"Yes." Ji Wushang and the other three nodded.
Empress Yao glanced coldly at Ji Wushang, a hint of sarcasm appearing on her lips, before following Emperor Zhou towards the Qian Yuan Palace.
Nan Xuzong stepped forward and gently took Ji Wushang's hand, "Don't be afraid."
“I’m not afraid.” Ji Wushang looked up at him, a smile playing on his lips. “Very good.” The two then followed him up together.
Huangfu Xuan's face was somewhat cold. He wanted nothing more than to tear Empress Yao to pieces, but now he had no choice but to keep her alive… However, the most important thing now was the Crown Prince's matter. Empress Yao had now drawn the Crown Prince to her side; their alliance made things different, and the power could easily shift towards Empress Yao's side…
Ma Ruyi cautiously stepped forward. She looked up at him, but seeing him deep in thought, she waited for him. She wondered what he was thinking. Did everything he had just done for her count? Did he truly love her?
"What are you thinking about?" Suddenly, a cold voice entered her ears. Ma Ruyi was startled. "I, I wasn't thinking about anything."
"A two-faced woman!" Huangfu Xuan's tone remained cold, but he took her hand and said, "Let's go!"
"Yes." Before Ma Ruyi could finish speaking, he pulled her away.
Upon arriving at the Qian Yuan Hall, Emperor Zhou and Empress Yao were already seated on opposite sides. They seemed to be leaning against each other, and it was clear from their appearance that Emperor Zhou was extremely dependent on Empress Yao!
Ji Wushang's cold eyes darkened.
The four people knelt down to pay their respects, and Emperor Zhou waved his hand, saying, "Rise, all of you!"
The four people were standing to one side, heads bowed and silent.
Empress Yao laughed, "You're all so serious! Why are you all so serious? You're all my children, yet you show me no affection at all, which makes me sad!" As she spoke, she looked at Emperor Zhou, whose face darkened. "You all relax, don't be so tense!"
"Yes," the four replied indifferently.
At this moment, Emperor Zhou leaned close to Empress Yao's ear and whispered, "Empress, didn't you say you had something to ask them? Why didn't you ask?"
"Yes," Empress Yao smiled, then turned to look at Ji Wushang and the others. "Fourth Prince, Fourth Princess, are you two used to visiting the Prince of Jin's residence?"
"Your Majesty, your son and the Fourth Imperial Consort are quite used to it!" Nan Xuzong stepped forward and said.
"I've heard that quite a few things have happened at the Prince of Jin's residence. Has anything happened to you?" Empress Yao asked again.
"Indeed, some things have happened at the Prince of Jinnan's residence, but as far as I know, those are all family matters of the Prince of Jinnan's residence."
This is someone else's family matter, and it's not Empress Yao's place to ask such questions!
Empress Yao's face showed a slight embarrassment. "I was just being overly concerned about you. Since it's a matter for the Prince of Jin's residence, then it's natural for the people of the Prince of Jin's residence to handle it themselves."
"The Empress is absolutely right," Emperor Zhou nodded. "But since you've settled in the Prince of Jin's residence, you're inevitably causing him some trouble. So, you should move into the Prince Zong's residence as soon as possible!"
"Your Majesty, I will heed your words," Nan Xuzong said.
"Fourth Imperial Consort." At this moment, Empress Yao shifted the focus to Ji Wushang, who immediately stepped forward and knelt down, "Your Majesty, I am here."
"How long have you been married to the Fourth Prince?" Empress Yao slowly sipped her tea, her phoenix eyes looking at Ji Wushang with a playful expression.
Ji Wushang knew that what she had been worried about had finally come to pass... She lowered her head, not looking at anyone, and said in a cold voice, "Your Majesty, I married you at the beginning of the first month of the lunar calendar."
"It's been about half a year, has she gotten pregnant?" Empress Yao said with a smile, leaning forward so that her long phoenix armor tapped on the coffee table.
"Your Majesty, I feel it is still too early for the Fourth Imperial Consort to conceive!" Nan Xuzong knelt down and spoke first.
Ji Wushang was taken aback upon hearing this.
He took all the blame upon himself...
"So, does this mean that the Fourth Prince himself doesn't want any offspring?"
????"yes!"
"Have you considered that our royal family is already small in number? If you don't want a child, how can we manage?" Empress Yao glared at Nan Xuzong with venomous eyes and slammed her hand on the coffee table!
She simply refused to believe that Nan Xuzong didn't want children! This Ji Wushang was definitely incapable of having a child! She'd find a woman to give to him later, and see if Ji Wushang would still oppose her at every turn!
Ji Wushang gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and remained silent.
"Your Majesty is right! Your son will make sure the Fourth Imperial Consort conceives a child as soon as possible!" Nan Xuzong said coldly, displeased.
"I suspect it's because the Fourth Imperial Consort doesn't suit your taste. If so, I can personally choose a concubine for you! Consort Zhen died young, leaving you behind, and you were late in recognizing your ancestors, so naturally I will take good care of you!" Empress Yao raised her voice, her eyes filled with hatred as she looked at Ji Wushang and then at Nan Xuzong.
Nan Xuzong clenched his fist under his sleeve, then relaxed it, a slight smile curving his lips. "It's my fault, not the Fourth Imperial Consort's! I'm currently focused on studying the lessons Father Emperor assigned me and learning military tactics from my Third Brother, and I don't want to slack off at all! I haven't even thought about taking a concubine yet! So, Mother, you don't need to worry about me too much! Heaven and earth can attest to Mother's love for me, and I believe that if Mother knew, she would rest in peace!"
"Oh," Empress Yao chuckled, drawing out her words, "Very well. However, it's time to arrange for you to take a concubine. I will personally find some women for you!"
"Mother, you need not worry about me. I believe that now that the Crown Prince has woken up and his health has improved, we should arrange for him to marry a Crown Princess and a Crown Consort!" Nan Xuzong looked up at Empress Yao with his sinister eyes.
Seeing the anger in his eyes, Empress Yao felt a surge of excitement. "Hehe..." she chuckled. "I've been busy with the Crown Prince's affairs. But what about you and the Fourth Princess Consort... Fourth Princess Consort, what do you think about the Fourth Prince taking a concubine?"
"Your Majesty!" Ji Wushang raised his head slightly and looked at Empress Yao. "Your Majesty, I regard the Fourth Prince as my heaven. If the Fourth Prince wishes to take a concubine, I will help find beautiful, generous and virtuous women in the world for him to choose from, so as to help Your Majesty in taking a concubine for him!"
Nan Xuzong's heart skipped a beat.
"Hmm, not bad. The Fourth Imperial Consort is indeed virtuous and generous, a model for our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. She is our precious and virtuous wife!" Empress Yao sneered. Aren't you loving? Aren't you inseparable? I'm going to break you up!
"Your Majesty, I dare not! What I did was merely my duty, and it did not reach any exemplary level!" Ji Wushang told herself to be patient!
"Hehe, what's there to be afraid of? If I say so, then so be it!" Empress Yao laughed a few times, then looked at Emperor Zhou, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
"The Empress is absolutely right," Emperor Zhou echoed.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for bestowing this title upon me!" Ji Wushang immediately said, bowing to Emperor Zhou.
Emperor Zhou and the others were caught off guard, even Empress Yao was somewhat surprised, "What conferment?"