VBNWDW - Chapter 152

Chapter 152

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

"Her Majesty the Empress has run away from the palace!"

The panicked and fearful voice suddenly rang out, echoing through the vast, empty hall. The young eunuch had run so fast his outer robe had fallen off, but he didn't dare delay for even a second.

Zhong Jueyu, seated at the head of the hall, saw her expression change. She slammed her hands on the table and shot to her feet, shouting, "What did you say!"

The attendant dropped to his knees, prostrating himself on the floor as he wailed, "Her Majesty the Empress has run away from the palace!"

The officials standing nearby had varied expressions. Holding their memorials, they knew not whether to raise them or lower them, simply standing frozen in embarrassment.

Furious and exasperated, Zhong Jueyu raised a hand and swept all the portraits from her desk. The wooden scrolls clattered to the floor, and in the next second, Zhong Jueyu's curse followed, "Look at the fine mess you've made!"

The men below her were so frightened their legs went weak. They immediately fell to their knees, crying, "Please forgive us, Your Majesty! We subjects were only concerned for Your Majesty…"

Before he could finish, he was cut off. Zhong Jueyu roared, "It seems to me you're all just too idle! You had to stir up trouble in my harem just for your own amusement!"

This was a grave accusation. If the court historian recorded it, no matter how they tried to explain themselves, they would never escape the crime of disrupting the imperial harem. They would surely be cursed for generations to come.

The men trembled in fear, repeatedly kowtowing. "That was not our intention, Your Majesty!"

The slightly younger official at the very end saw his face shift through several colors. He suddenly steeled himself, puffed out his chest, and yelled, "Your Majesty's family affairs are also affairs of the state! We are merely worried for the royal lineage, worried for Great Liang!"

The others tried to stop him, but he shoved them away.

He blurted out in one breath, "Her Majesty has exclusively favored the Empress for ten years. The Empress should be content, yet she is so jealous!"

As his words fell, the hall instantly plunged into silence, leaving only the sound of coarse, urgent breaths echoing back and forth.

Truly, a newborn calf fears no tiger. To think they had sought an audience with the Emperor alongside such a reckless fool!

The other men were filled with regret, but there was no turning back.

Across from them, Zhong Jueyu was so angry she actually laughed. But the smile never reached her eyes, which were instead filled with an icy chill. The curve of her lips was cold and thin, finally revealing the sharp ruthlessness of the general who once charged the enemy on horseback.

She slowly descended the steps, her feet treading upon the tattered portraits one by one. The handsome or masculine faces were all obscured by gray footprints.

Each step was like the slice of a torturer's knife.

The men kneeling on the floor trembled all over. Even though Zhong Jueyu was benevolent and loved her people, ruled with justice, and had an excellent reputation both in court and among the common folk, she was still the emperor who held the power of life and death. A single word from her could annihilate all nine generations of their clans…

But the reckless fool still hadn't realized the danger, or perhaps he was doing it on purpose. To remonstrate with one's life was the simplest way for a civil official to be recorded in the annals of history, but it would be a lifelong stain on Zhong Jueyu's name.

He stuck his neck out. Though sweat dripped down his face, his voice did not yield an inch. "I am doing this for Great Liang!"

Zhong Jueyu finally stopped half a step away from him. Hearing his words, she suddenly let out a cold laugh and repeated, "A fine 'for Great Liang.'"

The man wanted to speak again, but he saw Zhong Jueyu lift her foot and kick him hard.

"Are you worthy?!"

Zhong Jueyu had practiced martial arts since childhood, so her kicks were naturally powerful. Although she had been somewhat neglectful in recent years, her foundation remained. Not to mention, this was a full-force kick delivered in a fit of rage.

The grown man was sent flying backward, sliding a good distance across the floor. His official's hat fell off in a pathetic display.

Zhong Jueyu's anger had not subsided in the slightest. She pointed at him and began to curse, "What kind of thing are you! How dare you speak of acting for Great Liang? Don't you have any idea what the Empress has done for Great Liang?"

"The glass tiles on your roofs, the charcoal braziers you use in winter, the canned rations supplied to the army—without her, do you think I could have conquered Great Chu by relying on a few sycophantic ministers like you, who only worry about my harem and fear I'm living too comfortably?"

Hearing the words "sycophantic ministers," the men's hearts, which had been in their throats, sank to the bottom of a valley, chilling them to the bone. They knew that they would likely never again be entrusted with important duties by Her Majesty in this lifetime.

