Chapter 201: Chapter 92: The Emperor Who Puts on Airs
After Song Yunzhao welcomed him inside, she sensed the Emperor might not be in a good mood. It wasn’t usually obvious when he was displeased, but she had observed him carefully. When the Emperor was unhappy, his eyes would grow colder than usual.
Her vocabulary wasn’t refined enough to describe this coldness—it was something one could only feel, not put into words.
For instance, right now, she could tell with a single glance that the Emperor was displeased. But he didn’t want anyone to know and even wore a smile on his face.
’This is going to be a pain.’
Song Yunzhao pretended not to know a thing. She cheerfully welcomed the Emperor in, put on a curious expression, and asked, "Your Majesty, may I ask you something?"
Feng Yi turned his head to look at Song Yunzhao and noticed she seemed especially happy today, her eyes sparkling so brightly they could start a fire. A little curious himself, he asked, "What is it? Let’s hear it."
’Tsk, still putting on airs!’
Song Yunzhao leaned slightly closer to the Emperor and deliberately lowered her voice. "Your Majesty, will you be attending the Qixi Festival banquet in the harem?"
Feng Yi was stunned for a moment, then raised an eyebrow slightly. "Why do you ask, Concubine?"
Song Yunzhao couldn’t help but recall a famous saying from a later era: ’When they like you, they call you ’sweetie,’ but when they’re over you, it’s back to ’madam.’’
’This damn Emperor! So passionate in bed, calling me ’Zhaozhao’ over and over. But the moment he puts his clothes on, he becomes a cold stranger, calling me ’Concubine.’’
’Pah!’
"And what do you think?" Song Yunzhao asked in return, her gaze turning sultry.
Feng Yi: ...
’Seeing that look in Song Yunzhao’s eyes, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. They had been together long enough for him to recognize that this gesture, this expression, meant she was about to stir up trouble.’
Feng Yi immediately said, "A festival is a time for everyone to celebrate together."
Song Yunzhao maintained her smile and said meaningfully, "I understand."
Feng Yi looked at Song Yunzhao, his face full of suspicion. ’What does she understand?’
Song Yunzhao had no intention of enlightening him. Having gotten her answer, she immediately changed the subject and soon had the Emperor laughing. Before a quarter of an hour had passed, he carried her into the curtained bed.
’It was too difficult to raise the Emperor’s affection score. Song Yunzhao felt the chances of making him truly see her as one of his own were too slim and far too dangerous. It was better to use her current youth and beauty to stabilize their harmonious relationship. Then, hopefully, she could smoothly give birth to a little prince to secure her position, and only then work on maxing out his affection for her.’
’That way, in the future, even if her beauty faded, she could still maintain her footing with this unique bond.’
’Dating the Emperor was fine, but as for wanting a ’one true pair for a lifetime’ marriage, she felt it was highly unlikely she had either that lofty an ambition or that much fighting stamina.’
The next morning, Feng Yi woke up before Meng Jiuchang came to call for him. After collecting himself, he turned on his side to look at Song Yunzhao, who was sleeping soundly beside him.
He had a strange feeling. The Song Yunzhao from last night seemed different from before, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what had changed.
She had still smiled so happily, had still been so passionate, and had still been just as caring and clingy toward him. And yet, something just felt off.
But he couldn’t figure out what it was.
’Perhaps he was overthinking it. There had been too much conflict at court lately. His insistence on giving the Minister of the Ministry of Justice sole authority over disaster relief, with Song Nanzhen appointed as the Vice Envoy, was a particular point of contention. These days, the Left and Right Ministers were no longer as confrontational with each other as before; it seemed they were showing signs of joining forces.’
Lately, he had been poring over the memorials submitted by courtiers during the late Emperor’s reign. Before becoming Emperor, he had never been exposed to such matters. As an inexperienced Prince who had just taken power, the sheer volume and complexity of state affairs overwhelmed him.
He had never studied the art of governance, nor did he have a teacher to guide him in handling court politics. The courtiers thought he would be an easy Emperor to fool, and they plotted to sideline him and seize power for themselves.
He learned little by little, burning the midnight oil, enduring countless sleepless nights. Only he knew the true extent of his efforts.
He had been neglected by his father since childhood, bullied by his father’s favorite concubine and her beloved son. After ascending the throne, surrounded by courtiers and concubines with their own hidden agendas, he had developed a keen intuition about people.
That was why he now sensed something was off about Song Yunzhao. Yet, she was acting just like she always had, and for the moment, he couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.
His eyes remained on Song Yunzhao, gazing at her rosy-cheeked face as she slept. At this moment, she looked perfectly docile.
"Your Majesty, it is time to rise."
The sound of Meng Jiuchang’s voice calling for him to wake brought Feng Yi back to his senses. He immediately withdrew his gaze from Song Yunzhao and slowly sat up.
Once Song Yunzhao felt the Emperor’s gaze leave her, she let out a long, silent sigh of relief.
’The Emperor’s gaze was just too piercing. A moment ago, she hadn’t dared to move or let him know she was awake.’
After mentally preparing herself, she put on an act of being woken by Meng Jiuchang’s call. She followed the Emperor in sitting up, draped an outer robe over her shoulders, and covered her mouth with her hand as she feigned a yawn. Only then did she slowly say, "Let me help Your Majesty get dressed."
Feng Yi watched her yawn repeatedly, chuckled, and gently pushed her back down. "With your serving skills? You should just rest."
Song Yunzhao struggled to sit back up, her dewy eyes feigning indignation. "I’ll get the hang of it if I practice a few more times."
Feng Yi glanced sideways, studying Yun Zhao. Right now, she seemed no different from before.
’His gaze made her skin crawl. ’As expected of the male lead,’ she thought. ’I slacked off just a tiny bit last night—could he have actually noticed?’’
’Her heart was pounding, but her face showed nothing but righteous confidence. You might lose the battle, but never lose your composure. She absolutely could not let the Emperor see through her.’ She got out of bed barefoot, dressed, and walked out of the bedchamber to take the Dragon Robe from Meng Jiuchang’s hands.
Feng Yi watched Song Yunzhao’s puffed-up, angry face, which reminded him of a little pufferfish, and was instantly amused.
’Song Yunzhao felt like the Emperor was mocking her. ’So what?’ she fumed internally. ’So what if I’m not good at helping him put on a Dragon Robe with its dozen-plus layers? It’s not my fault. It’s not like I’ve ever had to dress anyone else in a Dragon Robe before!’’
Perhaps Song Yunzhao’s expression was a little too serious, because Feng Yi felt he might have teased her a bit too much. He took a step forward, took her hand, and said gently, "Why should you trouble yourself with such coarse tasks? Otherwise, what use would people like Meng Jiuchang be?"
Meng Jiuchang: ...
’He hadn’t done anything. How did he end up taking the fall for this?’
’Now he truly understood what it meant to be showered with favor. If Song Jieyu so much as frowned, the Emperor would want to iron the wrinkles out for her.’
’Can’t afford to offend her, can’t afford to offend her. At least, not right now.’
"His Majesty is right," Meng Jiuchang said, his smile practically overflowing. "Our Lady is merciful, leaving a path for us servants to walk. Otherwise, how could we possibly continue our duties as Imperial Servants?"
’Ever since His Majesty ascended the throne, he had never smiled so humbly at anyone other than the Emperor himself.’
Song Yunzhao felt that Meng Jiuchang was insulting her indirectly, but she had no proof.
Feng Yi watched as Yun Zhao’s confused gaze fell upon Meng Jiuchang, and at that moment, he truly couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Song Yunzhao: ...
Meng Jiuchang: ...
’What’s so funny about this?’
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