When will you establish an empress again?

  The scenery in the garden is resplendent, especially the wealthy peony, which blooms even more magnificently, attracting all sorts of butterflies to gather nectar.

  On the peony pavilion, there is a round stone table. On the stone table, a golden lacquer incense burner is placed, with clouds of smoke swirling around it, forming shapes that resemble both clouds and flowers, emitting a fragrance that delights the heart.

  A slender and upright figure with a pure yellow back, trailing a pure yellow hem, swept across the ground covered in peony petals. On the hem, several petals with dew drops stuck to it.

  The backyard in the early morning has a tranquility like the heavenly palace, but without its coldness.

  With a steady and unhurried pace, he walked up to the pavilion, all the way to the stone table, where his tall and straight figure in pure yellow gave people an extremely perfect visual impression.

  After withdrawing from court, the Holy Emperor rushed straight to the Peony Pavilion. He wore a pure yellow dragon robe without dragon patterns, with an imperial crown on his head, half of his black silk hair tied inside the crown, and the other half hanging down behind his back. From behind, his figure was uniquely beautiful and elegant. His deep and gentle eyes fell on the incense burner, and the smoke that floated out seemed to be both cloud and flower-like in shape, causing the corners of his lips to rise slightly with a hint of a smile.

  Before long, more than ten footsteps came from behind him.

  The gentle gaze of the noble gentleman softened a little, and his line of sight moved from the incense burner to the large peony flowers outside the pavilion.

  As they approached Peony Pavilion with about a dozen footsteps, a loud voice came, "The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

  Two young palace maids, two old palace maids, several young eunuchs and an elderly eunuch accompanied the Empress Dowager as she walked up to the Peony Pavilion.

  The Empress Dowager placed one hand on top of the old man's, her palm covering his, and slowly walked up to the Peony Pavilion with him.

  His Majesty rose to his feet, facing the Empress Dowager, and bowed elegantly, his voice filled with an indescribable elegance and poise. "Your son pays his respects, Mother. May you have a good morning!"

  "Hmm," the Empress Dowager responded lightly, her voice so soft it was like dust, and if one didn't listen carefully, they would have thought she hadn't made a sound from start to finish.

  The Empress Dowager was in her forties, but looked like she was in her twenties or thirties. She was dressed elegantly and had a well-proportioned figure, giving off an air of dignity. Her face was gentle, yet it was paired with an icy expression that didn't match her features.

  After sitting down, the Empress Dowager waved a handkerchief with an embroidered lotus pattern.

  All the palace maids and eunuchs understood the meaning of the handkerchief's wave, and they all lowered their heads one after another, retreating from the Peony Pavilion and walking away.

  The Empress Dowager gently waved her hand to disperse the smoke from the incense burner, closed her eyes and took a sniff. A sentence with profound meaning escaped her lips, "Just like before, it's still the scent that gives our family a headache."

  Suddenly, a flicker of emotion flashed across the profound eyes of the Holy Emperor, but it was fleeting. After sitting down, he gazed steadily at the swirling smoke rising from the incense burner, which formed shapes like clouds and flowers. "For me, this fragrance is what I most want to smell right now. I have lived for twenty-three or four years already; Mother Empress should let me find my own empress who will support me for a lifetime!"

  The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, her slightly angry gaze couldn't bear to fall on the Emperor's face. Her tone was a bit sharp, "Where have you been? The three thousand concubines in the harem were all carefully selected by me for you, but you, not even taking half a step into the harem, and not knowing or asking about anything in the harem. When will you establish an Empress again? When can I see the arrival of my grandson? Every day, I only have this opportunity to see you at this time, my Emperor. But every time, I smell the same scent, what does Your Majesty mean by this?"