"Then I'll have to trouble Your Majesty."

Di Junlan smiled slightly, his voice filled with doting affection and seduction: "Brother, you're too kind."

Murong Jin's smile faltered. Was this kid serious? Calling her brother?

Ankesen followed behind them with a dark expression. His Majesty has gone too far! There's a proper distinction between ruler and subject! Are you treating the Regent like an older brother?

Is this even possible?

Are you sure you're not trying to curry favor?

Murong Jin didn't say anything, but Di Junlan had been acting strangely these past two days...

Yesterday things seemed a little normal, but today they've become quite perplexing.

For example, why do we call her brother?

She is the regent, and he is the emperor. Even if they are partners and have a friendly relationship, they would still be wary of each other. But Di Junlan is like this...

What are you doing?

Suddenly I feel like he's become a bit sleazy?

"By the way, brother, how about we address each other like this in private from now on? After all, you're a few years older than me, so it's not inappropriate for me to call you brother, is it?"

Murong Jin's eyelids twitched. "I will listen to Your Majesty."

Emperor Junlan pushed Murong Jin's wheelchair, "If you have time, could you come to the palace to keep your younger brother company more often?"

Murong Jin gave a forced smile, "Okay."

What would happen if they fell out?

Forget it, it'll be too troublesome then. She didn't want to deal with those tedious things anymore. She told Jin Si to keep a close eye on the border, and that Jin Feng was on the Mongolian side...

As long as Emperor Junlan doesn't cause trouble, she'll let Da Cheng have his way.

While eating, Murong Jin looked at her bowl, which was already piled high with food, and then at the smiling person next to her. Murong Jin picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.

"Brother, this tastes pretty good. I'll have the head chef of the imperial kitchen come here to be your cook another day, so you can have him make whatever you want to eat."

Murong Jin raised an eyebrow. It was just about recognizing a younger brother, and there was such a good thing?

"Very well, then I'll have to trouble Your Majesty to part with it."

Di Junlan's eyes held a deep meaning. "Brother, since we're all good brothers now, just call me by my name... I'll call you by my real name."

Murong Jin: "Okay, Junlan."

The two light, airy words made Di Junlan feel completely comfortable.

Junlan.

My brother calls him Junlan.

No one has called him by his name for a long time; since he ascended the throne, he has been addressed as Your Majesty...

If possible, he wanted his brother to call him Alan, because that's what his mother called him back then, and she said that only close friends and family could call him by his nickname.

He would glance sideways at the people eating, and it was only when he was eating that his eyes would show a satisfied look, especially when he was eating his favorite food. His eyes would even flicker slightly, which was very cute.

Ankersen looked at their emperor, whose eyes were only fixed on the regent: "..."

His Majesty has definitely been drugged; he's been acting strangely these past two days.

After glancing at Eunuch Zhao in the distance, An Kesen left and secretly stood behind Zhao Delin, saying, "Eunuch Zhao."

Eunuch Zhao was startled. "Commander An, you've given me quite a fright!"

"I have a question for you. Has His Majesty been acting strangely these past few days?"

A look of doubt crossed Eunuch Zhao's face. Then, thinking of the books His Majesty had asked him to buy... he immediately felt guilty and stammered, "No, I haven't seen anything strange about His Majesty."

Ankerson narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice carrying a hint of pressure, "Is that so?"

Eunuch Zhao stubbornly denied it, pretending not to know, "Yes, what could be strange about His Majesty? Commander An, you're overthinking it, hahaha."

Seeing his guilty look, An Kesen snorted inwardly. If Eunuch Zhao knew this, why didn't His Majesty tell him?

Is it something he can't possibly know?

But what does this have to do with His Majesty's current obsequious behavior towards the Regent? Is it because of Murong Jin that His Majesty has become like this?

Looking at the two people at the dinner table, and recalling what he had witnessed before, especially the current state of His Majesty, Eunuch Zhao already had an idea in mind.

Your Majesty has ideas about the Regent, and unusual ideas at that.

The Regent is quite afraid, and so is His Majesty. A standoff between the two sides will inevitably result in casualties. It seems like it would be quite good for two capable people to work together and resolve things internally.

Otherwise, internal strife will hurt the entire Great Cheng Kingdom for some time, affecting not only the population, but also commerce, and even basic necessities like food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

If His Majesty could remove the Regent, it wouldn't be so bad...

The issue of having offspring is not something he worries about.

...

"Is my brother physically fit enough to attend court now?"

After taking a bite of food, Murong Jin asked, "Does Your Majesty wish for me to return to court?"

Emperor Junlan shook his head. "Attending court is the duty of a subject. I told my brother not to go because I was worried about his health. Now that you seem to be doing well, why don't you go back to court?"

"I need my brother to do some things for me, especially regarding the many suggestions from the ministers. I've only been on the throne for a little over three years, and there are many things I don't understand yet. In fact, in important situations, the decisions I make might have some problems..."

"So, brother, would you like to come to the palace to assist me?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Murong Jin's eyes, but seeing Di Junlan's serious and sincere expression, she thought, "Oh well, I'll spoil this brat I care about."

"good."

A slight smile played on her lips, and Di Junlan beside her had a bright smile in his eyes.

By gradually luring people into the palace, he can do whatever he wants to his brother.

After breakfast, Emperor Junlan was about to return to the palace. Murong Jin sat in her wheelchair outside the palace, watching the carriage parked outside.

"Brother, wait until I get back and make a plan, then I'll have someone come and let you know when the court session will be held."

Murong Jin tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest of the wheelchair. "Okay."

After the carriage started moving, Di Junlan leaned against the window and looked at the people behind him. They were still there, and a faint smile appeared on his face before Di Junlan moved away from the window.

Ankesen sat opposite him. "Your Majesty, are you hiding something from me?"

Emperor Junlan chuckled, his eyes filled with determination. "Commander An, if there are any visitors in the future, and if there are any delicious recipes, remember to learn them and send them to the Regent's Palace for my brother to taste."

An Kesen frowned slightly, wanting to say something, but upon seeing Di Junlan's smitten expression, he was speechless: "..."

Rippling?

What a licentious smile, Your Majesty.

What's wrong with you?!

My Majesty.

The way you're acting makes me feel like you might go crazy at any moment... your mind is starting to go insane.