Liao Shijun rushed to Luoyang City in the wind and snow, and on this day it just happened to be snowing. As he approached the high city wall of Luoyang, Liao Shijun didnt intend to stop and take shelter from the wind and snow, but instead led his attendants in riding their horses against the wind and snow, preparing to arrive within the day. The dozen or so horses were like a whirlwind, sweeping across the official road, trampling the accumulated snow on the road into a muddy mess.

  As they approached the city wall, Liao Shikun first reined in his horse and dismounted. Just as he was about to produce documents to identify himself, a eunuch in blue robes led a group of men forward, smiling and asking: "Is this Liao Shikun?"

  Liao Shijun was taken aback and nodded calmly: "Thats right, I dont know who the official is."

  "Ah, Master Liao has arrived. I am a eunuch serving by the Emperors side. Knowing that you would be arriving in the capital soon, I have been waiting here for several days already. Its truly a long way from Hezhou to Luoyang; your journey must have been arduous. The wind is strong here, please come this way and take a break on the carriage to drink some hot tea first. Later, we will proceed into the palace together."

  Liao Shijun was led into the city of Luoyang by him, and the gatekeeper didnt even look at their entry documents before letting them pass. Although the eunuch in front of him had a friendly smile and a gentle attitude, Liao Shijun still had many doubts in his heart, and he still didnt know why the emperor had summoned him to Luoyang until now. He had planned to ask some old acquaintances in the capital after arriving in Luoyang, but as soon as he arrived, he met this eunuch, who immediately wanted to take him into the palace.

  So anxious, whats the reason?

  Liao Shikun became more and more worried, and couldnt help but secretly ask the eunuch. The eunuch just smiled: "Your Majestys thoughts, how would I know? However, Liao Shikun, you can rest assured that it wont be a bad thing. Now in the palace, only the noble consort has received the emperors favor, and its possible that His Majesty is thinking of you, which is why he summoned you to come forward."

  Liao Shijun: Its unlikely that its just because of this small matter, there must be other more important reasons.

  His daughter, he himself knew, was actually very lazy at heart. The accomplishments that a noblewoman needed to learn, she would stop as soon as she had barely mastered them, not wanting to put in the effort to do better. Apart from looking good, she really didnt have any other notable virtues. He heard that the beauties in the palace were not only beautiful but also cunning and ruthless, and there was an emperor who delighted in killing people. Thinking of his daughter being in such a treacherous situation made him half-disbelieving and half-worried. Who knew how much suffering she had endured during this time? Wanting to live well in the palace would likely require her to change beyond recognition.

  The more he thought about it, the more unbearable Liao Shijuns heartache became. He also didnt know what kind of worn-out daughter he would see this time.

  On the way to Gong Cheng, they passed by Duans residence. Liao Shi Jun was surprised to find that there were white lanterns hung in front of the gate of Duans residence. In a big family like this, if an ordinary person had passed away, they wouldnt even have the qualifications to hang white lanterns. It must be someone with status in the Duan family who had passed away.

  "I dont know who passed away at the Old Lady Fus residence"

  The eunuch put on a sorrowful and regretful expression, "He is the second son of Grand Preceptor Duan. He passed away from an illness just a few days ago. At his age, he had to send off his white-haired self to mourn for his black-haired child. Overcome with grief, he fell ill and has been recuperating at home, not even bothering with court affairs."

  Liao Shijun didnt know this old lady from the Duan family, and the Duan family was a big clan that had lived in Luoyang for generations, unlike the Liao family which was just a family from the other side of the river, with basically no interaction because people looked down on them. So Liao Shijun just sighed and didnt think much about it either.

  After entering the palace, a eunuch in purple attire came to greet us. He looked like he held an even higher position, but his attitude was even more enthusiastic.

  "Liao Shijun has arrived, the imperial concubine is waiting for you, shes asked several times already, lets go see her now."

  Liao Shijun hesitated, "I should probably go pay respects to Your Majesty first"

  "Eunuch smiled and said: No need, Your Majesty has instructed that if you come, just go see the noble consort first."

  Although it was somewhat impolite, since the Emperor had spoken, Liao Shike could only follow his words and go see his daughter first. He was indeed worried and uneasy in his heart, following the eunuch forward without paying much attention to where he was being led. It wasnt until the eunuch stopped in front of a palace gate and bowed to him that Liao Shike came back to himself and looked at the gate.

