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墨書 Inktalez
The new emperor wasted no time in asserting his authority, dealing with several officials in just half a month, including one family that was completely wiped out.
I was terrified that the emperor would target my family next, so I huddled in Yi'an Palace, hardly daring to come out. My appetite shrank, and I could only manage three bowls of rice at each meal.
A month passed, and my family remained safe. My father was still lively, continuing his daily verbal sparring with the chancellor next door.
I couldn't understand how a civil official and a military general could argue so passionately without ever coming to blows after all these years.
Regardless, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. My appetite returned, and I even added an extra Pork Knuckle to my lunch every day.
Life was quite pleasant, and I thought I was in the clear until the Ministry of Rites brought me the roster, reminding me that it was time to select a consort for the emperor.
Logically, this was something I should be overseeing as the matriarch.
However, I had heard that just days earlier, a minister had tried to send his daughter into the palace and pressured the emperor. Before he could finish his words, he was accused of several crimes by the emperor and thrown into the dungeons.
The ministers from the previous dynasty dared not provoke the emperor's wrath and decided to pass this hot potato onto me.
I wasn't foolish; I immediately tossed the roster aside and adopted a stance befitting a dowager empress.
"Less than a hundred days since the Late Emperor's passing, and you are eager to add new faces to the harem? Do you wish to bring scandal upon the new emperor?"
The Minister of Rites seemed taken aback by my fiery response and quickly softened his tone.
"Your Majesty, please do not be angry. We are all thinking of the state. Moreover, there is no greater unfilial act than having no heirs..."
"Enough with your nonsense!"
I lifted my eyelids and interrupted him directly. "You have quite a few sons, yet one lost a bet and got his leg broken, another was caught harassing a respectable woman and ended up with a head injury, and there's one selling fake medicine who's still locked up in the capital's magistrate's office. Tell me, aren't you exhausted?"
My name is Ruan Ruan. I have a soft demeanor but a sharp tongue; after all, I've listened to my father and the Chancellor argue through the wall for over a decade. When it comes to quarrels, I've never lost.
The Minister of Rites was nearly left speechless by my retort, dragging his long face away in defeat.
I let out a sigh of relief and turned to the small kitchen, asking them to add another dish of Roasted Fragrant Rabbit to calm my nerves.
However, just as I had taken two bites, the Emperor arrived.
I quickly instructed someone to remove the rabbit from the table.
It wasn't that I feared he would take my share; it was just that in this year of disaster, he had just mentioned that both the court and the harem needed to practice frugality and avoid extravagance.
"You all may leave,"
the Emperor said as he entered, clearing everyone from my room.
I didn't dare to stop him; even if I wanted to, it would be futile. I quickly sat up straight, behaving like a well-behaved quail.
"Mother, have you had dinner yet?" The Emperor looked at me.
"Not yet, hic—"
The Emperor's gaze froze on me, and I was taken aback as well.
"Um... I'm hungry, hic!" I forced a smile.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow and leaned closer to me.
A faint scent of dragon saliva wafted through the air, creating an inexplicable allure that stirred my heart.
I instinctively gripped the edge of the table, feeling my old instincts kicking in again!
In the next moment, his fingers brushed against the corner of my mouth!
"Ha, Mother has quite an appetite!"
I shot my head up and saw a shiny smear on his finger!
Oh no!
I had forgotten to wipe my mouth after gnawing on the rabbit!
Embarrassment flashed by, and I immediately sniffled, feeling so wronged that I was on the verge of tears.
"I haven't eaten meat in several days. I can't fill my stomach without it... I only took a couple of bites; why don't you just take it away..."
I looked up at him with pitiful eyes and noticed the muscles on the Emperor's face twitch slightly.
"I heard that Mother helped me with the selection of the Empress?"
He quickly regained his icy demeanor, but the abrupt change in topic left me momentarily confused.
Moreover, his gaze was somewhat fierce, which frightened me.
"I think that with the New Emperor ascending the throne, there are many complicated matters in court, and stabilizing the court should be the priority..."
I cautiously watched him and tentatively asked, "Should I retrieve the list of names again?"
He remained noncommittal, his beautiful eyes half-squinted as he stared at me for a while.
I felt dizzy under his gaze, unconsciously gripping my hands tightly enough to nearly chip the edge of the table.
Just when I thought I should say something, the Emperor stood up and instructed the kitchen to add an extra meat dish to my meals every day before leaving.
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