Chapter 19: Your Majesty's Wish Comes True
When Chan Zhen arrived at the Qinzheng Hall, he saw a woman dressed as a palace concubine and carrying a food box being stopped.
"It's really unfortunate, Concubine Yang, His Majesty is busy right now." Guo Kai had a smile on his face, but he stood in front of the door with a clear gesture, stopping Concubine Yang with one hand.
Having been stopped countless times, Concubine Yang's smile froze. "Then I won't bother you any more. This is the snow cake I made for Your Majesty. Please bring it in for Your Majesty to try."
Guo Kai looked embarrassed, but when he saw Chan Zhen coming over, he quickly put on a more enthusiastic smile and greeted him.
"This servant is here to meet the Imperial Concubine. Is the Imperial Concubine also here to visit His Majesty?"
Chan Zhen glanced at the woman who had been stopped nearby. Although she looked familiar, he didn't recognize which concubine in His Majesty's harem she was. So he didn't bother to talk to her. He just smiled at Guo Kai and said, "Well, Your Majesty, are you still busy at this moment? Then I won't bother you."
Seeing that she actually turned around and was about to leave, Guo Kai was so anxious that he almost scratched his head and hurriedly stopped her, "Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will go in and ask His Majesty."
He dared not be vague when it came to this particular lady. After all, His Majesty's fondness for the Imperial Concubine was obvious to all. Concubine Yang had asked for an audience so many times before that His Majesty had grown impatient, which was why he dared to directly stop her. If he were to treat the Imperial Concubine the same way as he had with Concubine Yang, His Majesty would know that even a few lives wouldn't be enough for him.
After finally stopping the imperial concubine and preventing her from turning around and leaving, he rushed into the hall and reported to the emperor.
So only Chan Zhen and Yang Jieyu were left outside the palace, with their respective palace maids following them. Both parties came for the same purpose, but the treatment they received was very different, and the scene seemed a little awkward.
In the end, it was Concubine Yang who stepped forward and bowed to her first: "Your Majesty, your concubine greets you."
Chan really didn't know how to address her. It was only when Luzhu whispered a reminder to her from behind that she realized that this person was Concubine Yang, who was once favored by His Majesty.
She felt a little uncomfortable for a moment. After all, ever since they met, she had always been alone by His Majesty's side. However, after entering the palace, Chan Zhen knew that this was unavoidable. Moreover, His Majesty had already given her the highest favor and status. She felt that she couldn't be too greedy and was already very satisfied for now.
Then she smiled kindly: "Jieyu, please stand up."
Concubine Yang did not show any dissatisfaction when paying respects to a newlywed. Instead, she smiled as if she were a real sister to her.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I had originally planned to pay my respects to you in your palace this morning, but unfortunately, His Majesty, feeling sorry for you for your hard work at the enthronement ceremony yesterday, forgave the entire palace for paying respects. I didn't expect to run into you here. It seems we are truly destined to meet."
Her enthusiasm actually made Chan Zhen feel a little uncomfortable. She originally thought that her sudden promotion to the position of imperial concubine would cause dissatisfaction in the entire palace, but it seemed that she was judging others by her own standards. Her smile also became much more sincere.
"Chan Zhen has just entered the palace and doesn't understand many things yet. I'll have to trouble Sister Jieyu to take care of me from now on."
Concubine Yang's eyes darkened slightly, and her smile deepened. "Why would I trouble you? I have been with Your Majesty for many years. If there is anything you don't understand, please feel free to ask me."
After saying this, she looked at her empty hands in surprise, and covered her mouth and said, "Your Highness, why are you here empty-handed? His Majesty must have just finished his court session and hasn't had his meal yet. I specially made the snow cake that His Majesty loves. If you have time, you can come to my palace and I will teach you how to make it."
Chan Zhen's smile faded slightly, and suddenly a feeling of resentment welled up within her. It was true that she didn't quite understand His Majesty's preferences. Previously, when they'd dined together, His Majesty had mostly accommodated her, so she hadn't even paid much attention to His Majesty's favorite foods. Compared to Concubine Yang, she was a completely unqualified concubine.
