Chapter 904 Does the Emperor Know Qin Yunyan?
She didn't hesitate and placed her hand in his palm. His fingers were long and slender with distinct knuckles, making them very beautiful. The warmth of his palm made her feel warm inside.
She smiled slightly, "Where would my husband like to take Ruan Ruan for a stroll?"
He said, "You'll see when you get there."
Xie Shang took her hand and walked towards the Hundred Flowers Bridge. He stared at the arched bridge, mesmerized. He had once been captivated by the radiant Jiang Fenghua on the Hundred Flowers Bridge.
Jiang Fenghua called out to him softly, "Your Majesty."
Xie Shang said, "Ruan Ruan has forgotten again. We are on an incognito visit now. Call me husband, but don't reveal your identity."
Jiang Fenghua watched as Lin Feng and Ao Xue, along with a large number of guards, followed them. Apart from not wearing dragon or phoenix robes, they were surrounded by attendants with every step they took. It was not difficult for everyone to guess their identities, but no one stepped forward because Lin Feng had given permission.
She also got playful and played along, affectionately linking her arm with his and almost hanging on him. "Is this the place my husband brought Ruan Ruan to?"
"Ruan Ruan doesn't remember. When I was working in the Jingzhao Prefecture, I encountered a major murder case that aroused public outrage. Ruan Ruan was the first to stand up and support me..." Xie Shang recounted the past in a long and detailed manner.
Jiang Fenghua certainly remembered that the murderer was the lecherous Yang Jing, the first gift she gave to Xie Shang. She pretended not to know, "It's a pity Ruan Ruan forgot. Husband, could you tell Ruan Ruan more about our past? Happy or sad, it's all fine. Ruan Ruan likes to hear it."
Xie Shang added, "Yes, there are many memories of us together. I remember every single one of them. All the things I've experienced with Ruan Ruan have been happy; there have been no sad ones."
“Then my husband will tell Ruan Ruan happy things.”
Xie Shang took her onto a pleasure boat. There weren't many pleasure boats on Baihua Lake at that time. Xie Shang slowly told her about their past, hoping that their experiences in this life could heal the pain she had suffered in her previous life.
Jiang Fenghua poured tea and listened quietly as he recounted their past. Although much of it was fabricated by her, they were still very sweet together.
If he weren't the emperor and she weren't the empress, and they weren't bound by their social statuses, she would love him, wouldn't she?
Just then, another flower boat appeared on the lake, and the sounds of playing instruments and singing could be heard from the boat. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a veiled woman in a white dress sitting in the middle of the boat. The woman's face was covered by a thin veil, and her lips were bright red. She was stunningly beautiful and alluring.
Jiang Fenghua stared intently and immediately recognized the person opposite her as Qin Yunyan. She was really bold, daring to openly seduce Xie Shang, and even doing so right under her nose.
Xie Shang also looked at the woman opposite him; those eyes seemed familiar...
Xie Shang suddenly instructed Lin Feng, "Take two jars of good wine from the boat and give them to the girl across the way."
Lin Feng stared blankly at Empress Jiang for a moment. Jiang Fenghua nodded, "The Emperor asked you to send it, so just send it. He played so hard, even harder than the girls on the pleasure boat. Sending two jars of wine is a reward."
Regardless of Xie Shang's thoughts, in this life she would absolutely not allow Qin Yunyan to enter the palace as a concubine. The other concubines in the palace were Xie Shang's means to stabilize the court and balance the political situation; he could find all sorts of reasons and excuses.
But Qin Yunyan has now sided with the Bai clan and shamelessly started singing for money. Does she really think she can attract Xie Shang with her looks?
What was Xie Shang thinking when he gave her the wine?
Just as Jiang Fenghua was trying to find a way to stop Xie Shang, he suddenly said, "Is Ruan Ruan worried that I will be bewitched by her?"
"No way?" Jiang Fenghua blurted out.
Suddenly, Xie Shang took Jiang Fenghua's hand and held it in his palm. "I won't. Is there any woman in this world who can compare to Ruan Ruan? The only woman I love is Ruan Ruan."
