"Ah, Prime Minister Song, the Emperor has never been infatuated with women, and yet his health has been drained for the first time..."

"Prime Minister Song, the Empress makes the Emperor so happy, why do you still have a worried expression?"

Song Yanqing turned to glance at the ministers.

He didn’t think this was a good thing.

He knew his own daughter well enough. Could she really please the Emperor on her first day in the palace? The Emperor is not a fool. Surely there is something else that has caused the Emperor to appear fatigued during the morning court.

He just hoped Xie Qianyun wouldn’t turn the palace upside down; he’d be thankful for that.

He dared not hope for anything more!

...

Xiao Luming returned from the morning court.

Xie Qianyun had changed her position and was still asleep.

Many palace maids were waiting nearby, anxious like ants on a hot pan.

Later, she still needed to pay respects to the Supreme Emperor and Empress Dowager, but the Empress was still asleep. They had dared to call her several times, but the Empress kept saying she wanted to sleep a bit longer. How long would she continue to sleep? What if the Emperor returned...

And then he did return.

The palace attendants were so frightened they hurriedly knelt down, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Their voices were intentionally loud.

It was all to remind the Empress.

Xiao Luming glanced at the palace attendants and looked through the veil at the deeply sleeping Xie Qianyun.

"The Empress isn’t up yet?"

"Her Majesty worked hard last night and is still asleep."

"Worked hard?" Xiao Luming sneered slightly.

How dare she say she worked hard.

Worked hard rolling around in bed, perhaps?

"Wake her up, she needs to go pay respects to Father and Mother."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The palace attendants promptly and properly went to wake the Empress.

Xiao Luming had already walked out from the inner hall, sitting in the outer hall, sipping tea while he waited for her.

Xie Qianyun was drowsily awakened.

She wanted to sleep a bit more.

Yesterday, because of that investiture ceremony, maybe she only had one or two hours of sleep.

Finally wanting to make up for it, so shortly after, she is being called to wake up.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor is outside waiting for you. You need to offer morning tea to the Supreme Emperor and Empress Dowager."

"Oh." Xie Qianyun tried hard to wake up.

Her father had repeatedly instructed her to follow palace protocol properly.

He was worried that if she was not careful, she might anger the young Emperor, and then her family would be implicated.

She felt that her father became more afraid of death as he aged.

Yawning, she managed to make herself tidy and presentable.

She walked out of the inner hall.

Xiao Luming turned his gaze over.

Looking at Xie Qianyun wearing her Empress regal attire, elegant and wealthy, adorned with jewels.

Her face was rather young, her skin fair, now showing a hint of redness, making her look lively and healthy. Her features inherited all the merits of General Xie and Prime Minister Song, and in a moment of stillness, her beauty was captivating.

"Ah!" Xie Qianyun suddenly cried out.

The palace maids immediately supported her nearby.

Apparently, she stepped on her hem by accident and nearly fell.

Xiao Luming withdrew his gaze, sighed lightly.

He directly put down the teacup and strode ahead.

Xie Qianyun looked at Xiao Luming’s figure and quickly followed.

Walking so fast?!

Thinks his long legs are something special.

Xie Qianyun hurriedly kept up behind Xiao Luming.

They arrived at Fengqi Palace.

Xiao Luming suddenly paused.

Then he extended his hand.

Xie Qianyun looked perplexedly at the fair, long, clean, and beautiful hand that appeared before her, unable to comprehend.

Xiao Luming pressed his lips.

He proactively reached out and held Xie Qianyun’s hand.

Xie Qianyun’s heart moved slightly.

What on earth is he suddenly holding her hand for?!

He’d just been walking like the wind, with no regard for her cumbersome attire that made walking difficult, and now he was gracious.

Of course, Xie Qianyun didn’t refuse.

Her father had said not to defy the Emperor’s orders, lest she be beheaded, lest the family be implicated...

He concluded with one sentence: "The Emperor is never wrong in anything. If he is wrong, refer to the above."

Xie Qianyun and Xiao Luming walked hand in hand into the grand hall.

In the grand hall, the Supreme Emperor and Empress Dowager were already seated in high positions, evidently awaiting their arrival.

Seeing Xiao Luming holding Xie Qianyun’s hand, An Ning’s expression softened markedly.

The marriage between Luming and Qianyun was indeed proposed by Luming himself.

Given An Ning’s understanding of Luming, he wouldn’t like women as lively and unruly as Qianyun; he preferred refined, talented, and courteous noble ladies, like Anqi.

But for Luming to propose marrying Qianyun, she was well aware of his rationale: it was to solidify his power.

It wasn’t a lack of trust in either Song Yanqing or Xie Ruotong.

It’s just that when one reaches a certain height, it’s natural to want power consolidated in oneself; it’s human nature.

Moreover.

In Luming’s mind, he had lost his true love, so he felt no need to desperately chase romantic endeavors—better to focus on his career.

Of course, Luming was always a responsible person.

He knew of her relationship with Ruotong, so before deciding to marry Qianyun, he assured her he would treat Qianyun well, would never let her suffer grievances.

After much deliberation, An Ning agreed.

Firstly, she genuinely liked Qianyun. As her daughter-in-law, it was truly welcome, and considering her relationship with Ruotong, it was true intimacy by marriage. Secondly, since Anqi married off long ago, Luming remained alone, even though he had many concubines in the harem, but he seemed not very interested, allowing Qianyun to bring some vibrancy to his monotonous life was not necessarily a bad thing.

With such a win-win situation, An Ning helped Luming let Xie Qianyun enter the palace as Empress.

Now, watching Luming’s attentiveness to Qianyun, her heart was somewhat relieved.

Anything Luming promises with his own words doesn’t require doubt.