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In the Emperor’s moment of hesitation, the Empress’s gaze also shifted over.

She understood the reason behind the dog Emperor’s vacillation was Shen Chuwei’s status.

The identity of Crown Princess must come from a prestigious family.

But Shen Chuwei, born as the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family, of the Minister of Rites, and with the Minister already dismissed from office, truly had nobody of consequence behind her as Lady Shen.

She herself was able to become Crown Princess smoothly only by relying on her maternal family, and at that time, it was her maternal family’s prestige and power that the Emperor had regarded.

In fact, even less than Lady Shen.

At least, it wasn’t because Lady Shen could be of help to him that he considered supporting Lady Shen to be Crown Princess.

Amidst the buzz of conversation, Shen Chuwei looked at Xiao Jinyan with confusion, tip-toeing closer and asked softly, "Your Highness, that one looks like the fireworks I gave you, like the Phoenix."

Just last night, Xiao Jinyan had inquired if she had any fireworks shaped like a phoenix, and she had searched everywhere before finally finding one.

The golden phoenix in the southwest sky really resembled the fireworks pattern~

Xiao Jinyan nodded his head.

Shen Chuwei understood then; the so-called auspicious sign from heaven was nothing but Xiao Jinyan’s arrangement, so was it Master Lu who intentionally mentioned it as an auspicious sign from heaven?

She began to doubt whether Master Lu was really that divine~

After the Emperor pondered for a long time, he said, "The Crown Prince indeed should establish a Crown Princess; as for the matter of establishing her, I will discuss it further with the Empress."

Xiao Jinyan gripped Shen Chuwei’s hand tightly, for if he could not convince his father to establish Xiaojiu as Crown Princess today, he feared...

Shen Chuwei felt the hand holding hers tighten, despite it being winter, sweat was forming in the palm.

"Your Highness, are you nervous?" she asked in a volume audible only to the two of them.

Xiao Jinyan cast his gaze down at Xiaojiu, Nervous? Of course, he was nervous, using his son and daughter, fabricating a false auspicious sign, all to establish Xiaojiu as Crown Princess.

He was indeed far more anxious than Shen Chuwei.

When the Emperor was alone with the Empress, after a long silence, the Emperor suggested, "Empress, for the status of our grandsons and granddaughters as legitimate heirs, I am thinking of finding a mother for them with a noble identity..."

The Emperor hadn’t finished speaking when the Empress interjected with disdain, "Your Majesty really has the nerve to say that, you might as well directly establish Lady Shen as Crown Princess. If that’s not possible, then don’t even consider this idea.

One shouldn’t be too cruel, as it might cause one to lose the hearts of the people. "

The Empress, being a woman and a mother, understood all too well the pain of a child not being raised by her own side.

The dog Emperor actually harbored such a notion, utterly shameless!

The Emperor sighed, "Empress, I was merely suggesting, I..."

"Your subject sees that this is exactly what Your Majesty is planning, of course, you do not favor Lady Shen; and with that Taosu, you should stop holding on to her as well," said the Empress as she handed Taotao over to Qing Ying in her embrace, while she herself took Taosu from the Emperor’s arms.

Seeing Taosu being taken away by the Empress, the Emperor quickly stood up trying to take Taosu back, but came up empty-handed.

"Empress, where do I not favor Lady Shen? I am simply considering the future on a broader scale," he said.

"Then consider the bigger picture on your own, don’t involve Taosu," the Empress glared at the dog Emperor and, turning her head to Qing Ying, said, "Let’s go back."

"Yes," Qing Ying followed the Empress out of the Side Hall.

When the Emperor saw the Empress taking Taosu away, he quickly chased after her, "Empress, come back to me..."

The Empress completely ignored the Emperor and, holding Taosu along with Taot

The Empress eyed the despicable Emperor coldly, "Your Majesty, is there anything else?"

The Emperor explained, "Of course there’s something else. I was merely thinking of the precedent set by the late Emperor, which is why I mentioned this matter to the Empress."

The Empress snorted: "If this concubine speaks further, it would be considered a great disrespect, but I still want to say that as the Emperor, it is only natural for you to think for the heir. After all, it’s not you men who give birth.

A careless remark from you may be insignificant, but for others, it’s like a hammer weighing a thousand pounds, hurting people without shedding blood. "

The Emperor let out a sigh, "I understand."

The Empress: "..." Understand my ass, the damn Emperor really deserves a beating!

East Palace, Hehuan Hall

Taotao and Susu fell asleep after eating their fill.

Shen Chuwei lay in bed, looking at the mountain of full moon gifts piled up.

When Xiao Jinyan came out, this was the scene he saw.

"Tomorrow, have Chun Xi tidy them up and put them in the storeroom," he said.

"Hmm," Shen Chuwei agreed.

Xiao Jinyan climbed into bed and wrapped her in his arms, his body warm from the bath, like a big furnace.

In winter, Shen Chuwei loved clinging to Xiao Jinyan while sleeping because it was warm.

"Don’t worry, I’ll persuade Father Emperor to make you the Crown Princess as soon as possible."

Shen Chuwei initially wanted to say that if it was too much trouble, never mind.

But before she could speak, Xiao Jinyan leaned down and kissed her.

Having abstained for so long, with a beauty in his arms, it was hard not to be stirred.

*

Xiao Jinyan found time to summon Lu Zhaoyan.

As soon as Lu Zhaoyan arrived, Xiao Jinyan gave him an earful.

Then they discussed how to handle the follow-up issues.

The Empress had been coming to Hehuan Hall every day, and the facial features of Taotao and Susu became more adorable with each passing day, and their inclination to smile also changed.

The Empress took turns holding Taotao and Susu and didn’t forget to soothe Shen Chuwei.

"I think you’d make a fine Crown Princess. If the Emperor disagrees, we simply won’t let him hold Taotao and Susu. That’ll show him," she said.

Shen Chuwei thought the Empress was powerful and commanding, something she herself wouldn’t dare do to the Emperor.

But later, as the mistress of a palace, Shen Chuwei not only dared to lose her temper with the newly ascended Emperor, but she also made him sleep in the study room.

Chun Xi lifted the curtain and entered, "Empress, the Emperor has arrived."

"Let him come, I’ll go out and have a look," the Empress said as she put Susu back in the crib and got up to leave.

Just as she stepped out, she saw the Emperor approaching her.

She bowed, "Your Majesty."

The Emperor, upon seeing the Empress, surprised, said, "Oh, the Empress is here too. Let’s go inside together then."

The Empress blocked the despicable Emperor with her hand, "Your Majesty, Taotao and Susu have just settled down."

"It doesn’t matter, I’ll just peek in for a moment," said the Emperor.

The Empress blocked him without moving: "Your Majesty, it wasn’t easy for Taotao and Susu to fall asleep. It wouldn’t be good if you woke them, would it?"

If the Emperor couldn’t tell that the Empress was doing this on purpose, he would be a fool. He glanced inside; Susu probably hadn’t fallen asleep yet.

"Empress, I initially did it for the sake of Susu and the others. Besides, I was just casually discussing it with you, don’t take it seriously," he said.

ps: One more update

I’m too tired, this Chapter isn’t well written, dear readers, please bear with it