Chapter 36: Boating How come Your Majesty always treats me well, but I still want to obey you...
We are all birds in the same cage, each with its own difficulties.
Shu Yao's mind raced for a moment before she finally sighed and said to Zhao Wan, "Sitting around all the time isn't a good idea. How about going for a walk by the Taiye Lake?" Her gaze softened slightly, and she subconsciously avoided Zhao Wan's gaze. "I heard the scenery there is beautiful..."
When Zhao Wan heard this, her eyes lit up instantly, but the light only flashed for a moment before it suddenly went out.
She lowered her eyelashes, her voice almost inaudible, "Sister Ayao means well... I... I really want to go..." She twisted her hands unconsciously and continued timidly, "But Matron instructed... I must wait in the palace today..."
Shen Jingshu stood up slowly, with her usual proper smile on her lips, and said naturally, "Sister Awan, business is important, just go back to the palace." Her voice was as gentle as water, and with just a few words, she solved Zhao Wan's difficulties. Then she turned her eyes to Shu Yao, and her smile deepened a little, "Ayao's suggestion is very good. It's really useless to sit in the palace all day. I'm feeling a little depressed. I want to accompany Ayao for a walk and take a look at the scenery of Taiye Lake, okay?" She spoke very thoughtfully and smoothly, and no one could find any fault with her.
Shu Yao naturally nodded in approval.
The two of them brought several palace maids with them and walked to the bank of Taiye Lake.
Shu Yao had already made a plan in mind, and she led Shen Jingshu along the winding corridor on the lake without leaving any trace.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked to the side just right.
I saw a small boat floating gently on the waves, and the ropes and willow stakes looked like they were newly made.
Holding Shen Jingshu by her side, Shu Yao spoke with surprise, her voice even clearer than usual: "Ashu, look! There's a boat tied here. I wonder if we can take it to the middle of the water to take a look?"
The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and just happened to float down the wind into the ears of the eunuch on duty not far away.
Upon hearing the voice, the eunuch quickly stepped forward to greet him.
Shu Yao turned to the eunuch with a gentle look, nodded slightly, pointed at the boat with her other hand, and said in a warm tone: "Sir, excuse me for disturbing you. We think this boat is lovely. I wonder if you would allow us to go boating on the lake now?"
Upon hearing this, the eunuch slumped even lower, not daring to look directly at the two ladies. He cautiously apologized with a smile, "To answer your Majesties Shu and Xian, it was indeed possible in the past." He rubbed his hands, appearing to be in great embarrassment. "But now that the boat has fallen into disrepair, and there has been no clear order from above, I dare not act on my own. If I accidentally alarm you, I will be held responsible." He paused, quietly glanced up at the ladies' faces, and offered a seemingly sound retreat. "If you ladies wish to go boating, I'm afraid the Inner Court will need to send a better boat and appropriate personnel."
At the same time, in the side hall.
Veins were slightly visible on the back of Minister Feng's skinny hands.
After slightly adjusting the jade belt around his waist, he lifted the hem of his purple robe and slowly bowed down on the steps.
He touched the ground with his forehead and performed a solemn and dignified salute.
When he looked up again, his graying beard trembled slightly with his breathing. "Your Majesty! Today... I can only make a death-defying remonstration." He paused for a moment, waiting for the weight of his words to sink into the hall before continuing earnestly, "Your Majesty is in the prime of his life. However, the importance of state and society lies in preventing problems before they arise, and the strength of the country lies in preparing for rainy days. In the harem, Consort De is from the Zhao family of Longxi, and Consort Xian is from the Shen family of Runan. Both are distinguished families with generations of scholars and scholars, and their traditions of poetry and etiquette have been passed down through generations. And Consort Shu..." At this point, the emperor's face suddenly darkened. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and kowtowed deeply again. "Your Majesty! I am well aware that matters of the royal family are not for outsiders to interfere in. However, the fundamental orthodoxy of the ancestral temple lies in rituals, laws, and more importantly... a clear bloodline and order from top to bottom! I hope Your Majesty will... reconsider!"
"Mr. Feng... you've truly been so concerned about my kingdom." Xiao Chengjing tapped the table intermittently. "Hearing Mr. Feng's words, I feel that from now on, when and who I will visit should also be decided by you."
Minister Feng was struck by lightning. He never expected that Your Majesty would take this proposal to a heart-breaking level for the sake of Jiang.
