Chapter 41 The Emperor is Jealous
Cheng Shuyi comforted her, "Your Majesty, if the Third Prince were still alive, he would definitely not want you to live in pain every day."
Cheng Shuyi and the Queen had known each other for many years, but this was the first time she knew the reason for the Third Prince's early death. This was also the first time the Queen took the initiative to mention the Third Prince.
Since the emperor chose to conceal the reason for the third prince's untimely death, it means that the reason is bound to cause controversy.
However, neither Wen Wanyu nor Cheng Shuyi could have expected that the reason behind this would be so "heartbreaking".
It's like exchanging one life for another.
No matter what the emperor's secrets were, he ultimately chose to protect Concubine Zhengui.
This is also what makes the Queen and Cheng Shuyi feel disappointed.
Wen Wanyu had a thousand words in her heart, but in the end, she could only hammer out this one sentence, "My Queen, we must always look forward, right? We all need to become better, right?"
The queen looked at the pot of flowers in the hall. It was gorgeous, but showed signs of withering.
She understood all these principles, but it still made her feel uncomfortable just thinking about them.
The queen stood up and walked to the window, looking out silently.
After a long while, she said:
"The world is cruel and people are cruel. The rain brings the evening and the flowers fall easily."
Cheng Shuyi and Wen Wanyu looked at each other.
They didn't understand the meaning of the queen's sudden words.
Then the Queen continued, "Humanity is cold and indifferent. It's difficult to paint a tiger's skin, but it's difficult to paint its bones. You two should be careful, Imperial Concubine."
The queen turned around and faced them, a complicated look on her face.
Even Cheng Shuyi, who had spent the longest time with the queen, couldn't figure out what the queen was thinking.
There was a moment of silence.
Wen Wanyu lowered her head, and a slight ripple appeared in her calm eyes.
Her intuition told her that the queen was not a simple person.
And Cheng Shuyi was obviously very open with the queen.
Before she could think any further, Li Dexian's voice was heard outside the hall.
The emperor is here.
The sadness she had just felt disappeared completely. Instead, she was filled with joy. With a smile on her face, the queen said, "The Emperor is here."
All of this fell into Wen Wanyu's eyes.
Xie Junyao entered the hall and was visibly taken aback when he saw Wen Wanyu and Cheng Shuyi. He then asked, "Why are you here?"
The Queen replied, "I was feeling bored being alone, so I asked Cheng Zhaorong and Wen Deyi to come to Fengyi Palace to talk to me."
Xie Junyao joked, "It's my bad luck to have arrived. I'm sorry to have disturbed your fun."
Xie Junyao rarely joked with the Queen, so the Queen was somewhat at a loss when faced with Xie Junyao's jokes.
Cheng Shuyi smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, how could your words disturb our interest? Since your arrival, the flowers in Fengyi Palace have become much more beautiful."
When faced with Xie Junyao's jokes, Cheng Shuyi seemed to be at ease.
Xie Junyao's voice was laced with laughter: "I finally know who Wen Deyi learned his smooth talk from."
Wen Wanyu looked up and met those smiling eyes. Even from a distance, he could still see the amusement in them.
Wen Wanyu said mischievously, "Your Majesty only saw part of it. Sister Cheng is known as the 'little talent with witty remarks.'"
Xie Junyao let out a low laugh from deep in his throat.
Staring at her face, he asked leisurely, "Who gave you the title?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Shuyi pouted in dissatisfaction: "Wanwan, how dare you say that? This weird nickname came from her mouth first."
Wen Wanyu didn't feel guilty at all and pretended not to hear.
Xie Junyao curled his lips and chuckled, and his eyes softened when he looked at her.
"I knew it."
The three of them talked so happily.
The Queen lowered her head in frustration. She couldn't imitate Cheng Shuyi and Wen Wanyu's flirting. Nor could she hold a conversation with the Emperor.
Xie Junyao looked at the queen.
"I have something important to discuss with the Queen this time."
Cheng Shuyi immediately took Wen Wanyu's hand and said, "Then Wen Deyi and I will take our leave first."
Wen Wanyu habitually held her fingers tightly and leaned towards Cheng Shuyi.
She especially likes to be close to Cheng Shuyi.
Xie Junyao's gaze moved down to their clasped hands.
He didn't even notice that the smile on his face disappeared instantly.
"Go down." He said it almost through gritted teeth.
Wen Wanyu and Cheng Shuyi, however, didn't notice the change in his expression. After leaving the house, the two of them continued to chat and laugh, their hands tightly clasped together.
Only when he could no longer see them did Xie Junyao angrily look away.
He turned his head to look at the queen.
The Queen was staring at him.
The moment their eyes met, the queen looked away at an extremely fast speed.
Xie Junyao coughed lightly and said, "I came here to discuss the arrangements for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet with the Queen."
The Queen sighed and said, "I have the will but not the ability. I will leave the arrangements for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet to Concubine Hui and Concubine De."
Xie Junyao pondered.
After a moment, "Okay."
Somewhat affected by what had just happened, the Queen was obviously overwhelmed. She was distracted several times when Xie Junyao was talking to her.
Xie Junyao sighed, "Queen, have a good rest. By the way, here's the list of concubines to be appointed during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Take a look."
The queen took it with both hands and looked at it slowly.
Xie Junyao was a little absent-minded. He glanced at her and said, "Queen, please take your time. I have something to do..."
Before the words "Farewell, Your Majesty" could be uttered, the Emperor was no longer in the hall.
The queen smiled bitterly and shook her head.
I feel that I shouldn't be distracted by these trivial matters.
She lowered her head and continued looking at the list.
To her surprise, Lin Fenyi's name was not there.
…………
Xie Junyao walked towards Chang Lixuan, but stopped halfway.
Every time he went to Changlixuan to find her.
It showed how much he liked going to Changlixuan. After being in the palace for so long, this was the only time she took the initiative.
Xie Junyao's brows were furrowed, his expression changing several times. He said to Li Dexian behind him, "Go, tell Wen Deyi to come to Chengqian Palace to help grind ink."
"Yes, I'll go right away."
As expected, there was no one in Changlixuan, and Li Dexian just went to Cheng Zhaorong's Yihua Palace to try his luck.
Li Dexian wiped his sweat and said, "My dear Wen, you made it difficult for me to find you. The emperor has summoned you to the Chengqian Palace to accompany him."
Cheng Shuyi's face suddenly drooped.
Wen Wanyu also felt a little disappointed and responded indifferently.
Cheng Shuyi was almost writing the word "unhappy" on his face.
Wen Wanyu teased her: "Do you feel that the emperor has ignored you?"
Cheng Shuyi became even angrier, "Do you think I did this for him?"
She didn't care about a man who was nothing but a rotten cucumber. She was unhappy because every time she finally had a chance to be alone with Wanwan, this man would come and interfere and steal her love away!
Wen Wanyu leaned on her shoulder: "Okay, okay, don't be unhappy."
"You're going to grind ink, and you seem quite happy about it."
Wen Wanyu nodded deliberately: "Yes."
Cheng Shuyi: “…”
"I lied to you."
————
The world is cruel and people are cruel. The rain brings dusk and the flowers fall easily. — Tang Wan, "The Phoenix Hairpin"
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