The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

With the coronation ceremony imminent, Xie Chengyan was extremely busy, rarely seen during the day, only returning to his bedchamber at night to check on people.

On the day of his coronation, he didn't even have time to drink water.

Once the ceremony was over, he officially became the monarch of the Great Zhou Dynasty. There was no bloodshed as expected, and not many people were dissatisfied. He even conferred titles upon several kings.

The Zhaoyang Palace was restless all day long, but no one dared to utter a single word.

When Xie Chengli came out of the hall, his face was pale. His attendants stepped forward to support him. "Did the Dowager Consort take her anger out on you again?"

He shook his head. "It's alright."

"From childhood to adulthood, whenever the Empress was in a bad mood, she would take it out on you, and the wounds on your back never healed properly."

Xie Chengli was already used to it; his mother was strict, and as her son, he naturally had to endure it.

"Jiang Wantang is back?"

"She's back. I had someone leave her outside the city, waiting for Your Highness to come and see her."

"Let's go."

Several hours later, Jiang Wantang and Miaoyin entered the palace.

Jiang Wantang asked the system questions as she walked.

[You told me to seduce Xie Chengyan, saying he was detached from worldly desires and the task wasn't difficult. What's going on here? You'd better give me a reasonable explanation!]

[Host, please calm down. You still have a chance of winning. As far as the system knows, Xie Chengyan has not yet appointed an empress.]

Is this a matter of whether or not to bestow the title of Empress?

Jiang Wantang was furious. She had agreed beforehand that the mission would be easy, which was why she came.

After arriving, I didn't even get to see anyone, let alone do any missions.

They've been keeping her hanging on like this every day, and now there are other women in the harem. Does she have to spend her whole life like this?

"You handle it. I'm determined to complete the mission and go home, no matter what."

Before the system could speak, she added, "Either lower the difficulty of the mission, or change the character. I'm not going to pursue Xie Chengyan anymore; he's a complete lunatic!"

The system remained silent, which only fueled Jiang Wantang's anger. [Don't play dead and stay silent, or you'll just kill me outright, and we might as well die together.]

"Miss Jiang."

Cao Shen came forward and said, "Why didn't you inform His Majesty in advance that Miss Jiang was returning to the capital? He could have sent someone to pick her up."

"I want to see him."

"No rush, young lady. You must be tired from your journey. Please take a bath, change your clothes, and rest for a while. I will take you to see His Majesty later."

Miaoyin, who was beside Cao Shen, glanced at her and tugged at her sleeve. "Sister Jiang, let's go and rest first. We're already back, so there's no rush."

She was indeed tired after traveling for so long, but she had plenty of time to deal with him.

Cao Shen personally led the people to the side hall, saying, "These are all people His Majesty personally selected to serve the young ladies."

Four maids and two matrons stood respectfully to one side, bowing to her.

One of the old women said, "This old servant will serve the young lady her bath."

Jiang Wantang was very pleased, and most of her anger subsided.

Cao Shen gave the old woman a wink, and she understood, helping him toward the bathroom.

Miaoyin was taken directly to a side hall next to the Hall of State Affairs, where Xie Chengyan stood with his back to her.

She was a little afraid of him, but when she thought of her elder sister still being imprisoned in the palace, she was just as angry as Jiang Wantang.

"You promised to leave my sister in Kyoto, is this how you leave her?"

Xie Chengyan turned around and looked at him. "Why are you back?"

"Of course I came back to see my older sister."

"She's fine."

"You haven't answered my question yet," Miaoyin raised her voice.

She was willing to help him get close to Jiang Wantang because Xie Chengyan promised to let her sister stay in the capital.

Xie Chengyan chuckled, "As you wished, it's already stayed, isn't it?"

He kept his promise to stay in Kyoto as long as Nian Nian was by his side.

"But you didn't say you were using this method."

Miaoyin only wanted Ruan Xianrong to stay in the capital, not in the palace.

"No wonder you insisted I leave the capital on my sister's wedding day..." Miaoyin suddenly realized, trembling with anger, "So it was all planned all along!"

Xie Chengyan's smile deepened, but it lacked warmth. "Regretful?"

Miaoyin wanted to glare at him, but she didn't dare.

This person saved him in the North, and he thought he was a good person.

It would be better for my sister to marry Cheng Qing than him.

He didn't answer, only saying, "I want to see my older sister."

"Cao Shen, take her back."

Although Miaoyin was timid, she was no longer the same Miaoyin; she had grown considerably. A surge of courage welled up within her, and she stiffened her neck in a threat.

"Let me tell you, I've learned quite a bit of Sister Jiang's skills. If you don't let me see them, I'll guard them for the rest of my life, and you won't get a single word out of them."

My older sister said that people shouldn't be manipulated. Once you're manipulated, it's hard to turn things around.

She and Xie Chengyan were on equal footing, and she wouldn't listen to everything he said. She wanted to see her older sister!

"You are threatening me." Xie Chengyan's smile faded.

Miaoyin's legs trembled, but she didn't back down. "That's a threat. What are you going to do about it? My sister is such a cheerful person. She's definitely not happy being locked up in the palace by you."

"My sister said that a good mood means good health, but she's depressed every day. I think you're trying to kill her..."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, until finally she lowered her head and dared not say another word.

After a long while, a voice came from ahead, "Take her there."

"Yes."

Miaoyin was overjoyed, but fearing he might change his mind, she quickly followed him out of the palace gate.

"Eunuch Cao, how is my elder sister? Has His Majesty mistreated her?"

Cao Shen smiled and said, "Don't worry, Miss Ruan is fine."

He felt guilty saying that, as he hadn't seen anyone in a long time.

When Ruan Xianrong saw Miaoyin, she was stunned for a moment, thinking she was dreaming, until Miaoyin called out "Sister Ruan" and she came back to her senses.

"A melodious sound?"

Miaoyin was happy to see people, but seeing her listless expression, she knew she must have suffered.

"Sister Ruan, you..."

"Let's go inside and talk," Ruan Xianrong said, pulling her along.

He instructed Hongjian, who was beside him, "Go and bring some pastries."

After hesitating for a moment, Hongjian turned and left.

As soon as the person left, Ruan Xianrong immediately asked, "Miaoyin, weren't you not in the capital? How did you get in? Did Xie Chengyan give you any trouble?"

"I'm fine, but why does your sister Ruan look so pale?"

She doesn't sleep well or get enough rest every day, so it's no wonder she looks unwell.

"I knew it. Sister Ruan must be having a hard time in the palace." Miaoyin's eyes reddened. Sister Ruan used to be a good person, but now she's been tormented like this. She really felt sorry for her.

"These things are not important. Tell me about your family."

Miaoyin had just returned home. She only went home for a quick look before following Jiang Wantang into the palace, telling her only what she knew.

"Your parents thought you were lost and searched the whole city for you. Only after they found out you were in the palace did your mother's health improve."

Sun's health had always been poor, and she was often sick because of him.

"My older cousins ​​are keeping an eye on my eldest brother at home, afraid he might do something impulsive."

"As for Cheng Qing..."

"At first he searched for you frantically, but now... he's been locked up in the mansion by his parents, and he's become completely depressed."