Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Still Just a Child (1)

Lu Chang, observing Cold Jiu's childlike behavior, couldn't help but smile. Despite her age, the Empress Dowager was still so childlike, endearing in every way. If only the Emperor had seen this side of her, he might not have been so heartless. But alas, the Emperor's heart had been deeply wounded, and now it seemed irreparable.

As soon as the banquet ended, Emperor Long Yi headed this way, probably having had quite a bit to drink, reeking of alcohol. He was barely walking straight, his expression somewhat blurry.

"Your Majesty! The Empress Dowager has already retired. Please come back tomorrow," Lu Chang tried to stop Emperor Long Yi.

"Get lost!" Emperor Long Yi shoved Lu Chang aside irritably, ignoring the palace servants' looks, and pushed open the palace doors, staggering inside.

Cold Jiu, not yet asleep, was aware of Emperor Long Yi's arrival. Hearing the door open, she turned slightly to see him approaching, frowning, "What is this, Your Majesty? Are you here to make a scene in your drunken state?"

"Your Majesty? Empress Dowager?" Emperor Long Yi sneered, walking up to Cold Jiu's bed and sitting down, hands on her shoulders, leaning over her with heavy sarcasm, "Do you so desire to be the Empress? You threw yourself at that old man so easily. Sadly, you weren't destined to be Empress, only a half-month Empress Dowager. But you still want to be my Empress? What do you think I am, Emperor Long Yi? Someone to take or leave as you please? I can have a thousand concubines, why would I need you, a despicable woman?"

"I hate you! I wish I could kill you... But why did you get involved with Long Yueli? Isn't provoking him enough, now you're seducing Hua Jinzhi too? Cold Jinghua, how can you be so vile?"

"Slap!" Cold Jiu fiercely slapped Emperor Long Yi's face, then swiftly jumped up, grabbing and throwing him over her shoulder. His large body landed on the floor with a 'thud', startling the people outside who quickly rushed in.

"Your... Your Majesty..." Qu Gonggong, seeing Emperor Long Yi on the floor, turned pale, trembling as he helped him up, "Your Majesty! Wake up!"

Seeing Emperor Long Yi still unconscious, they panicked, "Quick, someone! Call the Imperial Physician!"

Lu Chang approached Cold Jiu by the bed, bringing her a fox fur coat, "Empress Dowager, you should wear shoes first, lest you catch a cold."

Cold Jiu, barefoot, pushed through the surrounding maids and looked at the unconscious Emperor Long Yi, "The Emperor is just drunk. Help him back to his quarters and let the Imperial Physician check on him. What's all the fuss about?"

Qu Gonggong looked at Cold Jiu, somewhat doubtful: "But..."

"But what?" Cold Jiu's icy glare swept over, her authority and sharpness unmistakable, "The Emperor is drunk, and instead of helping him back to his palace, you let him wander into my chambers. This is a dereliction of duty. Do you need me to have the Ministry of Rites draft the first impeachment document against you, Qu Gonggong?"

"I dare not!" Qu Gonggong knew he couldn't let this matter escalate and quickly ordered people to help Emperor Long Yi away, hoping the Emperor wouldn't remember anything upon waking, or else...

Seeing Emperor Long Yi being carried away, Lu Chang breathed a sigh of relief, "The Empress Dowager must be startled! Please return to bed; the floor is cold."

Cold Jiu paused after a few steps, "Prepare a set of clothes for me; I want to bathe."

"Yes!" Lu Chang waved to the maids to prepare, accompanying Cold Jiu to the bathhouse and ensuring she entered before stopping. He had been terrified seeing Emperor Long Yi on the ground, fearing for both the Empress Dowager's and his safety. Thankfully, it was just a fainting spell. Seeing the Empress Dowager unharmed, his heart finally settled.

With Emperor Long Yi's departure, tranquility returned to the palace. The person lurking in the shadows turned to leave but met the gaze of another, Hua Jinzhi, who asked irritably, "Why are you here?"

The newcomer was Hua Yuxuan. She glanced at the palace behind her before responding, "Before you ask me, shouldn't you explain why you're here?"

"I came to check on the Empress Dowager because she was startled by me today. Is there a problem with that?"

Hua Yuxuan clearly didn't believe him, "Brother, remember, no matter how she treated you in the past, she's now the Empress Dowager. You better stay away from her!"

Hua Jinzhi scoffed at her words, "You're worried about me? Better worry about yourself. Oh, I heard she gave you the Phoenix Seal. Should I congratulate you on your success? Future Empress!"

With that, he left, leaving a pale-faced Hua Yuxuan behind.

Last night, the Emperor visited the Empress Dowager's palace and was carried out unconscious. Qu Gonggong claimed the Emperor was drunk and lost his way, and the officials had no choice but to believe it. Doubt it? Would you dare question the Empress Dowager and the Emperor?

After her bath, Cold Jiu slept well. Emperor Long Yi's outburst was of no concern to her. She was not Cold Jinghua and had no intention of becoming her. Cold Jiu's past had nothing to do with her. She didn't want to know why she married the old Emperor or her entanglements with Emperor Long Yi. As long as he didn't bother her, all was well. If he went too far, she wouldn't care if he was the Emperor!

"Empress Dowager!" Lu Chang brought water for washing and personally assisted Cold Jiu. After making sure she wore warmer clothes, he said, "Last night, I asked the Imperial Physician. He confirmed the Emperor was indeed drunk, but he had a big bump and bleeding on the back of his head. This morning, the Emperor was furious and punished two inattentive servants. He's still angry."

Cold Jiu was well aware of her own strength; that throw was just enough to cause a bump, not enough to kill. He deserved it for his drunken tirade. She was already lenient for not crippling him.

"Let him be angry! He drunkenly barged into my palace; does he dare to openly be angry with me?"

Lu Chang adjusted Cold Jiu's dress, sighing, "In the past, the Empress Dowager always revolved around the Emperor. My heart was always uneasy because the Emperor was heartless last time. Now that the Empress Dowager has finally let go, the Emperor starts to entangle again. My heart is up in the air once more!"

Cold Jiu laughed lightly, "You, a eunuch, are concerned with these matters of love?"

Lu Chang looked at Cold Jiu with a mock reproach, "You jest, Empress Dowager! I know nothing of love. I'm only concerned about the propriety between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Since ancient times, men have been fickle, and women bear the blame. With your youth and beauty, if anything truly happens between you and the Emperor, you would likely face impeachment by the officials and public censure. I worry for you, Empress Dowager!"