The blood drained from his face instantly, and he slammed his head against the ground with a dull thud. "Your Majesty, calm down!" He fell to the ground, his loose court robes drenched in cold sweat. "I am a fool, only knowing how to adhere to the laws of our ancestors. My whole heart is devoted to the country... I have absolutely no intention of trying to guess your will or overstepping your authority! My words were inappropriate, and I deserve death... I beg your Majesty to understand!"
Xiao Chengjing slowly raised his eyes, his gaze as calm as a cold abyss.
He stared at the kneeling old minister for a moment, then smiled softly. His voice was steady, yet it was as if a storm was about to come: "I will remember Mr. Feng's views on bloodlines and superiors today."
Minister Feng's humble attitude at this moment overlapped with the countless faces of aristocratic families in Xiao Chengjing's memory, who looked at people with their chins lowered.
A rusty mockery surged up from the bottom of his heart, causing his fingertips to tingle slightly.
What they once despised as dust, he will praise to the sky; what they today worship as the golden rule, he will crush into powder.
After Minister Feng bowed and left, the hall returned to silence, with only the sound of the bell ringing.
Xiao Chengjing picked up his red brush and calmly read through the memorial. After reading a few lines, he calmly instructed Cui Jinzhong, who was standing beside him, "Go to Concubine De's palace and tell her that I haven't finished my business yet and won't be coming for dinner. Don't let her wait."
The next afternoon.
Shu Yao took a nap by the window, looking at the late cherry blossoms in full bloom in the courtyard, wondering what excuse she should find to go to Taiye Lake.
While he was daydreaming, he heard the sound of slow and steady footsteps coming from the corridor, accompanied by the palace maids' gentle greetings.
She suddenly came to her senses and just as she stood up, Xiao Chengjing had already slowly walked into the hall.
The skylight behind him outlined his tall figure, adding a hazy halo.
He approached slowly and steadily, and stood in front of her.
Without waiting for her to bow and greet, he spoke first: "If you want to go boating, I will take you there." There was a touch of just the right gentleness in his voice.
After saying that, he stretched out his hand towards her.
His hand, palm upward, knuckles distinct, stopped steadily a few inches in front of her, like an invitation with room for maneuver.
When Shu Yao saw him mention boating on his own initiative, she understood.
I'm sure he's heard about yesterday's boat trip with the virtuous concubine.
This was within her expectations. As long as he didn't get suspicious, it would be fine.
In addition, now that she had the red flower in her hands, she felt inexplicably more at ease.
Lifting her eyes to meet his, she smiled faintly and placed her hand in his waiting palm.
Xiao Chengjing still remembers how resolute she was that day.
He knew full well that the warmth of their palms touching at this moment was just another flawless performance on her part.
Thinking of this, he shook his head slightly, and a barely perceptible bitter smile passed across his lips.
He closed his fingers, held her slightly cold fingers firmly in his palm, and led her towards Taiye Lake.
Even if it is just a mirage, at least at this moment, in the eyes of others, the emperor and his concubine are in harmony and their love is deep.
Why not?
Xiao Chengjing held her arm and led her onto the prepared boat.
The boat was narrow, and the two of them sat facing each other with their knees almost touching.
Shu Yao glanced at the wooden oar lying across the cabin, and a mischievous thought quietly arose in her mind.
Xiao Chengjing had always teased her in the past, but today she finally got her chance...
She took the opportunity to adjust her sitting position and used her knee to gently push the oar handle towards Xiao Chengjing without leaving any trace, while she leaned back leisurely.
Folding her arms, she raised her face, her eyes and eyebrows tinged with an unconcealable agility, and deliberately drew out her tone: "Your Majesty, are you going to row the boat yourself?"
"Of course," Xiao Chengjing answered frankly, "Since you said you are here to accompany my beloved concubine, how can I let others do it?" As he said this, he picked up the wooden paddle.
The boat gently left the shore, breaking through a pool of clear water.
Walk to the center of the lake.
Shu Yao couldn't help but lean over and put her hand into the lake, letting the water slide through her fingers, creating ripples that spread into the distance.
She pretended to be leisurely playing with the water, but her eyes, turning sideways, quietly swept over the weeping willows and rockery along the bank.
I wondered in my heart: Where will the entrance of the aqueduct be?
Xiao Chengjing rowed the boat slowly and steadily, without showing any sign of effort.
