Chapter 394: Chapter 392: Dealing with Everyone Who Upsets Her
Shen Yinning tightly held the folding fan.
The man’s presence was heavy, his brows and eyes were shadowed.
He rarely spoke to her with such weighty words.
Shen Yinning lowered her thin eyelids and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Sorry, I overlooked your feelings."
Cui Ji looked at her with knitted brows.
The pear wood official hat chair was spacious, the young girl sitting on it was enveloped by his shadow, inexplicably small and pitiable.
He suspected that he had spoken too harshly to her, a trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes, but due to principles, he did not apologize.
He turned around, lowered his head, and slowly wiped off the orange juice from his palm with a handkerchief, softening his voice: "You can’t hide the fact that you’re pregnant, I’ve already informed Shangguan. She doesn’t know the child is from the palace, she just thinks it’s mine. Take good care of yourself, you don’t need to worry about matters between her and me."
Shen Yinning looked at the floor tiles.
Cui Ji’s shadow was cast there.
Lonely.
She whispered, "I understand."
The next day.
Cui Ji was true to his word and directly submitted all the evidence regarding Gao Zheng’s crimes.
After Lu Ying reviewed it, he showed no particular reaction, stripped Gao Zheng of his official position, and asked the Ministry of Justice to handle the interrogation.
Lu Ying returned to the Imperial Study from the morning court, it was already near noon.
Huo Mingyan, carrying a food box, personally came to deliver the meal: "I heard from someone that Your Majesty stripped Gao Zheng of his position and threw him into the Imperial Prison?"
Lu Ying responded with a "hm".
Huo Mingyan personally set up the food: "I heard that this Gao Zheng, Master Gao, was once the husband of Princess Zhaoning. I also heard palace attendants gossiping that the marriage between Princess Zhaoning and Gao Zheng was personally arranged by Your Majesty to bring the princess back from Gan State to the Capital. I don’t know if it’s true, only instructed them not to talk nonsense."
Lu Ying sat down, showing no expression.
Huo Mingyan carefully observed his eyes and brows, but even with her expertise in observing expressions and sentiments cultivated by her grandmother, she couldn’t discern anything.
She sat across from Lu Ying, the Imperial Kitchen’s dishes on the table were extremely exquisite and tasty.
The life in the Capital is naturally more affluent than outside the border.
However...
She had thought marrying her cousin and becoming the Empress was her lifelong wish, but now that it was fulfilled, she didn’t feel as happy as she imagined.
Her cousin treated her very well.
But that kind of kindness was not the kind she hoped for.
Her cousin treated her with great respect, anyone would praise how perfectly in sync they were, but it wasn’t the kind of harmony she wanted.
She observed her cousin’s interactions with the other concubines in the harem, her cousin treated everyone equally well, sharing his affection evenly, and the tributes from all directions were distributed in accordance with palace rules, even visiting concubines was strictly according to palace regulations.
There was no favoritism, naturally, there was no partiality.
Huo Mingyan also sent people to inquire about her cousin and Shen Yinning’s matter.
In the years she wasn’t involved, her cousin did all sorts of crazy things for Shen Yinning, made exceptions to transfer Gao Zheng to the Capital for her, seized a minister’s wife disregarding reputation and principles for her, and there were even rumors that when the Capital’s lavish and the Lamp Sea Bodhisattva were burned, it was Shen Yinning’s doing, but her cousin not only helped her cover it up but even found a scapegoat for her from death row.
The cousin described in those stories seemed completely unlike the aloof cousin she knew!
While serving food to Lu Ying, Huo Mingyan laughed, "Princess Zhaoning and Gao Zheng have been married for many years. If Gao Zheng is sentenced to death, I wonder if the princess would feel heartbroken. Since Your Majesty and the princess once had a relationship, you should also consider the princess’s feelings and find a way to pardon Gao Zheng."
Lu Ying ate calmly, "The Empress is indeed virtuous."
"I share in Your Majesty’s joys and worries," Huo Mingyan served him a bowl of soup, "As long as Your Majesty is happy, I am willing to do whatever you ask."
Lu Ying did not take the soup she handed over.
He had barely eaten anything yet directly put down his chopsticks.
While rinsing his hands in the water basin brought by De Sun, he said, "If that’s truly the case, I ask the Empress to remove the ears you have placed in the morning court."
Gao Zheng’s dismissal was only half an hour ago.
Not only did Huo Mingyan know so quickly, but she also specifically hurried over from the harem.
He looked up, his narrow eyes dark and gloomy: "I have not treated the Empress poorly, nor have I mistreated the Huo Family. I will not forget the Huo Family’s contributions, but the Empress and the Huo Family should also remember the duties of a subject, don’t extend your reach too far."
Huo Mingyan’s cheeks paled suddenly.
She was accustomed to freedom outside the border and often involved in military affairs.
She had forgotten that in the Capital, the harem must not interfere with politics.
She held her breath and quickly knelt on the ground with the palace maids: "I wrongfully discussed state affairs, I admit my mistake."
Lu Ying turned his face coldly and got up to leave.
Huo Mingyan’s knees went weak, and she only stood up with the help of the palace maids.
She looked in the direction Lu Ying left, her brows deeply furrowed, then stared at De Sun, who remained in the Imperial Study: "Eunuch De, is this how it is between His Majesty and Princess Zhaoning too?"
De Sun: "..."
Goodness, he was a step too late!
How could he answer that?!
Working people have lives too!
He braced himself, forced a wry smile, and said, "Replying to the Empress, when His Majesty and the princess are alone, no one is allowed to serve inside, so I do not know!"
Huo Mingyan’s expression twisted for a moment.
She and her cousin had never been alone.
Even on the fifteenth of the first month, there were palace maids and Eunuchs inside the hall, serving in accordance with palace regulations, who would come forward at the appointed time to remind, saying things like to take care for the imperial body and needing to attend court tomorrow, those pointless words.
Her cousin treated Shen Yinning...
Ultimately, it was different.
What kind of woman is Shen Yinning?
The young girl that Huo Mingyan was thinking of was currently accompanying Shangguan Min in reading.
The late summer heat was intense, and she did not want to study.
But Shangguan Min said she learned a fetal education secret recipe from her mother, claiming that after using it, the child would surely be exceptionally talented.
Shangguan Min spoke with great conviction: "My mother used this secret recipe when she was pregnant with me. See, I may not be as learned as the Great Scholar, but I am still known as a talented woman. You and your husband are both intelligent, the child you carry is inherently smart, and with my secret recipe, they could become a Great Scholar and even write works to be passed down for generations."
Shen Yinning lay on the desk.
She suspected that it was because the Prime Minister’s wife used that so-called secret recipe that Shangguan Min turned into the bookworm she is today.
She flipped through the pages idly: "What if the child is born and doesn’t like reading, then what?"
"How can that be?!" Shangguan Min exclaimed wide-eyed in disbelief, "I absolutely will not allow them not to love reading! Quick, quick, open the book, let’s start reciting to them. Recite for two hours daily and copy an hour’s worth of the Four Books and Five Classics, and they will surely internalize it and learn faster than other children in the future."
Shen Yinning: "..."
So painful.
Why did she have to become sisters with Shangguan Min!
When Cui Ji passed by the opposite corridor, he saw the two reading together under the tree shade in the courtyard.
The princess had her head down, almost falling asleep.
The attendant whispered, "Should we inform the princess about Gao Zheng’s imprisonment? I hear the Gao Family is now seeking help everywhere and may soon turn to the princess."
Cui Ji gently stroked the jade pendant at his waist: "Those filthy names, she doesn’t need to hear them anymore. I will take care of all those who make her unhappy."