The daily life of a cold and aloof general raising his wife

"Your Majesty, why don't you rest for a while?"

Since becoming the ruler of Northern Qi, Li Shu has never slacked off, staying up late every night to read memorials.

Li Shu put down her brush, picked up the teacup beside her, took a sip, and sighed, "Now I finally understand my father."

Xianglian said with heartache, "I see that the princess... the lady has lost weight."

"You seem to have lost weight too. You've been working hard lately."

She moved into the Northern Qi palace, where Xianglian took care of everything, big and small, a far cry from her previous role as the princess's personal maid.

"It is only right for this servant to be tired, but Your Majesty is of noble birth and cannot be harmed in any way."

Xianglian is devoted to her master.

Li Shu comforted her, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

As she spoke, Li Shu thought of Yan Jingrong.

Li Shu moved into the Northern Qi palace, and the maids and eunuchs who came with her also went to the palace. However, Yan Jingrong was an official of Daqing and could not stay in the Northern Qi palace indefinitely, so he left Northern Qi with the officials who came for the marriage alliance a couple of days ago.

Xie Huai'an's army was all waiting in the north city.

Seeing that she was lost in thought and not speaking, Xianglian asked, "What is Your Majesty thinking about?"

Li Shu snapped out of her thoughts, "I wasn't thinking about anything."

"Is the Queen thinking of Prince Yan?"

Xianglian and Li Shu grew up together, and she could be considered someone who truly understood Li Shu.

"No, I don't miss him."

Li Shu stubbornly refused to admit it.

But those who know her well know that she is just saying one thing and meaning another.

"Yes Yes Yes."

Xianglian didn't expose her.

After the joke, Li Shu continued to look down at the memorials.

These memorials were nothing more than reports on how many people in Northern Qi had died because of these disasters, and also on the fact that Northern Qi's treasury was currently empty, openly and secretly asking Li Shu to find a solution.

The Northern Qi dynasty was a hot potato.

The next morning

Before dawn, Li Shu kept her eyes closed while Xiang Lian helped her change her clothes.

Xianglian said softly, "It's almost time, Your Majesty, we should go."

Li Shu opened her eyes, glanced down at her clothes which were neatly arranged, and then went to the morning court.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Queen!"

"All my beloved subjects, rise."

Li Shu deliberately lowered her voice to appear calm and composed.

"Thank you, Lady."

After the officials stood up, an official in a red robe stepped forward.

"The Queen doesn't know how the disaster relief funds are being prepared; her people are getting anxious."

Although the man bowed to Li Shu, there was little respect in his tone.

Zheng Congying stepped forward and retorted, "Lady Du has just ascended the throne. Where do you expect her to raise disaster relief funds?"

"This is the Queen's business. Isn't the Queen already trying to find a solution?" Lord Du said, feigning ignorance.

"you……"

Li Shu interrupted them, "Alright, I'm trying to figure out a way to raise disaster relief funds. If any of my ministers have any good ideas, you can tell me."

After she finished speaking, she paused for a moment and looked sharply at Lord Du.

“Lord Du, this Northern Qi does not belong to me alone. It belongs to you and to everyone. If you are not satisfied with my position, then you can take over.”

Upon hearing this, Lord Du's smile vanished instantly, and he was so frightened that he immediately knelt down.

"I did not mean that. I was just too anxious and spoke without thinking. Please do not take offense, Your Majesty."

Even if he looked down on Li Shu, he didn't dare to disobey her in the main hall, because the Zheng family was her powerful backer.

"I wonder if the other ministers have anything else to say?" Li Shu's gaze swept over the people standing in the main hall.

The officials all bowed their heads and looked at each other, finally saying, "We are all fine."

"Since there's nothing else, let's adjourn the court." Li Shu said, and before they could finish bowing, she stood up and left.

After the ministers finished their bows, they all stood up and looked at each other in bewilderment. They had thought that Li Shu was just a teenage girl who would be easy to manipulate, but they did not expect her to show such disrespect in public.

It seems this female ruler is not someone to be trifled with.

Zheng Congying laughed. If she had revealed this side of herself earlier, the officials here wouldn't have bullied her like this.

He then rolled his eyes at Lord Du and left.

Lord Du was so angry that he was about to confront him, but fortunately his colleagues held him back.

In fact, even without someone stopping him, he wouldn't dare to provoke Zheng Congying.

Zheng Congying did not leave, but went to find Li Shu.

After Li Shu and the others came out, Xiang Lian followed behind her with an excited expression. The Queen was really amazing!

Li Shu returned to the palace and was having a maid remove her hairpins when she heard someone come in to report.

"General Zheng is requesting an audience outside."

"What's he doing here?" Li Shu wondered.

Xianglian shook her head. "I don't know."

Li Shu: "Tell him to wait a moment."

"Yes."

After receiving the order, the palace maid bowed and left.

Zheng Congying wasn't in a hurry; he sat in his chair and waited.

A palace maid served him tea.

Li Shu came out shortly after.

Zheng Congying stood up from her chair and bowed to Li Shu.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Li Shu cut to the chase, "What brings General Zheng here?"

Zheng Congying touched his nose. Actually, he didn't know why he came; he just instinctively wanted to come.

"I wanted to tell the Queen that the Crown Prince beside you has already left the territory of Northern Qi," Zheng Congying made up.

Li Shu nodded, "I understand."

Suddenly, the room fell silent.

Zheng Congying felt something was off.

"Does General Zheng have anything else to say? If not, I need to go and review the memorials."

"Then I'll take my leave."

After Zheng Congying finished speaking, he turned and left.

Normally, she would definitely charm a lot of girls, but unfortunately, there aren't any girls from Northern Qi here.

Zheng Congying came out of the house and felt that he had become somewhat inexplicable lately. As for where, he didn't know. He shook his head and left the palace.

Zheng Congying returned to the Duke of Zheng's mansion after leaving the palace.

Zheng Qingshan had just finished practicing his boxing at the training ground.

When Zheng Congying came in from outside and saw this, she said, "Didn't your second uncle's doctor tell you to rest?"

Zheng Qingshan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "I know my own body best. I'm all better now, and I can go to the morning court starting tomorrow."

After two months of rest, Zheng Qingshan's health has almost recovered.

"Yes, did anyone make things difficult for the Queen at this morning's court?"

Ever since Li Shu became the female emperor and began attending the morning court sessions, Zheng Congying's second uncle would always follow him around after court to ask about the events that had transpired, fearing that Li Shu might have been wronged.

Zheng Congying then told Zheng Qingshan what had happened that day.

Zheng Qingshan tossed the handkerchief to the servant beside him and strode outside.

Zheng Congying asked, "Second Uncle, where are you going?"

Zheng Qingshan walked very quickly and disappeared, leaving only his voice behind.

"Find Du Zhongli!"

He's going to support the female ruler.

These old bastards took advantage of my absence to bully the Queen.

Zheng Qingshan rode off to find Lord Du, and soon emerged from the Du residence looking refreshed.

The news quickly spread among the officials.