Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Zuyi's face turned dark.

Xiao Heng may still resent Feng Zuyi because of Shen Mingxiu's matter, but he didn't care at all about supporting his maternal clan.

And they even chose a time like this to go against Feng Zuyi.

Feng Zuyi was not one to back down easily; she slammed her teacup down and demanded, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?"

"If the Empress Dowager wants to see a joyous occasion in the palace, so do I," Xiao Heng said, glancing sideways. "What? Only the Empress Dowager is allowed to make arrangements, but I'm not allowed to make arrangements for my beloved minister?"

Feng Zuyi's face turned green with anger: "Fine, now that you're emperor, your wings have truly hardened!"

After she finished speaking, she pushed the table aside forcefully, and the plates fell to the ground with a loud crash.

He then stormed off the table in anger.

The old imperial brother-in-law, naturally on his sister's side, was indignant: "Your Majesty, although you are now the Son of Heaven, filial piety is a fundamental principle!"

Seeing that an argument was about to break out, Xiao Heng was somewhat displeased.

Ling Xianru spoke softly, "Your Majesty does indeed have someone you admire, and I am afraid I will disappoint you."

Wei Rong thought to herself, "This person is indeed shrewd."

He clearly knew what Xiao Heng was up to, but when he asked her, he didn't mention having someone he liked, thus giving Xiao Heng a way out.

However, he could never marry a woman from the Feng family and become related to Xiao Heng through marriage, so he quickly gave himself a way out.

This both fulfilled Xiao Heng's desire to anger Feng Zuyi and proved that he had no greater ambitions.

However—that statement about having someone you like might not be a lie.

"Which family's daughter is she?" Xiao Heng became genuinely curious. "I've never heard you mention her. If you want to marry her, why would she refuse?"

Ling Xianru remained composed, saying, "I am shy, and besides, she is already married. Let's just leave it at that."

Caught off guard by the news of the prime minister's extramarital affair, everyone strained their ears, and upon hearing the words "married woman," they were all even more shocked.

The Prime Minister is actually infatuated with a married woman?!

This is outrageous!

"What kind of expressions are these? When I fell in love with her, she was still a young lady in her boudoir." Ling Xianru flicked the empty wine glass with her finger, and the glass spun on the table, its rim pointing precisely at Wei Rong.

Wei Rong, however, was lost in thought.

Ling Xianru has such audacity!

Putting aside the fact that Shen Mingxiu is already a Noble Consort, he spoke so bluntly that in Yunjing City, the marriages of high-ranking officials and nobles are almost common knowledge. With a little calculation, the number of brides in the past few years could be listed on a single page.

Those who are even more observant can narrow down the scope by analyzing the interactions between Lingxian and others over the past few years.

Of course, Wei Rong wasn't the only one who thought this way.

While others dared not ask, Xiao Heng had no reservations: "Oh? Has anyone married in the past few years? Could it be among the people in this hall?"

It was like a bolt from the blue.

This time, everyone's eyes turned to the women, especially the younger women who had come tonight.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The young ladies were trembling with fear; as married women, their reputations were of utmost importance.

Even if the other party were the Prime Minister, who was second only to the Emperor, they would not dare to make such a assumption.

However, no one would suspect the palace concubines, and no one would think that Ling Xianru had such audacity.

So no one saw that Shen Mingxiu twisted the handkerchief into a rope.

Her eyes held a mixture of anticipation and nervousness, as if she longed to be recognized, yet feared utter ruin.

When the tense atmosphere in the hall reached its peak, Ling Xianru chuckled softly.

"Now that she's married, I wouldn't be so bad as to damage her reputation. Besides, she doesn't know my feelings, and she's not even in Yunjing."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Is that so?

Wei Rong muttered to herself, "Are you kidding me?"

I have no idea what Shen Mingxiu did to make Ling Xianru take such good care of her.

"Not in Yunjing? Is it your childhood sweetheart in Gusu?" Xiao Heng hadn't expected Ling Xianru to be such a romantic: "Since she's already married, why should you linger? Marry a virtuous wife. There are plenty of talented women in Yunjing."

