At the beginning of the new emperor’s reign, the empire was in disarray, with many things in need of reconstruction.

Due to the chaos caused by the previous emperor’s son, who had caused trouble in the court and was later eliminated, many official positions were left vacant.

Therefore, after Wen Yuesheng ascended the throne, he began by rewarding and promoting several officials.

Many of those promoted came from humble backgrounds, while others, like Qi Fang, were young officials who had just entered the court but had already shown outstanding performance.

In addition, all of the emperor’s close aides were also rewarded.

Officials like Zhang Yulin, Jiang Yan, and Lu Qinghuai received rewards, while Lu Hongying was appointed to the Ministry of Works, Jiang Lu was promoted to the Ministry of Revenue, and Ye Qiuyun was granted a military title.

They were all loyal servants of Wen Yuesheng, and even the women among them had distinguished military achievements.

While some people had objections to these appointments, it was said that “each emperor has his own court,” and now, Wen Yuesheng was the ruler of this land.

These objections gradually faded as Wen Yuesheng’s loyalists took positions in the court.

Lu Hongying was indeed a talented individual in the use of weapons, and Jiang Lu was known for his insightful opinions.

As for Ye Qiuyun, there was no opposition from the military to any of Wen Yuesheng’s decisions.

However, despite rewarding so many people, the one person who had been by Wen Yuesheng’s side, solving his troubles and assisting him, was Yan Ling, who had not received any reward.

If the new emperor hadn’t valued Yan Ling, it would have been impossible to believe.

From the moment he ascended the throne, Wen Yuesheng had planned to appoint Yan Ling directly into the cabinet.

If this had happened, Yan Ling would have become the youngest cabinet scholar in the history of the Da Hui dynasty.

But for some unknown reason, this matter was put on hold.

Unlike the previous emperor, the current emperor’s actions were not easy to speculate on by the ministers.

This matter was to be decided by the new emperor himself, so it was no longer mentioned in court.

After everything had settled, the new emperor’s policies were smoothly implemented, and both the court and the people were flourishing.

With this peace, some people began to harbor improper thoughts.

During the morning assembly, an official stood up and said, “Since Her Majesty ascended the throne, it has been three months. During these three months, Her Majesty has been busy with state affairs and neglected the imperial harem.”

“Now that this matter is settled, I believe it is time to select new consort for the harem and add new talents to the palace.”

At these words, the entire court fell silent.

Lu Qinghuai raised his eyebrows and turned to ask his brother, “What did he say?”

Lu Tingyu replied expressionlessly, “He wants the empress to take consort.”

Lu Qinghuai was surprised. “Oh? Is there such a good thing?”

His eyes brightened, and he looked at his brother and said, “Given that the empress is almost twenty, she’s the perfect age for me!”

“Do you think this harem selection might include me?”

Lu Tingyu: …

He coldly said, “If you want to die, go ahead.”

Lu Qinghuai: ?

What does that mean? If others can become male consorts, why can’t he?

Didn’t Lu Zhenguo keep urging him to get married?

If he doesn’t marry, can’t he enter the harem?

He didn’t see Lu Hongying nearby, who was already giving him signals, her eyes almost twitching.

Lu Hongying really had no idea how to deal with her brother, who was always daydreaming.

She didn’t even notice how bad Yan Ling’s expression had become after the official spoke.

Male consort? Why not become a male empress while you’re at it?

After the morning assembly, Lu Qinghuai, encouraged by Lu Hongying’s words, grew interested and said without thinking, “Can a man really become the empress?”

Lu Hongying: …

She regretted ever mentioning it.

“Red Cherry, you’re so clever. Wait for me, I’ll go to the palace at noon today to meet the empress. The position of male empress must be mine!”

He patted his chest, full of confidence.

Behind him, Jiang Yan wore a cold expression and said with a sneer, “Male empress? With you?”

His words immediately caused Lu Qinghuai to jump in shock, wanting to challenge Jiang Yan to a duel.

The two had never gotten along, and after Wen Yuesheng ascended the throne, Jiang Yan had become a minister in the Da Hui court.

When he first arrived, many ministers were more critical of him than they were of Lu Hongying and the others, calling him a traitor and a remnant of the fallen imperial family.

But within a month, Jiang Yan, acting on the empress’s orders, had used iron-fisted measures to raid several noble families connected to the traitor Xiao Jin.

Afterward, the debates in the court gradually faded, replaced by fear of Jiang Yan.

Lu Qinghuai wasn’t afraid of him. They had fought twice since entering the court, neither giving ground. But he still didn’t like Jiang Yan.

He always felt that this pretty boy had ulterior motives.

Now, hearing Jiang Yan’s words, he sneered, “I can’t do it, but you can?”

Jiang Yan’s gaze deepened, but he didn’t speak further. After they left, he turned back to cast a deep look at the Golden Hall.

After Wen Yuesheng ascended the throne, the former Taihe Hall was renamed the Golden Hall.

After the Golden Hall, the palace became her current sleeping quarters.

Once the morning assembly ended, she returned to her chambers, bathed and changed into a light, pale blue robe. Her dark hair was loosely draped over her shoulders as she sat at her desk, reading through the official reports.

It was already the end of October, and the weather had turned colder. A chilly breeze swept through the palace, bringing a slight chill with it.

