278: The Empress Dowager's purpose in coming...

The door to the Imperial Palace opened again, and a beautiful woman in an elegant and luxurious palace dress walked in, without any maids accompanying her.

Her hair was styled high, adorned with pearls and jade, and her face bore a five or six-tenths resemblance to Princess Pingyang, Mu Shining.

However, she possessed more of the mature charm and dignified presence that came with the passage of time. She was none other than the current Empress Dowager, Empress Mu Qingning’s wet nurse, and Princess Pingyang’s biological mother, Su Jinyu!

Her gaze first fell upon her daughter, who was seated on the Dragon Throne, her expression having already regained its majesty.

Then, her eyes shifted to Li Shengyuan, who stood by her side, a hint of undetectable admiration and complexity flashing within them.

“Your subject, Li Shengyuan, greets Empress Dowager,” Li Shengyuan bowed respectfully, his posture neither servile nor arrogant.

“Shengyuan, there is no need for such formality.”

Empress Dowager Su Jinyu’s face showed a gentle smile, and her voice was kind, “Please rise quickly. First, you quelled the rebellion in the Northern Territory, and now you have gone south, pacifying Jiangnan and subduing the overseas territories. You have rendered unparalleled service to Great Qian, truly, you have worked hard.”

She paused, her gaze filled with sincere gratitude: “I must also thank you for taking such good care of that girl Princess Pingyang while you were away. That child has a lively temperament; she didn’t cause you any trouble, did she?”

“Empress Dowager, you overstate it,” Li Shengyuan straightened up and responded calmly, “This is merely my duty. Princess Pingyang is intelligent and quick-witted, and she was very helpful in Jiangnan; she did not cause any trouble at all.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager’s smile deepened, and she nodded repeatedly: “That’s good, that’s good.”

She looked Li Shengyuan up and down, growing more satisfied with each glance, “As expected of the talent valued by both the Previous Emperor and Qingning; he possesses an imposing bearing, unparalleled cultivation, and what’s more, he is sincerely devoted to the nation. He is truly a blessing to our Great Qian.”

After some pleasantries and praise, the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace seemed harmonious and natural.

However, the tension in Female Emperor Mu Qingning and Li Shengyuan’s hearts did not ease.

The Empress Dowager usually lived a secluded life, rarely coming to the Empress’s Imperial Palace unless necessary, let alone at this delicate time when Li Shengyuan had just returned to report.

After all, she was also aware of the relationship between the two of them, and with her emotional intelligence, she shouldn’t have interrupted the two who had been reunited after a long separation… Female Emperor Mu Qingning’s thoughts shifted slightly, and with an appropriately concerned expression, she softly spoke, guiding the conversation to the main topic:

“Mother, please be seated. Did you come today to discuss something important with your daughter?”

Hearing her daughter’s question, Empress Dowager Su Jinyu’s smile slightly receded. She sat gracefully in an armchair, then let out a soft sigh.

She did not answer directly but instead glanced at Li Shengyuan, then back to Female Emperor Mu Qingning, her tone carrying a hint of emotion and worry:

“Qingning… Shengyuan is not an outsider, so Mother will not beat around the bush.”

She gently smoothed her sleeve and slowly said, “Now that Jiangnan is settled, the overseas territories have submitted, and the Demon Sect’s conspiracy has been thwarted, the world has finally ushered in a rare period of peace.”

“Logically, I should feel at ease…”

Her tone shifted, and a genuine trace of worry appeared between her brows: “But when one is idle, one can’t help but overthink. Qingning, you and Princess Pingyang are both no longer young…”

Li Shengyuan and Female Emperor Mu Qingning were both startled by these words. Princess Pingyang was only in her youth, and Female Emperor Mu Qingning was a few years older, but she had not yet reached her thirties.

For those with cultivation, this wasn’t considered old, was it…? The two exchanged glances, unsure of the Empress Dowager’s meaning, but they did not speak to ask.

Empress Dowager Su Jinyu looked at Female Emperor Mu Qingning with earnest eyes: “Especially you, as the ruler of a nation, bearing the responsibility of the country, your lifelong marriage is even more crucial for the stability of the foundation of the state. And Princess Pingyang, with her temperament, I truly fear she will waste her years.”

Lifelong marriage?

The two probably understood what the Empress Dowager had come for this time… “The Previous Emperor passed away early, leaving us three, mother and daughters.”

The Empress Dowager’s voice became choked, and tears welled in her eyes, “I am your closest elder in this world.”

“Now, I have no other desires. The only thing I think about day and night, unable to sleep, is the marriage of you two sisters.”

Indeed, it was so… She picked up a silk handkerchief and gently dabbed the corners of her eyes: “I am just afraid… I am just afraid that one day I will close my eyes and go down to meet the Previous Emperor. If he asks about Qingning’s Imperial Husband, Princess Pingyang’s Imperial Son-in-Law, and about the continuation of our royal bloodline…”

“I would be speechless. That… that would truly be having no face to meet our ancestors, no face to meet the Previous Emperor!”

These words, appealing to emotion and reason, sincere and heartfelt, perfectly expressed a mother’s and an elder’s concern for their juniors’ marriages and family lineage.

Female Emperor Mu Qingning and Li Shengyuan exchanged glances, both understanding.

The Empress Dowager had laid such extensive groundwork, worrying about the country and family, but her core message was only one… She had come to urge marriage.

And her target was directly Empress Mu Qingning’s marriage, and… very likely related to it, Li Shengyuan’s attitude.

The air seemed to subtly solidify at this moment.

In fact, Li Shengyuan, his Senior Sister Female Emperor Mu Qingning, and Princess Pingyang Mu Shining had all intentionally been avoiding this matter… But they hadn’t expected that as soon as they returned from Jiangnan, the Empress Dowager would directly lay her cards on the table!

For a moment, even Li Shengyuan and Female Emperor Mu Qingning, who had experienced many grand occasions, were somewhat caught off guard…