Chapter 2: The Imperial Court

  Zi Ruoye half-opened her drowsy eyes, and was summoned to the early court by Xiao Shunzi. This really made it hard for her to muster up any energy. Wearing a purple robe with golden edges and embroidered with elegant wood sorrel flowers, she carelessly looked at the crowd of women, lazily yawning as she waited along with everyone else for the arrival of this body's older sister, the Empress of Purple Mystique, Zi Yanran.

  "Did the prince not rest well last night?" asked the Minister of War, who was standing beside him, noticing that Ziyue occasionally yawned. He guessed in his heart that the prince had probably spent too much time in places with many beauties these past few days, and although he looked down on this behavior, as a fellow official and given the other's status as a prince, he still had to ask politely.

  "Ah..." replied lazily, "Minister of War, you have no idea how beautiful the woman's figure was last night." Zi Ruoye had a lingering aftertaste, and Minister of War looked at her with an even more disdainful expression.

  Last night, Yun Cong was indeed very good. She helped him massage his feet every day, treating illnesses and preventing them when he was healthy. A flash of light passed through her eyes, but her expression remained as usual. It seemed like she couldn't wait to return to the warm and fragrant embrace and fight another 300 rounds.

  Just as I was about to say something, I heard the Empress Dowager arrive, and everyone knelt down...

  "Long live the Queen, long live, long live!" As expected, no matter which dynasty, as long as it's an emperor, they all want to last for thousands of years and live forever. At first, Zǐ Ruò Yè was worried that the slogans were inconsistent and would be seen through, but she didn't expect that she had overthought things.

  She was dressed in a golden brocade robe with an embroidered peony, the king of flowers, exuding an air of nobility and majesty.

  "Attention." Ziyu looked around at the officials standing below, but her gaze stopped on Ziruo Ye's direction. It was rare to see this younger sister attending court today.

  Who would have thought that Zi Xuan, the fifth king, who never attended court during the day but always played the sheng at night, would actually appear in the imperial court today, and it was indeed a great surprise for her.

  Feeling Zi Yanran's gaze, Zi Ruoye also met her gaze, flashing a smile at her, with a row of white teeth that were dazzling in the sunlight.

  Ziyan hastily withdrew her gaze, this imperial sister had become strange and eccentric since she fell into the water and woke up a year ago, although she was still lecherous, but unexpectedly even wine had been added to her vices. What made her even more puzzled was that she was about to thoroughly investigate this matter, but was stopped by Ziyueye.

  "Your Majesty, I have a matter to report." Minister Liu stepped forward, her body still strong and healthy despite being over fifty. Minister Liu had spent her entire life working hard for the country of Purple Mystery, and could be called a great minister of her generation. Unfortunately, she had no daughters, both of her husbands having given birth to sons, and her eldest son, Liu Qingyue, was none other than the current Empress Feng.

  Liu Qingyue, as his name suggests, is indeed elegant and refined like the moon. Even after being favored in the palace, he has maintained the dignity befitting a phoenix emperor, allowing Zi Yanran to bask in the gentle rain and dew. Therefore, Zi Yanran loves Liu Qingyue even more, for without him, how could she have brought peace to the inner palace? And without peace in the inner palace, how could one govern the country well?

  "Prime Minister Liu, is there something I can help you with?" Zi Yanran was very respectful to this imperial father-in-law, firstly because of his hard work and achievements, and secondly for the sake of Liu Qingyue's face.

  "It's just... " Minister Liu's old face turned red, if it weren't for that dead little brat Qing Yu, she would have to propose in front of the palace. It really made her angry enough to die, and he even threatened her that if she didn't agree, he would die in front of her. If Nian'er hadn't been holding onto her, she really wanted to break his leg!

  Ziyan frowned, the prime minister had always been straightforward in his advice, she was used to speaking directly after all these years, but today he stuttered.

  "I hope Your Majesty will help this old minister's unfilial son to get married." Minister Liu gritted her teeth, knelt down on both knees, since that little scoundrel was almost driving her to death, but she only had two sons and wouldn't spare anyone else!

