Chapter 068

Chapter 068

"Impossible."

He flatly refused.

His tone quick and cold, Chu Yin gently said, "At least listen to the reason."

A reason for such an absurd suggestion?

Lu Jingzhuo almost wanted to turn her over and spank her jade-like bottom.

But with her being pregnant, she couldn’t endure such rough handling, so he suppressed his irritation and asked, "What reason?"

"Getting up at night. I might often need to get up, like just now. I tried to be as quiet as possible but still disturbed Your Majesty. Multiple times could disrupt your early morning court and reviewing memorials."

So it wasn’t a deliberate attempt to sleep separately.

Lu Jingzhuo's mood calmed somewhat, but he didn’t immediately respond, instead holding the back of her head, saying, "Let's sleep first, we’ll talk tomorrow."

Indeed, it was late.

Chu Yin agreed.

She fell asleep quickly, but it took him a while.

Gazing at his wife, her face peaceful like the full moon in deep slumber in his arms, he thought there was no need to consider the matter.

Sleeping separately? She shouldn’t even think about it!

The next day he got up on time, dressed, had his meal, and left.

The morning court was held every three days, and as dawn barely broke, civil and military officials were already waiting outside.

He adjusted his dragon robe and walked into the Jinluan Hall, neither hurried nor slow.

Last year's inspection of agricultural affairs left a deep impression on the prefects of the six major counties.

Considering the situation under the jurisdiction of the capital, not to mention the officials in remote areas, he had already contemplated measures. Unable to reform the imperial examination system for the time being, he decided to strengthen the scrutiny of officials, starting today with a re-examination of external officials, beginning with the administration and inspection offices, to be implemented immediately.

This news caused a stir among the officials, with many feeling a sense of personal peril.

Meanwhile, after waking up, Chu Yin was preoccupied with the matter of sleeping separately, somewhat worried about how to arrange it.

Perhaps let Lu Jingzhuo sleep in Qianqing Palace?

But would that mean he might become reluctant to visit the Eastern Palace? He might just rest there after finishing his memorials, avoiding the extra trip, which could negatively affect his relationship with the children and her over time.

Or should he sleep in the main hall and she in the side hall?

But what would they tell the children if they asked?

Sleeping in Qianqing Palace could be excused as being busy, but sleeping separately in the Eastern Palace without reason seemed harder to explain.

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince has sent a pair of trinkets, saying they are for Zhu'er and Zhen'er to play with," Ren Dong presented a tortoiseshell silver tray with two wooden toy carts on it.

Chu Yin picked up one and noticed it was carved from boxwood, with relatively fresh carving marks.

Intrigued, she instructed, "Ask if the Third Prince made these himself, and... inquire if his right hand injury has healed."

She had been so focused on her pregnancy lately that she almost forgot about Lu Jingrui.

But Lu Jingrui’s scheming had evidently not ceased, still aiming to gain her and her children's trust.

The attendant soon arrived at Hongyi Hall.

Lu Jingrui, anticipating Chu Yin's inquiry about his injury, couldn't help but smile slightly.

"The royal physician is skilled; my hand has recovered about fifty to sixty percent. Crafting some woodwork isn’t a problem... How is the Empress's health?"

"Replying to the Third Prince, the Empress is very healthy. Liu Yuanpan often comes to check her pulse."

Lu Jingrui nodded, "And His Majesty, Zhu'er, and Zhen'er are all well?"

"Yes."

"Alright, you may go and relay my message," he said, his white sleeve fluttering.

The attendant took his leave.

Watching his retreating figure, Lu Jingrui's lips curved slightly, thinking that his sister-in-law would surely be pleased to know about the improvement in his right hand. Soon, when he was fully recovered, he planned to learn horse riding and archery, and then join his brother and sister-in-law for hunting after his mourning period.

A sense of fulfillment suddenly filled his heart.

However, Chu Yin furrowed her beautiful brows in contemplation.

A recovery of fifty to sixty percent was significant progress for a decade-old injury. Did he really no longer intend to exploit it?

Chu Yin knew his teaching the children paper folding was a tactic, but using his old injury was also a strategy. Compared to winning over the children or her, leveraging Lu Jingzhuo's guilt seemed more effective, didn’t it?

Despite knowing his character, she couldn't quite put her finger on his exact intentions.

Frustrated, Chu Yin tossed the toy cart, which joyously spun around in the tortoiseshell silver tray.

Normally, Lu Jingzhuo wouldn't visit the Eastern Palace at noon, but he made time today as yesterday's issue remained unresolved.

Seeing his striking figure in bright yellow, Chu Yin, assisted by a maid, went to greet him.

"Greetings to Your Majesty," she smiled warmly, then added, "Why didn’t you inform us earlier? The kitchen wasn’t prepared… What would you like to eat?"

