Chapter 39 After Marriage
When Jialuo first saw Fulin, she thought he seemed to have grown taller.
She felt like she hadn't seen the Emperor for a long time, and since she had also been away from the palace for a few days, she no longer had the usual caution towards Fulin.
She released her grip on the agate and gave the emperor a half-bow.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Fu Lin strode in, his expression completely natural.
"Get up."
After speaking, the boy stood in front of Jialuo and naturally reached out to grab her arm.
She was startled, then felt the boy's hand on her arm gently lift her up.
Jialuo tried to let go, but Fulin's hand followed her pull, gliding across her arm and then taking her hand in his own.
It was already dusk, and the winter sunlight had long been obscured by dark, gray clouds. Through the layers of clouds, the sunlight, like lingering blood, enveloped the magnificent Forbidden City.
Both of their profiles were stained with color, but the edges of the boy's dark eyes had a faint halo, and the dragon robe he wore seemed to be plated with a layer of gold.
He seemed to have become more radiant, and his eyes, as he looked at her, no longer held their usual indifference or anger.
Fu Lin looked at her with exceptional focus, as if he had seen someone he greatly admired.
Under such a gaze, Jialuo felt dizzy and perhaps she had misunderstood.
Or perhaps this is another tactic by Fu Lin to do something to her, to tease her in advance.
Jialuo tried to pull her hand away, but the boy held it tightly.
The young man looked her up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, and said leisurely, "I see that you seem to be in a very good mood after spending a few days away from the palace."
Jialuo was immediately alarmed, fearing that the emperor would take away her right to leave the palace.
So she forgot that she was still being led by the hand and quickly said, "It would be nice to live in a separate residence outside the palace, but I have always been thinking of Your Majesty."
"I just returned to the palace and was about to have Jade invite the Imperial Kitchen staff to come and ask His Majesty in detail about his recent diet."
"oh?"
Fu Lin took her hand and casually entered the side room, where they sat on the south-facing kang (heated brick bed).
This time, he actually let go of Jialuo's grip.
But this did not make Jialuo feel at ease, because the boy's gaze remained fixed on her until Jialuo sat on the other side of the couch and their eyes met.
Galo couldn't stand his inexplicable gaze any longer, so she changed the subject.
With a curious look, she asked, "Your Majesty, I received a letter today from my third sister, Gaowa, saying that she is engaged to Prince Xiang and will be coming to the capital for their wedding soon?"
Fu Lin casually toyed with the thumb ring in his hand, raised an eyebrow slightly, and said, "Didn't you already meet Prince Xiang?"
Upon hearing this, Jialuo nodded and said, "Yes, Prince Xiang has quite an interesting personality."
It's not surprising that the Emperor knew she had met Prince Xiang.
After all, when the empress leaves the palace, she will be closely monitored no matter what.
Fu Lin asked, "Interesting?"
Jialuo nodded and casually said, "Yes, Prince Xiang is still a child at such a young age, yet he has to act like an adult."
"When I see them, I think of my cousins from the Khorchin tribe. They are all very mischievous and naughty at this age, showing no signs of adulthood. It is the first time I have seen a younger brother like Prince Xiang, and I find it quite interesting."
Fu Lin continued, "Interesting?"
Jialuo felt a lump in her throat from his two rhetorical questions.
What does he mean by that?
Jialu snorted and said, "Now that Prince Xiang has no wife or concubines, it would be perfect for my third sister to go there. She can also get used to the environment in the capital."
Jialuo originally intended to imply that he had stolen someone else's wife, thus enraging Fulin and giving Jialuo time to go and talk to the Empress Dowager about the matter.
Unexpectedly, Fu Lin raised an eyebrow at her, his lips slightly curved, and he said with a hint of amusement, "Empress, you seem to have some experience in this matter. I noticed that you lived quite comfortably when you first entered the palace."
Jialuo: "??????"
She looked at Fulin in disbelief. Had he forgotten the suffering he had endured?
Ah...that's true. He thinks about Dong Eshi all day long, how could he remember the many grievances she has suffered for him?
But just because he forgot doesn't mean that Jialuo should pretend to forget about it with her.
"Your Majesty, I am naturally no match for Third Sister. Third Sister is quite different."
“When my brother-in-law passed away, he wanted my sister to marry his younger brother, but my sister didn’t like it, so she brought her niece and nephew home.”
"Now that you are remarrying Prince Xiang, I'm sure you've given it a lot of thought."
"Besides, it is thanks to the Emperor's great favor that Third Sister was able to marry into that family."
"She is indeed the only concubine of Prince Xiang. Although the principal wife is different from the other concubines, she has a good relationship with her husband and her life is better."
