Baili Chongyan held her, asking in a voice of bewilderment, "Is that true? Will you really stay with me forever?"
"Of course, it's true." Zhuo Yan couldn't quite understand the source of his unease, so she could only try to comfort him, "Have you forgotten? I am a god."
Whether a divine lord or a demon god, she was still a god.
Born of heaven and earth as a god, she would forever be a god.
"Yes, you are the god!" Baili Chongyan clutched her tightly as if grasping a lifeline, "You are a god, you won't leave me, you won't be like Mother Consort, you won't leave me..."
Zhuo Yan finally grasped the core of the issue.
She asked the system, "About his mother, why isn't there anything about her in your system?"
System: [...That's called plot. The plot is written that way: his birth mother died early, his adoptive mother abused him, his father and brother betrayed and hurt him, causing him to blacken into a major villain. After learning that his mother was killed by his own father, he orchestrated the Battle of Yudou, plunging the common people into chaos and suffering, and plunging Dasheng into a hundred years of war and strife.]
Zhuo Yan once again grasped the core of the issue.
His mother was killed by the emperor.
"Yes, I won't leave you." Zhuo Yan comforted him while her expression changed.
Originally, she had thought that if he seized the throne and dealt with the sons the emperor favored, that would be revenge.
Now, it seemed something was still missing.
Baili Chongyan fell asleep at some point. As soon as Zhuo Yan laid him on the bed, the voices of guards were heard from outside.
To prevent him from being woken, she quickly went out.
"What is it?"
The guard cupped his hands, "Princess Consort, an imperial decree just arrived from the palace, ordering His Highness to enter the palace."
A cold glint flashed in Zhuo Yan's eyes.
She was just contemplating how to inquire about this matter, and the imperial decree arrived. What a coincidence.
"He's asleep. I'll go."
The guard was greatly alarmed. "But..."
"Prepare the carriage. And do not disturb him."
She said not to disturb him, and the next moment she called a young girl to look after him.
The young girl already had a name: Song Yu.
Others had witnessed her capabilities, so they dared not act rashly. They could only watch as Zhuo Yan boarded the carriage and followed the eunuch who delivered the decree into the palace.
Speaking of which, Zhuo Yan had never entered the palace since her marriage to Baili Chongyan.
Baili Chongyan's health was poor, and he and Zhuo Yan had not even had a formal return visit, let alone entered the palace to offer tea.
If she had entered the palace before this, she might have been able to feign politeness and exchange a few pleasantries with them. But she had come today with the firm intention of causing trouble.
The emperor, along with the various concubines of the harem, were all present, each adorned in bright, resplendent attire. Only Consort Xian, who had just lost a son, was absent. Consort Shu, whose son had had his legs broken, was not missing.
"The Prince of Yan's Consort has arrived."
She walked in following the announcement, her gaze fixed directly on the person seated on the dragon throne, the current emperor.
As expected, he was a man of wicked intent.
"What is the Prince of Yan's Consort doing? Why do you not kneel before His Majesty?"
Zhuo Yan did not answer.
The emperor, however, found a way to save face: "It is nothing. The Prince of Yan's Consort is entering the palace for the first time and does not know the etiquette. I shall not blame you."
"Prince of Yan's Consort!" Consort Shu, looking haggard, could not wait to speak as soon as she saw her, "I heard there is a divine physician in the Prince of Yan's mansion. Can you ask the divine physician to examine the Fourth Prince?"
"The divine physician does not belong to the Prince of Yan's mansion. If Consort Shu wishes to invite them, you may do so yourself. You do not need to ask me."
Consort Shu's face turned pale, then green, utterly humiliated.
"Yan'er is well?"
The emperor asked, his tone a mixture of happiness and surprise.
Zhuo Yan smiled and replied, "With the divine physician present, he has recovered considerably. If not for the severe cold weather, His Highness would also have liked to come and pay his respects."
The emperor's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, "It seems that divine physician truly has some skill."
"They do have skill."
The demonic monk had seen the emperor before going to the prince's mansion. Therefore, it was not strange that the emperor knew something.
However, what was his intention with his current demeanor? Zhuo Yan couldn't figure it out for a moment.
His happiness was obvious on his face. He stood up and said, "I wish to inquire about Yan'er's condition. All beloved consorts, please withdraw for now."
The Empress's expression was displeased, but she could only maintain the facade of the mistress of the harem and led the others away.
The palace hall instantly became empty.
The emperor pointed to the seat beside him and said, "Yan'er, do not stand. Come and sit here."
Zhuo Yan almost retched from disgust.
She asked with a cold face, "What is His Majesty's intention?"
The emperor smiled, "Naturally, it is a great and beneficial matter for you. Yan'er, please sit down quickly."
"If His Majesty has something to say, please speak directly. I still need to return to the mansion to care for His Highness."
The emperor laughed jovially, "It's alright. You won't have to care for him anymore."
He considered himself romantic and charming, oblivious to how nauseatingly pretentious he appeared. With an air of bestowing great honor, he asked, "I wish to have Yan'er stay in the palace to attend to me. Are you willing?"