Why did it have to be them? The last few times others brought it up, Her Majesty had simply waved her hand in refusal and dismissed the matter in a few words. But when it was their turn…

Zhong Jueyu's hands were trembling with rage. She cursed again, "For Great Liang? I'll give you a chance. Tell me, what have you done for Great Liang all these years!"

Since ascending the throne, Zhong Jueyu had rarely shown such emotion. Most of the time, her joy and anger were imperceptible, making her thoughts difficult to fathom. A moment like this, with her fury laid bare for all to see, was a first since her enthronement.

The reckless fool was finally starting to feel afraid. He opened his mouth but couldn't speak.

Zhong Jueyu gave a mocking smile and continued, "Since you can't say, I'll say it for you."

"Wang He, a Jinshi scholar from the sixth year of the Xuanwu era. In your first year, you were appointed as a Compiler of the sixth-junior rank in the Hanlin Academy. Six years have passed since then, yet your position has stagnated without the slightest change. When offering counsel in the past, you either hid in the back or spouted some useless sage-like platitudes."

Zhong Jueyu's tone shifted, growing colder as she said sarcastically, "How useful of you."

"Powerless to affect the politics of the court, you decided to turn your attention to the harem, is that it?"

Zhong Jueyu nodded. "I'm suddenly curious to know how many others in the court are like you, idling away their days and only engaging in these crooked schemes!"

"Relay my decree! Henceforth, every three years, Great Liang will conduct an assessment of all court officials. Those who fail will be stripped of all their duties and banished from the capital."

At these words, everyone was horrified. With this decree, wouldn't they be hated to death by the other officials? The official posts they could have held onto just by lying low were now at risk of being lost every three years.

Zhong Jueyu turned her head to the other side, looked at the men, and called them out one by one. "Yao Qianxing, Lu Wenjun, Zhao Junyi, Tian Lingxian—demoted by two ranks, suspended from duty and salary for half a year. Remain at home to reflect on your misdeeds. You are not to leave without a summons."

"As for Wang He…" Zhong Jueyu turned back to him. "Strip him of all positions. He is to get out of the capital by tomorrow and is forbidden from entering it for the rest of his life."

Zhong Jueyu pointed at the portraits on the floor and added, "Furthermore, order a thorough investigation into these portraits. Determine whether the men depicted colluded with these officials in an attempt to enter the harem through such means."

"If any collusion is found, they are to be punished according to the law, and their families will be barred from participating in the imperial examinations for three generations."

Everyone was aghast. This was the first time in the ten years since her ascension that Zhong Jueyu had been so severe. The only comparable instance was her handling of the Luo Family, who had tried to assassinate the former emperor, and their co-conspirators. Their past glories were stripped, their houses and lands confiscated, all their assets seized, and their descendants were forbidden from studying for the examinations for three generations.

There had been a rumor among the common folk that many families were implicated with the Luo Family, but only those who had intended to form a marriage alliance with them—those who had sought Luo Yueqing's hand—were punished.

In the past, everyone had dismissed it as baseless gossip. But now, recalling it, they felt it was highly possible. After all, in the past ten years, many people had offended Her Majesty. Some had even gone so far as to accuse her of murdering her brother and usurping the throne.

Yet Her Majesty had never blamed them, only had them taken away, and nothing more was heard of it.

Only when Luo Yueqing was involved would Zhong Jueyu become so enraged.

The men finally understood. Their faces turned ashen, knowing that any further pleading would be useless.

The reckless fool collapsed onto the floor. Zhong Jueyu had already preempted him by bringing up his years of inaction. Even if he were to smash his head against a wall now, he would only be remembered as a ridiculous clown, let alone have his name recorded in the annals of history.

Zhong Jueyu paid them no mind and shouted, "Attendants, prepare my carriage! I am going to find the Empress."

The attendant hastily kowtowed once and ran out of the hall.

Zhong Jueyu looked at another person and said, "Inform all the officials: as long as the Empress does not return, I will not return to the palace. All court affairs will be handled by Prime Minister Meng and the Crown Princess."

The ever-diligent Emperor was going to abandon her court and leave the palace over this matter!

Her Majesty was going to let them go down in history with an infamous reputation!

These men no longer had the strength to even kneel. They collapsed completely onto the floor. One of the older ones fainted from the shock.

They had not been physically tortured or harmed, but the memory of this day would be like a knife twisting in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

"Your Majesty…" Wang He opened his mouth, his eyes vacant and unfocused, as if speaking from pure instinct.

But Zhong Jueyu ignored him and strode outside, the hem of her robe, stirred by the wind, rustling loudly.

---

Outside the capital, at Xuanmiao Temple.

