Everyone in the palace unanimously felt that Princess Mu Ci was incredibly fortunate!
They had never encountered any Empress with such good fortune. Even the seasoned elders who had served previous Empresses and concubines, and had heard whispers of palace secrets, had never spoken of any Empress or concubine receiving treatment like that of the young Empress Mu Ci.
Every day, when His Majesty went to the front court for the morning assembly and to meet with civil and military officials, she could sleep in her own palace until she woke up naturally.
Several chefs, personally selected by His Majesty, would prepare her favorite foods.
A vast array of breakfast options was available.
The chefs specifically brought from the distant Jiangnan region created pastries that were incredibly exquisite. The pastries were fragrant and sweet, making one crave more with every bite, whetting the appetite!
Young Princess Mu Ci herself was a simple foodie. She loved delicious food but often couldn't finish it all, so she would bestow the delicacies upon the palace maids.
Thanks to her generosity, everyone had the chance to taste many delicious dishes.
Moreover, His Majesty doted on Young Princess Mu Ci, listening to her every word. Whatever Young Princess Mu Ci desired, His Majesty would directly grant it to her.
Without any reservation.
The servants in the palace were all astonished. His Majesty also frequently carried his Empress around, and despite this unconventional behavior, no one dared to speak.
And it was rumored that during the day, within the palace chambers, they dared…
They dared to draw the curtains and do things… things that made one afraid to listen too closely.
The sound of the young Empress’s laughter could be heard, filled with joy and merriment. This was not a situation of an Emperor and an Empress, but rather a pair of deeply affectionate newlyweds!
The servants in the palace were also encountering such a loving imperial couple for the first time.
However, there was still a slight worry.
It was heard that Her Ladyship was pregnant—His Majesty couldn't continue to act so recklessly; he had to consider the empire and its future!
Lin Mu Ci had no idea what these palace servants were thinking, nor did she care at all. She merely smiled and looked up at the Emperor opposite her.
Then she rushed over to hug him and began to playfully tug at his soft ears. He then said,
"During the morning court today, the northwest submitted a memorial stating that the barbarians are stirring again. These foolish savages, perhaps thinking that my absence from the northwest has created an opportunity, have raided several times. They are now gathering troops and planning an invasion."
This was a serious matter concerning the border populace.
Lin Mu Ci immediately shed her frivolous demeanor. She let out a soft sound, sat up straight, and then earnestly looked at the young man before her.
"Then what should be done?"
"Are you going to the northwest?"
The young man opposite her shook his head. His handsome face, however, bore a sneer of disdain, clearly showing his utter contempt for these barbarians.
"The barbarians are not a threat. With your brother there, he is sufficient to maintain order. Furthermore, I have three hundred thousand troops in the northwest who did not accompany me to the imperial city. My concern has never been the northwest, but rather the interior of the imperial city."
Lin Mu Ci understood what the young man meant. After arriving in the northwest, he needed to purge the forces left behind by the former Crown Prince and cultivate his own personnel.
He needed to promote capable individuals.
Naturally, he was very busy.
But even so, he still had to carve out several hours each day to spend with her. Even if he merely watched her eat contentedly, he was satisfied.
Lin Mu Ci thought for a moment longer and asked him earnestly.
"Are the palace affairs very thorny? Are they unmanageable?"
The young man shook his head.
He fell silent for a moment, and then he said,
"The former Emperor never intended for the Crown Prince to succeed him. Those he left behind were not elites, but rather some… incapable individuals who only knew how to flatter. As for bringing back the Grand Tutor who had retired, he intended for him to stabilize the court for me."
He mentioned this with continued disdain in his expression.
"Did he think that this would make me forgive him?"
"He has now gone to a temple—even so, reciting tens of thousands of Buddhist scriptures daily cannot truly atone for his sins!"
"He stood idly by and watched my mother die. No matter how grand an excuse he finds, he will never, ever make me forgive him. He is a cowardly, incompetent, selfish villain. He could have done something, but he shirked his responsibility."
"Does he think that by abdicating the throne to me, he can escape?"
"Absolutely not!"
The young man’s words were laced with extreme bitterness. Hearing him speak like this, Lin Mu Ci knew that this matter touched upon his deep-seated resentment. She sighed softly, her tone revealing a hint of helplessness.
"This is… this is also unavoidable."
