The Empress and the Crown Princess all had their shoulders to bear, and even the Crown Prince was in front of them. Yurong naturally did not have any. She followed the palace maids all the way without feeling embarrassed, and she looked graceful even when she walked fast.

The prince looked at her several times, feeling very aggrieved. Of his concubines, Changsun was too docile and full of schemes, the Crown Princess was impulsive and mean, and although Yuwei was a good person, she was too naive and could not be compared with Yurong at all.

This year, his thoughts about Yurong not only did not fade away with the passage of time, but became even more profound.

He is now the crown prince, but he is still controlled by others in everything.

I can't choose what kind of woman I like.

It took them half a day to reach the Ningshou Palace. The Crown Prince and his wife stood beside the Empress, helping her in, while Yurong stood behind them, bowed slightly, and went in.

Yurong had met Empress Dowager Shen before. When they met again, their identities had changed. Empress Dowager Shen was now free and at ease, having become the Empress Dowager. Yurong was no longer the niece of Princess Han, but the young lady of the Wei family.

"Your concubine pays respects to the Queen Mother. I hope that the Queen Mother will live as long as heaven and be blessed with endless blessings." Yurong knelt down and kowtowed to greet her.

Although she had given up her power and lived as an old queen dowager enjoying her old age since the empress took charge of the palace, she had been immersed in the palace for many years and knew many things without even having to inquire about them. Moreover, the emperor did not hide it from others.

Empress Dowager Shen then smiled and said, "Very well, get up quickly. Since the Emperor has ordered you to accompany your aunt in the palace, you should stay with her. If you need anything, tell your aunt."

Yurong bowed quickly, "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your consideration."

"You're welcome. You can sit down too. I watched Xuan Ning grow up under my care. He's a perfect match for you." Empress Dowager Shen suddenly sighed.

Because of his relationship with Concubine Wei, Wei Xuanning often moved around the palace and even worked as a palace guard for some time.

If Yurong didn't care about other things, her eyes would light up immediately when she talked about Wei Xuanning. "Yes, my husband is very good to me. In my life, apart from my parents, no one has ever been so good to me."

Even Empress Dowager Shen found it difficult to cope with such enthusiasm.

They are all people who have seen through the fickleness of human nature in the palace. What they distrust the most are men. They are used to seeing men fall in love with every woman they meet, so it is difficult to see such feelings in women's eyes.

The Crown Prince turned his head away, but the Crown Princess snorted in her heart.

The Queen cleared her throat and said half jokingly and half teasingly, "I have only heard of the reputation of Wei Shaoyin before, but now I know that his reputation is indeed well-deserved. Yurong used to be such a cold and self-reliant person, but now she is so devoted to a man."

Empress Dowager Shen saw that Yurong was coquettish and not pretentious, and she felt that she had come alive. She had entered the palace purely to show herself before, but now she was only doing it for herself, so she smiled and said, "It would be great if lovers in this world could finally get married."

In fact, the royal family was also quite gossipy. Empress Dowager Shen was quite curious and asked Yurong, "Have you ever known this Master Wei before?"

Yurong shook her head quickly, "I don't know him. The Wei family introduced me to him in advance. It must be fate. He thinks I am beautiful and I think he is handsome. I don't know why..." She was still very shy after saying this.

When Empress Dowager Shen heard this, she felt it was unreliable. Matters between men and women are not about appearance.

But after all, Yurong was the daughter-in-law of the Wei family and the niece of the Empress, so it was difficult for her to break the rules.

After all, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were here, so Empress Dowager Shen turned her eyes to the couple. Although the Crown Prince was gentle and polite, and the Crown Princess looked charming and lovely, their relationship was not deep. At most, they just treated each other with respect.

"Prince, although official duties are important, you must also take care of your health."

Because Li Xun grew up under Empress Dowager Shen's wing, the relationship was naturally different. Li Xun also smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager. I had an extra bowl of rice yesterday, and I also want to thank you for the dishes you gave me."

Empress Dowager Shen was very happy.

Everyone in the room was talking happily, but the Crown Princess was very unhappy. She was not pregnant, but she heard that Zhangsun had been refusing menstruation for ten days. She had been resentful for a long time and wanted to come and complain, but when she saw that Empress Dowager Shen was taking good care of Yang Yurong, she felt even more unhappy.

But she couldn't show off in front of her elders, and she had to consider the dignity of the Crown Princess, so she endured it until the Crown Prince said goodbye and the Queen left with her niece, then she knelt forward.

"Empress Dowager, Yang Yurong cannot stay in the palace any longer."

Empress Dowager Shen raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean, Crown Princess?"

"Thanks to the Empress Dowager's kindness, my granddaughter-in-law discovered that the Emperor went to the Empress's bedroom late last night. Although the Emperor is honest, there is no guarantee that those people will spread rumors that will damage the Emperor's reputation."

Empress Dowager Shen saw through her little tricks at a glance. Without even glancing at the Crown Princess, she said, "Your most important task now is to give birth to a dragon child for the Crown Prince. You don't have to worry about anything else."

"But Your Majesty——"

Empress Dowager Shen was speechless. "That's something the Empress should worry about. It has nothing to do with you."

She had chosen the Queen herself, how could she not trust her?

When it came to choosing the Crown Princess, she trusted so-called relatives too much. She really regretted it now.

The Crown Princess was choked by the Queen Mother and walked away in shame.