Black boots stepped onto the green stone stairs. Behind her, green mountains overlapped, and the crisp chirping of kingfishers filled the air. Stepping into this place again after ten years, her status and circumstances were vastly different, yet the scenery remained the same.

Zhong Jueyu waved away the Daoist master who tried to follow her and walked straight toward the small courtyard where they had once lived.

Luo Yueqing's status was different now. Even if she were to run away from the palace, a group of people would follow her, like Ruan He and Li Shigui. When they couldn't dissuade her, they simply stayed by her side, constantly sending word to Zhong Jueyu.

Before she even reached the door, she heard Li Shigui's exaggerated shouts. Even the usually composed Ruan He was yelling.

"Your Majesty, think twice! If you become a nun, what will Her Majesty do?"

"How could Her Majesty possibly agree? Don't even think about it! Hey! Hey! Don't do it!"

Zhong Jueyu's scalp tightened. She quickened her pace and pushed open the door.

Inside, it was utter chaos. Luo Yueqing had already changed into a Daoist robe and was chasing the old abbess with a prayer cushion in hand. Li Shigui and Ruan He were following behind, desperately trying to stop her.

The poor old abbess, in her seventies or eighties, had to dodge and weave, terrified that Luo Yueqing would kneel before her.

Hearing the noise, everyone turned their heads in unison.

Ruan He and Li Shigui let out a sigh of relief and called out for help, "Your Majesty."

The old abbess stopped in her tracks, clutching her chest, nearly unable to catch her breath.

Luo Yueqing, however, just snorted coldly and turned to walk into the room.

"All of you, withdraw for now," Zhong Jueyu said quickly, hurrying after Luo Yueqing.

The door was shut, but before it could be locked, it was pushed open.

"What are you doing?" Zhong Jueyu asked as soon as she entered, her expression a mixture of helplessness and exasperation.

The room's furnishings were just as they had been before. It was unclear whether Luo Yueqing had ordered someone to clean it upon her arrival, or if Xuanmiao Temple had been diligently maintaining it.

The person inside ignored her, walked directly to the wooden couch, sat down, and turned her back to Zhong Jueyu.

The people outside had already left. Zhong Jueyu's voice softened considerably, showing none of the cold severity from the great hall. She said gently, "Are you tired? Would you like some tea?"

After so many years together, they both knew exactly how to coax the other. First, let Luo Yueqing calm down, then bring up everything else.

The other woman still didn't answer.

Zhong Jueyu wasn't in a hurry. She walked over to stand in front of her.

On the low table were tea and a fruit platter prepared by Xuanmiao Temple, much more abundant than before, no longer just a single bunch of grapes.

But Zhong Jueyu ignored everything else. She plucked a red grape and, while peeling it, said in a low voice, "If you found the palace stifling, you should have just told me. Why did you abandon me and run off here all by yourself?"

Before Luo Yueqing had even said a word, she was already offering her a way out.

The fingers holding the grape were slender and well-defined, appearing like white jade against the fruit's flesh. The blue veins beneath the thin skin were all the more distinct. Coupled with her extraordinary bearing, the simple act of peeling a grape looked like some elegant art form.

Luo Yueqing glanced over casually, then quickly looked away. After being together for so long, she had much more self-control than before.

She said with deliberate calmness, "What is Your Majesty talking about? This humble Daoist has always belonged to Xuanmiao Temple. I have simply returned now."

Zhong Jueyu raised an eyebrow and played along good-naturedly. "Yes, yes. Master Qingyue has not been back to the temple for a long time. Now that you have finally returned, how does it feel?"

The translucent pulp, with its seeds removed, was held between clean fingertips and offered to the other's lips.

The scene was truly comical. It was hard to tell who the emperor was. The one in the dragon robe stood before the wooden couch, head bowed and eyes lowered, coaxingly feeding grapes. The one dressed as a Daoist sat on the edge of the couch, ignoring the other.

"Why don't you go feed your new consorts instead of coming here to disturb my cultivation?" Luo Yueqing's words were harsh, but her eyes were already on the grape.

Seeing this, Zhong Jueyu moved closer, almost touching the other's red lips, and whispered, "What new consorts? I have only one wife, you. It has always been so, and always will be."

Luo Yueqing snorted and finally relented, biting down on the grape.

But the other person didn't let go. Seizing the opportunity, she brushed her fingertips over the other's soft lips.

But the other refused to cooperate. After taking the grape, she pulled back slightly and said, "As the supreme ruler, how can Your Majesty have only one wife? You should hurry and listen to the court officials, take consorts early, and produce heirs."

