Xie Wanqing listened to these words.
After the palace banquet, their hearts seemed to draw closer invisibly.
In the first month, without needing to attend court, Xie Wanqing, the newly appointed Empress, began to learn how to manage palace affairs, with Lu Ziyuan accompanying her.
Speaking of it, his harem was indeed clean, as even the Imperial Concubines left by the late Emperor had gone to Zhen Guo Temple to pray for the Imperial Family.
Apart from that, only a few little princesses who had not yet come of age were still living in the palace.
During New Year, the little princesses collectively came to pay their respects to her, their sister-in-law, but rarely disturbed her in Guanju Palace afterward.
Without so many women, palace affairs weren’t that complicated.
However, as the Queen Mother, whether it was the female relatives from the Old Prince Mansion, or the titled ladies from the backyards of various officials, as long as they were of rank, they should be under her jurisdiction.
But she is the ruler, and they are her subjects.
None of this counted as any major issue.
For the new year’s Imperial Family sacrificial ceremony, Xie Wanqing called upon several old princesses from the Imperial Family to assist in overseeing it, and it was successfully completed.
The couple stayed busy for more than ten days, during which many old princesses from the Imperial Family came to pay a visit.
Sometimes Xie Wanqing received them alone, sometimes Lu Ziyuan accompanied her.
Gradually, the love story of the Emperor and Empress unwittingly spread throughout the Capital City.
Time is a wonderful thing, plus since no one dared to truly discuss the private matters of those in power, the fact that the current Empress was twice married was tacitly forgotten.
The awkward situation of Duke Pei Mansion, after the Pei family safely attended the New Year’s Eve palace banquet and the Lantern Festival palace banquet, made everyone understand.
The Emperor did not intend to move against the Pei family.
This was a true indifference.
The tangled and complex relationships in the Capital, with various powers being both friend and foe, naturally led to joy for some and sorrow for others.
Xie Wanqing in the harem, her days passed peacefully and freely.
Similar to her daily life in Bianzhou, or rather, it was even better.
Because aside from having freedom, she could occasionally see her parents and brother.
Above her, there was no Empress Dowager to manage, nor did she need to care about external officials, Lu Ziyuan never constrained her, even allowing her to leave the palace at her own discretion.
Compared to marrying into a typical noble family, she returned to her maiden home more frequently.
On the day she was abducted by Jin Wuji, leaving the Capital City, it took her five years to return.
In five years, many people and things in the Capital changed significantly.
From a change in Emperor, to fluctuations in the various family residences.
Pei Lin, the Eldest Legitimate Granddaughter of the first branch of the Pei family, involved in plotting against her, was found guilty of colluding with foreign enemies, implicating the entire first branch of the Pei family, and before Lu Ziyuan ascended to the throne, the entire branch was sent to the execution platform.
Pei Yuxuan was already married, the once lovely Little Princess got married four years ago in a smooth and proper manner.
However, it seems she did not live well.
It was clear to all, Lu Ziyuan practically seized her sister-in-law; when she married, Lu Ziyuan had not yet been designated as Crown Prince, with Princess Duan Yang presiding, her husband’s family had some apprehensions, but did not ultimately annul the marriage.
Later, as Lu Ziyuan became Crown Prince and ascended to Emperor, his penchant for ruthless killing grew.
Almost every noble family in the Capital was certain that Duke Pei Mansion would eventually be slaughtered by the tyrant.
As a result, Pei Yuxuan, the married Pei family daughter, held an awkward position in her husband’s family.
While the late Emperor lived, it was still acceptable.
Princess Duan Yang was his full sister, the Pei family was not likely to encounter trouble.
Later, with Lu Ziyuan ascending the throne, Pei Yuxuan’s days in her husband’s family became increasingly difficult.
The once noble Little Princess, found herself in distinctly different circumstances after marriage.
Now it is heard that she reached the point of demanding separation from her husband.