"Cough." Ye Shangzhou coughed lightly.

Qiao Zhen pursed her lips and swallowed back her laughter. She remained leaning against the window, emphasizing without turning her head, "The words before are correct, but the last sentence is wrong. Your Majesty is actually very handsome."

Qiao Liang asked, "How does it compare to you, young master?"

Qiao Zhen rested her chin on her hand, thinking seriously, "They each have their own merits. Young Master is gentle and refined, while His Majesty... is more stern and imposing. Auntie prefers the latter."

Qiao Liang complained outside the carriage, and the voices that came into the carriage sounded more like muttering, "Even if they have their own merits, it's no use. The emperor is too cruel. Aunt, have you heard? It seems that the emperor has favored a woman, who is now Lady Zhuohua. I heard that she is beaten with a cane every few days. Now it has been turned into a popular song, and even the children at the crossroads can sing it."

Qiao Zhen became interested and looked at Ye Shangzhou with a puzzled expression. Ye Shangzhou frowned, clearly unaware of the song. She lifted the curtain and looked at Qiao Liang on the carriage shaft, "What song?"

Qiao Liang began to sing in a measured and rhythmic manner: "The Qiao family has a beautiful daughter, who is twenty years old. She serves the emperor at his side, and is a virtuous and graceful servant. She is destined to be named Zhuohua, and is known for her singing and dancing at midnight. When she was first punished with a cane, her morning court was postponed."

Qiao Zhen's fingers tightened slightly around the carriage wall, the skin at her knuckles turning white, but her face still held that gossipy look. "Quite believable."

Qiao Liang turned to Qiao Zhen and spoke even more brazenly than before. "Speaking of Lady Zhuohua, she is both unlucky and lucky. I heard that she is often beaten, but after the beating, the emperor favors her. Isn't that like slapping someone and then giving them a sweet treat? Unfortunately, the slap and the sweet treat are given by the emperor, so Lady Zhuohua has no choice but to accept them. If she doesn't accept them, she will probably be beaten several more times. It is said that she will be caned, pricked with needles, and punished as severely as possible."