Chapter 64 Brother Emperor, don’t you care about my marriage?
As soon as Yun Zhao finished speaking, a deep and familiar voice came from the hall, carrying the slight hoarseness of someone just waking up and unquestionable majesty: "Come in."
Yun Zhao's heart skipped a beat.
[Awake? A cup of tea earlier than expected!] Her expression remained calm as she quickly instructed the eunuch, "Hurry and go to the Imperial Food Bureau to invite the Eighth Princess. Tell her that His Majesty has woken up."
"Yes!" The eunuch was as if he had been pardoned and immediately trotted over.
Yun Zhao then took a deep breath and stepped into the hall. The heavy door closed silently behind him, blocking out the morning light.
She immediately said to the eunuchs waiting outside the hall, "Call the chef and serve refreshing tea immediately."
"As you command, Master Shangshi."
The hall was unusually quiet. The palace maids who were supposed to sleep with the emperor were nowhere to be seen, and even Zhang Fuan was not by their side. Only Xiao Guizi stood in the corner with his head lowered, not daring to make a sound.
Yun Zhao followed the subtle sound and walked towards the inner hall, but stopped at the door. She said respectfully through the beaded curtain: "Your Majesty, are you awake? The wake-up tea is on the way." [But please don't lie down again...] She thought to herself that if the emperor woke up a moment earlier, his subordinates would be busy for a while.
"Come in." The voice came again, a little deeper, with an irresistible command.
Yun Zhao lifted the curtain and entered. The inner hall was dimly lit. Xiao Jin had already changed into his casual clothes, the inky dragon pattern accentuating the coldness of his profile. Xiao Guizi, receiving a look from the emperor, immediately bowed and retreated, leaving only the two of them in the hall.
"Are you looking for me?" Xiao Jin turned around and his eyes fell on Yun Zhao as if they were real.
"It's not me who's here to see Your Majesty." Yun Zhao bowed his head, his posture respectful, his voice steady. "It's Her Royal Highness the Eighth Princess who wishes to see Your Majesty. She sent me to inquire whether Your Majesty has risen." [Luckily, he woke up early, otherwise I would have been left with that half-cooked porridge again.]
Xiao Jin didn't comment, but walked to the red sandalwood crown stand and stood still, saying calmly: "Come here and put the crown on me."
"Yes." Yun Zhao stepped forward. Xiao Jin was already sitting in front of the mirror.
She reached out and took off the pure gold imperial crown. It felt so heavy in her hand that it made her heart suffocate. She paused for a moment and whispered tentatively, "Your Majesty, if there is no court meeting this afternoon... could this crown be...reduced a little?"
"What's the matter?" Xiao Jin looked at her through the bronze mirror, his eyes deep. "Do you think it's troublesome?"
[Trouble? I'm afraid this heavy burden will break your neck! Why bother yourself with a leisurely half-day?]
Yun Zhao grumbled inwardly, but she dared not neglect her hands. "I dare not. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty." Holding her breath, she carefully lifted the crown and placed it firmly on Xiao Jin's head. Then she took the jade hairpin, a symbol of supreme power, and carefully threaded it through her bun, securing it. The clash of gold and jade produced a subtle, cool, and crisp sound.
The air in the hall seemed to freeze. Just when Yun Zhao thought this brief service was about to end, Xiao Jin's deep voice rang out again, like a stone dropped into a calm lake:
"Yun Zhao," he said, not turning around, his gaze still fixed on his own image in the bronze mirror. His tone was so flat that no emotion could be heard. "To this day, are you still thinking about leaving the palace?"
This question came unexpectedly, like an invisible hook, instantly grabbing Yun Zhao's mind!
Her breath caught, and her fingers tightened slightly around the hairpin. [Why did he suddenly ask this? A test? Or...] Countless thoughts raced through her mind, the answer nearly escaping her lips, but she suppressed it firmly.
At this critical moment, when the air was tense to the extreme—
The eunuch's announcement could be clearly heard from the outer hall, breaking the suffocating silence of the inner hall:
"Your Majesty, the Eighth Princess requests an audience!"
Xiao Jin's eyes in the mirror seemed to fluctuate slightly. He paused, then spoke slowly, his voice regaining the aloofness of an emperor:
"Xuan."
When Xiao Yao stepped into the hall, Xiao Jin was already sitting in the main seat in the outer hall, emitting a cold aura that no one could approach.
The brother and sister made eye contact briefly, and Xiao Yao quickly put on a cute smile and knelt down to salute: "I hope your Majesty is well! It's been a few days since we last met. I... really miss you." Her tone was sweet, but it couldn't hide a hint of deliberateness.
