Ling Zhang walked into the abode of the Marquess Fuan shoulder to shoulder with Yuwen Tong and then casually glanced around.

Yuwen Tong had offered to build Yuwen You a new residence, but Yuwen You had declined the offer, saying that he just wanted to expand this residence. He had purchased the adjoining mansion from a courtier, planning to incorporate it to this residence and revamp them next spring. Therefore, the residence looked the same as usual except for some new furnishings.

The two of them, followed by Yuwen You and his family, entered the main living room and settled themselves in the high seats.

After they sat down, Yuwen Tong gave the permission for Yuwen You's whole family to sat down and they all took seats on the right-hand side of the living room. Yuwen You's manner was deferential, and his family members were also quite discreet about their words. Yuwen Qian and his wife were sitting at the end of the front row, respectful expressions on their faces.

Ling Zhang didn't intentionally look at Yuwen Qian or his wife. He'd appeared calm since he'd sat down, and he hadn't tried to strike up a conversation with any of the people present. The purpose of this visit of his was to make a gesture, so when he sensed the furtive appraising glance from Yuwen Qian's wife, he didn't look back at her.

Though Ling Zhang seemed unperturbed, he was spontaneously emanating an air that deterred the others from trifling with him. Everybody present perceived the change of Ling Zhang. This kind of change seemed to be boring into them as Ling Zhang's eyes were.

His eyes were unemotional, but the others felt as if he were seeing right into their hearts.

This kind of change struck Yuwen Qian and the others as quite astounding. After all, not long before, Ling Zhang had given them the impression that he was an affable person who always smiled genially, but now, Ling Zhang made them feel that...anybody could tell at a glance he was the empress.

He was the empress of the Great Wen, a noble man not to be taken lightly.

Yuwen Qian's wife withdrew her eyes after stealing a single glance at him, the curiosity in her eyes concealed, not daring look at Ling Zhang again, doing her best to keep her back straight.

Yuwen Qian had also sensed his wife's fear, having quite mixed feelings about how much Ling Zhang had changed. A few days before he'd been an amiable childe, but now he had developed a becoming air for an empress.

No wonder his cousin liked Ling Zhang so much, had disowned his own uncle on account of Ling Zhang, treated Ling Zhang as an equal, and even planned to...

As this thought crossed him mind, Yuwen Qian couldn't help but glance at his wife's abdomen and with that mixed feelings surged inside him again. Before this day, he'd been reluctant, excited and had some ideas even he himself couldn't quite understand, but on this day, after meeting Ling Zhang, Yuwen Qian suddenly found that those ideas which even he himself couldn't explain had disappeared. It was not that he was intentionally subduing them but that he had perceived the existence of that gulf which he would never be able to bridge.

By this moment, these thoughts had crossed Yuwen Qian's mind thrice, and the others had also thought about similar things several times. Although Ling Zhang had never cast any appraising glances at any of them and seemed to be listening carefully to the exchange of usual pleasantries between Yuwen Tong and Yuwen You, he actually could sense the subtle atmosphere in this living room acutely, and could distinctly perceive the smallest movement of people present and even the minor changes in their breathing.

He was about to achieve a breakthrough and reach the third layer of his method of cultivating internal energy, and his Chi was getting increasingly powerful, his five senses growing sharper and sharper. Therefore, he could hear even the faintest sound in this living room. From the moment he'd entered the abode of the Marquess Fuan, he had appeared calm and relaxed, but in fact he had mobilized all his internal energy, and the air about him had changed, which was why the others, when their eyes fell on him, felt he'd changed noticeably, especially so when he looked back at them.

This was because the method of cultivating internal energy from the Millennium Pavilion was very special. It was meant for descendants of the Ji family who possessed the Blood of the Phoenix Clan, and was tailor-made for that kind of constitution. As their proficiency in the cultivation method developed, their meridians were enhanced, their potential increased. Just like those foreseers living in that previous dynasty – the more powerful their internal energy, the more otherworldly they'd looked. Ji Yanlai was also a very good example.