"You decide, something simple."

Autumn being the season for nourishment, Lu Jingzhuo wasn’t fussy about food. Chu Yin ordered stir-fried lamb and eel soup.

They sat down to talk.

"The Third Prince sent some toy carts for Zhu'er and Zhen'er," Chu Yin decided to remind Lu Jingzhuo, "I noticed they looked freshly carved and inquired about their origin. It turns out he made them himself... The royal physician has done wonders, healing an injury from ten years ago so quickly."

Lu Jingzhuo was surprised, "Really healed?"

It was unexpected; he remembered the treatment hadn’t been long.

"If he can carve toy carts, he must be nearing full recovery," Chu Yin expressed doubt, "Was the Third Prince’s injury really that severe? Unable to write? Or were the physicians in Qingzhou inept?"

The injury was indeed severe; the Third Prince was only seven when an iron spike pierced his arm. How could it be a minor wound?

The image of copious amounts of blood haunted him whenever he thought of it.

"Regardless, it’s good that it’s healing."

It seemed that Lu Jingzhuo still had no suspicions about Lu Jingrui.

Chu Yin felt a headache coming on.

The young man was blessed with a pleasing appearance, mistreated by his biological father, and with the added guilt, it was no wonder Lu Jingzhuo was deceived. But... should she just leave it be? Perhaps Lu Jingrui wouldn't cause trouble in this life, but her hatred towards him couldn’t be dissolved. It was like a thorn in her heart, not easily removed. His presence reminded her of the things she had witnessed.

She disliked the idea of Lu Jingzhuo being deceived by him, as well as her own sons.

But now, the lie about his old injury that she could have exposed was surprisingly abandoned by Lu Jingrui himself.

"What's wrong? Feeling unwell?" Lu Jingzhuo, noticing she wasn’t eating, reached out to touch her.

Chu Yin snapped back to reality, "No, I was just thinking about the Third Prince. He’s been so busy making toys for Zhu'er and Zhen'er right after his hand started recovering. I feel somewhat guilty, not to mention he also taught me paper folding secrets. He’s truly warm-hearted."

A child neglected by his parents from a young age often learns to please others, beyond reproach.

Lu Jingzhuo wasn’t oblivious to Lu Jingrui's character.

He felt pity for his brother, but wasn’t Chu Yin the same?

She was the one who wanted to treat Lu Jingrui's injury, and now she was concerned about his hand getting tired. Not just that, she even praised his warm heart.

"The Third Prince is lucky to have you as a sister-in-law. Otherwise, his right hand might still be useless," Lu Jingzhuo served her a shrimp ball, "Both mother and I thought it was incurable, and so did he."

Chu Yin: "……"

She felt at a loss for words.

Eating the shrimp ball, she changed the subject, "Regarding sleeping separately, I think perhaps Your Majesty could sleep in the main hall, and I'll take the side hall?"

"Impossible."

Receiving the same response as last night, Chu Yin was perplexed, "Why?"

"There is no 'why'," his tone was firm, "Stop entertaining this idea."

Hadn’t she made her reasoning clear? Why was he so opposed? Chu Yin said, "It’s not for myself... I'm worried about waking you up."

But what's so bad about waking him up? Why make it sound like a major disaster?

Besides, even if it were a major disaster, he wouldn’t sleep apart from her.

"Enough, it’s not happening," he closed the topic.

Chu Yin pouted, dissatisfied with his decision.

Even doing something for his benefit was not acceptable!

Was he really so... so fond of her, unwilling to spend even a night apart?

As the thought crossed her mind, a wave of warmth spread through her heart, and she looked at him with a smile.

One moment cloudy, the next sunny, Lu Jingzhuo glanced at her, "Why the smile?"

"Nothing," she leaned in and wrapped his arm, "If Your Majesty doesn’t want to sleep apart, then let's not. But let me make it clear, don’t carry me to the restroom. I have maids to assist me, and you should just keep sleeping."

“……”

Testing his reaction, he pinched her waist, "They can see, but I can’t?"

She squirmed slightly, "Yes, you can’t."

“……”

Indeed, that night Chu Yin got up again. Lu Jingzhuo pretended to be asleep, silently listening as the maids assisted her, not uttering a word from beginning to end, fearing that Chu Yin, being considerate, might again bring up the topic of sleeping separately.

Knowing that his sister-in-law was due to give birth next month, Chu Yin had prepared a gift in advance. By early September, Tang Feiyan safely delivered a healthy baby boy.

Upon hearing that mother and child were well, Chu Yin sighed in relief and, along with her mother-in-law, sent a congratulatory gift, which included a swaddle hurriedly made by the Imperial Workshop in recent days, embroidered with patterns symbolizing peace through all seasons.

