When Concubine Luo Lan came in, she curtseyed to others one by one. Then she walked to Lan Kuo and asked with care, "Your Majesty, I have heard the message that you came back this morning. I've been so worried these days. Now that I see you here, finally, I can be relieved."

While saying, Concubine Luo Lan's eyes became a little red. Then she pressed the corner of her eyes slightly with her handkerchief, looking rather pitiful.

Seeing this, the Empress's look turned cold. That was why the Emperor had always favored Concubine Luo Lan so much.

Every man would love her.

At that moment, Lan Kuo was looking at Concubine Luo Lan with tenderness. Had it not been for her and Concubine Yi to be here now, Lan Kuo would have held her in his arms.

Thinking of that, the Empress sneered in her mind, "You wouldn't feel so in a while."

She looked at Lan Kuo and asked, "Your Majesty, I met several officers on my way here. I heard from them that you would appoint the Second Prince as Crown Prince. Is that true?"

While saying, the Empress glanced at Concubine Luo Lan and Concubine Yi, who were stunned one after another.

Then Concubine Luo Lan couldn't help but step backward, turning pale immediately.

Lan Kuo nodded and said, "Yes. It was decided in the levee this morning."

"The Second Prince has been full of resources and astuteness since his childhood. It's right for him to be Crown Prince!" The Empress glanced at Concubine Luo Lan and Concubine Yi and said deliberately.

Lan Kuo smiled and said, "He really knows his own mind. However, it's a pity that his mother died when he was still a child. I spent very little time with him."

Hearing Lan Kuo's words, a ray of light flashed in the Empress's eyes. It was time for her to mention it.

"With your words like that, I have a presumptuous request," The Empress quickly took over the conversation.

Hearing that, Lan Kuo frowned slightly, "A presumptuous request? You may speak straight."

"His mother died the moment he was born. I had come to see him. However, when he was growing and affairs of the palace increased, I visited him less and less often. As time went by, he was not so close to me as before. I'm sorry that I fail to give birth to a child for you all these years. Your Majesty, what about..." The Empress said, looking at Lan Kuo.

At this time, Lan Kuo pinched his brows with his hands. He didn't answer the Empress immediately. After a while, he raised his head, "You mean you want to adopt the Second Prince?"

"Exactly," Empress said, nodding and smiling.

Lan Kuo nodded, "As this is the case, it will be your responsibility to do the things next."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," seeing that Lan Kuo had agreed, the Empress stood up and said with a smile.

The reason why Lan Kuo agreed with her proposal was that the Empress's words made sense despite the fact that he knew that she was doing it for herself. It wouldn't be so easy for the Second Prince to work in the future with his identity as Crown Prince. Now that the Empress was willing to recognize him as her own child, those officers supporting the other two princes wouldn't dare to act rashly.

Hearing that, Concubine Luo Lan's face turned blue. When she heard that the Emperor had appointed Lan Cangmo as Crown Prince, she comforted herself with the thought that even though Lan Cangmo was Crown Prince now, he could be abandoned.

However, she had never thought that the Empress would raise such a proposal and the Emperor even agreed.

In this way, Lan Cangmo got the support from the Empress. It would be much more difficult to do anything against him.

Thinking of that, Concubine Luo Lan's face turned ghastly pale.

Looking at Concubine Luo Lan, the Empress asked, "What's wrong with you? Why do you look not so well now?"

"Ah... Maybe it's because I caught a cold last night. Now my head aches," hearing that the Empress mentioned her suddenly, Concubine Luo Lan turned her eyes and said.

The Empress walked to Concubine Luo Lan, looking concerned, "Is it severe? Do you need to call an imperial doctor?"

"Your Highness, thank you for your concern. It's not severe. I may recover after resting for a while," Concubine Luo Lan forced a smile, curtseyed to Empress slightly, and said.

The Empress was about to say something more when Lan Kuo said, "In that case, you shall come back earlier and have a rest."

"Your Majesty, I'm not..." hearing that, Concubine Luo Lan said quickly.

Before she could finish her words, Lan Kuo interrupted her, "You shall all leave now. I'm a little tired."

While saying, Lan Kuo supported his head with his hands.

Hearing that, Empress couldn't help but smile. She curtseyed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, have a good rest. I'll leave now."

"I'll take my leave," Concubine Luo Lan and Concubine Yi glanced at each other, curtseyed, and walked outside.

Concubine Yi looked calm. She knew that she couldn't compete with Concubine Luo Lan before. But to her surprise, the Fifth Prince failed to be Crown Prince.

She felt much more comfortable in her heart. At least she didn't have to bear the arrogant and domineering appearance of outsiders.

