Chapter 83 083 I have a sense of shame.

Choosing an empress is a difficult task.

Maintaining Xie Lanzhao's original position is also a challenge.

The emperor and empress are of equal status. If the empress holds official positions, what about the emperor? Could he also hold official positions? Breaking this system would be extremely difficult.

Thinking about all this, Zhao Jialing still felt somewhat troubled. Those shackles around her neck were truly suffocating; even the emperor wasn't omnipotent. Xie Lanzhao's comforting words eased her gloom somewhat, and after casting her worries to the winds, she looked intently at Xie Lanzhao and asked, "Are you staying in the palace or in Guangzhaifang?"

Daming Palace and Guangzhaifang were separated by only one street, but they were actually quite different. The palace was heavily guarded, with numerous sentries preventing unauthorized personnel from approaching. While Guangzhaifang also had patrolling guards, its security was far less stringent than that of the inner palace. Nearby was also the "Hall of Officials Waiting for Duty," a place teeming with people and eyes. Nothing might necessarily happen, but it wouldn't seem appropriate for His Majesty to travel between the palace and private residences.

It wasn't uncommon for officials from outside the capital to stay overnight in the Forbidden City. Aside from the occasional instance of genuinely important business, most of the time, they were simply sycophants despised by upright officials. At this point, they had no choice but to play the role of "sycophant," as they couldn't really expect His Majesty to make such frequent trips. Exhaling a breath of stale air, Xie Lanzhao met Zhao Jialing's radiant smile and said, "In the palace."

The unexpected answer brought a look of surprise to Zhao Jialing's face. She hadn't expected Xie Lanzhao to agree so easily, and she almost wanted to pick her up and spin her around a couple of times. "A short stay or a long stay?" she asked, holding Xie Lanzhao tightly around the waist, probing further.

Xie Lanzhao glanced at her sideways: "I still have some dignity left."

Zhao Jialing looked regretful. She kissed Xie Lanzao's lips and said, "It's a good thing, we should celebrate." As for how to celebrate, she chose it herself. Seeing that Xie Lanzao didn't object, she turned the kiss from a light touch to a deep, lingering one. Practice makes perfect, unlike before when she was so clumsy that she couldn't even catch her breath. But getting too involved also had its downsides. Her heart was pounding, her hands crumpled her robes, and almost instinctively reached for her belt.

Xie Lanzao's face was flushed, her vibrant lips glistening with a thin sheen. Her eyelashes trembled, her gaze slightly hazy during the kiss, but at the crucial moment, she still managed to grasp Zhao Jialing's hand, bite her lip, and shake her head, saying, "This isn't appropriate." Zhao Jialing snapped back to reality, glanced at the still bright sky, took a deep breath, and restrained her surging emotions. She gazed at Xie Lanzao and sighed, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Xie Lanzhao: "..." She really didn't want to pay attention to His Majesty's nonsense.

With anticipation, one eagerly awaits the sunset and the arrival of dusk.

Although he claimed to be playing chess for leisure, Zhao Jialing was always absent-minded. Looking at the chess pieces on the board, he felt as if they were all dancing. Dazzling, but when he looked up at Xie Lanzhao, Zhao Jialing felt better. Before, Xie Lanzhao was like a banished immortal cultivating in the turbid world of mortals; now, she was no longer aloof and cold, but every frown and smile carried warmth, and this warmth was unique to her.

"Why has Your Majesty's chess skill regressed instead of improved?" Xie Lanzhao asked, raising her eyes.

“My talent doesn’t lie in chess,” Zhao Jialing said seriously.

I look forward to dusk, but when dusk arrives, I'm no longer in a hurry.

After having dinner with Xie Lanzhao, they strolled leisurely along the Taiye Pond.

After spring arrives, bare branches sprout new buds, and a light green hue emerges in the field of vision, just like those undertakings that are full of vitality. Once they sprout, they will grow vigorously at an extremely fast pace.

Rows of lanterns lit up, casting intertwined shadows in the light.

As night fell, the two leisurely returned to the Penglai Palace.

"Want to come together?" Zhao Jialing's thoughtfulness went too far; he eagerly invited her as it was time to take a bath.

“No, that won’t do.” Xie Lanzhao’s refusal was gentle yet firm.

