Prime Minister Li appeased Wanyan Chao and then rushed into the palace to report the matter to Empress Dowager Wanyan. Upon hearing that her grandnephew had arrived, Empress Dowager Wanyan hastily instructed that he be welcomed into the palace and then informed Emperor Murong Liuzun, ordering him to come and meet him.

The Emperor of Great Yong, Murong Liuzun, is twenty-four years old this year. He was originally the ninth son of the former emperor, born to a concubine who was not favored. When Murong Liuzun was seven years old, his biological mother passed away; at that time, he was still called Murong Liu. "Murong Liuzun" was the name given to him by the retired emperor at the behest of the Empress Dowager after she adopted him.

Back then, the Empress Dowager intended to choose an adopted son, and for him to catch her eye among the numerous princes and suddenly become the crown prince was by no means a coincidence.

Although he acted low-key and had a very low sense of presence among the emperor’s many heirs, he was an extraordinarily handsome man, easily noticeable and capable of drawing attention among the many excellent princes.

It was precisely because of his captivating appearance that Empress Dowager Wanyan started to pay attention to him. Subsequently, through her meticulous observation and investigation, she discovered that he was not as mediocre and aimless as he appeared to be. In reality, he was calm, wise, and appeared naive by design. The reason he displayed such a faÇade was to avoid the attention, jealousy, and suspicion of other powerful princes, thereby protecting himself. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Upon realizing this, Empress Dowager Murong did not hesitate to select him as her adopted son, focusing on cultivating him. To consolidate his position and assist him in ascending to the throne of the crown prince, she arranged for him to marry Princess Roujia of Qing Luo Kingdom.

Princess Roujia is the foster sister of Wanyan Jingchen, the emperor of the Qing Luo Kingdom. Her original surname was Situ, as she was the daughter of Situ Qi from the Great Jin, who once adopted and cared for Wanyan Jingchen. Grateful for Situ Qi’s kindness when he was young, Wanyan Jingchen, after Situ Qi’s death, brought his daughter Situ Xiuniang to Qing Luo, granted her the national surname, and bestowed upon her the title of Princess Roujia, allowing her to enjoy a unique royal status in Qing Luo Kingdom.

Situ Xiuniang—no, she is now Princess Roujia—was born to Situ Qi at the age of fifty. Wanyan Jingchen, mindful of the debt he owed his father, adored this sister, who was twenty years younger than him. Queen Martial, who had given birth to five sons but no daughters, treated her as her own daughter, spoiling her in Qing Luo Kingdom, making her stand out even against other countries’ legitimate princesses.

When she reached the age for marriage, Wanyan Jingchen originally wanted to keep her in Qing Luo Kingdom and find a gentle and understanding young man for her. Coincidentally, the Empress Dowager of Great Yong sent a letter proposing marriage to her adopted son. Wanyan Jingchen intended to refuse, but she secretly went to see the envoy of Great Yong and expressed her willingness to marry there.

Seeing her determination, Wanyan Jingchen was greatly disappointed in her but could only let her have her way and marry her off...

After marrying into Great Yong, she first became the crown princess of Murong Liuzun. When Murong Liuzun ascended the throne, she was crowned as the empress, the model for all under heaven.

Murong Liuzun always respected her deeply, and the couple never quarreled because he fully understood that, without her powerful background, his imperial father would never have decided to make him the crown prince, nor would he have ascended the throne so smoothly.

However, despite his gratitude, he did not, like the emperor of Qing Luo Kingdom, live a lifetime with only one queen, Queen Martial. His imperial harem was bustling, featuring not only Empress Wanyan but also two imperial concubines: Li Defei, the granddaughter of Prime Minister Li and the biological daughter of Princess Gao Yang of Long; and Consort Shangguan Xian, the sister of Shangguan Xiuzhe, the commander of the Brocade Uniform Guards, as well as a few other lesser-ranked Zhaoyi and talented women.

Treating his concubines, he remained a gentleman, favoring them greatly. However, if anyone dared to commit any sinister or rebellious acts, he would never tolerate it. One day he might be affectionate and intimate, but the next day, he would turn his back on them; those who deserved to be banished to the Cold Palace were sent there, and those who deserved death were executed, showing no pity whatsoever.