Empress Dowager Shen couldn't help shaking her head. This child really didn't know the difference between the primary and the secondary. Look at Yang Yurong, she gave birth to a son right after she entered the palace, which was better than anything else. The royal family really had a throne to inherit. If the queen she chose didn't give birth to the King of Jiangxia right after she entered the palace, how could she keep her position?

Yurong was having lunch with the Empress, but by chance the Emperor also came over. The Empress was startled and quickly knelt down to greet him.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."

"Yurong pays respects to His Majesty."

Emperor Feng'an had a chubby face that was always filled with smiles. He looked like an amiable middle-aged man. He cheerfully asked the two to get up. "The Queen, please get up. Yurong, too."

The Queen spoke to Emperor Feng'an in a normal tone, "Why did you come without telling me earlier? I asked them to prepare a few more dishes."

Emperor Feng'an waved his hands and said, "No need to do that. I have never cared much about food."

Seeing the Emperor coming, Yurong hurriedly stood behind the Empress, but heard Emperor Feng'an say, "You also sit down. You are the Empress's niece, which means you are my junior. Why should you be so formal?"

Yurong sat down nervously and glanced at the empress again. Seeing the empress's indifferent expression, she felt a little puzzled.

Since he didn't want her at the beginning, why is he acting like this now? It's funny.

But she also knew that if she wanted to move up, she had to gain the trust of these two people. She not only had to perform better than Li Xun, but also better than Li Yu and Li Ju.

After the meal, Emperor Feng'an was happily chatting about family matters again, but Yurong was in high spirits to respond.

"I heard that you can also write hymns?" Emperor Feng'an put down his teacup, as if an elder was asking a younger person about his studies.

Yurong smiled and said, "In reply to your Majesty, Yurong dare not say that I can write. I have only read a few pieces and occasionally imitated them."

Emperor Feng'an raised his eyebrows: "But I saw that you wrote very well in the memorial submitted to Wei Shaoyin."

If a normal woman was exposed, she would be very scared, but Yurong was calm and said: "I have learned the literary and martial arts and sold them to the emperor. Although Yurong is a woman and has no chance to serve as an official in the court, she also knows how to share her husband's worries."

"But why did you scold me?" Emperor Feng'an looked at her inquiringly.

He wanted to force her to admit that she wrote the manifesto, but Yurong said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Yurong is just a woman in the mansion. How could she write such a manifesto?"

Emperor Feng'an frowned: "If it's not you, then it must be Wei Xuanning. It seems that he is really brave. Now he relies on his status as a noble family to do whatever he wants. I might as well get rid of him first."

While he was speaking, he was observing Yurong's expression.

All his spies, even Yurong's biological father Yang Zhao, said that she had deep feelings for Wei Xuanning, but now when he asked her the question, Yang Yurong's face remained unmoved and she treated Wei Xuanning as a stranger.

Good guy, even he was almost fooled by this woman.

What's the matter with his deep love for Wei Xuanning? Wei Xuanning and the Wei family are still very proud of themselves, not knowing that this girl is not moved at all, just like him.

She seems affectionate, but actually she is ruthless, worthy of being his beloved daughter.

"Your Majesty is the ruler of the world. All land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people in the land are his subjects. You can punish anyone you want."

Emperor Feng'an looked at her again subtly, "But if you deal with Wei Xuanning, wouldn't you also lose your husband?"

"Since there is a threat to you, Your Majesty should have dealt with it. But please forgive me for being frank. Now is not the right time. The noble families are everywhere and they are as solid as rocks. If Your Majesty acts too hastily, he may be attacked by everyone. What's more, the humble family is not really thinking about the people. Shen Shixing is probably more power-hungry than the Wei family. The Shadu in Mobei is ready to make a move. Your Majesty, there are tigers and wolves gathering on your steps. How can we talk about cause and effect?" Yurong said calmly.

He also wanted to use the Wei family to threaten her, but she had never been threatened by anyone.

You are still worried about internal and external troubles, how dare you try to eliminate the aristocratic families now? The Northern Army and the Eastern Army are both in the hands of the aristocratic families.

Emperor Feng An personally helped her up and asked, "Since you know this, why do you still want to help the Wei family?"

"Your Majesty, I have been in so much trouble since I was a child because of this face. Now that the Wei family is willing to protect me, I am naturally willing to share their worries."

It's very simple. The chips given by the Wei family now are good, so I will naturally stand on the side of the Wei family. But if you are willing to give bigger chips, enough to compete with the Wei family, she will naturally be willing to listen to whoever you say.

Emperor Feng'an smiled approvingly and said, "Very good, you didn't forget your own ideas because of some inexplicable emotions. I will give you a big gift in a few days."

In the eyes of Emperor Feng'an, she was a woman who could be used but would not have any impact on actual power.

Yurong smiled and bowed to thank Emperor Feng'an, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Yurong will be waiting for your good news in the palace."

The emperor left contentedly, but the empress frowned and looked at her, with relief and complexity in her eyes. She wanted to say something, but was stopped by Yurong, "You don't have to say anything. Since this matter has become a foregone conclusion, as long as you say it, the walls have ears. This is a major matter that will shake the foundation."

"But you--" The queen knew very well that the man beside her was a cruel and ruthless person, and she was afraid that something might happen to Yurong.

Yurong comforted her instead, "Don't worry, no matter what, I will live well."