Chapter 205: Questioning the Emperor's Ability Again

But these are all later stories, so let’s leave them aside for now.

Seeing the sweet smile on her daughter's face, Pei's mother didn't want to spoil her fun even though she was worried, so she swallowed her words secretly.

She thought to herself that she would guide her daughter when she had the chance, telling her not to dwell on love but to think more about herself.

Now, just let my daughter be happy.

"Your Majesty and the Emperor are in perfect harmony, and Mother is relieved."

Pei Tingyue's eyes curved and she continued talking to Pei's mother with a smile.

Until the night was deep.

Xie Chencai led Pei's father and the three brothers of the Pei family back to the flower hall.

His eyes were gentle as he extended his hand towards Pei Tingyue: "It's getting late, we should go back to the palace."

Under the gaze of the whole family, Pei Tingyue stood up and naturally extended her hand, "Okay."

When Pei's mother saw the two holding hands, a smile crossed her face, but this smile quickly turned into sadness.

Although she knew in her heart that she would be able to see her daughter again in a few days, it was so difficult to see her this time that she was reluctant to leave.

She thought so, and so did the rest of the Pei family.

Seeing the reluctant gazes in the room, Pei Tingyue became emotional and her eyes became red again.

"Dad and Mom, don't be like this. Your daughter will be back in two days."

Pei's father and mother agreed with tears in their eyes.

*

On the way back to the palace.

Pei Tingyue quickly calmed down.

She had been crying so hard that her face was a bit messy. She found a clean handkerchief, wet it with water, wrung it out, and then...

He handed it to Xie Chen.

She didn't just sit there quietly. Instead, she stood up and sat astride Xie Chen, facing him, with her little face tilted up, waiting to be served.

Xie Chen looked at the clean handkerchief in his hand, then turned to look at that captivating face. His eyes wandered over her face and he whispered, "How outrageous."

Pei Tingyue displayed her arrogance to the fullest extent: "Then does the Emperor allow me to be so presumptuous?"

A smile appeared in Xie Chen's dark eyes: "I won't allow it."

Pei Tingyue pretended to cry, looking pitiful: "Then I will be heartbroken to death."

Xie Chen laughed and resigned himself to serving her.

Starting from her eyebrows, all the way to her cheeks and lips, she wiped it all over.

Originally, Pei Tingyue only put on a thin layer of powder. Without makeup, there was not much difference. In the dim carriage, she looked even more beautiful and charming.

Xie Chen's throat rolled, and he wanted to kiss her.

Thinking this way, he finally got the kiss as he wished.

But it wasn't his initiative.

Pei Tingyue took the initiative to hook her arms around his neck and come closer, clinging to him.

Xie Chen placed his hand on the back of her slender waist, stroking it bit by bit. Taking advantage of the gap between breaths, he asked vaguely, "Yueyue misses me a lot?"

Pei Tingyue's eyes suddenly widened.

She just stood there in a daze, not moving forward to kiss him.

"What did the Emperor call me?"

Xie Chen bit her earlobe lightly: "Yueyue."

Pei Tingyue blushed a little: "How can the emperor learn words from his mother!"

In fact, her nickname is Tingyue.

But Pei's mother felt that this name was not intimate enough, so she doubled the word "Yue" and called her "Yue". In her memory, only Pei's mother called her that.

Now she suddenly heard someone calling her like this, and she felt a little uncomfortable.

The most important thing is that when this person called her, there was no tenderness in the tone that Pei's mother used to call her. Instead, because the second month's pronunciation was too light, it sounded ambiguous and affectionate.

Xie Chen looked at her straight and shouted in her ear again.

The overly intimate address, the warm breath, and the close distance made Pei Tingyue's ears turn red and hot in an instant.

She finally managed to calm her surging mind and angrily covered the mouth of the person in front of her, "Don't shout like that."

Xie Chen deliberately misinterpreted her meaning: "Okay, don't shout at this time."

“Ahhhh!”

The two of them laughed and joked, and time passed by unknowingly. The carriage soon stopped in front of Chaoyang Palace.

After bathing, Xie Chen twisted Pei Tingyue's hair and talked about business. "I was chatting with your father tonight and found that your father has a very upright character. I have already arranged a place for him to go."

Pei Tingyue nodded: "Okay."

Xie Chen lowered his head and asked, "Don't you even ask me where your father has been assigned? Or perhaps beg me to give him a higher position?"

Pei Tingyue shook her head, her beautiful eyes full of trust. She said, "I believe in Your Majesty. No matter what decision you make, you will consider it carefully for me."

Xie Chen's heart moved.

He traced her delicate contours with his fingertips.

"Just like that, always trust me."

Pei Tingyue buried her head in his waist and said coquettishly, "I have always loved, relied on, and trusted Your Majesty."

Xie Chen touched her smooth black hair.

I can't help feeling satisfied.

