The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 1031 - 234: Irresistible Charm_3

Chapter 1031: Chapter 234: Irresistible Charm_3

"Emperor..." Pei Qin’s face showed difficulty.

"Don’t use women as an excuse for Us!" Emperor Chu Wen gave a stern look.

After thinking it through, Pei Qin hesitated, "Emperor! If the Imperial City were to fall into chaos, then we should just rebuild it. The current city is square-shaped; we can rebuild it into circular rings! With the Palace at the center, we could expand outwards, building ring roads, second ring, third ring, up to the fourth and fifth rings. Emperor, I suddenly thought of a song!"

"Ah~ five rings, you have one more ring than the four rings; ah~ five rings, you have one less ring than the six rings. One day, you will extend to the seven rings, after finishing the seven rings, build the eight rings, and after the eight rings, build the nine rings!"

Xiao Guangbi and Xiao Guangzhao, who were waiting outside, heard a strange song bellowing from the Emperor’s sleeping chamber. The voice, clearly that of the much-favored General Pei, Pei Qin.

Both were somewhat astonished and twitched. The Emperor was seriously ill; he had urgently called Pei Qin back, not treating her as a woman, but as an intimate official of the Emperor! To summon her to the Palace at this time must be to discuss the matter of the Crown Prince’s position and the succession, yet she was singing at such a moment!?

And, such nonsense singing, one taste should suffice, but she got addicted to it!? Was the Emperor... confused by his illness!?

"Emperor! How do you think I sang this song? Do I have a talent for singing? In the future, when I retire and return to my hometown, if I have no money for food, I could still sing for a living and earn some steamed bun money, right?" Pei Qin asked with a sly grin.

Emperor Chu Wen felt like he couldn’t hold back a mouthful of old blood and nodded in complete agreement, "You do have talent!" The talent to infuriate people with your carefree attitude!

"Heh heh heh! I also think I have talent!" Pei Qin laughed. Then her stomach gurgled just in time.

Emperor Chu Wen’s face darkened, "Serve General Pei a meal!"

Shi Rui quietly glanced at his expression, and promptly commanded his apprentice Shi Su to prepare the Imperial Meal. Pei Hansan was truly audacious, even daring to babble before the Emperor. If the Emperor were in danger, and the Imperial City fell into chaos, then the entire realm might descend into disorder. Yet here she was, ah~ five rings...

Pei Qin wanted to slip away; this Imperial Meal was not like the last, not so delicious. But the Emperor had spoken, and she dared not leave. Seeing the Imperial Meal served, she reluctantly ate it.

Indeed, an Imperial Meal was an Imperial Meal, and it was delicious. Especially now in summer when the variety of dishes was even greater, Pei Qin’s hesitance at first turned into a hearty appetite as she ate on.

"Bring Us a bowl of soup!" Emperor Chu Wen, watching her eat deliciously, ordered.

Glad to see him wanting to eat, Shi Rui quickly served the soup.

After drinking some hot and sour soup, Emperor Chu Wen also had half a bowl of rice and ate some dishes.

Having finished her meal, Pei Qin wiped her mouth, "Emperor! Anything else? If there’s nothing else, let me go home for a bit!" Although she was susceptible to the cold, it was the height of summer, and she had worked up quite a sweat from the activities and the hot soup and meal!

Seeing her content and wanting to leave, "Take General Pei down to rest in the veranda room. Accompany Us for meals these few days and be on call!"

Pei Qin felt like flipping the table, "Emperor, I am a woman!"

Emperor Chu Wen glared with a piercing look.

Pei Qin immediately retracted her neck, weakly responding, "Yes." A camel on the brink of death is bigger than a horse, and an Emperor on the brink of death... That is even scarier.

Watching Shi Su lead her away, Emperor Chu Wen’s face darkened, and he picked up a pillow and threw it, "Slippery as an eel!" Those old officials had been slick in their government affairs for so many years, yet she, a woman, was even slicker than those old foxes!

Shi Rui should have immediately knelt down, but watching the Emperor throw pillows, he couldn’t help but feel that the Emperor was throwing a bit of a childish tantrum.

Emperor Chu Wen was also aware of it and coughed once.

Shi Rui hurriedly picked up the pillow, placed it back in its original spot, a little closer to his hand. So he could throw it again if he wanted.

