyes slightly, then opened them again and continued, "Don't underestimate every favor you show to the men in your backyard. It's all related to their father's family's real-time status and wealth. As the princess, or the crown prince, it's not enough to just be a scholar or a warrior."

"Managing the government is like flying a kite. The civil and military officials are the kites soaring into the sky, and the ruler is the one holding the string that pulls them together. Only by ensuring that they check and balance each other, each with its own fears, and maintaining a good balance of power, can the court be stable, the country be secure, and the people be freed from the chaos of court officials vying for power. It seems I must hasten to have someone teach you the art of ruling..."

Nalan Yunzhi looked at Hua Qingcheng under the imperial desk, and a hint of pity flashed in his eyes, but it was fleeting.

Once, she was as vibrant and youthful as Hua Qingcheng, filled with a passion for greatness and a tender heart for her lover. However, while enjoying supreme status and power, one also has to pay a price. For example, the loss of freedom, the loss of love, the loss of one's true self...

"Queen Mother, then... have you ever loved (my father)?"

Although Hua Qingcheng knew that Nalan Yunzhi was the emperor and that what she had just said was not wrong, from a personal emotional point of view, she still found it a little difficult to accept. After all, sleeping with a man with whom she had no feelings... Hua Qingcheng felt that she really couldn't do it.

"like?"

Nalan Yunzhi turned his head to look towards Bixia Palace, his eyes were leisurely, and a hint of hidden pain suddenly flashed across his eyes.

"Of course I have. The only person I have ever loved... is Ling Yan."

Nalan Yunzhi gently stroked the warm pendant hanging around her waist, and her mind couldn't help but recall Feng Lingyan looking at her, that gentle and gentle smile on his handsome face...

"Okay, Queen Mother, I understand. Since this election is to choose a servant for your son, then the selection criteria should naturally be based on your son's." Hua Qingcheng looked at Nalan Yunzhi with a determined look.

Thinking of the handsome man now living in the east wing of Yueting Nanshe in the General's Mansion, Hua Qingcheng was extremely grateful that he hadn't returned to the palace. Her only solace was that Feng Lingyan was the only person the Empress had ever loved. However, it was obviously impossible for her to allow herself to be manipulated by the Emperor.

"Princess."

Nalan Yunzhi, who was sitting in front of the imperial desk, glanced at Hua Qingcheng below with a dark and unclear look in his eyes.

"Since I'm selecting a servant for you, I naturally have to base it on your preferences. However..."

Nalan Yunzhi paused suddenly and continued, "It's just that there are a few people who have been selected. Whether you choose them or not, they will eventually be sent to the backyard of your East Palace."

"Who?" Hua Qingcheng suddenly felt upset.

"Haoling of the Meng family, Lingyun of the Si family, Master Chu (Chu Kangyi), Nangong Shilun, and Pei Zijun." Nalan Yunzhi opened his red lips slightly and said sternly.

Hua Qingcheng: ...

I actually knew three of the five people!

However, Hua Qingcheng only treated Meng Haoling as a younger brother. How could she bring herself to attack that infant-like boy? Furthermore, she had no feelings for Pei Zijun. As for Si Lingyun, that was even more unacceptable! He, his father, and Si Chengfeng had a deep hatred for each other.

Hua Qingcheng then said firmly: "Queen Mother, Si Lingyun can't do it!"

"Princess, you now have sons of both civil and military officials in your backyard, and the Meng, Si, Chu, and Nangong families are the four major families of our Laifeng State. If you marry all four of them, you will be holding the necks of the aristocratic families. The strength of these four families is equally matched. Since you marry one of them, you naturally have to marry the others as well, so that they can check and balance each other."

Nalan Yunzhi tapped the desk again and said, "The four of them, not one can be missing!"

"As for Pei Zijun, he's your business partner. Although the Pei family is just a newly rising family in the capital, and they're just a family of merchants, they've been able to gain a foothold in the capital, where dragons and phoenixes swirl around, which shows how extraordinary they are."

"After Pei's mother passed away, Pei Zijun's father took over as a concubine and managed the family business, supporting the entire Pei family. Now, the main person in charge of the family business has been replaced by Pei Zijun. If you marry him, it's like having an endless stream of money in your pocket."

"Mother Queen, if I marry you, wouldn't that also achieve the same goal? Please forgive Qingcheng for not being able to obey your order!"

Whenever Hua Qingcheng recalled the torment Si Chengfeng suffered when he had a cold, her heart ached. And now, the emperor actually asked her to marry the enemy who had harmed Si Chengfeng. How would she face Si Chengfeng then?

"Princess, you... want to disobey the order?" Nalan Yunzhi looked at Hua Qingcheng with anger in his eyes.

"Mother Queen, I'm sorry I can't obey your order! If Qingcheng must marry Si Lingyun, then this princess... Qingcheng won't be the one to marry!"

Just as Hua Qingcheng turned around angrily and was about to leave, she was stopped by Nalan Yunzhi.

"Princess!"

Looking at Hua Qingcheng, who was fearless like a newborn calf, Nalan Yunzhi's tone softened a little.

"Take a look at this first!"

As soon as Nalan Yunzhi finished speaking, he threw a booklet at Hua Qingcheng's feet under the imperial desk.

Upon hearing this, Hua Qingcheng bent down to pick up the booklet on the ground and started flipping through it, but the more she read, the more frightened she became.

"Queen Mother, you...what do you mean by this?" Hua Qingcheng looked at Nalan Yunzhi with a serious face and complicated eyes.

"Mu Lige, whose real name is Su Mulige. He is the former crown prince of Zhaoyang Kingdom, and the son of the former crown prince Su Mu Tiansheng. In the winter six years ago, Su Mulige fled from Zhaoyang Kingdom to Huaqiao Village and almost froze to death in the cold night. He was rescued by the villager Ye Maochun. Since then, he has lived in hiding in the countryside..." Nalan Yunzhi directly read out the contents recorded in the booklet in Hua Qingcheng's hand.

"Princess, I am actually quite satisfied with Mu Lige as the Crown Princess and Prince, and I don't mind that he was once the eldest grandson of the Emperor of Zhaoyang. (I am not afraid that he might have ambitions)"

Nalan Yunzhi's tone slowed down slightly, but he immediately changed the subject: "However, the current emperor of Zhaoyang, Su Mutianjun, might...maybe he doesn't think so."

"Queen Mother, are you threatening me?" Hua Qingcheng's face was filled with anger.

"Princess, this isn't a threat, it's a win-win situation. Zhaoyang Country has always been strong in military and military, and ambitious. Looking across the entire world, only our Laifeng Country can protect Su Mulige..."

Nalan Yunzhi knocked on the imperial desk again and said calmly, "The date of the Crown Princess Zhengjun's birth is getting closer and closer. Crown Princess, you don't want him to be in danger of being hunted down by the King of Zhaoyang at this time, do you?"