novelhk Chapter 73 Entering the Palace
Chapter 73 Entering the Palace
"uncle--"
When Pei Rujing arrived at Linhua Palace, she had already received instructions from Emperor Shun'an, and none of the palace servants at the entrance stopped her.
She walked straight into Linhua Hall, saw Emperor Shun'an behind his desk, a big smile appeared on her face, and she quickly ran up to him.
Emperor Shun'an feigned displeasure: "I do not have a niece who has not shown her face for months."
Pei Rujing: "But my uncle didn't summon me to the palace."
Emperor Shun'an glanced at her: "You know the palace better than you do the princess's residence. Do I need to summon you?"
"How can that be the same? I'm married now, and my uncle summoned me, so I have a reason to leave the manor."
Pei Rujing became increasingly convinced of her own reasoning, and confidently countered Emperor Shun'an's question: "Uncle hasn't seen me for months, and doesn't he miss me? Does that mean he doesn't love me anymore?"
Emperor Shun'an burst into laughter: "Hahaha—"
It's still the same familiar Pei Rujing.
The county magistrate never admits her mistakes; she only comes up with a bunch of reasons to shift the blame onto others.
Pei Rujing retorted, "Uncle, what are you laughing at? You haven't answered me yet!"
Emperor Shun'an lightly tapped her forehead: "You little ungrateful thing, your uncle has given you so many gifts, isn't that enough to spoil you?"
Although we haven't met in the past few months, Emperor Shun'an has bestowed gifts upon me several times.
Pei Rujing was used to receiving gifts from Emperor Shun'an, but she simply had them put into her private treasury as usual, without paying any attention to what they were.
Pei Rujing refused to admit that she had forgotten, saying, "Then it must be that the gift from my uncle wasn't good enough."
Emperor Shun'an was taken aback, then turned to look at Zhou Wangliang: "Did you hear that? Our Princess Anhe is not satisfied with what you chose."
Zhou Wangliang bowed and lowered his eyes: "It is this servant's fault for failing in his duties."
Pei Rujing waved her hand: "Forget it, this county princess is magnanimous and won't hold it against you."
Emperor Shun'an smiled at her and said, "Anhe, whatever you want, your uncle will give it to you."
Pei Rujing really didn't want anything, mainly because she lacked nothing.
Every year, Emperor Shun'an would always give Pei Rujing a share of the various exotic items that the smaller countries below would offer as tribute.
Every year, all sorts of rare jewelry and fabrics were sent to the Princess's residence like a flowing river, but Pei Rujing never had any desire for external things.
I like everything my uncle gives me.
Emperor Shun'an joked, "Not picky anymore now?"
Pei Rujing smiled but didn't say anything.
Emperor Shun'an rose and led Pei Rujing to a side hall: "Your husband is taking his last exam today, aren't you worried? And you still have the mind to come see me?"
Pei Rujing stood beside Emperor Shun'an with her hands behind her back, saying, "I miss my uncle, so I came to see him. I can't help him with his exams anyway."
Emperor Shun'an sat on the couch and said, "You really are carefree."
Pei Rujing stood behind Emperor Shun'an, massaging his stiff shoulders: "If you don't pass this time, you can do it next time. Anyway, with your uncle here, I'm not afraid of being wronged."
Emperor Shun'an was somewhat surprised: "This isn't like you."
Based on his understanding of Pei Rujing, he knew that since she cared so much about her image, she must want Wen Zongji to get into high school.
Pei Rujing thought of what she had heard in the past few days: "Being healthy is the best thing."
Emperor Shun'an rarely heard such words from Pei Rujing, and he smiled and said, "It's different after marriage; Anhe has become so sensible."
Pei Rujing immediately stopped massaging him: "Does Uncle mean I was ignorant before?"
Emperor Shun'an quickly reassured him, "You were sensible before, and you're even more sensible now."
Pei Rujing then continued massaging him: "Uncle, don't always be so busy dealing with memorials, you should get more rest too."
Emperor Shun'an appreciated his niece's filial piety: "The affairs of the state rest on my shoulders alone; I should be responsible to the people."
