Chapter 104: There are some things that cannot be said...
Zhao Changning looked at the emperor's confident and relaxed appearance, feeling a little dazed. At that moment, it was as if he saw the former emperor, except that the former emperor was more experienced and calm than him, more like an emperor who held power and controlled life and death.
She gazed at the hand with slender fingers, slowly knelt down, and raised the tea bowl above her head. "Changning is of humble status and dares not overstep the bounds. In Changning's heart, there are no more trustworthy people in this world than the Emperor and Empress."
After bowing, she stood up and looked at the emperor calmly.
When the emperor heard her mention the queen, his smile faded and his eyes flickered slightly. He could hear her refusal, but he was not disappointed at all. Instead, the smile on his lips rose even more, and he took the initiative to change the subject.
"The painting I made for you still hasn't been painted with eyes. Changning, I've seen so many eyes, but yours are unparalleled in the world."
Zhao Changning thought that the empress was still grieving, but the emperor had obviously come out of the shadow. This was the first child he had lost. He would eventually become like the late emperor, a majestic emperor who would only sigh when hearing about the death of his child.
She pursed her lips and said, "Changning is so delicate and graceful, how can she be worthy of such praise from the Emperor? I think it is Consort Yu's doe-like eyes that are truly rare in the world."
The emperor laughed, "You actually like her and have praised her several times."
Zhao Changning breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the topic finally changed. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Yu Zhaoyi is still young after all. The child is with the Empress, so there's no need to worry. However, a mother's heart is natural. Why don't you invite her over? She can also help to relax."
The emperor nodded slightly and said, "You can arrange this."
During the break on the way, Zhao Changning took the opportunity to get off the carriage, asked someone to go back to the palace to report to the queen, and brought Yu Zhaoyi over.
By the way, let the two concubines go up and serve.
When they set out again, the emperor discovered that Zhao Changning had gone to the front of the team, riding alone and looking quite comfortable.
He looked at the two chattering women beside him and couldn't help frowning.
The emperor couldn't help but look forward. Zhao Changning's slender back always caught his attention easily.
The two of them have walked side by side all the way and have long gone beyond being friends. They are more like fellow travelers with the same aspirations.
From how she firmly and resolutely helped him seize the throne, to how she assisted him in breaking through the suppression of the cabinet, and even solved the problem of the empty treasury for him, to this point, he not only regarded her as a friend, but also no other woman in the harem was as unique as Changning.
Zhao Changning felt as if a thorn was on her back, but her expression remained calm.
When she arrived at the temporary palace, she saw the second princess and the fourth prince, the children left by Shang Meir, for the first time since returning to Yujing.
The two children looked normal, lively and cute. There was no sign that they had killed the third prince. They even ran around laughing and came to greet her.
"Auntie, can you play with us?"
Zhao Changning felt a bit resentful and patted their heads. "Auntie has something else to do. You two can go and have fun by yourselves."
The eldest princess came over at this time, her brows and eyes gloomy, and hugged Zhao Changning's arm, "Aunt, you can't play with them, I don't like them."
Zhao Changning pursed his lips and smiled, but did not answer her childish words. Instead, he reminded her in a deep voice.
"After such a long journey, the princess should pay her respects to the emperor. This is the proper etiquette for a daughter."
The eldest princess was very reluctant, but she knew in her heart that her aunt was right. Besides, she still had her mother to take care of. She could only bite her lip and said reluctantly: "Okay, then aunt, come with me."
Zhao Changning readily agreed.
The emperor was very happy to learn that his daughter had come. This was the first time his daughter had come to pay her respects to him since Zhang'er's death.
"Yao'er, come to your father."
Seeing that the eldest princess didn't move, Zhao Changning hurriedly gave her a secret push.
"A daughter pays respects to the emperor." No matter how stubborn the eldest princess was, she finally knelt down when she thought of her mother who was in a state of despair.
The emperor's eyes showed a loving look. He hugged his daughter and said softly, "You always said that your father wouldn't let you go out to play. Are you happy to leave the palace today?"
