The enthronement of the Prince of Yan was a foregone conclusion, known to everyone in the capital. His Highness, the Prince of Yan, was to ascend the throne in mere days.
The coronation ceremony was set for seven days hence.
New rumors also circulated within the palace, stating that His Highness, the Prince of Yan, had been residing at the Duke Mu's mansion during this period.
Those with a penchant for gossip in the capital were utterly perplexed.
"Why the Duke Mu's mansion?"
"He is the esteemed Prince of Yan, why not stay in the imperial palace— he's already a Duke, so why would he go to the Duke Mu's mansion? It's completely baffling."
"Don't you know? His wife is none other than the young county princess from the Duke Mu's mansion, the renowned beauty of our capital!"
Though this was the case.
Still—
"But this young county princess, isn't she destined for a short life? We heard she fell ill in the northern territories, and has since passed away from her illness. Isn't that right?"
These gossips in the capital inquired persistently, and then, as if someone in the know emerged, they spoke without hesitation.
"Of course not!"
"You simply don't understand the depth of the Prince of Yan's affection! That young county princess is perfectly fine. In fact, it's rumored that the Prince of Yan intends to make her his Empress! She didn't meet a tragic end; she's pregnant, and the Prince of Yan, in order to protect her, spread the word that she was pregnant."
"The Prince of Yan protects her as if she were his own eyes."
The well-informed individual nodded, their tone brimming with earnestness.
"The young county princess is what the Prince of Yan cherishes most! He is determined to make her the Empress!"
However, some remained puzzled.
"But— the former Crown Prince was assassinated, the Empress was imprisoned in the cold palace. Seeing as the Duke Mu's mansion is on the verge of decline, under these circumstances, can it still make a comeback?"
Their voices were filled with extreme doubt.
"The Duke Mu's mansion is likely to fall completely. Among the many noble ladies in the capital, why does the Prince of Yan favor only the young county princess?"
"Even if she hadn't died, and he still wanted to make her Empress, and now she resides in the Duke Mu's mansion..."
"Does he truly dote on this consort of the Prince of Yan to such an extent?"
The streets and alleys were abuzz with discussions, while the informant puffed out their lips with pride.
"Naturally. He dotes on her immeasurably— haven't you heard of the saying 'loving the house and its raven'? Although I've never met this young county princess, according to those who have."
"This young county princess is a peerless beauty!"
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe her as vividly beautiful."
"Such a top-tier beauty, no wonder the Prince of Yan cherishes her like a treasure. Believe it or not, you'll know on the day of the coronation ceremony."
"This young county princess is destined to be the Empress!"
These rumors spread far and wide through the streets and alleys.
And soon, the day of the actual coronation ceremony arrived. When the Prince of Yan appeared outside the palace gates, he truly astonished the entire capital!
"I initially thought the Prince of Yan, having spent so long fighting on the northern battlefields, would be a burly, rough man. I never imagined the Prince of Yan would be so young and refined."
"Back then, all the noble ladies in the capital cried their eyes out, unwilling to marry His Highness, the Prince of Yan. Now, they must be regretting it with swollen eyes!"
"Precisely. Those noble ladies in the capital, each believing His Highness, the Prince of Yan, to be a murderous demon, treated him like a monstrous flood, fearing they'd be devoured by him if they went to the north."
"When the Duke Mu's mansion's beautiful young lady went to the north, countless people watched her with amusement, saying she was bound to never return."
"They were simply jealous of the young county princess's beauty! Of course, they thought she would never return. They fawned over the Crown Prince back then; over a dozen of them vied to become the Crown Prince's consorts. Now, they must all be dumbfounded!"
"With the Crown Prince dead, they don't even know what their fate will be!"
These words carried a hint of sour jealousy.
However, the Prince of Yan's coronation ceremony was indeed imminent. It was heard that the most skilled embroiderers in the capital had all been summoned into the palace, likely to— to create the coronation robes for the new Emperor.
...
On the day of the coronation ceremony.
The young county princess Mu Ci watched the busy embroiderers before her, while the soon-to-be-enthroned, incredibly handsome Prince of Yan paid no attention to his imperial robes at all.
He was solely focused on his Empress!
The young county princess Mu Ci, on her part, showed no sign of the impending status of Empress.
She stretched, and yawned.
"How much longer?"
She had been dragged out to be dressed and groomed since early morning, and she was utterly exhausted!
The embroiderers and palace maids attending to her quietly soothed her.
"Your Highness, don't worry, it will be soon, it will be finished shortly."
The young county princess Mu Ci remained in her languid state. The auspicious time was approaching, yet not a single person dared to rush her.
These palace maids had now understood that for His Majesty, the young county princess Mu Ci was the most important existence!
Even if the auspicious time was missed because of her, they would be willing.
The young county princess Mu Ci put on her ceremonial robes. She nodded and walked forward with the man beside her.
When the palace gates opened, they walked forward side-by-side. Civil and military officials stood at the foot of the steps.
Even her own father and brothers had to prostrate themselves at her feet, for she was the new Emperor's sole Empress, the most noble woman in this world.
The man beside her stood at the head, and everyone marveled at his presence.
Who could have imagined back then that the Prince of Yan, who was practically exiled, would one day return to the capital so gloriously and ascend the throne as Emperor.
Gazing at his imposing demeanor, and the beautiful woman beside him, the officials bowed, Long live our Emperor!
...
And at the very moment all the ministers bowed their heads.
Lin Mu Ci looked at the man beside her, then quickly leaned close to his ear and said.
"I want to touch your fox ears."
The little system in her mind instantly became breathless, its voice extremely anxious.
"Host, don't, don't act rashly."
"This is his coronation ceremony, with all the civil and military officials below. Host, how can you make him... make him reveal his semi-demon form? Host, you're acting recklessly!"
Upon hearing the little system's words, Lin Mu Ci retorted.
"You're not him, how do you know he's unwilling."
The little system still felt extremely flustered.
"But... Host you..."
"This request is truly excessive. Everyone has a sense of shame. For him to reveal his semi-demon form in front of you is already the limit."
"He absolutely will not agree to reveal his semi-demon form now!"
This was what the little system thought.
But the Prince of Yan beside Lin Mu Ci, no, he had already ascended the throne, he was now the Emperor.
The most powerful man in the world, yet he smiled, leaned close to Lin Mu Ci, and then said.
"You want to touch my ears and tail?"
"Alright."
He agreed without even the slightest hesitation.
"If you want to touch my ears and tail, you can touch them freely, alright?"
He gazed intently at the young woman before him, his eyes filled with unmistakable doting!
In front of everyone, with the civil and military officials kneeling below.
Even though all the civil and military officials were now prostrating themselves, no matter what, this— this was truly too unexpected.
He was going to reveal his ears and tail in front of all the civil and military officials!