Duan Changchuan whose one foot had already taken a step backward, would seem awkward if he returned to his position, so he reluctantly moved his other foot backward.

Bai Su looked at the young emperor visibly stepping back to avoid suspicion, then freezing in place. She couldn’t help but laugh in her heart: Could it be that this little kid was fighting with himself again in his mind?

The young emperor, with delicate and noble features, still stood out even among a group of elegantly dressed ladies.

He was good-looking…

But he wasn’t edible.

He looked very much like the one back at home.

Bai Su’s quietly shedding a tear of sympathy for herself and deliberately averted her gaze.

It was of course an unintentional move, but in Duan Changchuan’s eyes, it took on a completely different meaning.

#When I saw her approaching, I intentionally kept my distance from other women, yet she turned her head away!#

#I didn’t even dislike that she’s a concubine daughter, how dare she dislike me!#

The anger in the young emperor’s heart flared up. He completely forgot himself, and his so-called “kept a distance” was an involuntary action at that moment. He also completely forgot how unmercifully he had pushed her onto the side couch the previous night.

So, after Bai Su greeted Duan Changchuan and the Empress Dowager, with the customary “No need for formalities” response from them, she heard the young emperor emitting a soft “hmph”. The voice was small as if he was afraid someone might notice. And only heard in her right ear as they turned away together.

Instinctively, she glanced to her side, and the young emperor was avoiding eye contact, lips forming a straight line. He even straightened his back silently.

Bai Su:…???

After Duan Changchuan and Bai Su entered the room, the group of people, each having their own thoughts, chatted for a while until noon.

Everyone took their seats, in the central position, Duan Changchuan, on both sides, were the Empress Dowager and Bai Su. On the right side, at a separate table, sat the Bai family couple. All seats were taken except for the one on the left side, which remained vacant.

It wasn’t until noon was about to end that the Regent Duan Jing’an, casually walked to the banquet when it was about to begin.

Followed by a group of attendants, he entered and occupied the entire hall. At a glance, it seemed that he had brought more servants than the royal family.

As if this was the lineup of troops for abdicating the emperor. Duan Changchuan thought in his heart.

“Your Majesty, forgive this official for being late.”

The man dressed in the highest official uniform spoke and slightly nodded toward the central main seat, which was considered a bow.

Such a scene was actually common for everyone. The Regent had controlled the court for a long time, initially, he knew how to restrain himself. But as time went on, he became more and more audacious. In recent years, it had worsened, and he no longer cared about the imperial etiquette.

If it were an ordinary day, Duan Changchuan would turn a blind eye, it was useless to argue anyway. It only intensified the conflict between the two.

Especially there was once when he provoked this person, yet later he received news saying that the Empress Dowager was secretly servile to Duan Jing’an. By hearing the description from the attendants, he could imagine how submissive the empress dowager was at that moment.

He was angry yet felt bad for her. From then on, he restrained his temper and avoided tearing this person’s face with this person unless necessary.

But today, looking at the full hall, he suddenly wanted to confront him. So, everyone waited for the usual pardon from the emperor, they had waited and waited, yet the young man on the main seat showed no response.

As time passed, some curious eyes began to glance discreetly, and the formerly indifferent Regent gradually realized that something was wrong. He subtly lifted his eyes and looked toward the central figure.

The Empress Dowager couldn’t help but tug Duan Changchuan’s sleeve.

She whispered, “Imperial Son…”

Duan Changchuan lowered his head, seeing his mother’s hand on his sleeve. More than ten years had passed, and these hands had become slender, the skin had loosened…

These were his mother’s hands. Suddenly, from the bottom of his heart, felt a deep exhaustion…

A voice echoed in his mind, saying: It was like this again, always the same.

Whenever he deliberately made things difficult for the Regent, his queen mother would be the first to step forward to mediate.

The young man closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

‘Forget it.’

This time, let’s forget it too… It has been like this for many times anyway.

The young man mentally prepared himself and was ready to speak. But before the words could come out of his throat, a disdainful sneer rang in his ears.

“Since you know you’re guilty, then kneel.” He heard the woman sitting beside him said.

With a lazy and casual tone, as if not challenging the current regent, but dismissing a disobedient servant.

The Empress Dowager’s face changed slightly. With a loud snap, she put down the teacup and sternly said, “Outrageous. The Emperor and I haven’t spoken yet, how dare you interrupt?”

She seemed like a different person from the obedient appearance just now.

The prime minister’s wife, Shi Ruyan, followed suit when she saw the opportunity, saying, “Su Su, don’t be rude. Hurry up and apologize to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager.”

The two of them joined forces, instantly turning the focus from the Regent to Bai Su. For a moment, all eyes were on this new empress.

But they found that this rumored concubine daughter not only showed no sign of timidity but even steadily poured herself a cup of tea.

With her slender eyes, she glanced at Shi Ruyan and said, “That apologize, I haven’t learned it. And… no one has taught me.”

Duan Changchuan:???

Everyone else:!!!

Although everyone knew it was true, but… but! Could she say that?

Duan Changchuan remembered what Yun Xie said this morning, “Could it be that the empress has lost hope in life, so she decided to break free from the restraints, and that’s why her temperament has changed so much?”