Noticing that her mood was a little lower than before, a hint of pride flashed across Yang Jieyu's eyes. She was about to say something more stimulating when Guo Kaitong came out after delivering the message. She hurriedly put on her expression and went to meet him expectantly.
"Eunuch Guo, what did His Majesty say?"
Guo Kai did not reply to her, but walked up to Chan Zhen and flattered her, "Your Majesty, His Majesty invites you in."
Seeing him sweating profusely, Chan Zhen asked worriedly, "Eunuch, are you feeling unwell?"
Guo Kai wiped the cold sweat from his head and almost shuddered when he thought of what the emperor said when he went in to report.
"There is no need to report the Imperial Concubine's affairs anymore. There is no need to stop her from going anywhere in this palace. If something like what happened today happens again, you will go down and receive the punishment yourself."
His Majesty spoke calmly, his head still fixed, his hands still busy reviewing memorials, yet Guo Kai's legs nearly gave way to his knees. After this, he treated the Imperial Concubine with the utmost respect, just as he would treat His Majesty.
"Thank you for your concern, my lady. I am fine."
Seeing that he was only talking to the Imperial Concubine and ignoring her, Concubine Yang's face turned green. She forced a smile and asked, "What about me? Did His Majesty ask me to come in with you?"
"This..." Guo Kai's attitude towards her was a bit perfunctory, "His Majesty only summoned the Imperial Concubine, please go back."
Yang Jieyu felt like she was slapped in the face by such differential treatment. Seeing the imperial concubine's concerned look, she felt that she was being hypocritical and was clearly mocking her.
His Majesty was truly so heartless, showing her no mercy in front of the newlyweds. She clenched her palms, her heart bleeding with jealousy, but she remained nonchalant and said with a smile, "Then I will not bother His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine any more. I made this snow cake myself. Please bring it in, and Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine can enjoy some together."
Guo Kai did not take it. The imperial concubine was still here. If he brought in the things made by Concubine Yang, wouldn't it be a nuisance to His Majesty and the Empress?
Seeing that he didn't answer, Concubine Yang turned her attention to Chan Zhen: "Your Majesty hasn't had lunch yet, right? The snow cakes I made were once praised by His Majesty himself. Would Your Majesty like to try some?"
She was so enthusiastic that Zenzhen didn't know how to refuse, so he had to reach out and take it.
Seeing her accept it, Concubine Yang breathed a sigh of relief and retreated with a smile.
Chan Zhen was carrying a small, exquisitely crafted food box that was neither too heavy nor too light, and followed Guo Kai into the Qinzheng Hall. From a distance, she saw a huge pile of memorials piled up on the desk in front of the emperor. The emperor had a frown on his face and was writing non-stop. When he heard Guo Kai's message, he finally looked up from the desk, put down his pen, and waved to her to come over.
"Your Majesty." Chan Zhen walked forward, but before he could bow, he was embraced by his big hands and sat in his arms.
Chen Dingyao didn't expect that she would come to visit him on her own initiative. He suddenly felt refreshed and all the fatigue accumulated from handling official duties was swept away.
"Are you feeling better?"
Knowing what His Majesty was asking about, Zen Zhen blushed and reached out to push his chest.
"Your Majesty, please put me down quickly. This is where we handle official business."
Why is His Majesty becoming more and more reckless? If this were in my palace, it would be fine for him to behave more intimately, but this is where His Majesty handles government affairs. This makes me feel like a seductive concubine trying to seduce His Majesty from his work.
Knowing that she was shy, Chen Dingyao let go of his hand. Chan Zhen immediately stepped back several steps and looked at him warily, fearing that he would touch her again.
Chen Dingyao chuckled helplessly, and when he saw the food box in her hand, he immediately became interested.
"You did this?"
She knew that in addition to singing and dancing, Chan Zhen was also quite good at cooking. In his previous life, Yun Yi had boasted about it among his brothers, but unfortunately, Chan Zhen resented him after entering the palace, so he never had the chance to enjoy it.
Chan Zhen felt a little awkward. She placed the food box on the desk and whispered, "I didn't make this. Concubine Yang asked me to bring it in for Your Majesty to taste."