After hugging her quietly for a while, he told her his plan, "Transfer your father back to Kyoto. He shouldn't be given a high position. The Censorate is the most suitable place for him."

Censors and imperial censors are generally officials of the fifth or sixth rank, with the highest being the fourth rank.

Although his official position was not high, his voice was extremely powerful. He could advise the emperor and impeach the ministers. He was the one that the court officials feared the most.

Moreover, most of the officials in the Censorate are loyal and upright ministers who stay away from party disputes and can also prevent villains from causing trouble.

Pei Tingyue smiled and said, "Then I, your concubine, would like to thank the Emperor on behalf of my father."

Xie Chen lowered his eyes and looked at her. "And your three brothers. The eldest and second brothers were supposed to take the imperial examinations. I will arrange official positions for them next year when they achieve good scores. As for your third brother, he didn't choose to study and chose to learn a trade. I have also thought of a way out for him. Let him train in the Imperial Guard for two years. If he is useful, I will assign him to the army."

Pei Tingyue was naturally happy with this arrangement.

She stood up and hugged Xie Chen back, her eyes and eyebrows moved. "Your Majesty has arranged so much for me. I am very grateful to Your Majesty. But I also have something to say to Your Majesty."

"Um."

Pei Tingyue said seriously, "There's only one thing. If my father and brothers are truly capable, it's fine if Your Majesty uses them. If they're not, Your Majesty, please don't favor them too much because of me. Otherwise, I'll really become a sinner of Daqi."

"I know what's going on." Xie Chen hugged her and said with a smile, "You can say this. I think Tingyue has truly become a virtuous concubine."

When this matter was brought up again, Pei Tingyue nuzzled him with her little face, her eyes sparkling: "Can I be as famous as the emperor?"

Xie Chen pressed his lips against hers, and the word "I can" melted between their lips and teeth.

The two stumbled and kissed until they reached the edge of the bed.

The gilded gauze curtain was lowered.

After a long time, the candle went out.

Pei Tingyue lay on the couch, and in the darkness, looked suspiciously at the people around him.

To this point...

Just gone?

Just gone?

She was also thinking that this person had given her such a big surprise tonight, and she had to repay him well.

After the kiss, it's gone!

It's gone!

Ever since that day when Concubine Luo drugged him, the two of them have never been together again.

She questioned him once that time, and he said that he felt sorry for her.

So what now?

Now it is even more perfunctory, without even a reason.

Should she be able to question it this time?

Emperor, are you dying?!

The Emperor's 25th birthday had only just passed a few days ago, and the changes were so obvious?!

Is she going to be a vegetarian from now on?!

Amidst a chaotic stream of thoughts, Pei Tingyue slowly fell asleep.

*

The next morning.

When Pei Tingyue opened her eyes, the man next to her had half sat up and was staring at the letter.

"When did the emperor wake up?"

"I just woke up not long ago." Xie Chen leaned over and kissed her forehead, "What is this?"

As soon as he woke up, he saw it on the bedside table.

I took it in my hand and looked at it. There was neither a lacquer seal nor a signature.

Pei Tingyue wanted to say it last night, but he forgot about it because he was disturbed by his thoughts.

At this moment she was awake, climbed up, and half leaned on him, "Your Majesty, open it and take a look."

Xie Chen opened it as he was told.

The text above is very clear.

On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, official positions, names and property.

He understood that this was a bribery slip.

Pei Tingyue cleared her throat and said, "These are all things that my family has been unable to refuse since I entered the palace. My father was forced to accept them due to pressure. Now I have brought them all to Jiangzhou. I hope the emperor will make the final decision on this matter."

Xie Chen's eyes darkened.

The purpose of this southern tour is not only to force Xie Sheng out, but also to clean up the bureaucracy.

This list includes not only the names of officials from Lin'an Prefecture, but also the names of officials from other provincial governments.

This is just right. Starting with these people, we can completely purge the southern officialdom.

"I will deal with these people. As for those things, keep them for use."

Pei Tingyue decisively refused: "No, this won't work. If the collected property is given to my family, they won't feel at ease using it."

Xie Chen laughed.

In his eyes, these things are not worth mentioning.

Since she said so, he would do his job.

"Then fill it up in the national treasury. When you come to visit your parents, I will reward you generously."

Pei Tingyue kissed him on the cheek: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After getting up and having breakfast, Pei Tingyue started to get busy.

In two days she would visit her parents and the palace would give out some rewards, so she thought about adding some more things to the gift.

Being in the Jiangzhou Palace, he did not bring any of the things from the palace, only some silver, money, and silks.

Pei Tingyue thought about it, added one thousand taels of silver, and added twenty pieces of fine silk.

Adding the things in the palace and hers together, these things are already a lot for the Pei family.

When she returned to Beijing, she gave some of the good things in the warehouse to her family as rewards.

*

The tenth day of the sixth month, the fifth year of Xining.

The emperor and his concubines went on a southern tour and passed through Jiangzhou.

