When He Jingru returned home, she saw that Han Dong and Kong Shi were actually there as well.

Her expression immediately changed, and she said coldly, “What are you doing here?”

“Naturally, to tell Lord He what good deeds his eldest daughter has been doing outside,” Kong Shi said mockingly. “No wonder Miss He isn’t anxious to marry—turns out she’s keeping a male courtesan outside. Truly eye-opening.”

“Complete nonsense! Who gave you the audacity to spread such wild lies in my He family home!” Lord He was immediately so angry his beard bristled and his eyes glared.

Earlier, these two had only hinted vaguely at things, and he hadn’t understood what they were talking about at all. Now he understood—they had come to slander his daughter.

“Whether it’s wild lies or not, just go outside and ask around, won’t you know?” Kong Shi didn’t back down at all. “Our Han family was even planning to let He Jingru become a minor concubine to prevent her from never getting married for life. Who would have thought she’d do something so contemptible? Taking her as a concubine would simply disgrace my husband’s reputation! Tsk tsk, Lord He indulges his daughter in doing such morally corrupt things—just wait to be impeached by the Censorate!”

Little Sister He grabbed a broom by the door and swung it at Kong Shi. “How dare you talk nonsense and throw dirt on my elder sister! My elder sister is gentle and doesn’t get angry, but I can’t swallow this insult! Outside was one thing, but this is the He family home—we won’t tolerate your vicious slander. Get out, get out of our house!”

A group of He family younger brothers and sisters heard the commotion and all came out from the back courtyard, protectively standing behind He Jingru.

“Gentlemen use words, not force. Everyone stop,” Han Dong hurriedly pulled his wife behind him. “We came with good intentions to tell you about this matter, yet you bite the hand that feeds you. This is truly like a dog biting Lu Dongbin, not recognizing a good person’s heart…”

“You’re the dog, your whole family are dogs!” Young Master He struck Han Dong on the head with a broom. “You disgraceful thing, get lost now!”

Han Dong and Kong Shi were directly driven outside the door.

At this moment, a group of cavalry stopped at the He family’s main gate and called out loudly, “Is this the residence of Sixth Rank Lord He?”

Lord He hurriedly ran out with a bowed back. “That’s correct, this humble official.”

“Everyone in the He family, please receive the imperial edict!”

The cavalryman at the front was none other than Lin Dongdong.

He was the Emperor’s First Guard, much more prestigious than a grand eunuch. His presence to proclaim the edict represented the current Emperor.

He dismounted, unfolded the imperial edict, and read loudly, “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that the eldest daughter of the He family, He Jingru, is devoutly virtuous in managing the household, exceptionally talented, virtuous and dignified. I specially petition the ancestral shrine… to establish the eldest daughter of the He family as Empress with golden册 and golden seal. The grand ceremony of her enthronement shall be held in three months… By imperial decree!”

After the edict was read, everyone in the He family was completely stunned.

Lord He raised his head in disbelief. “This—this official, was the edict read incorrectly, or did you come to the wrong place?”

He was merely a sixth rank official. His daughter didn’t even have the qualifications to serve His Majesty in the palace, let alone become Empress?

Lin Dongdong coughed. “The edict was neither read incorrectly nor delivered to the wrong place. Lord He, Miss He, please receive the edict.”

Lord He still found it hard to believe. He felt he must have drunk too much wine and was having hallucinations.

He Jingru lowered her head and stepped forward. “This subject receives the edict.”

“Miss He is the future Empress, so there’s no need to kneel,” Lin Dongdong said. “His Majesty is about to go on campaign, so the He family need not enter the palace to express gratitude.”

Only then did the onlooking Han Dong and Kong Shi come back to their senses.

What kind of joke was this—He Jingru becoming Empress?

Setting aside how His Majesty could have taken a liking to He Jingru, with the disgraceful things she’d done, was she suitable to be the mother of the nation?

Without thinking, Kong Shi jumped out and said, “Sir, He Jingru has been keeping…”

“Someone, slap her mouth!” Lin Dongdong said coldly. “Directly addressing the future Empress by name—by law, she should be thrown in prison for a month. Considering this is your first offense, I’ll let you off this time.”

The guards beside him gave Kong Shi ten slaps.

Kong Shi was beaten dizzy and even more unwilling. “Miss He is keeping a male courtesan outside—how can such a person be fit to be Empress?”

Lin Dongdong smiled. “Then tell me, what does this male courtesan look like?”

Kong Shi hastily said, “This tall, wearing a jade crown on his head, with a jade pendant hanging at his waist…”

Lin Dongdong pressed further. “Was there also a dragon design on the jade pendant?”

Kong Shi nodded repeatedly.

“Someone, arrest them!” Lin Dongdong’s expression changed dramatically. “Daring to call the current Emperor a male courtesan—I see you don’t want your life! And you, Lord Han, allowing your wife to humiliate the Emperor and Empress—I see you’re tired of living! Take these two away, throw them in prison, to be dealt with personally by His Majesty!”

Han Dong’s eyes immediately widened.

That elegant young man was the current Emperor?

How could He Jingru know the Emperor, and how could the Emperor make her Empress?

She was clearly the woman he didn’t want—how could she soar up the branches and become a phoenix?

He had many questions in his heart, but no one could answer them now. He and his wife were seized by military officers and thrown directly into prison.

At the same time, the entire court was in an uproar.

For the past two years, civil and military officials had petitioned daily for His Majesty to take consorts and establish an empress, but His Majesty had acted as if he hadn’t seen them.

Who would have thought that when they weren’t paying attention, His Majesty would establish the daughter of a sixth rank family as the current mother of the nation—simply absurd.

They wanted to cause trouble for the Emperor.

But the Emperor had donned his armor, mounted his warhorse, and led tens of thousands of soldiers toward the northern frontier.

This battle with the Northern Di lasted two full months. Without any surprises, it was a great victory. The vast territory of the northern frontier was all incorporated into Great Jin’s territory.

From Great Jin’s founding until now, its territory had continuously expanded. Now it had become the largest suzerain state in the Central Plains region.

After the victorious campaign, the Emperor returned in triumph with all the soldiers, with countless commoners lining the roads to welcome them.

Chu Changsheng sat on the second floor of a teahouse by the street, standing by the window, watching the soldiers entering the city gate. The one at the very front was her brother.

Not having seen him for over two months, her brother had become darker, and his aura had become even more formidable. He had used his actions to prove that not only could he govern the country and bring peace to the realm through civil means, but he could also mount his horse and stabilize the world through military force. He had become an irreplaceable young emperor in the eyes of the common people.

She was proud to have such a brother.

“Princess, look quickly, that’s Young Master Murong.”

Following her maid’s pointing finger, Chu Changsheng saw Murong Bi riding his horse behind Chu Hongyu.

Just as she looked at Murong Bi.

The man raised his head and looked toward her.

Among thousands upon thousands of people, their eyes met—not a step too early, nor a step too late.

Chu Changsheng smiled.

Murong Bi also smiled.

He kicked his horse’s belly, and the steed slowly left the formation, entering a small alley nearby.

He tossed the reins to the guard beside him, then lifted his feet, walked up to the teahouse, went to the second floor, and looked at the woman sitting by the window.

“Princess Imperial, I’ve returned.”

His voice made Chu Changsheng’s heart warm.

At first, she had thought she always needed to find a Prince Consort. Thinking it over, she felt Murong Bi was fairly suitable, but she hadn’t invested much emotion.

It wasn’t until her brother issued an edict for Murong Bi to accompany the army that she began to worry about this man. She feared her decision had implicated his life.

Fortunately, he had returned safely.