His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

Seeing her lost in thought, Feng Xingyu gave her a light peck on the corner of her lips, displeased: "Don't think about anything else, go to sleep."

Mo Sangyu looked up at him.

Since she was reborn in another body, Feng Xingyu has been extremely well-behaved towards her, except for hugs, which is not like his usual behavior at all.

Was you really scared by this incident of your body disappearing?

Or is it that just because you changed your face, you're afraid to kiss or sleep with someone?

indeed.

He might feel like he's talking to a different person, which could put him under pressure.

"Feng Xingyu..."

Mo Sangyu hooked her arms around his neck, her breath sweet as orchids: "Do you feel that I'm not the same person I used to be? Do you... have any concerns?"

Feng Xingyu's body stiffened slightly, and his gaze on Mo Sangyu's face was intense and burning.

He said, "What do you think?"

Mo Sangyu didn't answer, but leaned in and kissed him hard on the lips.

"Ayu..."

Feng Xingyu's Adam's apple bobbed as he lifted her up and placed her on the bed. His eyes were restrained and his voice was low and husky: "There is no such thing as the 'you' of the past or the 'you' of the present. You are you, from beginning to end, there has only ever been one you."

Mo Sangyu didn't expect him to say such cloying things, but it actually sounded pretty good.

"That……"

"...No rush."

Feng Xingyu seemed to know what she was going to say. He chuckled softly and refused her decisively, but his eyes never left her, remaining fixed on her.

"You should take care of yourself first. We'll have a long future ahead of us."

Mo Sangyu: "??"

She didn't say anything.

"Go to sleep."

Feng Xingyu went to bed, lay down beside her, and pulled her into his arms.

Mo Sangyu's lips curled up silently.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, she suddenly felt a chill on her fingers. Looking down, she realized it was the ring she had given her before.

On the day she perished, the ring fell to the ground, but Feng Xingyu picked it up again and, as he wished, slipped it onto her finger once more.

In the darkness, neither of them spoke, listening to each other's heartbeats, and soon they fell asleep.

At first, Mo Sangyu was indeed a little confused as to why Feng Xingyu was so obedient when he held her every day, but she soon realized his concerns.

It's not just because her current body is weak and has almost no spiritual power, but more importantly, her current physique is also different from before.

He will hurt her.

The next day.

Feng Xingyu got up first to attend the morning court session, and then declined his private meeting with the cabinet ministers to return and have dinner with Mo Sangyu.

When he returned to the room, Mo Sangyu was leaning against the headboard reading a book, her hair loose on the pillow, looking lazy and casual.

Breakfast was brought to the bedroom.

Mo Sangyu is a woman of action, and during the meal, she made a decision.

She would never allow herself to be without the ability to protect herself.

The reason she didn't rush to release her spiritual power was because with Feng Xingyu around, she could relax and rest for a few days without having to be in a hurry.

But it only lasted a few days.

"I'm going into seclusion for a few days."

After breakfast, Mo Sangyu said in a calm tone, "No one is allowed to disturb us during this time."

"Seclusion?"

Feng Xingyu's eyes darkened, and his voice lowered, clearly showing his displeasure: "You've only been back for a few days, and you're already going into seclusion?"

"I want to recover my health quickly, in my own way."

"Then... I won't be able to see you for the next few days?"

His dissatisfied tone softened, turning into aggrieved.

It's only been three days, and he hasn't hugged or looked at her enough...

"good."

Mo Sangyu stood up and patted the emperor's head: "Are you full? If you are, come and help me tie my hair."

I've been taking it easy these past few days, and now that I need to get back to work, it's inconvenient.

Feng Xingyu followed her figure away with his gaze. After a while, he got up and walked to the dressing table, standing behind her.

Help her tie her hair up.

He was more than happy to oblige.

Mo Sangyu sat in front of the mirror, her long hair cascading down her back, silvery white like the moon.

Feng Xingyu ran his fingers through her soft hair, lowered his head, sniffed it, and asked in a muffled voice, "Are you really going into seclusion?"

"Um."

"A few days?"

"Three to five days."

"oh."

Mo Sangyu's decisions were always absolute, and Feng Xingyu knew that he couldn't argue with her.

Anyway, since he's around, I might as well go into seclusion.

It will only take three to five days, very quickly.

He silently prepared himself mentally and quickly styled her hair into a neat and beautiful style, his skill was unexpectedly good.

Mo Sangyu was very satisfied.

She turned around, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face in his chest: "When I get out, I'll go to the Rong tribe with you."

Feng Xingyu: "...Okay."

afternoon.

The door to the quiet room was gently closed.

Feng Xingyu stood outside the door until the door was completely closed before moving his feet.

Without Mo Sangyu by his side, he devoted all his attention to court affairs.

Previously, due to her death, many government affairs were postponed or shelved. Now, he is focused on handling them, acting swiftly and decisively without any delay.

