I became a big shot in the quick transmigration world.

Chapter 756 Long Live the Emperor! (26)
Yu Muhuai gently held Xue Rong's hand and patted it a few times to comfort her.

"Rong'er, you have misunderstood me."

She then pulled Xue Rong to sit down on a soft couch nearby.

Yu Muhuai tried his best to soften his gaze, to speak tenderly and affectionately, and to project the tone of a proper husband.

"Rong'er, you know that Ping Qinian has always been in the palace."

Xue Rong nodded. Of course she knew that the palace where Ping Qinian was located was heavily guarded year-round, and no one was allowed to approach it.

Yu Muhuai's voice lowered, as if he were talking about something secret.

“Rong’er, Ping Qinian wanted to die, but I never let him die. This is something you don’t know.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Rong's eyes widened immediately, and she covered her mouth in surprise.

What secret did she hear?
Over the years, people have been speculating about what has become of Ping Qinian.

At first, people thought that Yu Muhuai had killed Ping Qinian.

However, Ping Qinian would attend every major festival.

However, he only made a brief appearance, dressed neatly, with a serious and expressionless face, sitting quietly next to the emperor. He neither drank nor spoke nor ate.

Despite living in seclusion within the palace for several years, Ping Qinian's appearance has changed somewhat.

His skin was paler than before, his body was thin, and his cheeks were somewhat swollen. He seemed to be very sensitive to the cold now; even on hot days, he needed to wear many layers of clothing and didn't seem to sweat much.

Ping Qinian's eyes are now lifeless and vacant, lacking focus, and he doesn't respond much to greetings from others.

However, he was the Ninth Prince, and even though he was currently unwell, his influence remained. The Eastern Depot still firmly occupied a corner of the court, and no one dared to have a word against him.

The emperor was very lenient with him and did not require him to bow or speak.

Before long, Ping Qinian would break out in a cold sweat and tremble all over, as if he were unwell.

Then the emperor would order someone to help him back to the palace.

The Emperor explained that Ping Qinian was old, had suffered a stroke, was in poor health, and had difficulty moving around.

With imperial physicians present in the palace to monitor his health at any time, Ping Qinian remained in the palace to recuperate.

There are many rumors circulating about this among people in private.

Some say that Ping Qinian was in poor health, so he simply relinquished power to the emperor.

Some say that Ping Qinian was threatened by the emperor with important matters.

Some even say that Ping Qinian was actually already dead, and the person everyone is seeing now is an imposter with a similar appearance.

There are all sorts of speculations, but no one dares to put them out in the open.

Four years is more than enough time for Yu Muhuai to completely control the Eastern Depot.

The current emperor possesses the most powerful intelligence agency in the Cong Kingdom, and anyone who dares to gossip will likely be discovered.

However, even if Yu Muhuai heard people talking about these things, she wouldn't worry.

Because those speculations won't have much impact on her.

People outside dared not speak out, and those inside the palace dared even less to utter a word.

Empress Xue Rong was not one to meddle, and naturally she wouldn't deliberately inquire about such matters. If anyone in the palace discussed matters related to state affairs, she would even order severe punishment.

Therefore, this was the first time Xue Rong had learned about Ping Qinian's situation, and it was the Emperor himself who told her.

Seeing Xue Rong's shocked expression, Yu Muhuai smiled and reached out to stroke her long hair.

Xue Rong blushed slightly.

Yu Muhuai continued, "Ping Qinian is one of my pawns. As long as he is still useful, he cannot die."

"Since I ascended the throne, I have lived in constant fear and trepidation. I dare say that since the founding of the Cong Kingdom, no emperor has ever lived such a pathetic life as me!" "Your Majesty," Xue Rong was about to cry again.

However, this time she was crying because she was heartbroken, not because she was hurt by the emperor.

Seeing this, Yu Muhuai pressed on and continued speaking.

"Since I ascended the throne, I have been surrounded by wolves."

Before them was the all-powerful Grand Prince Ping Qinian, and behind them were enemy forces like the Jian Kingdom and the peasant uprising army, ready to overthrow the Cong Kingdom's regime at any moment.

The court is rife with wolves and tigers; their thoughts are not on serving the country or sharing my burdens, but on how to extract benefits from me!

Hearing this, Xue Rong couldn't help but blush.

Did she not share the Emperor's burdens either?
Yu Muhuai continued: "The Cong Kingdom has a vast territory and a long northern border. In the first few years of my reign, the north suffered from famine every day, but the officials were only thinking about how to pocket their own benefits from the disaster relief supplies!"

At this point, Yu Muhuai tensed up, seemingly trembling with anger at the mere thought of it.

"Your Majesty," Xue Rong said, tears welling in her eyes.

As Yu Muhuai spoke, his voice suddenly became choked with sobs.

"Rong'er, I am suffering."
A few years ago, I only had two sets of dragon robes to change into. If it weren't for Rong'er's skillful hands, I'm afraid I would have had to go to court in tattered clothes.

"Waaah, Your Majesty," Xue Rong couldn't help but cry when she heard about the painful things from the past.

"Rong'er, it's not that I don't want to pamper you and love you, it's not that I don't want to fill the harem."

If the world were at peace, the country prosperous, the people wealthy, everyone had enough to eat, and every family had surplus money, I would rather be a tyrannical ruler who indulges in debauchery every day!

But when the Kingdom of Cong was handed over to me, it was already on the verge of collapse, as precarious as a pile of eggs!
If I were to indulge in pleasure and time with you, how could the Kingdom of Cong survive? How could I face the ancestors of the Kingdom of Cong?

At this point, Yu Muhuai was already in tears.

"Your Majesty, sob, I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so inconsiderate of Your Majesty. It was my fault."

Xue Rong was already crying so hard that her face was streaked with tears, and she couldn't help but collapse to her knees on the ground.

She felt that coming to see the Emperor today was incredibly disrespectful and irresponsible.

She was ashamed of her behavior!
Yu Muhuai helped her up: "Rong'er, you did nothing wrong."

"No, it was my fault! I will never bother Your Majesty again, and I will not allow anyone in the harem to bother Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, please focus on governing the country and managing the affairs of the court. Leave everything in the harem to me!"

Yu Muhuai held Xue Rong in his arms and wiped away the tears that had welled up in his eyes with his sleeve.

Tonight, Xue Rong stayed in the Emperor's bedchamber.

However, the two of them did nothing but sleep under the covers.

The next morning, Yu Muhuai got up, washed, and prepared to go to court.

Xue Rong also got up early to personally serve Yu Muhuai in every way.

Before setting off, Xue Rong bowed.

"Your Majesty, I will keep my duties in mind. You need not worry about the affairs of the harem."

Yu Muhuai stroked Xue Rong's long hair, nodded, and then turned and left.

From that day on, Xue Rong never came to her again about Yu Muhuai's refusal to sleep with the women in his harem.

Xue Rong also forbade any concubines in the harem from bothering the emperor with this matter.

Yu Muhuai's eyes filled with tears.

Wish you sweet dreams and good night (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
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(End of this chapter)