Chapter 41: Night Talk between the Emperor and Empress

The Fengluan Hall is filled with the fragrance of bamboo, which has a refreshing smell.

Sometimes when the Empress Yuan couldn't calm down and felt restless, she would place some bergamots indoors, the fruity fragrance would fill the air and help relieve her restlessness.

But when she really wants to think about something, she will still burn bamboo incense to make her think more clearly and not be rash and give others a handle on her.

On the desks of the Four Gentlemen of Winter were the letters sent by Youfeng Laishun, which contained Yuanzhi's inner thoughts that the Empress had never seen before.

Yuan Zhi did not know whether he could shoulder the responsibilities of a prince, and he did not even believe in his own abilities. His usual image of a humble prince was just a disguise to protect himself.

He also had his own little thoughts. He was even more respectful to the Empress Yuan on weekdays. He did not dare to mention his own thoughts and could only hide them in his heart.

This kind of frustration can be understood very well by Empress Yuan, as the second legitimate daughter, with an older sister above her and a younger sister below her, who could never enjoy the first attention of her parents.

After reading these letters, Empress Yuan often breathed a sigh of relief. Since she had no children, she always wanted to be a good mother and treated Yuan Zhi and Yuan Yao as her own children. However, there was still a problem that caused a gap between mother and children.

If he had not communicated with Yun Zhuan, perhaps Empress Yuan would never have known.

Shuang Ci saw that Empress Yuan looked haggard, so she came over with clean hands and said, "Your Majesty, let me give you a massage."

The Empress shook her head and asked: "Have you checked on the people on duty at Yuhu Lake today? Have you asked a coroner to come and perform an autopsy? How many days has he been dead?"

Cui Xu quickly handed over a handwritten letter: "After the Majesty gave the order, I went to investigate. The deceased was Ayuan, a maid in Huaqing Palace. She was not usually there to serve Concubine Su."

"It was only after some time that Cui Zhuo, the personal maidservant of Concubine Su, discovered that someone was missing from her palace, and she quickly reported it to the Palace Affairs Office."

Empress Yuan considered in her heart that since the dead person was from Concubine Su's palace, it was understandable that she didn't know about it. After all, she was just doing odd jobs and rarely saw Concubine Su on a daily basis.

Besides, Concubine Su was the daughter of Grand Tutor Su, had a noble status, and was skilled in martial arts. She was not the kind of person who would do such things behind people's backs. She had seen Concubine Su come to Fengluan Palace to pay her respects.

She is aloof and arrogant. If she wants to kill someone, there must be a reason.

"When did he die?" The Empress sat up, holding a pen in her hand, and casually drew a relationship diagram of the characters.

Shuangci and Cuishi looked at each other and said, "The person disappeared three days ago. If he hasn't been found, he must be dead. The coroner said it looked like he was pushed into the water and drowned."

As she spoke, Trish presented the autopsy.

The Empress took it up and took a closer look. She found that the deceased, Ayuan, had a large amount of fluid on his chest and abdomen, and dark marks on his wrists and neck.

It's already spring, and the south wind has recently arrived. It's inevitable that there's humidity in the palace, and it's getting warmer outside day by day, so it's inevitable that the corpse will have some foul smell.

It was a relief for the coroner, who had to work hard to distinguish the ligature marks on the wrists and neck of the corpse.

"Then go and investigate in Concubine Su's palace to find out whether this Ayuan has ever had a dispute with anyone, or whether she has any grudges against anyone, and whoever is left in the family, so we can appease them all and give them compensation." The Empress said calmly.

Regardless of why this palace maid died, her family was always innocent, and the palace custom was to give her ten taels of silver as a consolation.

This kind of work is usually done by Shuang Ci, who just goes to work after receiving the order.

As the master and servant were talking, Empress Yuan gave her a deep look. Yuan Zhi had always been raised by her and she treated him as her own son, so what if she gave him a helping hand?

Even her maternal family, the Meng family, didn't care about it at all.

"The Emperor has arrived—"

The young eunuch spoke in a low voice, and the Empress was startled. His Majesty would always ask someone to inform him in advance before coming, so why did he come today without any prior warning?

The Empress Yuan hurriedly tidied her appearance and went to receive the carriage with Cui Xu.

When Emperor Yuan came in, he looked very tired: "Wanwan, there is no need for false courtesy between you and me."

She has been his queen for more than twenty years. In his heart, why should the two of them, a family, be so distant from each other?

The Empress said modestly: "Yes."

The etiquette remains the same.

However, after hearing this, the Empress seemed very happy, and her eyes became much more lively.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Yuan ordered Shang Defang to bring up the things he had prepared.

He searched the entire warehouse before picking out a jade bracelet that was extremely green.

Empress Yuan was a little surprised, and she just watched her hand being lifted up by Emperor Yuan.

He, the husband who did not love her, put the bracelet on her with his own hands.

"What good day is today? Your Majesty actually thought of pleasing me?" Empress Yuan immediately wondered in her heart whether the Meng family had done something today to make the emperor very happy.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became thick.

"Let's not discuss anything else today, let's just talk about our child." Emperor Yuan took Empress Yuan's hand, and they sat down together.

Queen Yuan gave Cui Xu a look, and Cui Xu immediately took a soft pillow and placed it on her waist.

One year after their wedding, the two emperors and empresses went to the royal hunting ground. At that time, Empress Yuan was taught horse riding by Emperor Yuan.

The Empress was already four months pregnant, and even though she was pregnant, it was not appropriate for her to ride a horse.

At some point a brown bear ran into the hunting grounds, right where the emperor was hunting.

After Meng Wan married Emperor Yuan, she devoted herself to her husband. She rode in despite the obstacles and saved Emperor Yuan, who was about to be killed by the bear, with her amazing explosive power.

However, the price Meng Wan paid was huge.

Not only did she lose her child, she also had difficulty conceiving and injured her back.

Therefore, Emperor Yuan will always owe Empress Yuan.

As expected, Emperor Yuan immediately showed sorrow on his face: "I should have a legitimate son in my life! If he can be born safely, a legitimate princess would be good too!"

"Your Majesty, you know that I have never blamed you." Empress Yuan was very gentle and placed a cup of tea in front of Emperor Yuan. "I already have two children and I am very content."

"But they are not your biological children, Wanwan." Emperor Yuan said with deep sorrow, "You are so virtuous, I..."

Empress Yuan stopped Emperor Yuan from saying anything, and said like a real wife and mother of two children: "Your Majesty, Zhi'er has been too eager for success recently and has become anxious. I am very worried. How about Your Majesty sending him away?"

Yuan Zhi and Yuan Yao have always been Meng Wandu's favorites. No matter how busy his wife has been with various affairs in the palace these days, she still remembers to ask about her children's homework.

Emperor Yuan was surprised by Empress Yuan's words: "The conditions for being sent out are difficult. If I go to Jiangnan..."

The gentleness of Jiangnan Township may be able to relieve Zhier's worries and difficulties.

Empress Yuan interrupted Emperor Yuan softly, "Your Majesty, Yuan Zhi has grown up and needs experience. I think we should send him to Mobei to boost the morale of the army..."

“Just right.”

Today is the seventh day of mourning for China Eastern Airlines.

(End of this chapter)