and every time it swung its tail, Zi Yun's evil energy rapidly depleted.Finally, when the ripples and the golden dragon joined forces to strike the purple cloud for the third time, a mass of black ma...When General Meng heard his wife's words, his brows furrowed, and he said with displeasure:

"My lady, Lianyi has been gone for so long, why are you still obsessing over this"

The ripples we're seeing now are a result of us seeking a substitute after our daughter left. It was a necessary measure to prevent the family from being implicated. She has parents too, and she is also someone who was carefully raised by them.

"So what She's still in the palace under my daughter's identity. If not for my daughter's status, who would even know who she is!"

Mrs. Meng has started to be a nuisance.

General Meng didn't want to argue with his wife any longer, so he said to his second son:

"Tell your mother how the Empress ascended to her position!"

Meng Guangshen let out a sigh. Although he didn't want to admit it, he had to. If his sister had really entered the palace, she would have probably been reduced to bones by now.

When she first ascended the throne, she still had wounds on her body. To protect her three sons, she almost got beheaded by the treacherous rebel.

"She's protecting someone else, not a member of the Meng family."

Mrs. Meng gritted her teeth and continued to argue vehemently.

"Yes, she protected not the bloodline of my Meng family, but that of the royal family. You cannot deny this. Do you think our frail and sickly daughter would have survived a palace coup"

General Meng asked in return.

"Yes"

"My wife, since you now know the ins and outs of the matter, why don't you rest first I still want to ask Shen'er some more details."

General Meng didn't want to argue with his wife about this anymore, lest it damage their marital harmony, so he let his elderly wife leave first.

Lady Meng knew that her husband was angry. Without saying much, she left in a huff.

General Meng and his second son spent half the night in the study. No one knows what they discussed, but after that day, the elite troops of the Meng army increased their training intensity.

Far away in the palace, Lian'er doesn't know that the three carriages of gifts she sent back to the border has made Mrs. Meng so unhappy, even resentful that Lian'er has taken her daughter's place. If she knew, she would definitely retort and leave the other speechless.

As the year draws to a close, the stifling atmosphere in the palace has slightly improved. Although the old emperor had just passed away and grand celebrations were out of the question, the New Year still required a fresh start. While large banquets for court officials were impossible, a family feast within the palace was certainly permissible.

The ripples had already instructed Grandma Sun to prepare a table of good dishes and set it up in the middle palace. She also informed the new emperor early this morning.

As soon as the new emperor finished his writing, he brought Quanfu to Fengchi Palace.

Long live the Emperor!

Today, the ripples are dressed very grandly in a crimson imperial gown, uniquely belonging to the empress. She welcomes the emperor at the gate with three nannies holding babies and a group of maids and eunuchs.

"Since the Empress is still recovering, why are you coming out to greet me in person Rise!"

The emperor was perhaps in especially good spirits because he didn't have to go to court tomorrow, and seeing how grandly Lianyi had prepared everything, his attitude towards her also improved considerably.

"Your Majesty, I know you've been working hard this year. It wouldn't be appropriate to have a large celebration in the palace, so I've prepared some home-style dishes and drinks. It would be nice for us, as family, to gather together for a simple New Year's Eve dinner."

With ripples flowing along the other person's helping hand, she stood up and said with a gentle smile.

"Still, my Empress thought things through."

The new emperor and Lian'er entered the Fengqi Palace together, first visiting each of the three children before taking their seats beside Lian'er.

The ripples then told two amusing anecdotes about children, causing the Emperor to burst into laughter and relax his demeanor. It was only then that he steered the conversation towards today's main topic.

"Your Majesty, I visited the imperial physician yesterday to have my pulse taken. The physician said that my body has mostly recovered, but this time the injury was serious, and I am afraid that I will not be able to bear children for Your Majesty in the future."

Ripples said sadly.

"Your Majesty, you have borne me three children. You have worked hard and made great contributions. I am very content."

The emperor's eyes flashed, and he immediately patted Lian Yi's hand in reassurance.

"My lord, I know you wouldn't despise me, but I still feel that this palace is rather cold."

Ripples personally poured a cup of wine for the emperor before she spoke.

“Ripple, you just have to endure this year. After the mourning period is over next year, I'll invite some traveling troupes of acrobats and opera singers into the palace to entertain you.”

The emperor feigned understanding, but still patiently soothed Ripples.

"Your Majesty, you misunderstand my meaning."

"Oh What are my Empress's intentions Do tell me."

"Your Majesty, I was thinking about the selection of concubines next summer. It would be good to fill your harem with more sisters to serve you, and also to give the royal family more descendants."

Ripples smiled brightly.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's eyebrows twitched. He then asked:

"Isn't someone whispering in your ear"

"Your Majesty, does anyone else need to speak"

Ripple shook her head helplessly, then continued:

"I don't need to listen carefully to know how they talk about me. They say that because I saved the royal heir, and I am Your Majesty's first wife, I monopolize the harem and cannot tolerate other women."

"Those are just rumors spread by people with ill intentions. You don't need to pay attention to them."

The emperor drank the wine in his cup and waved his hand dismissively.

"Your Majesty knows best what my nature is like, but a multitude of voices can wear down even the strongest gold, and constant criticism can grind one to dust!"

Moreover, I am not a jealous person by nature. Therefore, I took this opportunity during the family banquet today to bravely suggest filling the harem. This is something that an empress should do.

The Emperor saw the sincerity in Lián Yī's words and didn't continue to refute his request. In fact, there were courtiers who had previously suggested filling the palace with more concubines, but he had refused them, citing mourning as the reason.

Only after his own father and mother are gone will he go to them, and he is already busy looking for a woman. This sounds too bad when said out loud, so he decided to postpone it for now. But after the spring mourning period ends, this matter should indeed be put on the agenda.

Now that the Queen can bring it up herself, she has taken the initiative.

And when ripples proposed to the emperor to fill the harem, she didn't harbor any good intentions. After all, beauty can be dangerous, and a woman's gentle embrace is not easy to enter. As for having children and spreading branches, that was even more impossible. She didn't want to have children vying for the throne with her son.

Because of Lian Ri's suggestion, the emperor and empress had a very harmonious family dinner, both sides were in a good mood. The emperor stayed overnight at Fen Chi Palace that night, letting everyone in the palace know that although the empress was the mother of three children, she was still deeply favored.

As usual, the Emperor slept on the floor overnight and was only moved to his bed the next day. Then, he was gently awakened by Lian Yi's soft voice. After dressing up, he went to meet the officials who came to congratulate him on his ascension, while Lian Yi, as the empress, also had to receive the greetings from the female attendants.

With Lan Zhi's service, Lian Yi put on the empress dowager's robes and received the greetings of the ladies-in-waiting in Fen Chi Palace. Of course, among the flattery of the ladies-in-waiting, she also subtly revealed the news of next summer's selection of concubines.

After all, the emperor's selection of concubines would certainly involve an imperial decree. Eligible women were forbidden from marrying at will before the end of the selection process. Of course, those who were already engaged or married before the imperial decree would be automatically excluded from the selection.

The ripples caused by the message also serve to sell favors to the officials in the imperial city. Not all aristocratic daughters aspire to enter the palace and seek advancement; some fathers cherish their daughters and hope they will marry into ordinary families as legitimate wives.ong Tiger Mountain, he has already begun taking on tasks from those seeking to be tested. He is not easy to deal with."The man thought the female ghost's plan was feasible, but he still pointed out th...