Chapter 082

Chapter 082

Chuyin got dressed, instructed the maids to send a message to the kitchen, then sat down at the vanity to do her makeup.

As he passed behind her, the man glanced at her without a word.

He was bound to be suspicious.

But Chuyin had already prepared her excuses and was not flustered.

Lu Xuzi, unexpectedly accompanied by his mother, was delighted and respectfully bowed, smiling, "Mother, why are you up so early today? You're not just sending me off, are you? I'm not afraid anymore."

After being praised by Scholar Tao in front of his father, his fear of this lecturer diminished somewhat.

"Whether you're scared or not, I'll always see you off," Chuyin said, taking his little hand and boarding the carriage together.

As the sun rose, the orange-red glow of dawn filtered through the window, illuminating the child's delicate features.

He was becoming more and more like Lu Jingzhao.

She reached out to pinch his tender cheek gently, then bent down to give him a kiss.

Lu Xuzi instinctively dodged to the side, "I'm getting older. It’s not good to kiss anymore; I am a boy."

Chuyin laughed lightly, "What, does the lecturer teach these rules too?"

"No, it's just..." Lu Xuzi vaguely felt it inappropriate, "It's just not good."

Chuyin felt a bit disheartened, "Last time I dropped you off, you kissed me willingly."

"That was last year." He was now six years old.

"Just one year and you've changed. Will you ignore your mother completely next year?"

"No, that won’t happen," seeing his mother's sadness, Lu Xuzi hurriedly said, "It’s just about not kissing... You can kiss my sister!"

Chuyin still seemed somewhat upset.

Seeing this, Lu Xuzi kneeled up, stretched his neck, and pecked her cheek, "Don’t be mad, Mother. I definitely don’t dislike you."

How could she not understand?

It was just that time flew by too quickly, and the child was growing up too fast.

Chuyin embraced him, "I won’t kiss you anymore, but you give me one last kiss, just this once."

Lu Xuzi obliged her request, wrapping his small arms around her neck and planted a firm kiss.

Chuyin smiled, ruffling her son's hair: "Mother will come to see you off often, alright?" She couldn't promise it would be daily, but she would try her best.

"Why?" Lu Xuzi asked, puzzled. "Won't Mother be tired?"

"Not tired. If anything, I'll just go to bed earlier."

Lu Xuzi didn't really need his mother's company, but worried about upsetting her, he offered, "Then it’s great. I can recite 'Records of Qin' to you in the carriage."

"Such a good boy."

When they arrived at Chunhui Pavilion, Chuyin held her son’s hand as she let him in, then returned by carriage.

Upon entering the palace, she was immediately met with the man's sharp gaze.

He had been silent throughout, and even though Chuyin was prepared, she couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty now.

So, upon sitting in the imperial carriage, before he could question her, Chuyin took the initiative to sit on his lap.

Lu Jingzhao: "..."

Taking the initiative, huh?

"What, do you want me to take you to the Imperial Garden again?"

Chuyin's face flushed, she scolded, "Can you be serious?"

Who was being unserious now?

"Then tell me seriously, what are you trying to do?"

"I just wanted to repay Your Majesty... I was feeling down last time and casually mentioned Wenshu Monastery. I didn’t expect Your Majesty to agree. Reflecting on everything, I felt ashamed, so I made a special effort to wake up early to see you off to Qianqing Palace."

Although he knew she was lying, her explanation was plausible.

Lu Jingzhao asked, "And sending Xuzi?"

"Since I was up early anyway, I couldn’t favor one over the other."

"Hmm, how many days do you plan to continue this?"

"As long as I wake up early, I’ll keep doing it."

If he hadn’t become suspicious, he would surely have been pleased, but now…

"I don't need you to send me off. You’re not to wake up early tomorrow."

Why!

Didn’t he like her seeing him off?

Chuyin couldn’t grasp his decision, "Give me a reason."

"I worry you’ll get tired," Lu Jingzhao had a valid reason, "With all the tasks during the day and having to attend to me at night, how can you wake up early?"

"It wouldn’t be every day…"

It seemed she really wanted to continue.

But why did she start this after the day she cried? What was she hiding? What could she not tell him?

Wasn’t he good enough for her, not worthy of her trust?

Lu Jingzhao suddenly felt an indescribable bitterness.

"A'Yin, I’m giving you another chance to be honest with me," he cupped her face, "What is really going on?"

"Haven’t I explained? I just wanted to treat Your Majesty better, because you are so good to me. I have no need to hide anything from you. Any trouble, just telling you, and you can resolve it with a word…" Before she could finish, her waist was suddenly lifted, and then she was turned over, lying across the man's lap.

She sensed what he was about to do, her ears turning red, "Your Majesty, please don’t."

He spanked her once.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was humiliating.