His eyes were always on Shu Yao, and when he saw her leaning over to play in the water, the corners of his lips couldn't help but rise.
"Yaoyao." His voice came wrapped in the lake breeze, more relaxed than usual. "What are you thinking about?"
Shu Yao was a little dazed.
The water ripples gently and the boat sways slightly.
She hadn't felt this comfortable in a long time.
If Cui Jinzhong, Yunxiu and others were not standing on the shore in the distance, she would almost think that Xiao Chengjing, who was rowing the boat leisurely, and herself, who was sitting leisurely in the boat, were an ordinary couple who had stolen a half day to relax.
Shu Yao was silent for a while before she withdrew her slightly cool hands from the water.
She casually shook off the water droplets on her wrist. She gazed at the vast, misty lake, her gaze shrouded in a thin layer of fog. Her voice gradually sank, "I was just wondering... how much manpower would it take to dig out a lake like this?"
"It took five years to recruit 30,000 civilians to complete the project." Xiao Chengjing gave an exact number.
Shu Yao took a deep breath when she heard this.
This huge number made her realize for the first time what human resources are.
"What's the fun in just looking at it?"
Xiao Chengjing suddenly spoke, his voice close to his ear: "Would you like to try rowing the boat yourself?"
Shu Yao was absent-minded and just replied casually, "Okay."
Unexpectedly, the next moment, a warm breath suddenly approached behind me.
Xiao Chengjing's arm naturally came around, his broad palm firmly covering the back of her hand, leading her to hold the handle of the boat.
Shu Yao suddenly understood his intention, turned around abruptly, and glared at him with anger in her eyes.
Xiao Chengjing just smiled softly, and instead of letting go, he held her tighter, using her strength to push the oar handle slowly and steadily.
The oars rise and fall, creating a sound of dripping water.
The setting sun shines on the ripples, breaking them into thousands of shimmering scales.
When the boat docked, Shu Yao stepped onto the solid palace bricks again, and her heart suddenly felt empty.
I couldn't help but look back and look at the boat that was carrying the leaf away, and the light of water flashed slightly in my eyes.
She knew it all too well.
If it weren't for Xiao Chengjing, let alone boating, she might not even be able to get a boat.
Seeing her looking back, Xiao Chengjing assumed she was still enjoying herself, so he said, "If you like, I'll accompany you next time. It's getting late, we should go back and have dinner."
Shu Yao lowered her eyelashes, suppressing the ripples in her eyes, and said lightly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After dinner, Xiao Chengjing had no intention of getting up and leaving.
Seeing the lazy smile between his eyebrows, Shu Yao raised a smile that seemed to be a smile, and said in a sarcastic tone: "Why is it that every time Your Majesty treats me well, you always ask for it back from me?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengjing smiled slightly and leaned closer. "Who was having so much fun on the boat just now?" A hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. "Why? Did they turn their backs on me the moment the boat docked?"
Having been teased by him so many times, Shu Yao had already mastered the skill of reading and replying randomly.
She frowned, rubbed her wrist deliberately, and said, "Your Majesty is really good at complaining first. My hands are sore from rowing, how can I have time to have fun?"
"I'll rub it for you."
Xiao Chengjing's smile deepened, and he naturally pulled her wrist over and began to massage it gently.
His expression was focused, as if he was really just trying to ease her pain.
The wrist is wrapped in warmth, and the warmth seeps into the skin.
Shu Yao's fingertips trembled slightly. She wanted to pull her hand back, but she was unexpectedly unable to exert any strength. Her pulse only quickened.
I subconsciously raised my eyes and met his gaze.
The candlelight flickered slightly in his pupils, casting a circle of arc light.
The usually sharp outlines are now so blurred that it makes people feel uneasy.
Shu Yao was stunned for a moment, but saw his eyelashes tremble slightly.
As if bewitched by the silence, he slowly approached, his breath brushing against the corner of her lips, with a hint of tentativeness.
Finally, he placed a very light kiss carefully.
The softness on his lips made her mind drowsy, but she also understood: If he really knew how to restrain himself, he would not have forced her to marry him in the first place, and he would not have pestered her now.
Thinking of this, she realized belatedly that she should have pushed him away.
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The author has something to say: The first two chapters seemed a bit cruel, or maybe it was because I didn’t write well, I didn’t dare to go back and read [Joker]
Things are better today. The two of them have reconciled temporarily, but Feng Shizhong is also a villain. He will make trouble again soon [dog head]
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