Yuchi Yan sat upright on the imperial throne, his face dark as still water.

He watched as the ministers, one by one, stepped forward with righteous words to offer their counsel, speaking of “national stability” and “reassuring the people’s hearts” while asking him to carefully consider his choice of empress.

But Yuchi Yan knew in his heart that these people were merely afraid of being implicated.

He had once believed that as an emperor, one should love the people like one’s own children, and as ministers, they should wholeheartedly serve the country.

But now that he sat in this position, he felt that things were not as simple as he had imagined.

He had a heart that loved the people like children, but when faced with difficulties, his subjects only cared about their own safety and completely disregarded his wishes.

It was merely a rumor, yet his subjects could deprive him of a lifetime’s happiness!

If he refused to follow the people’s will, he would bear the burden of being called a foolish ruler!

Perhaps some would even say he was like the Great Emperor, only knowing how to indulge in feminine beauty without understanding the people’s hearts.

And his ministers each harbored their own thoughts, only caring about personal interests while attempting to bind him with morality!

They spoke grandly of national stability and reassuring the people’s hearts.

Would the country perish if he married Qin Yining?

At this moment, Yuchi Yan truly wished he could spit hard in the faces of these solemnly speaking people!

But his remaining rationality told him he could not do so.

He had just ascended to the throne, and his reign was not yet stable. If he offended these ministers now, he would face difficulties at every step in the future.

Yuchi Yan closed his eyes, and for a moment, he was so angry that his eyes grew hot.

The hall was silent as a tomb. The ministers all carefully observed the emperor’s expression.

After a long while, Yuchi Yan opened his eyes and looked toward Qin Huaiyuan, who stood at the head of the civil officials: “Minister Qin, what do you think should be done about this matter?”

Qin Huaiyuan needed only to look at Yuchi Yan’s expression to guess what he was thinking, and couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly again.

His Majesty was, after all, a carefree literati by nature, neither caring about nor having talent for politics. When encountering problems, he wouldn’t handle them rationally but would act emotionally. Where would the nation’s fortune be if this continued?

“This matter, this minister dare not comment recklessly. Your Majesty will surely make a wise decision.” Qin Huaiyuan bowed with cupped hands.

The ministers all criticized inwardly: If His Majesty were clever, he wouldn’t ask Qin Huaiyuan this question out of dependence, especially since they were discussing whether Qin Huaiyuan’s daughter should become empress. How could His Majesty expect Qin Huaiyuan to answer such a question?

Hearing this, Yuchi Yan also realized he had asked a foolish question. In his embarrassment, his mood became even worse.

If he nodded now, then Qin Yining would no longer belong to him.

Yuchi Yan could only make one final attempt.

“Whether Tianji Zi’s divination about the Qin family’s young lady is accurate has yet to be verified. To say that a mere young woman could protect national security—what use would we men be? What use would the soldiers at the front lines be? This is utterly absurd!”

“Your Majesty, what should be discussed now is not whether Tianji Zi’s divination about the Qin family’s young lady is accurate, but that the common people have already deeply believed it!” An elderly minister stepped forward and kowtowed.

“The ignorant masses know nothing. Are you all also ignorant? How can you follow others’ words?”

A clean-stream civil official then stepped out and said: “Your Majesty, though the ignorant masses know nothing, they can still carry the boat. We ministers are not following others’ words, but Great Yan currently needs such a figure to stabilize the people’s hearts.”

“This minister seconds the motion! Your Majesty has just ascended to the throne. If you forcibly act against the people’s will at this time, I fear you will lose their hearts!”

Yuchi Yan clenched his hands into fists: “What, will I lose the people’s hearts just by marrying a woman?”

“The key is that rumors are currently rampant outside. Regardless of whether the rumors are true, the common people believe them!”

Yuchi Yan angrily rose to his feet: “That man surnamed Pang spoke of a temporary ceasefire, but he never said they wouldn’t continue the war if I don’t marry the Qin family’s young lady!”

“But the common people all believe that they will be safe as long as Your Majesty doesn’t marry the Qin family’s young lady!”

