Ping Zhao Lu

Hearing this, Xu Zhouye stood there in a daze.

Are you...pretending again?

Qing He stepped forward and continued, "Master said that he really didn't want to attend this birthday party, so he claimed to be sick and recuperating at home."

Xu Zhouye frowned slightly upon hearing this, pondering inwardly. He was well aware of his father's dislike for the Queen Mother. After all, the Queen Mother had often been causing trouble for the Xu family behind their backs, with all sorts of overt and covert schemes and intrigues emerging one after another.

Eight out of ten birthday banquets, my father would always claim illness and be absent, truly giving the Empress Dowager no face at all. However, let alone his own father's reluctance to come, even if it were him, he would probably be reluctant to come and show his support.

But he is the queen.

Thinking of this, Xu Zhouye smiled helplessly, and then couldn't help asking again: "Is my father really in good health? I'm still worried..."

Qing He shook her head slightly, indicating that she wasn't sure. "Your Highness, it's already the palace curfew. If we want to open the palace gates, we must first notify the Palace Gate Office, and the people in the Palace Gate Office must also report to their superiors. This round trip will inevitably be time-consuming and laborious. By the time we rush back to the mansion, the master may have already rested and fallen asleep. In my opinion, it would be better to wait until tomorrow morning to visit him."

After hearing this, Xu Zhouye showed hesitation, but finally nodded and replied helplessly: "Well, it seems that this is the only way at the moment."

Qinghe nodded, then asked softly, "Is Your Highness going to bed and rest?" Her eyes fell on Xu Zhouye, full of concern.

Xu Zhouye didn't answer immediately, but lowered his head, lost in thought. After a moment, he slowly raised his eyes and asked, "Any news from the Golden Throne Hall? Has His Majesty rested yet?"

Qing He quickly responded, "Your Highness, yes. According to the news we just received, His Majesty has not yet gone to bed and is still busy handling government affairs."

Hearing this answer, Xu Zhouye couldn't help but frown.

There were many affairs to attend to today, and the emperor was busy from morning to night. He didn't even have a chance to eat a few bites of food properly. At night, he didn't eat a single grain of rice. He was always busy with government affairs.

If this continues, can the body bear it?

What's more, Chu Yunxiao already suffered from headaches, and whenever he dealt with the piles of memorials, his headaches would become more severe.

Thinking of this, Xu Zhouye couldn't help but sigh heavily and ordered Qinghe, "Go prepare some midnight snacks. I'll personally deliver them to the Golden Palace."

Qinghe responded, "Yes, I'll do it right away." After that, she turned around and hurried away to start arranging supper.

*

The night wind blew past, gently stirring the leaves, making a slight rustling sound and bringing a hint of coolness.

Qinghe held a bright lamp in his hand, and the dim light swayed in the night, illuminating the road under his feet.

Xu Zhouye held the exquisite meal tray steadily in both hands and walked calmly to the door of the Golden Throne Hall.

The eunuchs guarding the door saw the queen coming and hurriedly knelt down to salute, "Greetings, Queen!"

One of the eunuchs was about to stand up and go in to report, but Xu Zhouye raised his hand to stop him.

He turned around and said softly to Qinghe behind him, "You go down first."

Qinghe obeyed the order and left quietly.

Afterwards, Xu Zhouye faced the eunuch and said slowly, "No need to go in and report."

When the eunuch heard this, he was stunned at first, then he quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Highness." Then he respectfully stepped aside.

Xu Zhouye watched the eunuch leave, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. Then, he lifted his foot, stepped over the high threshold, and walked in.

At this time, inside the hall, Chu Yunxiao was lazily supporting his head with his eyes closed, as if he was resting.

Zhao Dequan was standing on one side, his eyes lowered, but when he suddenly saw the queen slowly approaching, a hint of surprise surged in his heart.

He subconsciously wanted to step forward and greet him, but before he could make any move, Xu Zhouye interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

Xu Zhouye signaled him to leave with his eyes. Zhao Dequan understood and immediately left the hall quietly.

Xu Zhouye walked forward with light steps, carefully placing the tray aside. Then, he stepped to the side, reached out and picked up the emperor's robe, gently putting it on him.

After a brief pause, he leaned down again and gazed at the person in front of him affectionately.

Xu Zhouye's eyes moved, as if he had thousands of words to say, but in the end it just turned into a faint smile.

