Chapter 497: Extra 12: A Good Husband and Father, a Letter from Prince Yu

Chapter 497: Chapter 493: Extra 12: A Good Husband and Father, a Letter from Prince Yu

She subconsciously wanted to pour her heart out to her mother, but when she reached the doors of Chening Hall, she turned and walked away.

‘From this moment on, I must learn not to rely on anyone. Loneliness is the norm for a ruler, and I am determined to temper my own heart.’

So she changed into plain clothes and left the Imperial Palace, wandering aimlessly through the streets.

The streets were bustling and lively, filled with the clamor of voices. These were the people she was meant to protect.

A little girl with her hair in two topknots ran into view, and a hint of envy touched her gaze.

Once, she too had such carefree days, when she could run into her mother’s arms and be as spoiled as she liked.

Her eyes followed the child closely. The little girl was laughing and running about when she accidentally bumped into someone who had just stepped out of a carriage.

The man carried himself with an extraordinary air; it was clear he was a young nobleman from some distinguished family.

She had seen many men who could stun the world since she was a child. Her own father, the Emperor, was a man rarely found under the heavens. Her standards had long since been set incredibly high.

So she only gave him a passing glance.

But after that passing glance, she looked again.

‘His looks…’

‘…were passable, I suppose.’

The man was wearing moon-white robes, and the candied hawthorns the little girl was holding had gotten stuck to the front, staining a large patch.

The little girl knew she had caused trouble. Her lips trembled, and she burst out crying.

But she could tell the child was faking it; she had plenty of experience in that department, after all. The man had clearly noticed as well, and he raised an eyebrow.

Just as she expected him to either scold the girl or ignore her, he instead crouched down, took a pastry from his robes, and with a gentle smile, softly coaxed her.

The little girl quickly stopped crying. He patiently explained a few things to her and patted her on the head. In the end, the little girl, her cheeks flushed with shyness, watched him walk away.

She wasn’t sure why, but she followed him all the way to the Xiu Mansion.

‘No wonder I’ve never seen anyone like him in Lin’an. He must be from one of the nouveau riche families that just moved here.’

After that day, she began preparations for her ascension to the throne. Just when she thought she had forgotten the incident…

…she found herself thinking of him again during those exhausted nights when sleep would not come.

She also recalled how, during the day, people had discussed appointing an Imperial Consort after her enthronement.

Her father had gently told her not to rush, but her mother said that when you meet a man you fancy, you must seize the opportunity. A good match waits for no one.

‘Fancy? I wouldn’t go that far.’

‘I just think a man like that would be well-suited to help me raise my children.’

‘Most of my energy must be spent on the court and matters of state. The choice of an Imperial Consort must be made with extreme care.’

‘Who doesn’t have some regrets from their childhood?’

‘My child must have the best father in the world.’

The Empress’s edict for the selection of consorts was issued, but the Xiu Family did not participate. She sent someone to inquire and received news that the second son of the Xiu Family had contracted a strange illness and was unable to serve the ruler.

She sent Wang Wanbai to investigate. The result was just as she had expected: Xiu Ningchuan was unwilling to enter the Imperial Palace and had gone so far as to take a potion to disfigure himself.

‘My mother has many miraculous remedies. Curing him will be easy.’

‘Actually, Xiu Ningchuan’s unwillingness to enter the palace is a good thing. Without affection, one can remain calm and composed. I certainly don’t want a resentful consort languishing in the palace.’

But things rarely go as planned.

「The next day.」

After Empress Chenzhao concluded the morning court session, she handled state affairs in the Diligent Governance Hall, not returning to the Purple Extreme Palace until late at night.

The palace had gained a resentful consort after all.

His resentment was palpable enough to blow the glazed tile roof right off the hall.

Empress Chenzhao asked in surprise, “You’re still here?”

Xiu Ningchuan sat in the hall, dark circles ringing his eyes. He stared at her. “Your Majesty said you were going to talk to me today.”

Empress Chenzhao said, “Talk about what?”

