Read Novel Full Volume 1 Chapter 30
Volume 1 Chapter 30
Long Yi’s gaze fixed on Leng Jiu’s back, but she seemed oblivious. Mounting her horse with Lu Chang, they returned together. Long Yi finally withdrew his gaze and ordered twenty guards to escort Leng Jiu back.
During the hunt, assassins appeared, fortunately without harming the ministers and young ladies. Only about a hundred soldiers and palace servants died. Long Yi ordered the capital’s military and the Ministry of Justice to thoroughly investigate. He returned to the palace afterward. Many were shocked at the sight of the corpses during the day. To calm everyone, Long Yi hosted a banquet at night and dispatched a thousand soldiers the next day, easing their concerns.
Leng Jiu didn’t attend the banquet. Firstly, she didn’t want to, and secondly, she was feeling unwell due to her menstrual cycle. Despite being lively in the morning, she turned into a listless figure by night, unwilling to move from her bed.
Lu Chang smiled as he watched her. Despite being the Empress Dowager, she still retained a childlike quality. However, he found her charming. If the Emperor had seen her like this before, he wouldn’t have been so cold to her. Unfortunately, the Emperor had been deeply hurt, and there was likely no way to mend it now.
As the banquet ended, Long Yi, perhaps having drunk too much, arrived. He reeked of alcohol but managed to walk straight, albeit with a somewhat dazed expression.
“Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has retired for the night. Perhaps you should come back tomorrow,” Lu Chang advised, blocking Long Yi’s path.
Long Yi pushed Lu Chang aside impatiently, ignoring the worried looks of the palace attendants. He pushed open the door and staggered inside, walking towards Leng Jiu’s bed.
Leng Jiu, sensing his arrival, turned slightly and frowned as she watched him approach. “What are you doing, Your Majesty? Have you come here to make a scene because you’re drunk?”
“Your Majesty? Me?” Long Yi sneered, sitting down beside Leng Jiu’s bed and leaning over her, his hands on either side of her shoulders. He looked at her mockingly. “Do you still want to be the Empress? You readily offered yourself to that old fool with a mere gesture. Unfortunately, you were never meant to be Empress. You only lasted half a month before becoming the Empress Dowager. But you still want to be my Empress. Do you think I, Long Yi, am someone you can discard as you wish? I am the Emperor. I can have three thousand concubines. Why should I want you, this cheap woman?”
“I hate you! I wish I could kill you… But why did you get involved with Long Yueli? Provoking one wasn’t enough for you, you even went to seduce Hua Jinzhi and Leng Jinghua. Why are you so despicable?”
Smack!
Leng Jiu slapped Long Yi hard across the face, then swiftly got up, grabbing his body and throwing him over her shoulder. Long Yi’s tall figure landed heavily on the ground, startling the attendants outside.
“Your… Your Majesty…” Qu Gonggong, seeing Long Yi lying on the ground, paled in shock, trembling as he helped Long Yi up. “Your Majesty, wake up!”
Seeing Long Yi still unconscious, Qu Gonggong panicked. “Quick, someone! Fetch the imperial physician!”
Lu Chang approached Leng Jiu, who was standing by the bed, and brought her a fur cloak. “Your Majesty, please put on some shoes first, or else you might catch a cold!”
Leng Jiu ignored the shoes, walked over, pushed aside the surrounding palace maids, and glanced at Long Yi with a furrowed brow. “The Emperor has passed out from drunkenness. Help him back to his palace and have the physician check on him. There’s no need to make a fuss.”
Qu Gonggong looked at Leng Jiu, feeling somewhat doubtful. “But…”
“But what?” Leng Jiu gave a cold glance, exuding an imposing aura. “The Emperor is drunk. Instead of escorting him back to his sleeping quarters, you let him wander into my palace. This is a dereliction of duty. Do you need me to have the Ministry of Rites officials file the first impeachment against you, Qu Gonggong?”
“Th… This servant dares not!” Qu Gonggong knew this matter couldn’t be blown out of proportion tonight. He quickly had people assist Long Yi and hoped the Emperor would wake up without remembering tonight’s events, or else…
Seeing Long Yi being carried away, Lu Chang breathed a sigh of relief. “The Empress Dowager was frightened! Please return to rest, Your Majesty. It’s cold on the ground!”
After taking a few steps, Leng Jiu stopped abruptly. “Prepare a set of clothes. I want to bathe!”
“Yes!” Lu Chang waved to have the palace maids prepare while he accompanied Leng Jiu to the bath. Only heaven knew how scared he was when he saw Long Yi lying on the ground. If the Emperor had died here, both the Empress Dowager and he would be in trouble. Fortunately, it was just he fainted. Judging from the Empress Dowager’s demeanor, everything should be fine. His heart finally settled.
With Long Yi’s departure, the entire palace returned to its usual tranquility. Someone who had been standing in the shadows turned to leave but met a pair of probing eyes. Hua Jinzhi looked at her displeased. “What are you doing here?”
The person was Hua Yuxuan. She glanced at the palace behind her and then withdrew her gaze. “Shouldn’t you explain first why you’re here before asking me that question?”
“Today, the Empress Dowager was frightened because of me. When I didn’t see her at night, I came to check. Is there a problem?” Hua Jinzhi clearly didn’t believe her.
Hua Yuxuan obviously didn’t buy his explanation. “Brother, you’d better remember that no matter how she treated you in the past, she’s the Empress Dowager now. It’s best to keep your distance.”
Hua Jinzhi sneered. “You care about me? You’d better take care of yourself. By the way, I heard she gave you the Phoenix Seal. Should I congratulate you on getting what you wanted? The future Empress!”
With that, he left, leaving Hua Yuxuan with a pale face.
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Extra Note:
Seeking encouragement! Huajinzhi is tsundere but not naive, oh! The male lead in this story is not weak; each has his own abilities and strengths, hehe! By the way, why didn’t anyone care about what I did with Long Yueli yesterday? >_<
Long Yi is The Emperor
Long Yueli is The Imperial Uncle Or Prince Xuan
“Gonggong” (公公) is a title used to address eunuchs in imperial China. In this context, Qu Gonggong is likely a eunuch serving in the imperial palace.