Chapter 5: Do you want to take that Hu Gou'er's life? ...

Zhao Changning was shocked when he heard this. The reason why Hu Gou'er could live so long was not only because of the tacit cooperation among everyone, but also because of his own abilities. Moreover, he had been by the emperor's side and in the center of power for so long, and the Imperial Household Department was also in Hu Gou'er's hands. The emperor could not do without him at all for a while.

Could it be that Hu Gou'er had displeased the emperor? But what did this have to do with her?

Her mind was in a mess, and she didn't dare to agree easily, fearing that something might go wrong. She only said vaguely: "Your Majesty, please don't bother me. I only know how to serve you and don't dare to have such messy thoughts."

The emperor smiled without saying a word, his face full of an expression that showed he knew everything about the world.

Zhao Changning did not continue to accept the reward, but walked forward quietly, helped the emperor into the bedroom, sat at the end of the bed, and massaged his body gently and slowly.

The emperor's brows gradually relaxed, and he suddenly said, "Your hands are still delicate."

Zhao Changning lowered his eyes and looked at the hands under the candlelight. They were thin, white and slender, while the emperor's body was spotted and looked as old as a dead tree.

In the past, when she looked at such scenes, she only felt tired and confused, not knowing what she was doing, but now when she looked at it again, she suddenly felt that it was not as glaring as before.

She felt that what her old friend said was right, power was the best aphrodisiac.

After the emperor went to bed, she quietly left the bedroom, but unexpectedly Hu Gou'er was still waiting outside, standing by the stove.

Zhao Changning stopped and looked at him silently.

Hu Gou'er's eyes were cold, and he lowered his voice and asked, "Where did you take Yun Qiao?"

"Eunuch Hu is so powerful, can't he find her?" Zhao Changning smiled at him and said gently, "I haven't even celebrated your wedding yet. Eunuch Hu, this is for you. I wish you a long and happy marriage and a life of love. As for the wedding wine, there's no need to make up for it."

Hu Gou'er looked at the emerald bracelet in her hand, but didn't take it. Instead, he looked at her strangely and said through gritted teeth, "When I asked you to marry me, you rejected me. You can't blame me then."

Zhao Changning looked at him in shock, unable to hide his surprise. He didn't understand why he said that. After he figured it out, he felt disgusted. Looking at his feminine face, his stomach churned.

How can a eunuch be so confident?

She suddenly shuddered all over, and began to understand the emperor's expression at that time, as if to say, you will accept it, you will definitely want Hu Gouer's life.

"In fact, I don't even want to refuse this option."

After saying this, Zhao Changning turned and left.

Hu Gou'er stayed where he was, his hands clenched into fists, his face flushed red, but his eyes became increasingly sinister.

Yunsheng didn't know when he arrived at the side hall. He only dared to light a candle. The stove was already burning and the water in the copper kettle was bubbling.

When he saw Zhao Changning come in, he shrank back at first, then stood up tremblingly and poured tea for Zhao Changning.

"Auntie, you, you have some tea."

Zhao Changning saw him standing aside timidly, with a fearless look on his face as he waited for questioning. He looked like a coward.

She looked at him helplessly, "Do you know why Yun Pei doesn't like you?"

Yunsheng's face turned red, but he still shook his head seriously.

Zhao Changning sighed, shook his head, picked up the teacup and started drinking.

Yunsheng saw her sighing and shaking her head, feeling neither able to sit nor stand. He wanted to ask the reason but didn't dare to. He felt so aggrieved that he was about to cry.

Zhao Changning stopped talking halfway and just pointed to the cabinet beside him.

"Don't be such a coward. You won't lose your life if you light one more candle."

Yunsheng quietly opened the cabinet and lit a candle, saying somewhat awkwardly, "Candles are very expensive. I think it's okay as long as I can see it. At least I can save a little."

Zhao Changning looked at him speechlessly, thinking that Yun Pei might never like him in her life.

The two of them sat there awkwardly for a while. Yunsheng saw Zhao Changning squinting against the cabinet, so he mustered up the courage to speak, "Auntie, go lie down on the soft chair for a while. I can watch you."

Zhao Changning glanced at him, thought for a moment, stood up, opened the side hall door, and waved, "Come here, both of you."

A palace maid and a eunuch came in, and they both bowed respectfully, "Aunt, what do you want?"

Zhao Changning picked up the fire tongs and poked the stove. The white ash of the silver charcoal floated up gently and then slowly fell. She said lightly, "You two will guard the side hall tonight. Yunsheng, go back and rest."

After she finished speaking, she stood up and left without caring about their expressions.

There was no movement inside the lattice door. The old emperor had fallen asleep. Zhao Changning felt calm and sat in front of the door, thinking silently about what had just happened.

It's such a pity that she was just a palace maid serving the emperor. Even if she was assigned the position of a female official in front of the emperor, she was not as good as a man, even a eunuch, so she didn't know much about the affairs of the previous dynasty.

In recent years, Hu Gou'er has become arrogant and domineering, thanks to the growing power of the Imperial Household Department. All the eunuchs in the palace are either his godsons or grandsons, and they have all become his ancestors.

Zhao Changning sighed. She had really slacked off in the past two years. No wonder Yun Qiao wanted to replace her.

Just when she was about to take a nap, she heard some noise inside. The older the old emperor got, the more likely he was to get up at night, so she hurried in to serve him. Fortunately, it was something she was used to doing, so it wasn't too tedious.

The next day, before dawn, Zhao Changning, who was lying on the footstool, woke up early. She rubbed her arms that were numb from the pillow, and then she staggered to her feet with a dizzy head.

