Seeing her mother so anxious, a complicated look flickered through Jun Buli’s eyes, but he said nothing.

Jun Beiyue said flatly, “Scholar, you and Yingzi go first. We’ll follow after a while.”

Jun Beiyue didn’t spell it out, but Ziqing understood immediately—they’d just returned, and there was so much within Da Zhou’s court that still needed their attention!

Their son had already ascended the throne; their own status was different now too.

To Ziqing’s surprise, Jun Buli proved even more perceptive than she was, saying quietly, “Father, you actually want to attack Nanzhao, don’t you?”

Jun Beiyue raised an eyebrow at him, then immediately threw an arm around his shoulder, smiling without a word—clearly, this son had won his heart.

“I’ll go scout things out first. Let me know whenever you’re heading to Dongqin—I’ll come straight there,” Baili Weisheng said, uncharacteristically serious.

Knowing his urgency, Ziqing nodded firmly.

“I’m off! Next time, we drink!” Baili Weisheng waved a hand, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Jun Buli hadn’t even had a chance to say goodbye, let alone wave!

“Seems I’ve been careless,” he said flatly, a touch of self-reproach in his voice. Talking about Baili Xiaosheng so much had gradually deepened his impression of the girl.

With Baili Weisheng gone, the family of three sat down together for dinner. Ziqing dismissed all the servants, keeping only Guxi and Hongyi to join them.

The meal stretched on for a full two hours, filled with conversation about so many things—the past, the future, court affairs, military matters.

When Jun Beiyue asked about the hostages being held at the West Garden, Jun Buli shrugged helplessly. “Couldn’t be helped. I couldn’t stand those old ministers, and the most effective way to shut them up was to hold their people hostage!”

Jun Beiyue smiled without comment, thinking to himself that his son’s methods were even more ruthless than his own, yet carried an extra three parts shameless audacity—probably a gift from Baili Weisheng’s influence!

Just as Jun Beiyue thought this, at that very moment, Baili Weisheng, racing along the road elsewhere, suddenly felt his ears itching furiously, muttering to himself, “Don’t tell me that damn girl is cursing me out somewhere?”

Speaking of the hostages at West Garden, Ziqing’s gaze inadvertently flicked toward Hongyi, then turned back to smile at her son, asking, “I heard that Consort Li was once a hostage at West Garden too?”

Before Jun Buli’s arrival, Hongyi had, of course, told them everything—especially given the unpleasant scene that had just occurred in the bamboo grove, Hongyi had held nothing back.

At Ziqing’s question, a complicated look flashed instantly through Jun Buli’s eyes. He glanced toward Hongyi, seemingly casual yet deliberate, and Hongyi immediately lowered her head.

The matter of Consort Li—Hongyi had tried to counsel the young master about it more than once.

Consort Li was, admittedly, a beauty capable of toppling cities and kingdoms, but she possessed neither talent nor virtue, and her temperament was exceptionally harsh and unrefined. Whenever she lost her temper, everyone in the entire estate had to tiptoe around her, avoid her, hide from her!

The young master hadn’t seemed like a man given to lust either—no one knew how he’d become so utterly infatuated with her! The intensity of his favor toward Consort Li rivaled even the way the Prince had once doted on the Princess Consort, back in the day!

Hongyi had not only counseled the young master repeatedly, but had also clashed with Consort Li directly, more than once.

The way Jun Buli looked at Hongyi—Ziqing and Jun Beiyue both caught it fully. Ziqing felt a vague unease stir; as a woman, as a mother, she could tell from a single glance just how much her son cared about this Consort Li.

And out of a harem of three thousand, only Consort Li had been allowed to live alongside him at Prince Yao’s estate—such an exception was exactly what worried Ziqing.

Her son seemed remarkably serious about this particular woman.

Since ancient times, it had always been rare for emperors to remain devoted to one woman—that her son possessed such devotion was, in itself, a good thing. Only, Consort Li…

Ziqing, having crossed over from another world herself, wasn’t one to interfere in her son’s marriage over concerns of lineage or status. But this woman, Consort Li—she truly couldn’t stand her!

Never mind marrying her son—Ziqing wouldn’t have approved of her marrying even the lowliest guard at her side!

Ziqing didn’t press further right away, glancing instead at Jun Beiyue. But Jun Beiyue only frowned in response—it had to be admitted, when it came to matters like this, he, a grown man, had absolutely no experience, utterly at a loss.

Even so, Jun Beiyue still made his position perfectly clear. “Son, this woman, Li Qinqin… I don’t like her.”

Jun Beiyue was completely serious. To his surprise, Jun Buli made a joke of it. “Father, if you liked her, wouldn’t Mommy tip over the vinegar jar?”

At these words, the soup Ziqing had been sipping sprayed straight out. With a loud “clack,” she slammed her porcelain bowl down on the table.

Instantly, the once warm, harmonious atmosphere turned distinctly awkward.

Had Baili Weisheng been present, he surely would have mocked Jun Beiyue mercilessly—what kind of thing was that to say!

Unfortunately, the scholar wasn’t there!

Hongyi and Guxi didn’t dare say a word either. Jun Buli’s gaze fell on the porcelain bowl Ziqing had just set down.

It had to be said—all three members of this family were far too clever for their own good, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing. The conversation hadn’t even properly begun, and already Jun Buli understood exactly what his mother and father were driving at!

And with that one joking remark, Ziqing and Jun Beiyue both understood—his stance was firm.

Yet just as the atmosphere turned this awkward, a servant’s voice announced from outside, “Your Highness, Your Highness, Consort Li requests an audience.”

Since Jun Buli’s ascension, he hadn’t formally bestowed upon his parents the titles of Retired Emperor and Empress Dowager, so the servants had, for now, continued using the old forms of address.

The announcement, though… Ziqing suddenly felt a strange sensation—as if she’d forgotten this was addressed to Jun Beiyue’s consort, not her son’s.

Sensing his mother’s awkwardness, Jun Buli, even as he had the servant bring the visitor in, added thoughtfully, “Mommy, Father, tomorrow I’ll move back to the palace and issue the formal decrees of bestowal.”

Ziqing and Jun Beiyue exchanged a glance, immediately seeing right through their son—by moving back to the palace, he was clearly avoiding this whole matter of Consort Li.

Jun Beiyue remained impassive, leaving the decision entirely to Ziqing, and Ziqing simply smiled, answering with a single “Fine.”

At that moment, Li Qinqin entered.

She had already changed out of the extravagant outfit she’d worn during the day, now dressed, like Jun Buli, in a simple yet dignified white brocade court robe, with hardly any ornaments.

It had to be admitted—a beauty was a beauty. Even without elaborate adornment, in simple, elegant attire, Li Qinqin remained utterly captivating, city-toppling in her beauty. If anything, in her natural, unadorned state, she carried three parts more allure than in her earlier seductive finery.

Whether it was the overwhelming sense of security Jun Buli provided her, or her own remarkably quick adjustment, she approached with graceful steps, her expression respectful, bowing to Ziqing and Jun Beiyue the moment she drew near.

“Qinqin greets Father Emperor, greets Mother Empress. May Father Emperor and Mother Empress enjoy good fortune!”

At these words, whatever Jun Beiyue’s reaction might have been, Ziqing, at least, felt goosebumps rise across her entire body…