  "Arranged marriage?" Zi Yan was taken aback, remembering that Liu Chengxiang's son is also eighteen this year, but has been waiting for a wife in his chambers. Men are usually married by the age of sixteen, and Yue'er had already entered her palace at fifteen. But didn't the young son of the Liu family not have a fiancée?

  "Yes! Your humble servant dares to think that Your Majesty wants a marriage contract for Yu'er."

  "Then... who is she going to marry?" Zi Yanran slightly furrowed her brow, her gaze falling on Zi Ruoye. The young daughter of the Liu family was originally intended to be betrothed to Ruoye. Now that Ruoye was seventeen, there wasn't a single servant girl in the manor, and although she had a flirtatious nature, she had never seen her bring anyone into the manor.

  Zi Ruoye felt uneasy under Zi Yanran's occasional glances, what did this arranged marriage have to do with her? She had never met the youngest son of the Liu family, only heard that he was the object of many women's fervent pursuit.

  I really want to drink a cup of green plum wine... Zi Ruo Ye ignored the gaze of Zi Yan Ran, but her mind also drifted to the wine cellar at home. Unexpectedly, although Zi Ruo Ye didn't drink wine, there were many good wines hidden in the wine cellar at home.

  "She is the daughter of General Zhen Nan." Minister Liu said with some discontent, who doesn't know that she and the general have never gotten along, didn't expect that young man to actually like the daughter of her arch-nemesis, it's really... forget it! At her age, if her son can be happy then that's better than anything.

  Upon hearing this, Zi Yan's expression changed and she furrowed her brow. Li Yu, the daughter of General Zhen Nan, was indeed a good woman, with a hint of her mother's elegance from back then. However, in her heart, she still hoped that Liu Qingyou would marry the princess.

  "What do you think, Ye?"

  Liu Chengxiang was taken aback, as the Emperor neither refused nor agreed, so why did he ask about the meaning of the Fifth Prince?

  Zi Ruoye looked at Zi Yanran with a puzzled expression, asking her what else she could do. Although she couldn't understand Zi Yanran's meaning, she still took another step forward. "A talented man and a beautiful woman, one literary and one martial, can play the zither and dance with swords, and can also talk about love under the moonlight. My sister thinks they are very well-matched."

  She had neither seen Li Yu nor Liu Qingyou, but it should also be reasonable to say so.

  However, the people present did not think so. The Fifth Prince knew about the man's romantic escapades, but unfortunately, apart from Zi Yanran, there was only Zi Ruoye in the Imperial Family of Zixuan, and the rest were all princes. Coincidentally, those who could help were useless, and they spent their days indulging in pleasure-seeking activities.

  "This matter... will be discussed again." Zi Yan's brow furrowed, but in her heart she was not pleased with Zi Ruoye's response. "Let's stop here for today. Chancellor, stay behind."

  All the ministers bowed and left after a brief ceremony. Zi Ruoye also wandered aimlessly on the main road, in the imperial palace gardens, every place was uniquely crafted, with artificial hills and rocks, and the most famous Bili Lake in the palace was breathtakingly beautiful. The lake used running water, so it was clear all year round, and Zi Ruoye stood by the lake, watching the fish swim leisurely back and forth in the pool.

  I knew she wouldn't come today, and it's rare for her to come once, but she was actually treated as a monster. Although I'm not very good at building relationships, the etiquette between monarchs should still be observed. I didn't expect Ziyuanran to look like she saw a ghost either, it's better to just sleep directly. She took out the small wine bottle from her bosom and drank a mouthful, fragrant! The wine doesn't choke the nose, and it also has the fragrance of plum blossoms.

  This small wine jug was specially made when she discovered the underground wine cellar, it won't spill wine when placed in her pocket, the craftsman's hands are also clever, and the jade wine jug is even more flavorful when drinking wine. The whole body of the bottle is crystal clear, and the spout can be done without a single drop of wine spilled.

  Zi Ruoye was like a person who had been drunk all year round, walking also swaying and not walking in a straight line. Under her three-step rhythm, she slowly walked to the front door, where Xiao Xiang was already waiting for her.

