Chapter 30 [30]
【30】/First release
In the afternoon, thick clouds gathered and the weather was oppressive and breathtaking, with the prospect of a rainstorm looming.
In the small garden behind the Cining Palace, the palace maids stood respectfully outside the Shangxin Pavilion. Inside the pavilion, Empress Dowager Gu and Prime Minister Gu sat opposite each other and drank tea.
The faint aroma of tea, its mist obscuring Empress Dowager Gu's features, made her face blurry. She took a sip and set down her cup. "I know everything my brother said. I'll let the Emperor know, and as for Concubine Zhao, I'll talk to her, too."
Prime Minister Gu nodded. "People have their own biases, which is understandable. However, Your Majesty is the Emperor. You must understand the principle of treating everyone equally... The misfortune of Concubine Zhen is a lesson for us."
"This child of Concubine Zhao is different from Concubine Zhen, and Ayin is also different from the late emperor."
Her delicately manicured nails scraped lightly against the cup's rim. Empress Dowager Gu chuckled, "The late emperor preferred beauties to the throne. As for A-Yin, he never dreamed of becoming emperor from the beginning. He was a child of pure character. I still remember the year I found him. He was dark and thin, like a bean sprout, but his eyes were startlingly bright. The first thing he said to me was where the tigers were. He even made me swear not to harm them."
Recalling her first meeting with Xiao Jingting, Empress Dowager Gu smiled fondly, but her smile faded slightly as she met Prime Minister Gu's serious face. "The higher your position, the less you smile."
Prime Minister Gu pursed his lips, still looking serious: "Queen Dowager, we are now discussing matters concerning the state."
Queen Mother Gu remained silent, took another sip of tea, and said, "Brother, I have already said that I will remind Your Majesty of the serious matters you want to discuss."
This statement has some meaning of anger.
Chief Minister Gu frowned: "Ah Hui."
"I raised my own child and know that Ah Yin is not the kind of fool who doesn't know his limits. As for Concubine Zhao, if she does anything to harm Your Majesty or the country, I will not tolerate her." Empress Dowager Gu said in a calm tone, raising her hand to touch her temples. "Brother, if you have nothing else to say, please return to the cabinet."
Looking at his sister who was getting older but more willful, Prime Minister Gu frowned. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Empress Dowager Gu stand up.
"I have to go burn incense to the Buddha. I won't see you off, brother. Please do as you please."
She walked away without looking back, the tassels of the phoenix hairpin on her temples swaying slightly.
Just like when she left home and entered the palace, her hair was as black as crow back then, but now it is mixed with a few strands of silver.
After a long time, Prime Minister Gu withdrew his gaze, sighed lightly, stood up and left with the palace maid.
But as soon as he left the Cining Palace, he saw Concubine Gu rushing over in a hurry.
"Yu'er, why are you here?"
"I heard that my father was coming to see my aunt, so I hurried here." Concubine Gu looked towards the Cining Palace, wondering, "Did my father finish his conversation with my aunt so quickly?"
A hint of discomfort flashed across Prime Minister Gu's face. He coughed lightly and said, "The cabinet is busy with government affairs and has no time to sit here. But what do you want to talk to me about?"
Noble Concubine Gu pursed her lips, thinking there was no need to be coy in front of her father. She sent the palace maids away and stated her purpose directly: "Father, His Majesty favors Lu and even made her a concubine. Now there is a lot of uproar. What do the ministers in the cabinet have to say?"
"According to our ancestors' rules, concubines are not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the cabinet." Chief Minister Gu said in a solemn voice.
Concubine Gu smiled awkwardly: "My daughter doesn't want to ask about state affairs, it's just..."
She curled her red lips in grievance, "Your Majesty dotes on Lu so much that even a concubine like me has to avoid her. Now she's with Your Majesty almost every night. What if... what if she gets pregnant? The mother will be honored by the child, what should I do?"
How could she accept the fact that the position of Empress she had longed for was going to be snatched away by a humble Yuezhou bumpkin?
"I know you're anxious, but this kind of thing can't be rushed."
After all, she was his own daughter, and with her impatience, Prime Minister Gu was afraid she would do something impulsive again. Gu Rongyu was currently serving in Jiangnan, with a bright future ahead of her. If his daughter's foolish behavior in the harem affected the Gu family's future, it would be a loss.
