"no."

Helpless, Helian Ci raised his hand and pressed the little girl's head back into his arms, feeling both helpless and doting.

**

Outside the Imperial Study,

Consort Lian stood gracefully in a lake-blue pleated skirt, followed by a palace maid carrying a food box.

"Consort Lian, His Majesty is discussing matters with his court officials and it is inconvenient for him to see you. You should go back."

The autumn wind rustled the slightly yellowing birch leaves, and in the fallen shadows, a long eagle stood before two gatekeepers.

His face was tense, devoid of any extra expression, though his voice still carried the necessary politeness.

"Thank you, Chief Guard."

Consort Lian's smile was somewhat forced. She beckoned again, and a palace maid carrying a food box came forward. Consort Lian then looked at Chang Ying.

"I imagine His Majesty has been very busy with state affairs lately. This is a nourishing soup that I personally prepared for His Majesty, after consulting with Physician Liu. Would you mind trotting this for me, Chief Guard?"

Lady Lian's eyes held a hint of pleading. Her words were brief and polite, lacking any formal titles and simply referring to herself as "I."

Changying felt a little uncomfortable. If it were any of the other concubines, he would have refused without hesitation.

It's pitiful that this noble person is from the little princess's palace, and is being so polite; what if they had been refused like before...?

Finally, Changying reluctantly accepted the food box handed to him by the palace maid.

Consort Lian's face lit up with joy. She looked at Changying with gratitude, said a few more words, and then reluctantly left, turning back every few steps to look at the door of the Imperial Study.

After Consort Lian left, Changying's eyes fell on the food box in his hand, and he immediately felt it was like a hot potato.

He turned around and looked at the two gate guards behind him. The two guards, noticing Changying's gaze, immediately looked at him.

They immediately took two steps back, then looked away, tacitly avoiding looking at Changying's eyes, let alone the food box Changying was carrying, retreating as if they were snakes and scorpions.

Long Eagle: "..."

As expected, they were just fair-weather friends, a fake brotherhood.

The noise outside the Imperial Study was not loud, but anyone with a little internal strength could clearly hear the commotion outside.

The ministers, one by one, stole glances at the expressionless emperor sitting at the head of the table, then lowered their heads again, their thoughts filled with strange emotions.

Since the birth of the third prince, no concubine in the harem has become pregnant. A grand selection is held every three years, but the emperor has yet to bring it up.

The emperor didn't mention it, and they didn't dare to ask. They could only worry in their hearts about the weakness of the royal family.

Wenren Yu waved her fan, a hint of amusement in her voice. These days, her little rascal had been frequently running off to the little princess's Yongqing Palace.

Instead, it allowed him to become familiar with the people in Yongqing Palace. This Consort Lian usually seemed to be a weak and timid person.

Who would have thought that they would now dare to come to the Imperial Study to seek out the Emperor? Tsk tsk tsk.

Helian Nie's narrow, almond-shaped eyes swept coldly over the silent crowd below. His thin lips parted slightly, and his sinister voice was icy.

"continue."

These two words, like a cold, venomous snake, shot from the ministers' feet to their heads.

The ministers jolted awake, straightening their backs and abandoning all thoughts unrelated to matters of state.

"Your Majesty, the people from Dongchen have entered our Beiyin ahead of schedule. I fear they have ill intentions. We should be vigilant and take countermeasures as soon as possible to avoid further trouble."

The Minister of War spoke at the opportune moment, breaking the dull atmosphere.

News has arrived from our spies throughout Beiyin today that Dongchen's men have appeared in Beiyin and are heading straight for the capital. Wen Yi has not yet been captured, and the relationship between Beiyin and Dongchen is beginning to become delicate.