Chapter 71 Rewards.
Chu Heng gently massaged Daiyu's knees and sneered, "The Empress Dowager is now revealing her true intentions. Fine, since she's determined to make things difficult for us, if we don't fight back, we'll be at her mercy."
Daiyu placed her hand on his: "The Empress Dowager is making things difficult for me by avoiding you. If Yongkang hadn't been so disrespectful to the Empress Dowager, she still wouldn't have wanted to break ties with you."
Chu Heng was appointed Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, and the emperor intended to give him an important position. He was also the Empress Dowager's youngest son, so the Empress Dowager naturally wanted to train him to serve her.
As for why she still had to pick a fight with Daiyu, perhaps the Empress Dowager thought it was insignificant, or perhaps she was using it to give Chu Heng a hard time.
In short, judging from the Empress Dowager's words and actions today, she does indeed want to maintain a superficial peace with Chu Heng, and she is even less willing to have an open conflict with the Emperor.
"Since she's making things difficult for you, she's definitely going to break ties with me." Chu Heng's anger hadn't subsided, but the force with which he gripped Daiyu's hand was incredibly gentle.
"Don't be afraid. I'll go with you to the palace every time you need to go," Chu Heng comforted him gently. "If the Empress Dowager tries to cause trouble again, we won't be afraid of her."
Daiyu chuckled and said, "I'm not afraid. After all, I am the Princess Consort of Duan, appointed by the Emperor himself. I have to give face to the Emperor. Since the Empress Dowager doesn't want to confront the Emperor directly, there's nothing she can do to me."
Chu Heng gently stroked Daiyu's knees with heartache: "I've made you kneel for so long. Let me check when we get back; there's some ointment at home..."
"Didn't I tell you? We're kneeling on the prayer mats, and it's only for a short while. Nothing will hurt. I don't even feel any pain," Daiyu said, rubbing his hand.
Chu Heng hummed in agreement, then said with deep remorse, "It was my fault for not protecting you."
Daiyu gently shook her head: "None of us expected the Empress Dowager to take action so suddenly. Fortunately, there is Yongkang. With her making such a fuss, the Empress Dowager will have something to worry about in the future."
After all, the Empress Dowager certainly didn't want the Emperor to be alarmed again.
This was a defeat for the Empress Dowager over the Emperor, and she must have been incredibly frustrated in private.
Chu Heng was even more worried: "I'm afraid she'll come up with some other tricks that will catch us off guard."
“We are already prepared this time.” Daiyu was not so worried. After all, she had to be careful at all times when she was in the Jia family. Now it was only a short time in the palace, which was already very good.
Chu Heng felt it wasn't good enough, and he rubbed his fingers a few times: "It seems that the Empress Dowager has too few things to deal with right now, which is why she always focuses her attention on us."
Fearing he might be in a panic, Daiyu quickly asked, "What do you want to do?"
Chu Heng remained silent for a moment before saying, "I would like to ask His Majesty to agree to the Empress Dowager's proposal to allow the First Prince to marry a daughter from the Fang family. At the same time, the Empress Dowager should also agree to allow the Second Prince to marry the girl His Majesty has chosen."
“You…” Daiyu was stunned for a long time, “You want to completely muddy this pool of water.”
On the surface, the emperor and empress dowager had gotten what they wanted; however, this was only the beginning of the struggle for the throne.
The engagement meant that the two princes were no longer children, and those behind them would begin plotting to bring them into the court.
Not only the emperor and empress dowager, but also the Fang family and court officials, each serving their own master, were all going to get involved.
At that time, there will be no peace in or around the capital, or in or around the imperial court.
Of course, for Daiyu, these were secondary. What she cared more about was that if Chu Heng went to persuade the emperor, it would be a formal statement of her position.
He's going to be the emperor's sword.
Daiyu shook her head sadly: "No, Chuheng, you can't do this."
Making a knife that the emperor would discard—this shouldn't be Chu Heng's fate.
Chu Heng's expression was calm and gentle. He leaned down and gently kissed Daiyu: "Don't be afraid. We're already in the thick of this. We can't just sit here and wait to die."
The emperor may seem to have helped Chu Heng today, but he is not doing so without expecting anything in return.
Daiyu naturally understood this: "It's all my fault for dragging you down."
“I’ve dragged you down with me,” Chu Heng sighed softly. “I was born into the royal family, while you… could have avoided all of this.”
Daiyu gently stroked his face: "I misspoke. Between you and me, this is not the point."
Chu Heng smiled and took her hand in his: "Okay."
“And…” Daiyu said solemnly, “Now that you’re involved, you can’t hide anything from me, no matter what happens in the future.”
Chu Heng hesitated slightly, but Daiyu grabbed his hand tightly and said firmly once again, "Don't hide it from me!"
Chu Heng immediately surrendered: "Okay, I agree."
Daiyu slowly smiled and said, "It will be alright."
Chu Heng pulled her into his arms and said firmly, "It will be alright."
...
The next day, Chu Heng woke up early and went to check on Daiyu's knees. He had already examined them carefully when he returned to the manor yesterday and there wasn't even a trace of redness. But he was still worried, fearing that she might have fallen into the Empress Dowager's trap without realizing it.
Daiyu shifted her legs, her eyes still sleepy, and said, "What..."
"It's alright." Chu Heng placed a hand over her eyes. "Sleep a little longer."
"Mmm," Daiyu replied, leaning closer to him.
Chu Heng chuckled softly, then gently straightened Daiyu's inner garment, leaned against her, closed his eyes, and took a nap.
