Chapter 71 "The Sweet Daily Life of the Young Emperor and Empress..."

Chapter 71: Sweet Daily Life ==

A delicate shout came from inside the hall. Judging from the soft tone, it must have been the Empress's voice. The Empress said, "Husband, let me go."

Jade was so frightened that she immediately knelt down. Under heaven, who would dare to speak to His Majesty like that?

Chunzhi, on the other hand, remained calm, as if it were something she was used to.

Immediately afterwards, the emperor's voice, tinged with laughter, came from the bedchamber, "How does Wanwan want me to release you, hmm?"

The young emperor's voice was extremely gentle and pleasant, and at this moment it carried a hint of a smile that was hard to detect. When Jade heard the voice, she couldn't help but think to herself, "So this is how His Majesty and the Empress usually get along."

Jade knew that someone was writing a story about His Majesty and the Empress. Every time Jade went out of the palace to buy supplies, she would secretly buy a couple of copies to read. She never expected that His Majesty and the Empress really got along like that. Jade was a little excited.

Inside the bedchamber, a woman with snow-white skin sat on a spacious, bright yellow dragon bed. A strand of her dark hair fell across her cheek, disheveled and hazy, as if she were about to push the man away. "I want to go back."

The emperor held her close in his arms, looking down at her, "I'm here. Where do you want to go?"

"My husband asks a question he already knows the answer to."

"If Wanwan is referring to the gossip in the palace." Palace affairs were entirely under Xiao Yu's control. He glanced at her, calm and collected. "With me here, no one dares to gossip about you."

His Majesty is just trying to appease the Empress. Thinking of the rumors circulating in the palace, Emerald couldn't help but shudder. This wasn't the Empress being arrogant because of His Majesty's favor; it was clearly His Majesty deliberately indulging her.

Because His Majesty deliberately lowered his voice, Jade didn't hear the rest of what he said clearly, only knowing that His Majesty was coaxing the Empress.

Before Emerald could figure it out, Chunzhi beside her spoke up, "This servant greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."

This time, the emperor's voice was low and cold: "Come in."

Emerald hurried inside with Chunzhi. The emperor's palace was incredibly luxurious, with even the floor paved with glazed tiles. Outside, the sun shone brightly, but inside, it was as cool as after a rain, with a faint scent of ambergris that was exceptionally pleasant.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Jade peeked up and saw the handsome young emperor holding the empress in his arms. The empress was wearing the emperor's sleeping robe, which was loose. She was lying in the emperor's arms and could not see her face clearly. Her long hair reached her waist and her fingertips were clutching the emperor's clothes.

Jade lowered her head after just one glance. Everyone in the palace knew that the Empress was favored, but none of them felt it as strongly as they did when they saw it with their own eyes.

At this moment, Eunuch Zhou called out from outside the bedchamber, "Your Majesty, it's time for court."

The emperor raised his dark, phoenix-shaped eyes and spoke to Emerald and Chunzhi, "Help the Empress change her clothes."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Only then did Jade see the Empress's face clearly. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her almond eyes were like water, her features were exquisite and beautiful, and her skin was as white as the snow on the Tianshan Mountains.

There were pink marks on her collarbone and neck, it was obvious who had done them, and on her shoulder was a pink butterfly-shaped birthmark.

Seemingly finding her unfamiliar, the Empress asked her what her name was. Emerald replied, "My name is Emerald. I used to serve Consort Xian."

Consort Xian was the birth mother of the Seventh Prince, and is now the Dowager Consort Xian. The Dowager Consort Xian did not like having too many people serving her, so half of the maids in the palace were reassigned to other palaces, and Emerald was one of them.

Su Wanyue rested her chin on her hand, looking languid and unwilling to move, like a cat curled up in a ball. "I want to go for a walk."

Emerald was immediately on high alert. Hadn't His Majesty just forbidden the Empress from leaving? Seeing the tension on her face, Su Wanyue smiled and said, "I know my limits. The imperial physician said that it's good for the baby in my belly if I go out more."

That's true. It seems that His Majesty is the ruler of the country, above all others, but when it comes to feelings, who can say for sure?

No wonder everyone in the world envies the Empress. Emerald stepped forward with a smile, "Then this servant will help the Empress."

With the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the world was at peace, especially the palace. Peonies were in full bloom in the Imperial Garden, in all colors. However, they hadn't been in the Imperial Garden for long when another maid came over. She was a maid who served Su Wanyue in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty just lost his temper during the morning court session."

Su Wanyue asked her what happened. The maid glanced at her and reluctantly told her what had happened at the morning court. It started when a second-rank official suggested that since the emperor had just ascended the throne, the Ministry of Rites should hold a selection of consorts to ensure the continuation of the imperial line. Then, a large majority of the officials in the court agreed with this official's opinion, saying that no matter how noble the empress's status was, she should ultimately think about the emperor and the country. They also said that when the retired emperor was on the throne, he had more than twenty princes, but the emperor only had the empress in his harem, so the imperial line was very thin.

Su Wanyue's butterfly-like eyelashes curled slightly upwards, but she remained silent.

Chunzhi, however, asked the maid what to say.

The maid sighed, "After the ministers finished speaking, His Majesty said that he would neither hold a selection of concubines nor take any new ones. If the ministers did not focus their attention on the court but on the harem, then he would be willing to approve their retirement."

Jade could imagine the expressions on the faces of the court officials as she listened. Jade then went to see the Empress.

The Empress's expression remained calm, and she lowered her eyes slightly, leaving Cui'er unable to guess what she was thinking.

