Free Web NovelChapter 192: Chapter 83: Promotion
"I was just thinking about coming out to see the stars after dinner. Your timing is perfect, Emperor. You can look at them with me." Song Yunzhao rested her head on the Emperor’s shoulder, her toes lightly kicking at the hem of her skirt, as restless as a playful child.
Feng Yi’s heart seemed to lighten along with Song Yunzhao’s playful feet, and a smile slowly spread across his face.
Song Yunzhao said no more, quietly keeping the Emperor company as they watched the stars. ’The Emperor is clearly in a bad mood, so I’d better be on my best behavior,’ she thought. ’He’s unpredictable and holds grudges. I can’t afford to get dragged into his troubles. My only job is to coax him into a better mood.’
Xiangxue led the Palace Attendants away, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard.
The quiet tranquility was just what Feng Yi desired. He held Song Yunzhao’s hand, and the two of them stood in silence. He had always walked his path alone, but now, someone was suddenly by his side. ’This feeling of having company... it isn’t so bad after all.’
Song Yunzhao’s mind began to wander. ’I’ve coaxed the Emperor into a better mood, right?’
’When someone doesn’t want to talk, the person with them shouldn’t be too chatty. The best form of companionship is simply being silent together.’
’I must have done the right thing.’
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt his gaze upon her. She tilted her head up slightly and met the Emperor’s dark, deep eyes. A light seemed to be twinkling within them now.
Song Yunzhao was completely bewildered. Before she could figure out what was happening, she saw the Emperor’s face drawing closer and closer, their breaths mingling under the moonlight.
Song Yunzhao’s heart pounded in her chest. ’The Emperor is playing foul! What is he trying to do this late at night?’
Feng Yi watched as a blush instantly spread across Song Yunzhao’s fair face. A smile touched his eyes, a light shining in their dark depths. He clasped her slender waist, pulled her into his embrace, reached up to cover her glistening eyes, and lowered his head to kiss her red lips.
Song Yunzhao’s mind was a tangled mess. ’Wasn’t he in a bad mood? Wasn’t he feeling down? Weren’t we supposed to be purifying our souls by gazing at the stars and moon?’
’Is this... the result of that purification?’
’I don’t really get the Emperor’s train of thought. But he’s delivered himself right to my doorstep... A man this handsome? I wouldn’t dare push him away.’
Song Yunzhao wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s waist and eagerly met his kiss. Feng Yi gazed down at the woman locked tightly in his embrace. Her porcelain face was flushed red, and her misty eyes sent ripples spreading through his heart, filling it bit by bit.
Feng Yi abruptly stood, swept her into his arms, and strode toward the bedchamber.
Caught off guard, Song Yunzhao quickly wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s neck with a small gasp. Before she could regain her senses, she was sinking into soft, brocade bedding.
The brocade bed curtains fell, blocking out the light from the room. Song Yunzhao’s heart pounded fiercely. The light within the canopy was dim, casting Feng Yi’s features in sharp relief. His eyes seemed to burn with a fire that threatened to melt her in an instant.
’This isn’t my imagination. Tonight, the Emperor is not only fierce but also has incredible stamina. I, a mere cannon-fodder character, am finally getting the female lead treatment from a romance novel...’
The next day, when Song Yunzhao woke up, the space beside her was long empty. Composing herself, she recalled the events of last night and couldn’t help but pound the bed in frustration.
"Mistress, is something wrong?"
Hearing Xiangxue’s voice, Song Yunzhao quickly said, "It’s nothing. Go on with your duties. I’m going to lie down a little longer."
Xiangxue assented and withdrew. Song Yunzhao quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly remembering something, Song Yunzhao reached into the wooden lattice of the headboard, pulled out the small booklet, and crumpled it into a ball. Every time she thought about last night, she wished the damned thing had never existed.
Since there was no Empress in the palace, there was no need to pay morning respects, so Song Yunzhao simply went back to sleep. When she woke again, she heard voices outside. She quickly threw on an outer robe and sat up. Pushing aside the bed curtains, the sounds became clearer—and she was surprised to hear the Emperor’s voice.
The moment she moved, the voices outside paused. Footsteps immediately followed, and as she looked up, she came face-to-face with Feng Yi.
Song Yunzhao didn’t really want to see him right now, but now that he was here, could she really send him away?
’I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!’
"What brings the Emperor here?" Song Yunzhao asked, forcing a smile.
Feng Yi cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I came to see you," he said, "and to have lunch with you."
Seeing the Emperor’s discomfort, Song Yunzhao instantly felt better. ’But... lunch?’
She quickly turned to check the time. Sure enough, it was already the lunch hour. She hadn’t expected to sleep so long.
’How embarrassing.’
Song Yunzhao quickly made an excuse about needing to change and slipped away. The Emperor watched her retreating back, smiled, and followed her out.
By the time Song Yunzhao emerged all put together, she had mentally prepared herself. In her eyes, the Emperor was now no different than a "pig’s trotter."
Seeing the expression on Song Yunzhao’s face, the smile in Feng Yi’s eyes deepened. He pulled her down to sit for lunch.
Song Yunzhao was genuinely famished. She had to be mindful of her table manners in front of the Emperor, but she certainly didn’t eat slowly. After getting some food in her stomach, she finally felt a bit better.
Feng Yi watched her, using his chopsticks to place some food in her bowl. ’I really might have gone a bit overboard last night,’ he mused.
After they finished their meal, they retired to the inner chamber to talk.
The Emperor seemed to be in a good mood, and Song Yunzhao guessed there must have been a new development regarding the Self-blame Edict during the morning court session. ’But I can’t ask about it directly,’ she thought, ’and I have no idea how the Minister of the Ministry of Justice managed it.’
Feng Yi was indeed in a very good mood. He even pulled Song Yunzhao to take an afternoon rest with him. He didn’t pester her this time; they just leaned against each other and talked.
"You seem to be in a very good mood today, Emperor. Did something pleasant happen?" Song Yunzhao asked tentatively. ’Given his personality, he probably won’t tell me,’ she thought.
Feng Yi turned his head to look at Song Yunzhao and gently pinched her cheek before smiling. "The matter of sending an imperial envoy south for disaster relief has been settled. Of course I’m happy."
’Just as I thought,’ Song Yunzhao said to herself. As she was figuring out how to respond, she heard the Emperor continue, "The Minister of the Ministry of Justice will be the imperial envoy, with your father assisting as the Vice Envoy."
Song Yunzhao nearly jumped to her feet, her eyes wide as she stared at the Emperor. "My father? Emperor, you must be joking! How is that possible? If you are doing this for my sake, I implore you to retract the order."
Song Yunzhao had never imagined the Emperor would make her father the assistant to the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. ’With my father’s experience, this is a promotion that skips several ranks! His foundation isn’t stable—it’s like a castle in the air. Isn’t this just throwing him into the eye of the storm?’
Feng Yi hadn’t expected to frighten Song Yunzhao so badly with a single sentence. He quickly sat up, patted her shoulder, and said, "What are you afraid of? Your father has experience with flood control. Making him a temple minister at the Ministry of Imperial Stables is a waste of his talent. While the Minister of the Ministry of Justice is the imperial envoy, he lacks practical experience. With your father accompanying him, he will surely be able to showcase his abilities. Yun Zhao, you are only a Concubine right now. If you want to rise further and secure your position, both your father and your uncle must achieve political merits. Do you understand?"
