"HER MAJESTY, EMPRESS DOWAGER AIXI, HAS ARRIVED!"

Everyone darted their eyes at the woman in her late forty who walked to join the banquet. She wore a black and blue silk robe instead of something more bright and colorful, signifying that she didn't intend to celebrate her new son-in-law's imperial celebration.

Everyone, including Emperor Xianliang and Bai Yunyu, got up and bowed down to Empress Dowager. Empress Dowager Aixi walked to her designated seat and sat silently.

Emperor Xianliang was the first to open his mouth after his mother came, "Mother Empress, do you want any food from the banquet? Your son will ask the servant to bring it for you."

"No need, I'm not in the mood to eat anything, especially during this specific banquet," Empress Dowager glanced at Bai Yunyu and scoffed, mocking his presence.

Bai Yunyu said nothing, but his face paled when Empress Dowager clearly showed her dismissal for him as if she wanted everyone to know that she didn't like her son-in-law.

Empress Dowager Aixi made everyone became tense, but they still said acted all jolly. Nobles and officials started lining up to greet Empress Dowager. Empress Dowager gave them a perfunctory nod or smile.

She didn't seem interested in this banquet, but she still came because she wanted to do something here.

[Larva: That old woman is so annoying! If she doesn't want to come, then just sleep in your palace! You poisonous woman hurting my master!]

Larva protested, but its master kept his silence.

Empress Dowager Aixi waited until Prime Minister Xi and Lady Xi Yue came to her and showed their courtesy towards Empress Dowager.

"This small minister is paying respect to Empress Dowager Aixi. May Your Majesty be blessed with health and prosperity," Prime Minister Xi said.

Empress Dowager smiled and replied, "Thank you, Prime Minister Xi. I see that you're bringing your granddaughter, Xi Yue, isn't it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Prime Minister Xi pushed Xi Yue to the front, and Xi Yue bowed down and paid respect to Empress Dowager.

"This one's name is Xi Yue, Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager's sour face brightened instantly the moment she talked with Xi Yue, which was already a red sign for Huang Shu and Bai Yunyu. Huang Shu knew well that his mother and Xi Yue kept a close contact for years. In fact, even he knew that his mother was the one who persuaded his late Emperor Father to bring Xi Yue as his study partner when he was younger.

It made him suspicious that his mother had set up something with XI Yue to shame his wife since he knew that his mother was the one who was against him marrying a Ger man.

"Ah, Xi Yue, you're indeed as beautiful as a spring flower. How old are you?"

"T—Twenty years old…"

"Twenty years old? You're at the right age to marry! Do you not have any candidate or suitor right now? I don't believe a beautiful girl like you has no one right now."

"T—This one has many suitors, but I have been waiting for the right one," Xi Yue replied.

"The right one?" Empress Dowager acted surprised, then she suddenly glanced at her son. "Ah, that's right, you're such a beautiful young lady from Prime Minister's family, well-educated and well-mannered. I'm sure you need a good husband for you, don't you think so, Emperor?"

Everyone gasped when they finally understood what Empress Dowager wanted to say. Meanwhile, Huang Shu was also surprised that his mother actually tried this thing during Yunyu's banquet.

"Y—Yes, Mother, I believe Lady Xi Yue deserves a good husband for herself," Huang Shu replied awkwardly.

"Perfect," Empress Dowager chuckled happily. She looked at Xi Yue again and asked, "Young lady, don't you think marrying my son, Emperor Xianliang, is a good choice for you. My son is a handsome Emperor who is yet to have a good wife of his own. He is a very picky man, but you should be a good choice for him."

Xi Yue also acted surprised. She closed her mouth and said, "B—But, how could it be, Your Majesty. His Majesty Emperor Xianliang has been married to Master Bai Yunyu, even announced to us that Master Bai Yunyu will be our next Empress…"

"Hmph, do you mean that man beside my son? I don't even know who he is. He is just a deformed thing who bewitched my son. How could I let my son marry a thing that's not even a man or a woman?"

"B—But, Your Majesty… Master Bai Yunyu will be the nation's Empress soon…"

"Him? Replacing me as the new Empress?! The mother of the nation? How could that be?!" Empress Dowager reacted strongly, then she looked at the guests who were silenced. They didn't expect Empress Dowager to deny Bai Yunyu's existence completely.

"Listen, to all my subjects here, do you want to be ruled by a Ger man? By a deformed thing, who is not even a man or a woman? It will bring a curse and disgrace to our nation! How can we rule if the Empress is a disgusting deformed thing!"

"MOTHER!" Huang Shu got up from his seat. He glared at his mother, who had spoken too much and slandered Bai Yunyu. But before he could say anything else, his mother suddenly stopped him by saying,

"What? What do you want to say? Do you want to silence your own mother? Oh, my son, you're the Emperor. You're supposed to be filial to your mother and listen to the cry of your people! Why would you want to marry that thing! I told you I will not accept it!" Empress Dowager looked at the officials and nobles again and then asked loudly,

"WHO WANT TO HAVE A GER EMPRESS HERE? RAISE YOUR HAND!"

…

Everyone was silenced, there were few young noblemen and officials who adored Yunyu and wanted to defend him, but when they were about to raise their hands, their fathers pulled their hands down, afraid to offend Empress Dowager.

Huang Shu gritted his teeth. He wanted to scold his mother for her humiliation to his wife. But it wasn't the right time. It would only create more havoc and branded him as an unfilial son.

Besides, his mother still had a lot of power compared to him, at least for now.

So all he could do right now was to protect Yunyu first, "My decision will not change, Mother Empress. My wife, Bai Yunyu, will be Empress Xiuying in the future!"

"You! That deformed thing has bewitched you until you dare to oppose your own mother! Don't you understand that you should put the country's need above all?"

"This has nothing to do with—"

Huang Shu was surprised when Yunyu suddenly got up and then said, "I am feeling unwell. I will leave for a rest. Please enjoy the banquet, everyone."

"Yunyu, I—" Huang Shu caught Yunyu's wrist, but Yunyu brushed it off and glared at his husband.

"Please continue your duty as the Emperor, Your Majesty. I'm just taking a rest first."

Huang Shu looked lost when his wife left him alone. He also felt powerless because he was bound by duty and filial piety, but he was also bound by love for his wife.

He could only stare at Yunyu's back,

'Yunyu…'