However, the current Empress comes from the Prince of Nanqiong's mansion and has a noble status. She would definitely prioritize the overall situation. She thought the Empress would advise His Majesty to take a concubine.

"Chunzhi, I want to eat peony cake."

"This servant will have the imperial kitchen prepare it immediately."

Eunuch Zhou was waiting outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. When he saw the Empress approaching, his face lit up with joy, "Your Majesty..."

His Majesty just sent someone to look for you.

Su Wanyue gently shook her head at him. Zhou Gonggong, understanding her unspoken meaning, quickly stepped aside. The woman nimbly walked in. The man was feigning sleep with his eyes closed, seemingly unaware of her arrival. Su Wanyue circled behind him, her slender white fingers rubbing his temples. Just as she touched them, Xiao Yu grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. "Why aren't you making a sound?"

"Mo Yu just reported that my father-in-law has already boarded the carriage to Bei Li," Xiao Yu said, pulling her into his arms.

Su Wanyue gave a soft "hmm" and played with his slender fingers. She said that he wanted to go to the court with her tomorrow. Since the emperor and empress were of equal status, Su Wanyue was entitled to go. Xiao Yu nodded without hesitation.

The next day, Jade heard that the Empress had gone to the court with His Majesty. Jade's first thought was that the Empress might advise His Majesty to take a concubine. She was still uneasy because His Majesty clearly did not want to take a concubine. If the Empress forced her to persuade him, there would definitely be a dispute between the Emperor and the Empress.

To Jade's surprise, the Empress proposed during the morning court session to establish women's academies throughout the country, so that women could participate in the imperial examinations and become officials from the year His Majesty ascended the throne.

The ministers would never agree to such a ridiculous statement. They initially threatened to die rather than listen, even accusing the Empress of being so reckless because of His Majesty's favor and her family background. However, His Majesty overruled their objections and ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Grand Historian to draft an edict, and the matter was settled just like that.

Upon hearing this, Emerald was startled and suddenly realized that this was their Empress, who was different from others. His Majesty's favor towards her was not just because of the Empress's appearance and good temperament.

With the new emperor's ascension to the throne, Consort Qin naturally became the Empress Dowager. She had nothing to do every day, so she would admire flowers and brew tea. Her life was even more pleasant than when she was young. She never interfered in the affairs of the court, and she was very at ease with Wanwan in charge of the affairs of the harem.

A young palace maid smiled and lifted the beaded curtain, saying, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress have come to pay their respects."

"Mother."

Qin Ruofu greeted her with a smile, "Wanwan, come quickly to your mother's side."

The woman was seven months pregnant, and her body was fuller than when she was first pregnant. Her cheeks were rosy, like spring flowers blooming in March. The Empress Dowager was relieved to see this. "I already know what Wanwan said at the morning court."

"The Empress Dowager thinks your idea is excellent. It's much better than having a large harem and continuing the family line."

To put it bluntly, these ministers were advising the emperor to expand his harem and hold imperial concubine selections, all for the sake of their families' interests.

A servant brought over a bowl of longan and lotus seed soup and handed it to Su Wanyue. Qin Ruofu stared at the servants below and said, "The Empress is in her late pregnancy. You servants must be even more careful and cannot be careless."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Even if the Empress Dowager didn't say anything, the people below didn't dare to be careless at all. This was His Majesty and the Empress's first child. If anything happened, they would lose their lives and fortunes.

"I've heard that you haven't been sleeping well at night lately. Why don't you stay with me for the next two months, Wanwan? I can take care of you."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Yu, who had been silent until now, said calmly, "Wanwan need not trouble yourself, Mother. After the child is born, I will trouble you to take good care of him."

Qin Ruofu glared at him fiercely, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Aren't you just afraid I'll take Wanwan for myself?"

The others in the hall laughed. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager had had many "disputes" over the Empress. The last time the Empress Dowager and His Majesty had a dispute was when the Empress was pregnant. At that time, His Majesty was still the Crown Prince. The Empress Dowager was worried that His Majesty would not know his place, so she suggested that either the Empress be brought to the palace to stay for a while, or His Majesty could sleep in the Prince Cheng's study. His Majesty agreed readily in the palace, but who knew that he would still sleep with the Empress every night. After the Empress Dowager found out, she turned a blind eye.

Su Wanyue grasped Qin Ruofu's hand and said with a light smile, "It's rare for Mother to have a few days of peace and quiet, so I'd better not bother you."

"Alright then, since you two have a good relationship, I won't be the bad guy. I'll take good care of Wanwan." Qin Ruofu sighed deliberately and smiled.

Xiao Yu replied "Yes," and the emperor and empress rode together in the imperial carriage back to the emperor's palace. Before Su Wanyue's feet even touched the ground, she was picked up and carried horizontally. The eunuchs were already used to this and lowered their heads slightly.

***

Before we knew it, winter had arrived, and the weather was freezing cold.

"Does your leg still hurt?" A luminous pearl made the palace as bright as day. The young emperor rubbed the calf of the woman in his arms and asked.

During the last three months of Su Wanyue's pregnancy, the emperor would massage her calves every night.

Su Wanyue shook her head, a wave of drowsiness washing over her. She closed her eyes, and Xiao Yu affectionately kissed her eyelids.

In the middle of the night, a strong wind suddenly rose outside, making a rustling sound that disturbed everyone's peace.

Men are naturally light sleepers, and when his wife pinched him, he suddenly opened his eyes. His wife's face was flushed, and her forehead was covered in sweat. He calmly got out of bed, put on his outer robe, and said, "Someone come here."