Everyone present listened to Su Muqing's words with solemn expressions. If anyone else had spoken such alarmist nonsense and fear-mongering in front of the Emperor, they would likely have been punished for a grave offense and dragged out to be beheaded.
However, the person speaking was Su Muqing. Not only had she experienced such strange dreams, but the Emperor himself dreamt of them daily. Although the Empress did not have similar dreams, she felt a genuine liking for the young woman before her, as if she were a blood relative. Thus, both of them easily accepted her explanation.
Ke Bite was not a party to this, so he could not fully understand their feelings. But witnessing the deep affection and tenderness radiating from them as they looked at Su Muqing, he was profoundly moved.
He thought of how his Imperial Brother, the ruler of a nation, was already over forty and still had no children of his own, unable to truly experience the joy of family. Perhaps this was Heaven's arrangement, sending Su Muqing to the Tianzhao Kingdom to find medicine. Not only had she saved his son on her journey, but the Emperor and Empress had also unexpectedly met their "own" daughter.
The Emperor was very happy today. He and the Empress spent the entire day with Su Muqing, listening to her recount her dreams and her experiences since arriving in "this side."
When they learned that the white-haired youth sitting beside them was the renowned young general of the Dayu Dynasty, they were greatly astonished. After the incident at the Prince of Beijian's mansion, the Emperor of Dayu had intended to keep the matter secret. However, the Huo family's reputation was widespread, and despite his attempts to suppress the news for months, it eventually spread to other countries.
The Tianzhao Kingdom had already planned to send an envoy to the Dayu Dynasty after the New Year. The purposes were to open maritime trade between the two regions and to investigate the truth of the incident at the Prince of Beijian's mansion.
Indeed, in the eyes of people from other countries like them, Huo Sizhun of the Huo family was the guardian deity of the Dayu Dynasty. Upon hearing that only he had survived the mansion incident, they were filled with emotion.
After their emotional reflections, both sides began to discuss official matters. Su Muqing's primary objective in coming here was actually the Huoyan Zhi. Previously, she had worried that the Emperor of Tianzhao might not agree, so she intended to use some leverage for negotiation.
Now, the Emperor was her father, meaning he was one of their own. Discussing matters became much easier. When he heard her request to establish a city, Ke Biyou's gaze towards her was filled not only with affection but also with admiration. He also decided that the Tianzhao Kingdom would be the first to establish diplomatic relations with Huaxia City once it was founded.
Next, they discussed the matter of the glazed tile factory. In the end, they decided to proceed as stipulated in the contract: Huaxia City would hold a 50% stake, Tianzhao Kingdom 40%, and the lord's family of Weters City, represented by Wan Yan'er, would hold 10%. The factory would be named the Huaxia Tianwei Glazed Tile Factory, and the site would be arranged by Su Muqing herself.
Huaxia City would be primarily responsible for production, while the other two parties would provide investment. Sales would be jointly managed by all three parties.
After finalizing the arrangements for the glazed tile factory, Ke Bite eagerly requested a demonstration of her secret weapon. This had been his initial bargaining chip to persuade the Emperor. Seeing the intense interest in the Emperor and Empress's eyes, Su Muqing nodded in agreement.
In truth, in their previous lives, they had seen not only handguns and bombs but even cannons and aircraft carriers on television. However, they had no recollection of them now.
Finally, they decided that the demonstration would take place on the evening of the day after tomorrow. Not only would the Emperor and Empress be present, but all civil and military officials would also be invited to witness it.
Su Muqing mused that with such a grand display, would it seem disrespectful if she merely fired a few shots? It seemed she would need to prepare tomorrow, perhaps by setting up some practical targets or arranging obstacles at the venue for demolition.
The group continued their discussions until nightfall, without leaving the hall even for the restroom. Mid-way, some officials and consorts who had heard the news came to pay their respects, but their real intention was to gather information. They had heard that someone had come to the palace, that the Emperor had received them all day, and that even the Empress had been invited.
When Lu Yuzhi and the others were about to leave the palace that evening, the Emperor and Empress were reluctant to let Su Muqing go. Having the opportunity to see her deceased parents again, she also wished to spend more time with them. However, she considered that there were people waiting for them at the Prince's mansion, and also the little bun.
Upon hearing that Su Muqing had a younger brother waiting outside the palace, the Emperor waved his hand, instructing Lu Yuzhi to travel with Ke Bite by carriage out of the palace, to bring the little bun into the palace as well, and that he himself could also stay overnight in the palace.
However, as Lu Yuzhi was an adult male and to avoid any rumors from ill-intentioned individuals, he was arranged to stay in a more remote palace courtyard, far from the harem.
