Chapter 355: Who dares accuse him of overstepping? Let them come to me!

Chapter 355: Who dares accuse him of overstepping? Let them come to me!

The imperial palace.

Empress Nie, dressed in a deep purple everyday attire, was delicately holding a chess piece, playing a game with the supreme ruler across from her.

Empress Nie was forty years old this year, but due to her excellent maintenance, she looked only about thirty. Her beauty was radiant, her face smooth and wrinkle-free, and her eyes sparkled with life, like dewdrops under the morning light, shining brightly.

The side hall was enveloped in silence, with a faint incense wafting from the gold-inlaid beast-shaped incense burner. It was not the sweet fragrance commonly used by the imperial concubines, but rather a deep and serene Zen-like aroma.

"Mother."

The Crown Prince, in a light purple robe adorned with four-clawed dragons, a mark of his status, strode in, breaking the silence of the side hall. Before he even arrived, his cheerful voice came from the entrance of the hall:

"The task Second Brother entrusted in his letter, I’ve handled it."

"Really?"

Empress Nie momentarily forgot about her chess game with Emperor Jiazheng. She joyfully stood up and took a few steps forward to meet the Crown Prince as he entered the inner hall: "How did you handle it?"

Emperor Jiazheng threw the chess piece into the nearby chess box, looking somewhat displeased.

Crown Prince Wei Shiqing then hastily saluted Emperor Jiazheng: "Father is also here. Your son pays his respects to you."

Emperor Jiazheng snorted through his nose.

Empress Nie tugged at Wei Shiqing's arm: "Don't mind your father. Ever since he learned Ayan wrote only to you, he’s been sulking and out of sorts."

Wei Shiqing restrained himself from laughing too boldly in front of his father, so he only smiled subtly.

"...Second Brother specifically wrote to us before, asking us to take care of the Yujia family. I visited the Ministry of War to investigate, and the eldest son of this generation of the Yujia family, Yu Yonghuai, is the one who led the troops to break through the Western Di royal court and captured the Western Di Crown Prince! Given his military achievements, granting him a mansion is only fitting. I then went to the Ministry of Works to look through the list of confiscated mansions." Wei Shiqing explained in detail, "However, some mansions are too old and too small, while some larger and better ones were built by former nobles or aristocratic families. Some mansions, even if Yu Yonghuai were rewarded for his merit, exceed his rank’s allowance, violating regulations..."

Empress Nie listened intently, holding her eldest son's hand, and the mother and son went to sit on the soft couch by the window. A flicker of concern crossed her beautiful face: "This won't do. For so many years, this is the first time Ayan has written to instruct us to do something. We must do this well for Ayan... If the mansion is too old or small, how will we justify it to Ayan upon his return?"

Wei Shiqing thought the same. He nodded and was about to say something when Emperor Jiazheng walked over with his hands behind his back and sat down near the mother and son, snorting: "What's there to fear about overstepping the regulations? Yu Yonghuai, despite his youth, has already achieved remarkable military feats. He is clearly a rising star of the Great Xia! I’ll issue a decree granting him a grand mansion. Who dares accuse him of overstepping? Let them come to me!"

Wei Shiqing smiled again: "Father is absolutely right. So I have already chosen a slightly larger mansion for the Yujia family, just waiting for Father to issue the decree."

With that, Wei Shiqing took out a map from his sleeve, which was the blueprint of the mansion he had chosen.

Emperor Jiazheng laughed in exasperation: "You little schemer, you had this planned all along, didn’t you!"

Empress Nie extended her slender jade-like fingers and pinched Emperor Jiazheng's arm: "Aqing has been tirelessly working on this for Ayan. As his father, what's the big deal about issuing a decree?"

Emperor Jiazheng coughed: "The Empress is absolutely right."

With that, Emperor Jiazheng took the blueprint from Wei Shiqing and looked at it for a few moments.

The blueprint bore the inscription 'Wuyi Lane' in the upper right corner.

"This one..."

Wei Shiqing said: "Indeed, Father, the Yujia family is thriving and numerous. Even General Yu’s third brother is this year’s provincial champion in the imperial exams; and with Second Brother's favor towards the Yujia family, I thought this five-courtyard mansion would be more suitable. When Second Brother returns, he’ll see we’ve honored his request."

Emperor Jiazheng was slightly thoughtful.

He recalled that Consort Rou had once mentioned to him that her brother had recently uncovered a major bribery scandal in Jiangnan’s bureaucracy and wanted to ask for a reward. She had hinted at the mansion on Wuyi Lane.

Emperor Jiazheng decided to set aside Consort Rou’s request for the time being. After all, another place could be chosen to reward her brother. But Ayan’s specific request to care for the Yujia family took precedence.

"Then it’s settled on this one!" Emperor Jia Zheng closed the blueprint, finalizing the decision.

Empress Nie was pleased, her lips curling slightly: "Ayan will be overjoyed when he finds out."

Wei Shiqing smiled: "When the time comes, I’ll include all this in a family letter. Ayan will surely deeply appreciate Your Majesties’ kindness."

Emperor Jia Zheng found these words comforting.

Empress Nie also said: "As long as Ayan is happy. This child has been out there alone with Qin Gongfeng for so many years..."

As she spoke, a hint of sadness crossed her lotus-like face.

Emperor Jia Zheng also felt a pang in his heart, embracing Empress Nie's shoulder, he said in a deep voice: "In two years and seven months, Ayan will return. Then we can be reunited as a family."

Empress Nie rested her head on Emperor Jia Zheng’s shoulder, softly murmuring, "Mmm."

Wei Shiqing, also smiling, sat nearby, slightly rolling up his sleeves, and poured himself a cup of tea.

The side hall was warm and cozy, but Eunuch Chen stood at the doorway, looking troubled, and softly reported: "Your Majesty, someone from Lady Yang Wanyi’s palace has come to report that she is suffering from a severe headache..."

Emperor Jia Zheng responded: "If Lady Wanyi is unwell, she should call for a physician. I’m not a doctor—what good would my visit do?"

Empress Nie lifted her head from Emperor Jia Zheng's shoulder and urged: "Enough of this—you should go and check on Lady Wanyi. When she came to pay her respects yesterday morning, I noticed her complexion was off—her dark circles weren’t even covered by powder. She might truly be unwell."

Hearing that Lady Wanyi was unwell yet still came to pay respects to Empress Nie, Emperor Jia Zheng was quite satisfied with her respect towards the Empress. He instructed Eunuch Chen: "From my private treasury, fetch a blood ginseng to replenish her qi and blood, and send it to Lady Wanyi."

Seeing that Emperor Jia Zheng was reluctant to go, Empress Nie glared at him.

Her anger only enhanced her breathtaking beauty.

"Your Majesty lingers here, just passing the time playing chess. What’s the harm in stopping by Lady Wanyi’s place?" Empress Nie was displeased, glancing at Emperor Jia Zheng with her phoenix eyes, "If Your Majesty acts like this, rumors will spread again that I, the Empress, am monopolizing you—it’s so tiresome... Your Majesty, go quickly!"

Empress Nie unceremoniously shooed Emperor Jia Zheng away.

Emperor Jia Zheng looked at the closed palace doors, shook his head helplessly, and then glanced at Eunuch Chen: "Alright, find that blood ginseng, I will go and see."

"Yes."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Emperor Jia Zheng made his way to Lady Wanyi’s residence.

Seeing that Emperor Jia Zheng had left, Empress Nie moved closer to Wei Shiqing and asked with interest: "Aqing, have you met the Yujia family? What’s so special about them? How did they win Ayan’s favor?"