Chapter 260: "When Did You Recover Your Memory?

A seventeen-year-old youth—gauche yet sincere, brimming with an energy and passion impossible to refuse.

Dense kisses, a slow grind, and finally, being devoured piece by piece.

After their passion subsided, he carried her to the bathtub and gently washed her clean. Unable to restrain himself, he moved in to kiss her again.

Xiao Yang turned her head, dodging his kiss, and looked at the beaded curtain. "When did you get your memory back?"

The man on top of her froze, his kiss landing on her cheek instead.

"When Your Majesty accepted my confession."

Seeing Xiao Yang’s obvious displeasure, Mu Yunlian couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. "Ah Yang, are you spurning me? Do you think I’m old now? Not as good at pleasing you as my seventeen-year-old self?"

Xiao Yang didn’t answer, but from her expression, it was clear her thoughts were still lingering on Meng Xuechen.

Mu Yunlian was at his wit’s end. ’I not only have to be jealous of my love rival, but I also have to be jealous of myself—a fractured version of me, a me from a past life. What kind of fate is this?’

"Fine. I’ll go get another bowl of that potion, lose my memory completely, and let *him* stay with you forever."

He said this in a huff and pretended to get up to find the amnesia potion, but after struggling for a while, he hadn’t moved an inch from the bathtub. He just turned his head to the side, not moving anything else.

After waiting a moment and not being pulled back, he turned his head around, his eyes filled with despair and a look of utter heartbreak.

"Your Majesty, can you truly be so cruel?"

Xiao Yang lazily lifted her eyelids to watch his performance. ’Look at him, so heartbroken. Yet even while heartbroken, he doesn’t forget to seduce me.’

The Mu Yunlian with his memories restored was a living, breathing drama queen of a vixen.

Once he had been ’heartbroken’ long enough, she nonchalantly raised a hand and crooked a finger at him. "Come here."

Mu Yunlian took only a split second to think before pouncing, but Xiao Yang suddenly moved, pinning him down beneath her.

"You were quite convincing just now. Continue..."

"Mmph... Mmm..."

Mu Yunlian regaining his memory was a cause for universal celebration.

For the Ministry of Revenue, Mu Yunlian was their chief official. Without him, everyone was under immense pressure.

To the other officials, Mu Yunlian was the God of Wealth.

It was almost the New Year, time for the annual bonuses to be handed out, but the God of Wealth had lost his memory. The mere thought was enough to drive one to despair.

Fortunately, Heaven had mercy. Just two days before the New Year, the God of Wealth finally got his memory back. Thank heavens for that.

Money isn’t everything, but you can’t do anything without it.

As for Rong Yin, it was best that Mu Yunlian had his memory. Because when he didn’t, the Emperor’s favoritism was plain to see. If Mu Yunlian had remained amnesiac, Rong Yin wasn’t sure he could control his inner demons and stop himself from doing something to him.

In short, Mu Yunlian regaining his memory made everyone happy.

Except for Mu Yunlian himself.

Because his seventeen-year-old self had traveled through time to receive Xiao Yang’s favoritism, while the him with memories clearly didn’t get such good treatment. When Her Majesty bullied him, she didn’t hold back in the slightest.

In the blink of an eye, it was the New Year again. And at this year’s New Year’s Eve feast, besides Prince Jing and his family, a few more seats had been added.

Rong Yin, Mu Yunlian, Xu Xingchen, Li Wei, and Xie Liuzheng.

Xie Liuzheng took a deep breath. ’I’ve finally made it, worming my way into the Emperor’s family feast.’

She glanced left, then right. ’This scene... it’s something new.’

Just watching this subtle but chaotic scene of romantic rivalry was appetizing enough.

She might drool over handsome men, and when talking big, she’d boast about wanting eight of them in one night. But if she were to actually find herself in such a situation, she would run as far away as possible. Her life was precious, and it was good to be alive.

’In a situation like this, it’s best for me to just stay on the sidelines, watch the drama unfold, and ship the couples.’

She had to admit, Her Majesty was truly the Empress she had come to adore. These four men, each one was more handsome than the last.

