Ping Zhao Lu

After lunch, Chu Yunxiao ordered someone to send the unprocessed memorials to Fengluan Palace for review.

Xu Zhouye leaned on the couch, supporting his head with one hand, and looked thoughtfully at the emperor who was carefully reviewing memorials at the desk.

As he read, he thought about what Su Ming had reported to him that morning about Chu Yunxiao's rage in the imperial study.

Su Ming reminded him not to mention Queen Mother Jiang in front of the emperor.

Xu Zhouye naturally knew why.

Empress Dowager Jiang's nephew, Wei Dingzhong, had been stationed at the frontier for years. Recently, he encountered an invasion from the border region, and he repelled it with a single blow. His military exploits earned him a request to return to the court. Upon hearing the news, court officials friendly with the Wei family immediately petitioned the emperor to bestow generous rewards on Wei Dingzhong, even strongly recommending him for the rank of Third-Rank General of Huaihua.

The loudest voice among them was that of the Grand Commandant Fu Chuoren.

Fu Chuoren is Wei Dingzhong's father-in-law and also a member of the Queen Mother's party. His ambition is as clear as Sima Zhao's, and everyone knows it.

The only reason they dared to speak so frankly was because they had received the order from Queen Mother Jiang.

Queen Mother Jiang wanted to use this incident to warn the emperor and tell Chu Yunxiao that the court and the country were not controlled by him alone, and that the power in her hands should not be underestimated.

In his previous life, the ministers' commendation for Wei Dingzhong's achievements occurred shortly after his elder brother Xu Jianglin had achieved military success, but now the matter had moved forward. Perhaps it was because he had angered the Empress Dowager today, and the Emperor's indifferent attitude towards her had given her a sense of crisis.

Xu Zhouye was lost in thought when the eunuch's announcement outside the door brought his wandering thoughts back to normal.

"Your Highness, Young Master Rong requests an audience."

Chu Yunxiao, who was dealing with memorials, looked up at Xu Zhouye when he heard the voice.

Xu Zhouye raised the corners of his lips slightly, thinking to himself: Can't you hold it in so soon?

He turned to meet Chu Yunxiao's gaze, resting his hands on his chin, and asked with a smile: "Your Majesty is busy with government affairs, so you disappeared?"

Chu Yunxiao was momentarily distracted by his beautiful smile. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked away silently, saying in a deep voice, "You're meeting the Queen. Why are you asking me?"

Xu Zhouye chuckled, "If I disturb Your Majesty, I will be guilty of a great sin."

Chu Yunxiao paused while writing, "Zhao Dequan."

Zhao Dequan immediately stepped forward, "Your servant is here."

Chu Yunxiao said without even raising his eyes: "Give the order, I am accompanying the Queen, no one is allowed to disturb me."

Zhao Dequan bowed in response and slowly walked out the door.

"Is the Queen satisfied with this?" Chu Yunxiao asked while reviewing the memorial.

"What?" Xu Zhouye pretended not to know, then yawned, "I'm sleepy and need to rest for a while. Your Majesty, please." After saying that, he leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes for a nap.

Chu Yunxiao raised his eyes and glanced at his peaceful sleeping face, then his eyelids drooped slightly, a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his lips raised slightly, and he let out a low laugh.

Outside the hall, Rong Yu'an's face became solemn and he did not smile at all after hearing what Zhao Dequan said.

After what happened last night, the emperor not only did not feel disgusted with Xu Zhou's ambition, but was actually quite partial to him.

Rong Yu'an gritted his teeth, clenched his fists tightly with his hands hanging at his sides, and his drooping eyelids were filled with a desire for revenge.

*

At noon, the sun was blazing. Sandalwood incense burned in the main hall of the Cining Palace, and the palace maids fanned Empress Dowager Jiang to cool her down.

Queen Mother Jiang sat on the couch, her eyes closed, twirling a string of Buddhist beads in her hand. Her kind face looked slightly tired.

