Cao Qinmo was outwitted by Zhen Huan, falling into a disadvantage. She could only smile and look at the Emperor:

“Your Majesty, look, Sister Wan is always joking around.”

Zhen Huan laughed and replied, “It’s not like Sister Cao didn’t joke with me first. I’m just returning the favor.”

“It’s all just for fun, please don’t take it to heart, Sister,” Cao Qinmo added, smiling.

Seeing that she couldn’t stir up trouble, Cao Qinmo decided to say no more.

The group, each with their own thoughts, continued watching the Emperor and the Prince of Guo riding horses and shooting arrows.

Originally, the Emperor had planned to take Zhen Huan for a ride around, but her outfit wasn’t suitable, so the plan was dropped.

When they arrived at the Hall of Governance, the Emperor brought up the tea they were drinking, “Snow Peak Green,” which the Prince of Guo had gone to great lengths to procure.

Zhen Huan thought to herself, why does the Emperor always bring up the Prince of Guo? Why does he mention him in everything?

And of course, it gave Cao Qinmo another opportunity to gossip!

Yu Ying’er took a sip and said, “I think this tea is truly excellent, but why is it so hard to find?”

Zhen Huan explained, “Snow Peak Green grows in the extremely harsh northern mountains, making it difficult to harvest. There are only a few plants in the world, and since they’re nourished by snowmelt water all year round, the tea has a fresh and cold taste, which makes it rare.”

This time, Zhen Huan didn’t mention anything about the Prince of Guo.

Instead, Yu Ying’er smiled first and said, “That Prince really is thoughtful.”

The Emperor, picking up on Yu Ying’er’s words, immediately began praising the Prince of Guo.

Cao Qinmo sat nearby, peeling a grape and thinking of offering it to the Emperor, but she was ignored.

Cao Qinmo had long gotten used to this, after all, the Emperor had never eaten a grape she peeled.

She glanced at Zhen Huan and, half-joking, said:

“No wonder everyone praises your beauty, Sister Wan. Today, even the Prince of Guo can’t take his eyes off you?”

She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, then looked at the Emperor, “Your Majesty, you’d better keep a close eye on her!”

Zhen Huan, with affection in her eyes, responded:

“Today at the Yingyue Tower, my gaze was always on the Emperor, so I didn’t have time to pay attention to the Prince of Guo.”

“I didn’t expect Sister Cao to be so clear about who the Prince of Guo was watching…”

Cao Qinmo fell silent, a little embarrassed.

Zhen Huan found her reaction both hateful and laughable…

In her previous life, didn’t Cao Qinmo stir up trouble with a few words, almost causing a rift between her and the Emperor?

This time, she would return the favor.

The Emperor, ever suspicious, looked at Cao Qinmo with doubt when he heard Zhen Huan’s words:

“Sister Wan has been watching me the whole time today, but what about you, Sister Cao? Have you been watching the Seventeenth Prince all this time?”

Cao Qinmo’s eyes flashed with panic. She quickly stood and bowed, “I dare not. I only…”

“You’re about to say you were just joking, but I don’t understand why Sister Cao keeps bringing up the Prince of Guo to joke with me.”

“If I say something inappropriate, it’s fine since the Emperor is here, but if I heard such jokes from elsewhere, would you start doubting me, Your Majesty?”

Zhen Huan purposely said this in front of the Emperor, hoping to prevent any future issues.

“Wan, my dear, it seems I’ve said something wrong,” Cao Qinmo quickly apologized to Zhen Huan.

“But I really didn’t mean it that way. If you don’t like such jokes, I won’t make them anymore. Please, don’t take it to heart.”

“Is that so?” The Emperor asked, his suspicion clear.

“It’s true,” Cao Qinmo answered earnestly. “I swear, I’ve never had any thoughts about any man besides the Emperor.”

Seeing that her goal was accomplished, Zhen Huan didn’t want to drag this out and smiled at the Emperor:

“Your Majesty, Sister Cao has already sworn. Please, forgive her for her unintentional mistake.”

The Emperor raised his eyes to look at Zhen Huan, “You’re too kind-hearted.”

He then turned his serious gaze to Cao Qinmo, “Alright, enough of this. It’s getting late, and I’m sure Wen Yi is hungry. Go and check on her.”

Cao Qinmo finally relaxed, “Yes, Your Majesty. I take my leave.”

As she left, she exchanged a knowing glance with Yu Ying’er.

Yu Ying’er, catching the hint, quietly left to give the Emperor and Zhen Huan some private time.

“Wanwan, I want to ask you something, but I’m not sure if I should,” Zhen Huan said as she sat next to the Emperor.

The Emperor took her hand and spoke gently, “Now that no one else is around, there’s nothing between us that can’t be said.”

“If today’s matter had not come from Sister Cao’s words, but from somewhere else, would you doubt me, Wanwan?”

Zhen Huan, turning her back to him playfully, said:

The Emperor gently placed his hand on her shoulder, “No matter where I hear it from, I will always believe in my Wanwan.”

Hearing the Emperor’s words, Zhen Huan turned back with a pure, almost innocent light in her eyes, “Really?”

“I’m the Emperor,” he replied seriously, “and when I speak, my words are as firm as a decree.”

Zhen Huan smiled, “Wanwan believes in you, but there’s something else I want to say to you…”

“This is something I said to you at Tangquan Palace, but today I want to say it again.”

The Emperor loved hearing Zhen Huan speak sweetly, and he gently stroked her face, “Go ahead.”

Zhen Huan curtsied, “No matter what others think of the Emperor, in my heart, you are my husband. And in this life, I will only have one husband…”

“So, in my eyes, there is no other man besides you.”

“More than your favor, I hope to earn your trust.”

These words touched the Emperor’s heart, and no woman besides Chun Yuan had ever said such things to him. How could he not be moved?

He lovingly helped Zhen Huan up, “I promise you, I will never doubt you. We will trust each other and love each other forever.”

In the Liangguang Hall, the usually heat-averse Huafei was now annoyed from the heat.

She hadn’t even had a bite of the crab roe pastry she had been craving.

Cao Qinmo and Yu Ying’er rushed in from the Hall of Governance.

Huafei impatiently glanced at Cao Qinmo, “How’s it going? Has the Emperor started doubting that woman?”

Cao Qinmo, nervously glancing at Huafei, replied, “No… no.”

Somehow, the matter had been shifted onto her by Wan Guiren’s words, causing the Emperor to almost suspect her and the Prince of Guo.