Chapter 100 - if: Tyrant x Imperial Concubine
Hua Deng stayed in the palace for a few days before quickly relaxing.
Because Shen Zhou is really busy.
What he did most often was to have lunch with her at noon, and then occupy her favorite soft couch, leaving her with no choice but to stare at him helplessly.
Apart from that, there's nothing to complain about regarding the streetlights.
He allowed her to sleep in late, not to get up early, and to call him by his name, but not to call him "Your Majesty".
The only inconvenience was probably the inability to freely enter and leave the palace.
Soon after, General Yin Zejing, who was away on campaign, sent news that the battle had been a great victory, with the Li Kingdom ceding fifteen cities and returning the territory to the Great Wei. The court and the public were in an uproar.
A grand banquet was held in the palace to welcome General Yin back.
On the day of the banquet, there was singing and dancing, and melodious music, but Yin Zejing himself was not present.
Hua Deng sat next to the emperor, but His Majesty still had little appetite, spending his time drinking and serving her food.
Midway through the event, a fifth-rank official suddenly appeared and, under the influence of alcohol, impeached Yin Zejing for deceiving the emperor and committing treason. He claimed that Yin dared to feign illness and not attend the welcoming banquet personally organized by His Majesty, showing utter disrespect for the emperor.
His Majesty agreed, then dragged the man away and gave him fifty lashes. After a few moments of silence, everyone resumed their chatting and toasting, as if nothing had happened.
Hua Deng quietly asked, "Where is Yin Zejing? Is he really sick?"
Shen Zhou: "I took Shen Xi out to play."
"So you've been so busy lately?"
"Um."
Without Prince Chen to share the burden of government affairs, it's no wonder that Shen Zhou was always reviewing memorials by lamplight.
Hua Deng ladled a bowl of soup for His Majesty, gesturing for him to eat more to nourish his body.
Shen Zhou smiled, but didn't take it, just looked at her.
Hua Deng: ...I understand.
She held the bowl to His Majesty's lips and fed him with a spoon. His Majesty indeed enjoyed it and drank two mouthfuls from her hand.
At this moment, the ministers at the table lowered their voices as if by unspoken agreement. Although they appeared to be the same as before, their minds were actually focused on His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine.
This imperial concubine is indeed quite shrewd. When His Majesty insisted on summoning her to the palace, everyone thought it was because His Majesty harbored resentment towards her former status as the Crown Princess and wanted to humiliate her by his side.
But later, they heard that His Majesty doted on her immensely, not only allowing her to move into the Jiaofang Palace, but also sending her all sorts of treasures in a continuous stream. Even the late Emperor's treatment of Consort Chen was never this absurd.
I never expected that you, with your thick eyebrows, big eyes, and honest appearance, would be so good at raising your daughter!
The Minister of Personnel himself: I don't know either. I cried so hard when my daughter passed away.
He was equally puzzled, and secretly glanced at the seat at the head of the table, where what he saw made his jaw drop.
The emperor, who was cold and aloof to everyone and whose presence made all the civil and military officials tremble, was actually peeling crabs for his daughter!
The Minister of Personnel rubbed his eyes hard, wondering if he was hallucinating from drinking too much. When he lowered his eyes, he saw his daughter pointing at His Majesty, as if she was criticizing His Majesty for not peeling the crabs well.
"..."
He must have been really drunk.
Hua Deng had no idea what the others were thinking, nor did he have time to care.
Seeing her father's dizzy and disoriented state, she assumed he had drunk too much, feeling both amused and slightly heartbroken. According to palace rules, she couldn't return often, and she didn't know when they would meet again.
Hua Deng thought this way, and when he returned to Jiaofang Palace, he found an extra token on the table.
Without a doubt, it could only have one owner, Hua Deng cast an inquiring glance at His Majesty.
His Majesty said calmly, "With this, you can freely enter and leave the palace, as long as you don't use the imperial concubine's entourage."
Hua Deng: “!”
Even though she was tempted, she still said, "This isn't a good idea."
Shen Zhou: "Who dares to say you're bad?"
