This scene left Zhuo Shi and a crowd of palace maids and eunuchs dumbfounded.
By all accounts, Your Majesty's mood has not been great recently.
Even the grand wedding failed to lift his spirits.
During these days, the attending palace maids and eunuchs were extremely cautious and terrified, yet why is he now so amiable?
Just now inside, he didn't show the slightest inclination to punish this young Lin Yi, and now again he shows such leniency.
One really wonders what special talent this little Lin Yi has.
It seems I should find an opportunity to get close to this fellow; perhaps he has caught Your Majesty's favor.
After leaving the Imperial Study Room, the young Emperor didn't wait for Lin Yi to speak up but directly addressed those outside:
"Saddle up for Anning Palace, tell the Empress to prepare fine wines and delicacies, for tonight I shall keep the Empress company."
Upon hearing these words, the group of palace maids and eunuchs immediately sprang into action.
Some even hurried to Anning Palace to deliver the message.
In just a moment's time, a palanquin was placed before the young Emperor, who was then carried towards Anning Palace.
This journey, however, proved to be a hardship for Lin Yi.
Having just come from the General Construction Office, his feet were already sore, and now he was expected to walk again.
For the first time, he complained inwardly about why the Imperial Palace had to be so grandly built.
Especially when his eyes fell on the young Emperor, he couldn't help but reproach the Emperor privately for not respecting martial virtues.
Everyone is walking while only you sit in the palanquin.
[Here I am, bustling around for you, later I will even have to play cards with your Empress, can't you be considerate? At the very least, you could at least arrange a palanquin to carry me too.]
The young Emperor, leaning on the palanquin, had already started to selectively ignore Lin Yi's nonsensical rambling.
This fellow always came up with the most outlandish ideas, leaving one speechless.
However, fortunately, this fellow was relatively reliable in handling matters.
So, amidst Lin Yi's ceaseless complaints, and under the atmosphere where the young Emperor several times barely restrained himself from dragging Lin Yi out and flogging him, they finally arrived grandly at Anning Palace.
As soon as he stepped into Anning Palace, Lin Yi immediately noticed the courtyard filled with red lanterns and red silk.
After all, tonight was only the second day after the Emperor's wedding and the marriage had not yet been consummated, so it was understandable that the red silk had not been taken down.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty!"
"Your humble servant pays respects to the Emperor."
As the young Emperor's palanquin was set down, instantly a swathe of people kneeled outside Anning Palace.
Among them, right at the front, was an exceptionally beautiful woman clad in a red Empress's bridal gown.
One could see her face was as lovely as peach and apricot blossoms, her demeanor graceful, maintaining a refined and slender beauty, her eyes vibrant, crystal-like, captivating to all.
In essence, Lin Yi's first impression was that she was gentle and smart, learned and well-mannered.
Truth be told, this was completely different from what the young Emperor had described to Lin Yi.
He had initially thought that the daughter of the Great General might be broad-backed and stout or robust in stature, with a vigorous and bracing presence.
Yet, now upon this encounter, it was the complete opposite.
She was entirely a sophisticated and beautiful woman!
With that look, if she were to put on a professional skirt and step into a pair of high heels, she'd be the epitome of a sizzling lady boss!
Seeing this, Lin Yi even found it hard to resist swallowing his saliva, and his inner voice started to ring in the little Emperor's mind:
[It's worth it! Absolutely worth it! Bro, although I made your life tough in the previous life, this life makes up for it with interest.]
It must be said that the Empress' beauty is truly remarkable.
And the Empress' style is completely different from that of the little Emperor.
Perhaps it's because the little Emperor has been disguising herself as a man for so long that she always has this lofty goddess vibe about her.
But the Empress, despite also having a mature lady's face, exudes a certain approachable charm.
In short, she's very likable.
Well, I don't know about others, but Lin Yi really likes her.
The kind of like where you can't take your eyes off her after just one glance...
"Everyone, rise."
After stepping down from her dais, the little Emperor waved her hand at the crowd and led the way into the courtyard.
She remained expressionless from beginning to end.
The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs, of course, were already used to such a demeanor from their ruler and carefully stepped back.
As for the Empress, naturally, she was also helped up to follow closely behind the little Emperor.
Since the little Emperor had already sent a message ahead to have a banquet here, by the time she entered the great hall, an array of exquisite delicacies were being brought to the table one after another.
The little Emperor didn't hesitate and promptly took her seat at the head of the table, then she lifted her gaze to look at the Empress who had followed her in:
"Empress, take a seat. I have delayed you due to the backlog of petitions from yesterday."
Saying this, the little Emperor gestured to the seat beside her.
Hearing this, the Empress walked over and sat down graciously:
"Your Majesty manages countless affairs and works tirelessly for the state. I worry for you, there is no such thing as waiting too long."
As she spoke, the Empress stood up again, came behind the little Emperor, and stretched out a pair of jade hands to slowly start massaging the little Emperor's shoulders:
"I've just learned some techniques to relax the muscles, let me give Your Majesty a massage."
Feeling the kneading on her shoulders, the little Emperor was suddenly taken aback, then a look of grinding her teeth in irritation appeared on her face.
Of course, this emotion was not directed at the Empress, but because of that cheeky voice of Lin Yi that had suddenly invaded her mind:
[Heh heh, 'rule' over ten thousand 'consorts'? The little Emperor might wish to, but she lacks that certain 'equipment'... only I can step in for tasks like these...]
Her gaze swept fiercely toward the entrance, and she immediately saw Lin Yi leaning against the door frame with a peculiar expression on his face.
Thinking of his indecent thoughts from her memory, the little Emperor became even more furious.
Following that, the little Emperor's cold voice suddenly rang out:
"Lin Yi! Come over here and pour wine for your Emperor and Empress."
The volume of her voice was not low, startling every palace maid and eunuch in the hall with a tremble.
As for Lin Yi himself, he had an indifferent expression.
While slightly bowing, he walked towards the little Emperor's table, all the while muttering in his heart:
[So fierce, always snapping at me; just you watch, I will reclaim everything with interest from your wife later! Huh? Why do I feel a chill on my back in the middle of this summer?]
…End of chapter…