Zhao Jialing sighed, "Then I'll ask again next time."

The regret of not being able to bathe together was quickly dispelled by the sight of a lotus emerging from the water. The person sitting in front of the dressing mirror had half-dry hair. Zhao Jialing suddenly remembered a previous regret. Too lazy to fuss over her own hair, she walked to Xie Lanzhao's side, took the handkerchief from her hand, and wiped her hair. Finally, she even grabbed an ivory comb and held it in her palm.

“I’d been thinking about this for a while,” Zhao Jialing said. “Although the timing isn’t quite right, I’ll just have my fill first.”

Xie Lanzhao let her do as she pleased, but after a few strands of her hair were pulled out, she smiled and said, "Your Majesty's hair is still wet."

Zhao Jialing hummed in agreement, then said, "Then you do it." His fingertips gently massaged her scalp, a soothing touch that also stirred a different kind of emotion within. The mirrors in the palace were made of glass, clearly reflecting their features. Zhao Jialing caught a glimpse of Xie Lanzhao's serene gaze in the mirror, and couldn't resist taking her hand, gazing at her longingly.

Xie Lanzhao could easily see through her meaning. Her eyes reddened, and she said, "I didn't bring a sleeping pillow."

Zhao Jialing paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's alright." She quickly led Xie Lanzao back to the bed. The bed in Penglai Palace was sixteen feet long. The screen was a gift from Xie Lanzao, which Zhao Jialing had arranged for Yin'e to place here earlier. At the foot of the bed were a long table, a small lamp emitting a hazy glow, an incense burner with wisps of smoke, and several books piled haphazardly. With the curtains drawn and the screen closed, it was their own little world again.

Xie Lanzhao wanted to turn off the light, but Zhao Jialing caught her the moment she moved. Her hesitant expression was easy to read. Xie Lanzhao was slightly annoyed, a faint blush rising to her face. Seeing that she didn't persist, Zhao Jialing knew she could go further; Xie Lanzhao was indeed lenient with her. She knelt on the bed, her arms around Xie Lanzhao's waist, her chin resting on her shoulder, and coaxed, "Don't you want to see my expression clearly?"

Xie Lanzhao nudged her, glanced at her sideways, and thought to herself, "Why would I need to look?"

“You already rejected me once before.” Zhao Jialing changed her tone to a mournful one. Seeing that Xie Lanzhao didn’t agree immediately, she loosened her grip, quickly moved to the foot of the bed, picked up a book and looked at it carefully, pretending to back down, “Fine, then let’s take a look while there’s still light.” Pointing to the illustrations, she asked again, “How about this one?”

The book was sent by Gao Shao; it was indeed erotic illustrations, some of which were quite an eye-opener for Zhao Jialing. However, after pondering for a while, she felt that Xie Lanzhao wouldn't agree to her reckless behavior. She wouldn't even bury her head in her hands, let alone kneel directly on her face. Sure enough, she heard a gasp, and looking at Xie Lanzhao's face, it was already flushed red. "No!" Her tone rose slightly, her refusal even more obvious. Zhao Jialing hadn't expected success anyway, so she seized the opportunity to ask, "Then the lamp—"

Xie Lanzhao: "Whatever you say."

Zhao Jialing chuckled, having succeeded, and tossed the book into the corner. She quickly hugged Xie Lanzhao, pecked her lips, and deliberately said, "I was a bit slow before, but to improve, I had to pick up the same enthusiasm I had for studying back then. Why are you dissatisfied?"

Xie Lanzhao's eyes were dark and brooding, a hint of annoyance in them. Although she had done everything she could, some things were still incredibly stimulating. Just imagining the scene made her tremble. She lay with her back to Zhao Jialing, but every time she closed her eyes, the image she had glimpsed flashed before her eyes. Zhao Jialing let out a soft "Ai," knowing she couldn't go too far; if she angered Xie Lanzhao, she would be the one to suffer. Her chest pressed against Xie Lanzhao's back, her arms wrapped around her, but like those incessantly kissing lips, her hands also left marks on Xie Lanzhao's body. Xie Lanzhao appeared calm and composed, but both her body and mind were being shaken, her heart pounding wildly.

