Qin Kexin's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. "Precisely because I've regained my memory, I cannot get close to him as before."
There was a reason for the saying that the closer one gets to home, the more timid one becomes.
Love could make people unleash their potential, but it could also make them lose their minds.
Ye Zhu looked at her mistress with a complex expression, as if she had something to say.
Qin Kexin saw her hesitation. "Ask whatever you want to ask."
Ye Zhu whispered, "Your Highness, Consort Ting and Consort Chu are currently in conflict, and you are the one who knows the most about Consort Liang's affairs."
"Since His Majesty is now acting distant and near towards Consort Liang, why don't you seize this opportunity to claim the position of Empress?"
Her mistress was now assisting in managing the affairs of the six palaces and had been officially enfeoffed as a consort. With no Empress above her, it was only right to strive for the title.
Qin Kexin removed her outer robe and changed into a long skirt. "Empress? What use would it be for me to be Empress?"
Ye Zhu pursed her lips and waved her hand, dismissing all the maids.
Once the maids had all withdrawn, Ye Zhu continued, "Has Your Highness never considered recommending the Fourth Prince as the Crown Prince?"
"Him?" Qin Kexin's eyelids twitched, and a hint of disdain involuntarily appeared in her eyes.
Just then, a servant outside softly reported, "Your Highness, the Fifth Prince has arrived."
"Let him in," Qin Kexin said, settling onto a soft couch.
Ye Zhu withdrew her gaze and went to tidy the things on the table.
A moment later, Ye Jingguang entered. "Mother Consort? I heard you were enfeoffed as a consort today? Was there anything delicious at the enfeoffment ceremony?"
Little Wu had been having a poor appetite these past few days and wasn't eating properly. She was just thinking of finding some special food for him.
Seeing his listless eyes, Qin Kexin really wanted to throw a pillow at him.
They were both sons, both born of the same father, yet the difference was so vast.
She sat up straighter and beckoned, "Guang'er, come here."
Ye Jingguang immediately trotted over like a fawning dog. "What is it, Mother Consort?"
Qin Kexin called Ye Zhu over and, in front of her, said to Ye Jingguang, "Guang'er, Mother Consort has something to ask you. Answer honestly."
Ye Jingguang didn't really want to answer questions at the moment; he wanted to quickly get some delicious snacks for his brother.
But seeing Qin Kexin's serious expression, he could only nod.
Qin Kexin then asked, "Guang'er, do you want to be Emperor?"
Ye Jingguang blinked, reached into his ear, and asked, "Huh?"
Qin Kexin's voice grew a little more serious. "Guang'er, listen to me. If you want to be Emperor, Mother Consort can help you."
This time, Ye Jingguang finally heard clearly and knew that his mother's question wasn't his imagination.
He cried out as if his tail had been stepped on, jumping back two steps and frantically waving his hands. "Mother Consort, staging a coup is treasonous!"
He was going crazy; his mother must be possessed by a ghost!
Ye Zhu, standing nearby, twitched at the corner of her mouth.
Qin Kexin remained calm and continued, "You don't need to be so scared. Mother Consort will not stage a coup, nor will she collude with court officials."
"Actually, your father told me today that he wants me to be Empress. As long as I become Empress, I can rightfully recommend you as Emperor."
"Becoming Emperor~" Ye Jingguang drew out his words, pouted, and crossed his arms, seeming to ponder. "I don't think being Emperor is all that great."
Take their father, for example. He was burdened with so many state affairs every day, had to wake up so early for court, sleep so late at night, and had no time to play.
Not to mention eating, his diet was controlled by people in the Imperial Study every day. If he fell ill, he still had to worry about state affairs. It was simply exhausting.
Qin Kexin's eyes flickered, and she said with a hint of temptation, "Once you're Emperor, you'll have imperial power. Everyone will have to listen to you, and you can have whatever you want."
"But I already have whatever I want now." Ye Jingguang rubbed the back of his head, then suddenly punched his left palm with his right fist, as if recalling something.
"Oh, right, there's one thing I can't have: I want food from every province in the world."
If all the delicacies in the world could be brought into the palace to make varied meals for Little Wu, then Little Wu would surely regain his appetite.
That seemed pretty good too.
Ye Jingguang quickly leaned forward. "Mother Consort, when are you becoming Empress? I want to be Emperor now, let's hurry."
Ye Zhu: "..."
Qin Kexin: "..."
She took a deep breath, smiled, picked up a pillow, and threw it at him. "You're dreaming!"
If this good-for-nothing were to become Emperor, let alone whether the people of the world would agree, she would probably be cursed from her coffin for rising from the dead a hundred years later!
Ye Jingguang was knocked to the ground, covering his head with his hands. "Mother Consort, why are you doing this?"
Qin Kexin couldn't be bothered to deal with him anymore and turned to look at Ye Zhu. "See?"
Ye Zhu also smiled helplessly.
She saw it, saw it clearly.
"Your Highness, children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. It's quite good for our Fifth Prince to be like this."
Her mistress's thoughts were also correct. Based on past situations, the most likely to succeed to the throne were Prince Yu and Prince Kun. Prince Lian was no longer considered by His Majesty at all.
And compared to Prince Kun, Prince Yu seemed to have a greater chance. If they maintained a good relationship with Consort Liang now, and if Prince Yu were to ascend the throne, the Fifth Prince's life would be better.
Being a leisurely prince was better than being a stepping stone for someone else.
Qin Kexin nodded. "That's exactly the principle."
The concept of a mother gaining status through her son would never happen to her. Rather than relying on this useless son, she might as well rely on herself.
Now that she had made connections on both sides, if that day truly came, it would be good for her to be a retired consort.
Ye Jingguang was still groaning, completely unaware of why he was being hit.
His mother consort was really something. She was the one who asked him if he wanted to be Emperor first, and then she hit him when he said he did.
Women's hearts were truly hard to understand.
"Mother Consort, I won't be Emperor anymore, but I still want to take some of the snacks you brought back." Ye Jingguang pouted, still feeling a bit wronged.
Little Wu was still waiting for him.
Qin Kexin no longer wanted to hit him, fearing she would make him even more foolish. "I'll have someone bring you some snacks later, but don't just think about eating. I have something for you to do."
Ye Jingguang felt that having snacks was enough and quickly nodded.
Qin Kexin said, "A young girl from the General's mansion entered the palace today. Go play with her for a while and build some rapport."
Looking at Prince Yu, he seemed to like that young girl named Momo. Prince Kun also seemed to be fond of that child.
That young girl would undoubtedly become a princess consort in the future, and it didn't matter whose princess consort she became; she would be Guang'er's imperial sister-in-law anyway.
If they built a good relationship now, she might be able to help them if anything happened in the future.
Ye Jingguang rubbed the back of his head. "Why? Didn't Mother Consort warn me not to play with Momo before?"
Qin Kexin frowned. "Before is before, and now is now. They cannot be spoken of in the same breath."
Before, she didn't want him to be with the young girl for fear of Prince Yu misunderstanding. But from today onwards, she would also build a good relationship with Consort Liang. Then, if he were to be with the young girl, it would be purely for play, and Prince Yu would not think too much of it.