After giving her contraceptives, she went mad, criticizing the prince for turning white-haired overn

"Your Highness?" Linglong bent down and picked up the broken porcelain shards.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Shen Ning looked at her expressionlessly: "Before His Majesty died, he did not pass the throne to Su Linfeng?"

She remembered clearly that in her previous life, it was Su Linfeng who inherited the throne.

But in this life, if Xie Linyuan becomes emperor, wouldn't she have to compete for favor with a group of women?

In the past, the troubles that Old Madam Shen and her second and third wives had already troubled her enough.

If she has to fight with other women in the future, she might as well let go as soon as possible.

In her whole life, what she hated most was competing and fighting with others.

Linglong picked up the porcelain shards and had the maid waiting outside come in to clean them up.

"I heard that the young master of the Su family is unwilling."

"Moreover, the late emperor intended to abdicate in favor of the regent before his death. It was the empress dowager and His Majesty who smothered the late emperor and forcibly seized the throne."

"If Your Highness were to become emperor, it would be even more beneficial to the country and the people of Great Yan."

"Linglong, stop talking." Shen Ning lowered her eyes, her mind a complete mess.

"I just want to go to a scenic place in Jiangnan and live a simple and peaceful life."

"But now that Xie Linyuan has ascended the throne, I'm afraid I'll be trapped in that small place for the rest of my life."

Linglong noticed that she looked unwell, but didn't know how to comfort her.

"Your Highness, you're worried."

Shen Ning was restless. After returning to her room, she sat alone by the window, remaining silent.

Now that Emperor Wuzong has passed away, Su Linfeng and Shen Wan's marriage will likely have to be postponed for three years.

According to the rules of the Great Yan Dynasty, Su Linfeng was required to observe three years of mourning for Emperor Wuzong.

At dusk, the setting sun on the horizon was like blood.

The palace servants cleaned up all the bloodstains in the palace to welcome the new emperor.

Although Xie Linyuan was elected as the new emperor by the officials.

However, the date of his ascension to the throne still had to wait for the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to select an auspicious day.

As night deepened, Shen Ning sat by the window and drifted off to sleep.

Half-asleep, I vaguely heard the door being slowly pushed open.

As soon as the man entered, the stench of blood assaulted her senses, causing Shen Ning to frown involuntarily.

Xie Linyuan walked to her side, slowly squatted down, and whispered, "Why are you asleep here? Were you waiting for me?"

Shen Ning opened her eyes groggily and looked at him, but her expression was a little strange.

Xie Linyuan then realized that when he led the Qilin Army into the Golden Palace today, his clothes were stained with a lot of blood, and he hadn't had time to change them.

Did I scare you?

"I'm going to change my clothes."

As he spoke, the man quickly got up to change into clean clothes before returning to the room.

Shen Ning sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching him without saying a word.

"What's wrong?" Xie Linyuan asked in a low voice.

Shen Ning pursed her lips, feeling uneasy.

"I've heard that the officials have nominated you to be the Emperor of Great Yan."

"If you become the emperor, you will definitely take concubines in the future, and the officials in the court will also find ways to send people into the palace."

"I've thought it over. If that day ever comes, I'll take the children and leave for Jiangnan, and I'll abandon you."

"I will never compete with other women for your favor."

Shen Ning looked at him and spoke each word very seriously.

Xie Linyuan's eyes darkened; hearing her words, his heart felt as if it were being pricked by needles.

"You're saying...you don't want me anymore?"

Shen Ning nodded: "Yes, I don't want you."

Xie Linyuan suppressed his surging emotions, walked up to her, and slowly squatted down.

He reached out and gently grasped her wrist:

"A-Ning, you don't need to think about these things."

"I will not take concubines, nor will I let you compete with anyone for my affections."

You can't abandon me.

Shen Ning didn't say anything, but she felt terrible inside.

There's still a long road ahead, who knows what will happen?

If that day ever comes, she really can give up everything and go far away to Jiangnan.

Xie Linyuan looked at her and continued:

"When our child grows up in the future, I will abdicate the throne to him and accompany you to Jiangnan, shall we?"

Shen Ning looked up at him: "Are you serious?"