When I woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky. Fortunately, there were only two masters in the mansion, and breakfast time was whenever they got up.
"I'd like a bowl of light porridge and a few refreshing side dishes," Daiyu said, combing her hair by the window. She then instructed Zhao Qing, "Don't prepare anything too sweet for the Prince."
Zhao Qing accepted the order.
Chu Heng was feeding thrushes under the eaves when he heard this, so he turned around and said, "At least leave me a plate of snacks."
Daiyu chose a hairpin and handed it to Zijuan, telling her to put it on for her, while saying with a smile, "No, you have to abstain from sweets today."
Chu Heng sighed, while Zhao Qing suppressed a laugh as he stepped off the platform.
"If breakfast isn't enough, can't I have something sweet for lunch or dinner?" Chu Heng bargained.
Daiyu shook her head firmly: "No, not only today, but also tomorrow. You ate too many sweets the other day, Your Highness. You need to know when to stop."
Chu Heng leaned against the window and said with a smile, "Miss Lin, teach me what it means to know when to stop?" As he spoke, he winked at Daiyu, the deeper meaning in his words making Daiyu not want to talk to him.
"You're pushing your luck," Daiyu said with a laugh. She glanced at herself in the glasses, and seeing that everything was in order, she stood up and told someone to tidy up her dressing case.
"It seems I'll only push my luck." Chu Heng took Daiyu's hand at the door, and the two sat on the veranda. Birds chirped and cicadas chirped in the courtyard.
Daiyu smiled contentedly and said, "Summer is so nice."
Chu Heng tugged at her sleeve in annoyance: "Pay attention to me, you're ignoring me again."
Daiyu smiled helplessly and said, "When have I ever ignored you?"
"Hmm..." Chu Heng whispered in her ear, "If you let me take advantage of you tonight, then you'll talk to me again, okay?"
Daiyu blushed instantly and pushed Chu Heng away, saying, "That mouth of yours is only good at talking nonsense!"
Chu Heng chuckled softly, "He can do other things too."
Daiyu blushed and turned her head away, refusing to pay attention to him. Chu Heng came over and coaxed her, and it took him a while to coax her back.
After having breakfast, Chu Heng went to the palace to see the emperor.
The Emperor put down his vermilion brush: "Yesterday was quite a fright. I sent someone to check on Yongkang first thing this morning. That girl is usually very brave and wasn't frightened. Is your sister-in-law alright?"
Chu Heng frowned and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. She is timid and had nightmares last night, waking up several times. She is still not in good spirits today."
The emperor then asked, "Why didn't you call the imperial physician?"
Chu Heng said, "I have already prepared a calming soup. The princess said it was a minor matter and there was no need to call the imperial physician. It would be bad to disturb the Empress Dowager."
The emperor sighed, “My sister-in-law is so filial to our mother, yet our mother…” He shook his head, “We children shouldn’t speak ill of our elders, but yesterday our mother was really too… Oh well, she is our mother after all. Whatever she says or does, we children can only accept it.”
At this point, the emperor looked at Chu Heng and said meaningfully, "Don't even mention your princess consort, even if it were my imperial concubine or empress, if my mother was in a bad mood and vented her anger on them, wouldn't we have to endure it? That's true filial piety!"
Once is never enough; the fifth brother cherishes his wife like the apple of his eye. After what happened yesterday, how could he let it happen again?
The emperor waited patiently for Chu Heng's response.
Chu Heng sneered inwardly. There's no such thing as a free lunch; the Emperor has come to collect his reward.
Chu Heng's face was full of doubt. He followed the emperor's words and said, "Back then, when my brother bestowed the marriage upon me, my mother told me that the princess was perfect. But now, I don't know why, she suddenly thinks that she is not good. I am caught in the middle. I don't want my mother to be unhappy, nor do I want the princess to be in a difficult position... Sigh."
"Your Majesty, I have few close relatives and no one to consult. I can only humbly ask for your guidance," Chu Heng said humbly. "What should I do in the future?"
The emperor said, "I am a grown man, and I only have a superficial understanding of matters between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. I really can't give you any advice."
Chu Heng said with a sigh, "Even my royal brother has no solution, so I can only beg you to allow me to go to my fief. At least let the mother and daughter-in-law keep their distance, so that my mother won't get angry when she sees the princess. Otherwise, if something really happens, I will die a thousand deaths to atone for it."
The emperor was displeased: "Why bring up the matter of going to the fiefdom again? We brothers and sisters are all in the capital, which shows our harmony. It's not a big deal. All you think about is running away."
Chu Heng rose, knelt down and bowed: "Your subject also wishes to serve my mother, but there is no other way at present. For the sake of my mother's health, I beg Your Majesty's permission."
The emperor scrutinized him for a moment, then personally helped him up and sat him down: "What's the rush? Let me finish what I have to say."
Chu Heng lowered his head and said, "Please speak, Your Majesty."
The Emperor slowly said, "Mother has always been a worrywart. I think it's time for her to enjoy her old age. Fifth Brother, what do you think?"
Chu Heng was stunned upon hearing this. He frowned, seemingly puzzled, and after a long while, he said, "To live out one's days in peace and tranquility?"
The emperor smiled faintly and said, "Indeed, with me in the court and the empress in the harem, Mother doesn't need to worry about anything."
Chu Heng seemed to understand the emperor's meaning only then. He pursed his lips, as if he had gone through a long internal struggle, before finally making up his mind: "What Your Majesty says is very true."
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