I am born a beauty, and I am supreme

Chapter 19

It's so happy it makes you want to roll around in bed.

Tang Leyan quickly remembered where she had crawled to before she collapsed last night.

He couldn't help but look up and exclaim, "All of this is thanks to His Excellency the Grand Secretary!"

Before the sigh had even faded, the door to the room was kicked open with a bang, and Lord Chu, dressed in a black official robe with golden dragons embroidered on both arms, appeared in the doorway with an imposing air, but... unexpectedly, he had put on a black veil to cover his face.

The martial arts champion, a fifth-rank official who carried a sword and served before the emperor, was very curious: "Your Excellency! Last night..."

"Shut up!" Chu Zhongtang strode in without saying a word. "Guard Yue, get down here!"

"Yes, sir." She answered meekly, leaping lightly from the bed to the floor. "What are your orders, Your Excellency? Oh, and I must thank you for your hospitality last night..."

"Shut up, you forced your way into my sedan chair."

"My lord, you are such a kind-hearted man who cares so much about your subordinates, how could you mind such a trivial matter?"

"I just really mind, what are you going to do about it?"

"...Why are you wearing a veil, sir? It's daytime now." The conversation was being changed.

"I like!"

Master Zhongtang roared.

"Your taste is exceptional and truly remarkable, I admire it greatly," she said immediately, bowing with a smile.

Chu Zhen's anger had been suppressed to the extreme. Looking left and right, the sight of this person standing there, all red and cheerful, was too glaring: "Guard Yue, please leave my house!"

“My lord, since we’ve gotten up together, why don’t we go to court together?” he said with a beaming smile.

"Shut up!"

"My lord, I am telling the truth. I am grateful to you for taking me in for the night."

"I told you I was forced!"

"Please forgive me, my lord. I lose control when I fall asleep. If someone gets close... cough cough, did I hurt you, my lord?" He took a step forward, bent down, and turned his head, trying to peek at the person's face through the veil.

Chu Zhen watched him circling around her waist as if she were blind, his shifty eyes making her want to kick him. She forced herself to hold back and angrily said, "No!"

"Then why are you wearing a veil, sir?" He continued looking around.

That's outrageous... absolutely outrageous...

"Leyan." A soft voice called out.

"Yes," came the respectful reply.

"You give me..." Chu Zhen clenched her fists, "You give me... right now, get out of here and stay far away from me. I never want to see you again, otherwise I'll beat you every time I see you and tie you up at the Meridian Gate and chop you into eight pieces!"

Before she finished speaking, Tang Leyan ran faster than a rabbit.

As I ran, I thought to myself: The Grand Secretary was very irritable and unpleasant today, and I am so understanding. I'd better not go and provoke him.

But I don't know why he has such a bad temper. Is it because of unsatisfied desires? It's hard to say. After all, he's almost thirty years old. It's said that he doesn't even have one or two concubines. That's abnormal, very abnormal.

Standing outside the gate of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion, with a flick of his fan, he walked lightly along the roadside: "I must go to court, to go to court, to see my beloved so-and-so."

He sang as he walked, and the distorted voice reappeared, but thankfully no one heard it.

※※※※※

The truth was revealed in the imperial court.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Attending Court

"Lord Chu is getting bolder and bolder."

The emperor's voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself.

The accompanying eunuch listened intently, his expression shifting slightly. He glanced at the emperor sitting before the dragon desk, who wore a black robe with a golden dragon embroidered on his vest, a sun on his left shoulder and a moon on his right, landscape paintings on his arms, and stars embroidered on his ribs. Because he was in the imperial study, he was not wearing an imperial crown. His jet-black hair was tied up with a golden crown with five dragons chasing a pearl. The emperor frowned slightly, staring blankly at the memorial in front of him.

"How dare they mobilize the imperial guards without my permission..."

Her red lips moved slightly, and she spoke again, her long fingers curling up to gently tap the folded paper.

The accompanying eunuch then guessed what the emperor was thinking, so he bent down and stepped forward, whispering, "Is Your Majesty worried about something?"

"Hmm..." came the noncommittal reply, "If it's about worry, I've been worried for a while now... but..."

He sighed.

The accompanying eunuch smiled obsequiously and said, "Your Excellency did go a bit too far this time, but... he was doing it for His Majesty's sake, wasn't he?"

"Hmm... Is the emperor more important, or Shun's territory?" Tang Shaoxuan murmured, his eyes lowered, and suddenly smiled faintly, "Territory? In Chu Zhen's heart, does he truly consider it Shun's territory, or someone else's territory..."

The accompanying eunuch trembled and said with difficulty, "Your Majesty, this old servant believes that the whole world belongs to the emperor."

"Ha, haha..." The emperor laughed upon hearing this, "That's true."

Then, the conversation took a sudden turn: "I heard that the newly appointed top scholar slept at the former residence of the Marquis of Zhenyuan last night?"

“This…” The accompanying eunuch rolled his eyes, “This old servant has never heard of this before.”

"Alright... it's time for court." The emperor changed the subject. "The newly appointed top scholar should be in the Imperial Household Department, why hasn't he come to accompany me yet?"

Just as he uttered those words, he heard an announcement from outside the door.

The accompanying eunuch chuckled: "Speak of the devil, and he appears. This time, the newly appointed top scholar has finally arrived on time."

"Yes." A smile appeared on the emperor's face. "If he is late again, I will punish him with a rod, without the need for the Nine Gates Admiral to do it."

※※※※※

A figure flashed by at the doorway, and someone strode in with a lively and unrestrained air.