In the imperial court, he sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression stern. He reviewed memorials, discussed national policies, allocated grain supplies to the border, and rectified official corruption, handling each matter in an orderly manner.

The imperial aura emanating from him made all the civil and military officials dare not slacken their efforts in the slightest.

In the past, some court officials would occasionally slack off, but now, seeing His Majesty's diligence, they became even more attentive, and the atmosphere in the court became much more solemn.

Gu Jinzhi was greatly gratified.

This is the kind of emperor he envisions.

It has to be the Empress.

Since the Empress returned, His Majesty has become less of a worry for him.

Now, he can finally free up some time to deal with his personal issues.

In the imperial court, Gu Jinzhi's gaze fell on Wen Zhixia. The two exchanged a glance and then looked away in tacit agreement.

That means we can choose a date now.

However, after only two days of comfort, another problem arose.

The news that Feng Xingyu had brought back a strange woman reached the ears of all the civil and military officials.

She is said to be a strange silver-haired woman.

His Majesty cherished her greatly, spending his days and nights with her, his affection for her no less than that for the Empress.

When this news arrived, the court was in an uproar.

Although everyone knew the emperor's temperament, he simply didn't like them interfering in matters concerning the harem.

However, after much hesitation, the senior officials finally stepped forward and tentatively inquired about the matter.

"Your Majesty, rumors are circulating in the palace that you have brought back a young lady. This old minister dares to inquire about her identity..."

Feng Xingyu lowered his aura and looked at the old ministers with a sharp and imposing gaze.

He didn't explain much, but simply said in a firm and solemn tone: "From now on, she is the Empress of Da Chen. From now on, no one in the court shall speak ill of her, much less disturb her."

In one sentence, Mo Sangyu's identity was confirmed, and all the court officials' discussions were silenced.

What does Your Majesty mean? You deposed the Empress and then installed a new one?

He was so affectionate before, refusing to take in a large harem, so why is he so heartless now, changing women so easily?

The ministers were truly unable to fathom his thoughts.

Some speculate that since the Empress has been missing for several months, she probably ran off with someone else and abandoned His Majesty.

It's the same man who broke into the palace before, the one with red eyes.

Therefore, in a fit of anger, His Majesty also brought back a woman.

This speculation quickly spread, and the news was quite detailed and convincing.

When Gu Jinzhi and the others heard this news, they were so angry they laughed.

What does it mean that the Empress ran away with someone and the Emperor heartlessly sought a new love?

These old ministers and their subordinates spread increasingly outrageous rumors, without any trace of the truth, yet they dared to fabricate stories.

Wen Zhixia stood to the side, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and said softly, "If this gets out, it won't be good for His Majesty and the Empress's reputation. Should we send someone to suppress it?"

Gu Jinzhi rubbed his temples, realizing that this matter was more troublesome than he had imagined.

They knew the inside story, but the other court officials didn't, and the people of the land didn't know either; there was simply no way to explain it.

Forcing it down will only backfire; the more you press, the more problematic it will appear.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Upon hearing this, Feng Xingyu nearly exploded with anger, slamming his well-defined knuckles onto the table.

The fine pear blossom imperial desk was immediately shattered in two by him.

A chill ran through me, and even the temperature inside the room dropped several degrees.

"Absolutely outrageous!"

He spoke in a low voice, his eyes filled with barely suppressed rage.

How dare they make fun of his Ayu and even link her to Yun Yihe!

These people are really tired of living.

Eunuch Lian Chen was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud, too scared to even lift his head.

As the chief steward by His Majesty's side, he had never seen His Majesty so angry.

As soon as Gu Jinzhi entered the room, he was forced to stop in his tracks by the biting cold air.

He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"Calm down?"

Feng Xingyu raised his eyes, his tone as cold as ice: "They dare to slander Ayu like this, saying she ran away with someone? Those old bastards, find a way to replace them all and send them to the frontier to mine coal!"

"His Majesty!"

Gu Jinzhi was also very angry, but he remained rational and quickly said, "We can deal with a few first to make an example of them. After the autumn examinations are over this year, we can select suitable replacements and then deal with them one by one. Right now, we should clarify these rumors as soon as possible and not damage the Empress's reputation."

Without the Empress, not only would they not be where they are today, but there would also be no prosperous Great Chen Dynasty. The good life of the people was all built by the Empress.

We must not allow the Empress to bear such a bad reputation.

Feng Xingyu calmed down.

He also knew that things needed to be clarified as soon as possible.

But Ah Yu was reborn by borrowing a body, and her appearance changed, with her silver hair becoming particularly eye-catching.

This matter is too bizarre. The people are just ordinary folks. If they knew the truth, they would only see Ayu as an anomaly, which would bring endless trouble.