Now, Prime Minister Gu regretted not listening to the empress dowager's advice and insisting on sending his daughter into the palace.
Suppressing his regret, Prime Minister Gu stepped forward and whispered, "As far as I know, Your Majesty and that Lady Lu haven't slept together yet, so you don't have to worry about Lady Lu being pregnant."
Concubine Gu was surprised and wanted to ask, "How did my father know this?" But then she thought, "My father has been in the court for many years, so he must have more connections and information than she does." Or maybe her aunt told him.
"Your Majesty's aversion to socializing has persisted for years. It's not something that can be changed overnight." Chief Minister Gu said, "Just think of Concubine Zhao as a cure. Once she's completely cured of your Majesty's strange condition, your aunt and I will make plans for you."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Gu felt relieved and her brows relaxed: "With Daddy's words, I feel relieved."
The father and daughter exchanged a few more pleasantries and then parted ways.
Looking in the direction of the Yangxin Palace, Concubine Gu's eyes darkened.
Just listen to my father and treat Lu as a medicine to cure your majesty's illness...
As long as Your Majesty can sleep with a woman, there will be no need for that Lu family to exist.
***
Lu Zhiwan originally thought that Xiao Jingting asked her to attend the morning court on a whim, but she didn't expect that he would drag her to attend the court every day for the next three days.
On the fourth day, Lu Zhiwan couldn't hold on any longer. With a pair of dark circles under her eyes, she felt hopeless and said, "Your Majesty, can I not go tomorrow morning?"
Xiao Jingting's face remained calm: "I attend court every day, spring, summer, autumn and winter, rain or shine, and you've only been there for three days."
"But you are the emperor, and I am not! If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight. At worst, you can just stop being the emperor and go home to farm."
Lu Zhiwan was secretly complaining when he suddenly heard the man say, "When you advised me to be a wise ruler, you didn't act like this."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
She hadn't expected that being an emperor would be so hard. It was completely different from her previous understanding of the emperor.
Attending court three days in a row was like holding three consecutive morning meetings, each lasting the entire morning. Sometimes, a small matter would cause the court officials to argue and become complicated. She stood by and listened, feeling annoyed and sleepy. She wanted to tell them all to get out and come back to report after the argument was resolved.
"Your Majesty, do you have to attend court every day?"
"Going to court every day is too grueling. It's not like we have important matters to report every day. It would be fine if we could hold a morning court every three or five days for a unified discussion, and then have one-on-one meetings the rest of the time."
Xiao Jingting slowly opened a memorial: "This rule was set by the Emperor Taizu."
"Rules are dead, but people are alive. Unreasonable rules should be corrected."
"You want to change the rules of our ancestors? I'm afraid the court will explode."
Xiao Jingting spoke calmly, then suddenly raised his eyelids to look at her, his lips curled up slightly. "But if the court officials knew it was your idea, they would probably scold you even more. If that's the case, we can indeed consider changing the rules of the morning court."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
"Be a human being."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I shouldn't have discussed the rules of our ancestors. Your Majesty, please treat what I just said as nonsense and don't take it to heart."
"All right."
Xiao Jingting sighed in disappointment, "Originally, I wanted to use you as a pretext to change this rule, but now it seems... I can only continue to ask you to accompany me to court."
Lu Zhiwan almost vomited blood - "How can there be such a bastard man in the world?"
"Forget it. It seems there's no future for me working for a boss like this. I'd better make myself a nice coffin as soon as possible."
Seeing her lowering her head and thinking seriously about what pattern to carve on the coffin, Xiao Jingting's eyebrows moved slightly.
How real was that dream that she was so convinced of it?
The rebels entered the city, imprisoned and poisoned them, and burned them to death...
If her delicate skin were burned to charcoal...
Thinking of that scene, Xiao Jingting frowned. He couldn't bear to be burned to death. He also wanted to hug this soft body and have a good sleep at night.
***
The next morning, Lu Zhiwan slept until she woke up naturally. She found out that Xiao Jingting had not woken her up and had gone to court alone. She sat on the bed in a daze for a long time.