Hua Deng thought about it and realized it made sense; since His Majesty the Emperor had spoken, who would dare to say anything more?
She immediately put away the token, her eyes sparkling, and asked, "Then can I leave the palace tomorrow?"
Shen Zhou smiled and said, "Anytime is fine."
The joy in their eyes was even stronger under the bright lights.
Shen Zhou lowered his eyes and said casually, "Letting you enter the palace is already a disservice to you. I can satisfy any other desires you have."
As long as you don't let him let go.
Hua Deng, oblivious to the deep look in his eyes, shook her head and said, "That's enough, that's all."
She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, genuinely happy, not only for being able to go home, but also for Shen Zhou's attitude.
Few people know that four years ago, before Shen Zhou became a hostage, they had a huge fight. Hua Deng doesn't quite remember the reason, but at that time her father was choosing a suitable husband for her, and she was too busy to see him.
Perhaps because of this, he was somewhat dissatisfied, and when they met again by chance, they argued. Otherwise, Shen Zhou probably wouldn't have left without saying goodbye; he would have at least informed her.
But the fact that he's willing to give her this token now proves that they're still friends.
Shen Zhou must be very lonely in the palace, and as a friend, she was willing to keep him company. If she stayed at home, her parents would be busy arranging her marriage, so she preferred to stay in the palace.
Just then, Shen Zhou said slowly, "It's good that you don't blame me for letting you enter the palace."
Hua Deng said, "No, I understand your decision."
Perhaps it was the lighting, but Chen Zhou's expression softened: "Is that so? I'm glad you understand."
After a while, palace maids brought lanterns to bathe and change clothes.
When the lanterns returned, Chen Zhou leaned against the bedside and flipped through an ancient book.
His black hair was loose and slightly damp. His nightgown was thin and soft, and his chest was open, revealing the well-defined lines of his muscles.
They say that seeing a beauty under lamplight is like viewing flowers through mist, and it's certainly true; she was almost mesmerized by the dazzling lights. Fortunately, she remembered her status in time. As a concubine, she needed to show her gentle and considerate side at this moment.
She walked over and gently pulled up Chen Zhou's clothes: "Be careful not to catch a cold."
"..."
His Majesty smiled at her, presumably pleased with her thoughtfulness.
Hua Deng lay down on the bed and saw him put down his book and slowly ask, "Does the Imperial Concubine truly understand why I allowed you to stay in the palace?"
Hua Deng nodded: "Of course, you don't need to worry, I quite like it here."
Shen Zhou didn't speak again. After a while, he covered her with the blanket and said, "Go to sleep."
*
Late at night, an uninvited guest arrived at the General's Mansion.
Yin Zejing was dreaming of becoming the wife of the Prince of Chen when his martial arts instincts suddenly made him open his eyes, and he drew a large sword from the bedside and slashed at it.
His strike missed its mark; his wrist was gripped and he couldn't budge it an inch.
He knew without even thinking who in the world had that ability.
Yin Zejing looked at the expressionless person beside the bed: "..."
Yin Zejing: "Damn it! Are you haunting me in the middle of the night?! Just because you're the emperor doesn't mean you can do whatever you want!"
Ignoring his fury, Shen Zhou yanked him off the bed and threw him to the ground, demanding, "Didn't you say she liked my face the most?"
What does this even mean?!
Yin Zejing grinned as he got up from the ground: "It wasn't me who said it, it was her. Once when we were chatting, I asked her what she thought of you, and she said you were no good in any way except for your face."
Seeing that Shen Zhou's face was getting worse, he chuckled and smoothed his hair, saying, "You should be content. Compared to a handsome and dashing man like me, she thinks you're already doing alright."
Shen Zhou sneered, kicked him to the ground, and left the way he came.
Yin Zejing sat on the ground, watching helplessly as he climbed out the window, and sighed to the heavens.
Throughout history, it's unlikely that another emperor would ever break into a minister's home through a window.
*
Hua Deng was completely unaware of everything that had happened at the Yin residence.
