But this time, Mrs. Gao really misunderstood Wei Yan.

He is currently in the Imperial Palace discussing various matters related to the new Emperor’s ascension with the important ministers.

Wei Yan is the Duke Wei, but likewise, because his mother is Princess Hanshao, he also holds some key positions at the Zongzheng Court, in addition to his duties at the Ministry of Rites. So, he is very busy, truly very busy.

Li Qingmu hasn’t even agreed to ascend the throne yet, and the preparations have already started here.

Of course, this is understandable. You can’t really wait until the Emperor is about to ascend the throne to start preparing all the ceremonies, can you? That would be too rushed.

By the time the discussions were over, it was already dark.

"Master, the eldest miss has returned, and also Miss Yun Dai..."

Wei Yan walked out of the Imperial Palace, and at the gate, a house servant came up to him to report everything that happened today in detail.

Wei Yan frowned slightly. He didn’t really have any thoughts about this suddenly emerged daughter, but after hearing the servant’s report, an unusual glint flashed in his eyes.

Having navigated the treacherous waters of power for so many years, what kind of people and what kinds of tactics had he not seen? Just one look at this person’s tactics would reveal whether they have what it takes!

Wei Yan thought this unassuming daughter had potential!

So he said, "Go back, have a good sleep, and see what that girl’s potential is tomorrow morning!"

With the new Emperor’s ascension imminent, Wei Yan needed to have a few good cards in his hand.

After the Emperor ascends, he will surely fill the harem, and many important ministers and noble families all start with the women in the harem.

Wei Yan’s mother was a princess who held all the family power, even his father had to listen to her. Under this influence, Wei Yan had a strong desire for power.

Now that the new Emperor is ascending, it’s a great opportunity to redistribute power, and he must seize it.

Wei Yan hurried back, and the Imperial Palace remained brightly lit.

In Changming Palace, Li Qingmu was bent over, reviewing documents.

The little Emperor Rong Zhuo had been placed under house arrest, officially declared seriously ill and bedridden, unable to manage state affairs, so many matters of the court had fallen to Li Qingmu.

He had been quite busy lately.

At the palace gate, Rong Si approached slowly. When a few palace maids from Changming Palace saw her, they hurriedly knelt and greeted her loudly, but Rong Si waved her hand lightly, and they fell silent.

She walked ahead, followed by a maid carrying a tray, passing through the palace gate and into the inner hall.

Li Qingmu heard the commotion. Upon seeing it was Rong Si, he quickly put down his work and went over to pay his respects.

"You’ve been exhausted these past few days, haven’t you?"

Rong Si’s face bore a gentle smile, her eyes full of doting love, embodying the image of a mother concerned to the utmost for her child.

Li Qingmu was momentarily dazed but quickly returned to his senses, bowing as he said, "Mother, you jest. Your child has been quite at ease these past few days!"

Rong Si nodded, "Indeed, you have not neglected your martial arts daily, and seeing as there are few documents left, you have indeed been at ease. My child is truly remarkable!"

"Mother, have you come to see me regarding something?"

Li Qingmu obediently went over, took Rong Si from the maid’s hands, assisted her to a soft couch, and personally served her tea.

Rong Si waved her hand, and all the palace servants withdrew.

Rong Si said, "Mu’er, in a couple of days, it will be an auspicious day, fit for all things. You need to inherit the throne!"

Rong Si’s words were not a discussion, but a command!

Li Qingmu was silent for a moment, then moved closer to massage her shoulders, "Mother, I don’t want..."

"Mu’er, it’s not a matter of whether you want or not. Currently, there’s no one more suitable than you in Daliang to succeed to the throne, so as the Emperor, you have to be it, whether you like it or not!"

Rong Si’s decisiveness in these two sentences showed clearly that she was a strong-willed woman!

Li Qingmu’s hands paused as he massaged her shoulders, and he said softly, "Mother, they all say the imperial family is heartless. I don’t want to become Emperor, only because I’m worried that it might hurt the bond between us.

You know, every Emperor is drawn to the near-divine power they wield, and then they hold onto that power tightly. Those who dare to touch it face endless repercussions. Throughout history, too many dramas of suspicion between ruler and minister, of father and son turning on each other, have played out..."

Li Qingmu paused here, looking at her with a face full of grievance. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Rong Si’s heart stirred slightly — could her son be this understanding? To think of such things?

She thought of her own struggles against the young Emperor, and the battles with the previous Empress Dowager. Was it not also family turning against family?

Power is something that cannot be touched, for once you touch it, there is no road back.

Rong Si reached out to hold Li Qingmu’s hand tightly and said gently, "Mu’er, it makes Mother happy to know that you think this way, as it shows you care for Mother’s feelings.

Mu’er, do you think Mother is greedy for power?

No, not at all! Mother wants to make Daliang the strongest nation! However, the recent Emperors of Daliang haven’t been impressive; otherwise, Mother wouldn’t be wielding all the power!

Do you know why Mother has not proclaimed herself Empress? Because Mother is a woman! Women governing would be akin to hens crowing at dawn, which is not good at all!

In Daliang, there are no shortage of ambitious individuals. If Mother ascended the throne and became Empress, those people would find an excuse to rebel, plunging Daliang into civil war!

Mother grew up in Daliang and loves this homeland dearly; how could she bear to let it fall into the flames of war? Therefore, Mother must support you to ascend the throne, so that no one would dare voice opposition!"

As Rong Si spoke, she glanced at Li Qingmu, smiling lightly, "Mu’er, rest assured, although Mother wields power, she does not covet it. Once you become Emperor, this nation, and the power to rule it, will all be yours, with Mother not interfering one bit!"

Li Qingmu remained silent.

Rong Si: "What’s the matter, Mu’er, don’t you trust Mother?"

"No, not at all! It’s just that... your child has some matters that might upset Mother. Would Mother... also not interfere?"

Rong Si thought for a moment and said, "As long as you believe it is the right thing to do, just go ahead, and Mother will not obstruct you!"

Li Qingmu blinked, timidly saying, "Even if your child does some... absurd things?"

Li Qingmu appeared so compliant that Rong Si’s heart melted. She smiled lightly, "My child, what absurd things are you planning to do?"

Li Qingmu earnestly massaged her, smiling, "Mother, I’m just speaking off the cuff; I haven’t decided yet. I’ll talk about it once I ascend the throne!"

"Hmm, no worries then?"

"Since you’ve said so, Mother, what worries could I have?"

"Good, when you ascend the throne, we will appoint Princess Nianxi as your Empress. Furthermore, Mother will help you find a few daughters of important ministers to make them concubines to win over the ministers, and select some noble daughters to fill the harem!"

The expression in Li Qingmu’s eyes darkened!

He knew that day would eventually come!

After a brief silence, Li Qingmu slowly said, "Mother, I’ve mentioned before that I can take her as Empress, but I will not bestow her any favor!"

Rong Si: "Are you fearing her? Fearing Duke Zhen?"

"Yes, a weak ruler and powerful ministers — I do not wish to be a timid ruler! If I bestow favor upon her and she gives birth to a dragon heir, then the Duke Zhen’s lineage would become overwhelmingly powerful!"

Rong Si turned to look at him intently, "Then who does Mu’er wish to make the most esteemed woman in this world?"