Chapter 92 The Emperor Humiliates His Minister's Wife
Gu Nanxiao had expected his ruthless words to be met with a reprimand from his uncle. Unexpectedly, after listening, his uncle only pondered for a few moments before nodding and saying:
"I understand what you're saying. An unsuitable marriage is like shoes that don't fit. You can't not wear them, but they're uncomfortable to wear. Only you know the feeling."
In the past, her uncle was often away on the frontier and didn't have time to raise this daughter with him. This time, upon returning to Beijing and seeing Jiao Jiao's temperament... sigh... I won't say more.
"Your uncle promises you that he will arrange a marriage for Jiaojiao with someone of equal social standing. As for the Empress Dowager, you don't need to worry about her. It's enough that we, uncle and niece, are engaged."
Upon hearing this, Gu Nanxiao's eyes lit up slightly. He hadn't expected his uncle to be so reasonable. He immediately picked up the wine pot, filled both of their glasses, and then the two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.
The uncle and nephew chatted more and more happily, drinking glass after glass of wine. Those watching from afar noticed their faces growing increasingly smiling, and the atmosphere becoming more and more harmonious.
Those who missed the spectacle frowned in confusion. They couldn't believe that General Shen's daughter had been beaten in public, yet afterwards he could still drink and chat with his nephew. They couldn't help but marvel at this.
Yunxi walked out of the main hall and, led by a palace maid, went to a long corridor on the side. She found a secluded spot, sat down, and enjoyed the breeze.
But Yunxi found that her dizziness not only did not subside, but her body was becoming increasingly hot. When she looked up again, the palace maid who had led the way was nowhere to be seen, and instead, a palace eunuch stood before her.
Yunxi was unfamiliar with the palace eunuchs. If it were an older palace servant, they would immediately recognize him as an extremely unfamiliar young eunuch.
Yunxi blinked hard a few times, trying to get a good look at the suddenly appearing eunuch.
At this moment, the young eunuch said to Yunxi, "The Marquis said that he has something to discuss with General Shen and may not be able to come and accompany you for a while."
Therefore, the Marquis specially ordered me to take the young lady to the side hall to rest.
Yunxi had some doubts about what the little eunuch had said. But at this moment, her mind was foggy and she had lost her usual sharpness.
In addition, she was feeling quite unwell at the moment, so she thought it would be good to rest in the side hall.
She swayed as she stood up and followed him through the corridor to a side hall. The young eunuch pushed open the hall door, let Yunxi in, and then gently closed the door behind him.
The moment he closed the door, Yunxi reflexively reached out and pushed the door open, but she easily pushed it open.
The young eunuch, who hadn't gone far, heard the commotion behind him and turned back with a puzzled look, asking, "Does the young lady have any other instructions?"
Seeing that everything was normal, Yunxi smiled and said, "Please tell the Marquis to come find me as soon as the banquet is over. I'm feeling a little unwell."
The young eunuch acknowledged with a "yes," then turned back and closed the door for Yunxi again. Yunxi felt slightly relieved. She rubbed her forehead and lay down on the footrest, trying to alleviate the dizziness.
On the main hall side, the Empress had been watching the side gate. When the young eunuch appeared, she nodded slightly to him. The Empress immediately smiled with satisfaction and waved for him to leave.
Then, she got up and came to the Emperor's side, saying in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Your Majesty, the Miss Zhao brought by Marquis Gu has been arranged by me to rest in a side hall because she is not a good drinker."
"I noticed Your Majesty has drunk quite a bit of wine just now. I wonder if you are also tired? Perhaps you should rest for a while and sober up?"
This wasn't the first time the Empress had found women for the Emperor. She secured her position as a Noble Consort through this very act.
Whenever she discovered that the emperor had taken a fancy to a woman, she would send that woman to the emperor's bedchamber.
The emperor had a secret hobby: he had a particular fondness for the beautiful wives of his ministers. Therefore, at every banquet, the empress would observe the emperor's expression. If she noticed which woman he glanced at more than once, she would lead that woman to a side hall.
If the emperor was satisfied afterward, they would stay in the palace. If he was not so satisfied, he would promote their husbands and that would be the end of the matter.
Women who encountered such things generally chose to endure it out of fear of angering the emperor and implicating their families.
As for their husbands, they would all silently suffer in silence. A few even felt fortunate that their wives had gained the emperor's favor.
In the past, there was only one Hanlin Compiler who was favored by the emperor after attending a palace banquet with his beautiful wife.
She was tricked into going to a side hall by Consort Shen, who is now Empress Shen. The Emperor forcibly took her as his concubine, and afterwards refused to release her.
This forced the Hanlin scholar to resign in anger and return to his hometown. However, his attitude displeased the emperor, who fabricated a charge against him and executed his entire clan.
From then on, no one dared to defy the emperor's demands.
If there was anything about this new empress that pleased the emperor, it was that when the emperor favored other women, she not only didn't get jealous, but also wisely offered her help.
Hearing the Empress's hint, the Emperor's joy was undisguised. Thinking of Yunxi's angelic beauty, he satisfiedly squeezed the Empress's hand and said with delight:
"Over the years, it seems only the Empress truly understands me. Tomorrow morning at court, I will entrust the Ministry of Revenue's task of repairing the dikes to the Second Prince. It's time for him to gain some experience and learn to share my burdens."
Upon hearing this, the Empress immediately said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I thank you on behalf of my son. I believe my son will not disappoint you."
"Your Majesty, it is getting late. Perhaps you should go and rest in the side hall. If Your Majesty is satisfied today, please send word to me, and I will personally go to reward her."
This was a secret signal between the Empress and the Emperor, which, when translated, meant that if the Emperor was satisfied with the concubine he had favored that night, the Empress would lead her entourage to catch them in the act.
With a combination of coercion and enticement, the woman was naturally kept in the harem by His Majesty.
Upon hearing the Empress speak in her usual manner, the Emperor immediately objected, saying, "There's no need to send anyone to inform her. Just wait half an hour, and the Empress can lead people over to bestow the rewards."
The Empress was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and a hint of displeasure flashed through her mind, but she quickly concealed it and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly go there in person later."
After the Emperor and Empress finished whispering to each other, the Emperor stood up to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager. Then, accompanied by the Chief Eunuch, he hurried towards the side hall.
The Emperor knew this road all too well, and that room was specially designed by the Empress for his convenience. Now, without needing anyone to guide him, the Emperor headed straight there.
Thinking of Yunxi's delicate and beautiful appearance, the Emperor felt a surge of fire within him rising to his lower body. However, when he reached the outside of the courtyard, he suddenly stopped and turned to ask the chief eunuch beside him, "Fuhai, do you see any resemblance to the old lady in me?"
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