Ling Xianru was like a lovesick fool: "If it's not her, why settle for someone else?"

"The Prime Minister is so devoted," Wei Rong sighed. "What if she is not doing well in her husband's family? Given how much the Prime Minister cherishes her, he should marry her as his first wife, thus avoiding the concubines' rivalry for favor. But if she marries a bad man, she will be trapped in the power struggles within the household and will never have a peaceful life."

No one dared to respond to that.

Wei Rong was referring to herself, in a way.

Ling Xian looked directly at Wei Rong for the second time tonight. His eyes were dark and deep, and no one could understand his emotions.

Wei Rong seemed to glean a hint of seriousness from it, even if that seriousness was inappropriate.

Then she heard Ling Xianru's reply.

"Then let's take advantage of her and grant her what she desires."

"..."

Such a deep gaze made Wei Rong feel as if she had been gently tapped in the chest, and she was momentarily speechless.

Are there really men who are this devoted to love?

Instead of saying he would snatch her away, he said he would just borrow her advantage.

Does that woman deserve such deep affection?

"The time has come!" Zhu Er suddenly rushed in from outside, interrupting the inexplicable atmosphere in the hall: "The time has come! Happy New Year, Your Majesty and Your Highness! The fireworks are ready, please proceed!"

Every year at the beginning of the new year, there is a custom of setting off fireworks and firecrackers in front of the Hall of Beauties to welcome the new year. On the first day of the new year, the emperor and empress also need to worship together at the Imperial Observatory to pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest in the new year.

Xiao Heng raised the corner of her mouth and praised Ling Xianru, "Your loyalty puts my mind at ease. A loyal person will surely be devoted to their master."

He was supposed to go out with Shen Mingxiu, who was sitting next to him, to watch the fireworks.

Wei Rong and Shen Mingxiu themselves shared this idea, so when he stood up, Shen Mingxiu stood up as well.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Heng did not reach out to take Shen Mingxiu's hand as usual. Instead, she patted Ling Xianru's shoulder first, and then reached out her hand to Wei Rong:

"It's getting dark, Empress, follow me."

For a moment, Wei Rong felt as if she had returned to last year, before their rifts had occurred.

They weren't abandoned, neglected, or betrayed; they remained as respectful as ever.

That palm facing upwards, pampered and accustomed to comfort, was waiting for her to place her hand on it. It suddenly felt that she could be pampered like a vase, and she would be content with a little affection.

Unfortunately, Wei Rong never fell for that kind of thing.

She covered her hands with her wide sleeves: "Since the beginning of winter, I have been weak and sensitive to the cold, and my hands and feet are always cold. Your Majesty, please don't let them get cold."

Xiao Heng, as if he didn't believe it, grasped her hand through her wide sleeves and found it was indeed ice-cold.

"Where is your mistress's cloak?" Xiao Heng glared at Qiaoyu. "You blind servant, bring it here now!"

The cloak was in Qiaoyu's hands. When she was dancing, Wei Rong wasn't actually cold, but her hands and feet were indeed icy.

Xiao Heng took the cloak and personally draped it over Wei Rong, tying a knot at her chest before putting his arm around her shoulder and forcefully leading her out.

Wei Rong: "..."

With so many people around, if she struggles, it would be disrespectful to the emperor in public.

Wei Rong had no choice but to follow them out.

The emperor and empress stood on the high platform, surrounded by their ministers. Outside the high palace walls, the faint sounds of firecrackers and fireworks could be heard.

With Xiao Heng's command, fireworks in front of the Hall of Beauties shot straight into the sky, blooming into dazzling flowers in mid-air.

In that year, the Great Jing Dynasty was stable and prosperous, and people were enjoying peace and prosperity.

It's a new year again.

Everyone was busy watching the fireworks, and only Ling Xianru glanced sideways and saw Zhu Lu return to Shen Mingxiu's side and whisper a few words in her ear.

Shen Mingxiu nodded.

He summoned his personal bodyguard.