The next morning, she got up early, which was unusual for her, and rushed home with Crescent Moon and Full Moon.
Her father had just returned from court and nearly fainted upon seeing her. He quickly grabbed her and asked, "Why are you here? Leaving the palace without permission is a serious crime!"
Hua Deng calmly took out the token: "His Majesty has given permission, Father, you don't need to worry."
Her father: "Huh? Is this even allowed?"
So those people who flattered him, saying things like his daughter was favored by the emperor and the Hua family was blessed with great fortune, weren't lying to him!
Hua Deng Mei Mei had a meal at home and was pondering when to return to the palace when Shen Zhou sent someone to deliver a message. He said that he was busy with political affairs today and could not accompany her. If she wanted to stay at the Hua family, she could stay for a few more days, and he would come to the Hua residence to see her tomorrow.
After hearing the eunuch's words, her parents' eyes were filled with indescribable emotions; they looked at her as if she were Su Daji.
Hua Deng quietly sipped his tea.
In the afternoon, an unexpected guest arrived in Washington, D.C.
Prince Chen Xi visited the Hua residence, making a special trip to see her.
The two chatted casually for a few minutes. A few years ago, Shen Zhou went to Li Kingdom, and Shen Xi was also having a hard time. Hua Deng had fewer and fewer opportunities to meet her. Now they could finally sit down and have a relaxed chat.
Soon, Shen Xi got to the point, holding her teacup and calmly saying, "My brother left without saying goodbye when he went on a mission to the Kingdom of Li. He has always remembered this."
Hua Deng paused for a moment, then said, "I've stopped caring about it."
Shen Xi said, "But there's something you probably don't know yet."
She raised her eyes and gazed at the bright lights: "The conditions that the Li Kingdom put forward were actually two: either send a princess to marry into the royal family, or send a prince as a hostage. My father chose the former."
The streetlights shone brightly, and people stared at her in surprise.
Shen Xi continued, "Father wanted me to marry into the Li Kingdom, and I agreed. It was my elder brother who knelt in front of the palace for a whole day, asking to be a hostage to go to the Li Kingdom. Father was furious and confined him for seven days. Seeing that he was determined to do so, he ordered his men to tie him up, put him in a carriage, and send him directly to the Li Kingdom."
Her elder brother, the emperor, had never been favored by their father, partly due to his eccentric nature and partly due to his unruly and untamed nature. Only on that day did he kneel before the palace, hoping to secure his sister's safety.
"When he left you without saying goodbye, it wasn't because he didn't care about you, but because he had no other choice."
*
Hua Deng stayed at the Hua family's house for a day and returned to the palace the next day.
When she saw Shen Zhou that evening, she was still somewhat dazed.
Seeing her sitting on the bed with a blank expression, Chen Zhou bent down, smiled, and said, "What's wrong? If you miss home, you can go back tomorrow."
Hua Deng suddenly raised her hand and gently stroked the scar on the side of his neck, asking softly, "Does it hurt a lot?"
Shen Zhou said, "It doesn't hurt."
Hua Deng asked, "When was this left behind?"
"On the way back, I was wounded by the pursuers from the Kingdom of Li."
After saying this casually, Shen Zhou sat down next to her and said, "It's already fully healed. Besides, the injury wasn't deep at the time; it just looked ugly."
Hua Deng sniffed, cupped his face in her hands, and said solemnly, "Although I don't know what you're thinking, I want to say that even though you've been gone for four years, you're still me..."
Chen Zhou held his breath and listened quietly.
She continued, "She's my best friend."
After saying these words, she felt much better, but Shen Zhou's expression suddenly became indescribable, neither happy nor unhappy.
He repeated subtly, "Best friend?"
"Uh-huh."
Shen Zhou smiled at her.
He pinched her chin, slowly lowered his lips, and after a brief kiss, pecked at the corner of her mouth, asking in a hoarse voice, "Say it again, what do you take me for?"
Hua Deng: "...!"
[Author's Note]
That thing is man's best friend.
There's one more chapter coming up, updated at midnight. Those who go to bed early don't need to wait!
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