Xiao Jin didn't even raise his eyelids. He just picked up the refreshing tea that had just been served and took a sip. He suppressed his impatience at being disturbed and said in a voice that didn't express any emotion: "What's going on?"
Xiao Yao's eyes flickered as she casually glanced at Yun Zhao, who was standing beside her. "Huh? Yun Shangshi...didn't you explain your sister's intentions to the Emperor?"
That look held a subtle hint of malice and an attempt to shift the blame. [As expected! Shifting the blame elsewhere, using me as a shield?] Yun Zhao's heart shuddered, and his fingertips curled slightly.
Before Yun Zhao could speak, Xiao Jin had already put down his teacup with a crisp clatter, and his gaze shot towards Xiao Yao like a cold lightning: "Of course she told you. I'm asking you—Xiao Yao, what exactly do you want to do?"
He pointed it out directly, his tone showing the impatience of someone who knew everything.
The forced smile on Xiao Yao's face froze. Seeing that she couldn't refuse, she said angrily, "Brother Emperor... I just want to go to Duke Yun's Mansion to take a look! Didn't Young General Yun return triumphantly from the northern border?... Besides, when the late emperor was alive, he also had an interest in..." She didn't finish her words, leaving room for ambiguity, but her eyes were filled with the arrogance of being determined to win.
Xiao Jin's gaze, like an icy probe, passed imperceptibly over Yun Zhao, who stood solemnly with her eyes lowered. His tone was almost indifferent, "If you want to go, go ahead. You have legs, so who can stop you, Eighth Princess?" He then changed the subject, with a warning, "Yun Shangshi just returned home yesterday to visit her family. She's busy with palace affairs and doesn't have time to play around with you."
Xiao Yao was like a popped balloon, all the radiance on her face was gone, and she drooped her lips in grievance: "But my royal brother! I..."
"If there's nothing else," Xiao Jin interrupted bluntly, his voice suddenly turning cold, carrying the emperor's unquestionable pressure, "Withdraw immediately! I still have a mountain of political affairs to deal with." He picked up a memorial casually, his attitude showing that he was unwilling to talk anymore.
Xiao Yao was choked by this blunt exhortation, her face turning pale. She was young and full of energy, and, relying on the Empress Dowager's favor, she steeled herself and asked directly, "Royal brother! Don't you care about my lifelong affairs at all?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the hall froze instantly!
Yun Zhao felt his heart suddenly tighten!
[It's over! How dare she say that! Brother... Brother is such a good person, he must not be dragged into this mess! God, please open your eyes and don't let this disaster affect the Yun family!]
Xiao Yao is the Queen Mother's prized possession, and even more so, a pawn she uses to gain control of military power! If she marries into the Yun family, it would be like inviting a wolf into the house! My father and brother's predicament...
A huge fear and resistance instantly gripped Yun Zhao, almost suffocating her.
Xiao Jin's expression darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye, like the sky before a storm.
He slowly raised his head, his deep eyes staring at Xiao Yao, his voice icy cold, without a trace of tenderness:
"Your marriage?" The corners of his lips curled up in a faint, cold arc. "The Queen Mother will decide for you. What? You, the Eighth Princess, are you thinking of imitating the women of the market and going out in public to find a husband?!"
"Royal brother! I'm not..." Xiao Yao's face turned pale at the harshness and humiliation in his words, and she still wanted to argue.
"Back off!" Xiao Jin suddenly raised his voice, like a thunderclap, filled with thunderous fury. "From now on, without my order, you are not allowed to set foot in the front palace! If I see you making noise here again, don't blame me for being merciless!"
Xiao Yao was completely crushed by this merciless rebuke, and all her grievances and anger instantly turned into torrents of tears.
She covered her mouth tightly, let out a suppressed whimper, no longer caring about etiquette, turned around and stumbled out of the hall, her panicked back filled with endless embarrassment and resentment.
There was deathly silence in the hall.
Xiao Jin seemed to have just brushed off a speck of dust, his expression calm. He had already picked up his red brush again and was focused on reviewing the memorials, as if the storm had never happened. The coldness of the emperor's heart was chilling.
The tea-serving maid trembled as she entered to add more water, then quietly withdrew. Yun Zhao, seeing that the matter was over, was about to quietly depart, away from this oppressive place.
"Yun Zhao."
Xiao Jin's low voice sounded without warning. Without even raising his head, the red pen in his hand moved smoothly across the memorial.
"Lao Yu will come to discuss matters later," he said in a calm tone, but with an unquestionable command, "You stay and serve."
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