When he heard the words "Yang Jieyu," his face darkened and he shouted, "Guo Kai!"
Guo Kai ran in hurriedly and saw that His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine were far apart and not as affectionate as he had imagined. Then he looked at the food box on the table and understood what was going on in a moment.
"Throw this thing out." He rubbed his forehead and spoke in a cold voice.
"I obey your command." Guo Kai quickly took down the deadly thing and rushed to destroy the body.
Chan Zhen reached out to stop him, "No, Concubine Yang made it herself with great difficulty, and don't you, Your Majesty, like snowflake cakes?"
It's never nice to ruin other people's kindness like this.
Chen Dingyao looked at her affection carefully, and saw that she was really just worried about the box of snow cakes, and did not show the emotion he expected, which made him even more annoyed.
"I never said I liked this thing."
After his rebirth, his previous memories were very distant and he could not remember the details clearly, but he was sure that he had never doted on any woman as much as he did on Zenzhen.
Moreover, in her previous life, that woman, Concubine Yang, had been causing trouble many times after Chan Zhen entered the palace, and she only stopped doing so after he banished her to the cold palace. In this life, he originally thought that if the other people in the harem could behave themselves, it would be fine for him to support them according to their share. It seems that he was still too kind-hearted.
"Guo Kai, why don't you go down?"
Guo Kai didn't expect that a small box of snow cake could cause a dispute. He secretly made up his mind that he would never let such things appear in front of the imperial concubine again.
Finally clearing the eyesore, Chen Dingyao thought about how intimate he and Chan Zhen had been just yesterday. He couldn't let someone irrelevant ruin their newly formed relationship. Chan Zhen was pure-hearted and always had good intentions towards others, which was fine. After all, he was the emperor, so he could protect her no matter what.
His expression softened a bit. "From now on, you'll be the only one by my side. You'll eventually figure out what I like. Why listen to other people's slander?"
Chanzhen is young, and he is twenty years older than her, so he always has to give her more and not push her too far.
Seeing that he had regained his gentle expression, Zen Zhen felt relieved and cautiously moved closer to him, with a hint of depression in his expression.
"After meeting Concubine Yang, I realized that I have spent the shortest time with you, and I know you no better than anyone else."
Chen Dingyao stood up and took her hand, comforting her, "If I had known about your existence earlier, I would have brought you to my side earlier and raised you like a princess. In this way, you would be by my side from birth to death."
Hearing his ridiculous words, Chan Zhen couldn't help laughing: "Then I can't become your concubine. Your Majesty and the princess will be in conflict with each other."
Chen Dingyao put his arm around her waist and said, "I want you, but I don't care about ethics or morality."
Zenzhen just thought he was joking to cheer himself up.
Seeing her secretly delighted like a little fox, he couldn't help but move closer: "Or, do you dislike my age?"
Chan Zhen raised her eyes and glanced at him, "How dare I?"
His Majesty was in the prime of his life, and his appearance and bearing were more outstanding than any man she had ever seen. Although Chan Zhen had been somewhat resistant to him before, she was only afraid of his status and had never despised his age.
"Compared to you, I am indeed a little older." Chen Dingyao didn't actually care about this. If he had just ascended the throne when he was young, he would not have been able to pamper her as unscrupulously as he does now.
Just like Yun Yi, although he liked her in his previous life, he was still subject to many restrictions and suffered countless grievances. Facing him, he had no choice but to give up his beloved.
Chan Zhen thought he was feeling sad, so she held his hand instead and said, "I really don't mind. When Your Majesty grows old, I will be gray-haired too. There's nothing wrong with growing old with Your Majesty."
Chen Dingyao was stunned for a moment, then excitedly held her face in his hands: "Chanzhen, do you mean you are willing to grow old with me?"
Zen Zhen didn't quite understand why he looked so excited, but nodded anyway: "If it stays like this, I'm naturally willing."
As long as His Majesty does not change his mind about her, she will naturally not let His Majesty down.
So this is what it feels like to get what you want. Chen Dingyao couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her between the eyebrows. God finally paid off his rebirth.
At this moment, Guo Kai suddenly heard a message outside the door.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin requests an audience."
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