Jiang Fenghua was confused by his sudden confession. "Why did Your Majesty send her wine? And how will she reciprocate if Your Majesty sends her wine again? Has Your Majesty thought about that?"
Xie Shang gently lifted her nose, a hint of doting in his eyes. "Silly girl, the Bai family has come to us for help; I can't possibly refuse."
Jiang Fenghua said, "The Bai family's money is unlikely to be given to the Emperor. Bai He and Xiao Shang are in cahoots, and Xiao Shang probably wanted Bai He's family fortune a long time ago."
"So I'm going to take it by force." A fierce glint flashed in Xie Shang's eyes. "The Bai clan made money on the land of Da Zhou, and Xiao Shang wants to take it for free. Just like the Di Sha Sect, they are currently under the command of the Bei Xiao Kingdom. In the future, they may actually help the Bei Xiao Kingdom to deal with Da Zhou, just like Ruan Ruan dreamed. Knowing the outcome, if I can sit and wait for my death, then I don't need to be the emperor."
Jiang Fenghua suddenly became interested: "What does Your Majesty intend to do?"
"Destroy the Northern Owl Kingdom and let the Northern Owl King see with his own eyes how the country he wants to conquer is becoming stronger and stronger." Xie Shang's eyes gleamed.
Jiang Fenghua knew he could do it. In the previous life, if Xie Shang hadn't died, he would have fought desperately to protect the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he wouldn't have allowed the Northern King to be so arrogant, nor would he have allowed him to turn the Great Zhou into a bloody scene.
"Does Your Majesty wish to use Bai Zhiyan?" Jiang Fenghua asked magnanimously. "Your Majesty, I can help you summon her to the palace."
Xie Shang, recalling the collusion between the Bai family and Xiao Shang, said directly, "To be precise, her real name should be Qin Yunyan, the daughter of the corrupt official Qin Tai. She was given slave status long ago and will never be allowed to leave the slave camp for the rest of her life."
Jiang Fenghua did not refute, "Does His Majesty know Qin Yunyan?"
"Ruan Ruan knows too?" Xie Shang just wanted to have a tacit understanding with her and speak frankly. Jiang Fenghua must be quite tired of lying and evading him every time she speaks!
Jiang Fenghua knew she couldn't hide it anymore, so she said, "If the Qin family hadn't been investigated, she would have already entered the palace as a concubine. The Qin family's money came from exploiting and corrupting the people. His Majesty punished the Qin family for the sake of the people, and His Majesty was right." The Qin family was the late emperor's henchman. Xie Shang was practically pushed around by the authorities, and he had no choice but to deal with the Qin family, which is why he blocked Qin Yunyan's path to the palace.
“Ruan Ruan…” Xie Shang held her hand.
Jiang Fenghua grasped it back, "Your Majesty is my wife and Your Majesty's Empress. I am willing to stand with Your Majesty through thick and thin, to protect the people of Great Zhou and let them live in peace and prosperity. I believe Your Majesty will not allow tragedy to happen."
Xie Shang embraced her. He was so fortunate to have married her in two lifetimes!
Just then, Lin Feng's voice rang out from outside the cabin, "Your Majesty, the Bai family wishes to board the ship to express their gratitude. Who are they...?"
Jiang Fenghua said directly, "Please come in!"
"yes."
Soon, Qin Yunyan entered, carrying a pipa in her arms. She was dressed in fine silk and satin, her hair adorned with hairpins, and her pretty face was painted even more exquisitely, making her look like a bewitching fox spirit.
No wonder Baihua Lake is so lively today.
She curtsied slightly, saying, "This commoner, Bai Zhiyan, greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "I never expected that Miss Bai and I would be so destined to meet here."
Qin Yunyan looked up at Xie Shang and said, "My father bought a boat and brought our whole family to enjoy the lake. I didn't expect the Emperor to send wine over. My father asked me to come and express my gratitude."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