"But, I know this is your unresolved issue. Are you still feeling distressed?"
The young man opposite her lowered his gaze in silence.
"The world considers half-demons to be ill-omened."
She immediately raised her hand in a hurry, her wide eyes making her expression incredibly endearing. She then earnestly told him.
"No, that's not true! Half-demons are not ill-omened. That's what people think, but I know your fox ears and fox tail are incredibly cute!"
"I love half-demon bloodlines the most! You are the cutest fox in this world."
She stuck out her tongue.
"You are my Bai Ruan Ruan."
"Even if everyone says you're no good, even if no one likes you, I still like Bai Ruan Ruan the most!"
She widened her eyes, forcefully expressing her feelings, then told him seriously, word by word.
"Bai Ruan Ruan is the best little fox in this world, and also my favorite little fox."
"I am Bai Ruan Ruan's master, and also Bai Ruan Ruan's beloved!"
The young man opposite her chuckled.
Even though he was already the Emperor, worshipped daily, and enjoyed the glory of being above all others, the moments that made his heart feel the warmest and most stable were when this girl hugged him tightly and told him.
"I like you the most."
"I am your master, so I will never leave you! I am not a selfish person. Since I took you in back then, and since I showed such kindness, I will never drive you away in my life."
He looked at the young girl's earnest expression, at her wide, earnest eyes. He reached out and ruffled her hair.
She blinked, revealing an utterly innocent expression. He then hugged her tightly and kissed her on the forehead.
"Mm. I know."
"In this world, only you will be my master."
"I know everything."
The young girl opened her eyes wide, her gaze still bright. The young man reached out and gently stroked her cheek, saying,
"When I first found you, I also thought that the young ladies from the capital must be very annoying."
"Delicate and fragile, prone to crying, unable to endure any hardship."
"I dislike such girls the most."
"Because I suffered so much hardship from a young age. I thought that a girl who couldn't share my hardships would be someone I couldn't be with."
The young girl pouted her tongue, her voice very soft.
"Then—am I unable to endure hardship?"
"I truly cannot endure any hardship at all."
"If you make me endure hardship, I will cry!"
She looked up, deliberately feigning anger.
The Emperor opposite her reached out and ruffled her hair, then said earnestly.
"I know. Later, I changed my mind. I thought, my little girl, I cannot let her suffer even a bit of hardship, nor can I bear to see her shed a single tear."
"I only wish her to be happy."
"I wish her to always be that delicate and beautiful maiden, to be held in the palm of someone's hand. But how can anyone else cherish her as I do, how can they be as thoughtful and attentive as I am? Therefore—it is best that I personally hold her in my palm."
The young girl listened, as if understanding but not quite.
Her voice suddenly became low.
"So, you didn't dislike me later on?"
She stuck out her tongue.
"Actually, I am really useless."
"Really!"
She sighed slowly, her tone filled with helplessness, and muttered softly.
"I am truly useless—I don't know how to do anything. Even the palace rules, despite the tutors teaching me countless times, I find them too complicated. There are so many rules, I really can't learn them."
Her eyes seemed to slowly fill with tears, giving her a wronged yet sparkling appearance.
"Those rules—they are truly troublesome. Every time the tutors speak, I feel like dozing off. I truly cannot learn them."
The man opposite her simply looked at her dotingly and said without hesitation.
"If you can't learn them, then don't learn them."
She sighed.
"They also said that His Majesty would select imperial consorts from other ministers' daughters to enter the palace…"
The man then assured her with even greater certainty.
"There will not be."
He didn't show even the slightest hesitation.
"There will not be daughters of other ministers entering the palace. Only you—in my world, there is only you."
He reached out and gently stroked her hair, feeling the warmth emanating from her body. He leaned close to her ear and said earnestly.
"I will only be your little fox."
"You are my master, and I am the one worried about being abandoned by you."
"So you never need to worry, because my heart will always belong to you."
He felt no shame in saying anything in front of her. He looked up at her innocent face, a smile slowly blooming.
"Master—never abandon me."
This was the Emperor!
The Emperor was calling her Master in front of her.
Lin Mu Ci was also enjoying this treatment for the first time.
She felt she had truly achieved something, to the extent of bringing glory to her ancestors!
The love of a half-demon was loyal and passionate.
This world was truly wonderful!
Her Qian He was truly wonderful!