Zhao Shuwei had been on the throne for six years.
State affairs were busy, and numerous matters weighed heavily on her, preventing her from having a good night’s sleep for several days.
It wasn’t until the news came from the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion that the Imperial Advisor Wei Yun had joyfully given birth to a son.
Six years was enough time for this Empress to completely let go of the hazy feelings that began when she was fourteen. Now, her feelings towards the Imperial Advisor were ones of respect and admiration, but no longer the youthful longing she once had.
Wei Yun named his son Wei Zhao.
At the full moon banquet, Zhao Shuwei also went to the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion.
Perhaps because Zhao Shuwei had given Xie Tao the identity of a sworn sister, it had indeed made them a bit closer.
She discovered that Xie Tao, the wife Wei Yun had chosen, was quite different from many of the ladies in the capital.
Xie Tao would occasionally say some novel things and sometimes even give her some pastries or other items she had never tasted before.
Zhao Shuwei never cared much about food, but she had to admit that the pastries Xie Tao made were quite memorable.
That day, little Wei Zhao was taken by Wei Bo to the backyard to see the exposed dough, and Wei Eleven and the others all rushed over, their eyes following little Wei Zhao closely.
After all, this was the beloved child of the Imperial Advisor, the only child in the mansion. Everyone adored him.
Xie Tao sat at the stone table in the pavilion, unable to help but sigh.
She felt neglected.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Shuwei curved her lips slightly. “Why are you sighing?”
Xie Tao slumped on the table and shook her head.
“Have you finished writing chapter twelve of your new book, Your Majesty?” She couldn’t help but ask for an update.
Zhao Shuwei was probably the first Empress in history to be urged to update her writings.
Seeing that Xie Tao had touched a sensitive topic, Zhao Shuwei lowered her eyelids. Her face, as beautiful as a lotus flower, was even more stunning than the summer flowers beyond the courtyard wall. She took a sip of the tea in front of her and said, “I’ve been busy with state affairs recently and haven’t had the mind for it.”
“Oh…”
Xie Tao was merely asking. How could she dare to truly urge the current Empress to update her writings?
So, she gave a dry laugh. “State affairs are important, state affairs are important.”
Since becoming the Empress, Zhao Shuwei had no new works published. Despite the numerous readers eagerly waiting for her new works, she could no longer write.
Standing at the highest point in the world, she had to give up some things.
Her state of mind was different, and so were the things she wrote.
As the emperor, Zhao Shuwei was very clear that no matter how well or poorly she wrote, no one in this world would dare to point out her mistakes. In just six years of ruling, she had already become accustomed to various flattery. What was the point of it all?
Zhao Shuwei simply sealed her pen and stopped writing. However, when she had some free time, she couldn’t help but jot down a few lines. The new works she wrote sporadically had, until now, only been read by Xie Tao.
As the two were talking, Wei Yun walked over from the moon gate on the other side. Sunlight fell on his crimson brocade robe, spreading a lustrous glow. He wore a golden crown, and the crimson hair ribbon swayed slightly among his long, jet-black hair as he walked, the intricate jade pieces on it occasionally colliding with a clear sound. The belt around his waist accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, highlighting his tall and slender figure.
“Minister Wei Yun, at your service, Your Majesty.” Wei Yun nodded towards Zhao Shuwei as he approached.
“Why perform such formalities, Imperial Advisor? Have a seat,” Zhao Shuwei smiled.
Wei Yun’s lips twitched slightly as his gaze fell on Xie Tao, his cold voice softening a bit, “Where is Zhao’er?”
“Uncle Wei and the others took him to the back to look at the blooming flowers…” Xie Tao replied, taking a bite of a pastry.
Upon hearing this, Wei Yun nodded and then sat down beside Xie Tao. At that moment, the lotus pond near the pavilion had clear water and blooming lotus flowers, with occasional fish creating tiny splashes, revealing the tips of their tails.
The summer breeze could move the falling flowers but still lacked a bit of coolness. Wei Yun reached out to brush a petal from Xie Tao’s hair. Though his cold, jade-like face showed no extra emotion, his amber eyes inevitably softened with tenderness when looking at Xie Tao.
“Are you mad at Zhao’er?”
His voice carried a hint of laughter.
“Of course not.”
Xie Tao pouted and glanced at Zhao Shuwei, who was sitting opposite them. She said, “I’m chatting with His Majesty.”
Wei Yun reached out to pat her head, then turned and called, “Wei Jing.”
Wei Jing hurried over with a paper bag, first bowing respectfully to Zhao Shuwei and saying, “Greetings, Your Majesty.” After Zhao Shuwei allowed him to rise, he presented the paper bag.
“Madam, the lord specifically bought you roasted duck on his way back. It’s fresh from the oven and smells wonderful!” Wei Jing handed the bag to Xie Tao and said.
At this moment, Xie Tao had already caught the enticing aroma. She eagerly opened the paper bag but then looked at Zhao Shuwei, who was sitting across from her. “Your Majesty, would you like some?”
Zhao Shuwei smiled and shook her head. She was well aware of Xie Tao’s gluttonous tendencies.