Xie Linyuan nodded: "Of course it's true."

"But this empire was built by my father through painstaking efforts, and I cannot stand by and watch our ancestral legacy be destroyed."

"If the Great Yan is leaderless, the Qin, the Northern Frontier, and the Western Barbarians will all be eyeing it covetously."

"Since I am the emperor's son, I should shoulder this responsibility."

"Inheriting the throne is not what I desire, but I have no other choice."

Shen Ning remained silent for a while, then asked in a low voice, "What about Su Linfeng? Doesn't he want to?"

Xie Linyuan said, "Su Linfeng has been staying at the border for many years and hasn't figured out the affairs of the court yet."

"He doesn't want to."

Shen Ning couldn't understand it; in her previous life, it was Su Linfeng who ascended the throne and became emperor.

Why are you unwilling in this life instead?

Could it be that in his previous life, he was also forced into this position?

"So that's how it is," Shen Ning murmured softly.

Xie Linyuan helped her lie down, gently pulled her over, and made her rest her head on his chest.

"If he's willing, I'd rather he be the emperor, so I can go to Jiangnan with you and live a peaceful life together."

"Born as a prince of the Great Yan, I was destined to bear these burdens from the day I was born."

Shen Ning didn't say anything more, but reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling a little uneasy.

As night deepened, Xie Linyuan turned off the light, pulled the person into his arms, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Shen Ning went to the Ye family and brought her mother back to the Shen family.

Now that the Empress Dowager is dead, my mother no longer has to hide.

Back at the Shen family home, Mother looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar courtyard and was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Fortunately, now that Madam Shen and the second and third wives have been exiled, my mother and Wan'er are staying in the Shen family, and can finally live a peaceful life.

Shen Ning wrote a letter and sent it to Longxi, telling her father about her mother's condition.

After finishing his business with the Shen family, he returned to the Regent's Palace.

-

Soon, the auspicious day for the coronation, chosen by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, was the seventh day after Emperor Wuzong was buried in the imperial mausoleum.

That day, just as dawn was breaking, Shen Ning was helped out of bed by Linglong.

"Your Highness, you can't stay in bed any longer today."

"Today is the grand day of His Majesty's ascension to the throne. Today, His Majesty will be bestowing the title of Empress in front of all the civil and military officials."

"Four female officials from the Palace Attendants Bureau have arrived and are waiting outside."

Shen Ning couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart. She got out of bed and saw several maids carrying things in.

Layers of gowns were stacked on the tray, the bright red satin gleaming softly in the candlelight.

The phoenix embroidered with gold thread is poised to take flight.

She stared blankly at the auspicious robe, somewhat dazed.

"Your Majesty, please change your clothes." The head court lady stepped forward and said respectfully.

Shen Ning nodded and opened her arms.

The ladies-in-waiting stepped forward to remove her nightgown and put her on a nightgown.

The phoenix robe was incredibly intricate, and Shen Ning felt uneasy looking at it.

"This dress..." she murmured.

The court lady hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this is the Empress's formal attire. According to regulations, it should be worn in three layers: an outer robe, a shawl, and a phoenix crown."

"Is that too much trouble?" Shen Ning asked.

Just then, a greeting came from outside the door: "Your Majesty."

Shen Ning turned around and saw Xie Linyuan striding in from outside the door.

"All of you may step back. I will dress her myself," Xie Linyuan said calmly.

The court ladies dared not say anything more and bowed as they withdrew.

Linglong glanced at Shen Ning, smiled with pursed lips, and quietly withdrew, closing the door behind her.

The hall fell silent immediately.

Shen Ning stood there, wearing only a mid-length robe and a thin outer garment, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

"A-Yuan, you've arrived."

Xie Linyuan gave a soft "hmm" and slowly walked up to her.

His gaze fell on the half-worn kimono she was wearing.

The bright red collar of her dress was loosely draped over her shoulders, revealing a section of her fair neck.

His gaze deepened slightly as he reached out and carefully adjusted her collar.

"I personally helped A-Ning put on this phoenix robe."

As Xie Linyuan spoke, he carefully picked up the phoenix robe and patiently helped her put it on.