In other words, the cultivation method of internal energy of the Millennium Pavilion was meant for psychics. The further they went down that path, the more aristocratic and transcendent they would appear. The Blood of the Phoenix Clan in Ling Zhang was stronger than that of most descendants of the Ji family, so as his internal energy grew, more and more people would be deterred from looking him in the face.

Although he hadn't reached the third layer yet, this kind of feeling he gave people was still very intense when he mobilized all his internal energy.

This was the very change that Yuwen Qian and the others had perceived.

Yuwen Tong sitting beside him had naturally sensed the change in the air about Ling Zhang as well. He inwardly praised his sweetheart for his smart move, a ghost of smile hidden in the depths of his eyes.

He had merely given Ling Zhang a pointer, but the latter not only came to know what he should do, but also was doing it better than he'd expected.

Yuwen You, who seemed to be exchanging common courtesies with Yuwen Tong, was also a sly old fox. On the surface he didn't any achievements worth mentioning, but actually he was quite clever. Anybody could tell from his sons' and grandsons' good career prospects alone that he was by no means as...mediocre as he seemed.

Naturally, he also noticed how much Ling Zhang had changed. Unlike any of the others living in this residence, he was acutely conscious of why Ling Zhang was now so different than the person he used to be. Of course, the judgement he made was based on Ling Zhang's identity. Therefore, though he "knew the reason", he was still shocked by Ling Zhang's current mien, because he hadn't bargained for such drastic change in Ling Zhang's temperament either. Even he didn't dare look at Ling Zhang for long.

Yuwen You had long since come to known that once Yuwen Tong was enthroned, the relations between Yuwen Tong and his family would change radically, that though they were of the same blood, the monarch-subject part of their relations would be dominant.

All his family must adapt to the change of their identity as soon as possible. Therefore, after Yuwen Tong's enthronement, he had severely cautioned all his family members that they must come to realize the changes their new identity had brought. When Yuwen Tong had disclosed to him his intention to adopt Yuwen Qian's child, what had worried Yuwen You the most was potential change in Yuwen Qian's attitude. As a result, he had specially admonished Yuwen Qian many times not to have any ideas he was not supposed to have. Earlier this day, before Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong had come, he had warned Yuwen Qian in private once again, worrying that this grandson of his might not be able to figure out what was the right thing to do...

However, now all his worries had dissolved. The air Ling Zhang was emanating deterred everybody. Though Yuwen Tong hadn't made any particular remarks, he was positive that all his family members knew how they should conduct themselves.

Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong had come here because: firstly, they did want everybody in this residence to know about the difference between their identities, and secondly, they were inclined to show care and concern for Yuwen Qian's wife. Her time was near, and her baby, be it a boy or a girl, would be a member of the imperial family. This was an agreement between Yuwen Tong and Yuwen You.

Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang didn't stay in the living room for long, because Yuwen Qian's wife was in late pregnancy and would feel uncomfortable if she sat still for long. Neither Ling Zhang nor Yuwen Tong was inconsiderate, so after another few moments' small talk with Yuwen You, they rose to their feet and made an excuse, saying that they would like to go to the garden for a walk, that Yuwen Qian's wife and the others didn't have to accompany them. Next, Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong had a stroll in the garden in the company of Yuwen Qian, Yuwen You, Yuwen Si and Yuwen Han.

"In a couple of days I'll have Physician Mu of the Ling Mansion pay you a visit," Yuwen Tong said to Yuwen You.

Mr. Mu's name was now known to all members of the couple of most powerful families in the capital city. Yuwen You, who had heard about the matter of Yuwen Tong's being poisoned, was fully aware of how capable a physician Mr. Mu was. Certain that with Mr. Mu's help, Yuwen Qian's wife would safely be delivered of her baby, Yuwen You accepted the offer.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll make sure Physician Mu feels at home during his stay here," said Yuwen You.