Xie Tao nodded and turned to Wei Yun with a bright smile. “Thank you, husband!”
She would call him that whenever she was particularly happy. Wei Yun, though his expression remained unchanged, couldn’t help but let his brows lift slightly, showing a bit of his delight.
Now, Xie Tao was a formal employee of the Time-Space Management Bureau. She no longer needed the golden powder incense, so she had given all the golden powder that Meng Lichun had given her to Sheng Yueqi.
How could that young master of the valiant cavalry truly sever all ties with the other world, as he claimed? It was because of him that Xie Tao could truly come to the Great Zhou and meet Wei Yun. Xie Tao was very grateful. Therefore, she had given all the bags of golden powder incense that Meng Lichun had found in the warehouse to Sheng Yueqi without reservation.
As for the copper pendant, Wei Yun eventually returned it to Meng Lichun. After all, it was something she had once cherished so much.
Just as Xie Tao was gnawing on a duck leg, getting grease all over her mouth, Wei Jing carefully moved to the outside of the pavilion. He stealthily took out the brown paper-wrapped item he had been hiding for a while and handed it to Shao Liyin, who had been standing there motionless.
“This is… for you,” Wei Jing said, his face turning red as he spoke.
Shao Liyin looked at the brown paper bag in front of her and then at Wei Jing. Seeing the obvious blush on his tanned face, she didn’t know why, but she also felt a bit warm in the face.
After a moment, she accepted it and whispered, “Thank you.”
Seeing her take it and thank him, Wei Jing couldn’t help but chuckle foolishly, like a simpleton.
At this moment, Zhao Shuwei sat there, watching the always cold and aloof Imperial Advisor Wei Yun tenderly gazing at his wife beside him. He even reached out with a silk handkerchief to carefully wipe the grease from the corner of her mouth.
It seemed as if only she in the entire world deserved such tenderness from him. Even his son, Wei Zhao, did not receive such treatment. Though Wei Yun dearly loved Wei Zhao, he tended to be a stern father to his son, which did not stop him from reserving all his indulgence and tenderness for his wife.
Whether it was Wei Yun and Xie Tao in front of her or Shao Liyin and Wei Jing standing at the steps outside the pavilion, Zhao Shuwei felt for a moment that she shouldn’t be there. Being alone for so long, she couldn’t stand seeing these pairs of lovers.
But if asked whether she regretted choosing to ascend to the highest and coldest place in the world?
Zhao Shuwei would only answer that she had never regretted it.
On the way back to the palace, Zhao Shuwei leaned quietly against the soft cushions inside the carriage, her eyes closed.
Zhao Shuwei was already twenty-two years old.
Recently, there had been numerous suggestions from her ministers that she should soon bring a consort into the palace and put the matter of heirs on the agenda.
Although being a consort to the empress might slightly damage a man’s pride, many sons of noble families were still fighting tooth and nail to enter the palace and become the empress’s consort.
Firstly, because of the empress’s peerless beauty, and secondly, because of the power that came with being the empress’s consort.
This world was full of men like Zhao Shuwei who harbored ambitions of power.
Their intentions were never pure, so Zhao Shuwei did not fancy any of them. She was already deep in the mire and could not escape in this lifetime. Therefore, she thought her future husband should not be someone like her.
Upon returning to the Qianlong Hall, Zhao Shuwei found that the manuscripts in the box beside her desk had been tampered with.
She frowned, “Qishuang.”
Lady-in-waiting Qishuang immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply, “Your Majesty.”
“Who touched my things?” Zhao Shuwei had always disliked others meddling with her belongings, especially her manuscripts.
Qishuang had just returned with Zhao Shuwei, so she hurriedly stepped outside to summon the palace maids and eunuchs, questioning them harshly. But in the end, she couldn’t find out anything.
“Forget it, you may go,” Zhao Shuwei said, rubbing her temples.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Qishuang quickly retreated. Zhao Shuwei sat on the dragon chair, her eyes lowered as she organized the manuscripts in the box, but she suddenly realized that a page was missing.
A cool breeze blew in from the half-opened hall door, and as she looked up, she saw two sheets of paper floating gently onto her desk.
They were the latest chapter she had written last night when she was extremely tired, only two or three hundred words, and she had almost forgotten what she had written in her drowsiness.
Zhao Shuwei picked up the two sheets of paper, ready to see what she had written last night, but to her surprise, she found that someone had circled a few of the mistakes she had made when she was most tired, using a cinnabar pen, with corrections made in cinnabar ink beside them.
???
Bold!
Who dares correct my mistakes??
Zhao Shuwei’s expression froze. Her gaze settled on the blank space below, where a few lines were written:
“Been waiting for you to update for so long, and you only wrote this little?”
“These few hundred words were written while you were dozing off last night. They don’t count. Rewrite them.”
Who on earth was so audacious?!
None of the servants in Qianlong Hall would dare to do this, so who was it?
Zhao Shuwei suddenly stood up, a wave of imperial authority emanating from her. Could it be that there was an intruder in her hall?
But what kind of intruder would correct her manuscript mistakes?
For the first time in her life, Zhao Shuwei encountered such a strange occurrence, and she stood there, momentarily bewildered.