Just like back then, his red eyes were rejected by the world and regarded as an ominous demon.

He would never let Ayu suffer such harm.

"Otherwise, I should have someone suppress it first." Gu Jinzhi couldn't think of a good idea for the time being.

"Don't press it down."

"So, what does Your Majesty mean?"

Feng Xingyu's eyes were deep and thoughtful; in a short moment, he had already made a plan.

"Ayu is the only empress of the Great Chen Dynasty, she was, she is, and she will always be."

"Once she has recovered, we will hold a ceremony to announce to the world that she is the Empress who has been lost and returned. Her previous disappearance was only because she was ambushed and injured, which is why her hair turned white and her appearance was ruined..."

He hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Have Luo Ming spread out an ancient book he read before. It contains information about face-changing techniques... Spread the news, and the rumors will fall apart on their own."

After listening, Gu Jinzhi gave Feng Xingyu a thumbs up.

In this way, the Empress's secret would not be revealed, her identity would be confirmed, and the court officials and the people would be moved by the deep affection between the Emperor and the Empress, who had gone through many hardships to be reunited.

clever.

Gu Jinzhi immediately accepted the order: "Your Majesty, I will make the arrangements immediately. First, have Luo Ming spread the contents of the ancient book out, and then find a few trustworthy storytellers to compile it into a storybook. I guarantee that this matter will be resolved before Her Majesty comes out of seclusion."

Feng Xingyu nodded slightly, and the chill around him dissipated somewhat, but his jaw remained taut.

Eunuch Lian Chen followed closely behind and ordered the palace servants to clean up the mess in the imperial study and bring in a new imperial desk as quickly as possible.

The next two days.

Things are progressing very smoothly.

It must be said that the power of storybooks is far greater than imagined.

Gu Jinzhi hired the most skilled storytellers in the capital to weave a dramatic and tear-jerking tale of the Empress's assassination attempt, severe injuries, disfigurement, and eventual return with white hair.

He first gave his lectures in the busiest teahouses and taverns in the capital, speaking vividly and engagingly.

In addition, the ancient records that Luo Ming had secretly spread spread throughout the entire Fog City in just one day.

The people still remember the good deeds of the former empress. Back then, the empress assisted His Majesty, stabilized the court, reduced taxes, and cared for the people. Everyone remembers this.

Now that they heard that the Empress had gone through such a life-or-death ordeal and returned with white hair, the previous suspicions and rumors instantly vanished.

Instead, there was a deep sense of heartache and respect.

"So the silver-haired girl His Majesty brought back is our Empress!"

"No wonder His Majesty cherishes her so much. His Majesty must be heartbroken to see the Empress suffer so much."

"Someone actually slandered Her Majesty before. They must be blind. Her Majesty and His Majesty are deeply in love. How could they do such a thing?"

"His Majesty is so devoted. He waited for the Empress for so long, and now she's finally back. It's truly touching."

In the streets and alleys, everyone was talking about the deep love between His Majesty and the Empress, and those previous malicious speculations had become a laughing stock.

Even the court officials who had previously harbored doubts suddenly understood after hearing the discussions in the streets and comparing them with ancient records.

The gazes directed at His Majesty were filled with admiration, and no one dared to utter a single word of dissent.

The senior officials who had previously led the suspicions were now filled with shame and submitted memorials to apologize, blaming themselves for making wild guesses and slandering the Empress.

Holding the collected public opinions, Gu Jinzhi reported with a smile: "Your Majesty, everything has been taken care of. Now the whole country is grateful for the deep affection between Your Majesty and the Empress, and no one is spreading rumors anymore."

Feng Xingyu sat behind his new desk, listening to the report. His brows, which had been tense for several days, finally relaxed completely.

Fortunately, it was resolved before Ayu came out of quarantine, so Ayu didn't suffer any injustice.

"well done."

He spoke softly, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible ease.

Eunuch Lian Chen smiled obsequiously from the side: "His Majesty is truly wise. Now, not only has the Empress's reputation been preserved, but she has also gained even more love and respect from the people."

Feng Xingyu remained silent, his gaze drifting towards the direction where Mo Sangyu was in seclusion.

"His Majesty."

After a moment's thought, Gu Jinzhi asked, "What should be done with those senior officials who voluntarily pleaded guilty?"

"Since you're voluntarily admitting your guilt, then go and mine coal in the frontier."

Feng Xingyu was determined to make an example of someone.

After this incident, let's see if they dare to speak recklessly again.

"OK."

Gu Jinzhi's voice also softened: "I will take care of it immediately."

He wouldn't plead for those gossipy people.

Deserve it.

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked out of the imperial study. However, as soon as he reached the door, he saw something and his expression suddenly changed.

He was then forced to retreat step by step.

Feng Xingyu, who was behind the imperial desk, suddenly stood up and looked toward the door with a stern gaze.