Was this an act of reciprocation?

Leaning against the headboard, Tang Feiyan asked Lu Jingchen, "Could this be sister-in-law's way of expressing gratitude?"

Thinking positively, it certainly seemed so.

Lu Jingchen gently stroked his son’s rosy cheeks, "At least the sister-in-law wishes us well."

Tang Feiyan's eyes welled up, "I really shouldn’t have treated her that way before. When she first came from Qingzhou, she was so gentle and polite. Had I reciprocated her courtesy, we could have been friends. It’s my fault…" Her later change of attitude towards Chu Yin, disregarding her, had angered Tang Feiyan. Fortunately, her husband’s reminder had prevented the worst.

"Don’t dwell on it, you’re in your confinement period. Focus on your health," Lu Jingchen comforted her, "You’ve done your best, now leave the rest to me."

After his mourning period, he planned to prove himself to his brother.

Gazing at her husband’s handsome face, Tang Feiyan smiled again, "When you and big brother inspected the agricultural affairs, you received father’s praise, which shows you did well. With your capabilities, helping big brother solve some difficulties in the future could truly earn his trust."

If he couldn’t be the crown prince or the emperor, then he would be the emperor's right-hand man.

Lu Jingchen felt somewhat uneasy upon hearing this.

He feared he might not be up to the task.

During his father's reign, he focused solely on pleasing him, thinking that satisfying his father was his key to success, but he had neglected other areas and mastered nothing truly.

"Books are never appreciated until needed," he now fully understood this saying.

"Rest well, I'm off to the study," he said as he left the room.

September 8th marked the joyous wedding day of Chu Ge and Dou Jinfang.

With the Chu family boasting a national uncle and a national father-in-law, the grandeur of the event was evident. The Chu residence was bustling with carriages and horses, with the majority of the capital's officials, nobles, and influential families attending. Even the imperial gifts added splendor to the occasion.

However, Chu Yin could only imagine her parents', brother's, and sister-in-law's happiness, as she was unable to witness it herself.

Carrying a child or not, as an empress, she couldn't easily leave the palace.

Lu Zhen entered, holding a pomegranate, "Mother, look, the pomegranates are fully ripe!"

Time had flown; a year had already passed.

She remembered tricking Lu Jingzhuo into eating an unripe pomegranate last year, which didn’t succeed, and later offering him a ripe one.

Back then, he was so different from now.

As cold as he was then, he is now equally affectionate.

Chu Yin smiled and instructed a maid to wash and prepare the pomegranate seeds.

She shared them with her daughter.

The breeze outside the hall brought down fluttering leaves.

Deep autumn had arrived.

Chu Yin suddenly became very curious about the harvest in those six counties.

That evening, she eagerly questioned Lu Jingzhuo upon his return.

"Was there a locust plague this year? How are the crops in those fields?"

She had to admit, the simplification methods had been highly effective.

"There are still locusts, but they are insignificant compared to last year. The farmers can capture them easily... The crops have had a bountiful harvest, especially the sesame, which has already been shipped to the south. The grains we traded for are en route."

Chu Yin was thrilled, "That's wonderful!"

"Yes," he said, his eyes also sparkling with joy.

With a successful precedent, the same approach could be applied to other counties, reducing the annual damage caused by locusts. This would enrich the national treasury, better preparing for other disasters like droughts, floods, and fires.

Thinking of the multitude of calamities, Lu Jingzhuo couldn't help but rub his temples.

Chu Yin inquired, "Has Yi Langzhong been rewarded for his great contribution?"

He lowered his hand, "What do you think should be his reward?"

"I think he should be promoted to the position of Provincial Governor, to manage agricultural affairs in an entire province." In her previous life, Yi Jian held that position.

That was a second-rank official.

He commented lightly, "You really do think highly of him."

"Doesn’t Your Majesty?" Employing talent was always his principle.

"Of course." As soon as he finished speaking, he leaned down to kiss her, simultaneously gripping her wrist firmly.

They were discussing serious matters when he suddenly...

His mood shifted inexplicably.

As the sound of a jade button snapping open resonated, Chu Yin’s face flushed, her fingers curling.

His voice was husky, "And the other hand?"

"…" Her eyelashes fluttered, wanting to chastise him for his boldness.

Managing with just one hand was indeed a bit challenging.

She closed her eyes, choosing not to look.

His breath was hot against her ear, unexpectedly asking, “Did you really not know Yi Jian before? Just heard of him through others?”

Her heart skipped a beat.

He had doubted her before, and she had evaded the question.

Why was he asking again?

Had she inadvertently given herself away?

Impossible, he couldn’t guess she had been reborn.

“Of course, I didn’t know Yi Langzhong before,” she feigned nonchalance.

“So, you recommended him and then considered him one of your own?”