  "This seems to be the inner palace where Your Majesty resides." Liao Shi Jun was puzzled, wasnt it supposed to be a meeting with the princess? Why didnt they take him to the residence of the noble consort, but instead brought him to the inner palace where His Majesty rested.

  Eunuch continued laughing and explained: "Liao Shike neednt be suspicious, the noble consort is waiting for you inside the palace."

  Its pointless to ask more questions, so Liao Shi Jun lifted his foot and walked into the hall, where he saw the female palace attendants bowing one after another, leading him to the front of the couch.

  Liao Shi Jun: "Im sorry"

  Liao Tingyans upper body was paralyzed on the couch, almost buried in a fox fur cushion, with her feet stepping on a strange-looking heater, and her body covered with a soft brocade quilt. Her posture was very casual and unrestrained, extremely unseemly. On the small table beside her were various snacks and dried fruits, and her daughters complexion was really too good, making Liao Muzi think that she was paralyzed in this pose, so she lay there unable to get up.

  However, he also remembered a certain rumor and glanced at his daughters belly with complex emotions, asking her, "Is the imperial concubine pregnant?"

  Liao Tingyan was originally paralyzed and had almost passed out, but upon hearing that her father had arrived, she perked up. She had just sat up from the bed and hadnt even had a chance to ask about his well-being when he suddenly dropped this bombshell on her, rendering her speechless.

  How can this rumor spread more and more? Is there anyone who will come to manage it?

  "Cough, Father, dont listen to the rumors outside, Im not pregnant." Liao Tingyan solemnly refuted the rumor, then had someone bring over a soft cushion.

  "Father, you must have rushed here in a hurry and its tiring. Youve lost weight just by looking at you." Liao Tingyan was still very concerned about Liao Shijun, who had been her father for several years, and kept asking with concern.

  Liao Shijun answered one by one, and also wanted to ask her a few questions. However, looking at her obviously fatter face, he felt that he couldnt open his mouth. Generally speaking, he should say something like "Youve lost weight too." This was the heart-wrenching scene he had imagined when meeting his daughter on the road - the two of them saying these words to each other. But now that they were really face to face, he couldnt bring himself to say it with a clear conscience.

  He had to admit that his daughter was probably doing well, as his thin daughter, who hadnt gained weight in so many years, entered the palace and visibly plumped up within a year.

  "Father, would you like to try some of this dried fruit? Its quite tasty. The southern region sent it as tribute recently and had someone make it into dried fruit."

  Liao Tingyan spoke up, and the female servant who was arranging flowers on the side came forward with a plate of fruit preserves and presented them to Liaos side. Looking at the row of food in her hand, Liao really had a headache: "Noble Consort, is this how you usually treat guests?"

  Liao Tingyan heard the disapproval in her fathers tone and asked him in confusion, "Father doesnt like eating dried fruit?" When in previous winters he had always loved to eat these dried fruits.

  Liao Shijun: Its not about fruit leather at all.

  He looked at his daughter with concern: "You used to know some rules when you were at home, but now that youve entered the palace, you seem to have lost all sense of propriety. Although I am your father, our identities are different now, and you shouldnt be speaking so casually while sitting on the couch, isnt it detrimental to your dignity?"

  Yes, in the past when my daughter was at home, although she was also lazy, at least she knew to sit up and eat, and when seeing guests, she would sit properly. Now its good, on a cold winter day, lying on the couch eating, this is the emperors inner palace, the emperor can come in at any time, if he sees her being so unruly, what will happen if he doesnt like her?

  The old father was worried sick.

  Liao Tingyan didnt realize at first that her behavior was wrong, and it wasnt until half a moment later that she reacted, silently cursing herself. She really hadnt noticed, as most of the time she had been lounging comfortably here, and Sima Jiao often did the same with her, so no one dared to say anything against her, and she had gotten used to it. Moreover, she didnt need to entertain guests, knowing that she was basically living in Sima Jiaos inner palace, where anyone who wanted to come as a guest would be daring their life, this place had become her territory, of course, she could do whatever she wanted.

  Simar Jiao is really someone who can easily lead people astray. Liao Tingyan scolded Sima Saqian without any psychological pressure, but the person still lay motionless on the couch, "Dont worry, Father, His Majesty personally gave me permission to do so."