Did the black-hearted boss suddenly find his conscience?
Before she could figure it out, a palace maid came to the Cining Palace and said that Empress Dowager Gu had summoned her.
When Lu Zhiwan heard that the empress dowager had summoned her, she did not dare to delay and hurriedly asked Xia He to help her dress up. She changed into a dignified yet pretty palace dress and then took a sedan chair to the Cining Palace.
Empress Dowager Gu was as gentle and amiable as ever. She took Lu Zhiwan aside and exchanged some cordial greetings before subtly mentioning that concubines were not allowed to interfere in government affairs.
Lu Zhiwan understood the elegant meaning of the music and knew that the Empress Dowager must have known about the fact that he had accompanied her to court a few days ago.
She did not give a harsh warning or complain, but reminded him so gently that Lu Zhiwan felt even more respect and love for her.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will remember my duties as a concubine and serve Your Majesty well."
As for interfering in state affairs... she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't interfere at all. If Xiao Jingting showed signs of becoming a tyrant, she would always try to persuade him and pull him back.
Seeing that she was a sensible person, Empress Dowager Gu said no more.
He kept her for lunch and then asked her to go back.
As soon as Lu Zhiwan returned to Lifeng Palace, he noticed that the atmosphere in the palace was a little different and the palace servants were all nervous.
Just as she was wondering, a familiar face came into view: "Your Highness, Concubine Zhao, you are finally back. Your servant greets you. May your Highness live long and healthy."
This familiar face was none other than Chen Jinxi, the manager of Jinli Garden.
"Why is Manager Chen here?" Lu Zhiwan was also a little surprised.
Chen Jinxi smiled pleasantly: "Isn't this bringing you wealth?"
Lu Zhiwan was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, what kind of wealth can you, a eunuch who manages big cats, give me?
"Ah, your majesty, you are truly forgetful." Chen Jinxi bowed and made a gesture of invitation: "Just look inside and you will know."
Lu Zhiwan entered with doubt. When he saw the lively little leopard in the iron cage, he was shocked at first, and then he remembered -
Xiao Jingting had said before that he would give her a leopard, and now it has been given to her.
"Little Fugui'er is already fifty days old. He can now walk and live without his mother. I saw the time was right, so I brought him to you, Your Majesty." Chen Jinxi said with a smile, his face full of flattery. "When Your Majesty last named Fugui'er, she was still Jieyu. It hasn't been long since then, and you've become a first-rank Zhaofei. It seems the name Fugui'er is a very good one."
Everyone likes to hear compliments, and Lu Zhiwan is no exception. He smiled and exchanged a few words with Chen Jinxi, and then asked about some precautions when raising leopards.
Although Chen Jinxi brought a young eunuch who specialized in raising leopards, he personally answered Lu Zhiwan's questions in detail.
After chatting like this for almost an hour, Lu Zhiwan had some idea about raising leopards. Looking at the little leopard in the cage, which was slightly larger than an ordinary cat, he liked it more and more.
"I still remember how small it was when it was just born. Now it's already this big after just fifty days." Lu Zhiwan sighed softly, while Fuguier in the cage opened his big round eyes and stared at her vigilantly.
Although it is a domesticated leopard, there is still a bit of untamed wildness in its eyes, and this wildness, coupled with its beautiful, shiny fur, exudes a charm that ordinary cats do not have.
"These little carnivorous ancestors grow fast. Let's wait and see in a month. This little ancestor will be even bigger."
Chen Jinxi said, "Your Majesty, would you like to get close to Fugui'er? I will bring him out and let you pet him."
Lu Zhiwan's expression froze for a moment. He looked at the little leopard with a burning gaze, then at Chen Jinxi's expectant face, and smiled dryly: "Forget it."
It’s okay to pet cats and leopards... Even if it’s such a small leopard cub, she is still worried that her fingers will be bitten off.
"Let me get familiar with it for a few days before we talk." She said, fearing that Chen Jinxi would persuade her again, and quickly changed the subject: "Your Majesty likes cats and tigers so much, why don't you keep one by your side?"
Chen Jinxi replied respectfully, "I have asked Your Majesty before, and Your Majesty said that it is enough for him to be alone in the palace, so why should he bring them with him..."