Yuwen Tong looked at him. "Great-uncle, you may have Physician Mu feel your pulse and assess your health after he comes here."

Yuwen You smiled, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Yuwen You, who was robust, knew very well that he had no serious health problems. Though he was suffering from some ailments, they'd been caused by his old age and were inevitable. Yuwen You was quite philosophical about them and was not depressed at all.

Yuwen Tong had always found Yuwen You's broad-mindedness admirable. His broad-mindedness had also affected his descendants, all of whom, including Yuwen Jin who was uninterested in study, were moral and upright. There was not a single coward or wimp or evildoer in his Yuwen You's family.

After walking in the garden for a while, Yuwen Tong, believing he'd said all he needed to say to Yuwen You, stopped talking. Though he hadn't said anything to Yuwen Qian directly, he'd made his point quite clear, so he didn't stay in this residence for long. Before lunchtime, he and Ling Zhang took their leave and set out to return to the palace.

Before they left, Yuwen You asked Yuwen Tong about Yuwen Jin. The Shadow Battalion was a special department, and it was impossible for Yuwen Jin to send any messages back home from inside. He wouldn't be able to get in touch with his family unless he left that place.

Yuwen You and his two sons were the only ones in the family who were aware of Yuwen Jin's journey to the Shadow Battalion. All the others believed that he'd gone to the borderlands to toughen himself up. Yuwen You knew that the Shadow Battalion was a powerful force under Yuwen Tong's command. Now that Yuwen Jin had gone to the Shadow Battalion to receive special training, there was no way he could get out of that place without being put through hell. Out of his worries for his grandson, Yuwen You couldn't help but ask about it.

Yuwen Tong, who had been receiving letters from the Shadow Battalion on a regular basis, was fully aware of how Yuwen Jin had been doing. He told Yuwen You that there was no need for him to worry about Yuwen Jin, that Yuwen Jin had gradually adapted himself to the special training in the Shadow Battalion already.

Yuwen You let out a long sigh of relief at the reply.

After leaving the abode of the Marquess Fuan, Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang went into the imperial carriage and sat down side by side. Ling Zhang had barely talked during his stay in the residence. Basically, he'd been affecting an air of dignity all the time. And because of the change in his aura, and the absence of Yuwen Jin who was the only one in the family that dared joke with him, all those people, naturally, had been deterred from being familiar with him.

"You did pretty well back there." Yuwen Tong was generous with his compliment.

Ling Zhang tossed him a glance. "Really?"

"Certainly. Did you not notice none of those who'd cast appraising looks at you in the beginning did that again afterward?" said Yuwen Tong.

Of course Ling Zhang was conscious of that, but after Yuwen Tong confirmed it, he naturally was more convinced that he'd done the right thing.

"This special function of your cultivation method is so convenient. I think I may well be the only one having the guts to look you in the eye in the future. Um...the prospect of that gladdens my heart," observed Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang, "..."

Though Yuwen Tong had put it this way, actually the air emanated by Ling Zhang merely served to put people around him under stress, and it barely had any influence on anybody with a strong will or powerful internal energy.

After the two of them returned to the palace, a large batch of valuables meant as reward were delivered to the abode of the Marquess Fuan. Many people were baffled as to why Yuwen You had first received a visit from the imperial couple and then such a handsome reward. Though some of them had some speculations, none of them connected it with adoption, because that possibility was unbelievable.

The problem was the abode of the Marquess Fuan had been quiet ever since, and there hadn't been any particular activities in there, which further bewildered many people.

A few days later, Ling Zhang declared he was going to hold a banquet. In the invitations he sent, he made it clear that those invited were supposed to bring their kids to attend the banquet.

They were supposed to bring their kids to attend the banquet? Those who'd been bemused soon came to understand.

The day before the banquet, Ling Maomao, the Second Young Master of the Ling family, was brought into the imperial palace.

On hearing the news, everybody caught on to what it was about. The consort wanted to find his cousin some playmates.

