The Emperor looked at the child in her arms and curiously asked, “Is this the granddaughter of the Duke of An?”

The Duke of An quickly responded, “Yes, Your Majesty, her name is…”

What was her name again?

Jiang Fengyuan quickly interjected, “Your Majesty, this is my daughter, Jiang Yuanxi.”

From a distance, in the red swaddling cloth, there was a small, tender bundle.

Suddenly, the Emperor heard a voice in his mind.

“Hurry, hold her.”

The Crown Prince, Jun Yin, was equally curious. He reached out and tugged at the Emperor’s sleeve.

“Father, I would like to see her.”

Although he had many sisters, none were close to him.

The Emperor waved his hand, “Minister, bring her over, let me have a look.”

The Duke of An immediately stepped forward, “Your Majesty, no! The child is too unruly, be careful, you may get hurt.”

Hearing this, Jiang Qisheng pushed Jiang Hui forward. “Your Majesty, this is my son, Jiang Hui. He is much more valuable than the little girl.”

Everyone chuckled; a one-month-old baby with no teeth could possibly hurt the Emperor?

The second branch of the Jiang family was truly not presentable.

It was not a scene for the court.

Besides, if the Emperor wanted to meet someone, who were they to interfere?

Fortunately, the Duke of An was not old and muddled.

“Step back, how dare you act so impudently in front of the Emperor,” the Duke of An said in a low voice.

“Your Majesty, I have failed in my duties. Please forgive me.”

The Emperor took the child, and the Crown Prince leaned forward.

The small bundle was soft to the touch, and it was quite a novelty.

[Wow, the Emperor is holding me! The Emperor is so handsome.]

[Oh, is this the Crown Prince?] Jiang Yuanxi smiled, her eyes turning into crescent moons.

[He’s handsome too. He looks like his father, truly impressive.]

The voice of her softened the Emperor’s heart.

The Crown Prince Jun Yin: “Little sister is so cute.”

Below, Chen Shi and Jiang Fengyuan were covered in cold sweat.

Thank goodness the Emperor couldn’t hear it.

However, the Emperor on the stage was stunned for a moment. He exchanged a surprised glance with the Crown Prince.

The Emperor and the Crown Prince, both blessed with the Dragon’s body, would they really not hear?

After all, the Emperor was a ruler who had seen many storms. He pretended to remain calm.

Then, in a private moment, he waved his hand to the Crown Prince, signaling him not to speak of it.

Jiang Yuanxi continued chattering.

[What a pity. This Emperor, who cares for the people, will face a flood disaster in Jiangnan in three months.]

[The grain sent by the Emperor will be swallowed up by corrupt officials, and the Emperor will be so furious that he will vomit blood, injuring his health, and within two years, he’ll pass away.]

Chen Shi and Jiang Fengyuan trembled with fear.

Good heavens, were they really supposed to be hearing this?

Please, Buddha, help us, we have to stand firm and not let the Emperor notice anything unusual.

Jiang Yuancheng, kneeling, widened his sparkling eyes.

To hear such news under the Emperor’s gaze.

How thrilling.

Will my little sister continue? I want to hear more.

The Emperor on stage was still contemplating, “Did ‘pass away’ mean ‘die’?”

He wondered if the child could hear people’s thoughts, and whether this child could predict the future, which seemed reasonable.

But, would things really develop that way?

The Emperor wasn’t sure.

[Ah, grandfather dotes on the second branch, but once the Emperor and Crown Prince leave, grandfather won’t spare my fourth brother.]

At this point, only one person could help.

Jiang Yuanxi opened her dark eyes wide, gazing hopefully at the Emperor.

[If only the Emperor could help.]

The Emperor raised his eyebrows. This little one knew how to seek help.

She knew the only person who could stand up for her was him, the Emperor.

“Cao Gonggong, find out what just happened?”

Cao Gonggong was shocked.

The Emperor was planning to intervene in his officials’ family matters?

A short while later, a little eunuch returned.

After listening, Cao Gonggong whispered in the Emperor’s ear.

The Emperor frowned.

The Duke of An was truly wasting talent.

