After that, Duan Changchuan chatted with Bai Su about a lot of things. including today’s incident where Xiao Ba was sent to guard the city gate and discovered the carriage carrying the Regent’s heir’s couple was secretly leaving the city.

Xiao Ba went to the Prime Minister’s residence to investigate and found out that they were being sent to Huainan.

Alpha laughed confidently, saying that whatever these people planned to do was no longer a threat.

After discussing state affairs, Duan Changchuan showed Bai Su his belly through the gauze curtain, chatting incessantly about the baby’s recent developments.

Unknowingly, the sky was getting dark.

As the sun set, the room grew dimly lit.

The person behind the gauze curtain spoke softly, “Okay, it’s late. You should go back and rest. Are you hungry? Feng Yao should have already prepared a meal for you. Eat with Yun Xie, then go back to your palace early to rest. We still have to leave early tomorrow morning.”

The young man sat in the dim light, silently lowering his head.

He wanted to say: I’m not hungry … Not only am I not hungry, the smell of food makes me nauseous. It seems my heat is approaching, and I really need you.

But he knew that he couldn’t say this.

[Duan Changchuan, you’re an Omega, but you’re also a man, a gentleman, an emperor.]

[Don’t make sister worry.]

He silently said to himself, stood up, and hurriedly took two steps forward.

His fingertips fell on the gauze curtain in front of him … Remembering Bai Su’s instructions, he couldn’t help but shrink back.

“Sister …”

“Be good, go. See you in seven days, okay?”

He nodded heavily, a soft “Okay” coming from his mouth.

Then he walked out step by step.

–

Outside, a young man dressed like a colorful butterfly was tugging Feng Yao’s sleeve and calling her in a coquettish voice, “Auntie, don’t ignore me …”

“Auntie, I know I’m wrong. I’ll kneel for you, okay?”

As he spoke, he bent his knees and was about to kneel.

Then he was helped up, “I’ve told you, we are partners now and will be married in the future. Don’t kneel to me for every little thing.”

“Auntie, you’re not angry anymore, right …”

“Of course I’m angry.”

The young man’s face immediately fell, “Ah …? Then what should I do … What can I do to appease your anger … I promise, it won’t happen again, really! In the future, whatever Aunt says, I will listen to Aunt! I won’t act on my own anymore. Can you forgive me this time …”

Only then did Feng Yao’s expression soften, and she stroked his cheek, “Go and accompany His Majesty for a meal first. I’ll find you after discussing matters with the Empress.”

“Alright, after I escort His Majesty back to Ming Sheng Hall, I will wait for you in the room.”

“Yes.”

The two of them were clingy.

Duan Changchuan silently shifted his gaze elsewhere and said, “I’ll go next room first.” Then, he silently left.

–

Duan Changchuan had dinner in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau before returning to Ming Sheng Hall with Yun Xie.

Tomorrow, they would leave for the mountain villa to avoid the summer heat. Everything that needed to be prepared had been prepared in advance, so there was nothing to do tonight.

After taking a bath, Duan Changchuan went to bed.

The room was left with only a dim candlelight, and he quickly drifted off to sleep.

It was a dream.

A very realistic dream.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye, but Duan Changchuan did not go to the villa, and Bai Su was still in the little courtyard of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

The room was filled with the scent of burning mugwort and wormwood

“Sister …” He took a step forward, touching the curtain, and called her softly.

His sister’s gentle voice came from inside, “Mm, baby.”

Then the curtain slowly opened on its own, revealing a woman in elegant red robes, sitting gracefully by the bed.

She smiled and nodded at him, “Come here.”

He immediately ran over.

“How many times have I told you not to run, but you never listen.”

Alpha said, pulling him into her arms … her fingers gently stroking his hair.

“Sister …” He called softly, “I miss you so much, I really miss you so much …”

He missed her, missed her so much …

Even though his whole body was nestled in her arms, he still felt the longing.

But the person holding him made no extra movements.

No kisses, no skin contact.

Not even stroking his hair.

“Uhh… Sister.”

He clutched her sleeve tightly and whimpered softly.

“Touch me … Just touch me, please…”

But the dream scene disappeared in an instant.

He woke up to find himself covered in Bai Su’s bright red robe. His whole body was curled up in the quilt, and the clothes were wrinkled.

Opening the bed curtain, he saw that the sky outside was already bright.

Judging by the time, it was probably dawn.

There was a knock on the door, and Chang Le’s voice came, “Your Majesty, are you up? Zhang Dehai came last night, but you were asleep, so this servant did not inform you. He’s been waiting in Ming Sheng Hall all night.”

Duan Changchuan hurriedly rubbed his aching nape, wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, and hurriedly got up.

He spoke, his voice still a bit hoarse, “Tell him to wait for me in the study.”

“Yes.”

Thus, the young man who had been crying and hugging a robe in the bedroom a moment ago, now wore the bright yellow dragon robe, sitting calmly in the study.

“What’s the matter?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress sent a message to this servant and Miss Jin’er last night. She wants this servant and Miss Jin’er to go to the Prime Minister’s residence after Your Majesty leaves the palace to recruit Prime Minister Bai. Her Highness wrote a letter explaining the situation and asked this servant to bring it over for your opinion.”

Duan Changchuan motioned to Changle, and the little eunuch immediately handed the letter over.

Unfolding the letter, it contained only a few paragraphs.

[Upon hearing from Your Majesty that the Regent has sent the heir’s couple to Huainan, Prime Minister Bai became very angry because of it. After discussing with Miss Yao, we believe now is the perfect time to win over Prime Minister Bai. Therefore, this concubine sent word to Nangong Jin’er and Zhang Dehai overnight. Taking advantage of this trip, they “sneak” to the Prime Minister’s residence to persuade him.

If I am not mistaken, the Regent’s reasons for sending the heir’s couple away are, firstly, to gain a reputation as a benevolent ruler, and secondly, to steal the credit for the “Daughter of the Bai family” by substituting her with the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter.

Yun Xie and Miss Yao have already begun spreading the story of the ‘Daughter of the Bai family’ from Huainan. This news should reach the capital within seven days. Using my identity as the daughter of the Bai family and my pregnancy, we can persuade Prime Minister Bai to align with us. This matter is urgent, and we must act quickly to gain the upper hand. What does Your Majesty think?]

After reading the letter, the young man looked at the eunuch kneeling below, “How did the Empress instruct you? Tell me.”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress said that if Your Majesty agrees, this servant and Miss Jin’er will take advantage of the chaos to sneak out of the palace today. Prime Minister Bai has been trying to win over this servant in recent years, so meeting him shouldn’t be difficult. The Empress intends to order Miss Jin’er to influence him using filial affection, and then win him in with political interests. Since there are interests involved, and he has a legitimate reason to pledge allegiance to Your Majesty, there should be no mistake at that time. The Empress said she has discussed with The Emperor to promise Prime Minister Bai his position as the prime minister and recognize his identity as the pillar of the country if he can help Your Majesty monopolize the imperial power.”

Duan Changchuan directly took a jade token from the drawer and handed it to Chang Le, “Approved. Since the Empress is still in the Cold Palace, using her people to persuade Bai Xiang might arouse suspicion. Take my jade token to dispel his doubts.

“Yes.”

“Go, if you succeed, remember to ask someone to pass a message to Chang Le.”

Zhang Dehai took the jade token with both hands, stepped back, and kowtowed deeply, “This servant will live up to Your Majesty’s expectations.”