Chapter 67 I'm really awesome.
After dinner, Chu Heng and Daiyu went to cool off on a couch under the shade of flowers. The maids had already lit mosquito-repelling herbs around them.
The moon was bright and the stars were few tonight. As Daiyu listened to Chu Heng recount the day's events in detail, she suddenly remembered something: "Before... just after the New Year, didn't the Empress Dowager want to take the First Prince to Longhua Temple? Later she said to go in the summer. Now it's almost June. Has the Empress Dowager forgotten about it?"
"The Empress Dowager only wants to take the eldest prince. His Majesty knows she's after Master Pingyi and insists that the second prince go as well. The Empress Dowager wants to leave the second prince behind but doesn't have a proper reason. Even if she brings it up again, it will be difficult to get her to go as she wishes," Chu Heng said. "Besides, she also wants to take the two of us with her. I don't have the time for that right now. If she brings it up, I'll say I'm not going and I won't let you go either."
Daiyu laughed: "Are you really that unreasonable?"
Chu Heng nodded solemnly: "I am just that kind of unreasonable person." As he spoke, he came over and took Daiyu's hand.
"Isn't it hot?" Despite asking this, Daiyu did not break free.
Chu Heng smiled and said, "It's hot, but I haven't seen you all day. You see, I really can't live without you."
Daiyu shook their clasped hands and laughed, "You say all sorts of things, aren't you ashamed?"
Chu Heng raised an eyebrow: "Miss Lin, this isn't broad daylight anymore, are you not allowed to speak?"
“Your Highness…” Daiyu turned to look at him, her eyes full of smiles, “You are not only shameless, but also very petty.”
"What can we do then? You'll just have to make do with this." Chu Heng played with her slender fingers.
Daiyu looked up and smiled, "Well, Your Highness will have to make do."
A pleasant breeze blew by, and Chu Heng squinted his eyes and smiled, "Miss Lin, I'm not settling, I'm extremely fortunate."
“Me too.” Under the cool moonlight, Daiyu turned to look at him again, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Chu Heng was drawn in and moved closer to Daiyu. Their breaths mingled, and Daiyu reached out to shield his chest, blushing as she said, "We're outside."
Chu Heng then came to his senses. He looked up at the moonlight, then at Daiyu, who was even more alluring than the moonlight, and said in a low voice, "Let's go back to our room and rest."
Daiyu whispered, "No."
Chu Heng was taken aback: "What's wrong?"
Daiyu did not speak.
Chu Heng was puzzled, but his romantic feelings were now suppressed by his concern for Daiyu. He quickly raised his hand to touch Daiyu's forehead and asked, "What's wrong? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I would have sent someone to call the imperial physician..."
“No…” Daiyu quickly grabbed him, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, “It’s my period.”
Daiyu's menstruation had always been irregular, often occurring only once every two or three months. This was the first time since their marriage.
Chu Heng remained silent for even longer this time, and after a long while, he finally uttered, "I understand."
"What do you know?" Daiyu asked instinctively.
Chu Heng answered truthfully, "I've seen it in medical books."
This time, it was Daiyu's turn to be speechless for a long time.
Chu Heng helped her sit up and asked, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Is there anything you should be careful about?"
Daiyu said, "The nanny said that we two will be sleeping in separate rooms for the next few days."
Chu Heng was shocked: "Why? I'm not that much of a beast!"
Daiyu: "..."
Daiyu was both amused and exasperated: "It's not this, it's... Oh dear, come closer, and I'll tell you."
Chu Heng quickly moved closer and listened to Daiyu finish speaking. He said, "This is all nonsense. What filth? You are clearly my lucky star. If it weren't for you, I would be sick every three days and seriously ill every five days."
Upon hearing this, Daiyu couldn't help but smile: "You are also my lucky star."
Chu Heng lightly kissed the tip of her nose, then quickly pulled away: "Lucky stars should be together."
Daiyu blushed slightly: "You're being improper outside."
"Nobody saw it," Chu Heng chuckled.
Daiyu gently nudged him: "Go sit properly."
Chu Heng obediently sat down, took Daiyu's round fan, and gently fanned her.
Daiyu said, "His Majesty has set a date for you. Are you going to be busy from now on?"
"Your Majesty is not in a hurry. The Prince of Qi's rebellion ultimately failed. It is others who are anxious now. Your Majesty will be happy if you delay for a while and see those involved anxious." Chu Heng smiled.
Daiyu smiled and said, "That's true. In the end, it can't threaten the Emperor. Right now, he's enjoying the fear of those people after making an example of them."
Chu Heng joked, "He's watching other people's shows, and we can watch his shows too."
Daiyu made a shushing gesture: "Be careful what you say."
Chu Heng blinked, pinched Daiyu's cheek with his free hand, and smiled, "Okay, I know."
...
Three days later, Daiyu, accompanied by Granny Zhao, went to the palace as usual to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
Upon entering the hall, Daiyu saw the Empress sitting to the left of the Empress Dowager. She stepped forward to pay her respects, but both of them said that they were exempt from the formalities.
The Empress Dowager smiled as usual and said, "Please sit down."
Daiyu declined the seat and then asked the Empress Dowager, "How is Your Majesty? It's been hot lately, has Your Majesty had a good appetite?"
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "I am well, but how is Heng'er? Neither of you are in good health, so you should not be exposed to the cold in the summer."
Daiyu smiled and replied, "Your Highness is doing well. I have remembered the Empress Dowager's instructions and will remind Your Highness when I return."