“I heard it,” Zhao Jialing said, placing his hand on Xie Lanzhao’s chest. He stopped groping and instead listened to the rhythm of her heartbeat. “Each heartbeat is its own, but slowly, all the sounds will merge together. Just like us, we were originally going our separate ways, but now we’re lying together. Fate, you won’t have it if you don’t ask for it.”

The warmth of his palms seeped through the thin nightgown into her skin, a cozy comfort, and a delicate fragrance lingered around her nose. He rubbed her for a moment, then stopped… Xie Lanzhao frowned, her thoughts somewhat confused. She turned slightly to face Zhao Jialing.

After the idle chatter ended, Zhao Jialing paused for a moment before saying, "Really not going to try those erotic paintings? I've learned some powerful techniques that will serve you well."

Xie Lanzhao's eyelids twitched; she was startled, still finding it difficult to overcome the invisible mountain in her heart. "No!"

Zhao Jialing pressed close to her and asked again, "When can it be done?"

Xie Lanzhao was speechless. How could she know? Sometimes, she really found His Majesty annoying and would resort to unreasonable demands. But her attempts to refuse seemed futile; she would soften in no time. But this time, if she couldn't have it, she wouldn't back down. She deliberately lowered her eyes and said, "Sixth Sister, do you want to sleep or just chat?"

Zhao Jialing was afraid she would blurt out, "I'm not going to keep you company," so he quickly replied, "No, not at all." Her gaze shifted, and she caught sight of the dazzling white skin beneath the open neckline. She stopped arguing and let the allure of the tent envelop them both.

She didn't want to gossip all night long.

No secrets stay hidden forever. Many people knew about the Emperor's frequent visits to Guangzhaifang, and when news spread that Xie Lanzhao had stayed overnight in the palace, they seemed to know it was indeed true. Since hearing the Emperor's heartfelt words, the ministers knew that the Emperor's heart was with Xie Zhongshu, but no matter how the rumors spread, they couldn't discern anything from the couple's behavior; it was all just speculation. However, things were different now; everything was out in the open.

With Princess Zhao Xianju as a precedent, the court officials didn't think the emperor's affair with Xie Zhongshu was a big deal. It would have been a much bigger problem if it were just Xie Zhongshu. They couldn't interfere in the princess's family affairs, but the emperor had no family matters. Regardless of her relationship with Xie Lanzhao, the "imperial heir" was something she had to consider. If women couldn't produce offspring together, then a successor had to be chosen for the emperor—that was his responsibility.

Thus, as Zhao Jialing and Xie Lanzhao's relationship became more public, a tentative memorial was still submitted, stating that His Majesty was already twenty-one years old and had been on the throne for seven years; it was long overdue to recruit women from respectable families to form his harem. As for the inconvenience of men entering the Forbidden Palace, the court officials also offered solutions, such as establishing a separate academy for the Hanlin Academy within the Forbidden Palace, prohibiting them from freely serving the emperor.

These memorials requesting the emperor to expand his harem included those sent through formal channels to the Council of State Affairs, secret letters directly to the emperor, and even some addressed to the Empress Dowager. They generally conveyed the same message: the emperor was of age and it was time to have more children. Occasionally, a few were directed at Xie Lanzhao, advising her to be magnanimous and consider the empire's interests rather than monopolizing the emperor.

As the emperor's birth mother, the Empress Dowager had the most legitimate reason to advise him on choosing a concubine. The court officials also harbored this intention and submitted memorials to the Empress Dowager. However, Empress Dowager Huan never paid attention to such trivial matters and did not even lift her eyelids before having the memorials delivered to the emperor.

And Zhao Jialing—

Although she knew this beforehand, seeing those memorials still made her feel stifled, wishing she could throw them away and burn them as firewood. Had she even figured things out for herself before starting to interfere in her affairs? But Zhao Jialing knew that her outburst of anger would shift the pressure onto Xie Lanzao's shoulders. She dared not launch a full-scale attack on the emperor, but the criticism would fall on Xie Lanzao; rumors would sooner or later overturn her achievements and brand her as a "seductress who bewitched the emperor."