This was roughly the meaning, but His Majesty said it with a bit of self-mockery, as if this magnificent Forbidden City was a cage that had already trapped him and should not trap anyone else.
"It seems that His Majesty really values these cats." Lu Zhiwan also understood something from Chen Jinxi's glint in his eyes: "Yes, even his nickname is A Yin."
Yin means tiger.
The nickname of that moody man is simply Little Tiger.
"That's right." Chen Jinxi said with a smile, "The cats in Jinli Garden are like your Majesty's family. Your Majesty cherishes them very much."
Lu Zhiwan didn't think much about it when he heard it. After all, he was a cat lover, and there were a lot of people nowadays who raised cats as their sons and daughters.
Chen Jinxi observed Lu Zhiwan's expression and flattered her with a smile, "Your Majesty is willing to entrust little Fugui'er to you, Empress Zhao, to raise him. This shows that His Majesty loves you very much... If Empress Zhao needs me in the future, please feel free to ask. I will be counting on you."
Lu Zhiwan was not very good at such social etiquette, so he laughed awkwardly twice.
Fortunately, after a while, a palace maid came forward to report that the residence built for Xiao Fugui had been prepared and asked her to take a look.
Lu Zhiwan and Chen Jinxi went to the backyard together, and the eunuch who raised the leopard released Xiao Fugui from the cage and sent him into the open space.
Although no longer confined by a cage, the little guy was still alert in a completely new and unfamiliar environment. His furry little body pressed against the railings, and his round little head looked around. It was only when the eunuch who was usually responsible for taking care of him coaxed him with milk and meat that he took a tentative step forward to eat.
Seeing that the leopard was willing to eat, Chen Jinxi's job was done. Seeing that it was getting late, he said goodbye to Lu Zhiwan.
Lu Zhiwan asked Xia He to send him off, and also prepared a heavy purse as a reward for the trip.
"My lady, this little leopard drinks milk just like a cat, so cute."
Aunt Qiu Rong stood beside Lu Zhiwan and looked at the leopards together. She smiled and said with emotion: "No wonder His Majesty likes to stay in Jinli Garden. When he is troubled, looking at these little guys can really calm his mind."
Lu Zhiwan was also somewhat fascinated by what he saw. Upon hearing Aunt Qiu Rong's sigh, he casually asked, "When he encounters troubles, he goes to Jinli Garden?"
"It was like this in the past. Now I have you, my queen, and it's been a long time since I went to Jinli Garden."
Seeing Lu Zhiwan's face showing signs of embarrassment, Aunt Qiu Rong said softly, "Your Majesty has never liked to be close to others since he was a child. He never reveals his joys, sorrows, anger, or happiness to anyone, preferring to share them with the cats."
Lu Zhiwan raised her eyebrows slightly, and couldn't help but imagine the scene of Xiao Jingting expressing his joys, sorrows, anger and happiness to the tiger and lion - well, it can be said to be a fairy tale princess.
"Aunt Qiurong, have you been with His Majesty for a long time?" she asked casually.
"I have been by your Majesty's side for fifteen years. Although not as long as Chief Steward Yu, it is still the second longest."
"So he loved cats as a child?" Lu Zhiwan was genuinely curious. His dark eyes fixed on Aunt Qiu Rong, "Is his personality also so... unique?"
Aunt Qiu Rong also understood Lu Zhiwan's meaning and sighed softly: "Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand His Majesty. Although His Majesty is indeed a little different from ordinary people, it can't be entirely blamed on him. His Majesty's life experience is pitiful..."
A pitiful life story? Lu Zhiwan's eyes flickered slightly.
It's indeed pitiful that he lost his mother at a young age, but being raised by a gentle stepmother like Queen Mother Gu, he shouldn't have developed such a strange personality now, right?
She was just about to ask what was so pitiful about Aunt Qiu Rong, when suddenly the palace servants' greetings came from behind her.
"Long live your majesty."
Lu Zhiwan was startled and slowly turned around, and saw a man in a dark green robe striding towards him in the gray evening sky.
The summer evening breeze blew his robe sleeves, and his indifferent face was expressionless as usual, only his pair of dark narrow eyes seemed to sense something and looked straight in her direction.
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