He couldn't resist the urge in his heart, raised his hand, and gently stroked Chu Yunxiao's face with the back of his fair hand. At that moment, the smile in his eyes was as gentle and moving as a spring water, as if it could melt everything in the world.

I just stared at it quietly for a long time, as if time had stopped.

At this moment, Chu Yunxiao, who had been sitting there quietly, suddenly raised the corners of his lips slightly, and his eyelashes trembled slightly. Then, he slowly raised his eyelids, looked at the queen beside him with a deep and ardent gaze, and whispered, "Is it beautiful?"

Hearing this, Xu Zhouye couldn't help but chuckle, and then replied softly: "It looks good."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Yunxiao couldn't help but chuckle. He also raised his hand and gently stroked Xu Zhouye's cheek, saying slowly, "Not even one ten-thousandth of the Queen's."

After saying this, he suddenly stretched out his arms, pulled Xu Zhouye into his arms, and let him sit firmly on his lap. Then, like a child, Chu Yunxiao leaned on Xu Zhouye's shoulder and slowly closed his eyes.

Xu Zhouye was stunned at first, then turned his head and said with concern: "If your Majesty is tired, why not rest early?"

However, Chu Yunxiao shook his head and replied, "Wait a little longer."

Xu Zhouye sighed helplessly and said softly, "Then eat something?" As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed to the exquisite meal neatly arranged on the table.

Chu Yunxiao opened his eyes upon hearing the voice and looked in the direction he pointed. He was startled and asked with lingering fear, "Did you do this?"

"I asked the kitchen to make it." Xu Zhouye shook his head. "Your Majesty, do you want to eat something I made myself?"

After hearing this, Chu Yunxiao paused while holding Xu Zhouye's hand, not knowing how to respond. After a moment's silence, he said in an almost gentle tone, "I want to make it myself for the Queen."

Hearing this, Xu Zhouye couldn't help but pale with surprise. His beautiful eyes widened as he looked at Chu Yunxiao in disbelief and blurted out, "Your Majesty can cook?"

He really couldn't imagine that this ruthless and ruthless emperor could have such a down-to-earth side.

Chu Yunxiao smiled slightly, a flash of reminiscence in his eyes, and he said softly, "I can't say I can, but at least I can eat." Then, he paused for a moment, as if choosing his words, and then continued, "This is what the late queen taught me."

Xu Zhouye was stunned when he heard this, and instantly understood who the late queen Chu Yunxiao was referring to.

It was the first empress of the late Emperor Chu Huaixu—Lian Yiche. That man, once renowned throughout the capital and a man of unrivaled elegance, was also the first male empress in the history of the Wei Dynasty.

"You probably don't know, actually..." Chu Yunxiao stared at him, hesitated for a moment, and then sighed softly, "I am not a royal family member adopted into the late queen's name."

But he is the biological son of the late queen.

……

Looking back to the past, Lian Yi Che and Chu Huaixu, who had not yet ascended the throne to become emperor, were once a pair of fairy lovers that everyone envied.

At that time, they were under the moonlight, making vows to each other, and Chu Huaixu even made a promise that he would only be with Yi Che in this life.

Unfortunately, people will change their hearts eventually.

Lian Yiche, however, took these vows as his guiding principles. He even took forbidden drugs for Chu Huaixu, which led to the birth of Chu Yunxiao.

After Chu Huaixu ascended the throne, he made Lian Yiche his empress. However, he still felt conflicted about this strangely born child. He did not publicly announce that the child was Lian Yiche's. Instead, he disclosed the child as being adopted by a member of the imperial clan.

After Chu Huaixu secured his throne, he faced increasing temptations, and his heart gradually drifted away from his first love. The number of beauties in his harem only grew. He accepted every beauty presented to him by ministers, neighboring kingdoms, or even from the common people.

At this point, Lian Yiche was disillusioned with Chu Huaixu.

Later, Lian Yiche died mysteriously.

Chu Huaixu wanted to make his new favorite male concubine the empress, but the ministers tried their best to dissuade him, saying that the male concubine was of humble status and not worthy of being in the upper class. They strongly recommended Jiang, who was the imperial concubine at the time and had given birth to a prince, to be the empress, that is, the current Queen Mother Jiang.

After careful consideration, Chu Huaixu also agreed to this proposal.

In fact, to him, it made no difference who was the queen. As long as there was someone in the position, it would be enough.