Although Yu Jin being registered under the Empress’s name caused great waves, considering that Prince Yan’s birth mother was not only still alive but also a high-ranking consort, some people had to suppress their restlessness. They quietly sent congratulatory gifts but couldn’t openly celebrate.

Among them, the most awkward was Duke Anguo’s household.

Upon hearing the news, Duke Anguo went directly to the palace to seek an audience with the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, Duke Anguo requests an audience.”

Hearing this, Emperor Jingming felt a slight headache and remained silent for a while.

Pan Hai secretly grimaced.

You can’t avoid the inevitable. Avoidance wasn’t a solution for His Majesty.

Emperor Jingming clearly understood this principle as well. After pondering for a moment, he said, “Summon Duke Anguo.”

Soon after, Duke Anguo entered the Imperial Study. “Your subject greets Your Majesty.”

“Bring a seat for Duke Anguo.”

Pan Hai brought a small stool and invited Duke Anguo to sit.

Duke Anguo sat down with a grim face.

Emperor Jingming smiled, “We’re not in court, Duke Anguo. Please don’t be so formal.”

Duke Anguo almost couldn’t resist rolling his eyes.

Was he being formal? He was here to demand an explanation!

Of course, facing the Emperor, no matter how angry he was, he couldn’t demand anything. But that didn’t stop him from harboring such feelings.

A perfectly good nephew suddenly became someone else’s son? The most infuriating part was that there wasn’t even a whisper of news beforehand. He had to hear it from others.

Secretly taking a deep breath, Duke Anguo spoke, “This old subject has heard that Prince Yan has been registered under Her Majesty the Empress’s name—”

“Mm.”

Duke Anguo restrained himself, suppressing the urge to speak out of turn. His tone unconsciously became heavier, “Your Majesty’s family affairs are not for your subject to comment on, but I wonder how Consort Xian is faring?”

Consort Xian was his younger sister. Although the siblings had some differences in their ideologies, he certainly couldn’t stand idly by at a time like this.

Hearing Duke Anguo mention Consort Xian, Emperor Jingming smiled, “Duke Anguo need not worry. Our decision to do this also considered Consort Xian.”

Duke Anguo fell silent.

How exactly had the Emperor considered his sister by giving away her son?

“Duke Anguo may not know, but that rascal Seventh Prince has repeatedly angered Consort Xian. Her headaches are likely caused by that scoundrel’s behavior. Consort Xian has been with Us for many years, and We are pained to see her health suffer. We’ve been thinking that this situation cannot continue, so We might as well let the Empress discipline that rascal. This way, it’s a win-win solution.”

Duke Anguo: “…” To hell with win-win. If they wanted to punish Prince Yan, shouldn’t he have been demoted to a commandery prince like Prince Lu? How could becoming the Empress’s son be considered punishment?

Seeing Duke Anguo’s expression change unpredictably, Emperor Jingming coughed lightly, “If Duke Anguo is concerned about Consort Xian, why don’t We arrange for you siblings to meet?”

Duke Anguo’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, “I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness, but a meeting won’t be necessary.”

Even for siblings, it wasn’t appropriate for a consort of the inner palace and an official of the outer court to meet casually.

Come to think of it, Duke Anguo hadn’t seen Consort Xian for many years. He only received news about her through messages passed by his wife.

Emperor Jingming’s lips curved slightly, thinking that at least Duke Anguo knew his place.

“If Duke Anguo has no other matters, you may return. Earlier, someone from Yuquan Palace reported that Consort Xian was feeling unwell. We were just about to go check on her.”

Duke Anguo opened his mouth but could only say, “Your subject takes his leave.”

After Duke Anguo left, Emperor Jingming pulled out a storybook from the pile of memorials and began to read it.

Pan Hai, standing nearby, asked, “Your Majesty, Yuquan Palace—”

Emperor Jingming glanced at him while holding the book, and said flatly, “What about Yuquan Palace?”