Wen Yuesheng’s hair had dried, and she continued to sift through the documents in her hands when she heard Gu Yu’s soft voice outside the room, “Your Majesty, Lord Yan has arrived.”

Wen Yuesheng responded with a quiet acknowledgment.

Outside the hall, Yan Ling stood tall, with Di Zhu at his side.

Because he was accompanying Yan Ling to deliver the reports, Di Zhu had only just been allowed into the palace.

Di Zhu, holding a stack of reports, paused for a moment before asking, “Master, what should we do now?”

It was unimaginable; since joining Yan Ling’s side, he had never felt so restless.

It was clear that the matter from this morning’s assembly still weighed on him.

Though the official’s suggestion had been quickly dismissed by Wen Yuesheng, the fact that it had been brought up indicated that many people were starting to entertain such thoughts.

Di Zhu knew that some men in the capital, with their handsome looks and ability to charm women, were starting to seem more competitive.

Compared to them, their master, despite his superior appearance, seemed to have little to offer in this regard—especially with his calm and composed nature.

The female officials beside Wen Yuesheng came to invite Yan Ling in, and she took the stack of reports from Di Zhu’s hands.

Di Zhu could only watch as Yan Ling slowly walked into the inner hall.

No doubt, Yan Ling’s appearance was outstanding, not just in the capital but throughout the entire Da Hui empire.

It was a pity, though, that the current emperor did not seem to be someone who would be swayed by looks.

Upon entering the inner palace, the female official handed over the reports and left.

Yan Ling looked up, and as he saw Wen Yue Sheng sitting there in simple robes, her delicate wrist adorned with a string of red jade Buddhist beads, which looked particularly beautiful against her pale skin.

She met his gaze as he entered and raised her eyes to meet his, watching him with calm interest.

“Have you decided on the rewards?” she asked. Since ascending the throne, Wen Yuesheng had repeatedly mentioned the issue of rewards, but Yan Ling had always avoided the topic, saying that he had other requests.

Today, however, he had sent word that he had finally made up his mind about what he sought.

When Wen Yue Sheng spoke, Yan Ling had already approached her.

The closer he got, the more the subtle scent of coldness enveloped him.

Yan Ling’s eyes momentarily stilled.

He suddenly raised his gaze. In those eyes, which were as deep and vast as an ocean, the fog that had always clouded them seemed to clear. He looked at Wen Yuesheng, his gaze intense, filled with unspoken emotions.

Even though his ears burned with heat, he still said, “Is the reward I seek something His Majesty is willing to grant?”

Wen Yue Sheng paused, raising her gaze to him.

Only then did she notice how much closer he was than usual. She could easily see the faint red mark on his neck, like a splash of cloud and sunset.

Under her gaze, his eyes flickered, and in a voice hoarse with emotion, he said, “If Yan Ling were to offer himself as a pillow companion, would His Majesty be willing to accept?”

Before she could respond, he closed the distance further, his voice soft as he spoke across the narrow desk, “Everything I do now, you can refuse, if you find it offensive.”

He leaned his neck forward, offering it to her without reservation. His eyes, as if shrouded in mist, darkened, as if he had shattered all the light within him.

“You can kill me anytime,” he said.

He spoke the words and, lowering his gaze, pressed his burning lips to her forehead.

As he pulled away, he opened his eyes and saw her dark, ink-like eyes staring at him. In a low voice, he asked:

“Is Your Majesty going to kill me?”

Wen Yuesheng looked at him, opening her mouth, but before she could speak, he bypassed the desk and leaned down again.

She slightly turned her face, her voice soft as she said, “You know I won’t kill you.”

Yan Ling, however, took her right hand and placed it on his neck, his eyes deep and full of turbulent emotions. His voice was dark as he spoke, “You can kill me, do as you wish.”

He firmly gripped her hand, pressing it against his neck, and once again sealed her lips with his.

Though his words said one thing, he relied on the fact that she wouldn’t hurt him, continuing to kiss her again and again.

Eventually, when he tried to deepen the kiss, she grew annoyed and coldly called his name: “Yan Ling!”

He chuckled lowly, his eyes glowing as if filled with the light of the world. He smiled and said, “Hmm, I’m here.”

Once again, he lowered his head to kiss her.

The autumn wind was cool, lifting his dark robe, which tangled with hers as they kissed.

He shamelessly pushed for her to act, but he continually chased after her lips.

Having been with her for so long, Yan Ling didn’t understand why she had cultivated such a cold, indifferent personality.

But he knew, more than anything, that it was incredibly difficult to make Wen Yue Sheng soften.

Perhaps, for the rest of his life, he wouldn’t be able to make her feel as passionately as he did.

But he didn’t ask for much.

He only wanted her attitude to soften, for her not to reject him.

If she didn’t say “no,” he would take it as her agreement.

Or rather, as long as she didn’t kill him, he would continue to push forward.

Being with her required patience, not rashness. He had spent a long time trying to soften her attitude and then switched to direct action.

As long as she didn’t want to kill him, he would remain the one person closest to her.

Even if she wanted to kill him, dying by her hand would still be sweet to him.

Even if, after a whole afternoon of indulgence, the result was her ordering that he not enter her chambers for the next half month, he knew that he had won.

And that, for them, there was still a long way to go.