  As soon as this was said, Liao Shijun had to swallow his dissent no matter how much he disagreed. What else could he do? He couldnt possibly blame the emperor, could he? His daughter was now a noble consort, and he couldnt say anything more about it either.

  The old father inexplicably felt that his daughter had found a backer and he could no longer control her, and all he could do was watch her behave outrageously with sorrow.

  Liao Tingyan touched her nose and felt that her father was definitely worrying about something again. She saw his concern and comforted him with all her might, "Father, dont worry about me, you see Im doing quite well now, the Emperor is very fond of me."

  After the last big secret event, whether it was Liao Tingyan or Sima Jiao, they both became more relaxed in their interactions. For example, Liao Tingyans current lazy demeanor, previously she would not have eaten on Sima Jiaos bed. Its all because Sima Jiao has no bottom line and is overly accommodating, almost spoiling her rotten.

  Liao Shijun listened to his daughters words, but instead of feeling reassured, he became even more worried. He thought about the beauties who had brought calamity to the country in previous dynasties, known as "disasters", but actually they were just pitiful women who had been fortunate enough to gain the emperors favor, and once something went wrong, they became the source of all tragedies, subjected to peoples curses, as if the downfall of the country was solely due to that one small woman.

  He really didnt want his daughter to end up like this. If possible, he would rather have his daughter be just an ordinary beauty in the harem, living a peaceful and stable life.

  Emperor Sima Jiaos temperament is changeable, todays favoritism will only be a temporary novelty, how long can it last? If Your Majesty no longer favors his daughter in the future, what should she do to take care of herself.

  Liao Tingyan: Dad is brain supplementing again, his eyebrows are furrowed so much theyre almost squeezed out.

  "Dad, you really dont have to worry too much, just live your own life. These years youve been busy with government affairs and didnt take many concubines. Now that your daughter has found a home, theres no need for you to worry. Why not remarry and have another son or daughter to dote on? Or is it that you just havent met a woman who meets your expectations?" Liao Tingyan asked tentatively.

  As soon as her voice fell, the sound of Sima Jiaos voice came from outside the curtain. He brought two eunuchs from the front hall and seemed to have heard Liao Tingyans words. He casually responded: "If there is no satisfactory one in Hexi, why not go to Luoyang to select a few beauties to bring back? There are several palace ladies with decent looks in my harem, I dont know if Lord Liao finds them pleasing to the eye."

  Liao Tingyan: "Are you serious? You really want your little wife to be my stepmother?"

  Liao Shikun: "It seems this emperor is indeed as rumored, acting unrestrainedly."

  When the emperor can go mad, but when the subject cannot go mad together. Liao Shikuns face was stern and he stood up to pay his respects, "Minister Liao Jin comes out, pays homage to Your Majesty, I dare not."

  Liao Tingyan also shouted "Your Majesty", she was originally prepared to remain motionless as usual, but receiving the gaze of her old father, she slowly prepared to get up and pay respects. Before she could straighten her waist, Sima Jiao had already taken big strides to the bedside and pressed her back down with one hand.

  "Its so cold outside, whats the point of getting up, just go back to bed."

  Liao Tingyan lay down, and then conveniently pulled out a hand warmer from under the quilt to give to Sima Jiao. She also lifted up one corner of the quilt to help him warm his legs.

  Simu Jiao grasped the hand warmer and looked at Liao Shikun, saying somewhat discontentedly: "You cant bully my beloved consort."

  Liao Shijun:

  That seems to be his daughter, right? He didnt do anything rude either, did he?

  Simar Jiao saw him with a shocked expression, not knowing where he went wrong, and raised an eyebrow to stare at him: "You just forced her to stand up, who allowed you to coerce her." Just now, Liao Tingyan and Liao Shijuns exchange of glances, as well as Liao Tingyans action of standing up to prepare for the ceremony, Simar Jiao had already guessed that Liao Shijun must have said something before he arrived, probably about rules and regulations. Simar Jiao didnt even need to think about it to figure it out - these people were all the same, always meddling in other peoples business.

  Liao Tingyan poked Sima Jiaos back with her finger from behind.

  Ancestors, is that what you think of my dad? Do you think everyone is a deceitful person like you?