She opened the exquisite pear wood box, inside which was a large, dark brown Ganoderma lucidum and pieces of brownish-yellow deer antler.

[This Ganoderma lucidum is so big, it must be sentient!]

Jin Zhuangzhuang, sitting in the women's section, looked at the Ganoderma lucidum in the box and thought in surprise.

"Empress Zhaoyuan is very kind."

The Empress Dowager glanced indifferently at the contents of the box and gestured for Granny Zhang to accept it.

Granny Zhang accepted the pear wood box with both hands.

Consort Chen took out a red triangular embroidered item from her sleeve. "Your Majesty, I went to Wanfu Temple every day to eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and copy sutras. I obtained this consecrated amulet for you."

"The master said that with this amulet by her side, the Empress will surely enjoy boundless blessings and live to a ripe old age!"

Granny Zhang accepted the amulet with both hands.

Consort Chen smiled sweetly and turned to Yun Beiye, saying, "Your Majesty, today is the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. I was thinking, wouldn't it be double the joy if a royal marriage were to take place soon?"

"Hmm, that's a good idea."

Yun Beiye nodded in approval, a smile spreading across his face.

"It is only right to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday!"

Consort Chen glanced around the people in the bedchamber, then casually looked at Yun Yishu: "Third Prince, I've watched you all grow up. You've always been the most promising since you were little. But all the princes your age are married and have wives. Right now, you're the only one without a family."

"As the saying goes, 'One must first establish a family before establishing a career,' right?"

Consort Chen smiled and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief as she spoke.

Perhaps because there were too many people sitting in Anqing Palace, Yun Duoduo also felt a bit hot.

Yun Yishu looked at Consort Chen with a puzzled expression. Could it be that she was going to arrange a marriage for him?

Consort Chen had always wanted to plant spies around him, but since he no longer wanted to participate in the struggle for the throne, he no longer posed much of a threat to the competition.

Moreover, although the second prince, Yun Yizhong, has not yet been officially named the crown prince, it is clear to everyone that Yun Beiye has already decided in his heart that the second prince is the crown prince.

Why can't these people just let him go and let him become a leisurely merchant prince?

"I have a niece who is beautiful and gentle, Your Majesty. Perhaps..."

"Thank you for your kindness, Consort Chen, but I already have someone I love."

Before the Empress could finish speaking, Yun Yishu spoke up.

"Oh? How come I haven't heard of that?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhaoyuan and Consort De were also surprised.

"Right here in this main hall."

Wow, the Third Prince was hiding his true identity so well?

I often see him in passing, how come I never noticed he had a woman, and in this very hall?

Jin Zhuangzhuang lowered his head and looked around out of the corner of his eye. Could it be the head maid of Consort De's palace?

Or has she set her sights on some important person?

This is so exciting! Do even royalty go this far?

Is this what happiness is for a son and his stepmother?

No, no, he said the principal wife, not a secret rendezvous. Could it be an unmarried senior palace maid?

Her eyes widened, her brows furrowed. This was no simple matter; she felt her mind go blank.

Jin Zhuangzhuang grew up by Yun Duoduo's side, reading many storybooks and listening to her tell melodramatic tales of love in wealthy families. Now, his imagination is running wild.

She was the legitimate daughter of an official family.

"Jin Zhuangzhuang".

Yun Yishu's deep voice rang out in the main hall, interrupting her thoughts.

"Huh? What's wrong? What's up?"

Jin Zhuangzhuang thought she was calling him.

She turned to look at the person who had called her, and then she noticed everyone's gazes fixed on her, realizing that something seemed amiss.

Looking at Yun Yishu, who was smiling at her, she seemed to understand something.

The legitimate daughter of an official family, could it be...?

No, this shouldn't be happening...

Surely not?!

She winked at Yun Yishu.

But Yun Yishu ignored her expression and continued talking to himself.

“Father, I fell in love with Zhuangzhuang at first sight.”

【I believed your lies! My brother said that the first time you saw me, you said I was ugly and wrinkled!】

"I often met Zhuangzhuang in the palace, and we gradually developed feelings for each other."

"Your Majesty wishes to marry her as your principal wife, so that the royal family may continue its lineage!"

"I beg Your Majesty to grant my request!"

As he spoke, Yun Yishu knelt on the ground.

Jin Zhuangzhuang was dumbfounded. How could this person who always smiled at her stab her in the back?

[Using a shield like that is a bit much, isn't it?!]

This guy is really good at acting. In order to prevent the Empress from placing people in his residence, he actually dragged himself into a fire pit.

Jin Zhuangzhuang glanced at Yun Yishu in fright, and wanted to run away in a panic.

This is fake, so fake, this person is really fake.

Not only Jin Zhuangzhuang, but everyone in Anqing Hall was stunned.

Consort De, on the other hand, looked like she was watching a show, as if the person kneeling in the center of the hall was not her own son.

She supports her son no matter whose girl he falls for, as long as she isn't already married.

Consort De has now come to terms with it. Life is only a few decades long, why sacrifice her son's happiness for power and profit?

"Third Prince, have you thought this through?"

The Empress Dowager beamed with joy, exclaiming, "The third prince has finally seen the light!"

"Good, good, grant the marriage!"

The emperor was overjoyed to hear that the imperial family line would continue.

He already has a grandson in the royal family, it would be even better if he had a granddaughter!

Jin Zhuangzhuang rolled his eyes inwardly in exasperation. This royal family really is autocratic; don't they even ask for her opinion?

For a moment, the Empress Dowager, Yun Beiye, and Yun Yishu all showed expressions of either joy or satisfaction.

"I was immediately delighted with this girl. Now that she's my granddaughter-in-law, she'll come to the palace often to keep me company!"

Hearing this, even if Consort Chen had a thousand reasons, she couldn't say anything no matter how good her niece was.

Seeing that Jin Zhuangzhuang was still in a daze, Yun Yishu, who was sitting to the side, got up and walked to Jin Zhuangzhuang, took Jin Zhuangzhuang's hand, and looked at Jin Zhuangzhuang with a smile and affection.

"Quickly, thank him!"

As if possessed, Jin Zhuangzhuang grasped Yun Yishu's hand and followed him to the center of the main hall.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager, and Father Emperor, for your kindness."

Looking at the smile on Yun Yishu's face, Jin Zhuangzhuang couldn't help but shudder. What kind of sinister smile was that?

It looked like the smug expression of a hunter who had caught his prey.

"Very well, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Prince Chang!"

"Zhao Zhongquan, draft the imperial edict!"

"Jin Xiaoran's daughter, Princess Jiaping, Jin Zhuangzhuang, is gentle and kind, with outstanding appearance. She is betrothed to the Third Prince, Yun Yishu, as his principal wife."

"The Third Prince, Yun Yishu, is hereby granted the title of Prince Chang! He is also granted a villa in the capital! Construction of his residence will begin in a few days!"

"The Imperial Astronomical Bureau determines auspicious days and times."

The Ministry of Rites is making preparations for the wedding.

Yun Beiye spoke each word carefully, while Zhao Zhongquan drafted the imperial edict. Upon hearing these edicts, Consort De's eyes welled up with tears.

...?