When Lin Yuxin and her family entered the grand hall, many officials and their families had already arrived and were waiting.

Some familiar faces were engaged in conversation, chatting and laughing, while others sought to curry favor, trying to build relationships with their superiors through flattery and obsequiousness.

Lin Yuxin obediently followed her mother and found a seat, while her father and brothers sat just ahead of them.

Although the position of Minister (Shangshu) in the Xia Kingdom was officially of the third rank, Lin Xiongan had not earned it through true ability.

His appointment was largely undeserved, leaving him with a high title but little real power.

That didn’t stop him from enjoying the full benefits of a third-rank official, and he took great pride in the belief that he had achieved everything through his own efforts.

“Madam Lin, it’s been a long time!”

“Madam Xu, long time no see. How have you been?”

A noblewoman sitting nearby greeted Zhao Hanya, Lin Yuxin’s mother, leaving Lin Yuxin sitting alone in boredom.

More than an hour passed.

Everyone who was supposed to arrive had already done so, but the banquet had yet to begin. Lin Yuxin felt incredibly hungry.

[So hungry! When will the banquet start? When is the Emperor arriving? Oh, and I haven’t seen the envoy from Qi yet. Did he come?]

She discreetly covered her stomach and swallowed, scanning the room to see if the envoy from Qi had arrived.

Seeing no sign of him, she was just about to figure out a way to sneak some food when a sharp, eunuch-like voice suddenly rang out:

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives! Her Majesty the Empress arrives! Welcome the Regent Prince!”

“Long live His Majesty! Long live Her Majesty! Long live the Regent Prince!”

All the officials, noblewomen, and young ladies rose and knelt in greeting, and Lin Yuxin had no choice but to follow her mother’s lead.

Once the Emperor and Empress had taken their seats at the high table, the Emperor smiled and said, “Rise, my loyal subjects. This is a state banquet, so let us dispense with excessive formalities.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” the crowd responded in unison before returning to their seats.

Lin Yuxin looked up and saw that the Emperor appeared to be in his forties.

He was reasonably handsome, though he couldn’t compare to Li Xiaocheng.

However, the aura of authority surrounding the Emperor was enough to make anyone tremble.

The Empress, on the other hand, was the picture of grace and elegance—dignified, noble, and the ideal image of a virtuous woman.

[Hmm, the Emperor and Empress actually look quite good together. I heard they have a strong relationship, though unfortunately, the Empress doesn’t have much longer to live.]

[After losing her child back then, she was devastated, and the grief severely damaged her health. On top of that, she was poisoned, and now she’s at death’s door. Even the smallest mishap could trigger the poison.]

[According to the story, after the Empress died, the Emperor never took another Empress for the rest of his life. So, even in the imperial family, there are men who truly love just one woman!]

Lin Yuxin thought to herself that the Emperor was actually quite pleasing to the eye.

But up on the high platform, the Emperor and Empress both stiffened.

[What was that voice? Poison? I’m going to die? The Empress is going to die?]

Before they could figure out where the voice was coming from, it spoke again.

[But if I find a chance to detoxify the Empress, she might live for decades more! And besides, her son is still in my house. If the Empress dies, won’t Xiao Hao be heartbroken?]

[I promised to take good care of him, so I might as well take care of his mother too!]

Lin Yuxin pondered strategies, feeling that it would be a shame if the Empress died.

Xiao Hao would surely be devastated when he learned the truth.

She had no idea that several people present had already changed expressions.

Zhao Hanya, her mother, broke into a cold sweat. [This daughter of mine is being reckless again! She actually dares to meddle in imperial affairs?]

Back then, she had taken in Xiao Hao because she pitied him and, knowing he was of imperial blood, couldn’t simply abandon him.

But now, how had a simple state banquet turned into a situation where her daughter was meddling in the Empress’s fate?

Well, since my daughter has made up her mind, as her mother, I can only support her. Zhao Hanya resolved to find an opportunity to bring Lin Yuxin to meet the Empress after the banquet.

Whether it would succeed was left to fate.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuxin’s three older brothers wore helpless expressions. Sister, you’re really putting us in a tough spot. We have no control over what happens in the imperial harem! But… we’ll cheer for you?

Li Xiaocheng, however, lifted his wine cup, glancing toward Lin Yuxin with a half-smile before looking away. Hah! This girl sure likes to meddle. Doesn’t she know how dangerous the imperial harem is?

The Empress, upon hearing the mention of her son, turned pale. Could they be talking about my son? I only had one child, and he was lost when he was eight months old!

Back then, her son had been frail and frequently ill.

She had gone to Lingquan Temple outside the capital to pray for him, but in the blink of an eye, he had disappeared.

She searched desperately for months.

In the end, the only thing found was a tiny bloodstained shoe by the river at the foot of the mountain.

Everyone told her that her son was dead.

Only she refused to believe it.

Now, upon hearing this mysterious voice, she clutched her chest. Could my son really be alive? And in her house? Who is she?!

She lifted her head and scanned the hall, trying to find the source of the voice, but after several rounds, she found nothing out of the ordinary. Was that just my mind playing tricks on me because I miss my son so much?

The Emperor, though equally shaken, maintained his composure. Our son? The only son we had was Lin’er. Could there really be news of him? But whose voice was that? If someone is using Lin’er to threaten me… I’ll have them torn to pieces!

Lin Yuxin had no idea what the Emperor was thinking.

If she did, she would have rolled her eyes and muttered something about how emperors were always paranoid.

Just as the Emperor and Empress were considering how to track down the mysterious voice, the foreign envoys began their formal greetings.

“The Prince of Sauna Kingdom, Hulu Qimu, requests an audience with the Emperor of Xia!”

The sharp eunuch-like voice rang out again from outside the hall.

Lin Yuxin shuddered. [Ugh! That eunuch’s voice is terrifying.]

Patting her chest to calm herself, she looked up and saw a man in exotic clothing enter, followed by two attendants carrying a box.

“Prince Hulu Qimu of Sauna Kingdom greets His Majesty of Xia.”

The prince bowed in his nation’s traditional manner.

“Good, good! Prince Hulu, you have traveled a great distance. It must have been tiring,” the Emperor said warmly, putting on the appearance of close friendship.

[Ha! The Emperor is a great actor. Every year, Sauna Kingdom raids our borders and steals from us. I bet in his heart, he’s cursing their ancestors right now.]

The Emperor choked for a moment. Who’s spreading lies about me?! If I find them, I’ll cut out their tongue! I didn’t curse their ancestors… I only cursed their parents!

“Your Majesty, this is a gift from Sauna Kingdom to Xia Kingdom.”

Prince Hulu Qimu gestured toward the gift his attendants carried.

“Oh? Your country is so thoughtful. Let’s see what you’ve brought,” the Emperor said, immediately interested in receiving presents.