The words "henpecked" struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving the entire Golden Palace utterly silent and desolate.
You could hear a pin drop clearly.
Regent Xiao Yuan's face gradually turned from a liverish color to an ashen one. He never dreamed that after decades of dominating the court, he would be fobbed off with such an absurd and almost shameless excuse!
He felt a lump in his throat, as if he were about to vomit blood again after losing a court debate.
He wanted to refute it, but how could he do so?
You're saying that an emperor, as the Son of Heaven, shouldn't be afraid of his wife? This is teaching the emperor how to handle family affairs, which is a major taboo for a subject.
You say the Empress shouldn't be jealous? This is criticizing the Empress, and it's a path to death.
Xiao Che's seemingly absurd act of "exposing his own shortcomings" was actually a brilliant Tai Chi move. He used the simplest and most down-to-earth "family conflict" to instantly and completely dismantle the Regent's carefully constructed grand narrative about "family unity" and "the foundation of the state."
In an instant, the ball was kicked back hard.
Xiao Che's declaration of being "henpecked" not only successfully absolved himself of all responsibility in this political storm, but also effortlessly shifted all the pressure onto Empress Lin Wanwan, who was behind the enormous screen depicting magnificent landscapes.
I wanted to agree, but I have a shrewish wife at home, so I can't make the decision!
The subtext here is as clear as day!
Regent Xiao Yuan stared intently at his nephew, who sat on the dragon throne looking utterly helpless, his teeth grinding together. He knew he was now in a bind. He had provoked this whole affair, and if he were to slink away like this, his old face, along with the entire Regent's Palace's prestige, would become a laughingstock throughout the capital.
Now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to grit his teeth and continue playing the part.
Since the emperor had pushed the problem onto the empress, he had no choice but to "beg" the empress!
Xiao Yuan forcibly suppressed the surging anger in his heart, slowly turned around, and faced the screen. The muscles on his face, which had been twisted with anger, were now forced into a smile that was even uglier than a grimace.
Through the screen, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the blurry figure inside, his voice strained and forced, a mocking "pleading" tone:
"Your Majesty, I have been disrespectful. I never expected His Majesty to show such respect to you. You are truly a model of harmony between husband and wife in our royal family."
He first offered a perfunctory compliment, then abruptly shifted the subject, precisely applying the shackles of morality.
"However, my daughter Yu Ruo enters the palace to demonstrate the unity of the imperial family and to assist His Majesty and Empress. Her Majesty the Empress has always been known throughout the land for her virtue, so surely she wouldn't go against the good intentions of His Majesty and me for the sake of the country and its people?"
What a clever tactic of moral blackmail!
The implication couldn't be clearer: Isn't the Empress virtuous? Then you should be magnanimous! You should take the initiative to help the Emperor find concubines and ensure the continuation of the royal family! If you dare to refuse, then you are just seeking fame and fortune, and all your previous reputation for "virtue" will be false!
At this moment, everyone's eyes in the Golden Palace were focused on the huge screen.
The officials, who had almost burst from holding their breath, now sat up straight and listened intently. They knew that the real show was just beginning.
The emperor passed the problem to the empress, and the regent put her in a precarious position regarding her "virtue." What was originally a political battle within the court completely devolved into a grand drama concerning the harem and the dignity of the royal family.
Now, it remains to be seen how the newly appointed Empress, who is currently enjoying great influence, will respond.
Behind the screen, Lin Wanwan sat calmly on the phoenix throne covered with bright yellow cushions, holding a cup of still-warm fragrant tea, her expression serene.
She heard the heated arguments outside very clearly.
It has to be said, Emperor Xiao Che's skill at shifting blame is truly first-rate. However, she likes this shameless behavior!
She could feel countless gazes, some curious, some inquisitive, some gloating, as if trying to pierce through the screen and see right through her. But she remained unmoved, even having the leisure to secretly glance at Xiao Che in the direction of the imperial steps.
Xiao Che sat upright on the dragon throne, his brows slightly furrowed, a perfectly measured expression of "dilemma" on his face. He looked at the Regent, then glanced worriedly at the screen from time to time, his expression perfectly that of a pitiful husband caught between a domineering uncle and a jealous wife, torn between two difficult choices.
If this acting were done in modern times, he'd deserve an Oscar.
However, Lin Wanwan almost spat out her tea.
Because beneath Xiao Che's Oscar-worthy expression, a completely different, incredibly joyful inner drama was unfolding in the familiar emoji area above his head!
A chibi-style little emperor in a dragon robe was frantically waving his hands in her direction. The gesture wasn't a wave, but a desperate shake; the rejection practically leaped off the screen!
Beside the tiny figure was a line of gleaming gold lettering, the font incredibly arrogant:
[Honey, hold on! Fight back for me!]
Lin Wanwan almost lost her composure and quickly lowered her head, using her teacup to cover her wildly upturned lips.
Good heavens!
It turns out that while His Majesty was putting on a show of being in a difficult and pitiful state on the surface, he was actually cheering her on from the bottom of his heart, encouraging her to charge into battle!
This unspoken understanding, this shared thrill of "tricking" others, completely dispelled the last trace of tension in Lin Wanwan's heart. She instantly realized that this was no longer a battle she was fighting alone, but a "joint operation" between her and her husband.
Xiao Che was in charge of setting up the stage, while she was in charge of performing!
Now that she has received His Majesty's "divine will," what else does she have to worry about?
It's just acting, right? Anyone can do that!
Lin Wanwan felt much more at ease. She knew it was her turn to take the stage.
She slowly put down her teacup, and the soft sound of the porcelain clinking against the table carried clearly to everyone's ears through the silent hall.
Everyone's hearts were in their throats.
Your Majesty, it's time for a response!
Lin Wanwan slowly rose, her lotus-like steps light and graceful, and walked to the side of the screen. She did not immediately step out, but instead clearly reflected her elegant figure on the screen.
Then, a voice filled with boundless "grievance" and deep "apology" drifted softly from behind the screen. The voice was so weak that it seemed a gust of wind could carry it away, evoking pity in anyone who heard it.
"I heard everything Uncle Wang said..."
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