After the initial shock, Duan Changchuan gradually regained his composure.

He questioned Yun Xie, “Why did Bai Su bite me while I was asleep? If I were bitten, then I would know it myself. Official Yun, your logic is too absurd.”

On the opposite side, Yun Xie was already laughing heartily, “Hahaha, yes, Your Majesty, you’re right. This official will be more careful in the future.”

Duan Changchuan, hearing the teasing in his words, sighed helplessly, “Enough, stop mocking me about the royal wedding. It’s not enough to upset me.”

Then he looked around and lowered his voice, asking, “Any recent developments in the court?”

When it came to serious matters, Yun Xie became more solemn, saying, “It’s the same old issue. The region around Huainan has been suffering from drought and heat this summer, leading to no crops to harvest. In winter, it becomes extremely cold. Many people have died from hunger and cold this winter. Supplies sent from the capital are being embezzled along the way. Numerous corrupt officials, who normally consume the grains and funds contributed by the people, never mind if you don’t do things to help others, yet now even seize the life-saving grains. They don’t fear punishment from the heaven.”

The more Duan Changchuan listened, the more displeased he became, “Minister Wang sent officials there two months ago for investigation. After two months of investigation, not only has the situation not improved, but more lives are lost.”

Yun Xie sneered, “Improved? Who knows what help they provided there. Recently, there have been rumors in Huainan that since His Majesty has come of age, the Regent should return the power. This sudden natural disaster is said because the heavens are displeased. Hah, heavens? What a load of rubbish. Even I, the head of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, don’t know if the heavens are displeased, let alone how commoners would know.”

Rumors don’t arise out of nowhere. Commoners were struggling to even have enough to eat and would hardly be concerned with political affairs. Even if there were grievances against the government, it would be aimed at the entire court rather than specifically the Regent returning power. There must be someone behind it.

Duan Changchuan unconsciously clenched his hand under his sleeve, ” The regent has already cut my wings by replacing me. I thought… he just wanted me to become more easily manipulated after returning the power, but I didn’t expect…”

Didn’t expect that he never intended to return power.

Once the rumor spread, if the Regent didn’t voluntarily return the power, while he forced the Regent, wouldn’t he become a tyrant who ignored the lives of the people and only cared about the power in his hand?

This tactic was truly disgusting.

“In fact, this matter can be easily dispelled if the Imperial Astronomical Bureau speaks a word.” Yun Xie said.

Then, he suddenly leaned closer, took out a copper plaque from his sleeve, and winked at him, “It depends on whether our Majesty is willing or not.”

The young emperor’s long eyelashes drooped, and the hand holding the teacup tightened.

After a moment of silence, he said, “That won’t win the people’s hearts.”

Yun Xie habitually clicked his tongue and put back the gleaming plaque, “Well then, it seems you already have an idea?”

Duan Changchuan nodded, “Yes. The Regent has a wide network of informants, and my every move is monitored. It took a long time to find an opportunity. It’s just a pity that the people in Huainan have suffered for too long…”

The young man’s voice remained as gentle as ever but tinged with a sense of helplessness.

Thinking of the numerous people who suffered due to the change in royal power since the deep winter two months ago, Duan Changchuan felt a heavy weight in his chest. If only he hadn’t delayed from the coldest period of winter to the end of winter, so many people wouldn’t have suffered.

Yun Xie thought for a moment, then raised the wine pot and filled a cup for him, “I know what you’re thinking about. But the monarch system has always been like this since ancient times. Otherwise, where would the saying “A general’s success is built upon the bones of thousands”^[1]一将功成万骨枯 (idiom): A famous sentence deriving from the poetry of the Tang Dynasty, it means that a general achieves goals or benefits (from the wars) while ten thousand (many) of bones rot come from? To achieve great things, one must endure hardships. Come on, be a man, drink a cup if it’s tough.”

The young emperor, looked at the cup full of wine, looking hesitant. After thinking for a while, he drank it in one shot.

After drinking, he immediately covered his lips and coughed “Cough… Your wine is…”

He wanted to say that the wine was too strong, but couldn’t even complete a sentence because of coughing.

Suppressing a smile, Yun Xie took out an envelope and pushed it to him.

The young emperor finally managed to stop coughing and asked, “What is this… cough…”

“Information about the daughter of the Bai family that you asked to investigate. I say you; your bedside companion has changed, how do you not care about her at all. But, the information in this letter contradicts what you told me. I think the Empress’s temperament has changed quite a lot. I wonder if it’s because of some stimulation before entering the palace.”

Duan Changchuan who was ready to open the envelope hesitated, then immediately put back the envelope.

Yun Xie teased him, “What’s wrong, are you still angry with the Empress? If you don’t want to read it then give it back to me. There’s a furnace here; we can burn it directly.”

After speaking, he reached for it as if to snatch it away. The young emperor hurriedly slapped his hand down, making a loud noise that scared away several birds in the trees. After pressing for a while without any movement from the opposite side, even the table began to shake. Only realized that he had been teased.

He blushed and made up for it, ” It’s not easy for you to find out. It would be a waste of the efforts of my subordinates if we burn it. If I end up hurting their hearts, how will they wholeheartedly serve me in the future? Uh… I will read it.”

The two chatted in the small courtyard for a long time, and Duan Changchuan left only after the snake hour had passed. In the inner pocket of his robe was the envelope given by Yun Xie.

