Chapter 364 Zhao Hede 25
After returning to the Xuanshi Hall to review memorials, Liu Ao felt a headache looking at the piles of documents. The densely packed text was mostly useless nonsense, which made him feel annoyed.
Coincidentally, Chunyu Chang walked in at this time. Liu Ao simply threw his sleeves, leaned on the table and said, "Zi Ru, I am too lazy to read these memorials. Come and read with me."
Chunyu Chang quickly agreed, and using his wide sleeves to secretly take out Xu E's fu poem, he began to recite it. He had only read a few lines when Liu Ao interrupted him: "I asked you to read a memorial, but why did you recite a fu poem instead? You are full of sad and resentful words, which make people feel upset."
"Your Majesty, this fu was given to you by Empress Xu at her earnest request."
"How dare you! Xu E is already the deposed queen, why are you still calling yourself the queen?"
Chunyu Chang quickly knelt down and explained, "Your Majesty, I saw her crying so hard and felt so sorry for her that I felt pity for her."
"Stupid! She practices witchcraft and sorcery. I didn't execute her because of the Empress Dowager. If she still can't behave herself, she's beyond redemption. You helping her is truly treasonous!"
The young Chunyu Chang had been doing very well recently because he had helped the emperor persuade the empress dowager to agree to make Zhao Zhaoyi the queen.
Liu Ao was also very close to him because of their kinship, so that this greedy and lustful young man gradually lost his caution. After he succeeded in getting a noble lady like Xu Ye, his self-confidence was unprecedentedly inflated.
However, today, Liu Ao's scolding brought him back to his original form. Chunyu Chang knelt on the ground trembling with fear, and was extremely terrified. He had realized that if he lost the emperor's favor this time, everything he had would immediately disappear.
After realizing this, Chunyu Chang immediately kowtowed and confessed his guilt: "Your Majesty, I have been reckless and have offended Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is truly angry, please kill me. I would rather die than let Your Majesty's body be damaged by anger."
"Alright, I know you're kind-hearted, but this is my family affair. Even though you and I are brothers, you should understand the difference between ruler and subject. Remember to be careful with your words and actions in the future, or don't blame me for being ruthless."
As expected, Liu Ao didn't punish him, but casually gave him a few words of admonition, and even took him along on the trip. However, during this trip, Chunyu Chang was much more cautious, not daring to interrupt casually, and each time he spoke, he considered the emperor's intentions.
The two of them enjoyed themselves along the way. Seeing that it was getting late, the emperor ordered his carriage to the Pepper Palace. One of his attendants said with some embarrassment, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager recently told you to take care of the Empress's pregnancy. The concubines Ban and the two Zhang beauties are waiting for you. What do you think?"
"This is my harem. No one else has any control over where I want to go. You'd better watch your mouth. If you say something wrong in front of the Queen and upset her, you might as well lose your head."
Liu Ao threw his sleeves and had no intention of meeting those women. Hede was already sensitive because of her pregnancy. If he left her at this time, how could she bear it?
The Queen Mother is too cold and heartless. Just because she and my father don't get along, she thinks all couples in the world should be cold and indifferent. She is really cruel.
Chunyu Chang was somewhat surprised. He had previously been busy leveraging his power to amass wealth. Although he knew Empress Zhao was favored, he had never truly felt it. But today, after witnessing the emperor's attitude, he finally realized how powerful she was. He wondered what kind of beauty could have won the heart of such a dignified emperor, willing to stay by his side even when his wife was pregnant.
When he got off the carriage at the Pepper Room Palace, his eyes widened even more. He had been to this place once or twice before, and he remembered the Pepper Room Palace back then as being grand and simple, at least he didn't like that style.
By the time Empress Xu came, I heard that she was a frugal person, and the Emperor had repeatedly cut the allowance for the Pepper Palace, so I'm afraid it won't be as luxurious as before.
But when I saw it today, I saw that all around me were exotic flowers and plants, which were still blooming even though it was late autumn, creating a beautiful scene.
Further inside, outside the Pepper Room, the soaring eaves, carved beams, and painted buildings gave it a magnificent appearance from afar. Walking up the white jade steps, carved with symbols of longevity and abundance, I felt an immediate warmth. The air was filled with a light fragrance, the result of the abundant use of precious lacquer.
The hall was brightly lit with candles, reflecting the colorful ornaments made of gold. The huge palace was as bright as day even in the dark of night.
Countless gauze was hung on the vermilion pillars to prevent the bright lights or sunlight from dazzling Her Majesty the Queen's eyes.
Chunyu Chang marveled at the emperor's great favor to the empress, but secretly complained: He wanted to make the hall as bright as day but was afraid of dazzling the empress's face. His cousin, the emperor, was quite troublesome.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you..."
Suddenly, a voice as melodious as the song of an oriole and as gentle as spring willows swaying in the wind rang in his ears. Chunyu Chang shuddered and subconsciously looked over. He saw the emperor take three or two steps forward and, without waiting for the man to salute, he helped him up. The two of them whispered something before Liu Ao turned around and introduced him with a smile:
"Zi Ru, you haven't met the Queen yet, have you?"
Chunyu Chang hurried forward to pay his respects, and then he heard the emperor say to the empress with a smile, "This is the Lord Chunyu I told you about before. If it weren't for his mediation, I'm afraid the empress dowager wouldn't have agreed to our marriage so quickly."
"Thank you, Master Chunyu."
He then dared to raise his head slightly while replying, still saying modestly: "Sharing the worries of Your Majesty is what I, your humble servant, should do..."
Just one glance was enough to make him lose his mind, forget his soul, and stand there in a daze.
Fortunately, the emperor and empress were only busy talking and went inside. Someone behind him pushed him so that he would not be discovered for his misbehavior in front of the palace.
Chunyu Chang turned around and realized it was the woman from the Fan Palace, with whom he had once interacted. The woman gave him an ambiguous smile, obviously knowing why he had lost his composure.
"Sir, His Majesty wants you to come in."
Palace maid Fan pointed ahead and smiled meaningfully, "You'd better watch your eyes. Our Highness hates others coveting her the most. If you anger her, even His Majesty won't be able to protect you."
"Thank you for the guidance, Palace Master Fan."
Chunyu Chang straightened his robe, but he felt a little unconvinced. After all, he was not only a court official but also related to the emperor. Even if the queen was so favored, she couldn't just kill him.
"Master Chunyu seems to be quite free, so he's even willing to help Xu?"
Chunyu Chang, his heart tightening, hurried forward in three or two steps and knelt before the Emperor and Empress with a plop. "It is all because of my youth and ignorance that I have made such a grave mistake. Please do not be angry with me, Your Highness. Otherwise, even if I die a thousand times, I will never be able to atone for my sins!"
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