Xue Xingyue stepped forward to Xue Min's side and asked, "Mother, why are you here? Did Father say something to you? I'll go find him..."
"Don't go," Xue Min stopped her. "It's not his fault; I insisted on this."
"Mother..." Xue Xingyue looked at Xue Min, not fully understanding.
Xue Min looked at the child before her and slowly said, "My child, mother might not be able to keep her promise."
"Mother..."
Xue Min lowered her gaze and said, "The name you like may not be usable."
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue smiled. "If not Xingyue, can I be called something else?"
Xue Min raised her head and said, "But this is the name my child likes."
"Mother, a name is just a code. How can it be more important than Mother and Father?"
Xue Min's heart bloomed with joy at these words. Holding Xue Xingyue, she said contentedly, "My child is truly sensible. Since Xingyue cannot be used, let's call you Xingxing, beautiful alone in the night."
"Alright, Mother decides," Xue Xingyue said. It was just a temporary fake name anyway, so any name would do.
"Madam, the Master is here," the servant announced from outside the door.
Xue Min, still harboring some anger, said, "I won't see him."
"Mother, don't be angry. Father did nothing wrong in this matter," Xue Xingyue reasoned.
Xue Min knew Shi Lang was not wrong; it was his attitude at the time that had made her uncomfortable.
"Let Father in," Xue Xingyue took the liberty of instructing.
"You..." Xue Min looked at Xue Xingyue helplessly.
"Mother, I don't want you and Father to have any disagreements, especially not because of me."
Xue Min sighed. Whom had she saved in her past life to deserve such a good child?
"My child, you are truly good," Xue Min couldn't help but hug Xue Xingyue, filled with contentment.
Footsteps sounded from outside, and Shi Lang strode in. Seeing both Xue Min and the little one present, his expression softened considerably.
"Father..." Xue Xingyue emerged from Xue Min's embrace and rushed towards Shi Lang.
Shi Lang quickly wiped his hands and caught the small body. The soft, little body snuggled into his arms, smelling faintly of milk, filling his heart.
Picking up the child, he looked at Xue Min and said, "Don't be angry, my dear. It was all my fault today."
Xue Min was slightly taken aback and turned her face away. "It's not your fault either; I was being stubborn."
"Madam, I have decided. Tomorrow morning at the imperial court, I will petition His Majesty to bestow the name Xingyue upon our child," Shi Lang announced.
Xue Min trembled, disbelieving. "But... didn't you say that sharing a name with the princess might bring about a fatal disaster?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Lang said, "I will try."
"Father, there's no need to try. I don't like the name Xingyue anymore," the little one in his arms suddenly said.
Shi Lang paused, looking down at the child in his arms. "You don't like it anymore?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes, I like the name Xingxing now."
"Alright, then it shall be Xingxing," Shi Lang agreed.
Shi Lang coaxed Xue Min for a while longer, and only then did her anger subside, and she returned to the room with him.
Xue Xingyue pretended to fall asleep. Shi Lang carried her back to her room and then left.
After Shi Lang departed, Xue Xingyue opened her eyes. She hadn't actually fallen asleep. Seeing Shi Lang and Xue Min today reminded her of her own mother and father. She wondered if they were thinking of her too.
At the imperial court, as the announcement "Anyone with a memorial, speak; without memorials, the court is adjourned" rang out, the morning audience concluded.
After the officials departed, Feng Ling'er lifted her veil and breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, it's over."
"You've been impersonating for so long, why are you still afraid?"
Feng Ling'er glared at Wen Yuxi, who was speaking. "Don't stand there and talk so easily. This is in front of so many officials. If I were exposed, could you protect me?"
"You won't be," Wen Yuxi replied.
"Where is such certainty in this world? As the saying goes, a wall can't block out all wind." Feng Ling'er said.
"With me here, it won't," Wen Yuxi stated calmly.
Feng Ling'er couldn't help but look up at his handsome profile, then quickly lowered her head, suppressing the fluttering in her heart.
"I wonder when His Majesty will return. I can barely keep up the act," Feng Ling'er said with a wry smile.
Wen Yuxi gazed outwards, remaining silent.
Within the palace, a young eunuch stealthily crept out. Peeking around from a hidden spot, he found someone waiting outside. The eunuch handed over an item.
The other person took it and left. The eunuch then slipped back inside, covering the opening before departing.
Not far away, inside a carriage, someone received a folded note from a servant. Unfolding it, a chilling laugh escaped.
"Go," the person inside the carriage commanded, and the carriage moved away.
A person hidden in a nearby tree leaped down, their water-and-sky colored dress fluttering in the wind.
Within half a day, news spread among the populace that the person occupying the most honored position was not the true Empress.
As the situation escalated, Wen Yuxi and Shen Yunxuan met urgently within the palace to discuss the matter.
They deliberated late into the night without arriving at a reliable solution. Shen Yunxuan remained silent for a long time, then suddenly looked up. "It would be best if Miss Feng could show herself at the morning court tomorrow."
Feng Ling'er immediately waved her hands. "No, no, I... I'm scared..."
"What are you afraid of? They wouldn't dare do anything to you. Whatever happens, I and Lord Wen are here. What are you afraid of?"
Feng Ling'er still shook her head. "For me to impersonate the Empress was already the extent of my courage. You still want me to appear? I... I can't."
"You must, even if you can't," Wen Yuxi interjected.
Feng Ling'er offered a wry smile. "You're forcing my hand."
"Miss Feng, the situation is urgent. If we don't force you tomorrow, the officials will," Shen Yunxuan said with a similar wry smile.
Feng Ling'er understood Shen Yunxuan's words. "Alright... fine!"
Shen Yunxuan continued, "Tomorrow, Miss Feng, act according to the situation. If you can't answer, get angry and refuse to answer. Lord Wen and I will handle everything else."
Feng Ling'er nodded. "Okay, I understand."
Shen Yunxuan looked at Wen Yuxi. "Lord Wen, may I have a word in private?"
Wen Yuxi nodded and stepped out. "Is there anything that cannot be said in here?"