Su Muqing slept in the Empress's Fengyi Palace that night. After the little bun was brought into the palace, he was also sent there. The Empress found the plump, rosy-cheeked child very endearing. In this life, she and the Emperor had been married since they were young, for decades, yet they had no children.
Ke Biyou had over a dozen concubines in addition to the Empress. Compared to the Emperors depicted on television, his concubines were not numerous, but despite having more than a dozen wives, he had no children of his own.
Furthermore, ever since the Emperor had suffered a serious illness before the New Year, and after his recovery, aside from handling official duties in his chambers, he only stayed in the Empress's palace at night, never summoning any other concubines.
Su Muqing looked at the dignified Empress and couldn't help but think that if her mother remembered everything from her past life, and saw her father with so many other wives, they would likely have many arguments. Even if these other wives were not initiated by her father, he would still have to endure some hardship.
After washing up, the Emperor and Empress lay on the large bed. They tossed and turned, unable to sleep for a long time.
"Your Majesty, do you think what she said is true? Was she truly our daughter in her past life?"
Ke Biyou sighed heavily. He knew that being childless for many years had always been a sensitive issue for the Empress. Therefore, she was particularly sensitive regarding children.
When Su Muqing expressed a desire to see the Empress today, he had readily agreed. In fact, during the time the Empress had been here, he had been uncertain. He felt he had agreed too readily and overlooked the Empress's psychological state.
What if the Empress did not believe the past life narrative? What if she resisted it vehemently? When he saw the two embracing and weeping, he breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Fortunately, the outcome was relatively good.
The Emperor patted his shoulder, gesturing for the Empress to lean closer. "I know what you are thinking, but I believe it is true! The moment I saw her today, my heart ached and felt a pang of sorrow. In fact, when she hugged me and called me 'Father' again and again, I almost shed tears."
The Empress smiled shyly and rested her head on the Emperor's shoulder. "I feel the same. During the day, I saw her tears streaming down, and my heart felt as if it were being wrung dry, and I couldn't help but weep with her. However, can such miraculous things truly happen in this world? A daughter from a past life, finding us in this life. If what she says is true, then wouldn't Your Majesty and I have been husband and wife for two lifetimes?"
The Emperor looked at her with a half-smile, his eyes full of teasing. "Is it not good to be husband and wife with me?"
The Empress glanced at him reproachfully. "I did not mean that at all. If possible, I wish we could be husband and wife for all eternity."
After exchanging sweet nothings, the old couple looked at each other and smiled, then embraced each other tightly. They surprisingly felt the same sense of first meeting from their youth in each other's eyes. How wonderful they were back then!
Su Muqing slept very, very soundly. In her dreams, she recalled many events from her past life, and even the Phoenix God, who rarely appeared, made a brief appearance in her dream.
It was because of this dream that Su Muqing learned that her parents' arrival in this world was indeed the work of the Phoenix God.
When the Phoenix God discovered Su Muqing in the modern world, her condition was extremely dire: depression, anxiety, and delusion. It was uncertain if she could survive in such a state, let alone complete her missions.
Therefore, the Phoenix God took a wisp of each of her parents' souls and handed them to Buzhai, instructing him to arrange a good destination for them, preferably one where Su Muqing could meet them in this world. Buzhai racked his brains and came up with the idea of using a detoxification journey to lead them here. This was also why the spiritual spring water that could detoxify all poisons in the world could not detoxify Lu Yuzhi's cold poison.
The next day, Su Muqing slowly woke up when the sun was high in the sky. When she opened her eyes, the room was already filled with people, three layers deep, and a red thread was tied around her wrist.
"The young lady is awake!" Just as a palace maid was about to step forward to wipe Su Muqing's face again, she suddenly saw her eyes wide open. She quickly put down the cloth and exclaimed excitedly.
Hearing that she was awake, the Empress turned and returned to the bedside. Seeing that Su Muqing was already sitting up, she quickly stepped forward and held her hand. "Child, why did you sleep for so long? No matter how I called you, you did not respond. You almost scared me to death."
"It's nothing! I just got caught up in a dream, so I slept soundly," Su Muqing said sheepishly, scratching her messy hair.
Her mother had never liked her being lazy, especially sleeping in during holidays. She believed that young people should go to bed and wake up early, exercise when they have the time, and maintain their vitality. Unexpectedly, upon their reunion, she had overslept again.
Seeing that she was awake, the Empress was relieved. She dismissed the imperial physicians and medical attendants and had them bring washing items and clothes to change into.
"Mother, where is Xiao Xuanxuan?" Su Muqing looked around but couldn't see the child.
"The Grand Empress Dowager just came. Since you have been unconscious, she heard that the young master had also entered the palace and took him to have breakfast. They have finished eating and are now running around outside playing. You should get up quickly too!" the Empress said, gesturing for the palace maids to come forward and help her wash and dress.