He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, picked up the sash embroidered with a phoenix, and gently tied it around her waist.

"From now on, A Ning will be the Empress of Great Yan."

"I know you don't like the Phoenix Palace, so I had it demolished and a new Kunning Palace built for you at a different site."

"I also had the lotus pond outside the Phoenix Palace filled in."

Shen Ning looked down at him, her brows furrowed slightly, a hint of disbelief flashing through her mind.

In her past life, she was drowned in the lotus pond outside the Phoenix Palace by Shen Rou and Granny Fang.

She never told anyone else about this.

Now Xie Linyuan says he demolished the Phoenix Palace and even had the lotus pond filled in.

Could it be that he knows something?

"A-Yuan, do you know something?"

Xie Linyuan smiled as he straightened her clothes and slowly stood up.

How do you know I don't like the Phoenix Palace?

Xie Linyuan smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just had a dream about it at Jiayu Pass."

"Let's go, the auspicious time has arrived."

As Xie Linyuan spoke, he reached out and took her hand, leading her out of the bedchamber.

Outside the Golden Palace.

Under the watchful eyes of all the civil and military officials, Shen Ning was led by Xie Linyuan step by step toward the high platform of the Golden Palace.

Looking at the magnificent palace before her, Shen Ning felt a little dazed.

It felt like I had a very, very long dream.

"What's wrong?" Xie Linyuan turned his head to look at her.

Shen Ning shook her head: "It's nothing, just a pipe dream."

Xie Linyuan laughed and said, "This is not a dream, it's real."

He held her hand tightly and led her step by step up to the platform.

The sound of the official reading the imperial edict reached my ears.

"You, Lady Shen, are gentle and virtuous by nature. By the mandate of Heaven, you are hereby established as Empress. You shall occupy the throne of Kunning, and together with the ancestral temple, you shall serve as the mother of the nation, and jointly govern the realm. This is the imperial decree!"

After the official finished chanting, the imperial edict was closed.

"kneel--"

All the officials knelt down and kowtowed.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Empress!"

Xie Linyuan and Shen Ning ascended the Golden Palace and completed the ceremony in the presence of civil and military officials.

The news that the new emperor had ascended the throne and appointed a woman from the Shen family as empress quickly spread throughout the entire Great Yan.

Inside the Imperial Study, Xie Linyuan personally inscribed Su Linfeng's name into the Imperial Jade Tablet, bestowing upon him the title of Prince Yi.

He held up his pen and looked at the boy in red sitting on the chair to the side.

"From now on, you will bear the surname Xie, and be a proper member of the Xie family."

Su Linfeng sat lazily in the chair and sighed, "Uncle, please don't tease me."

"According to ancestral custom, I am required to observe three years of mourning. I would rather have the surname Su."

Xie Linyuan slowly put down his pen and looked at him.

"Are you afraid you won't be able to marry Shen Wan?"

Su Linfeng raised an eyebrow, his tone indifferent:

"I'm afraid of wasting three years of a girl's time."

As the boy spoke, his expression gradually became complicated.

"Uncle, General Huo will be returning to the capital soon. I'd like to go with him to the southwest for three years of training. What do you think?"

Xie Linyuan's eyes remained indifferent: "And what about Shen Wan? You expect her to wait for you for three years?"

Su Linfeng said calmly, "She's only fifteen years old, still young."

"Three years from now, I'll return with honors from the war and marry her!"

"However, if she is unwilling to wait these three years, or if she has found a man she likes and wants to annul the engagement..."

As Su Linfeng spoke, his voice gradually lowered.

Xie Linyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If the young lady really wanted to break off the engagement, would you be willing to do it?"

Su Linfeng raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Of course, I can't bear to part with it."

"However, if Shen Wan is truly sincere towards me, I don't think she will call off the engagement."

Xie Linyuan chuckled, knowing that Su Linfeng wanted to achieve great things and return as a great hero.

"You'd better ask the girl what she thinks first."

Don't let someone's sincere heart go to waste.

"If you wish to go to the southwest, I grant your request."

"When General Huo sets off for the southwest, you can go with him."

Su Linfeng smiled: "Thank you, Imperial Uncle."