"What's the use of having a cabinet if they can't help my uncle?"
Emperor Shun'an laughed and said, "No matter how useful the cabinet is, I cannot entrust all political affairs to them. After all, this country belongs to our family."
Pei Rujing thought so too: "Then let's leave it to my cousin. He's almost fifteen years old, he should be more sensible and help his uncle share the burden."
Zhou Wangliang lowered his head even further, thinking to himself that Princess Anhe was really bold, daring to talk about such a sensitive topic.
The relationship between the emperor and the crown prince has always been a sensitive one.
The emperor would do his best to cultivate the crown prince, hoping to nurture an outstanding successor, but at the same time he worried that the crown prince's power would grow stronger and dilute the emperor's power too early.
Emperor Shun'an was a wise and magnanimous ruler, but no one dared to bring up such a sensitive matter with him.
The Crown Prince is currently observing government affairs within the cabinet and does not have the authority to handle memorials.
Emperor Shun'an's expression did not change; instead, he smiled and said, "You know he's only fourteen years old. Aren't you afraid of tiring him out?"
Pei Rujing said sweetly, "Well, there's nothing I can do. I feel sorry for my uncle, so I can only let my cousin work out a bit. He's young, so even if he gets too tired, he'll recover. If it really doesn't work, I'll make him some medicinal food. The medicinal food prescribed by the imperial physician is quite effective; my husband has been using it for a few months and his health has improved a lot."
Seeing that she even revealed what happened in the room, Emperor Shun'an sighed helplessly: "I was just praising you, but you still haven't grown up."
Emperor Shun'an had no idea that Pei Rujing and Wen Zongji had not yet consummated their marriage. Pei Rujing spoke so innocently; he had simply misunderstood.
Pei Rujing hated it when people said she hadn't grown up, and retorted, "I'm all grown up! My uncle and mother are just as annoying; they always say I haven't grown up."
Emperor Shun'an patted her hand: "Whether you grow up or not, it's the same. Your elder sister and I will protect you, and always will."
Pei Rujing was separated from the Duke of Pei at a young age. Although Emperor Shun'an was her uncle, he filled the void left by her father and always doted on Pei Rujing as his daughter.
Pei Rujing wanted to argue further, but Emperor Shun'an changed the subject: "What would you like to eat? I'll have the imperial kitchen make it for you."
Pei Rujing's attention was diverted: "Sheep's head skewers and roasted mutton rice."
Emperor Shun'an was not surprised to hear this: "You still like mutton so much. Quickly tell the imperial kitchen to prepare it well. If my peace is not satisfied, I will not let them off the hook."
Zhou Wangliang responded.
Emperor Shun'an then said, "Have the Crown Prince come over for lunch."
Zhou Wangliang felt a tremor in his heart, but remained outwardly calm.
……
In the side hall of Linhua Palace, at the dining table
Pei Rujing frowned as she looked at Princess Changning sitting beside her and asked, "How did you know I entered the palace?"
Princess Changning said with a smug look, "I heard that the imperial kitchen made mutton head skewers and roasted mutton rice today, and my cousin is the only one who likes these two dishes the most."
Pei Rujing: "...You're really clever."
Princess Changning eagerly served food to Pei Rujing, saying, "Cousin, will you play with me after lunch?"
Pei Rujing refused, saying, "I'm here to keep my uncle company."
Princess Changning immediately said, "Then let's accompany Father Emperor together."
Emperor Shun'an coughed lightly: "I need to handle state affairs with the Crown Prince."
He couldn't stand having two people bothering him at the same time.
One person is a source of joy, two people are a scourge.
The Crown Prince raised his head and looked at Emperor Shun'an.
Emperor Shun'an said, "Anhe said you are almost fifteen years old and can help me share the burden. I think so too. It is time to handle government affairs. From now on, in addition to observing government affairs in the cabinet, you will come to the Linhua Hall every day to help me handle memorials for one hour."
He had intended for the Crown Prince to handle government affairs; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent him to the cabinet to observe governance.
Pei Rujing's words simply brought this process forward.
The crown prince's expression did not change much, and he calmly replied, "Your subject obeys."