  "Your Highness, you're drinking again at this early hour." The young servant couldn't help but chatter on when he saw the wine jug in Zi Ruoye's hand. After their master woke up, he was no longer as he used to be, and was extremely kind to his subordinates. Although he still had a roving eye outside, towards the small servants in the mansion, he would only occasionally say a few joking words and never did anything excessive.

  "Heh heh, no problem." He flipped over and got on the car, thinking about where to go next, when he heard the young servant ask where they were going next.

  "Go to Penglai Pavilion." This morning, he didn't even have time to bid farewell to Yun Ning, and he hastily left. The young servant responded with a sound, and then drove the horse-drawn carriage in the direction of Penglai Pavilion.

  But the remaining Liu Chengxiang was staring at each other, Liu Chengxiang waited for a long time and didn't see Ziyuan have any expression, finally couldn't help but ask, "Is it not just the emperor who left the old minister behind what is the matter?"

  "What do you think of Wakaba?"

  Liu Chengxiang was suddenly asked, his whole body tensed up, just as he was about to say something, Zi Yanran said again, "Chengxiang, some things can't be judged by appearance."

  Liu Chengxiang couldn't understand what Zi Yanran meant, and he really didn't like Zi Ruoye. Women being fond of men wasn't a big deal, but she was born lazy and sloppy, just like a rotten wood. In the imperial court, she was also drunk all the time, without any dignity as a prince's wife.

  "I dare not make arbitrary comments on whether the king is good or bad."

  What a dare not make arbitrary assertions. Zi Yanran faintly glanced at Liu Chengxiang, but gave Liu Chengxiang a kind of frightening feeling.

  "Chancellor, I intend to bestow the young daughter of the Liu family upon Ruo Ye as his queen."

  "Your Majesty, this...this is absolutely unacceptable." How could they let Yu'er marry Zi Ruoye? Liu Chengxiang didn't even think before hastily kneeling down. "This old minister dares to request that Your Majesty retract the imperial decree."

  If You'er were to marry into the Wang family, how could she compromise with that child's temperament? Besides, You'er already had someone in her heart.

  Ziyan frowned, "Does the Prime Minister think that the majestic prince is not worthy of your family's little one?" Although Ruo Ye was born with a masculine appearance and did not have the robust beauty of the women of Zixuan country, it was also because at this time she had once made Zi Ruo Ye very worried.

  "No, no."

  "That's settled then. Since that's the case, let's prepare for Liu Qingyao to get married after returning. The third day of next month is a good day, I will issue an imperial edict tomorrow. I'm also tired, you may withdraw."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the imperial marriage." The Prime Minister Liu seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, dragging his body slowly as he retreated. How was he supposed to tell You'er about this? That child had a fiery temper, what was he to do now? The marriage had been settled, but it wasn't with that person after all.

  Ziyan gazed at the back of Liu Chengxiang, "Chengxiang, one day you will thank me. Yue'er, do you think what I did this time was right?"

  Liu Qingyue walked out, although seeing her mother's appearance made him anxious, but the emperor must have had his reasons for doing so. He walked up and gently smoothed out the wrinkles on her forehead with his slender fingers, "Moon only knows that the emperor would not do anything to hurt Moon."

  Ziyan suddenly smiled lightly, "How come you're not afraid that I'm trying to frame your Liu family? After all, the God of Calculation said that the Phoenix Throne was supposed to be taken by your younger brother."

  It's true that when Liu Qingyou was born, the fortune teller said those four words: "Phoenix will fly". The entire Liu family thought Liu Qingyou would be the future empress, but unexpectedly it was Liu Qingyue. And the fortune teller never appeared again. Now that Zi Yanran is betrothed to Zi Ruoye, someone with a mind for intrigue might make something of it. When Liu Qingyue heard this, she smiled lightly and said, "Yes, so why did the emperor choose to marry Yuer instead?"

  "The Buddha said... cannot be spoken." Smiling and embracing his slender waist, he didn't say a word.