When they came out, the Empress stopped and asked Concubine Luo Lan with pretended care, "Concubine Luo Lan, if you are sick, you'd better call the imperial doctor. Don't let the condition get worse."

"Your Highness, thank you for your concern. I know my own body condition well," Concubine Luo Lan said with a false smile.

The Empress said again, "Concubine Luo Lan, you're right. In that case, I'll focus on what His Majesty promised me to do just now."

"Your Highness, take care," Concubine Luo Lan saluted the Empress, clenching her fists.

Concubine Yi, who was on one side, also saluted Empress, "Your Highness, take care."

When Empress walked away, Concubine Luo Lan finally couldn't support herself anymore. She leaned back.

Seeing this, Mei, who was behind her, hurried to step forward to support Concubine Luo Lan. She asked anxiously, "Your Highness, what's wrong with you? Are you okay?"

"Nothing. Help me return to the palace," Concubine Luo Lan held her forehead with her hand at this time. Then she shook her head and said.

Mei looked at Jin, who was behind her, "What are you waiting for? Come to support Her Highness."

Hearing that, Jin hurried to step forward. Concubine Yi, who was beside them, looked at them and said, "Are you alright? Seeing you like this, you really need to call an imperial doctor as soon as you return to your palace."

"Your Highness, don't worry. We will." Mei curtseyed to Concubine Yi and said.

The people supported Concubine Luo Lan to return to the palace.

When all the people were gone, Concubine Yi gave out a deep sigh. She had never thought that she could see Concubine Luo Lan be so awkward. From the moment the Empress said the Second Prince was Crown Prince, Concubine Luo Lan began to look unhappy. Then the Empress also mentioned recognizing him as her own son. So Concubine Luo Lan couldn't bear it completely.

While the action relieved the audience's hatred, they needed to make preparations next.

Once the Second Prince, no, Crown Prince was recognized as the Empress's own son, she would definitely suppress them then. They had to prepare as early as possible.

Thinking of that, Concubine Yi directly walked towards the Third Prince's palace.

At this time in Lan Cangmo's palace

Lvyin walked to the gate, saying something to the guards at the gate.

Huo Si happened to pass by. Seeing Lvyin, he couldn't help frowning. Lvyin was the Empress's maid. Why did she come here today?

Thinking of that, Huo Si walked forward and said, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Mr. Huo, can we have a conversation somewhere else?" Seeing Huo Si coming out, Lvyin looked around and said to him with a smile.

Huo Si nodded and walked to one side with Lvyin, "What? Why can't you tell me here?"

"Mr. Huo, there're some words that cannot be told in public." Lvyin said with a smile.

Huo Si asked again, "What is it? I'm curious."

Then Lvyin walked to Huo Si, stood on tiptoe, and said by his ear about what the Empress had told her just now.

Hearing that, Huo Si couldn't help but frown. He looked at Lvyin and asked, "Is that true?"

"The news heard by the Empress is surely true. Mr. Huo, please convey Her Highness's words to His Highness," Lvyin said again.

Huo Si raised his eyebrows, "Sure."

After speaking, Huo Si turned around, walking inside.

When Huo Si walked into the yard, he strode towards Lan Cangmo's residence.

Lan Cangmo just got up when he saw Huo Si stride into the house. Lan Cangmo stretched his body and squinted.

"Your Highness, good news," Huo Si walked to Lan Cangmo and said with a smile.

Lan Cangmo frowned slightly and asked, "What good news? Tell me."

"Your Highness... Oh no, now you're Crown Prince," Huo Si called once but then waved his hands and said with a smile.

Hearing that, Lan Cangmo smiled, "Crown Prince? Where do you get the information?"

"Just now the Empress's maid came and said that the Empress had got the news. His Majesty announced it during the meeting this morning," Huo Si said.

Lan Cangmo raised his eyebrows. Then he looked aside with a complex look, "The Empress won't send her maid to come over just to tell us one thing, will she?"

"Crown Prince, how smart you are! The maid also said that the Empress wanted to recognize you as her own son," Huo Si said, cupping his hands.

Hearing that, Lan Cangmo stood up, sneered, and walked to one side, "What wishful thinking of Empress!"

"Are we going to agree?" Huo Si asked Lan Cangmo then.

At that moment, Lan Cangmo turned around and said with a smile, "Yes. Of course, we will agree!"

Having sent her maid to convey the message, the Empress would surely think of a way to propose it to the Emperor.

No matter what, he was going to agree in the end.

Anyway, it was good that both of them could take what they needed. By the time he ascended the throne, he would settle all the old and recent grudges with her.

Thinking of that, Lan Cangmo couldn't help but close his eyes.

As far as he could remember, he had heard that his mother died of dystocia when giving birth to him. When he was young, every time he was playing with other princes and princesses, he could see their mothers' love and affection for them.