Chapter 122 Full of Vitality (Chu Huaiyu is really becoming a younger uncle)
Looking at Xiao Ruoshui's obsequious manner, Chu Huaiyu sneered inwardly. As expected, they were all scoundrels who had defied their superiors!
He was all righteous and indignant just a moment ago, but when it comes to himself, he becomes so terrified.
"Are you terrified?" Chu Huaiyu slowly walked down the steps, his dragon robe sweeping across the ground and bringing up a gust of cold wind, before stopping in front of Xiao Ruoshui.
Chu Huaiyu’s tone was enigmatic: “Your Xiao family has a corrupt reputation. Your Xiao Ruoshui has favored his concubines over his wife, allowing them to insult his wife and even murder his son!”
Your brother embezzled military pay, and your nephew forcibly took a woman from the common people—each and every one of these crimes is monstrous! Your own household is filthy, yet you dare to come to my palace today to slander the Empress! How dare you say such things!
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Xiao Ruoshui's face turned ashen, and she collapsed to the ground, only able to kowtow and beg for mercy.
"Someone come here!"
Chu Huaiyu roared, "Dismiss Xiao Ruoshui from his post, confiscate his property, and throw him into the dungeon. Arrest his brother and nephew as well, and punish them severely!"
The imperial guards dragged Xiao Ruoshui out of the hall. His pitiful pleas for mercy quickly disappeared, and the faces of the officials below turned pale as they all lowered their heads and looked away.
Chu Huaiyu's gaze swept over the assembled officials, finally settling on three people: "Di Manxing, Lingyuan Ying, and Cheng Tianxiao!"
"You all neglect your duties and idle away your days! And you even dare to gossip that the Empress is unworthy to be Empress because she has no children! Are you tired of living?"
Upon hearing this, the three knelt down in unison and kowtowed heavily, saying, "Your Majesty is wise; we had no such intention!"
"What a fine statement, 'absolutely not!'" Chu Huaiyu sneered, tossing a stack of Xuan paper in front of the three of them.
"Then what does it say here! Dimanxing forcibly seized farmland, Lingyuan Ying had an affair with a relative of the emperor, and Cheng Tianxiao condoned his servants' violence. Every single one of these accusations—which one of them is an injustice to you!"
Chu Huaiyu's tone suddenly hardened: "Today I will settle accounts with you all! Strip all three of your official positions, give you fifty lashes, and exile you to the swamps, never to return to the capital!"
After the three men were dragged out, Chu Huaiyu slowly looked at the ministers who dared not utter a sound, and then slowly asked, "Do any of you have any objections?"
"We dare not!" The ministers all knelt down, their voices filled with barely concealed fear.
"Since there is nothing else to report, then the court is adjourned!" Chu Huaiyu's voice was icy. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and strode away.
The courtiers were left staring at each other, their court robes soaked with cold sweat.
After court, Chu Huaiyu rushed to Chengqian Palace, knowing that his wrath today must have already reached Lu Zhaoxue's ears.
Inside Chengqian Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of incense.
As soon as Chu Huaiyu entered, he saw Lu Zhaoxue sitting by the window, holding a book in her hand, her expression calm.
He strode forward, grabbed Lu Zhaoxue's hand, and said urgently, "Zhaoxue, don't take today's court proceedings to heart. Those fools who spouted nonsense have already been severely punished by me!"
Lu Zhaoxue slowly raised her eyes to look at Chu Huaiyu. In fact, she didn't care much about these court disputes now, but if she let those ministers gossip, her future days would be difficult.
While Chu Huaiyu's actions were partly motivated by a desire to uphold imperial dignity, they also relieved her of her worries.
Lu Zhaoxue concealed the indifference in her eyes, and a perfectly measured expression of gratitude appeared on her face. She replied softly, "Then thank you very much, Your Majesty. I am deeply moved by Your Majesty's protection of me."
Upon hearing this, Chu Huaiyu was overjoyed and said gently, "Zhaoxue, you don't need to thank me. This is what I should do. We are husband and wife, and husband and wife are one. It is only natural that I should stand up for you."
Lu Zhaoxue smiled calmly, about to speak, when suddenly a wave of nausea rushed to her throat. She quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth, her brows furrowing slightly.
Upon seeing this, Chu Huaiyu's pupils suddenly contracted, and his eyes instantly became incredibly bright!
He stared intently at Lu Zhaoxue's actions, his voice trembling slightly: "Zhaoxue...you wouldn't...you wouldn't..."
[Aside: Yes, congratulations on becoming an uncle...]
He stopped speaking in disbelief, his gaze fixed intently on Lu Zhaoxue's lower abdomen, his heart and eyes filled with anticipation and ecstasy.
Could it be that the child he has been longing for is finally coming?
Chu Huaiyu's voice trembled, his palms were slightly cold, but his heart was pounding wildly. He felt that his reason was about to disappear completely.
The child! It's his and Zhaoxue's child!
He stared intently at Lu Zhaoxue's expression as she covered her mouth and frowned, his eyes filled with wild joy, and even his breathing became rapid.
"Quickly! Eunuch Wei! Summon the imperial physician!" Chu Huaiyu snapped back to reality and shouted sternly at the outside of the hall, his urgency evident in his voice.
The eunuch Wei, who was guarding outside the door, trembled with fright and quickly ordered the little eunuch beside him, shouting loudly, "Go and summon the imperial physician! Quickly summon the imperial physician to Chengqian Palace!"
Chaos erupted instantly in Chengqian Palace. The palace maids busied themselves serving tea and water, helping Lu Zhaoxue lie down on the soft couch, and hurriedly removing the incense from the hall, fearing that the smell would further irritate her.
Chu Huaiyu stayed by the bedside like a precious gem, his large hand gently caressing Lu Zhaoxue's abdomen.
His voice was extremely low, filled with unprecedented tension: "Zhaoxue, are you feeling unwell? Just bear with it a little longer, the imperial physician will be here soon."
Lu Zhaoxue leaned against the soft pillows, slightly recovering from the nausea, and looked up at Chu Huaiyu.
The Chu Huaiyu before him had shed his thunderous authority from the court, his eyes filled with panic and anticipation, even his usually composed brows were furrowed into a deep frown.
Lu Zhaoxue maintained her gentle demeanor and shook her head slightly: "Your Majesty need not go to such lengths, I am fine. Perhaps the wind was a bit strong today and I caught a chill."
Despite this, Chu Huaiyu remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on the doorway, his fingers unconsciously stroking the back of Lu Zhaoxue's hand.
He had longed for this child for far too long. With this child, Lu Zhaoxue would surely stop hating him as much as before.
He hoped to have a child who looked like her, who could inherit the throne. With this child, he could also silence the ministers and give them no excuse to criticize his empress!
Finally, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy arrived in a hurry with two imperial physicians. His official robes were disheveled from running, and he knelt down with a "plop" as soon as he entered the room.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects to Your Majesty! Your Majesty the Empress!"
"Stop being so polite! Quickly, take the Empress's pulse!" Chu Huaiyu said urgently.
The judge dared not delay. He quickly washed his hands, placed his fingertips on Lu Zhaoxue's wrist, closed his eyes, concentrated his mind, and felt the pulse under his fingers was gentle yet strong, full of vitality.
The judge's eyes lit up immediately, his face first showing astonishment, then joy.
Chu Huaiyu's heart was in her throat. She stared intently at the judge's face, not daring to even breathe.
He felt that every second he waited was as long as an eternity.
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