Regret not being late
At that time, the sky suddenly became bright and the fog and clouds cleared.
Taishi Zheng made teasing remarks.
Cui Zhijun looked back in surprise and saw the person in front of him throwing him a coquettish look. He cried out in his heart: How indecent! He is such a frivolous and dissolute person!
In order to stop the boastful thoughts of the person before him, Cui Zhijun bowed and distanced himself from Zheng, saying solemnly: "My lady, please don't joke. I am of little virtue and ability, so how can I be qualified to judge you. Not to mention that I am already married, even if you are not, you should find a better husband than me."
This was a decent statement that satisfied Taishi Zheng, but she had no intention of letting him go.
"Oh? My dear, you are already engaged? That's such a pity. I just wonder what kind of family would be lucky enough to marry you?" Zheng said as she took a step forward with her hands behind her back.
Cui Zhijun was forced to retreat a little. "It's all my parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. I just obeyed. But the family must have carefully selected a girl for me. They must be from a respectable family."
What's the meaning?
Is this guy implying that I'm not serious?
"Oh, is that so—" Tai Shi Zheng frowned and stepped forward. Cui Zhijun leaned against the pillar in the corridor and had nowhere to retreat.
Zheng just looked at him angrily without saying a word.
She wanted to see if the man in front of her would reveal his hidden claws under his clothes. But Cui Zhijun was a gentleman, how could he be rude to her, violent and insulting?
Just watch the two of them stand still for a moment,
Cui Zhijun remained calm and unmoved.
Zheng then pretended to reach out and brush the dust off his shoulders, narrowing her eyes and smiling, "In that case, I wish you a happy marriage and a son soon."
Zheng let him go.
Also decided to marry him.
Cui Zhijun, who was confused, breathed a sigh of relief in the corridor and hurriedly said to the guest, "Thank you for your congratulations, madam. We don't have much time left, please leave."
Tai Shi Zheng nodded and stopped making things difficult, and walked with him to a narrow door.
When the small door opened slightly, they stood one inside and one outside, one reciting his good points while the other reciting her bad points.
The two were about to say goodbye, but Taishi Zheng said to Cui Zhijun at this moment: "My dear, guess, will we meet again?"
What's wrong with this guy?
Cui Zhijun, upon hearing this, quickly slid the backpack over Zheng's head, turned around, and respectfully said, "The roads are slippery in the rain. My lady, please walk slowly." Then he closed the door. Taishi Zheng was left alone, confused, carrying the backpack.
Inside the door, Cui Zhijun was very afraid that Tai Shi Zheng's ghost would linger around, so he picked up the broom by the door and propped it against the door frame before leaving.
Cui Zhijun is gone.
After cursing for a few words, Tai Shi Zheng ran towards the old lady.
"Young lady, why do you look like this?"
Seeing her like this, the old woman hurriedly helped her take off the backpack. Zheng shook off the dust on her clothes and smiled, "Well, maybe my husband was afraid that I couldn't carry the backpack, so he helped me put it on my back."
"Wouldn't it be bad to dirty the young lady's nice clothes?" The old lady looked apologetic.
Zheng shook her head. "It's nothing serious. It's just a set of clothes."
After hearing this, the old woman's concerns were somewhat relieved. She then handed over the green umbrella and the cabbage and asked casually, "Young lady, I have always wanted to ask, do you know the official who bought the vegetables?"
Upon hearing this, Tai Shi Zheng took the things that the old lady handed to her, turned her head and looked towards the tall gate of the Imperial College. Without thinking, she answered, "He is my husband whom I have never met."
-
It was just past the beginning of the morning and the morning court session had just ended.
However, trouble occurred in the palace.
"Assholes, didn't I tell you that all marriage proposals sent to the Taishi family must be reviewed by me personally! No one taller than me, no one more talented than me, no one more handsome than me! How come the proposal from Cui Erlang, the talented and handsome man from the Internal Minister's family, was passed without my knowledge? How come, in just one day, the Taishi family and the Cui family are already married? I will punish you for your crime of disobeying the imperial order--"
The emperor was furious, and the servants before him knelt on the ground in fear, begging for mercy. But they all seemed to have a lot of suffering, but they refused to explain why.
If I don't speak, how can I appease your anger? If I don't appease your anger, it's all over!
