Qingying rarely cooks two dishes herself, while Yuyue provides guidance from the side.
Although it didn't taste as good as Yu Yue's, it was still passable.
"It's just a simple stir-fried green beans with pork, but it's already quite good that Your Majesty has made it this well on your first attempt. The Emperor would be very happy if he knew," Yu Yue said.
Tongxia, standing beside her, carefully wiped Qingying's hands with a damp cloth. There were red marks on her fingers from the oil splatter, accompanied by a burning pain, which made her frown.
"I want more than just his happiness; this injury can't have been for nothing." Her gaze fell on the ribbon on her wrist, and she pursed her lips. "And this wound, it's time to get it back."
Pan has committed so many heinous acts and yet has lived peacefully for so many years. Now she is enjoying immense power and prestige. It is time to bring her down from her high seat.
...
As evening fell and the autumn air grew slightly cool, Yu Ze followed behind Wei Huaixu as he emerged from the Yuqing Hall, draping a cloak over his shoulders.
"Your Majesty, it's getting cold. Please take good care of your health."
"Hmm." He looked up at the gray sky. "It looks like it's going to rain."
"Yes. Does His Majesty intend to go directly to Baoyi Palace?"
He pursed his lips and said, "Let's go to the East Palace first."
Yu lowered his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "Yes."
He then gave the order to prepare the carriage for the Eastern Palace.
As soon as the imperial carriage left the palace, a light drizzle began to fall. Wei Huaixu rested one hand on his forehead and stretched the other hand out of the rain curtain, letting the raindrops fall into his palm and drip down between his fingers.
He remembered that person, whose face was almost identical to his own, even the beauty mark at the corner of his eye was exactly the same.
"Ah Xu, Ah Xu... From now on, I will see more of this world for you." He murmured to himself.
Upon arriving at the East Palace, he had the others wait outside and went in alone.
He held up his umbrella and walked step by step up the stone steps leading to the main hall, stopping at the last step.
His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he held his breath, listening to the faint sounds coming from inside, so quiet they were almost drowned out by the sound of the rain.
After adjusting himself, he strode forward and kicked open the door.
The person in the hall was clearly startled. The slender figure kneeling on the prayer mat shrank back and turned around, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.
"What are you doing here?" Wei Huaixu asked, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Your Majesty..." she hesitated, then shifted her gaze to the side, revealing the memorial tablet she had been blocking.
It was a blank memorial tablet, without a single word on it, but in front of it were an incense burner and a fruit plate, with candles lit on both sides, and three sticks of incense sticks sticking out of the incense burner were emitting wisps of smoke.
He pursed his lips and didn't press the matter further.
He stepped into the hall, walked to the table with burning incense, took three sticks of incense, lit them, knelt on the ground, raised the incense above his head and bowed three times, then put them into the incense burner.
"Do you still remember his birthday?" Wei Huaixu asked without looking up.
"No, what I remember is your birthday."
He turned his head to look at the woman beside him. He hadn't seen her since that incident three months ago, and now that he saw her again, she seemed to have changed a lot.
"You look thinner and more haggard."
Liu Shushu lowered her eyelashes and said softly, "Your Majesty, I know I have made a mistake. I have been staying at home these days, hoping to wash away some of my sins."
"It's good that you think that way." He lowered his gaze, his tone indifferent: "I don't like being constantly pressured, do you understand?"
Liu Shushu's breath hitched for a moment. Was he blaming her for constantly using the debt of saving his life to pressure her? Sure enough, her brother was right. No matter who succeeds in reaching the top, they won't remember the steps they took. Instead, they'll complain that there were too many steps, making the journey too difficult.
But why doesn't he consider that without those steps, how could he have reached his current position?
What an ungrateful wretch!
Her hands, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, clenched into fists, but she still smiled and softly replied, "Your Majesty, I understand."
Wei Huaixu sat on a futon, one leg bent, one hand resting on his knee, his body leaning against the incense table in a languid posture, staring at her without blinking.
After looking at her for a long time, he suddenly reached out his hand.
Liu Shushu subconsciously shrank her neck.
"Why are you hiding? I'm not going to kill you." He chuckled, his long fingers gently brushing across her cheek, and slowly tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Your Majesty... I'm just not used to it."
Her eyebrows drooped, and her lowered eyelashes cast an arc-shaped shadow under her eyes, making her look rather pitiful.
Liu Shushu used to be a woman who roamed the martial arts world. He still remembered when they first met, her eyes were filled with a wary cold light, and her fierce aura made her look like a hedgehog covered in thorns. Now, in just a short time, she has become as docile as a rabbit.
That's really strange.
Wei Huaixu pinched her chin, his fingertips tightening slightly, forcing her to raise her head.
He carefully examined her eyes, only to see them gradually well up with tears.
He couldn't help but soften his heart and let go of her hand.
"I heard from Yu Ze that you were preparing for my birthday early this morning?"
She nodded. "Although I know you will definitely go to Baoyi Palace, I still want to make some preparations, as a way of praying for your well-being."
"Do you really think so?"
“I am the Empress and His Majesty’s wife, so naturally I should do my part for my husband’s birthday.”
"Just because of that?"
"Not entirely..."
"oh?"
"Your Majesty..." She looked at the man before her, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, and slowly said, "Can't you see my feelings for you at all?"
Wei Huaixu was stunned for a moment, trying to find some pretense on her face, but he couldn't find it at all.
He blinked, concealing the emotion in his eyes, and said softly, "It's still early, let's go to your place first."
Liu Shushu was taken aback for a moment, but her joy quickly replaced it, and she replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, I await your arrival."
She was so happy just because of one of his words?
This left Wei Huaixu feeling somewhat lost and disoriented.
He had not been on the throne for long. Although he was surrounded by people every day, he knew very well that those ministers only fawned over him and obeyed his every word because he was Wei Huaixu, the emperor, and because he possessed supreme power that could easily end their lives or even the survival of their families.
However, Liu Shushu knew his true identity.
He had promised her the position of empress, and now he had fulfilled that promise. So he had begun paving the way for her to reach the gates of hell, but at this very moment...
Could it be that she really has feelings for him?
Wei Huaixu felt a strange emotion rising within him.
He suddenly stopped being in a hurry to get rid of her.
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