He sneered before… now he believed it, believed it very much.

One can’t just let go like this if there’s still someone you care about.

Uh, what kind of feeling is this…

It was like… Duan Changchuan played chess with the regent, and the Bai family secretly passed notes under the table. The three parties were fiercely competing, and Bai Su came up and overturned the chessboard, clearly pointing out the notes hidden under the table to everyone.

The scene was really ugly. But… it was satisfying!

Duan Changchuan’s stuffiness on his chest moments ago, had been relieved. It was refreshing! He had wanted to do this a long time ago!

At this moment when Duan Changchuan was distracted, the Bai family was in chaos.

Shi Ruyan covered her chest, pointing at Bai Su with a handkerchief, “You! You…!”

Prime Minister Bai slammed the table, so angry that his beard was about to blow up, “Impudent! Hurry up and apologize to your mother!”

Bai Su: “Apologize? Isn’t it her who offended Me and should apologize to Me? Since you talk about etiquette, then let me tell you about it. Prime Minister Bai, between Me and your wife, who holds a higher position now? Didn’t she love to talk about hierarchy the most before? You can’t only talk about hierarchy with Me when you were in the higher position, then start talking about family affection when I am the superior one.”

“You…! You unfilial daughter!”

“Tsk, I’ve said that I don’t talk about family affection with you.”

A farce unfolded, the Empress Dowager was stunned, and the Emperor secretly enjoyed the show. Unexpectedly, the confrontation went on for a long time but no one stopped it.

Duan Changchuan leisurely drank tea, catching a glimpse of the person standing in the center of the hall. Because Duan Jing’an nodded slightly when bowed, his neck had been low until now, and it starting to move slightly.

Moreover, there were many charcoal fires in the room, and the temperature was not low. Duan Jing’an hurriedly came in, wearing a fur cloak all the time. At this moment, his temples were sweating.

Duan Changchuan watched every time the Regent tried to say something, every time he made a move, he was blocked by Bai Su’s quarrel on the other side, and he felt even more delighted.

He even suspected that Bai Su was intentional, blocking Duan Jing’an precisely when he wanted to speak.

It wasn’t until Prime Minister Bai was speechless, and Madam Bai was so angry that her face turned pale, and both of them could only panting heavily, even the Regent had lost his patience.

Only then Duan Changchuan cleared his throat, with a proper posture, said, “Let the banquet begin.”

Suddenly, everyone felt like they were granted amnesty.

Even the regent, who always held his head high, rarely didn’t argue with him. He hastily said, “This official thank you for Your Majesty’s grace,” and went straight to his seat.

Duan Changchuan was happy, and even the toasts from everyone were not as difficult to deal with as before.

Seeing that the Bai family couldn’t eat their meal, he deliberately poured a cup of wine and handed it over. At first, he maintained his dignity as the emperor, explaining his reasons grandly.

For example, “On My wedding, I can’t follow the usual etiquette of ordinary men, so I can only toast to express my feelings.”

Later, he became lazy and perfunctory, saying things like “The Empress is intelligent and beautiful, all thanks to the Prime Minister,” or “I only saw the second daughter of the Bai family before, feeling she is extraordinary, didn’t expect the legitimate daughter of the Bai family to be the true beauty,” and other things that he didn’t even believe himself. He would say a sentence and raise his cup to Bai Yanyuan every time.

He even had to emphasize every time, “I’m not feeling well today, the imperial physician advised me to drink less, so I’ll drink less this time. Prime Minister Bai, feel free.”

Finally, he must add a sentence, “Less wine, more affection,” to show his emphasis on the matter. At this point, Bai Yanyuan could only empty his cup every time. By the end, his eyes were blurry.

They drank enthusiastically, and Bai Su casually ate while watching. Seeing Bai Yanyuan getting more and more drunk, the young emperor’s eyes became brighter.

She couldn’t help but find it amusing in her heart: This little fox was having mischievous thoughts, and not even bothered to hide his tail.

Just as she was thinking, the young emperor suddenly turned his head and looked at her. With sparkling eyes, he blinked, showing a hint of confusion.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

In the next moment, a warm hand held her arm, saying, “You, how can you not even know how to sit properly when eating.”

Bai Su:? Is this… finding her fault again?

Just as she was about to see what the little guy wanted to do, the attendant Chang Le suddenly bowed.

He leaned over to Duan Changchuan’s ear and said softly, “Your Majesty, you have already had three cups. You will get drunk if you drink more. Let this servant take away the wine glass, okay?”

The young emperor immediately sat up straight, pursed his lips with restraint, and said, “Alright.”

Then, he covered his knees with his long sleeves and remained still.

Bai Su looked at the person sitting upright and then at Chang Le, who was busy changing cups…

Finally, unable to resist her curiosity, she asked, “Your Majesty, can you only drink three cups each time?”

The little eunuch immediately responded respectfully, “Answering Your Ladyship, yes. Three cups are just right for His Majesty; the fourth cup would be a bit too much.”

As the words fell, Bai Su noticed that the bright figure beside her suddenly stiffened…?