Su Muqing washed up sitting by the bedside. After finishing, she leaned against the Empress's waist with a sense of dependence, shaking her head and acting spoiled, resting her forehead on her.
Her natural and affectionate actions startled the surrounding palace maids. The palace maid who was about to withdraw even dropped the washbasin she was holding, making a clanging noise.
Seeing that she had made a mistake, the palace maid quickly knelt and begged for forgiveness. The washing water splashed everywhere. Nanny Sun's eyes flashed with a hint of urgency. After reprimanding the palace maid sternly, she was about to punish her when Su Muqing stopped her.
"Wait, Nanny. This is all my fault. It was my rash behavior that startled this young sister... young lady. Please spare her this once, Nanny." Su Muqing said, then swayed the hand that was tugging at the Empress's sleeve.
The Empress lightly tapped Su Muqing's forehead. She naturally knew what these palace maids were surprised about. As the mother of the nation, besides the Emperor, she had never been so intimate with anyone else. Moreover, it was a sudden appearance of a stranger, who was hugging her waist and acting spoiled.
"Very well! The young lady has interceded for you, so we will spare you this time. You will be fined one month's wages. Be more careful next time you act," the Empress said, then waved away the servants who were assisting with the washing. Then, the palace maids, lined up behind her, waiting to help Su Muqing dress, came forward one by one.
The young palace maids carrying the ceremonial attire stepped forward and first styled Su Muqing's hair into a very noble updo. A golden hairpin adorned with natural colored gemstones was placed on one side of the bun, while on the other side was a flowing hairpin made of gold and pearls. A delicate coronet with numerous fine tassels was worn at the back of the bun.
After the luxurious hairstyle was arranged, the palace maids began to help her dress. Due to the consistently high temperatures in the Tianzhao Kingdom, the royal family's clothing was also predominantly made of light linen gauze. Underneath was a thin but opaque undergarment, followed by a ruqun (a type of skirt with an inner bodice), then a wide-sleeved gauze top, and finally a shimmering shawl draped over it.
Su Muqing looked at the funhouse mirror in front of her, turning around, but she couldn't make out the exact appearance. She thought for a moment, then quickly ran to the side and rummaged through a large bundle that Lu Yuzhi had casually brought her yesterday. Then she took out a simple, lidless mirror the size of A4 paper.
"Mother, please use this for now. I will make you a larger one in a few days," Su Muqing said, holding the mirror up to the Empress like an offering.
"Is this the glazed mirror produced by your Huaxia City? It is indeed clearer than Tianzhao's glazed mirrors," the Empress said, holding the glazed mirror in her hands with surprise and then began to admire herself for a long time.
Nanny Sun looked up and was also astonished. "This is truly a rare treasure. The young lady truly cares for Your Majesty."
Seeing that she liked it, Su Muqing felt happy. She never thought that her mother, who was difficult to please in the past, would be so happy with just a mirror now.
After the Empress had finished admiring herself, Su Muqing took out another, slightly larger mirror from the bundle. Its back was attached to a red wooden board.
After placing the mirror, Nanny Sun supported the Empress's hand, while Su Muqing linked her arm, and the three of them walked to the large hall in the outer chambers.
The Emperor and Ke Bite were having tea in the outer hall, occasionally chatting with Lu Yuzhi. Ke Binah sat to the side, listening, and occasionally glanced at Lu Ge, who was sitting next to him.
After returning last night, his father had told him that the white-haired man who had returned with him was none other than the young general of Dayu, Huo Qiyuan, whom he had longed to see. He had also given a general account of what had happened to him.
The Grand Empress Dowager was playing with the little bun with some exquisite trinkets, while contemplating other matters.
The Emperor had come to Shou'an Palace early in the morning to pay his respects, saying that he had a long dream, and the immortal in the dream had told him that Su Muqing was his and the Empress's daughter. However, he knew that the officials and the populace would not believe this claim.
Therefore, he wanted to adopt that Miss Su as his goddaughter and give her the rightful status of a princess. Although adopted daughters could not be enfeoffed as princesses, seeing that both the Emperor and Empress felt this way, she agreed.
Her son was also unfortunate. Although he was the ruler of a nation, he had no heir to inherit his imperial throne. Now that he and the Empress had found a child they liked and wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter, she had no reason to object.
The Grand Empress Dowager looked at the adorable Su Muxuan beside her and thought that since they were adopting his elder sister as a goddaughter, they might as well let the Emperor adopt this little fellow as a godson as well! In this way, they would have both a son and a daughter. The Emperor agreed after hearing her suggestion.
When the Empress and Su Muqing arrived at the hall, Lu Yuzhi's eyes could not be moved from the girl dressed in grandeur. Words like beautiful and elegant were no longer sufficient to describe her.