Individually, they were all fierce beasts, but in front of Her Majesty, they were all perfectly behaved.

’I suppose only an Emperor could suppress them and make them sit here and eat so obediently.’

Xiao Lv placed a piece of crispy fish in her bowl with his chopsticks. When he looked up, he saw Xie Liuzheng staring ahead like a gossip hound, watching the Regent King and Minister Mu secretly compete.

Xiao Lv knew she loved to gossip and meant no harm, but her eyes were practically glued to them. Wasn’t that a bit much?

"Is it that interesting to watch?"

A chilling voice sounded by her ear. Xie Liuzheng subconsciously nodded before realizing something was wrong. She turned to meet Xiao Lv’s gaze, which was smoldering with dark fire, and instantly shrank back.

’It’s not that I’m a coward, it’s just... my back isn’t what it used to be.’

Xiao Lv let out a nearly inaudible hmph. "Eat."

Xie Liuzheng obediently lowered her head and took a bite of the fish. But as soon as it went down...

"RETCH~~"

The dry heave came so suddenly that Xie Liuzheng couldn’t control it at all.

Everyone’s gaze shot toward them. Xiao Lv’s face darkened.

"So you finally despise me. We’ve only been married a short while, and you already find me this repulsive?"

Xie Liuzheng’s eyes screamed her innocence. "No, I... RETCH..."

Consort Meng was the first to react. "Liu Zheng, could you be... with child?"

Everyone’s eyes instantly brightened.

Xiao Yang raised her hand. "Summon the Imperial Physician."

The Imperial Physician on duty was in a side hall and arrived quickly.

The entire time, no one in the room moved or spoke, but all eyes were fixed on Xie Liuzheng.

Xie Liuzheng: "RETCH~~~"

Xiao Yang was speechless. "Brother, get that food away from her."

’Are you stupid? You’re just making it worse.’

Xiao Lv, his face taut, looked serious but fumbled nervously as he cleared the dishes from the table.

The Imperial Physician entered and was about to bow when Xiao Yang waved her hand dismissively. "Quick, go see to Mr. Xie."

There was only one person in the room with the surname Xie.

The Imperial Physician hurried over, bent down to take Xie Liuzheng’s pulse—a simple task—and a moment later, arrived at the result everyone was expecting.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Mr. Xie is with child. From the pulse, it has been over a month."

"CRASH!"

Xiao Lv, who had been calm and composed this whole time, shattered the wine pot in his hand.

It was a rare sight to see Xiao Lv lose his composure like this. Everyone smiled teasingly. What a novelty.

Xiao Yang said, "Wonderful. This is a joyous occasion."

Xiao Yang asked her, "Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll have the Imperial Kitchen prepare it. Don’t stay up too late tonight; go home early and rest."

Xie Liuzheng cradled her stomach in astonishment and looked up at Xiao Yang. "Your Majesty, there’s a person growing in my belly!?"

Her words sent the entire hall into laughter.

Xiao Lv hadn’t said a word since learning of Xie Liuzheng’s pregnancy. He just gazed at her intently, and though he tried to remain restrained, the love overflowing from his eyes was impossible to hide.

His beloved wife was carrying their child.

A separate meal was prepared for Xie Liuzheng. Xiao Lv stayed by her side, no longer drinking.

Because of this happy event, the atmosphere of the New Year’s Eve feast became much livelier.

Xiao Hong glanced at Xiao Ziling across the table. His affection for her hadn’t diminished, but Xiao Ziling never gave him a second look, refused his gifts, and offered him not a single chance.

It was no secret that Xiao Hong liked Xiao Ziling. Seeing her son’s dejected look, Consort Meng felt a pang of sympathy but did not intervene.

First, Xiao Hong was still young, so there was no rush for marriage.

Second, Xiao Ziling clearly had no interest in Xiao Hong. Not only is a melon plucked too early not sweet, but Xiao Ziling was one of the Empress’s people—not someone you could easily force.

’Young people,’ she thought, ’must always go through some hardships.’