Chapter 627: Her Majesty
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The emperor had already carried the empress to the bed, but he noticed her resistance.
“Yu’er, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t tell me you resent me for having such a busy schedule?”
The Empress felt compelled to explain, “How could I dare to resent you? You’ve just ascended the throne, and there are countless responsibilities demanding your attention every day. I find myself unavoidably neglected.”
These words emanated from the empress, leaving the emperor uneasy. He perceived her tone as a subtle mockery.
What did it mean to be busy every day?
True, he indulged in the company of a few beauties in the harem daily!
The other concubines might not be aware, but he diligently attended court early every day. It was mostly a facade; the Public House made all the decisions, and he often found himself bored to the point of wanting to doze off.
Yet, it was implausible for the empress not to know!
Despite this, the emperor refrained from erupting in anger on the spot. Instead, he continued with his original intention. “No matter how occupied I am, I have never forgotten you, Yu’er.”
“I’ll explain why I haven’t been present for so long.”
“Yu’er! Yu’er! It’s been too long. I’ve missed you so much!”
In this moment, the emperor transformed into a devoted husband with an affectionate persona.
The empress scoffed at his performance, but she refrained from rejecting him outright.
Closing her eyes, she contemplated that it wasn’t a bad thing for the emperor to lavish attention on her.
As the emperor continued to seek her during this period, she secretly hoped to conceive another child.
With this in mind, the empress resigned herself to cooperating with the emperor throughout.
She speculated that the emperor was aware of the Public House’s plan, hence his sudden efforts to pamper her. She hoped that his feigned gentleness might prompt her to speak favorably of him in front of her family.
However, the empress harbored no illusions about the effectiveness of her words.
It seemed pointless for the emperor to treat her well at this juncture.
The Empress was already acquainted with her family’s intentions. The Empress Dowager had divulged the information, and her family had also approached her for discussions.
They criticized the Emperor for his absurd behavior, accusing him of prioritizing selfish desires without regard for the consequences.
Take, for instance, the matter involving Qin Zhenzhen. The emperor had previously sought to claim her, and now, even after Qin Zhenzhen had given birth, his interest persisted.
This pattern extended to other aspects of his rule. His arbitrary actions in the court, whether causing amusement among civil and military officials or inadvertently exposing himself, showcased a lack of foresight.
For instance, his unfounded accusation against the Third Prince for attempting to assassinate him displayed sheer recklessness, ignoring the potential repercussions of the General Manor retaliating against the palace if the Third Prince were to perish.
If the emperor persisted in such irrational behavior, their loyalty would likely shift from him to supporting the crown prince’s ascent to the throne.
Hence, the empress recognized that her current focus should not be on cultivating jealousy or scheming against rival beauties, but on nurturing the well-being of the little crown prince.
The little crown prince represented her future support, whereas the emperor proved to be an unreliable protector, unable to secure even his own position.
The Empress Dowager delved further, disclosing that the ultimate aim of the Public House was to usurp the throne. If events unfolded as expected, she would soon find herself a widow.
The Empress understood what the Grand Empress Dowager meant. She hoped that she would not be willing to be a widow and put pressure on the Public House.
This stemmed from her status as the most cherished young lady in the Public House, as all her elder brothers showered her with affection. Capitalizing on their fondness might prove advantageous for her cause.
However, the Empress Dowager exhibited a certain naivety.
Regardless of the extent of her favoritism, preventing her brothers from pursuing their grand ambitions was an impossibility.
The empress wasn’t naive. In her estimation, it was more advantageous to have her family on the imperial throne.
Given the Emperor’s growing aversion toward her, she foresaw herself becoming a widow in the future. The distinction between being a widow and a true widow held little significance..