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He is the legitimate eldest son, the rightfully designated Crown Prince who has been seated for many years.

But because he lost his mother’s protection at a young age, and with the favored concubine dominating the court, the influence of his mother’s family was eliminated, leaving him weak and isolated at that time.

Including the catastrophe that befell the Grand Master Residence, it was all related to that struggle for the heirship.

He couldn’t protect her; if she stayed, there was only a dead end, and their child would be even less safe.

So he set up the play himself, forcing her to escape Beijing for the sake of their child and find Yue Tingfang in the south.

He exhausted all his resources to protect her from several waves of assassination attempts until she finally met Yue Tingfang successfully.

Including arranging for her to escape to Qi Mountain and persuading Tian Jizi to take them in—all these were the results of a huge sacrifice and a deal he made with Tian Jizi...

"Your Majesty..." Seeing that the Emperor seemed to be somewhat off, Eunuch Wan hurried forward to support him.

Wan Decheng’s voice brought the Emperor back to reality. Observing that everyone’s gaze in the room was on him, he quickly suppressed his outward emotions and said in a low voice, "It’s nothing. I was just lamenting my own age and indeed envying this newborn baby, whose life has just begun."

Who as Emperor doesn’t wish to live on forever, without putting things like long life and good health to heart. They think about eternal life, ten thousand years, every day, so everyone quickly put aside the Emperor’s odd behavior.

"Take him back, he wants to sleep." The Emperor handed the child back to Xiang Chun.

Actually, he wanted to name the child, but under the current circumstances, it wasn’t the right time.

Back then, Jin Zijin’s name was given by him, his style name too; he secretly had someone tell Tian Jizi, so everyone thought it was Tian Jizi who named him.

Though he couldn’t witness his birth, at least the name was given by him, thinking of this, the Emperor’s mood lifted again.

The Emperor sat back down, his gaze falling on Miss Du who knelt on the ground, with her clothes disheveled.

He said, "Miss Du, since you’ve just given birth to a child, there is no need to kneel. Get up and speak, I grant you a seat."

"Your humble daughter thanks Your Majesty."

The Empress was by the Emperor’s side, looking coldly at Gu Youyou and Miss Du.

These two women, got together and even started an embroidery shop?

She really wanted to see how they would explain this premarital pregnancy.

"Miss Du, I remember that you divorced the second son of the Jie Family years ago, and you have not remarried since. Where then did this child come from?"

"I..."

"Hmph, you have committed the crime of adultery, do you know the consequences of this?"

Gu Youyou looked at Miss Du with concern; the only person who could save her was Jie Zhonglin, but Gu Youyou didn’t know he was dead.

Yet even so, Gu Youyou had to save her today no matter what; she couldn’t let Miss Du die in such obscurity.

If Miss Du insisted she was forced, she might still be saved, but from now on, her reputation was destroyed.

All this trouble was stirred up by the Empress; originally, their arrangements were flawless, but the Empress just had to step in and make a mess.

"No... not true, this child is my own, I..."

Miss Du was at a loss for words, and Gu Youyou was anxious for her, wishing she could speak for her.

To buy time, she had no choice but to change the subject.

"May I ask why the Empress has suddenly come to our residence today? Could it be with some purpose?"

The Empress’s eyes flickered, looking at Gu Youyou with a hint of irony in her expression, she said indifferently, "Someone reported that you have been hiding filth in your residence and even arranging for others to bear children for you."