Lu Yuzhi gazed blankly as the girl walked towards him and waved her hand in front of his eyes. "Brother Lu, what are you spacing out for? Does this outfit look good on me?"
"Very good-looking, beautiful and elegant..." As he spoke, Lu Yuzhi felt a pang of annoyance. He had wanted to use some special words to praise her, but looking at her stunningly beautiful face, his mind went blank.
"I also think it looks quite good. Father, do you think I look good in this dress?" Su Muqing was very happy to hear his praise. After asking for Lu Yuzhi's opinion, she went to the Emperor and turned around to showcase herself.
Ke Biyou watched Su Muqing reveal her youthful nature and felt increasingly familiar and affectionate. "Hahaha! Beautiful, like a hibiscus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without adornment. My daughter, of course, is the most beautiful in the world! Simply stunning enough to captivate a nation."
Ke Binah, seeing how well his Imperial Uncle treated Su Muqing, finally believed his father's words. He hadn't been present yesterday, so he didn't know the details of the matter.
His father had told him after returning yesterday that the Emperor was particularly fond of Su Muqing and intended to adopt her as a goddaughter, perhaps even directly conferring the title of Princess upon her. At the time, he hadn't believed it. How could the relationship be so good after just one meeting? Was it for the sake of the trade interests in the glazed tile factory between the two countries?
However, judging from the current situation, the Emperor's affection for Su Muqing clearly came from the bottom of his heart, and there was no sign of it being driven by profit.
After joking and laughing with them for a while, the Emperor then seriously said to Su Muqing, "Girl, the Empress, the Grand Empress Dowager, and I have discussed it, and we have decided to adopt you and your brother as our godchildren. We will also grant you the title of Ning'an. What do you think?"
Su Muqing nodded repeatedly and agreed immediately. In her opinion, these were her parents, and being able to rightfully call them father and mother, why would she need to consider it further? "Okay! I will follow Father and Mother's arrangements."
The Emperor reached out and tidied her bangs. "Good! From now on, in front of others, you will call us Father Emperor and Mother Empress. Only when we are alone will you call us Father and Mother."
"Yes, Muqing understands."
The Emperor whispered in her ear, "Go pay your respects to the Empress Dowager first."
Su Muqing heard the Emperor's words, pulled Su Muxuan along, walked together to the Grand Empress Dowager, and knelt to perform a grand salute. "Muqing pays her respects to the Grand Empress Dowager, wishing the Grand Empress Dowager longevity and good health, and eternal blessings."
"Good, good, good! Good child, get up quickly. The first time I saw you yesterday, I felt you looked familiar, and you were particularly pleasing to my eyes. Unexpectedly, we are now a family. Isn't that right, Xiao Xuanxuan?" The Grand Empress Dowager kindly asked Su Muqing and Su Muxuan to rise, then turned to dote on Su Muxuan.
After the two had risen, the Grand Empress Dowager's personal nanny brought over a medium-sized brocade box. Upon opening it, it was filled with gemstones of various colors. These were all raw stones that the Grand Empress Dowager had collected for a long time and had been reluctant to bestow upon anyone.
Su Muqing expressed her gratitude and accepted the gemstones, thinking about what she should give in return to the Grand Empress Dowager. Her gaze inadvertently swept over the spiritual field in her sea of consciousness, and seeing the vast expanse of green leaves and red fruits, her eyes lit up.
That's right! She should give ginseng!
She checked the growth of the ginseng using her consciousness. Good heavens! The growth speed of the spiritual field was indeed astonishing! The descendants of these ginseng, planted less than two months ago, had already grown to the size of a child's arm.
It was good to plant them in the spiritual field. Planting and harvesting were both very convenient. Su Muqing quickly pulled one out with her mind and wrapped it in a piece of red cloth.
Everyone saw her not getting up after expressing her gratitude, and she was rummaging around in her sleeves, taking out something.
The Empress looked at her strange actions and couldn't help but want to remind her to pay attention to her image. But before she could speak, she saw Su Muqing take out a long, cloth-wrapped object from her sleeve.
Seeing what she had taken out, the Empress paused for a moment, then exchanged a look with Nanny Sun, and inquired with her eyes, "When was this put in her sleeve?"
Nanny Sun was also confused. She shook her head innocently and gestured to the mirror in her hand. This was what Su Muqing had prepared to give to the Grand Empress Dowager. They had just thought she was looking for that.
Su Muqing smiled and presented the wrapped red cloth to the Grand Empress Dowager's personal nanny. "Grand Empress Dowager, this is our gift to you. We hope you will like it."
The Grand Empress Dowager asked the nanny to open the red cloth and see what precious treasure was so tightly wrapped.
As the nanny slowly and smilingly opened the red cloth, everyone in the hall fell silent, and the entire scene was instantly hushed.