Chapter 77

Yun Yaoyao strode ahead like the wind, while Xiao Wuzi followed behind, his arms laden with large and small packages.

Seeing how genuinely happy His Majesty was, Xiao Wuzi felt both gratified and anxious.

His Majesty truly doted on the Empress. Not only did he frequently visit Her Ladyship thirteen times a night, he even remembered to bring her gifts whenever he left the palace in ordinary clothes.

But why had Her Ladyship’s belly still shown no sign of movement? Heaven knew how badly he wanted to serve a little prince or princess!

As his thoughts wandered, a gift was suddenly thrust into his hands.

“You and Xiu’er have done well in serving Me. You both have a share of the gifts I brought back from outside the palace.”

Xiao Wuzi’s eyes instantly filled with tears. Gazing deeply at his emperor’s handsome face, he cried, “Your Majesty!”

Niu Xiu’er’s lips trembled, her expression moved. She was just about to let out her signature moo—

“Your Majesty—!”

Yun Yaoyao feared for her eardrums and immediately shoved a gift in front of her face, manually shutting her up.

“Moo?”

“All right, go play by yourselves. I’m going to spend some time alone with Consort Miao.”

Yun Yaoyao took the packages and turned around, closing the doors of Yun Ning Palace behind her.

“My beloved consort, I’m here~”

ε٩(๑＞₃＜)۶з

Hearing the voice, Tu Shanjin set down the brush in his hand. As he rolled his sore, stiff wrist, he looked toward the newcomer.

“Why did you leave the palace today?”

Although he asked about business, his gaze kept drifting toward the large and small packages Yun Yaoyao was carrying.

What were they?

Had she bought them especially for him?

Honestly, if she wanted to give him a gift, she needn’t have made a special trip outside the palace.

A trace of sweetness spread through Tu Shanjin’s heart, sweeping away the fatigue accumulated from handling affairs all morning.

When he saw Yun Yaoyao approaching with the gifts, the haughty Consort Miao happily reached out to take them.

But Yun Yaoyao brushed right past him and placed everything on another table.

Tu Shanjin, whose hands had closed around nothing, fell silent.

“…”

After putting away the packages, Yun Yaoyao sat down in front of Tu Shanjin. That was when she noticed that the tyrant’s mood had suddenly soured, and that his eyes held a faintly aggrieved look.

What now?

His moods changed so unpredictably. Could he be on his period?

Counting the days, it did seem to be around this time.

Thinking of how the tyrant would once again have to endure the pain of menstruation for her, Yun Yaoyao patted him sympathetically on the shoulder and said solemnly, “You’ve worked hard. Remember to drink plenty of hot water!”

Tu Shanjin: ???

Yun Yaoyao took a sip of tea and slowly recounted what had happened outside the palace.

“I originally left the palace this time to hint to Gao Chongguang that he should persuade his father to switch sides. I never expected to stumble upon the matter at the Charity Nursery, which eventually exposed the Du family behind it.”

“I’ve put Gao Chongguang fully in charge of the Charity Nursery and ordered him to punish those involved publicly and severely. This amounts to declaring war on the Du family.”

“Have you made preparations on your end?”

“If We continue to cower now, then I’ve wasted My time as emperor.” Tu Shanjin gave a cold snort, his brows radiating an imposing, murderous authority. “Do whatever you want. I’ll handle the consequences for you.”

With the addition of the Du family, all it meant was squeezing another hour or two of rest from his already busy and tightly scheduled days.

“Good. As expected of the domineering Consort Miao!”

Yun Yaoyao loved this feeling—she could attack whoever she wanted and recruit whomever she pleased from the front, while the tyrant handled everything for her from behind.

The two of them discussed their future plans for dealing with the Du family in detail.

Two days later, the capital’s first library and literacy center would officially open to the public.

The completion of these two establishments was of immense significance. They would spread civilization, enlighten the people, demonstrate the efficiency of printing and papermaking, showcase the strength of Yan Chi, and display the splendor of a great nation’s advanced civilization.

Therefore, Yun Yaoyao and all the civil and military officials had decided to attend the grand opening in person two days later and witness the historic moment together.

Yun Yaoyao had overruled the ministers and forced Tu Shanjin to be the one who announced the court’s official proclamation at the opening.

In other words, he would appear before the common people, build his presence, and accumulate prestige.

However, Tu Shanjin was currently at the center of public attention because of the rumors, and Prince Ze would also be attending two days later. The opening ceremony was unlikely to proceed peacefully.

“There’s no need to worry.” Tu Shanjin reassured Yun Yaoyao. “As you said, whoever provokes Me, I’ll crush them.”

Once all the serious matters had been discussed, Tu Shanjin’s eyes once again drifted toward the pile of gifts.

If they weren’t for him, then who were they for?

A man or a woman? Or perhaps she planned to burn them and send them to her friends in the underworld?

For some reason, Tu Shanjin thought of Hu Yanmu from Xianwan Palace—that pretty boy whose wrist wasn’t even half as thick as his own.

Could the gifts be for him again?!

At the thought, Consort Miao became extremely displeased, his heart overflowing with sour jealousy.

He silently decided that he would order the Dragon Shadow Guards to sneak into Xianwan Palace later and confiscate every single thing Yun Yaoyao had given that pretty boy!

While he was lost in thought, Yun Yaoyao suddenly flashed him a wide, toothy grin.

Confronted with his sunny, cheerful expression, Tu Shanjin awkwardly turned his head away—only to see a huge pile of wrapped boxes on the table in front of him.

“We’ve finally finished talking business. Come on, open them, open them! I bought so many things outside the palace this time.”