Zhong Jueyu's brow furrowed slightly. She pinched her itching fingertips, picked up another grape, and carefully peeled it, coaxing, "They were just spouting nonsense. I've already given them a harsh reprimand. If anyone dares to mention it again in the future…"

Zhong Jueyu's voice unconsciously grew colder. "I'll have their heads."

She even suspected that her good temper over the years had led these people to believe they could pressure her.

Luo Yueqing shot her a sidelong glance and said sarcastically, "My, what imposing authority, Your Majesty."

The person who had just put on a stern face immediately lost her composure again. Zhong Jueyu said helplessly, "They went too far."

She offered the grape to Luo Yueqing's lips again and whispered, "Can you not be angry anymore, please?"

Luo Yueqing chewed on the grape but refused to back down, mumbling, "What is Your Majesty talking about? This humble Daoist has simply returned to her original place."

Zhong Jueyu's knuckles tightened, and her body under the wide robes stiffened.

The speaker was careless, but the listener took it to heart. For years, rumors had spread that Luo Yueqing was a little goddess from the heavens. Luo Yueqing had treated it as a joke and even teased Zhong Jueyu about it, but Zhong Jueyu had come to believe it more and more…

"Why did you stop peeling?" Luo Yueqing looked up, not understanding why the other had suddenly frozen. She hadn't had enough yet.

Zhong Jueyu snapped back to reality and looked down at her, but her tone was strange as she asked, "You still want to eat?"

Luo Yueqing nodded. "I don't know where they bought these grapes, but they taste quite good."

Especially after she had run around and her mouth was dry, the grapes were exceptionally thirst-quenching.

Zhong Jueyu reached out and took the bunch of grapes. She held them in her fingertips but didn't peel them. Instead, she explained, "There's an orchard behind Xuanmiao Temple. They probably grew these themselves."

The other person nodded casually, her eyes still fixed on the grapes, as if urging her on.

Zhong Jueyu said with an ambiguous tone, "No more peeling. How about we try a different way of eating them?"

"Hm?"

The other person was confused. She looked up, only to see the other bite down on a grape and then reach for her outer robe.

The robe, embroidered with a five-clawed dragon in golden thread, fell to the floor. Then, someone bent her legs, pressed down on the edge of the couch, and knelt on the other's lap, offering the grape she held in her mouth.

Over the years, Luo Yueqing had experienced this tactic many times, but she couldn't help but wrap her arms around the other's waist and lean down to take the grape.

It was surprisingly smooth, much easier than before.

Luo Yueqing held the grape in her mouth, a little puzzled, not understanding why Zhong Jueyu didn't fight her for it this time.

But Zhong Jueyu smiled, hooked a hand around her neck, and pressed close to her lips, whispering, "There are thirteen left."

Why bring that up for no reason?

Luo Yueqing grew more confused. The sweet pulp rolled on her tongue and was swallowed in a moment.

Warm breath coiled by her ear, growing heavier once more.

"The contents of those storybooks…" The alluring voice trembled slightly, falling clearly into her ear.

The hand around her waist suddenly tightened. Luo Yueqing had read that pile of storybooks until they were falling apart; how could she not know what Zhong Jueyu was talking about?

That person feigned a sigh. "It's just a pity that Master Qingyue has just returned to Xuanmiao Temple and will probably need to meditate quietly for a few days. These grapes can only be shared between you and me."

Luo Yueqing froze, then immediately said, "I'm not any Daoist master!"

She emphasized through gritted teeth, "I never even became a disciple! How can I be considered a member of Xuanmiao Temple!"

Zhong Jueyu smiled faintly. "Is that so? But just now, the Daoist master…"

This time, the other person was truly anxious. Although Zhong Jueyu indulged her, she had never agreed to this final step with the grapes, at most allowing just the grapes. Luo Yueqing had been thinking about it for ages. Now that she had finally relented, how could she let it slip away over something like this?

Her face fell, and she said pitifully, "Jinyan, I was wrong. I'll never think about this again."

"Oh?" The upturned phoenix eyes took on a seductive hue, and the corners of her lips curled into a teasing smile.

"I was just angry," Luo Yueqing stated her position again, her sincerity undeniable, wishing she could wag her tail to show her loyalty.

"No one will dare to mention this matter again in the future," Zhong Jueyu promised in a low voice. The hand on the back of her neck slid down, its fingertips cool.

Luo Yueqing hummed in agreement, but her attention was elsewhere. She turned her head and kissed Zhong Jueyu's lips, murmuring coaxingly, "I want to eat the grapes."