"Mercy? Might I spare you! Besides mercy, what else can you say? If you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? You are all just useless people, turning a deaf ear to my words." Qi Liyuan picked up the objects on the table and threw them at the people in the hall again and again, but he still couldn't vent his anger.
He didn't stop until the imperial tribute inkstone flew half a meter from his hand and brushed past the visitor's brow before falling.
"Ah, Madam Shuyi——"
Everyone around the emperor knew about it and was terrified.
Si Kou Jue stood behind the kneeling crowd with a stern look in his eyes, not caring at all about the blood on his brow.
She just stared at Qi Liyuan without saying a word. When Qi Liyuan saw her, it was like a mouse seeing a cat, and all his previous arrogance disappeared like smoke.
After all, teenagers are teenagers.
He has not yet developed the majesty of an emperor.
"Everyone, retreat," Si Kou Jue ordered softly. Everyone, wary of her status as the next Phoenix Seal bearer, retreated after some hesitation.
Thus, she and the young man were the only two people left in the hall.
Si Kou Jue wordlessly picked up the inkstone from the ground and gently placed it beside Qi Liyuan. Her every move was graceful, yet her calmness was frightening.
"Not taking out your anger on others, not repeating your mistakes, is a lesson a gentleman must learn in self-cultivation. Only if you can remain calm and composed can you think through many issues thoroughly. Your Majesty, I have a question for you. Those who just knelt on the ground were all serving before the Emperor, your close ministers. They were supposed to obey your orders, and no one else should listen except you. Yet, they hesitated and dared not speak. Your Majesty, do you think there are others in the palace who can do the same?"
"It's Baoci Palace again. What exactly does the Queen Mother want to achieve before she's satisfied?" Si Kou Jue revealed the secret, and Qi Liyuan couldn't help but feel deflated.
The Chu family is like a bottomless abyss, magnifying desires infinitely.
If Tai Shizheng's aunt, Empress Shunhe Tai Shirong of the Sixth Palace of Dezan, had not passed away due to illness, how could this overbearing palace maid have taken advantage of the opportunity to overstep her authority and become his second wife? But now, not content with being the Empress Dowager, she even plans to make her niece the Empress, in order to maintain the glory of the one person who has achieved enlightenment in her family.
But even though the Chu family is now pressing him step by step, Qi Liyuan doesn't want to give up.
He had been willing to compromise on anything before, but he would fight to the bitter end to marry Zheng. He lifted his hand to clear the mess, then took up his pen to issue his decree.
"What is the emperor going to do?" Si Kou Jue became suspicious.
Qi Liyuan said angrily, "The Queen Mother couldn't even wait until the day to draw up the list of candidates for the empress. Since she has done something so drastic, I will issue an order now to allow Zheng to enter the palace. I will make Zheng the empress."
How could an emperor be so willful? Upon hearing this, Si Kou Jue snatched his pen and withdrew his gentle tone.
"Nonsense—"
"Let's not even mention that the emperor treats the selection of the empress as a joke. Just imagine how this marriage would have been settled so easily if Zheng hadn't wanted it. The emperor has known Zheng for so many years, doesn't he understand her temperament? If Zheng truly has feelings for the emperor, she would have dared to accompany him even if it meant a mountain of swords. If not, even if the emperor trapped her, she would have resisted to the bitter end."
"Now that Zheng has made her choice, please stop playing around."
Si Kou Jue said these words not only to persuade and restrain the emperor, but more importantly, she wanted to protect Zheng's feelings.
It is naturally a good thing for the Taishi family to produce two generations of virtuous queens, but Sikou Jue does not want to see Zheng follow the same path that he and the Taishi sage have taken.
But the fifteen-year-old boy sat in the palace with his eyes downcast, wanting nothing more than a beloved girl. Why was it so difficult to fulfill his wish?
Qi Liyuan understood what Si Koujue meant. But he pretended to be confused and said, "Give me back my pen."
Qi Liyuan stretched out his hand.
Si Kou Jue still refused to give in. She told Qi Liyuan: "Zheng does not belong here." This angered the emperor.
For the first time, Qi Liyuan said something very serious to her, "Jia Shuyi, you have held the Phoenix Seal for many years. The young lady said that power will devour people. Once you have tasted the power, you will not be willing to let it go easily. Are you really doing this for Zheng? Or are you, like them, paving a way for yourself——"
After hearing these words, Si Kou Jue stood there in a daze, frowning.