The most favored concubine in the six palaces, Concubine De, returns home to visit her parents.

This day.

It can only be described as beautiful.

The emperor's personal guards led the way, and the imperial concubine went out with a ceremonial procession. Tens of thousands of Jiangzhou people lined the streets to welcome them. The streets were deserted and the atmosphere was extremely lively.

When Concubine De came to visit her parents, the imperial edict came.

Gold, silver and treasures pale in comparison, and the promotion of Pei's father and son became the biggest attraction, which was considered the supreme honor.

Unlike outsiders' speculation of indifference and aloofness, and strict adherence to palace rules, this visit home was particularly warm.

"Our little prince is so chubby, and his little hands are so strong."

"She really looks like the Empress."

"Let me hug you, let me hug you."

“…”

Xiao Si was held in the arms of his grandparents and several uncles and aunts in turn.

I couldn't see the person's face clearly the previous moment, but the next moment, it was replaced by another unfamiliar face.

Xiao Si thought that he was playing with him and was amused to the point of giggling.

His smile made him even more attractive, and everyone wanted to hold him in their arms and coax him.

"I'll do it, let me do it!"

The third brother Pei Zhiye fought the hardest.

Basically, whenever Pei's father hugged him, he would hug him. Whenever Pei's mother hugged him, he would hug him. Whenever Pei Zhimian hugged him, he would hug him.

Anyway, no matter who holds the baby, he will have a turn.

Pei Tingyue found it funny: "Third brother, since you like children so much, why don't you have one with your sister-in-law as soon as possible?"

The third sister-in-law was a lively person. She didn't feel embarrassed when she heard this. Instead, she pinched Pei Zhiye's waist and said, "If you want to have a baby, let's have a girl."

Pei Zhiye was embarrassed. His sister and wife were actually talking about having children in broad daylight. He looked scared and handed Xiao Si to Pei's mother, laughing, "Let's talk about it later."

Seeing him being shy, everyone was surprised and started to tease him.

Pei Tingyue found a time and explained in detail how Xie Chen decided to write the letter.

After hearing this, Pei's father and mother were completely relieved.

Mother Pei was relieved about this matter and asked another question, "Why is the reward for the Empress's visit so large?"

Pei Tingyue smiled and said, "The emperor gave me one portion for the palace, and my daughter also added some. Since it's for the family, please keep it well, mother."

Mother Pei hesitated: "But..."

She was afraid to look back and realize that what she had given her daughter was not enough.

Pei Tingyue's face turned stern: "Mother, have you forgotten what your daughter said that day?"

Mother Pei sighed and said, "Okay, the family will accept those rewards."

Pei Tingyue then smiled.

There is a strict time for visiting relatives, and you have to leave when the auspicious time comes.

But this time the separation was obviously much easier.

Before leaving, each member of the Pei family hugged Xiao Si one by one.

Pei Tingyue smiled and said to her mother, "After today, I will be able to summon you and my sisters-in-law to the palace as often as I can, and we can see each other more often."

Mother Pei was extremely happy: "Okay. Mother is waiting for your order at home."

Pei Tingyue brought the sleeping Xiao Si back to the palace.

She was going back to her own Ningxiang Pavilion, not Chaoyang Palace.

Since she came to the Jiangzhou Palace, she had only stayed in Ningxiangxie for a few days when she discovered Zuihuayin. After that, she had been living in Chaoyang Palace and had never returned.

Thinking that it would be inconvenient to meet the female members of his family in Chaoyang Palace when he summoned them to the palace in the future, Pei Tingyue returned here the day before visiting her parents.

As soon as he entered the hall, Pei Tingyue spotted the familiar figure.

"emperor."

Xie Chen put down the book, stood up and said with a smile, "I'm back."

Pei Tingyue nodded, and first asked Yunshu to put Xiao Si in the inner bedroom, and then he responded softly, "I'm back."

Xie Chen came over and took her to Bingjian. "The sun is so strong today. Did you get some sun?"

That was the imperial concubine's ceremonial procession. The canopy was so big that it could not be exposed to the sun, but it was really hot.

The cool mist flowing out of the ice mirror is soothing.

Pei Tingyue felt cooler and was ready to do other things. "I want to take a bath."

Xie Chen let her go: "Go."

Pei Tingyue was speechless for a moment.

In the past, when she wanted to take a bath, he was eager to follow her, and she had to refuse him several times before she could push him away.

This time, when she said she was going to take a shower, he didn't react at all.

Pei Tingyue thought in despair: The emperor is really dying.

Although she would cry if I did it too hard sometimes, it was still difficult to get her to quit all of a sudden.

Pei Tingyue walked out of the hall in a daze.

Xie Chen stood there for a long time without moving.

He actually noticed that there was always something strange in her eyes these days, and it was the same just now.

What's going on?

Xie Chen suppressed his thoughts and decided to wait and see for a while.

If she doesn't understand, find a way to force her to speak it out.