A court assembly that was originally extremely serious and fraught with hidden dangers ended up as a shocking farce with the Empress being jealous and the Emperor being afraid of his wife.
This news spread like wildfire, reaching the entire capital with incredible speed the moment the court session ended.
At first, people couldn't believe it, thinking it was some reckless fool spreading rumors about the royal family. But as more and more detailed information came from the palace to corroborate the story, the entire capital was in an uproar.
In teahouses, storytellers embellished the events, bringing the dramatic confrontation in the imperial palace to life. In restaurants, scholars and poets clapped and laughed, exclaiming that it was unheard of, a tale of unparalleled wonder. Even the peddlers and laborers on the streets were discussing with great interest the "jealous" empress and the "henpecked" emperor.
Regent Xiao Yuan's honey trap thus completely failed. Not only did he fail to sow discord between the Emperor and Empress, but he also lost more than he gained. He not only became the laughing stock of the entire capital, but also personally added a vivid stroke to the image of the Emperor and Empress as having an "unbreakable bond."
—Look, our Emperor, in order not to upset the Empress, was willing to diminish his imperial authority in court and admit to being afraid of his wife. What deep affection this shows!
—Indeed! Her Majesty the Empress is truly genuine; she doesn't like what she doesn't like, and she's open and honest, which is much better than those hypocritical people who are all talk and no action!
Public opinion, in a way that the regent could not comprehend at all, once again sided with the emperor and empress.
At the heart of this storm, the Regent's Palace remained closed once more. It is said that after returning home, the Prince was once again overcome with anger and fell into bed.
...
In stark contrast to the hustle and bustle outside, the other center of the storm—the Kunning Palace—was a place of leisure and tranquility.
As night fell, the candlelight flickered inside the hall, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che sat facing each other, leisurely enjoying their dinner. The table was filled with exquisite dishes, all prepared by the small kitchen of Kunning Palace, their aromas filling the air.
Neither of them mentioned the farce that had unfolded in court during the day, as if that dramatic confrontation had nothing to do with them. They simply ate their meal quietly, like an ordinary couple, occasionally placing a piece of food on each other's plate, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
Lin Wanwan sipped her soup, but couldn't help but steal glances at Xiao Che across from her.
Today he was dressed in a black casual suit, which made him appear less like an emperor in his dragon robes and more like a refined and handsome nobleman. The candlelight cast soft shadows on his well-defined profile, making him look much gentler.
Yet this seemingly gentle and refined man could, in the daytime, boldly proclaim "I am afraid of my wife" in the imperial palace, in front of all the civil and military officials.
Just thinking about the horrified expressions on the faces of the court officials and the Regent's face, which turned from red to purple and then to green, made Lin Wanwan's lips curl into a wild smile.
"Ahem." She coughed lightly to hide her laughter, but finally couldn't resist her curiosity and put down the spoon in her hand.
She blinked, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, and asked curiously, "Your Majesty, were you truly not afraid that your startling words in court today... might damage your imperial authority?"
After all, the words "fear of one's wife" are hardly a glorious term for any man, let alone an emperor. His actions today, though unconventional, can be considered a form of self-degradation.
Xiao Che, who was elegantly picking up a piece of fish, paused slightly upon hearing this.
He raised his head and looked at Lin Wanwan, his deep eyes shining brightly in the candlelight.
He didn't answer immediately, but slowly placed the piece of tender meat, after removing the fish bones, into the bowl in front of Lin Wanwan.
After doing all this, he put down his chopsticks, gently wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then, in an utterly natural tone, said with perfect calm:
"Compared to the Emperor's majesty, I fear more that the Empress will be unhappy."
boom!
A simple, unadorned sentence, devoid of any fancy words, struck Lin Wanwan's heart like a warm current.
Her heart skipped a beat, and an indescribable sweetness, like rich honey, spread rapidly from the depths of her heart to every part of her body.
She looked at him, at his serious and handsome face, at his eyes reflecting the candlelight and her own reflection, and felt her cheeks begin to burn uncontrollably.
This man...
They may not say it normally, but the occasional sweet nothings they utter are incredibly powerful!
Imperial power was something an emperor valued more than his own life. Yet, in his words, it was as light as air, less important than her "happiness."
This feeling of being cherished and held dear made Lin Wanwan's heart melt completely.
She was so overwhelmed by his sudden and heartfelt confession that she felt a little dizzy with sweetness. In both her past and present lives, she had never heard such moving words of love.
Looking into her bright eyes, sparkling with surprise and shyness, Xiao Che's mood improved considerably. He loved seeing her like this—vivid, vibrant, and more captivating than any priceless treasure.
Lin Wanwan tried to calm her wildly beating heart, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her face. She decided to press her advantage and probe into the truest thoughts deep within His Majesty's heart.
She smiled, leaned forward slightly, and asked in a slightly coquettish tone, "Then... when Uncle Wang suggested sending his daughter to the palace, what were you thinking?"
She was genuinely curious about what kind of inner drama was unfolding in his peculiar thought process under those circumstances, leading him to ultimately choose the unusual solution of "being afraid of his wife."
Upon hearing this question, a very subtle, unnatural expression flashed across Xiao Che's face.
He merely raised an eyebrow slightly, without answering directly. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks again and said calmly, "One should not speak while eating."
Not going to tell?
Lin Wanwan scoffed inwardly, "You think I wouldn't know just because you didn't tell me?"
With a sly smile, she slowly raised her head, her gaze landing precisely on the familiar area above Xiao Che's head.
Upon seeing this, the smile on her face instantly froze.
Then, that smile bloomed again in an even brighter and more irresistible way.
On Xiao Che's handsome face, which was usually serious and aloof, the expression above his head was incredibly honest, incredibly... irritable.
It was an enormous animated emoticon with an extremely minimalist design.
In the picture, a huge green trash can with an X drawn on it stands steadily.
Immediately afterwards, a chibi-style figure dressed in gorgeous clothes but with blurred features (clearly representing Xiao Yu Ruo) was kicked hard from the side into a trash can!
With a "bang," the trash can lid slammed shut, and the world became quiet again.
Below the trash can, a large, pixelated font, brimming with disdain and domineering arrogance, was scrolling continuously—
[Get out! My harem doesn't accept trash.gif]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com