Emperor Chu Wen sat for a while and felt much relief from the frustration of the past few days, unable to suppress a hum. Now was a critical time, and there she was, only concerned with fighting battles and retreating faster than eels! Recalling how she pouted with a look of suppressed anger as she withdrew, Emperor Chu Wen felt a sense of satisfaction. He wasn’t unaware of her dark delight when she saw others in distress!

If Pei Qin knew that, she would definitely give him the finger. Which eye saw me pouting!? I merely disdain! It’s just a temporary submission!

Shi Su led Pei Qin to the veranda room and let Lu Hai and Liu Feng in to wait on her.

After washing up, Pei Qin herself was like a cooling device; she didn’t need ice. With Lu Hai and Liu Feng by her side, she felt much more at ease, silently cursing the Emperor for a while, thinking about her daughter, then she lay down to sleep.

She hadn’t rested well these days, and although the Palace air was too heavy with yin, the protection of Lu Hai and Liu Feng allowed Pei Qin to sleep soundly.

When she woke up, a little eunuch came with a message, saying the Empress Dowager summoned her.

Pei Qin was detained in the Palace; the other consorts couldn’t see her, but the Empress Dowager could summon her at any time. Seeing Shi Su come to lead her, and clearly the Emperor had been informed and allowed, she followed to meet the Empress Dowager.

Consort Yu heard early on that Pei Qin was detained in the Palace and guessed that the Empress Dowager would definitely see her, so she came early to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. The Emperor wouldn’t allow consorts to attend to him, making it difficult for her to get any news.

The Empress Dowager, who had spent a lifetime in the Palace, could easily discern the situation. Hearing that Pei Qin had arrived, she dismissed Consort Yu, "You’ve also been sitting here for quite a while. I need to see General Pei, so you should withdraw."

Consort Yu felt reluctant, "Empress Dowager..." Seeing her expression turn cold, she bit her lip in frustration and complied, withdrawing.

Pei Qin was led in and saw the Empress Dowager with her silver hair sitting on the upper seat. She approached, knelt on one knee, and offered the greeting, "...Empress Dowager, long live, long live, forevermore!" Long live, my foot! The other side’s Emperor’s health is almost failing!

"Beloved Officer Pei, rise!" the Empress Dowager called out, squinting as she sized her up. Although a woman, Pei Qin’s accomplishments were greater than many men’s. The Emperor’s favor was evident, but whether she could really hold up was uncertain.

The Empress Dowager had no intention of refraining from politics and, after asking Pei Qin a few simple domestic questions, she changed the subject, "The Emperor is gravely ill, and has specifically recalled General Pei to the Imperial City. I wonder who does General Pei think would be a suitable successor to the throne?"

She asked so directly, which made Pei Qin feel rather frustrated. Weren’t noble people supposed to speak with roundabout phrases? And those from the Royal Family should be even more circuitous, so why was everyone so forthright?

She didn’t know that they all were aware of her straightforward nature and thus dealt with her in the same way.

Pei Qin’s expression changed, "To the Empress Dowager! Whoever the new Crown Prince is, he must surely be one who can protect the land and bring peace to the people. No matter who it is, I will remain loyal to the Emperor and serve him devotedly!" You’re being direct, so I’ll be too. It doesn’t matter who becomes the Emperor; showing my loyalty is never wrong! Whoever wishes to reign, let them have it!

With the Empress Dowager speaking directly about the succession, and here she was talking about appointing the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager nodded her head; indeed, she was someone who knew how to speak diplomatically, "It is only natural for a beloved officer to be loyal to the Emperor. What would you do if someone approached you with offers to join their cause?" Even confined to the deep palace, she heard about Prince He Qing’s actions from the reports people brought her.

"Beat him up?" Pei Qin looked up. She truly didn’t want to be courted, nor would she allow it.

A twitch appeared at the corner of the Empress Dowager’s mouth, thinking that the Emperor must have his arrangements for keeping her in the Palace, she turned the subject, "I’ve heard that your two daughters are both very clever, and the Emperor has even bestowed names upon them. Bring them into the Palace for me to see!"

She’s thinking of taking my daughters as hostages.

Pei Qin’s expression turned cold, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, as she stood up and looked at the Empress Dowager sitting above her, "Empress Dowager..."

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