After speaking, Jialuo lowered her eyes slightly and leisurely took a sip of tea.
Even after saying what I wanted to say, I felt a sense of cleanliness in my heart.
However, the boy's relaxed expression gradually changed, and he reverted to his usual indifference when he was with Jialuo.
His gaze was fixed on Galo's nightmare-like face, and many scenes from when he first met Galo suddenly flashed through his mind.
He knew she didn't actually care at the time, but these words she was saying now struck him as odd.
It was exactly the same tone she used on her wedding night when she earnestly declared that she could fulfill her duties as empress.
It was as if he had experienced a nightmare. When he was pulled into this misty, dreamlike love affair, he discovered that the other person had never been touched by any of it.
The daylight suddenly stopped, and the room was plunged into darkness in an instant.
The fire in Fu Lin's heart instantly engulfed him.
Then, the candlelight was lit.
The darkness before her eyes was instantly dispelled, and the girl seemed to be stunned by the candlelight.
Her beautiful, delicate eyes narrowed slightly, then she slowly closed them, and then opened them again.
Fu Lin couldn't control himself. He stared at the woman's face for a moment, then was suddenly overwhelmed by a strong anger welling up from the bottom of his heart.
He abruptly stood up, refusing to look at Jialuo again, and turned to leave.
Jialuo was startled and quickly stood up.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"
When Fu Lin was called to a halt, he turned around, glanced at her coldly, and said, "From now on, I forbid you from seeing Prince Xiang again!"
After saying that, he strode away.
It's unbelievable that Aisin-Gioro Fulin was actually manipulated by a woman whose words and actions contradicted her true feelings!
The more Fulin thought about it, the angrier he became. Even when he learned that she had just returned, he was overjoyed and even put down his documents to see her without delay.
How did she treat him?
He always talks about how interesting and fun other men are.
She always says it's because her third sister married well.
Her words revealed that he liked other girls, and she used it as a tool to vent her anger, showing no regard for his feelings.
As soon as he stepped out of the gate of the Longevity Palace, Fulin stopped in his tracks, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes slightly.
When he opened his eyes again, his expression had returned to normal.
The security guards following behind the Emperor were on edge.
He had rarely seen the Emperor so angry.
I wonder when he'll be able to eat the pastries from Changshou Palace again.
It's quite sweet.
However, the Empress was no ordinary woman, and her birth was far too noble.
If the Emperor is angered, things won't get better anytime soon.
The master and servant remained silent the entire way.
Upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace, the young man suddenly spoke up, "Go, find someone to investigate Jialuo's affairs on the grasslands."
The security guard was taken aback, then quickly bowed and said, "Yes."
"The main thing is to find out her preferences."
The security guard was inwardly turbulent, but dared not delay for even a moment. He solemnly accepted the order and quickly withdrew.
As night deepened, the chief eunuch of the inner palace presented the nameplates of the imperial concubines.
Fu Lin casually flipped the sign over and tossed it back.
…………
Inside Yonghe Palace, palace maids and eunuchs were busy going back and forth.
In the side room, Angelama sat in front of the dressing table with a smile on her face, watching the maid comb her hair.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor still prefers you."
"You are beautiful and gentle, and your temperament is both calm and active; you are no longer as impulsive as you once were."
Angrama sighed and said, "Yesterday I went to pay my respects to my aunt, and she said that the Emperor and we sisters are cousins, unlike others."
"Don't be too secretive, talking about rules and etiquette all day long. The Emperor dislikes that the most."
Zhu Cui carefully combed her hair and whispered, "That person came back today. He said the Emperor went there and left Yongshou Palace after sitting for less than a short while."
"I heard that Her Majesty the Empress was also awarded the title of 'Elegant and Refined' in the palace."
Angrama chuckled softly and said, "My sixth sister has been a very thoughtful person since she was a child. When she was young, she learned some temperaments and preferences that were different from other girls, which made Abu like her."
"She still thought her husband was the same as Abu."
"Only Abu was completely fooled by her clever schemes."
"snort."
"Even if it's my mother..."
Angela suddenly stopped. She watched as Zhu Cui put a hairpin on her head, and then said with a sigh, "Between men and women, women always have to be more gentle and weak to attract men's affection."
"Just like us women, we always like strong men."
"And Jialuo, she is the one who feels the strongest."
"Yes, Your Majesty is the most intelligent. With just a little trick, you are the first among all the concubines in the harem to be chosen by the Emperor."
Zhu Cui said in a flattering tone.
"This is nothing. I have a long way to go."
After getting ready, Angrama got up in a good mood. Seeing that it was almost time, she took Zhucui's hand and walked into the courtyard to wait for the Emperor.
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