"Your majesty, it seems like you have forgotten something," the empress started, earning his deep glare, she had already discussed with the prime minister her plan to force the emperor to name the crown prince on his birthday, if he gets all the ministers behind him to chorus her point then the emperor won't be able to refuse in front of so many guests so as not to destroy his reputation.

"My empress, today is my birthday so I hope we won't have to discuss anything formal, lets just drink to our heart content and merry together," he responded then raised his glass to the guest while everyone raised their glass with him but as they were about to sip from the glass, she interrupted them again.

​​

"It seems like your majesty has indeed forgotten your plan to ask the minister's opinion regarding the naming of the crown prince," she continued despite his warning glare, his hands froze then squeezed the cup tightly, murmurs soon filled the entire place, the princes were even more shocked at the empress statement.

On the surface, it might not seem like they are competing for the position of the crown prince but they are actually preparing themselves in every aspect.

"Empress..." the emperor growled silently.

"I am just doing my duty," she responded with a smile then patted his hand, he glanced at her hand on top of his with disgust then lightly brushed it away, he already has a plan for this but if things go south then he will really be forced to crown the eldest prince as the crown prince.

"Your majesty, according to the customs, the eldest prince Li Changying is most fit to become the crown prince, he is well versed in books, military strategies and martial art, he will surely make a good successor," the minister of finance quickly spoke up to win the first prince favour.

The empress and the first prince exchanged glances with smirks on their lips, the imperial noble consort watched them with spite on her face but she smiled faintly.

{Thankfully, I have already prepared for this otherwise this sly woman would have the upper hand,}

"Your majesty, the third prince Li Daiyu is not inferior to the first prince, he should also be considered," one of the high-ranking ministers behind the imperial noble consort added, she gave the third prince a reassuring smile.

They started speaking in turns with each minister vying for the first, second, and third prince while the emperor clenched his fist and jaw tightly, he can't believe that his ministers are making a show of themselves in the presence of the guests from other countries.

"Enough!" he bellowed, following a smile.

"But-" the empress was just about to speak when a soldier quickly ran up to the emperor after getting a report from one of his underlings.

"Your majesty," he called as he dropped on his knees.

"Speak,"

"T-the fourth prince is here," he announced in an elated tone, sharing the joy of the emperor, gasps filled the place while the outsiders wondered who the fourth prince is.

The emperor widened his eyes in disbelief while the royal family were taken aback, they started murmuring again.

"Is that true?" he could feel tears gathering in his eyes.

"Yes, your majesty,"

"The fourth prince is entering!" the eunuchs at the entrance announced, everyone immediately turned to the large gate to the ground, a young man in a midnight blue robe appeared with a young girl and young man behind him.

They took long strides as they walked forward, the emperor almost couldn't recognize his own son, he has grown far bigger than he was when he left the palace even the princes were shocked.

The guests glanced at him in admiration of his build, mannerism, poise and looks, everything about him exudes an aura of royalty and power, they were all pointing their fingers at him while the females were already drooling over him, that is the ones that are close enough to see him, it almost seemed like he has a bright halo behind him.

"Imperial father," he greeted as he fell on his knees then the trio cupped their hands and bowed their heads.

"Your majesty," Xiaodi and Feng Shui chorused.

"Ruansong, is that you?" the emperor questioned in doubts, his son hasn't come to see for a long time and now he finds it difficult to believe that he is actually in front of him, the regional commander was also in disbelief.

The empress glanced at her father with bitterness and the imperial consort almost exploded out of anger, just when things were going too smoothly, he just had to appear now.

His appearance is definitely going to spoil their plans, this they all know.

"Yes, I am sorry for coming so late," he responded with his head raised."

"Fourth prince you have left the place for so long and have never returned, how are we to be sure that you are really the fourth prince," the empress remarked in a clearly discontent tone.

Another round of murmuring followed.

"Empress, do you think I am incapable of recognising my own son," the emperor queried with a deep frown on his face, the imperial consort was really relieved to see him back but she made sure not to make it too noticeable in case she is suspected of hiding his whereabouts.

"I am very much willing to prove my identity to you but in front of many guests, I don't think it will be proper," he responded with a serene look on his face, she glared at him deeply with her hands squeezing her dress.

- - - - - - -

"Come let me see how well you have grown," the emperor beckoned unto the fourth prince with a huge smile on his face in the presence of the regional commander, the fourth prince walked up the short stairs to his seat then laid his hands on his father's open hand.

"My dear son, you don't know how much my heart ached not having you around all these years," he complained with tears pooling in his eyes.

"Fourth Prince, the emperor has been searching for you all these years, you left the palace at a young age and he couldn't answer many that were questioning your whereabouts," the regional commander added, all these years, he has shared the emperor's pain.

"I am deeply sorry father, I was busy travelling the world that I got too immersed, I wanted to return as a son whom you are proud of but I have neglected your feelings," his sincerity is deeply expressed on his face, the years he spent out of the palace has been filled with guilt, he knows how much his father loves his mother and the fact that he transferred all the love he had for his mother to him, even though he is not an ordinary human, he still has filial piety.

"It is alright, I won't dwell on this rather I am happy you are back safe and sound, if you had arrived a bit later then I would have been cornered,"

He understood what the emperor is talking about but he doesn't want him to speak about making him the crown prince.

If he becomes the crown prince then he will have the bear the guilt of betraying his country when the time comes to revive the ice clan and also find the successor of the flame demon but if someone else becomes the crown prince then he can easily detach himself, if not for Huo Lan then he wouldn't have disturbed his plan and returned.

Meanwhile, both the empress and the imperial noble consort are busy throwing tantrums in the presence of their sons, if he had come just a bit later then they could have forced the emperor to make a decision but now their plan is ruined.

Their nightmare has now come to pass, everyone knows Li Ruansong holds a special place in the emperor's heart and now he is surely going to pass his throne to him but both women are determined to fight with their full power and the princes are even more determined except for the sixth prince who is more than excited to have his fourth brother back but he made sure to keep it hidden before his brothers and mother pour out their anger on him.

While the ministers were busy having their own discussion on the fourth prince's return and their plan to make sure the emperor doesn't succeed in crowning him, the imperial harem is in chaos, they were all making plans on whether to fawn upon him or side with the empress and imperial noble consort.

The seventh prince and the imperial consort are still patiently waiting in the imperial consort's palace for the fourth prince to visit them after greeting the emperor properly, she is glad the seventh prince no longer has to sneak out of the palace but the seventh prince is still pissed that his brother didn't let him know of his plans to return, knowing the kind of person he is, he is sure he must have planned it long ago.

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