He mistreated his excellent eldest son but pampered a worthless, illegitimate child, which was improper.

The Emperor remembered that when Jiang Fengyuan had returned from his victory last time, he hadn’t been rewarded yet.

Below, the Duke of An was sweating nervously.

The Emperor had just sent someone to inquire about their family matters.

“Duke.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You have family matters to settle. Once they are resolved, report back to court.”

The ministers were puzzled: Was the Emperor planning to suppress the Duke of An?

The Duke of An had already lost his influence.

Was the Emperor going to strip him of his remaining title?

The Emperor continued, “I remember last time Minister Jiang returned, and he hasn’t been rewarded yet. How about appointing him as the fourth-grade General of Zhenyuan?”

Jiang Yuanfeng was overjoyed. “I thank Your Majesty for your great favor!”

[Ah, my father has been appointed an official.]

[The Emperor is so kind, such a good Emperor.] Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

The Emperor gently smiled. At such a young age, she was sweet-talking him.

[Don’t worry, Uncle Emperor, my father will help you defeat the Huns and become a big shot. You won’t lose out.]

The Emperor thought: This official title seems too small.

After all, his greatest ambition in life was to crush the Huns and take the Hun King’s head.

The Emperor stepped down, personally helping Jiang Fengyuan up.

“Minister, no need for such formalities. You are a true talent!”

No one had expected this development.

The Emperor personally stepped down to assist him. Even the Prime Minister hadn’t received such an honor.

Jiang Fengyuan was taken aback with surprise.

Jiang Qisheng from the second branch saw this scene and nearly ground his teeth with jealousy.

Only then did the ministers realize that the Emperor wasn’t punishing the Duke of An but was supporting Jiang Fengyuan.

In this case, even if the Duke of An continued to mistreat the first branch, he would have to consider the Emperor’s feelings.

The Duke of An, though not old and confused, kept a stern face, saying nothing.

In the Emperor’s presence, he couldn’t act arrogantly.

The Emperor took off the jade pendant from his waist and, when no one was looking, quietly placed it in the swaddling cloth.

Then, he pinched Jiang Yuanxi’s little face.

The Crown Prince, Jun Yin, also reached out to gently touch Jiang Yuanxi’s face.

So soft, so cute.

Seeing that the time was right, the Emperor patted Jiang Fengyuan’s shoulder.

“Minister, let your wife and daughter visit the palace more often in the future.”

Then, turning to Jiang Yuanxi in his arms, he said softly, “Uncle Emperor is leaving now. Remember to come and visit Uncle Emperor later.”

His tone was gentle, and the ministers had a sudden sense of having seen a different side of the Emperor.

Was this the same Emperor who would throw his shoes at ministers he disagreed with?

Jiang Yuanxi was thrilled to have received such a large jade pendant.

The pendant was completely white, with intricate patterns carved into it, still warm in her palm.

[Wow, this big jade pendant must be worth a lot of money.]

The Emperor walked over to Jiang Yuanfeng. “Your daughter is very dear to me.”

After the Emperor left, the banquet continued.

Jiang Fengyuan carried Jiang Yuanxi around, offering toasts. Every time, his colleagues praised his daughter, and Jiang Fengyuan was pleased, with Jiang Yuanxi smiling from ear to ear.

In his heart, he kept muttering, “This Emperor has good taste, and this one too.”

The first branch received honors and was full of joy, while the second branch, Jiang Qisheng, was left cold and neglected.

The Duke of An had originally wanted the second branch to take this opportunity to build relationships with the ministers, but now, it had backfired.

“Father, what about Hui’er? Are we just going to let the first branch trample over us?”

Jiang Qisheng was unhappy.

Jiang Hui followed closely behind. “Yes, Grandfather, did I deserve to be beaten for nothing?”

The Duke of An could hardly swallow his food today.

“What else can we do? It’s deserved!”

Now that the first branch had the Emperor’s protection, how could he dare to interfere?

Just now, the Emperor’s intentions were very clear, and this brat hadn’t even realized it.

“Go back and kneel at the ancestral hall with your father!”