The document is clear to the world

Chapter 112

“It’s always like this at this age. It’ll get better in a few days. I heard from people in the palace that Lingdi’s dizziness has flared up again. Aren’t you worried? She’s always been frail.” I complained. Lu Li just smiled slightly and said nothing.

I suddenly remembered that day after watching the play and returning to the East Palace. When I woke up, I was surprised to find a silk handkerchief beside my pillow. It smelled very strongly of a woman. I was too exhausted that day to think about it. Today, I couldn't help but tease him, "Isn't the Dali princess beautiful?"

He paused, holding his rice bowl, and said, "I don't know."

"I don't know why you accepted someone's handkerchief?"

It took him a long time to swallow a mouthful of rice. "So it was hers?!"

I felt like I simply couldn't continue talking to this man. Even after taking the handkerchief, I couldn't match the women to their names. I really wondered if he had any idea how many women he had.

"Which volume of the parenting guide are you reading?"

"I've finished reading all seven volumes."

I immediately had the urge to change the subject, realizing that despite my "diligent and serious" approach, I had only read one and a half volumes. I gave him a look and said, "Why don't you read the rest to me? The imperial physician said I can't strain my eyes too much."

"good."

"Read it along with The Romance of the Western Chamber?"

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"I haven't seen it." He paused. "I heard it's not very good."

"Why?"

"This is not a good influence! Let's switch to reading the Records of the Grand Historian, or the Zuo Zhuan."

I glared at him fiercely, absolutely not allowing any bargaining. "If you won't read it to me, I'll go find Lu Xiu to read it to me. He reads it with much more emotion than you do."

"..."

"A refined person like you is naturally not on the same level as us vulgar people!" I just wanted to disgust him!

"Read it once!"

"Just once, once."

In fact, he read only a few paragraphs that night before I drifted off to sleep, though I heard he stayed up until the wee hours with The Romance of the Western Chamber in his arms.

That day, as usual, I sat to the side watching the children clinking cups and bowls as they ate their snacks. Since I had gained weight, I was too lazy to go out. I often stayed in the small kitchen, trying to come up with new snacks for the group of little gluttons to try. It was also a way to relieve boredom. The few tricks I had learned from Xiaoyu, combined with my own creative ideas, made the snacks from the East Palace more and more famous in the palace. Every day after school, more and more members of the imperial family would follow the young prince to the East Palace for afternoon tea. Hearing the calls of "Mother" and "Imperial Aunt," my heart was filled with warmth.

"Aunt, your pastries smell really good."

Especially these sweet fermented rice balls, every bite is so sweet. I'm afraid I'll develop a craving for them." It was Jing Qing who spoke; Lu Li had specially granted him permission to study in the South Study as well.

With her mouth full, Xi'er nodded hurriedly, "Of course, the sweet fermented rice balls made by Mother are the most delicious."

Yin'er sensibly picked up a handkerchief and wiped Xi'er's mouth, saying, "If our father sees you like this, he will surely say something."

Zhi'er pouted and looked at Jing Qing, saying, "Brother Qing, you're almost done eating. When my Brother Zhen comes back, there won't be any left to eat."

I then noticed that this side hall didn't seem as lively as before. I pulled Rui'er aside and asked, "Where's your brother?"

Before Rui'er could reply, Yin'er interrupted, "When I reported to Father today, he was very angry after reading my brother's article. He scolded him in front of us. We left, but he was still being scolded by Father."

My heart sank. I thought to myself that the child had always been reserved and quiet since he was little, and had never been very close to me and Lu Li. Over the years, I had felt a little resentful. Today was the first time he had gone to Chaoyang Palace to report since he started school. Although he didn't say anything, he took it to heart. He stayed up all night last night reading and writing that article. Now that this was the result, I really didn't know why he felt so awkward.