Chuyin trembled slightly, grasping the back of his robe, "I really haven’t hidden anything from you."

A person who didn’t cry even when giving birth, but cried like that the other day, yet claimed she wasn't hiding anything.

Lu Jingzhao pursed his lips, continuing his "punishment."

Although embarrassing, the punishment didn’t cause any harm. Chu Yin eventually stopped struggling, resigning herself to the situation. It wasn’t painful, so she hung limply over his lap like a cooked noodle.

Torture is effective only when it’s cruel and fear-inducing, and Lu Jingzhao quickly realized this method was ineffective.

But he had no time to change tactics as they had arrived at the entrance of the Qianqing Palace.

He lifted her off his lap and got out of the carriage.

Chu Yin blushed as she smoothed out her crumpled dress.

Honestly.

He clearly enjoyed her being clingy, but now he insisted on getting to the bottom of it.

Could she really tell him she was reborn, facing an impending crisis?

It was incredibly hard to say.

Chu Yin instructed the coachman to return to the Kunning Palace.

As Lu Zhen started her lessons, Lu Yu also woke up.

The child, energized after his milk, was looked after by Luo Shi and two palace maids, wandering around the room.

Seeing his mother, he grinned and called out, "Mommy, Mommy!"

Chu Yin squatted down to hold his little hand.

He curiously touched her waistband and sleeve, making odd noises.

When he grew a bit older, he might become as inquisitive as his siblings.

Chu Yin affectionately rubbed his chubby little face, "Yu’er, when you grow up, be close and loving with your brother. Zhu’er is very kind and fond of you; he will always cherish you."

Lu Yu blinked his eyes, gazing at his mother.

Of course, so young, he couldn’t understand her words. Chu Yin lifted him up, "Let’s go outside and see the saplings, they’ve grown tall. Next year, we’ll be able to enjoy their fruits."

Lu Yu chuckled at this, resting his head on his mother's shoulder.

In the afternoon, Chu Yin went to the horse-riding field to practice archery on horseback.

She was quite accurate with archery, but on horseback, she always missed her mark, leading her to practice repeatedly until she was drenched in sweat.

Rendong remarked, “Your Highness, you can only practice for a few more days. Continuing like this in the heat might lead to heatstroke.”

Wiping sweat with a handkerchief, Chu Yin acknowledged, “Indeed, I’ll have to take a break soon.”

At least until August or September.

As winter solstice approached, she wondered if she would still have the enthusiasm to practice archery then.

That evening, Lu Jingzhao didn’t scold her for her buttocks, but was rather silent, lost in thought.

Chu Yin asked him, “Did you see the flower arrangement Zhen'er made for Your Majesty?”

“Yes,” a dogtail grass arrangement, Lu Jingzhao said, “I’ll go thank her later…” He paused and then suddenly added, “You said you’d repay me, so why haven’t you made a flower arrangement for me? And what about the sachet?”

Chu Yin: "..."

Caught in her inconsistencies, Lu Jingzhao gave her a cool look before getting up to find his daughter in the side chamber.

Rendong suggested quietly, “Your Highness, perhaps speed up the process. It could be a good gift for the Dragon Boat Festival.”

Feeling her needlework was subpar, she had been taking her time to ensure it was exquisite, spending a long while just choosing the pattern. Later, as Lu Jingzhao became too busy to spend time with her, her progress slowed even more.

“It’s too late to speed up now; let it be,” she said. She'd continue working on it slowly, intending to give it to him on that day. If she didn’t survive, it would be a keepsake; if she did, a pleasant surprise.

Unable to rush her, Rendong could only sigh.

"Chu Yin went to bed early, knowing she had to take care of the father and son again tomorrow."

"She didn't care whether Lu Jingzhuo approved or not."

"If she remembered, could he even stop her?"

"But the next morning, she found herself pinned under him as soon as she woke up."

"'Do you dare defy the imperial edict?' he asked."

"...Chu Yin blinked her watery eyes, 'Does His Majesty wish to behead this concubine?'"

“……”

"'Not beheaded, then this concubine will get up,' she said, pushing him from below."

"Her fingers felt like they were pressing against a door, rigid and unmoving. She exerted more strength, her cheeks flushing with the effort."

"'Your Majesty, I just wanted to see you off…'"

"She gave up and began tugging at his robe."

"Cute and charming, he momentarily lost interest in her thoughts. Whispering in her ear, he said, 'As long as you have the energy later, I will allow it.'"

"Hearing this, Chu Yin jolted, instinctively trying to escape, but his firm grip held her down, pinning her to the bed."

"It was still dark outside."

"In the darkness, the two of them made no sound, their bodies entwined in a relentless rhythm."

"Some parts felt numb, a sensation they had never experienced at this hour. Gradually, there were gasps, then uncontrollable trembling, soft moans, and groans, only ceasing when a ray of sunlight entered the room."

