Chenhui Palace.
A mysterious figure dressed in a black robe knelt before Yun Zhang and respectfully said, "Your Highness, His Majesty just went to the Emperor Emeritus's bedchamber to perform acupuncture treatment on him as usual. During the treatment, His Majesty did not have any private contact with any suspicious persons."
Upon hearing this news, Yun Zhang's face lit up with a hint of pleasure. As long as Zhao Zhi didn't meet with Shen Hanshan in private, it would be fine.
So what if Shen Hanshan is the Empress? So what if he has two children with His Majesty? He can only obediently stay in Chaoyang County and can't be by His Majesty's side all the time.
Accompanying His Majesty to court was Yunzhang.
It was Yunzhang who accompanied His Majesty after court to review the memorials.
That night, Yunzhang was the one who accompanied His Majesty in the same bedchamber.
Although Yunzhang knew that Zhao Zhi's agreement to share a room but not a bed was a way to reassure his supporters, so what? Who knows, in time, feelings might develop?
Thinking of this, he curled his thin lips and replied indifferently, "I understand. You may leave."
He put on his coat, slowly stood up, poured himself a glass of wine, walked to the half-open window, and gazed at the bright moon in the distance.
In fact, Zhao Zhi's needle did not cause Yun Zhang to fall into a coma instantly.
He simply sensed that Zhao Zhi was unwilling to have too much intimate contact with him, so he went along with it and pretended to faint.
"Zhao Zhi, you are, after all, just an eighteen-year-old girl. You think you have mastered some basic medical skills, so you try to show off your skills in front of Guan Yu."
During the years when Yunzhang was fostered in Yunluo and became a medicine man raised by Li Liang, he secretly learned a lot of medical skills from Li Liang.
He didn't think his medical skills were inferior to Zhao Zhi's. Of course, they were completely incomparable to the medical sage Zhang Jing.
Yun Zhang recalled the scene of Zhao Zhi taking his pulse and couldn't help but feel happy. He smugly muttered to himself, "How could I be wrong about someone I misjudged? Even if she becomes the Empress and the most noble woman in the world, her kind nature remains unchanged. I hope you won't be corrupted by this power and palace."
Yunzhang stood for half the night before returning to his bed. He tossed and turned for a while before slowly falling asleep.
On the other side, Zhao Zhi left Cui Shenghe's palace and went straight back to Chunchao Palace.
She slept for less than two hours before being woken up by Cuiyun in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, it's time for the morning court session."
Zhao Zhi rubbed her sleepy eyes, nodded slightly, and got up to wash and change. While yawning, she complained inwardly: What's so great about being an empress? Getting up earlier than the rooster and going to bed later than the dog.
When you argue with someone, be gentle; when you scold someone, don't be too harsh. Speak with authority, but also learn to be tactful and diplomatic.
In addition, one must develop a keen eye for detail.
Being an empress is harder than ascending to heaven!
She yawned repeatedly, desperately hoping that Cui Shenghe would recover quickly so that she would have someone to discuss things with.
An hour later, Zhao Zhi, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a phoenix crown, strode into the main hall with a heroic air. Yun Zhang followed closely behind, dressed in a magnificent imperial robe, his gait leisurely.
The officials below couldn't help but roll their eyes, but that was all they could do.
Those who disliked him thought to themselves: Look at your smug face, let's see if you'll still be laughing in a moment!
As the eunuch's shrill voice announced "Time to Court," the assembled officials knelt and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
"My beloved ministers, if you have something to report, please do so; otherwise, the court may adjourn."
Zhao Zhi smiled and looked down at his ministers.
Before she could finish speaking, an elderly minister stepped forward, trembling, holding a jade tablet. It was none other than the Minister Wei Zhong, the very same Minister who had caused the most uproar over her taking a male concubine recently.
Zhao Zhi's eyelids twitched suddenly.
This Minister was upright, neutral, and as stubborn as a donkey.
"Your Majesty, this old minister dares to speak, since the founding of our Yun Dynasty, all emperors have established large harems to ensure the continuation of the imperial line and to stabilize the country. Now that Your Majesty has been on the throne for a long time, the harem still appears empty, which is a great regret for our Yun Dynasty."
Although Wei Zhong was old, he was full of energy, and his words were sincere. As soon as he said this, he immediately received the support of several senior officials.
They all knelt down and pleaded in unison, "Your Majesty, please prioritize the well-being of the nation, recruit talented individuals to enrich the harem, and help the Yun Dynasty flourish as soon as possible!"
Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Yun Zhang's eyes. He slowly stepped forward, facing the old ministers from a distance, and angrily shouted, "Gentlemen, you are mistaken! His Majesty is the ruler of all people, and should prioritize governing the country and ensuring its peace. How can he let personal feelings ruin the country? Furthermore, His Majesty and I share a deep bond, and he will handle the matter of the royal offspring properly. Why should you outsiders interfere?"
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense, and a battle seemed imminent.
Upon hearing this, the veteran officials turned pale and accused Yunzhang of abusing his favor and interfering in state affairs. Some even went so far as to say that he had violated ancestral rules and was attempting to monopolize the harem.
"Your Highness is mistaken! His Majesty is the ruler of all under Heaven, not your private property! As Your Highness, instead of sharing His Majesty's burdens, you obstruct His Majesty from expanding his harem with your personal feelings. This is a grave crime of disrespect!" A censor-in-chief said indignantly.
Yun Zhang sneered, his gaze sharp as he stared directly at the Imperial Censor: "How dare you interfere in the affairs between me and His Majesty? His Majesty is wise and powerful, and he has his own decisions. Why should you presume to speculate? Furthermore, if I truly had selfish motives, why would I be arguing with you here? It is only out of consideration for His Majesty's hard work that I cannot bear to see him disturbed by your clamor!"
The two sides exchanged words back and forth, their rhetoric growing increasingly heated, and the atmosphere in the hall reached a fever pitch.
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