I shook my head and called over a maid: "Go to the Emperor and tell him that even when he scolds someone, he gets a drink of water. My son has been scolded for half a day, shouldn't he at least have a snack? Tell the eldest prince to come over and have some snacks. Just say those exact words."

The little maid responded and left. I served Jingqing a bowl of longan and sticky rice soup and handed it to her. "Qing'er, take your time, no rush. It's my fault for storing food. I'll have your mother come visit me more often. I haven't seen her for a while, and I miss her."

He responded, but

They stayed on each plate, never leaving their seats. I couldn't help but smile, glancing at Yin'er and Rui'er, who were behaving very well, even eating their snacks in front of them without uttering a single word.

A little while later, the little girl returned and knelt down when she saw me. "Your Majesty, the Emperor is furious. He said he's going to lock up the eldest prince for a few days and not give him any food."

Lu Li's temperament... I sighed and told the children to eat well. I followed the palace servants to Chaoyang Palace.

Lu Li was still sitting at his desk, sulking. Several books and notebooks were scattered on the floor. Zhen'er was kneeling on the floor, and it seemed like this had been going on for a long time. I handed the tea I was holding to Lu Li, but he didn't even look up. He just said, "I'm disciplining my son. What are you doing here..."

"I'm afraid you might get so anxious that you'll tear the roof off." I smiled, but his expression didn't improve.

He waved his hand at Lu Zhen, who was lying on the ground, and said, "Get back to your room. You don't need to study with your master anymore..."

"Father, is this fair to me?" Lu Zhen suddenly raised his head, his face full of struggle.

"There's no such thing as fairness or unfairness. I've already said it, you're not cut out for this." Lu Li's voice chilled me to the bone.

Lu Zhen stood up blankly, walked to the door, gave me a complicated look, then stared at Lu Li, "Just because I'm not the eldest son?"

Taking advantage of Lu Li's glare, I pushed Lu Zhen out of the hall with one hand, hurriedly closed the hall door, and used my body to block him, laughing in a flustered manner, "The child is still young, isn't he? He's just so stubborn at this age."

He coldly flicked his sleeve, "With his personality, he's bound to cause trouble in the future."

"That's unfair of you. When it comes to academic work, who can do it perfectly every time? He was just trying his best to write well. He was already feeling down, and if you keep criticizing him like this, he might lose all interest in studying."

"This matter... you really have to leave it to me." Lu Li sighed as he spoke, "I really don't know how she raised her child?!"

"You really know how to make excuses. You can't stand raising your own son, so you blame the women. Look how sick she is, she can barely take care of herself, how can she look after the child?!" I said, picking up the book he had thrown aside.

Lu Li suddenly lost her smile, turned around, and faced away from me.

I pouted. "Fine, I've been rambling again. Since I can't be a good mother, I'd rather not meddle in this. In the end, he's just your son. As his stepmother, I can't even say a word."

Unexpectedly, Lu Li walked up to him instead, "Do you know why I have to do this?"

"Why?"

He glanced at my noticeably protruding belly. “Our child is still too young, but Zhen’er is not. I’m afraid he’ll be just like his mother, relentless in achieving his goals. I can’t let him play power games under my nose and hurt his siblings.”

I flinched and grabbed his sleeve. "Is it really that serious?"

Lu Li took out a piece of paper from his sleeve; it was the article Lu Zhen had written that day.

"Look at this line." Lu Li pointed to a line of small print, a poem quoted by Lu Zhen.

A brisk west wind blows through the courtyard, the flowers are cold and fragrant, and butterflies dare not come.

If I become the Green Emperor in the future, I will make the peach blossoms bloom together.

"This isn't Huang Chao's?" I was stunned.

Who exactly is Huang Chao...? Is Lu Zhen trying to hint at Lu Li's intentions through this?

Lu Li gave a cold laugh and threw the paper into the charcoal stove to the side. I stared blankly at the dazzling flames rising from the stove.