Xie Lanzhao pursed her lips. Choosing His Majesty meant facing everything. She uttered a single word: "Delay." Seeing Zhao Jialing's lingering anger, she then shared her thoughts with him. It wasn't just about delaying; those who were exceptionally "outstanding" would be investigated. The rest would be given tasks, such as appointing them as envoys to supervise the planting progress in various prefectures, the construction of official roads, and to oversee the construction of Mingde Academy. They would hold official positions, but not completely relinquish power; once they were sent out of the capital, their voices would naturally diminish.

When the emperor ignores advice, does that mean everyone in the court should focus their attention on this one thing and fight against the emperor to the end?

Zhao Jialing understood.

On one hand, he thoroughly investigated the candidates recommended by the court officials—it should be noted that these officials were following their usual practice, striving to build a network of marriage alliances to pave their own way to advancement, while other candidates were not valued as much. If even a few scoundrels emerged from this group, it would be enough for Zhao Jialing to use them as grounds to berate the court officials mercilessly. And indeed, there were such scoundrels, having affairs with maids in their household and still dreaming of instant success.

At the court assembly, Zhao Jialing used that person as an example to severely reprimand the court officials. However, she and Xie Lanzhao had a plan, and the focus wouldn't be on this matter. After the court officials tremblingly apologized, she adopted an appearance of being solely focused on the important matter of reform and began appointing envoys. She chose those who were eloquent and outspoken, precisely because they were selfless and dedicated to the country, making them the most suitable for oversight.

Those chosen knew exactly what the emperor was planning, but they had no choice but to accept it. Officially, they couldn't disobey the imperial decree, nor could they deny their loyalty; privately, being sent on a mission was a good one, especially since it wasn't a regular political affair, and such special envoys usually received promotions upon their return.

Of course, some chose to refuse, determined to fight to the bitter end in the court. Zhao Jialing merely smiled gently, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. His ambiguous attitude left people bewildered and somewhat confused. However, a swift and decisive blow soon followed. Once investigated, even the fact that his wife, children, and maids had used his name to stay at official post stations and employ official horses to deliver private messages could be uncovered. Although such practices were commonplace, they were absolutely forbidden by law and would result in charges of "using public office for private gain." The unspoken rules of officialdom did not equate to legality; it was simply that the court did not intervene.

After a period of commotion, Zhao Jialing proposed another matter: to bestow the titles of princess upon the three county princesses of Changle, Yongle, and Anyang. The court officials wanted to dissuade him, but it was common practice to bestow princess titles upon members of the imperial clan; it didn't require any special reason, only the emperor's special favor. It should be noted that during the reign of Emperor Taizong, there were even instances of adopting grandsons as sons.

Under normal circumstances, the court officials wouldn't have given it much thought. However, it was precisely when the officials petitioned the emperor, hoping to establish an imperial heir as soon as possible… Could it be that they were to choose one of the three county princesses as an heir?! When the thought surfaced, the court officials were horrified. This was entirely possible. The emperor didn't want to have children and was willing to give up an heir for love. Who could force her? The Empress Dowager? The Empress Dowager had no intention of interfering at all.

Zhao Jialing did indeed have this intention. All three county princesses were studying at Mingde Academy, and their studies were directly submitted to Zhao Jialing. Without the corrupt scholars of the Imperial Academy instilling their outdated ideas, they were all on the path of reform laid out by Zhao Jialing, and naturally qualified to be his successors. The three nieces were all relatively young. Chang Le and Yong Le needed to care for their frail and sickly sister-in-law, so they had more to consider. An Yang, on the other hand, was an orphan with no parents, possessed the elegance of her elder sister, and had been carefully taught by Xie Lanzhao, making her even more suitable. However, there was no need to rush this matter; they could observe further.

Although some people were sent away, the rumors about the emperor choosing concubines did not completely disappear. They were just scattered and did not form a compelling trend. Zhao Jialing was too lazy to pay attention to them and simply ignored them.

In the seventh year of the Tianfu era, in early June, heavy rains struck Guanzhong, damaging wheat seedlings. Medical students from Mingde Academy petitioned for help in preventing and controlling the epidemic, and Emperor Jialing approved the petition. With the presence of the Imperial Medical Bureau and medical students from Mingde Academy, the epidemic did not spread. Emperor Jialing also ordered the opening of granaries to treat the disaster victims and stabilize rice prices. However, no sooner had this been resolved than news came from Henan Province that locusts were ravaging the provinces, their flight darkening the sky and devouring all crops and vegetation.