See, Her Majesty the Empress was so easy to please. As long as Her Majesty the Emperor paid a small price, even a little goddess would be pulled down to the mortal realm, unwilling to ever look back.

Zhong Jueyu, caught in the kiss, could only mumble, "Slower, these grapes are too, too big…"

Her voice carried an unspeakable shyness, impossible to associate with the person who had just argued with her ministers. But to Luo Yueqing, it was perfectly natural.

In Zhong Jueyu's eyes, she had always been the one and only, the special one.

It was impossible not to agree at a time like this. She smiled, her eyes crinkling, and said, "I know. The storybooks taught me."

Before she could finish, her words were smothered. Regardless of whether they were in a Daoist temple, talking about such things brought an indescribable sense of shame to this emperor who stood above all others.

Scalding breaths intertwined, robes fell into disarray. The newly acquired Daoist robe was not as fine as her previous garments, and in the frantic caresses, her skin was rubbed red.

Outside, the sun was brilliant. Luo Yueqing had thrown her tantrum in the morning, and Zhong Jueyu had rushed over by noon, so there was no hint of dusk. The room was brightly lit.

Fortunately, the rooms in Xuanmiao Temple still used paper-covered windows, sparing them the worry of an outsider bursting in and seeing the scene inside.

The clothes on the floor were piled up. Usually, Luo Yueqing didn't like such a fast pace, always wanting the clothes to stay on a little longer, but now she was tugging them off impatiently.

Sunlight fell on her bent calf, making the muscles beneath the pale, thin skin almost transparent. The muscles tensed slightly, trembling unconsciously, instinctively wanting to pull back but forced to remain still.

"Hiss…"

As the cool orbs slid inside, Zhong Jueyu couldn't help but lean back. Her arched waist was so slender it looked like the stem of a flower that could be snapped with a gentle pinch, swaying in a storm.

The other person muttered to herself, "One."

"Two."

The hand resting on her abdomen could faintly feel the curve of the spheres. They were pressed together, slightly stretching the thin skin.

"That's, that's enough," the other person finally couldn't help but protest, only to have another one pushed in the next second, followed by another muffled groan.

Luo Yueqing chuckled, being most disobedient at times like this. She muttered, "I think there's still room…"

What a greedy person, taking a mile when given an inch.

Zhong Jueyu was so exasperated she pressed down on her head, pushing it downward as she said angrily, "You finish eating first before you say anything else."

The hand on her abdomen deliberately pressed down.

The one who had been defiant just seconds ago weakened again. The hand propping her up nearly gave way, unable to support her.

Those few crystal-clear red grapes bumped and pressed against each other in the warm wetness. Even after being warmed, their presence was still distinct.

"I want to eat, but I need Your Majesty's help to be able to eat."

The one who had gotten her way yet still played innocent smiled, her eyes crinkling, and enunciated each word, "Will Your Majesty help me?"

Truly spoiled beyond measure.

But what could Zhong Jueyu do? It was her own doing, her own concession. No matter what, there was no possibility of regret.

The arm propping her up finally gave out, and she fell back.

Outside, there seemed to be the sound of footsteps, but they were shooed away by Ruan He and Li Shigui, who were guarding the door.

Whether Her Majesty could coax the Empress back to the palace depended on this moment. How could they let some tactless fools interrupt?

Watching the people leave, Li Shigui couldn't even be bothered to make a bet this time. After so many years, she had long lost all hope in Her Majesty.

She looked to the side and said lazily, "Do you think Her Majesty will be able to get out of bed tomorrow?"

Ruan He glanced at her and, with a rare smile, said, "What, you want to give it a try too?"

Li Shigui's expression changed. She suddenly stood up straight and said immediately, "Ruan He, you stay away from me."

Ruan He shook her head. "Tsk, that's not what you said last night when you were hugging me."

"Shut up!"

Inside the room, the person bit down on a grape. The soft cushion beneath her was already soaked through, and half a grape could be seen, glistening and wet, at the half-hidden entrance.

Before she could fully come down, the pulp was half-crushed, a much more difficult task than before.

Zhong Jueyu was frightened, gripping Luo Yueqing's wrist tightly, almost on the verge of tears. "What's your hurry? Can't you wait a moment!"

The other person wasn't worried at all. She deliberately pressed close to the other's ear, chewing the pulp forcefully, and whispered, "Then let me help Your Majesty, alright?"

Without waiting for an answer, knuckles probed inward, crushing the pulp completely.

The crying grew louder.

The two people outside exchanged a look and gazed up at the sky.

Looks like another day where Her Majesty will have to support her aching back.

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