The smile on the accompanying eunuch's face instantly froze: Why hasn't this person changed out of his official robes yet? This red outfit is just too glaring.

The emperor was also taken aback. Tang Leyan stepped forward and said, "Leyan greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

"Rise," the emperor said, gesturing to hide his confusion, and asked with a smile, "Leyan, why are you not wearing your official robes?"

"I came in such a hurry today that I didn't have time to go to the Imperial Household Department, so I came to see His Majesty first to avoid being late and being punished by His Majesty." His dark eyes gleamed with mischief as he looked directly at the emperor's face, observing him very seriously.

The emperor felt a tightness in his chest, thinking: "You certainly have self-awareness, but coming without changing into your official robes is rather audacious. And what's with that look in your eyes? Is there something on my face, or did you skip breakfast...? Humph."

Just as he was about to find an excuse to scold him, the accompanying eunuch spoke up: "Your Majesty, it's time."

Tang Shaoxuan glared at the man standing before the emperor, then sighed, "I will let you off this time, but you must not act so boldly again in the future."

Le Yan smiled warmly: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will remember this forever."

The smile on his face made Tang Shaoxuan feel a little dazed: It seems like it's been a very, very long time since I've seen such a frank smile in front of me.

Today, his radiant smile stirred a ripple in the Emperor's heart, which was as still as a dead sea. As he stepped out of the Imperial Study, a ray of sunlight shone through, blurring his vision. The Emperor couldn't help but stop and reach out as if to grasp something. The accompanying eunuch understood and was about to step forward when a figure reacted even faster. The figure flashed in front of the Emperor, reached out, and steadily supported him.

She smiled slightly again.

The emperor turned his head and met those clear eyes again. In a daze, he vaguely remembered: When have I ever seen such a bright smile and such clear eyes?

Yet, when did I forget so completely, leaving only a faint shadow?

※※※※※

In the main hall of the palace, ministers filed in from both sides, creating a more solemn atmosphere than usual.

Just before entering the Golden Palace, everyone was talking about how the Grand Secretary had acted first and reported later, sending troops to ride across the northern frontier.

Although the Grand Secretary went to the palace to apologize afterwards, His Majesty's thoughts are as unpredictable as clouds in the sky, and whether this is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

Moreover, the Northern Frontier has always been peaceful and stable. Since General Tianqi drove the remnants of the Barbarians to the far reaches of the desert, there have been few disturbances. Furthermore, Xue Xin, the Inspector General of the four prefectures of the Northern Frontier, has been stationed there all along. If there were any urgent military matters, why would he not report them?

Some were happy, some were worried. Some were concerned that the Grand Secretary had misjudged the situation and was making trouble out of nothing, while others were overjoyed. They had long resented the Chu family's absolute power in the court, and if Chu Zhen were to be convicted because of this, the Chu family would undoubtedly lose its biggest pillar.

Most importantly, Chu Zhongtang has not yet arrived, which only fuels suspicion.

Those with ulterior motives and those filled with worry stood before the emperor when suddenly a voice announced, "The Emperor has arrived!"

They all knelt down in unison, and the entire hall of elites collapsed in a flurry, like a gust of wind.

The emperor slowly emerged from the rear hall, wearing the imperial crown, his imposing figure striding confidently towards the throne.

Behind him, following closely behind, were still the accompanying eunuchs.

Beside him, to everyone's astonishment, was the newly appointed martial arts champion, Le Yan, who had been soundly beaten by the Nine Gates Admiral just yesterday. At this moment, still dressed in fiery red robes, he walked beside the Emperor. Initially, it seemed he was supporting the Emperor's arm, but later it appeared the Emperor struggled slightly. He then smiled, turned, and descended the white jade steps before the Emperor, stopping only on the right side of the hall. Once there, he reached into his sleeve, pulled out a small sandalwood fan, snapped it open, and gently began to wave it.

All the civil and military officials remained silent.

Someone coughed softly on the throne.

Lord Yueyan, a fifth-rank official of the Imperial Guard, suddenly sensed something, tilted his head to look, stuck out his tongue, and then slowly closed the fan in his hand, putting it back into his sleeve. With a resolute and serious expression, he looked into the distance.

Chapter Twenty-Four: All Night

The emperor looked around at his ministers and suddenly noticed that one of them was missing. Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, someone outside the door announced, "Your Excellency is here to see me."

Tang Leyan looked around.

A figure flashed past the entrance to the Golden Palace and then slowly walked in.

Tang Leyan held back her laughter.

The emperor was quite shocked. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, but his eyes gleamed with curiosity.

The ministers turned around and gasped in shock.

The hall was suddenly filled with hissing sounds, as if winter had arrived early.

"Your subject, Chu Zhen, greets Your Majesty." Chu Zhongtang walked to the center, clasped his hands in a fist and knelt down.

"Rise." Only from this voice did the emperor recognize that the person who had come was indeed Chu Zhen.

However, judging from his attire:

Dressed in official robes and wearing a black veil, the Grand Secretary stood in the center of the Golden Palace, with his left hand in front and his right hand behind, standing tall and imposing.

Among all the ministers throughout history, Chu Zhongtang was probably the first to dare to attend court with his face covered.

Tang Leyan finally couldn't help but smile.

Chu Zhen, however, was holding back her anger:

"Your Majesty, I have been suffering from a serious illness last night, but I have no choice but to come before you today. To avoid disturbing Your Majesty, I would like to wear a veil. Please forgive me."

Chu Zhongtang delivered his speech with impeccable manners.

The emperor breathed a sigh of relief: "I see, Your Excellency need not worry about it."