Since Zhao Jialing ascended the throne, although there have been minor disasters, they have all been resolved in a timely manner, preventing panic from spreading. However, this time, the disaster in the prefectures of Henan is even worse than in Guanzhong, and rumors have begun to circulate. Some people took the opportunity to bring up the matter of establishing a concubine, subtly criticizing Xie Lanzao and implying that the disaster was caused by an imbalance of yin and yang.

Although she followed customary practices by holding sacrificial rites and prayers, reforming the government, reducing food and drink, and abolishing rituals and music to respond to Heaven's condemnation, she felt deep down that these measures were useless. She could blame herself, but she could not tolerate blaming Xie Lanzhao for this disaster! In court, when someone mentioned "Heaven sending down disaster," Zhao Jialing interrupted him coldly, saying, "Even the reigns of Emperor Taizu, Emperor Taizong, and Emperor Renzong were plagued by locusts devouring crops. Are you implying that my ancestors were all immoral? That my Zhao family is incapable of supporting the people? Then let you sit on the throne?! How about I bestow upon you the Nine Bestowments today?"

The court officials were all bewildered and dared not speak.

"A bunch of scoundrels, all they know how to do is talk! If they're so good at it, each of them could eat ten bushels of locusts!" Zhao Jialing said angrily after the court session. She knew some people still harbored those intentions, wanting to pin the "inauspiciousness" on Xie Lanzhao, but there were ways to resolve it. The "auspicious omen" cooldown period had ended; she could use it again, letting the auspicious omen envelop Xie Lanzhao, creating a celestial phenomenon of two emperors in heaven. She paused, her gaze falling on Xie Lanzhao, "I won't let you suffer. I'll find a way to shut them up."

Although she hadn't heard His Majesty's inner thoughts, Xie Lanzhao could roughly guess what he intended to do. The court officials knew that much of what they knew came from the system's divine power, and over time, they had lost some of their reverence. Besides… she had no time to think about such external matters. Taking a deep breath, she said, "I wish to go myself."

The memorial mentioned that the locust plague had been going on for some time, and the people there were holding sacrifices and praying for blessings, burning incense and worshipping. This was also related to the governor's policies. For example, the governor of Yuzhou wrote in his memorial that "locusts are a natural disaster, and it is appropriate to cultivate virtue. If one disobeys orders, the disaster will be even more severe." From the memorial, it can be seen that he would not take any action to control the locusts. Was he going to wait for the locusts to fly away on their own? What would be left of the thousands of miles of parched land then?!

These locusts are mobile; once they've eaten their fill in one place, they move on to the next, and the longer the disaster drags on, the worse it gets. The new seed test fields have only just been laid out; the locusts won't avoid them, and all our previous efforts will be wasted! Looking up and meeting Zhao Jialing's worried gaze, she repeated, "Your Majesty, I request permission to proceed to Yuzhou!"

Zhao Jialing felt troubled. She stared at Xie Lanzhao and said in a deep voice, "You should know what I'm thinking."

Xie Lanzhao's eyes darkened: "Your Majesty should know my heart." The censor is going to Yuzhou, but the governor may not listen. She softened her tone, "It's just dealing with the locust plague; there's no danger."

Zhao Jialing knew she couldn't persuade Xie Lanzao. After a moment of eye contact, she seemed somewhat deflated. She said, "I will wait for you to return." A moment later, she asked, "Can't someone else do it?"

Xie Lanzhao's gaze was calm: "I also wish to silence the gossip with my own achievements." She thought she wouldn't have left the capital if she hadn't chosen this path. Even the coldest person, once their resolve is firm, will have a fiery glint in their eyes. She said, "I am not incompetent. Having made my choice, shouldn't I take resolute action?"

"There are methods for controlling locusts in agricultural books, but after controlling the locusts, the most important thing is how to stop them from spreading. Your Majesty and all the students will need to put in a lot of effort on this follow-up matter."

Zhao Jialing curled her lips, reached out and hugged Xie Lanzhao, burying her face in her chest, and said sullenly, "Some people are really too hateful."