The veins on Yuchi Yan’s forehead bulged. Fortunately, he still retained some rationality that prevented him from immediately cursing aloud.

These were his subjects—so ignorant, so selfish, so absurd!

It turned out that ascending to this position didn’t represent freedom! The mere two words “people’s will” could become chains that bound him tightly!

“I still need to consider this matter. Court dismissed!” Having lost all patience, Yuchi Yan left this single statement and departed with a flick of his sleeves.

The ministers looked at each other, and in the end could only shake their heads and sigh as they dispersed.

Qin Huaiyuan gazed in the direction the emperor had gone and let out a deep sigh.

In terms of methods, His Majesty was far inferior to Pang Zhixi. When encountering problems, Pang Zhixi could quickly devise countermeasures and had the ability to execute them swiftly, while His Majesty only knew how to become angry. How could he be a match for his opponent if this continued?

When Qin Huaiyuan thought of the temperaments of the two rulers he had assisted, he felt a wave of helplessness.

Forget it, forget it. Let it be.

…

After the court session, Yuchi Yan walked quickly toward Jade Emerald Palace with a cold expression.

Eunuch Lu led a group of palace servants and guards following far behind, afraid that walking too close would make them targets of the emperor’s anger.

At this time in Jade Emerald Palace, Noble Consort Lin—who had been Concubine Lin when the new emperor was still a prince—was training the three selected women who had entered the palace.

They were called selected women, but everyone understood that all three would be chosen, and Qin Yining would become empress.

Noble Consort Lin had admired Yuchi Yan for many years, serving by his side for many years with wholehearted devotion. How could she claim to expect nothing in return?

She had long heard that the new emperor was infatuated with Miss Qin, and Miss Qin was also considered a prominent figure among the capital’s noble young ladies. She had long wanted to meet her.

Some had privately spread word that His Majesty had rushed to visit on the very day Miss Qin entered the palace, leaving Miss Li and Miss Gu behind to favor only this one.

Noble Consort Lin had endured for two days but still couldn’t contain herself. Today, she happened to be “passing by” Jade Emerald Palace, so she brought people in to take a look.

Miss Li and Miss Gu were strolling and talking in the courtyard, so they immediately came forward to pay their respects.

But that Miss Qin, who was supposedly going to become empress, was still lying arrogantly in her room, refusing to come out, making her wait for a long time.

“I had long known that the Qin family produces beauties. Sister Qin is indeed outstanding—no wonder His Majesty is infatuated with you.”

Noble Consort Lin was in her early twenties with a voluptuous figure and seductive voice. She wore a silver-red arrow-sleeved jacket paired with a rose-red pomegranate skirt, draped with a goose-yellow gauze cape, fanning herself with a round fan. As she spoke, she extended her jade hand adorned with three-inch golden nail guards to lift Qin Yining’s chin.

Qin Yining frowned uncomfortably but didn’t dodge, only kneeling properly and saying: “Your Grace is as beautiful as a flower. How dare this subject woman accept such praise from Your Grace?”

“Indeed. You don’t dare.” Noble Consort Lin fanned herself and let out a scornful laugh. “You don’t dare accept praise, yet you dare to lie in bed and make me wait for you to come out and pay respects.”

Qin Yining kowtowed: “Your Grace, please calm your anger. This subject woman has been ill, and had a fever this morning with physical discomfort, so I was lazy and slept a bit longer. Upon hearing of Your Grace’s arrival, I immediately got up, but not daring to appear too disheveled and disturb Your Grace, I made slight preparations, which caused the delay. Please forgive this subject woman’s negligence.”

“Mm. Sister’s voice is truly pleasant. Say a few more words—listening to you speak is like listening to birds singing.”

Noble Consort Lin covered her mouth with her fan and laughed.

Qin Yining sighed inwardly. She hadn’t even officially entered the palace yet and was already receiving such treatment. Was the imperial palace a place for humans to live?

“Your Grace, please forgive me.” At this moment, she could only admit fault.