The Empress Dowager nodded: "Now that Heng'er has such a caring person by his side, I am at ease."
The Empress smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, you must have been hot on the way here, right?"
Daiyu smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager bestowed a carriage upon me, so I haven't been exposed to the sun too much."
The Empress nodded and said, "There are some fresh fruits today. I have already had them prepared. Take them with you when you return to your residence."
Daiyu was about to rise to express her gratitude, but the Empress stopped her, saying, "There are no outsiders here, so you don't need to stand on ceremony, sister-in-law."
Daiyu curtsied before sitting down again.
The Empress Dowager slowly said, "I was just talking to the Empress about going to Longhua Temple to escape the summer heat. We stayed there for half a month last year, and it was indeed very cool. However, Heng'er is not free this year. If I take you with me, it would be inappropriate for Heng'er to go back to the mansion with no one there. Yongkang... let's not talk about her."
"His Majesty's favor is great, and state affairs are of utmost importance. Your Highness dares not fail to live up to his expectations, and has been truly unable to find the time lately." Daiyu smiled. "Fortunately, the Empress Dowager has many children and grandchildren, and her children cannot accompany her. I think that you, along with the princes and princesses, can keep her company and have some fun, which would be a wonderful way to enjoy family life."
The Empress Dowager said, "If you only bring Jie'er and Rong'er, that's fine. I find it too noisy with too many people."
Daiyu smiled innocently and said, "Is the Empress Dowager making up her mind? I'll go back and tell the Prince that we'll come to see the Empress Dowager off another day."
The Empress Dowager was displeased, but she couldn't say it outright, so she glanced at the Empress.
The Empress hurriedly said, "His Majesty is worried and insists that the Empress Dowager have more people around her. The Empress Dowager thinks there are too many people, so... it hasn't been decided yet."
Daiyu said, "His Majesty is filial to the Empress Dowager."
"Moreover, His Majesty suddenly said yesterday that it's time to consider Jie'er's marriage. The Empress Dowager is also worried about her grandson and was just telling me that it would be better to stay in the capital until Jie'er's marriage is settled before going to Longhua Temple," the Empress added.
Daiyu then smiled and said, "The eldest prince is of noble status, and it's time to start the selection now. After we finish with the eldest prince, the second prince and the eldest princess will also be of age, followed by the third prince. The empress will have to work hard these next few years, and the empress dowager will also have to worry about things."
The Empress Dowager smiled slowly and said, "I am old, but I am waiting to hold my great-grandchild. What else can I worry about?"
Daiyu thought to herself, "If only you could stop worrying about this."
Judging from the Empress Dowager's demeanor, the Emperor's swift action clearly indicates that she is fully engaged in the power struggle with him.
The marriages of the eldest and second princes, which concern the succession, are completely different from those of Yongkang. The emperor and empress dowager will not give an inch.
In the next year or two, the most distinguished mother and son in the world will likely do everything in their power to achieve their own goals.
...
That night.
Daiyu sat on a bamboo mat, and Zijuan brought over a vase filled with jasmine flowers.
"Your Highness, shall we place it here?" Zijuan asked.
Daiyu nodded. Just then, Chu Heng came over after taking a bath. Hearing this, he glanced at the vase and said in surprise, "Where did this vase come from? It's quite novel."
Daiyu smiled and said, "Yongkang gave this to me when I entered the palace today. She said that she drew a design a few days ago and had it burned."
"She seems to be doing well now." Chu Heng smiled, took the water poured by Zijuan and handed it to Daiyu, only taking half a sip of the next cup himself.
Daiyu nodded: "She is in good spirits. She said that the Empress, on the Emperor's orders, told her that there is no rush for marriage and that she will be chosen to marry someone she likes in the future. She told her to rest well and not to overthink things."
"That's good." Chu Heng took Daiyu's hand and gently tapped her fingers. "By the way, did Yongkang thank me?"
Daiyu chuckled: "People say that you should do good deeds without expecting anything in return. Who would rush to ask someone to say thank you? If you want her to thank you, you should say it yourself. I can't say such a thing."
Chu Heng lowered his head and rubbed her forehead, laughing, "You're thin-skinned, that's okay. I'm thick-skinned, and I'll definitely make sure you don't suffer in the future."
Daiyu thought to herself, "It's because you're so shameless that I've suffered so much."
However, Daiyu never discussed matters of the boudoir with outsiders.
“Furthermore, His Majesty has already brought up the marriage between the First Prince and the Second Prince, and the Empress Dowager has even postponed her trip to Longhua Temple to escape the summer heat and pray for blessings because of this,” Daiyu added. “Your words from a few days ago have worked.”
Chu Heng stroked his chin, quite pleased with himself: "I'm very capable."
Daiyu couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Yes, you're amazing. This matter, let alone a day or two, even a year or two, I'm afraid the Emperor and the Empress Dowager wouldn't be able to reach a conclusion."
"That's perfect." Chu Heng shrugged. "When they're busy, they won't have time to bother us."
Daiyu smiled and reminded him, "We still can't get carried away. Since we're in the court, we can't completely stay out of the matter of choosing an heir. We still need to be cautious."
Chu Heng tightened his grip on her hand and smiled reassuringly, "I know, it's just a lie, I'm always good at this."
Daiyu smiled and nodded.
However, they are unaware that they cannot be fooled about the matter of establishing an heir, and will inevitably be drawn into it.
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