Sitting at the table, Jian Yang was still somewhat dazed.
Zhou Jingzhi glanced at Jian Yang and said, "A Yang, all of this is my plan. I used this to my advantage to marry the new empress. First, I wanted to mislead Zhou Jing'an and make him think that you are no longer of much value to me. Second, I wanted to take the opportunity to let Linglong enter the harem so that I could monitor the concubines they had placed there."
Jian Yang nodded, thinking it over carefully, and realized that it was indeed the case. Whenever the emperor took a concubine, those ministers would always have ulterior motives and send their own daughters into the harem.
Some women were sent to the palace simply to gain favor and solidify their family's position, while others had less pure motives. For example, Zhou Jing'an's cronies sent women into the palace to monitor the emperor.
Zhou Jingzhi was silent for a moment, and seeing that Jian Yang's expression was normal, he continued, "A Yang, there is one more thing. I concealed my identity as the Empress and did not even hold the investiture ceremony because I was waiting for you to come back."
After saying that, Zhou Jingzhi looked at Jian Yang with some trepidation, afraid that Jian Yang would directly refute him and say that she was not coming back.
Jian Yang didn't speak, but her heart was filled with ripples. It turned out that she had really misunderstood Zhou Jingzhi. He didn't marry a new queen because he had changed his mind. He had his own reasons for marrying a new queen.
For a moment, Jian Yang's eyes welled up with tears. She had no idea that the man in front of her had taken on so much on his own.
“If you are willing to stay, I will give you a new identity, and the position of Empress will always be yours, and only you will hold it.” Zhou Jingzhi stared intently at Jian Yang, waiting for her answer.
Jian Yang looked at the cautious man in front of her. He didn't even know if she would come back, yet he had arranged everything. Jian Yang couldn't help but feel a little touched.
Just when Zhou Jingzhi thought Jian Yang was still going to leave, he saw Jian Yang nod, and his disappointed expression suddenly became lively.
“I’m not leaving, but…” Jian Yang said softly.
“But what? I’ll give you whatever A-Yang wants.” Zhou Jingzhi hurriedly agreed, afraid that Jian Yang would change her mind.
“However, my reward will be double, and you’d better work hard to fill my little savings!” Jian Yang said with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Jingzhi hugged Jian Yang tightly, not saying a word, just grinning foolishly.
"You're choking me to death!" Jian Yang said shyly. Zhou Jingzhi was too close, so close that his breath was constantly spraying against her ear.
Having not felt this man's presence for so long, Jian Yang felt a tingling sensation in her heart, and her legs suddenly went weak.
Seeing this, Zhou Jingzhi's heart stirred. He lowered his head and gently took Jian Yang's small earlobe into his lips, teasing it a few times. Jian Yang was so sensitive that she was about to moan softly, while the man's hands kept stroking her back.
Suddenly, Jian Yang felt something pressing against her from below, her face flushed red, and she quickly pushed Zhou Jingzhi away, saying:
"I haven't told my brother about this yet; he's probably still waiting for me to leave the capital with him."
"Okay, I'll call Jian Jiangjun over right away." Zhou Jingzhi seemed a little unsatisfied.
Before long, Jian Hong arrived. He looked at Jian Yang and Zhou Jingzhi with complicated feelings, feeling that there was something strange between the two, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
"What are Your Majesty's instructions in summoning me here?" Jian Hong asked.
Jian Yang coughed lightly and looked at Zhou Jingzhi.
“I and A-Yang have just confessed our feelings to each other, and A-Yang has agreed to stay here and not leave.” Zhou Jingzhi and Jian Yang exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with tenderness.
Jian Hong felt like there were pink bubbles floating around, but he didn't know why he had this feeling. Why did he feel like his younger sister had been kidnapped?
"Ayang, are you sure you want to stay and continue being the Empress? Have you thought through all the pros and cons?" Jian Hong looked at Jian Yang with some concern.
Hearing Jian Hong ask this, Jian Yang suddenly felt a little annoyed, thinking that she was too easy to coax.
Although Zhou Jingzhi did all this for a plan, and it wasn't really about getting married or falling in love with someone else, he could have told her about these plans!
She won't hold you back, so why are you still using this tired "I'm keeping this from you for your own good" trope?
Moreover, Zhou Jingzhi hired Linglong to impersonate the empress without telling her, which must have been to see her jealous and upset, and to ascertain his place in her heart.
This cunning boy is quite something!
Thinking of this, Jian Yang narrowed her eyes and glanced at Zhou Jingzhi: "I did not agree to continue being the empress. I am just staying to help. Whether I will return to the palace after I finish helping is uncertain."
Zhou Jingzhi smiled helplessly. His A Yang was just being stubborn with him. Oh well, there's plenty of time. As long as she doesn't leave the capital, she'll come back to him sooner or later, Zhou Jingzhi thought.
"Then I'll trouble Jian Jiangjun to take A Yang back to the Prime Minister's residence. Remember to keep her away from other officials and don't let her whereabouts be exposed," Zhou Jingzhi instructed.
After saying that, Zhou Jingzhi gently rubbed Jian Yang's head, making her hair a little messy.
Jian Hong led Jian Yang out of the palace and drove towards the Prime Minister's residence. Under the cover of night, the two entered the residence through the back gate.
"Father, your daughter is back!" Jian Yang looked at Prime Minister Jian with a smile.
A look of surprise appeared on Prime Minister Jian's deeply lined old face. He hurriedly closed the door and let Jian Hong leave first.
"Yang'er, why are you back at this time? Didn't your elder brother say he was going to send you away? It's too dangerous for you to come back to the manor at this time!" Prime Minister Jian said with great concern.
"Dad, you haven't seen me in so long, don't you miss your daughter?" Jian Yang pouted, looking somewhat dissatisfied.
"Yang'er, tell your father the truth, what exactly happened?" Ignoring Jian Yang's coquettishness, Prime Minister Jian still anxiously asked Jian Yang why she had returned.
“I’m going to stay here and stay by His Majesty’s side. I’m not leaving,” Jian Yang said solemnly.
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Jian slammed his hand on the table and stood up:
"What?! Nonsense! Aren't you treating marriage and the Emperor like a game? You faked your death and left when you wanted to, but now you want to come back and be Empress? What will the world say about the Emperor? How is he supposed to silence the gossip?"
Jian Yang frowned in dissatisfaction. What did she mean by treating marriage and the emperor like a game? How could she be so reckless?
"Marriage is about mutual consent. In the past, my daughter was unwilling, so she insisted on leaving. Now that my daughter and the Emperor are of one mind, why can't she stay?"
Jian Yang looked at Prime Minister Jian with a firm gaze and said, word by word, "Besides, I trust him."
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Jian's beard nearly bristled with anger: "Since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. How can we expect you to defy these traditions like this! Not to mention, the capital is so dangerous!"
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
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