Pan Hai pretended to slap his mouth, “This slave spoke out of turn.”

He had believed His Majesty’s words to Duke Anguo.

The next day, Yu Jin and Jiang Si went to the palace to pay their respects to the Empress.

The Empress was already prepared. When she saw the two, she smiled, “I thought you would come, but I didn’t expect it to be so early. Why don’t you stay for lunch? Although the small kitchen in Kunning Palace doesn’t have ingredients as complete as the Imperial Kitchen, the imperial chef’s skills are excellent, with several specialties.”

Yu Jin smiled, “Thank you, Mother Empress. A Si and I will have a treat today.”

The Empress glanced at her palace maid.

The maid brought over an exquisite small box and presented it to Jiang Si.

The Empress smiled, “It’s nothing precious, just take it.”

“Thank you for the gift, Mother Empress.” Jiang Si graciously accepted the small box and put it away.

Seeing Jiang Si accept it naturally, the Empress nodded with satisfaction and said with some emotion, “At your wedding, that Lingxiao bracelet I gave was truly fitting. We were destined to be family.”

Just then, a palace maid reported that Princesses Fuqing and Fourteen had arrived.

“Let them in.”

In a moment, two young women in palace attire entered, Princess Fuqing in front and Princess Fourteen behind.

“Mother Empress, Seventh Brother.” After greeting the Empress and Yu Jin, Princess Fuqing affectionately took Jiang Si’s hand, “Today I can finally have a good talk with Seventh Sister-in-law.”

The Empress listened with a smile for a while, then suggested, “It’s still early. If you want to chat with your Seventh Sister-in-law, why don’t you take a walk in the garden? There are a few camellias in bloom.”

Princess Fuqing smiled, “That sounds lovely. Seventh Sister-in-law, shall we go for a walk?”

Jiang Si glanced at Yu Jin.

Yu Jin said, “You go ahead. I’ll stay and chat with Mother Empress.”

Watching Jiang Si and the others leave, the Empress turned back to Yu Jin with a faint smile, “When I first saw you and the Princess Consort of Yan, I secretly thought how wonderful it would be if such a perfect couple were my son and daughter-in-law. I never imagined we would have today.”

Yu Jin quickly said, “It’s my good fortune to have caught Mother Empress’s eye.”

The Empress gestured for the attending palace maids to withdraw. After a moment of silence, she said, “There’s no need for formalities. Now that you’re registered under my name, I will treat you as my child from now on, just as the Empress Dowager treats the Emperor—”

Yu Jin’s heart stirred, sensing that the Empress was about to say something significant.

The Empress picked up her teacup and took a sip, asking calmly, “What are your plans for the future?”

Yu Jin met the Empress’s gaze.

Her eyes were calm and unruffled, like a deep pool undisturbed by wind.

Yu Jin pursed his thin lips and smiled meaningfully, “Naturally, it depends on Mother Empress’s expectations for her son.”

Since the Empress had sent A Si and the two princesses away to bring this up, it would be foolish of him to feign ignorance.

The Empress raised her eyebrows slightly, thinking that Prince Yan was indeed a clever person. She hadn’t misjudged him.

A prince sent out of the palace at a young age to fend for himself, who could make a name for himself in the south, and who could gain the Emperor’s favor despite returning to the capital with a reputation for being incompatible with the Emperor—how could he be as simple as he appeared?

She wanted to choose a son to protect Fuqing, and certainly couldn’t choose a fool.

The Empress silently drank her tea. After finishing the cup, she smiled, “A mother naturally has expectations for her son.”

She paused, then continued in a softer voice, “Hoping for her son to soar like a dragon—that is a mother’s expectation.”

Having chosen to take this step, she couldn’t settle for second best.

The son of the Empress, of course, should become the true dragon.

Yu Jin stood up and cupped his hands, “Your child will strive to fulfill Mother Empress’s wishes.”