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The Empress snorted and said, "The Emperor speaks so kindly, for the sake of Susu and the others’ well-being? In my opinion, if Susu knew that their imperial grandfather wanted to separate them from their own mother, would they still thank the Emperor for his boundless imperial grace?"

The Emperor looked at the Empress, who spoke so righteously, and said, "Empress, if we were to appoint Lady Shen as the Crown Princess, the scholars and warriors of the court would definitely not agree so easily.

If Lady Shen had the same status as the Empress, I would certainly appoint her as the Crown Princess without a second word. "

The words made the Empress’s heart sour; the damn Emperor placed too much importance on advantages and disadvantages. Although it had always been this way among the Royal Family, it lacked a human touch.

The Empress challenged him, "Your Majesty, if Concubine was not the legitimate daughter of General Chang, you would not have come to propose in person at first, right? If Concubine was not General Chang’s legitimate daughter, even if Concubine had entered the East Palace, Concubine would still be nothing but a concubine, wouldn’t I? "

The Emperor was stunned by her words.

Actually, even without the Emperor’s response, the Empress knew all too well. Having stayed by the damn Emperor’s side for so many years, she had seen through it long ago.

"Concubine understands the fierce relations between the back and front courts, and also understands the Emperor’s choices. The Emperor’s thoughts and decisions are not something Concubine has the right to interfere with. I still hope, Your Majesty, that you won’t be too arbitrary."

Shen Chuwei, standing at the entrance, heard every word of the Emperor and Empress’s conversation clearly.

So the Emperor wanted to find mothers of high status for Taotao and Susu, and then appoint them as the Crown Princesses.

The thought that her children, whom she had carried for ten months, might become someone else’s made Shen Chuwei unhappy.

She threw open the curtains and looked towards the Emperor standing under the porch.

"Your Majesty, whoever you want to appoint as the Crown Princess, I have no objections, but Taotao and Susu are my flesh and blood, not objects to be given away to whoever you please."

The Empress turned around and looked at Lady Shen, and seeing that the wind was strong outside, she advised, "Lady Shen, the wind is strong outside; you should go back. You haven’t been out for a hundred days yet, you should take care of yourself."

The Empress pushed Lady Shen inside and turned to look at the Emperor?

"Lady Shen is right. If Your Majesty insists on appointing someone else as the Crown Princess, go ahead. But don’t pretend it’s for Susu and the others’ good while doing unscrupulous deeds. Susu and the others won’t think highly of you as their imperial grandfather."

Having said her piece, the Empress bowed and said, "Concubine will take her leave first."

After speaking, she lifted her chin and left Hehuan Hall.

The Emperor stood dumbfounded for a long while before turning to follow the Empress.

By the time the Emperor arrived at Fengyi Palace, he was stopped by Qing Ying.

"Who gave you the audacity to stop Us?"

Qing Ying knelt with a thud and said, "Your Majesty, this servant wouldn’t dare; it’s just that the Empress is not feeling well and is resting. She said she would not receive anyone no matter who comes."

The Emperor looked at the tightly closed Carved Flower Door, "Not even Us?"

Qing Ying nodded her head.

The Emperor realized that the Empress did not wish to see him, but after all, he was the Emperor. It seemed she really didn’t hold him in her heart or her eyes.

"Empress, open the door."

Inside, the Empress sat in front of the dressing table, completely ignoring the damn Emperor’s shouts.

She looked at herself in the copper mirror; the Emperor was not wrong. How could she, at forty, compare with fifteen-year-old girls?

Looking at the faint crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes and the slightly loose skin, she saw that the spirit of her younger days was gone from her eyes.

These were the marks of time left on her body.

At fifteen, when she was in the prime of her beauty, in addition to her Chang Family’s power, the damn Emperor must have been attracted to her beauty as well.

At this thought, the Empress cursed under her breath, "Tui, bad luck!"

It was all because the damn Emperor had taken advantage of his unparalleled handsome looks to seduce her, an ignorant young girl!

She was really so common, to have been fooled by a mere face!

Whatever the Emperor outside the door was saying, the Empress didn’t take in a word; she could only look at her forty-year-old self who had accompanied Xiao Qi for twenty-five years.

In those twenty-five years, she had striven to be a good Crown Princess and then as the Empress, she had endeavored to be a good Empress.

Watching the continuous favor of women around him, she still had to pretend to be magnanimous.

The Emperor outside the door, realizing the Empress did not want to open it, thought about the memorials that needed his review.

"Empress, We will come to see you later in the evening."

Outside, footsteps gradually drifted away.

The Empress stood up and went to the bedside to start undressing.

Hehuan Hall

As Shen Chuwei looked at her precious son and daughter, the thought of the Emperor harboring that idea naturally made her anxious.

On her own, she had nothing much to worry about.

But now, she was a mother, and the responsibilities weighed more heavily on her shoulders.

"My darlings, your mother won’t let anyone separate us."