Xiu Ningchuan thought she had forgotten again. The Empress was often muddled at night, and would deny everything in the morning.

He reminded her, “The story of why Your Majesty chose me from over two hundred young lords.”

Empress Chenzhao was wide awake now, her mental defenses on high alert. She smiled. “Didn’t you say We were taken with your beauty? You were right.”

Xiu Ningchuan asked plaintively, “Is that all?”

Empress Chenzhao said, “Let Us think… Yes, there is something else.”

Xiu Ningchuan asked, “What is it?”

The Empress’s lips curled. “You’re reassuring.” She added an explanation, “I feel at ease entrusting you with the matter of raising our children.”

Xiu Ningchuan frowned. “So that’s why Your Majesty chose me? Simply because you think I’d be a good husband and father?”

Empress Chenzhao gazed at him, a flicker in her eyes.

‘Sleeping beside him, I also feel at ease.’

‘No one can soothe my anxieties the way he can.’

But that was something the Empress would never say out loud in the clear light of day.

The Imperial Consort was angered away by the Empress yet again.

This time, Xiu Ningchuan stood on his pride and didn’t bring Zhenzhen with him.

*

「Xishan.」

Ji Qingwu looked at her son-in-law, who had appeared before her again in less than a month.

Her expression was complicated. “Ning Chuan, I’ll stand up for you. What has Zhaozhao done this time?”

Xiu Ningchuan simply smiled and drank his soup, offering praise. “I was just missing the lotus root and pork rib soup here, Mother-in-law. It’s so fresh and savory. One sip makes all my troubles disappear.”

Having not brought his little granddaughter along, Xiu Ningchuan found himself out of favor with Zhao Mingyan.

Seeing the sullen look on her husband’s face, Ji Qingwu nudged Zhao Mingyan with her elbow.

She whispered, “It’s obvious Ning Chuan has been wronged. Stop making that face.”

Zhao Mingyan took a sip of soup. “Everyone has grievances. Running here every time he feels wronged is just ridiculous.”

Ji Qingwu took the soup bowl from in front of him. “You went back to the Ji Family to complain to my father. Have you forgotten that?”

That was ancient history.

Ji Qingwu had pressed him about when he’d first fallen for her, but he refused to say, trying to charm his way out of it instead.

Ji Qingwu hadn’t blown up at the time, but while he was holding court, she had taken their two children—and the little one in her belly—and snuck back to her family home.

After court, Zhao Mingyan heard Fanghua’s report and ordered someone to stop Ji Bo Lian at the palace gates. The two of them then went to the Ji Family residence together.

On the way, who knows what sweet nothings Zhao Mingyan whispered to his father-in-law.

Not only did Ji Qingwu receive a thorough scolding, but she was sent packing that very night.

Yuan Heng and Jiu Jiu, however, were allowed to stay and play at the Ji Family’s home for several days.

Ji Qingwu only figured it out later. Zhao Mingyan had most likely promised to let his grandchildren stay for a few days, and for that, Mr. Ji had sold her out.

Zhao Mingyan took the soup bowl from her. “I was in the right in that matter.”

Ji Qingwu snorted. “You’re the Emperor. Of course you’re always right.”

Speaking of which, Ji Qingwu could completely sympathize with Xiu Ningchuan’s plight.

Although Chenzhao didn’t have a disposition as cold and stern as Emperor Wu Su, being with her still came with considerable pressure.

As someone with experience, Ji Qingwu said decisively, “Ning Chuan, you stay right here. Don’t you go back until Zhaozhao comes to get you herself.”

But Xiu Ningchuan stayed for seven straight days, and there was still no word from the Imperial Palace.

In truth, Xiu Ningchuan had come hoping to learn from them, to observe how the former Emperor and Empress interacted, hoping to pick up some pointers.

He hadn’t expected Ji Qingwu to keep him here; even if he wanted to leave now, he couldn’t.

On the eighth day, there was still no news from the Imperial Palace.

But a letter arrived from Prince Yu in the Northwest.