"Happy." The eldest princess nodded and hesitated, "Father, why didn't Mother come?"
The emperor patted his daughter's head and said, "The Queen Mother is not feeling well. When she is better, we can bring her here to play again, okay?"
Seeing that her father treated her as before, the eldest princess felt a little better. After all, they were related by blood and had been loved before. Now, the eldest princess could not bear her father's words of concern and threw herself into his arms crying.
"Father, I thought you didn't want Yao'er anymore. Mother likes my younger brother, and you all only want my younger brother. Yao'er is hiding in the room alone, why don't you go see her? I didn't mean to stay away from my younger brother, and I don't want anything to happen to him, wuwuwu..."
The emperor was panicked by his daughter's crying, and he hugged his daughter in a panic and tried to comfort her.
"Yao'er, you are Daddy's treasure, how could I not want you? Your brother's accident is not your fault. I know it's Daddy's fault. Daddy didn't go to see you. Daddy was wrong..."
Zhao Changning wanted the eldest princess to spend more time with the emperor, but when he saw this scene, he felt a little sad and left.
The eldest princess is still young, but the children in the palace don’t have such a carefree childhood.
She stopped two concubines who had packed up. These two people came in after she left the palace, so she was not very familiar with them.
"My dear ladies, please sit down for a moment. The Emperor and the Princess are talking inside and have been ordered not to be disturbed."
The two girls heard the princess crying inside, looked at each other, then looked at Zhao Changning, and smiled and said, "Thank you for the reminder, aunt."
Zhao Changning noticed the confusion and vigilance in the two men's eyes. Without explaining, he asked someone to come and serve them and then left.
Yunsheng happened to arrive and gestured towards the outside of the palace.
Zhao Changning and he had a tacit understanding for many years, so he naturally understood that it was Yu Zhaoyi who had arrived.
"Is your throat better?" After so long, his body has almost recovered, except for his frostbitten feet which have not yet fully healed. The only thing left is his throat, which has been recurring. Outsiders think he is mute.
"Still can't speak?"
Yunsheng shook his head slightly, smiled at his aunt, and waved his hand to indicate that he didn't mind.
Zhao Changning felt very sad when she saw how well-behaved, sensible and considerate he was. She was afraid of this. If Yunsheng was not so loyal, she would feel better.
She spoke again, "Yunsheng, let me take you away. Leave here and live a good life outside..."
Yunsheng shook his head like a rattle, pointed at himself, then pointed at Zhao Changning, then clasped his hands together with a determined look in his eyes.
Zhao Changning sighed, his lips parted, and after a long moment of hesitation, he said, "It might be very dangerous in the future, Yunsheng, are you afraid?"
Yunsheng shook his head faster.
Zhao Changning patted his head and chuckled, "Okay, I'm not afraid either."
"Aunt, Yunsheng is here too?" Yu Zhaoyi walked over, holding up her skirt. "Aunt, why did you call me over?"
Zhao Changning looked at Yu Zhaoyi's eyes, which were still as clear as yesterday, and his voice inevitably softened. "Zhaoyi has been in the palace for so long, it's rare for her to come out. You must have fun."
Upon hearing this, Yu Zhaoyi lowered her head in disappointment. "Thank you, Auntie. However, I just came out from the Queen's place. Ming'er is crawling very fast now..."
Zhao Changning could hear the sobs in her voice and quickly supported her, gently comforting her, "Zhaoyi, don't be sad. You are still young and can still have children. The Seventh Prince is just being raised in Kunning Palace. The Empress is virtuous and kind, so don't worry too much."
Yu Zhaoyi couldn't help but beg again, "Aunt, I know, I know everything, but the child is still too young, how can he be separated from his mother? Aunt, please have pity on me..."
"Zhaoyi, be careful with your words." Zhao Changning helped her walk to a secluded place. "This is the emperor's decision. Zhaoyi, if you really want the Seventh Prince to return to your side, then you shouldn't beg me."
Yu Zhaoyi blinked in confusion. After all, she had been in the palace for several years. She bit her lip and said, "Auntie, are you asking me to beg the Emperor? But now the Emperor doesn't favor me as much anymore."