Tu Shanjin froze. His hands began unwrapping the packages of their own accord, and the heart that had just been sinking now floated up into the clouds.

So they were for him.

Never mind. That hostage was rather pitiful anyway. He could keep those things for now.

The two of them excitedly began opening the gifts.

They said shopping was a woman’s natural instinct. And ever since Yun Yaoyao had crossed over, she had never had the chance to properly stroll through the streets.

Now that she had finally found the time, Yun Yaoyao unleashed her true nature!

See something pretty? Buy it!

See something delicious? Buy it!

See something useful? Buy that too!

Thus, when the two of them finished unwrapping everything, the table was covered with all sorts of items.

Porcelain, jade pendants, sachets, golden jade cups and goblets, shawls, floral forehead ornaments, eyebrow powder, incense, calligraphy and paintings, silk, hand-held ornaments, forehead bands, swords…

The only thing she hadn’t bought was a person.

What was more, many of the items came in pairs, which sent Tu Shanjin’s heart soaring with joy.

He carefully put the gifts away, the corners of his mouth nearly flying to the heavens.

Even when she saw something she liked while shopping, she had remembered to pick out another one for him.

Book of Life and Death, when will you finally realize that your love for Me has quietly seeped into every detail of your daily life?

She must have spent quite a bit of money buying all this.

Never mind. A few days ago, he had secretly dealt with several rebellious ministers and confiscated a great deal of their property.

Since the Book of Life and Death loved money, he would give all of it to her.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

At the end of the main street in the imperial city stood a tall building steeped in the atmosphere of books. Lines of heavily stationed Imperial Guards formed a boundary around it, while the common people beyond them packed the area so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.

They stood on tiptoe, all gazing toward the tall building and discussing it excitedly.

“I heard that half the books inside are rare volumes from the imperial palace, while the other half were collected from all over the country at great expense by the Son of Heaven. They’re incredibly precious! When will it open? I really want to go inside and admire them properly!”

“Just by having the courage to break the aristocratic clans’ monopoly on knowledge and allowing commoners like us to read books with ease, the Son of Heaven already deserves to be called a wise ruler!”

“Many of the printed books here were produced using improved printing and papermaking techniques. Her Highness Consort Miao truly is a wonder! Not only did she come up with the idea of a museum, she also improved printing and papermaking. Now she’s proposing the construction of a library and a literacy hall. Even the most talented woman couldn’t compare with her!”

“Consort Miao is Yan Chi’s greatest blessing, a goddess sent by Heaven to stand beside the Son of Heaven and strengthen our nation!”

Someone in the crowd let out a disdainful snort upon hearing this.

“What goddess? I say she’s more like a disastrous beauty. She’s entangled with Prince Ze, yet pretends to be a loving married couple with His Majesty. She’s fickle and shameless. If she lived in our village, she’d be drowned in a pig cage!”

Someone immediately retorted, “What do you mean, entangled with Prince Ze? I heard it was Prince Ze who pursued her one-sidedly, with his twisted, dark disposition, and besides—”

The man sneered contemptuously and cut him off. “Flies don’t gather around a seamless egg. If Consort Miao were truly dignified and proper, how could all these rumors have arisen?”

“In the end, it’s the customs of our time that have gone wrong! Women no longer think about staying home to support their husbands and raise their children. Instead, they come out in public and tempt men into depravity!” The man who had been lamenting nonstop was filled with indignation. Lowering his voice, he continued, “Establishing female offices, elevating Consort Miao, promoting this kind of conduct… I say His Majesty may not be as wise and benevolent as all of you claim!”

As soon as those words fell, the commoners around him erupted in an uproar.

The Imperial Guards were nearby, and the important court officials had all gathered on the third floor of the library. How dare he say such things? Didn’t he want his entire clan executed?

They hurriedly moved away from the man, covering their ears and pretending they hadn’t heard a thing.

The man gave a cold snort, basking in the smug superiority of one who alone remained clearheaded while everyone else was drunk. “Nothing to say now, is that it? Look at the streets these days. How many more women are out here? They’ve all come out in public!”

“Some unmarried ladies from respectable families don’t even wear veils or hooded hats anymore. They show their faces to strange men, deliberately seducing them and preventing them from focusing on their work, thereby inciting sexual disorder. What a catastrophe!”

“If you ask me, Consort Miao should be deposed. His Majesty should personally write a letter of apology and announce it to the world. The female offices should be abolished, and women’s virtue should be promoted…”

The man was speaking with great enthusiasm and failed to notice the tall, broad-shouldered man with thick eyebrows and large eyes quietly approaching from behind.

The burly man suddenly grabbed him by the hand and shouted, “Sir, there’s someone here insulting His Majesty! He even said His Majesty should be condemned as a foolish ruler and write a letter of apology to announce his guilt to the world!”

“This commoner suspects he’s a spy sent by the Xiongnu, deliberately trying to sow division within Yan Chi!”

The man immediately panicked. He struggled frantically, trying to escape. “What nonsense are you spouting? Let go of me!”

The Imperial Guards rushed over and clapped irons on the man’s wrists. After confirming the matter with the surrounding commoners, they kicked him viciously and dragged him away.

After this little incident, the commoners who had also been making disrespectful remarks immediately fell silent.

As for the thick-browed, broad-shouldered man who had reported him, he once again vanished into the crowd. His bright, piercing eyes swept around like those of a tiger as he searched for his next target.

He wasn’t some warmhearted citizen. He was one of the Dragon Shadow Guards His Majesty had planted among the common people!

Today, he had his eyes fixed on this place and was taking turns standing watch. With the Dragon Shadow Guards on duty, he was determined to see who would dare ruin His Majesty’s event!