A hand reached out and gripped my hand tightly. "This child is probably hard to tame. I'm worried that he's lost his mind."

I shook my head. "What path they choose and how they choose to walk it is up to them. What can we possibly decide?"

A fleeting look of worry crossed Lu Li's face. "It seems we should find him a woman and let him leave the palace to establish his own residence!"

"How old is he?" I couldn't help but retort, "Aren't you afraid of hurting Ling's heart?"

Lu Li flipped through a few memorials and suddenly said, "You should go and visit Yao Shuhuan more often."

"Why?"

Lu Li didn't even look up. "It seems she's pregnant."

"Then there's even less reason to see her. Do you want her pregnant again?!" After a long pause to realize what was going on, she immediately gave him the order to leave, "Take your memorial and get out!"

"It's not my child."

"..." I was so shocked that I couldn't speak.

"This time she wants to have the baby but has to hide it, and it's been tough for me. It would be great if you could help her. Of course, I'm not forcing you." The implication was that she knew the two of them didn't get along and that the woman had no real intention of helping.

I was suddenly reminded of the two children Yao Shuhuan had lost, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Help her? Help her cheat on you?" I smiled, clearly not taking his words to heart.

He didn't respond, as if the hat was on someone else's head.

"I'm ashamed of you, you're so spineless!" I said, leaning lazily against his back, putting all my weight on him. He let me lean on him without daring to move.

"Be careful not to fall," he kindly reminded him.

"How long have you been wearing that hat?" I couldn't help but ask, even though it hurt his pride.

He took a breath, turned a page of the document in his hand, and I quickly comforted him, "Actually, there's nothing shameful about it. There are all kinds of women in the world. Giving you a few more cuckolds is just enriching your life."

He looked up at me, his tone still indifferent, "Aren't you feeling smug?! You think I've finally met my match?"

"It would be a lie to say no." I sighed. "But are you just going to put up with this?"

"So many years have passed, why bother with this moment?"

"She would be more willing for you to divorce her."

“I promised her father I would take care of her, and besides, that man has no intention of marrying her.”

"Why did you wait so long to say it?!"

"Firstly, I wasn't able to protect her back then, and telling her would have been the death of her." He paused, then quickly added, "Secondly... I was afraid you'd laugh at me."

"You're not afraid anymore?!"

"Now, do I even have the face to stand in front of you?"

Chapter Twenty-Nine of the Main Text: Adulterers and Adulteresses

Amidst the blooming of a hundred flowers, my sedan chair wound its way along the palace paths. It was too early; there had been no sound along the way. A maidservant whispered from outside the sedan chair, "Which palace will Your Highness visit first?"

I thought for a moment and said calmly, "Genshiin."

It took the old woman a while to react before she responded softly.

The sedan chair landed at Huanxi Courtyard, but no one came out to greet it. It wasn't until the head maid sent a servant girl away that a few maids and eunuchs ran out of the hall, with Yao Shuhuan following at the very back.

I stepped out of the sedan chair and accepted their greetings.

"Am I a bit early? Have I disturbed Consort Shu's quiet contemplation?" I smiled and waited for her to approach. "It's just the two of us sisters, so there's no need for formalities."

Yao Shuhuan was initially somewhat surprised and uncertain when she saw me. But when she heard my words, which seemed both true and false, she straightened her knees, which she had just bent, and looked directly at my face with a smile: "Now that Your Majesty the Empress has returned to the palace, why would you think of me?"

I smiled and naturally took her hand. This intimate gesture made her very uncomfortable, and although she tried her best to hide it, I could still feel a tremor in her body.

"Of course I miss you." I smiled casually, and my words were extremely natural. Apart from her and Granny Jing, no one could see the slightest hint of insincerity.

There were only the two of us in the room. She filled my cup with tea and resumed her indifferent expression. "Now that there's no one else around, you don't need to hide it anymore."

I smiled again, "It's been so long, but your temper hasn't changed at all."