"You can't beg, and you can't speak," Zhao Changning shook his head. "Zhaoyi, there are many things a woman doesn't need to ask for. Do you understand what I mean?"
Yu Zhaoyi nodded slowly.
The young man is teachable. Zhao Changning breathed a sigh of relief. "I will do my best to have you appear before the Emperor. Zhaoyi, whether the Seventh Prince can return or not is entirely up to you."
Yu Zhaoyi was very grateful, "Aunt, thank you very much, otherwise I really don't know what to do."
Zhao Changning watched Yu Zhaoyi go away, and saw Yunsheng standing aside with a thoughtful look, and couldn't help but smile.
"Why? Are you wondering why I would interfere in the affairs of the harem?"
Yunsheng nodded. In the past, his aunt would never interfere in the affairs of the concubines in the harem, except when the empress needed it.
Zhao Changning turned his head to look in the direction of the emperor's residence and narrowed his eyes. "That's why I said it was dangerous. The harem is also a different kind of officialdom. Yunsheng, I have something very important to do. It will be very dangerous."
Yunsheng said silently with his mouth: "I'm not afraid."
Zhao Changning smiled helplessly and said, "Do you know what the most useful thing I learned from the late emperor is?"
Yunsheng shook his head honestly.
"Yes, waiting." Zhao Changning raised his head and said, "Many things will be solved after waiting, and many people will be reunited through waiting. Yunsheng, I entered the palace at the age of eight. The thing I do most is patiently waiting. It is even more important than anything else."
Yunsheng didn't quite understand it, but he could remember it.
During dinner, the eldest princess sat at the emperor's right hand. Zhao Changning was very pleased. This child was very smart.
The eldest princess lived up to expectations and held the emperor tightly, not allowing him to speak to the second princess and the fourth prince.
The fourth prince was still young and immediately expressed his dissatisfaction, but the second princess covered his mouth with her hand.
The second princess pretended to wipe her brother's mouth, but her eyes were fixed in the direction of the eldest princess, sinister and disgusted, and flashed by. If you didn't pay attention, you couldn't tell that a child could have such a look.
Zhao Changning saw it all and felt horrified and unbelievable. What on earth did Shang Meir teach the child?
Only then did she truly believe that the third prince was killed by the two of them, or perhaps, by the second princess.
After dinner, Zhao Changning placed several important memorials sent from the palace on the imperial desk, just as the emperor came out of the wash.
The emperor dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs, and watching Zhao Changning busying himself under the lamp, he sighed, "Should I have not let Yao'er meet them this time?"
Zhao Changning paused, "Your Majesty, the eldest princess is a sensible child. She won't bear grudges."
The emperor shook his head. "The queen loved her son as if his life were hers. Now that Zhang'er is gone, her life is half gone. And she still neglects Yao'er. How can she be so weak and lead the six palaces?"
Zhao Changning quickly said, "The Queen is getting better, and the harem has the assistance of the female officials, so there's nothing to worry about."
The emperor sighed, "Changning, I don't trust anyone with this responsibility. The Queen also trusts you. Why don't you just focus on helping the Queen handle the affairs of the harem from now on?"
Even though Zhao Changning was mentally prepared, he still couldn't help but feel frightened.
She raised her eyes to look at the emperor. His long hair was loose, and the flickering candlelight blurred his outline, making him look as gentle as jade. He leaned against a soft pillow, a half-smile on his face, looking down at her condescendingly.
In fact, Zhao Changning was not unfamiliar with this look. The late emperor was always like this. When he wanted something but didn't want to say it clearly, he would seduce and guide her to follow the path he set.
She used to wonder, why would an emperor do this?
But when she came to power, she discovered the trick. Some things cannot be said out loud, and others have to guess. This is not only more fun, but more of a reflection of the contempt and control of the superior over the inferior.
It had been a long time since Zhao Changning had felt the trepidation of guessing the emperor's thoughts.
She knelt down without hesitation, "Changning will obey the emperor's orders."
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