Even though incense was burning in the room and a basket of apples was placed there, the smell was still unpleasant and pungent after a night.

She looked at the bright yellow tent where there was no movement. She couldn't sleep anymore and wanted to go out and pick two plum blossoms to bring in. She ordered the palace maid to keep watch and call her immediately if there was any movement inside.

Zhao Changning was also afraid that the emperor would suddenly wake up, so he took the palace lantern into the plum forest, randomly selected three, and hurried back, just in time to meet Yunsheng who came looking for him.

Yunsheng's face was filled with fear, and he hurriedly said, "Aunt, the emperor is awake, hurry up."

When Zhao Changning heard this, he hurried back. The old emperor woke up a little early today.

But unfortunately, he came back a little late. Looking at the palace maids and eunuchs kneeling in the room, Zhao Changning couldn't help but feel frightened.

It's been eight years, and even though it's commonplace, she still can't stay calm.

"Drag her away, cut off her nose, and chop off her hands." The old emperor leaned against the head of the bed like a dried lotus leaf bent by the sun, his skinny body leaning against the bed, and he spoke breathlessly.

Soon a eunuch came in and dragged one of the palace maids out.

The little palace maid did not beg for mercy, but just let herself be dragged away with a deathly pale face, tears streaming down her face, without even struggling.

Zhao Changning looked straight ahead, holding the plum branch, and walked boldly towards the emperor.

"Your Majesty, look at these newly opened plum blossoms, still covered with dew. I thought you would be happy to see them when you wake up."

She put the plum blossom aside, held her breath and leaned over to help the emperor, saying carefully, "Your Majesty, you are a compassionate Buddha, a celestial being. Mundane things are not worth your anger. I will change your clothes for you. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will be meeting you today, so please don't get angry."

The old emperor was still angry. His throat seemed to be blocked by phlegm and he made a strange sound. His cloudy eyes were staring straight ahead like a thirsty dead fish out of water.

He raised his hand and slapped Zhao Changning.

"Do I smell bad?"

Zhao Changning's head tilted when he was hit. He didn't dare to move and immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty, you are the Supreme Lord, a body worth millions, a true dragon son of heaven radiating immortal energy. It is a blessing for us to be able to serve you closely. It is my fault for not taming these bastards properly, and I have angered Your Majesty. I am guilty, please punish me."

The emperor saw her crawling on the ground, breathed a sigh of relief, stopped talking, and let Zhao Changning help him get dressed.

Zhao Changning quickly winked at the palace maids and eunuchs. At this time, the longer they delayed, the easier it would be to make mistakes. If they could do their job smartly and get the matter over with, it would actually make the old emperor feel better.

I woke up early today, and it was only three quarters past three in the morning when I finished washing up. It was still dark outside.

The emperor sat in front of the throne, picked up a plum blossom, and gently sniffed the cool fragrance. He barely felt more alert and suddenly felt a little interested.

"Go get some notes."

Zhao Changning called out outside, and a dedicated eunuch came in with a pile of memorials. She lit all the gauze lamps and the copper candlesticks in the corners and on the table, and the room was as bright as day.

The emperor felt tired after reading two memorials. He waved his hand and said, "Changning, you come and read it."

Zhao Changning was shocked and didn't dare to hesitate. She knelt down and kowtowed, "Your Majesty, how dare this servant be so bold? I will go and ask someone to call Eunuch Hu."

The emperor smiled and said, "Why, you still can't read?"

Zhao Changning also laughed, "Your Majesty, I have studied day and night and have learned to read. However, these memorials are about matters of state, and as a woman, I am afraid of attracting criticism."

The emperor shook his head, threw the memorial to her, and closed his eyes. "Read it."

The moment Zhao Changning took the memorial, she didn't feel fear, but excitement. The thin booklet contained the national strategy, which she had not been qualified to read before.

She even forgot that this was Eunuch Hu's duty, and she didn't notice that a young eunuch quietly retreated outside.

After reading a memorial, the emperor's hands were shaking and he wanted to write a reply with a red pen, but his hands were shaking so much that he couldn't write a single word.

He felt a little discouraged and sad, so he threw away the red brush and said helplessly, "You write it."

Zhao Changning looked at the red pen. Even though she wanted it, she didn't dare to take it for a moment. She was really unsure about the old emperor whose personality was becoming more and more weird.

Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside.

"Your Majesty, this is an urgent document from Zhejiang, eight hundred miles away..." Eunuch Hu rushed in, sweating profusely, holding up a memorial and kneeling down, "Your Majesty, please review it."

Zhao Changning suddenly came to his senses, quickly put down the memorial, and stood by with his head lowered.

Even though she was already very fast, Hu Gou'er still glanced at her, and she felt like a thorn in her back.

In the past, she and Hu Gou'er kept to themselves and performed their respective duties, but this time the balance was completely broken.

Zhao Changning's heart was pounding. It would be a lie to say she wasn't worried. She wasn't afraid, but she was also annoyed.

The emperor opened his eyes slightly and said, "Changning, you read it."

Zhao Changning was shocked. He didn't know why the emperor was like this. Hu Gou'er was narrow-minded and warm-hearted. The two had already offended each other in their previous fight. If this happened again, it would probably be a fight to the death.

The emperor's words resurfaced in her mind.

"Now that Yun Qiao is gone, do you want to take Hu Gou'er's life?"

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Dongdongdong, is anyone there? [Let me check][Let me check][Heart][Heart]