"Where's Yang Cong?"

Upon hearing the question, the waiting maid Ke Xin suddenly became embarrassed. She knelt down and replied tremblingly, "Replying to the Queen Mother, Eunuch Yang...Eunuch Yang, he, he has been imprisoned."

After she finished speaking, Queen Mother Jiang suddenly opened her eyes, paused her hand that was turning the Buddhist beads, and with a flick of her hand, the glass teacup on the table instantly turned into fragments on the ground, shocking all the palace servants to kneel on the ground.

"It was I who deliberately made things difficult for the Queen. Why didn't he arrest me and throw me into the Imperial Prison?"

Queen Mother Jiang was furious, her words raging. "We've only been married for a day, and you're already so protective of me. You can contradict me today, but tomorrow you'll probably point a sword at me and force me to abdicate."

"The Queen Mother calm down!"

Ke Xin kowtowed deeply, "The more times like this, the more we need to stay calm."

Queen Mother Jiang slammed the table and stood up, "Yang Cong is my confidant, and he arbitrarily disposes of me without my consent. Isn't this just slapping me in the face!"

What's more, Yang Cong knows too many secrets.

What kind of place is the imperial prison? Who doesn’t go in with their mouth closed and come out with their mouth open?

The most urgent task is to either rescue the person, or...

Queen Mother Jiang clenched her hands, which had been well-maintained for many years, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes.

She calmed herself down and was about to speak when news suddenly came from outside the hall that Yang Cong had been released and returned.

Queen Mother Jiang stood there in shock, her expression grim.

Soon, Eunuch Yang, who was covered in wounds, was brought to her with the help of palace servants.

Queen Mother Jiang stared blankly at Eunuch Yang, who was lying on the ground.

His whole body was covered in blood and flesh, with no skin left.

The strong smell of blood made her almost vomit.

She asked the palace servant to drag the man away with disgust, and then waited quietly for Yang Cong's report.

"Go back to the Queen Mother..."

Yang Cong's voice was almost hoarse. "Don't worry... I didn't say anything, and they didn't ask me about you."

"Are you serious?" Queen Mother Jiang was skeptical. "You didn't ask anything?"

"It's absolutely true." Yang Cong's tone was empty but firm, "I would never dare to...deceive the Empress Dowager!"

*

Xu Zhouye slept very comfortably.

When I woke up, I found myself lying on the couch.

The curtains were drawn down, blocking out the sword-like sunlight outside and adding a bit of concealment.

He was half asleep and wanted to turn over and change his sleeping position, but the hand on his waist held him tightly.

I was suddenly awakened and all my sleepiness disappeared in an instant.

My body was too stiff to move.

"what happened?"

Chu Yunxiao's voice was lazy and hoarse. He moved his body slightly and put his face close to his neck, breathing softly, "What's wrong with me sleeping with the queen?"

"without……"

Xu Zhouye's cheeks were burning hot and his heart was beating faster.

"Ok?"

Chu Yunxiao held his hand and moved up and down restlessly.

"No, nothing wrong."

Xu Zhouye's breathing quickened and his shoulders trembled.

His body is extremely sensitive and cannot withstand the slightest teasing.

"His Majesty……"

Xu Zhouye stopped him from doing this in time, "It's daytime now, you can't..."

Chu Yunxiao chuckled softly, pinched his trembling wrist with his backhand, turned him over with a force, and looked at him deeply, "What can't you do?"

Asking knowingly.

That's it.

Xu Zhouye sighed helplessly, met his fiery gaze without dodging, and took the initiative to offer his soft lips, responding to his question with his body.

The two of them were breathing heavily together, embracing each other tenderly.

Chu Yunxiao breathed deeply, and the delicate kisses slid down his lips to his collarbone, savoring it carefully.

Deep in love, Xu Zhouye hooked his fingers around the loose belt around his waist and tugged slightly -

"Your Majesty, General Fu requests an audience in the Imperial Study."

"..."