Parents are busy farming

The Emperor looked at Ye Zifen solemnly and asked slowly, "You are now an official in the court. Aren't you afraid that she will cause trouble for you once she becomes the empress?"

Ye Zifen raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a nonchalant smile, and responded in a relaxed tone: "The emperor doesn't know, now that Old Master Song has joined hands with me to open a college, and the direct power held by the Song family is no longer as strong as before. Even if the Crown Princess is promoted to the mother of a country in the future, I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to directly challenge an ordinary court official like me!"

Hearing this, the emperor couldn't help but frown slightly. His eyes, which had experienced many vicissitudes of life and were as deep as a pool of water, stared at Ye Zifen.

He said earnestly: "That being said, you must not be complacent because of this. You must know that things in the palace are always changing and treacherous. If there is a slight mistake, even a tiny one, it is very likely that you will fall into an abyss from which there is no return!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Zifen hurriedly clasped her hands together, bowed deeply to the emperor, and said solemnly and firmly, "Your Majesty, please be at ease. I will always be vigilant, think carefully about everything, and weigh the pros and cons. I will never easily let myself be involved in those unfounded disputes."

Seeing this, the Emperor sighed softly and nodded helplessly: "It's great that you have such an idea. But the Crown Princess is as scheming as the sea, and the means she uses are even more varied, making it hard to guard against."

Ye Zifen's eyes flashed with a gleam of brilliance, and she held her head high and said in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, I know very well what you are worried about. However, the current situation is not something that she can control alone!"

The emperor nodded slightly, a trace of solemnity in his eyes, and said slowly: "However, that woman is still not qualified to be the queen. Her desire for power is so strong that she must have some plan for the crown prince. In my opinion, we should first appoint the crown prince, and then consider the matter of conferring the queen."

After hearing this, Ye Zifen couldn't help but show helplessness on her face. She shook her head gently and said with a wry smile: "Retired Emperor, you are getting old now, it's time to enjoy the happiness of family life! Don't bother yourself with these tedious affairs. The current emperor has his own opinions and judgments, and the ministers in the court are also thinking about their own interests. Besides, it is not easy to choose the queen! Such important matters are not only related to the stability and peace of the entire harem, but also involve the subtle and unpredictable balance between the various forces in the court. Such a crucial and difficult matter is not something we can easily control! I, the humble minister, really don't want to waste my energy and time on this matter anymore. I hope the Retired Emperor will not ask me any more questions."

When the emperor listened to Ye Zifen's words, admiration appeared in his eyes and he nodded slightly to show his agreement.

Then, the emperor asked with great interest: "In your opinion, what was the most appropriate response at that time?"

Ye Zifen pursed her lips, thought for a moment and said, "Grand Emperor, under the circumstances at that time, if I had blindly obeyed the Emperor's wishes and assumed responsibility, although I might have gained short-term benefits, in the long run, it would have planted hidden dangers for myself. So, I chose to stick to the truth and convince others with reason. In this way, I would not leave any handle for others to use, and I could also demonstrate my integrity and responsibility."

The emperor couldn't help but laugh and said, "Haha, what a clever girl! Your behavior is indeed much smarter than taking the blame directly. However, it is inevitable that you will offend some people by doing this, right?"

Ye Zifen smiled and replied calmly, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, honest advice is unpleasant to the ear but beneficial to one's conduct. Since I have decided to speak out the truth, I am ready to face all kinds of pressure and challenges. Moreover, I believe that as long as I uphold justice, I will eventually gain the understanding and support of the majority of people."

The emperor nodded and said with emotion: "Well, you are right. It seems that the affairs of the court are far more complicated than imagined, and you are able to handle them with ease, which is rare. I hope you can continue to maintain this wisdom and courage in the future and make more contributions to the court."

Ye Zifen took a step forward respectfully, then bowed deeply and performed a standard and solemn etiquette. Then, she slowly stood up and said solemnly, "I am deeply honored by your praise, but I will do my best to live up to your love and expectations!"

At this point, Ye Zifen paused for a moment, then raised her voice and added firmly, "What's more, I now have the imperial sword bestowed by the emperor, which allows me to execute first and report later; I also have the imperial seal that can protect my life; more importantly, I am sincerely loyal to the court and the emperor. In this case, what do I have to fear? Even if it is the current emperor, if he does not want to be a foolish and incompetent monarch, he will certainly not do anything to me easily!"

After hearing what Ye Zifen said, the emperor couldn't help but nodded, with satisfaction in his eyes.

He smiled and said, "It is because I know your character and personality that I can trust you with these precious things. It seems that I was right in my judgment."

As he spoke, a smile of extreme relief bloomed on the face of the retired emperor, which had experienced many hardships and was full of traces of time.

At this time, Ye Zifen took another step forward, approached the Emperor and whispered, "From now on, I will come to visit you every day. However, you must take the medicine on time, and don't be lazy. You should know that my master is not a member of the court. He is the least threatened by your power. He will tell me truthfully whether you have taken the medicine obediently."

After saying that, Ye Zifen raised her head slightly, her beautiful eyes flashing with a determined light, mixed with a few imperceptible traces of concern.

A breeze blew by, and Ye Zifen's beautiful hair danced in the wind. Combined with her straight official uniform, she looked heroic and dignified.

Seeing this, the emperor couldn't help laughing and said jokingly: "Haha, you little girl actually dared to threaten me!"

The emperor laughed heartily, and his laughter echoed throughout the palace.