"What kind of temper is His Majesty throwing in the Imperial Study today?"

Inside the Shuhua Hall of the Great Yan Imperial Palace, the Emperor and his ministers celebrated the Lunar New Year's Eve. As a Noble Consort, she could have joined in the festivities and shown off the Emperor's favor towards her.

But the woman refused; it was pointless. The same old geezers were still making sarcastic remarks about her brother, implying that he was too powerful and unruly.

"I heard that the former Crown Princess's child didn't die; the child ran away from home and has now been found."

The woman, dressed in luxurious casual clothes, leaned against the couch, her jet-black hair cascading down her back. She examined the new nail polish Qing Song had painted for her, then asked...

"Then he must be unhappy, after all, this position should have been someone else's."

"Your Majesty!" Qingsong reminded her, her tone somewhat anxious.

"Okay, okay, you go play with Zhongfu and the others for a while, don't stay by my side every day."

The maidservant snorted and said

"This servant is happy to! I am happy to accompany my master."

After the palace banquet ended, when the current emperor came to Cining Palace, he also had to politely serve tea to the Empress Dowager.

"Mother, do you think I should send some more people..."

The woman sitting in the main seat was nearly seventy years old. Her hair was gray, and the loose skin on her eyelids made it difficult for her to open her eyes. No matter how wealthy a person is, they cannot escape birth, aging, sickness and death. Even the Empress Dowager, apart from being in better health, looked no different from the old ladies around her.

"Need not."

"Mother?"

"Didn't the Prince of Zhennan already submit a memorial requesting to resign from that child's position as heir apparent?"

"Yes," the man replied.

“He’s showing weakness to us. Hong’er, remember this: if the Prince of Zhennan rebels, he can do so under the guise of ‘cleansing the court of corrupt officials.’ But if it’s someone else, he will not be legitimate, and the scholars of the world will not let him off the hook.”

"Besides, even if you send someone over, are you sure it will be foolproof?"

The man before her was the emperor she had personally trained; he was moderate but not incompetent. He was pragmatic, selfish, and stubborn.

But she didn't mind. Only by having power in her own hands and making him rely on her could she live happily and have her wishes fulfilled.

"Yes, I will follow Mother's teachings."

"Today is New Year's Eve, let's go to the Empress's place."

The Empress Dowager was still dressed in her palace attire, and her every word and action exuded an air of authority. Compared to her, Yuwen Xuanhong seemed unlike an emperor, being quite obedient.

"yes."

Watching the man's retreating figure as he walked out of the main hall, the Empress Dowager let out a cold snort.

"Your Majesty, don't be angry. We've achieved our wish, haven't we?" The eldest palace maid comforted her from the side.

"My wish has been fulfilled, is that enough?"

That's not enough; she wants more than that.

As the sound of firecrackers faded, Lunar New Year's Eve was finally over. This year, Huo Xiaolong stayed at the Fengyue Tower. The child couldn't stay awake any longer and had already fallen asleep in a tight embrace with Hou Xiangxiang.

“Our Long’er is six years old this year,” Cen Ang said, looking at the little dumpling’s sleeping face.

"May you have many more years like this, my darling."

May my son remain as innocent and carefree as he is now, undisturbed by worldly affairs.

"Ah Cen, why did you let the Prince of Zhennan give Tingche the position of heir apparent to..." Zhao Kai asked.

Cen Ang withdrew his hand from stroking Huo Xiaolong's hair and replied.

“It wasn’t my idea, it was Luan’er’s. The thing His Majesty fears most is that Tingche will one day rebel with the military power of the Prince of Zhennan. That’s why the Xiao family’s daughter can become an Imperial Noble Consort.”

"If one day swords clash, he has no one else to rely on besides Xiao Lanyi. Everyone in the world will naturally assume that the Prince of Zhennan should hold the Tiger Tally."

"But His Majesty cannot decide who owns or who holds the tiger tally."

Zhao Kai nodded after listening and continued to ask.

"Won't Tingche feel wronged?"

Cen Ang pondered for a moment and then answered.

"Probably not, I think he really enjoys living here."

That day, the Prince of Zhennan called his grandson into his room and asked him...

"If you had to choose between the Prince of Zhennan and the Fengyue Pavilion, which would you choose?"

The little boy didn't quite understand and asked in confusion.

"What do you mean, Grandpa?"

"Now that you're the heir of the Prince of Zhennan, you can't stay at the brothel anymore. You know, if our family offends someone, staying here could cause a lot of trouble..."

"But I don't want to leave..."

He couldn't bear to leave Aunt Cen and Aunt Hua, nor could he bear to leave Madam He who had been so caring towards him, nor could he bear to leave Uncle Huo who had never given him a kind look. Most importantly, after he left, he might never see Huo Xiaolong, who had slapped him, again in his life.

"Then Grandfather will submit a memorial to the throne, and give the position of heir to your cousin."

“Fine, give it back to him. It was his to begin with.” Lan Tingche nodded vigorously. To be honest, he really didn’t want to do this.

"Grandpa, is there anything else?"

"It's okay, I'm going to find Sister Long'er to roast potatoes."

"Do you and Grandpa Nan want some? I'll bake one for you both too."

Actually, when he was at the Prince of Zhennan's mansion, Lan Tingche was quite clingy. Every time he saw his grandfather, he would stay for about half a day. But after he came to Fengyue Tower, I don't know why he changed.

He said hurtful things, and he became unruly.

The key point is that they're not using big swords anymore!

His grandson has exceptional talent; how could he not wield a great sword!

Only those things with a grand and sweeping style can conquer the battlefield!

"Little sister Long'er, you practice swordsmanship too?"

"Yeah, I started training last year."

"I can do that too, I know a little bit."

"Really? Then let's have a spar?"

The little boy was a little shy. He looked down at the bluestone floor and nodded.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!