Pei Minxue was puzzled, "What's the point of you coming to me if she won't drink?"
The servants knelt on the ground, saying, "We dare not disturb His Majesty over such a trivial matter."
"I'm also afraid that I haven't done a good job for His Majesty and will be punished by him."
"Alright, if she doesn't want to drink, then she doesn't have to." Pei Minxue was impatient with dealing with this kind of thing.
"Nourishing soup isn't medicine, so it's not a big deal if you don't drink it."
The kitchen servants breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and withdrew.
"What's wrong? Is Zhizhi feeling unwell?"
Pei Minxue shook his head, "Probably from all the commotion last night..."
Pei Minxue suddenly remembered that the person in front of him was Shang Huai.
Pei Minxue quickly changed his story, "Perhaps it's because you've seen Zhizhi living with us in the wind and rain these past few days, and you must be tired?"
Shang Huai wasn't stupid; he understood what Pei Minxue wanted to say from Pei Minxue's abruptly stopped words.
Shang Huai's face was somewhat unpleasant. He had to do it all over again, and Xiao Chengci had beaten him to it once more.
Pei Minxue touched his nose and abruptly changed the subject.
"General Shang, how are your grandparents?"
“Grandfather and father went fishing in the countryside a few days ago with friends, and they haven’t been home for the past few days.”
"Grandmother is in relatively good health, but she was a little frightened when she saw me come back suddenly."
When Shang Huai left the capital, the old man had already prepared himself for the possibility that he would not see his grandson before he died.
Unexpectedly, Shang Huai suddenly returned.
After her initial excitement, Grandmother Shang began to worry about Shang Huai's safety, fearing that something might happen to him again.
Knowing that Shang Huai had returned with His Majesty, Grandmother Shang was somewhat relieved.
Because of what happened a few years ago, Grandmother Shang was worried that Shang Huai would cause trouble again this time.
He's the only son in the family. I don't mind not seeing him on weekdays, as long as I know he's safe.
Shang Huai had breakfast with his grandmother in the morning, chatted with her for a while, and then came over after lunch.
"Then you won't be going to the other residence to keep the Empress Dowager company today?"
"She misses you terribly; when she sees you, she doesn't even see His Majesty."
When Pei Minxue said this, he was actually expressing some indignation on behalf of Xiao Chengci.
Pei Minxue dared not criticize the Empress Dowager, feeling that she had failed as a mother.
"The Empress Dowager has issued an edict, telling me to rest at home and go to the royal villa tomorrow."
Shang Huai hesitated for a moment: "Why is the Empress Dowager's relationship with His Majesty so strained?"
Shang Huai couldn't understand why a mother and son would act like strangers.
Although they weren't exactly enemies, it was still quite strange.
"It's a long story."
"Your Majesty was raised by the late Emperor and had a particularly good relationship with him."
"At that time, you requested to leave the capital. In order to avoid making things difficult for your father and grandparents, you made a vow that you would never return to the capital without an imperial decree."
"From that time on, the Empress Dowager harbored some resentment towards the late Emperor."
"The Empress Dowager has argued with the late Emperor quite a bit because of you."
"Even when the late emperor was seriously ill, the Empress Dowager pleaded for you in front of the late emperor."
The late emperor and the empress dowager were on completely different sides.
Their child, Xiao Chengci, suffered greatly.
Xiao Chengci watched as the late emperor fell seriously ill, yet he was still scolded by the Empress Dowager for being ungrateful.
The Empress Dowager believed that the late Emperor was able to ascend the throne in the first place.
Merchants have put in a lot of effort in the process.
If it weren't for the merchants' full support of the late emperor, he wouldn't have been able to win the struggle for the throne.
Now, his achievements overshadow his superiors, yet he has forgotten the support the businesses once provided him.
The late emperor wanted to clear away all troubles for Xiao Chengci before he ascended the throne.
"Later, it was all about matters of the imperial court."
"The mother and son had different opinions, which led to them becoming increasingly estranged."
Shang Huai nodded thoughtfully, "I haven't seen the Empress Dowager for several years, so she was quite excited to see me."
Pei Minxue understood that Shang Huai was explaining things to him.
At this point, it's not fair to blame Shang Huai.
Pei Minxue waved his hand, "Forget it, let His Majesty and the Empress Dowager handle their own affairs."
"As for your matter with Zhizhi."
Pei Minxue stated his position first, "Whether it's you or His Majesty, I won't object as long as Zhizhi is willing."
"Although Your Majesty is temporarily staying in my residence, I will instruct someone to prepare a courtyard for you."
"If you'd like, you can stay for a few days."
Pei Minxue did his best to show that he had no intention of favoring anyone.
"Anyway, let the Marquis and His Majesty rely on their own abilities; I won't interfere."
Pei Minxue said with a wry smile, "Even if I intervene, it won't make any difference, right?"
Pei Minxue still has that much self-awareness.
Does he think that if he lets Pei Zhi be with His Majesty, Pei Zhi will obediently agree to marry His Majesty?
Shang Huai understood Pei Minxue's meaning and readily agreed, "Speaking of which, I haven't seen Brother Minxue's child either. I'd like to see what he looks like."
Ever since Shang Huai came in, he has been chatting with Pei Minxue about all sorts of things.
After Pei Minxue expressed his opinion, Shang Huai revealed his purpose directly.
Pei Minxue didn't refuse: "Let's go."
Meanwhile, in the main courtyard, Pei Zhi was chatting with her sister-in-law.
Seeing Pei Zhi supporting her back, Madam Pei asked with concern whether she should call a doctor to come and take a look at Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi could only say that she had injured her back from traveling these past few days.
Madam Pei asked in surprise, "You and Minxue are truly siblings; you both twisted your backs on the way back!"
Pei Zhi was surprised that Pei Minxue would also use this excuse.
Did Pei Minxue twist her back?
Pei Minxue is clearly getting old.
"Sister-in-law, why don't you ask the kitchen to make some nourishing soup for my brother later?"
"Brother, your body is too frail."
Madam Pei blushed and nodded as she recalled what had happened the previous night.
Madam Pei pondered this, and some gossip began to form in her mind.
Madam Pei dismissed everyone, leaving only Pei Zhi, her, and a baby in the room.
"Little sister, you and His Majesty, last night?"
Madam Pei dared not ask too many questions. If Pei Zhi was unwilling to answer, Madam Pei would definitely stop there.
"Yes, we slept in the same room yesterday."
Pei Zhi added, "On a bed."
Upon hearing this, Madam Pei felt an overwhelming light shining through her eyes.
"So you're planning to be with His Majesty?"
Pei Zhi shook her head sincerely: "No."
Madam Pei, being a woman from ancient times, didn't quite understand what her sister-in-law meant: "Huh?"
You're already living with His Majesty, so why don't you want to stay with His Majesty?
"I slept with him because he could take good care of me."
“If a few more years pass, he and…” Pei Zhi wanted to say that if a few more years passed, Xiao Chengci would be as useless as Pei Minxue.
She would likely replace Xiao Chengci without hesitation.
But when she caught her sister-in-law's gaze, Pei Zhi couldn't bring herself to say it and could only vaguely say that they would talk about it in a few days.
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