Qi Liyuan's words were heartless. He had grown up with more than just Taishi Zheng; he had also grown up with Si Kou Jue. If Si Kou Jue had truly been driven by power and gain, she wouldn't still be a Shuyi, one of the Ninth Concubine, and she certainly wouldn't have allowed Qi Liyuan to constantly mention other women in front of her.
To be angry or to restrain oneself.
Si Kou Jue thought about it many times, and finally she decided to stand up for herself.
But look at the wolf-hair brush in his hand knocking over the incense burner on the flower table, and the scattered ink spots staining the muddy golden cloth. For the first time, Si Kou Jue lost his elegance and abandoned his damned decorum.
"Clear the way?" Si Kou Jue sneered.
"Do you really think everyone will flock to this path? Qi Liyuan, put aside your stubborn prejudice. I tell you, I don't care, and I won't linger on it. If I had no choice, I would just live a different life."
His fingertips brushed across the emperor's sleeves, and Sikou Jue gently pressed Qi Liyuan's arm.
She hasn't finished her words yet...
"But from now on, I've changed my mind. Since they want to fight, and you don't believe it, then I'll play with you. But no one should try to get Zheng anymore. I'll fight you to the end."
The emperor is supposed to be the ruler of the world, so how could he be threatened by concubines?
But the emperor ascended the throne at a young age. With capable ministers assisting him externally, Sikou Jue relied on the previous dynasty. The empress dowager maintained domestic peace, and the Chu family took advantage of their power within the palace walls.
Qi Liyuan is even more helpless than them.
Si Kou Jue stood up and released his hand. Seeing the emperor's hesitation, she said one last, solemn word before leaving: "Your Majesty, it's time for you to grow up. You should understand that once you take that position, the word 'give up' will be with you for the rest of your life. You have your mission, and the world needs you more than Zheng. Consider it your duty to be a good emperor for Zheng's safety and happiness."
"That's all I have to say. I'll take my leave."
Si Kou Jue walked through the palace gate with great momentum. Qi Liyuan looked up at her. When the figure blurred outside the square door.
He suddenly said, "I'm sorry."
At that time, Si Kou Jue stopped at the steps of Funing Palace, gazing towards the midday light, blood curdling on her forehead. She said, "Jin Dian Bu, pick out two gold hairpins and send them to Pifang Pavilion. Tell Chu Zhaoyuan to thank her for choosing such a good man for Zheng. From now on, it's just the old and new grudges between us that are left."
"Madam, how do you know that it was she who gave..." Jin Dianbu was confused.
Si Kou Jue just gave her a meaningful smile, then fell silent and walked towards the Zhai Yu Pavilion.
This palace always hides too many unspeakable things.
But at least, Si Kou Jue still retained his original feelings towards Tai Shi Zheng.
-
Outside the palace, it was already noon when Zheng returned home.
She walked in happily, holding cabbage, carrying a green umbrella, and holding a sugar bee, but saw the front hall filled with large and small red lacquered wooden boxes and wine jars.
The scene was so grand and frightening.
Taishi Zheng carefully skirted the gift box and was about to slip into the backyard when she saw Fu Yuanzi hurriedly running from behind the hall. The two of them bumped head-on. Zheng stopped, smiling, and reached for the Sugar Frost Bee in her arms. Unexpectedly, Fu Yuanzi grabbed her.
Tai Shi Zheng was confused and was about to ask something.
Fu Yuanzi quickly snatched the vegetables and umbrella from her hands and made a hushing gesture.
But looking at Fu Yuanzi's strange power, who wouldn't be suspicious?
Tai Shi Zheng couldn't help it, so she lowered her voice and whispered in her ear: "Yuanzi, what's going on? Is there really a thief in the house? Could these packed things be all our treasures? Where's Dad? Where did Dad go? Dad couldn't have already..."
Zheng's words became more and more outrageous.
Fu Yuanzi quickly threw away his umbrella, covered her broken mouth with his hand, and then raised his head towards the back of the hall.
What's the meaning?
Could it be that something really happened?
Tai Shi Zheng was so frightened by her that he dared not even breathe. He turned around, took a few steps, and was about to walk out.
But at this moment, a sudden sound came from the backyard.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com