Chapter 324 The Most Beautiful Person in the World
Li Yuanzhao is thirty-five years old this year and has been on the throne for sixteen years.
Early that morning, a young attendant dressed in white was helping her with her washing and grooming.
He was eighteen years old and was a handsome man presented by the Andong Protectorate. He was originally from Goryeo and had beautiful features and skin like jade.
Having been in the palace for only two months, she was favored by Li Yuanzhao because of her gentle nature and good looks.
Li Yuanzhao sat in front of a bronze mirror, while the Vice Minister combed her long hair.
His wooden comb slid slowly down his dark hair, then suddenly paused.
"What's wrong?" Li Yuanzhao noticed his unusual behavior and looked up at him.
“Your Majesty…” His voice was hesitant, tinged with caution, “It seems… there is a single white hair.”
Li Yuanzhao followed his gaze.
Sure enough, a single white hair was found mixed in with that thick black hair, which was particularly glaring in the morning light.
Seeing her expression change, the vice minister quickly and gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, you are busy with countless affairs of state and work hard for the country. It is not surprising that you have a gray hair. You don't need to worry about it."
Li Yuanzhao seemed oblivious, and carefully examined herself through the bronze mirror.
The once sharp corners of my eyes have, without me noticing, begun to show some fine lines.
The skin also lost its former luster and smoothness.
Even his eyes have become more profound.
She glanced again at the bright and vibrant face of the person beside her.
At the age of eighteen, her eyes and brows radiated a vibrant life force, like tender branches just sprouting in spring, so dazzling that it made one feel dazed.
She then suddenly realized that even though she was the supreme ruler, possessing the entire world, she could not ultimately withstand the erosion of time.
She is getting old.
Seeing that her expression remained solemn, the attendant tentatively asked, "Then, shall I help you pull it out?"
Li Yuanzhao withdrew his gaze and nodded.
The official breathed a sigh of relief, carefully picked out the white hair, gently tugged it, and then held it in his palm, presenting it to her.
"Your Majesty, look, it's just one, it won't cause any trouble."
Li Yuanzhao picked it up and examined it closely.
The vice minister tried to lighten the mood, putting on a fawning smile. "You are the emperor, with the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, born with an air of nobility. Even with this white hair, you are still the most beautiful person in the world."
"The most beautiful person?" Li Yuanzhao asked instinctively.
The minister's smile froze for a moment, and he quickly said, "Your Majesty is of course the most beautiful. Who inside or outside the palace doesn't know that? I heard about it when I first entered the palace. Your Majesty's appearance is unparalleled, and your demeanor is extraordinary. After seeing you in person, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved. Your beauty surpasses that of any woman I have ever seen; no one can match you..."
These words were just casual flattery. He noticed that ordinary women loved to hear compliments on their appearance, so he figured that even though the woman in front of him was an emperor, she was still a woman, and naturally no exception.
Li Yuanzhao raised his eyes, his gaze falling directly on the man's face through the bronze mirror, and asked directly, "Tell me, how is he beautiful?"
The vice minister was stunned, his mind went blank.
He had already racked his brains for flattery, and now that His Majesty was pressing him for answers, he suddenly became flustered.
But the words were already out, so he could only grit his teeth and continue: "...Your Majesty's eyebrows are like distant mountains, your eyes like stars... your lips like cinnabar, your skin like cream... you are like, like a fairy from heaven."
His words became increasingly incoherent, "No, no, I'm afraid even the fairies in heaven couldn't compare..."
The more forced he sounded, the less he could even stand listening to himself.
His Majesty is a high and mighty emperor. When he is with her, he is more concerned about her dignity than her appearance. He is worried that his every move might make a mistake and upset her.
Therefore, at this moment, the words used to describe a woman's beauty seem particularly out of place when applied to her.
Only when he looked into His Majesty's increasingly cold eyes did he belatedly realize that he had said the wrong thing.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his undergarment. He knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I have spoken out of turn! I should not have spoken ill of Your Majesty's appearance. Please punish me!"
Looking at his fearful and trembling appearance, Li Yuanzhao's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery.
She had heard these kinds of words far too many times over the past sixteen years.
From the moment she ascended the throne, from the moment she first donned the dragon robe and sat on that throne.
"Your Majesty is so beautiful!"
"Your Majesty is absolutely magnificent!"
"Your Majesty's beauty is unparalleled!"
...
Court officials openly praised her, the common people gossiped about her on the streets, and even the palace servants, in order to win her favor, would often say such insincere flattering words.
Because she is a woman, everyone likes to praise and flatter her with her beauty.
It seems that her appearance is more praiseworthy than her talent or political achievements.
It seems that her appearance is more striking than the prosperity she created.
Even now, this young and handsome official still tries to please her in such a superficial way.
The vice minister kept kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, leaving red marks on his forehead.
Li Yuanzhao had already stood up and coldly ordered, "Drag him away and slap him twenty times."
The vice minister's face turned pale, but he dared not beg for mercy any longer. He could only prostrate himself on the ground and tremble as he said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your punishment."
The palace servants stepped forward and dragged him away.
A crisp slapping sound came from outside the hall, one after another, particularly clear in the morning silence.
At this moment, another eunuch stepped forward quietly and reported, "Your Majesty, it's getting late, and it's almost time for court."
Li Yuanzhao nodded, straightened his dragon robe, and went out.
As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, he saw Crown Prince Li Qianyuan standing under the corridor.
The small figure stood straight, with his hands neatly placed at his sides.
Recently, Li Yuanzhao brought the crown prince to his side to personally educate and raise him.
Every day before dawn, the Crown Prince would come here to wait for her to go to court together.
Upon seeing her, the Crown Prince immediately bowed and greeted His Majesty, saying, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Looking at the hesitant expression on the Crown Prince's face, Li Yuanzhao knew that the Crown Prince must have seen the scene of dragging away the Vice Minister.
She stepped forward, took the crown prince's hand, and said in a gentler tone, "Let's go."
The crown prince hurriedly followed her, seemingly wanting to say something to plead for the vice minister, but ultimately swallowed his words.
After walking halfway down the palace path in silence, Li Yuanzhao spoke first, "Did you hear everything?"
The crown prince hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Do you think I punished you too harshly?"
"Your subject wouldn't dare," the Crown Prince lowered his head, but couldn't help but whisper, "It's just... that Vice Minister doesn't seem to have done anything seriously wrong. He seems to just want to please you..."
Li Yuanzhao said calmly, "But I don't feel happy."
The crown prince was taken aback, raised his head, and asked in bewilderment, "Why is Mother Empress unhappy?"
She feels happy when others compliment her on her appearance.
She'll be happy if you compliment her on her pretty hairpins or her beautiful new clothes.
How could such pleasing words provoke the Empress Dowager's anger?
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