"Sweat dripped from the man's brow, yet his expression was one of satisfied indulgence."

"Chu Yin realized she had no strength left to send anyone off, and couldn't help but chide, 'See how you'll explain this to the officials!'"

"'No morning court today.'"

“……”

"'As for visiting the Qianqing Palace, being a bit late won’t matter.'"

“……”

"Lu Jingzhuo rose to dress, teasing her, 'Will you still send me off?'"

"Chu Yin wanted to say 'get lost', but didn’t dare; she just closed her eyes and ignored him."

"Lu Jingzhuo chuckled and walked outside."

"As he reached the screen, he suddenly turned back to glance at his wife in bed."

"He still couldn't understand the reason she kept secrets from him."

"Only after hearing that the man had left did Chu Yin ask her maids to prepare the bath."

"After cleaning up, she went back to sleep for a while longer."

"Upon waking, she felt increasingly angry."

"She just wanted to be closer to him. Why was he so unwilling? Even if she kept secrets, as a woman, what schemes could she possibly have? Was he really afraid she’d rebel, with all these do's and don'ts?"

"After lunch and getting dressed, Chu Yin took a carriage to the Qianqing Palace."

"Dong Ling was surprised to see her and approached to bow, asking, 'Does Your Majesty have an urgent matter to discuss?'"

"'If it's not urgent, am I not allowed to see him?'"

"She was dressed in an apricot-colored summer robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, her hair styled in a 'flying sky' bun, strikingly beautiful."

"'I dare not object,' Dong Ling replied, a chill running down her spine at the queen's imposing manner, 'I will convey the message immediately.'"

"Chu Yin stood at the palace gate, her posture as straight as a bamboo."

"The nearby imperial guards and eunuchs all watched in silent awe."

"Soon, Dong Ling returned to greet her, 'His Majesty invites you in.'"

"Chu Yin then stepped into the Qianqing Palace."

"She had never visited since Lu Jingzhuo's ascension to the throne, though in a previous life, she had; thus, it was not a novel experience for her."

"'I hope I'm not disturbing,' she said respectfully, bowing before moving to his side."

"The imperial desk was covered with memorials, and he was holding one as well."

"'It seems I was too lenient this morning,' Lu Jingzhuo remarked, surprised, 'Aren’t you tired?'"

"'Even if I am, I wanted to come over.'"

"'...Why?' he asked, setting down the memorial."

"'I wanted to see how His Majesty handles state affairs.'"

“……”

"What was this situation?"

"Lu Jingzhuo was truly baffled by her now."

"Chu Yin said, 'If His Majesty wishes for me to be frank, then I will speak plainly. I just want to be closer to you, to spend more time with you. Is there a crime in that? I am your wife, what is so improper about these thoughts?'"

"Suddenly, she stood her ground with newfound conviction."

"However, this indeed wasn’t improper, yet she still hadn't explained why she was crying."

"Lu Jingzhuo said, 'I understand what you mean. Now that you've seen, you can leave.'"

"He was actually asking her to leave."

"She had specifically come to the Qianqing Palace, earnestly explaining herself to him. Couldn’t he understand? Did she have to say she feared she wouldn’t live till next year, feared they would be separated by life and death? Was there no room for even a speck of dust in his eyes?"

"Chu Yin suddenly felt very wronged, deeply wronged."

"Two tears fell without warning."

"Lu Jingzhuo was taken aback."

"Why was she crying again?"

"He hadn’t said anything harsh, just asked her to leave."

"'You...' He cleared his throat, 'Ah Yin, I didn’t mean...'"

"Chu Yin turned and walked away."

"He quickly stood up to pull her back."

"She covered her face with her sleeve: 'I won’t bother you anymore.'"

"'Ah Yin, I didn’t mean to drive you away intentionally, it’s just...' He pulled her close into his embrace, 'Alright, I won’t ask you anymore. If you don’t want to say it, then don’t. I won’t ask you again.'"

"'Really?' she sobbed."

"'Really.' He felt the secret she harbored was turning her into a little crybaby."

"She never used to cry so easily before."

"'Then will you let me see you off in the morning?'"

"'Of course, I can wake you up.'"

"'What about coming to the Qianqing Palace?'"

"'That's fine too,' he replied, lifting her up and then sitting back on the throne. 'Isn’t it just to watch me review the memorials? I’ll let you watch, how’s that?'"

"She finally laughed through her tears: 'That's not good at all, you'll seem like a negligent emperor!'"

"He bent down to kiss the tears from her cheeks: 'Being a negligent emperor occasionally isn’t a problem.'"

"Chu Yin was surprised to hear him say such a thing, yet she found it sweet and leaned in to kiss his lips."

"The two shared a warm and long kiss."