These officials of the capital city, who were far more worldly-wise than common people, after guessing that Ling Zhang intended to find his cousin some playmates, all started to contemplate. Ling Zhang was now the empress, and the emperor cared about him very much. Given that the first thing the emperor had done after his enthronement was to make Ling Zhang his consort, it was obvious that the relationship between the two of them was uncommonly strong. Unless some serious problem came up between the two, Ling Zhang's position as empress would always be solid, and so would the status of the Ling family. However, Ling Zhang was a man after all, and there was no doubt the emperor would take concubines and have them bear him sons so that he could pick one of them to be his heir. When that happened, Ling Zhang and the Ling family would be in an awkward position, but that was not really a foregone conclusion, because although Ling Zhang was a man, he could adopt a concubine's son. In that case, Ling Zhang's and the Ling family's status would still be unsurpassable.

Within merely half a day, every one of these officials made a lot of assumptions, each more opinionated than the last. Meanwhile, Old Master Ji the Left Prime Minister, Zhao Zheng the Minister of War, and even Chu Liangyan the Right Prime Minister had made up their minds to bring their most valued teenage family members to the banquet the next day.

It was premature to talk about the succession to the throne. Even if the emperor had plans to take concubines, which he didn't, it would be some time before the birth of his first child, and an even longer period before the princes reached adulthood. The future was full of uncertainties in this regard, which made it more advisable to please Ling Zhang first than it was to dwell on the possible development of this issue. Ling Zhang was now the empress, and was very much in favor with the emperor. Whoever dared to take the banquet lightly the next day would be offending not only Ling Zhang but also the emperor. Anybody, so long as they were not stupid, knew what they ought to do the next day.

After Ling Zhang gave the instruction, numerous people in the capital city were thrilled, a lot of whom hastened to consult with each other in private.

Their acts, which they themselves believed nobody would be able to find out, didn't escape Yuwen Tong's men's notice.

Ling Zhang, though having guessed this, turned a blind eye to it. He didn't care about the process. What he cared about was the outcome of the next day's banquet. He wanted to find Ling Maomao some playmates, but these people were so bold as to judge the Ling family first when the Ling family hadn't judged any of them. They would have to face his anger and the consequences of their actions.

Fortunately, only a limited few were foolish. The next day, most invited guests dressed up and brought their own children or their blood relations' children to the palace to attend the banquet, and most of the children were around Ling Maomao's age. Those who didn't have any family members of similar age brought the most favored ones of the younger generations of their families.

Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong were both very pleased to see that these people were pretty sensible. As regards the small number of insensible ones...

They were scared out of their wits when Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong hadn't even said anything yet. Nobody knew what these people were thinking – maybe because they were ill-informed or had been tricked by others, they actually had merely brought some of the average ones of their teenage family members. When they noticed that the others had brought sons born of their legal wives or grandsons born of their sons' legal wives, they almost blacked out, coming to know that they'd made the wrong decisions. Unfortunately for them, it was too late to change their minds. They had no choice but to steel themselves and take their seats, praying Ling Zhang's and Yuwen Tong's eyes wouldn't alight on them.

"They're so stupid. His Majesty has taken a clear-cut stand in his handling of the matter of His Highness' advisers, but these people still couldn't see sense, or maybe they're just wildly self-important. They seriously believe His Highness and the Ling family would see them differently just because they brought their sons and grandsons born of legal wives? What a bunch of incurable idiots."

"The matter of advisers concerned His Highness, and this matter concerns the Second Young Master of the Ling family. These people probably see themselves as above the Ling family."

"Ridiculous. Who are they to give the Ling family the cold shoulder?"

"They're oafs. What other explanation is there? You'll see – considering how insensible they are, they'd never go any further in their careers. It would take nothing short of a miracle for any of them to get a promotion."

A lot of guests were whispering in sarcastic tones or discussing something in private. Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong, though sitting in the high seats, could hear them distinctly, but neither of them showed any sign of their true feelings on their faces, so naturally the guests sitting down there were unable to tell what either of them was thinking.