"Your humble servant dares to ask, is the Empress’s real name truly Su Yan?"

Su Yan nodded; it wasn’t a secret.

Nan Zhaoxun nodded with a knowing look and continued:

"Does the Empress know of our seventeenth sister, the Emperor’s former wife, Nan Zhao Su Yan?"

Su Yan nodded again, "I have indeed heard of this Princess."

Nan Zhaojian laughed and said, "Empress, as it happens, your name is the same as my sister’s, only the surname is different.

Back then, when the Emperor brought my sister into the palace, we all witnessed it. He cherished her dearly, afraid she might be hurt, afraid she might melt if spoken of.

After my sister passed away, he did not touch another woman for five whole years, constantly thinking of her until he met you, Empress..."

Seeing his ambiguous smile, Su Yan understood. He wanted to imply that she gained the Emperor’s favor due to the name Nan Zhao Su Yan.

Yet, she didn’t understand why they spoke these words.

Did they want to tell her she was merely a replacement?

But it seemed meaningless anyway, for Nan Zhao Su Yan was already dead, and she wouldn’t compete with a dead person.

Moreover, that dead person was herself...

Seeing her silence, Nan Zhaoxun continued:

"Empress, we came here today to tell you something. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

In the harem, the Emperor cannot possibly favor only one woman forever.

Since ancient times, all we see is the smile for the newcomer, not tears for the old.

As time goes on, if the Emperor grows weary, he might take an interest in other women and might even complain that the Empress is unkind for not seeking one or two concubines for him sooner.

Even if the Emperor doesn’t say so, there is no shortage of rumors outside. The Empress, as the nation’s mother, should set an example and be a virtuous wife."

Hearing this, Su Yan somewhat understood their intention for coming today.

Were they trying to persuade her to arrange some concubines for the Emperor?

But what did that have to do with them?

The only explanation was that they either wanted to offer Nan Zhao Suya to the Emperor or their daughters.

Wiping the smile off her face, Su Yan said calmly, "Are the ministers’ words not too rude?"