Chapter 322 Prince Su may really just be filial...
After the court session.
The emperor rubbed his throbbing forehead; his head hurt again.
He dismissed most of the attendants, leaving only the old eunuch who was close to him.
"Go, pass on the pearl."
The emperor's voice was tired as he leaned back on the couch covered with bright yellow cushions and closed his eyes.
The old eunuch bowed in response and quietly retreated.
Soon, a very elegant fragrance of herbs mixed with floral dew approached along with the sound of soft footsteps.
Mingzhu was wearing a simple and elegant light green palace dress, with a slim figure and gentle eyes.
She walked to the bed and bowed down.
"Your servant pays homage to His Majesty."
The emperor did not open his eyes, but just let out a tired "hmm" from his nose.
"Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Mingzhu stood up, walked behind the emperor, and gently placed her bare hands on his temples.
The force is neither too light nor too heavy, pressing accurately on the tense acupoints.
The emperor's furrowed brows unconsciously relaxed a little under her pressure.
"Your Majesty seems particularly tired today." Mingzhu's voice was still gentle.
The emperor did not answer immediately, enjoying the rare relaxation.
After a while, he slowly spoke, his voice a little hoarse.
"Things at court are bothering me."
He didn't elaborate, but the dissatisfaction and helplessness in his tone were clearly audible.
Mingzhu's fingers paused for a moment, then resumed their previous rhythm.
"I don't understand the affairs of the court."
Her eyelids were drooped, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes.
"But a few days ago, I heard from the eunuchs who were doing the shopping for the palace that the rain outside the capital was not good. In some places, the wheat has not even sprouted yet. The people are very worried."
"I also heard that... some officials in charge of agricultural affairs... didn't report this incident promptly and are still trying to cover it up."
The emperor's breathing hitched slightly.
Among the memorials he had reviewed recently, he didn't seem to have seen any particularly urgent ones.
Are the people below only reporting good news and not bad news, or... is someone deliberately suppressing it?
His headache seemed to be coming back.
Mingzhu seemed to have noticed his subtle change and used a gentler force in her hands.
"I am talking too much."
She stopped talking at the right time, her tone holding a hint of panic.
"I am just a palace maid. What I heard are just rumors from the market. Don't take them seriously."
"The Emperor is so busy with affairs of state that he must have known everything by now. I am just worrying about nothing."
These words seemed to be both an attempt to distance oneself from the issue and a step forward in order to retreat.
The emperor did not rebuke her.
On the contrary, he felt that Mingzhu's "rumors" from the grassroots sometimes reflected the real situation better than those reports.
At least, it sounded like her starting point was for him and for the people.
Unlike those old foxes in the court, who always talk about loyalty to the emperor, but in fact every word they say is full of calculations.
"You are a kind-hearted girl."
The emperor's voice softened a little.
He opened his eyes and tilted his head to look at the gentle and beautiful face behind him.
Under the candlelight, her skin was as smooth as jade, her eyes were clear, and she had a pure look that seemed to be ignorant of the world.
This kind of purity is extremely rare in the deep palace.
"I just feel that it is too hard for His Majesty to be distracted by these trivial matters while working on state affairs."
Mingzhu lowered her head slightly to avoid the emperor's scrutinizing gaze.
"The people all hope for good weather, peace and prosperity. If local officials fail to sympathize with the people and only care about their own official hats, then it will be the people who suffer, and ultimately... it will be you, the emperor, who will be exhausted."
Her words were like the gentle spring rain, not harsh or accusatory, but they made the emperor very happy.
The emperor was silent for a moment.
Yes, those officials say they are there to share the emperor’s worries, but how many of them have truly sympathized with the suffering of the people?
How many people really take his hard work to heart?
Gu Junze made great contributions on the border, but the conditions he reached with Duan Qingye in private were like a thorn in his heart.
He is so powerful that he overshadows his master, and he acts on his own. I cannot touch him because of my promise to my sister...
"Your Majesty, I have overstepped my bounds."
The emperor waved his hand.
"No problem."
He closed his eyes again.
"What you said does make some sense."
At least, it sounds better than those empty praises.
"Your craftsmanship is getting better and better."
The emperor changed the subject with a barely perceptible hint of approval in his tone.
"It is because the Emperor is in good health that I dare to show you my humble skills."
The corners of the emperor's mouth curved up almost imperceptibly.
This girl is not only skillful with her hands, but also with her mouth.
After a long time, the emperor seemed to have completely relaxed.
He suddenly spoke.
"Mingzhu, can you read?"
Mingzhu's movements paused slightly, then returned to normal.
"Your Majesty, when I was young, I studied with my father for a few years and have a basic understanding of writing."
The emperor opened his eyes, a glint of interest in them.
"Oh? That's good."
Not many palace maids were literate, especially those like Mingzhu, who did not seem to come from a particularly wealthy family.
He looked at the memorials piled on the low table next to him. He had just brought them back and planned to read them in the evening.
At this moment, I just felt my eyelids were heavy and I didn't even have the strength to open them.
"I'm a little tired."
The emperor pointed to the memorials.
"You...read it for me."
This request made Mingzhu's heart skip a beat.
Read memorials for the emperor?
This is a great blessing, but also... a great risk.
The contents of the memorials were all about national affairs, some were even secrets.
Letting a palace maid read it shows that the emperor's trust in her had reached a considerable level at this moment.
But at the same time, too much talk will lead to mistakes. If you read something wrong... the consequences will be unimaginable.
"Yes, I obey your command."
She responded meekly. If she could gain the emperor's trust, her master's plan would move forward.
The emperor closed his eyes and listened quietly.
Mingzhu was reading a memorial about the tribute from Jiangnan weaving factories. The content was complicated and involved the names and quantities of various cloths and silk threads.
She read it meticulously without any mistakes or omissions.
After finishing reading a book, she stopped, looked at the emperor, and waited for his instructions.
The emperor seemed a little drowsy and only responded vaguely.
"continue."
Mingzhu then picked up the second book.
"...The soldiers patrolling the streets seem to be slacking off, and the people are unable to sleep at night and are quite complaining..."
After she finished reading, she gently closed the memorial without saying anything more.
The emperor slowly opened his eyes.
He looked at Mingzhu with deep eyes.
"How do you think this matter should be handled?"
He was actually... asking a palace maid about her opinion on government affairs.
Mingzhu's heart trembled, but her face showed just the right amount of panic and confusion.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I don't understand these things."
She lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly.
"I only know that I should do my job within my position."
"Those soldiers receive salaries from the court and are supposed to protect the peace of the region. If they slack off, they are derelict in their duty."
"As for how to deal with it, the laws of the country are in place, and I dare not speak rashly."
The emperor looked at her with lowered brows and submissive expression, and the scrutiny in his eyes gradually faded.
Maybe I was just overthinking it.
She was just a simple-minded palace maid.
Prince Su might really just be filial...
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