On the way, Changle bowed and said, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager sent someone over a while ago, inviting you to have a meal in the Warm Pavilion on the west side. You’ve been married for three days, and the Empress Dowager has invited many female relatives. She even set up a stage in the courtyard, saying she wants to watch a play in the afternoon.”

Duan Changchuan’s footsteps paused. He had known he wouldn’t be able to avoid the banquet of his wedding. But he didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to invite even the female relatives of the Bai family.

“She is quite generous, isn’t she. Could it be that she even invited the Second Miss of the Bai family?”

The Second Miss of the Bai family is Bai Jinzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Bai family. Now that Bai Su has risen to the status of the “Legitimate Daughter,” Bai Jinzhi naturally becomes the second daughter.

“This servant has inquired about it. The Second Miss Bai didn’t come. Madam Bai came by herself. The birth mother of the Empress has passed away for a long time. This time, Madam Bai came as the Empress’s mother.”

Speaking of the current Empress, the young man subconsciously pinched the envelope in his arms.

‘The Bai family’s girl had lost her mother at a young age and suffered humiliation from the main family. Her character was quite timid, but she had a fiancé named Lin Qing, who was in the city of Shengjing. Before entering the palace, she resisted vehemently and caused quite a scene in the Prime Minister’s mansion. In the end, she was sent to the palace. In short, she’s a pitiful person.’

This was what Yun Xie told him before leaving.

Duan Changchuan knew Yun Xie’s ability to gather information. Whatever he said was undoubtedly true.

Duan Changchuan found it difficult to connect the Bai family’s girl living in his palace with the one mentioned by Yun Xie. However, having heard about her various experiences, he couldn’t help but feel disgusted with Madam Bai who “came as the Empress’ mother”.

Did she know this? Would she be angry or sad?

“Is the Empress still in the hall?” Duan Changchuan asked.

“Yes, the Empress Dowager had sent someone over. Just now, they came to convey a message, saying that the Empress Dowager made the decision, and they directly brought her over.”

“Let’s go and take a look.”

“Yes.”

The Warm Pavilion where the Empress Dowager resides is located in the southwest of the Imperial City, conveniently close to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Duan Changchuan rode in a sedan chair for a long time and finally arrived outside of the Fengxi Palace at noon.

Upon entering, before having the chance to announce his arrival, he heard a series of crisp laughter inside.

“What are they doing inside?” he asked the guards at the door while peering inside.

“Answering Your Majesty, Lady Duan returned from the western border of Liangcheng a while ago. She brought many interesting things, and the Empress Dowager liked them very much.”

Lady Duan…?

Duan Changchuan pondered over this title while walking towards the courtyard at the announcement from the guards.

If he remembered correctly, the one from the western border of Liangcheng with the surname Duan in the entire Capital Sheng was none other than the daughter of the Regent, Duan Qinxue.

Duan Changchuan heard that she had followed her uncle to the west border when she was nine, and only returned to the capital on special occasions.

“Long live Your Majesty.”

When entering the courtyard, he heard the continuous welcoming voices. Only then did he realize that the courtyard was full of people.

On the chilly spring day in January, everyone was wearing thick fur cloaks. The Empress Dowager even held a hand warmer.

In the center of the crowd stood a girl in light attire. She wore a light blue silk dress, her long hair tied high like a ponytail. She held a pipa in her hands, her face blushing, and sweat beads dampening her bangs.

“Come here, Imperial Son. Qinxue is performing a pipa dance for everyone. She can even bounce the pipa. I really like it.” Seeing Duan Changchuan approaching, the Empress Dowager immediately beckoned.

The young emperor walked over respectfully, bowing, “Greetings, Mother Queen.”

The girl immediately threw the pipa to a nearby maidservant and ran over.

After giving a salute like a young man, she said, “Qinxue greets to Your Majesty, long live Brother Emperor!”

Between the swaying sleeves, the small bells on her waist jingled crisply.

Duan Changchuan had never seen a lady perform such a bold greeting. He was stunned for a while before managing to say, “No need for formalities.”

The girl immediately stood upright with a smiling face, “Thank you, brother Emperor! Today, before coming, my father told me that when entering the palace, I should bow, or else Brother Emperor and the Empress Dowager would be angry. I said, for a man in the military, proper etiquette is enough. If Brother Emperor is a wise ruler, he won’t care about such things with me. It’s only my father who is stubborn, getting older, sticking to the old rules.”

After speaking, she took a step forward, narrowing the distance between the two. “Brother is very handsome! After staying on the western border for a long time, I thought all men were like my uncle in the military, smelly and rough!”

Then, she sniffed the air, raised her sleeve to smell herself, and murmured, “Hmm, it smells so good. Compared to you, I’m all smelly…”

The girl’s way of speaking was too direct, leaving Duan Changchuan in a daze. Hastily adjusting the fragrance sachet at his waist, he secretly moved it behind.

Internally, he was in turmoil: Can she really speak so directly?

Before he could figure things out, a voice sounded outside the door, “The Empress is here!”

Only then did he realize that the person he hadn’t seen for half a day was standing at the door.

The woman was draped in an embroidered golden cloak, wearing a phoenix crown on her head. Her slender and beautiful eyes looked at the gap of less than half an arm’s length between the Duan Changchuan and the young lady.

At the moment their eyes met, he saw a slight curl of her lips.

Duan Changchuan who had almost been scrutinized by the little girl earlier, hadn’t thought of retreating.

When she said, “You smell so good,” he hadn’t thought of retreating either.

But with just this glance, his mind hadn’t caught up, and his feet had already taken half a step back.

Duan Changchuan who was confused himself: …???