Despite the deliberate chance encounter, Emperor Qizhen couldn’t very well show displeasure.

After all, they had shared a bed for many years.

Ji Muqing stood there, her lips maintaining a constant smile.

“No need for excessive formalities.” Emperor Qizhen said.

The palace attendants quickly brought over a chair.

As soon as she sat down, Consort Xiao took her hand and asked with concern, “How have you been during this time?”

“This commoner has been very well. At home, my two brothers are also very loving toward me.”

“If you feel bored, come to the palace anytime to keep this consort company.”

“Yes, being able to chat with Your Highness is this commoner’s good fortune.”

“What a sensible girl.”

Damn!

Can’t you speak without being so nauseating?

Emperor Qizhen glanced at the two of them, took a sip of tea, and truly not knowing what to say, casually asked, “Is Miss Ji’s health better now?”

Ji Muqing replied in a soft, gentle voice, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. This commoner’s body has recovered considerably—there’s nothing serious anymore.”

“That’s good. If you find staying at the General’s Manor boring, I grant you permission to enter the palace anytime.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Ji Muqing was practically overjoyed.

Hearing Emperor Qizhen say this, Consort Xiao thought to quickly seize the opportunity to bring it up.

“Your Majesty, Miss Ji is gentle and virtuous, grown so dignified—she looks just like imperial family bearing.”

“Mm.”

“This consort feels…”

Before she could finish speaking, Emperor Qizhen abruptly stood up.

Seeing this, Consort Xiao quickly asked, “Your Majesty? What is this?”

“I’m a bit tired. I’ll return to my chambers first. Consort Xiao, take good care of Miss Ji.”

Consort Xiao’s heart tightened, but she could only acquiesce.

After Emperor Qizhen left.

Ji Muqing asked worriedly and urgently, “Your Highness, is Your Majesty dissatisfied with me? Then what about my matter with Prince Yi?”

“Muqing, this consort has said before—I will definitely find a way for you to marry Yi’er. You are the Princess Yi this consort has chosen. Besides you, no one can become Princess Yi.” Consort Xiao grasped her hand and patted the back of it several times.

With this assurance, Ji Muqing was like someone who had found a huge bag of gold and silver treasures—her eyes lit up.

She resolved firmly in her heart: if she couldn’t become Crown Princess, she must become Princess Yi. When Prince Yi became Crown Prince and then Emperor, she would be Empress.

Thinking this way, she was filled with joy.

Little did she know that Consort Xiao’s heart was sinking straight down.

Emperor Qizhen’s expression just now—she had seen it all clearly. His Majesty was obviously deliberately avoiding the topic.

Everyone knew that marrying Ji Muqing was equivalent to securing the allegiance of the entire Ji family, and simultaneously controlling Ji Li and Ji Huan, two important figures holding military power. If Jing Yi married her, it would be equivalent to securing the Crown Prince position, and moreover, equivalent to having the throne as his possession.

At that time, no one would be able to balance Jing Yi’s power!

But Emperor Qizhen’s attitude…

Consort Xiao couldn’t figure it out either.

Ji Muqing didn’t think that far ahead. In any case, Consort Xiao had painted her a grand picture—she only needed to open her mouth and take a bite.

Who cares about all that!

“Your Highness, I heard the Princess is about to marry?”

“Yes.”

“The Princess is truly blessed to marry the Third Prince of Huyi. When the Third Prince ascends the throne in the future, he’ll be King of Huyi, and the Princess will be Queen.”

With this remark, Consort Xiao’s heart actually lifted with joy.

“When you marry Yi’er and become Princess Yi, in the future you too can be mother to the nation.”

Mother to the nation, phoenix crown and ceremonial robes!

In Ji Muqing’s eyes was nothing but desire for power.

The Empress position—she was determined to have it.

After keeping Consort Xiao company in the palace for a while and seeing it was getting late, she left the palace and returned to the manor.

But as soon as she entered, she was summoned by Ji Li and Ji Huan.

The two men sat in the main hall with stern expressions, looking up and down at Ji Muqing standing in the center like someone being interrogated.

Seeing her makeup, the severity in Ji Li’s eyes deepened.

“You went to the palace?”

Ji Muqing, completely unaware that something was amiss, said happily instead, “Yes, Consort Xiao summoned me to the palace.”

“What did she say to you?”

“What else could she say? Just chatting about family matters, casual greetings.”

“Bang!” came a sound.

Ji Li’s face filled with fury as he slammed his palm on the table.

Ji Muqing was immediately frightened. Her body shrank back as she looked at her own brother with a face full of alarm.

Her lips trembled for a long moment. “Elder Brother, you… what’s wrong with you?”

“You still won’t tell me the truth?”

“I…” She bit her lip, her eyes wavering.

The truth?

What great truth?

Ji Li played the harsh role, while Ji Huan truly had to play the gentle one. He lowered his voice slightly, “Muqing, there are no outsiders here. Just tell the truth—what exactly did Consort Xiao summon you to the palace for?”

“…”

“Speak.”

She was frightened. After a long moment of apprehension, she said, “Consort Xiao said that she… has already proposed to His Majesty to have Prince Yi marry me, to make me Princess Yi.”

Uh!

Ji Li and Ji Huan were extremely shocked.

They exchanged glances.

“You’re saying Consort Xiao spoke to His Majesty about making you Princess Yi?”

She nodded, not daring to make a sound.

Ji Li’s expression was extremely unpleasant. He seemed to think of something, stood up, walked before her, stared at her lowered eyes, and questioned, “You tell me—during those days when you were in the palace participating in the selection, what exactly happened? You prepared for the selection for so many years—how could you be so careless as to contract an illness? After hurrying back to the manor, you neither made a fuss nor caused a scene. You tell me, are you hiding something from your elder brother?”

“I… no!”

Her confidence was clearly lacking.

“You still won’t speak? Now the Crown Prince is dead—what do you still have to hide?”

She didn’t dare raise her head, her footsteps retreating backward.

Ji Li continued pressing, “Speak up.”

She was forced into a corner with no retreat.

Raising that stubborn face, she said, “Fine, stop asking already. Nothing happened during those days. Contracting an illness and not being able to participate in the selection was unavoidable—did you want me to cry, make a scene, and hang myself? Besides, Consort Xiao likes me and wants to make me Princess Yi because she values me, values our Ji family. You’re my elder brother—shouldn’t you be happy for me? As long as I become Princess Yi, when Prince Yi becomes Emperor, I’ll be the nation’s mother—in the future, I can be mother to the nation.”

“You…”

Ji Li raised his hand, about to slap down, but was stopped by Ji Huan.

“Elder Brother, don’t be too impulsive.” He tried to dissuade him.

Looking at that hand caught in mid-air, Ji Muqing’s eyes immediately reddened. She looked at her own brother with disbelief.

“Why? What exactly did I do wrong? Since childhood, Father and Grandmother kept telling me that when I grew up, they would send me to the capital, I would become Crown Princess, I would become Empress. But that useless Crown Prince died—I didn’t marry him, that’s my good luck. Now Prince Yi is in power—if I marry him and become Princess Yi, I’ll still be Crown Princess in the future, still be Empress. You won’t even be happy for me—you even want to hit me?”

Aggrieved!

She cried like pear blossoms in the rain.

Ji Li restrained the fury in his heart and told her solemnly.

“You can become anyone’s Crown Princess—just not Prince Yi.”