Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 89 - 84: Petty Complaints

Xie Zhixing choked.

"You can say that to me, but don’t say it to others, no matter how close you are to them."

Yun Jiao said, "Don’t worry, Emperor, I’m not done living yet."

"You do know that kind of talk can cost you your head."

Xie Zhixing’s large hand clasped the back of her neck. There were many enticing parts of a woman’s body, but he particularly favored that small patch of skin on her neck, reminding him of how a cat carries its kittens in its mouth: "Actually, it’s not as extreme as losing your head, but it would surely invite a lot of trouble. Besides, you’re not suited to be the Empress. Being Empress means being busy with many daily tasks. If you want to live happily, you might as well wish to be the Noble Consort."

"Well, let’s talk about that later! It’s not really important."

Yun Jiao said lightheartedly.

Her optimism and carefree attitude were unlike any other concubines in the harem, which involuntarily drew Xie Zhixing’s attention to her, making him feel that she had a childish nature: "What do you mean it’s not important? I thought you wanted to be Empress to become my wife."

Yun Jiao was momentarily stunned.

The word "wife" was too distant a concept for her.

In the hospital, she had seen wives abandoned by their husbands on sickbeds, and men working three jobs to pay for their girlfriend’s medical bills. A marriage certificate can’t guarantee a lifetime. She sat up: "Emperor, why don’t I serve you some soup instead?"

"I have long arms," Xie Zhixing glanced at her: "Are you hungry? Didn’t you eat at Changle Palace?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Seeing her nod, he instructed the eunuch to bring food.

Soon, the imperial feast filled the table.

A palace maid brought her a small bowl with lotus petal patterns and filled it with green rice porridge.

The nourishing soup brought over on behalf of the Empress Dowager was given special prominence, placed conspicuously. Xie Zhixing didn’t like it, but Yun Jiao loved it, finishing it all up: "What kind of soup is this? It’s quite delicious."

"In reply to Lady, this is black-bone chicken soup with astragalus and goji berries."

Yun Jiao’s little brain whirred in thought.

Xie Zhixing: "Stop guessing, it’s exactly as you thought, it’s for replenishing kidney deficiency."

Yun Jiao’s expression was quite dramatic, with a hint of wanting to laugh.

Xie Zhixing remained expressionless: "As long as I don’t turn over any nameplates, Mother thinks I need some nourishment."

The nourishing soups sent from Changle Palace were filled with a mother’s anxious concern—today as well, isn’t it spicy? Really not spicy? Is something wrong?

Yun Jiao gauged his expression, patting her chest to comfort him:

"Even if the whole world thinks you’re not capable, I’m on your side! The world misunderstands you because they haven’t experienced your goodness!"

"I appreciate your intentions, but some things don’t need to be known by the world."

Outside, the snow rested and the wind stopped, making the room feel especially quiet. The Emperor was taciturn, and if the concubine were timid, often not even ten words would be spoken throughout the night. But Yun Jiao was naturally sociable, sharing every detail of what happened after being conferred the title of Concubine, even how she "bullied" Consort Jiang.

Xie Zhixing chuckled: "Childish."

"Does the Emperor think I’m childish, does that mean you don’t have anyone you dislike?"

The image of Prince Kang’s "This minister brother is so weak" demeanor appeared in his mind: "Yes, there is."

"Then let the Emperor tell me the bad things about him."

Talking bad about people, how childish.

After the meal, Yun Jiao didn’t let go of this topic, only leaning against his shoulder, sounding very homely: "Come on, why don’t you also talk, otherwise it’ll make me seem narrow-minded?"

Xie Zhixing was pestered by her until he had no choice but to start with minor matters.

If there was a flaw in Xie Zhixing’s smooth persona, it was that he wasn’t especially favored by his father—the late Emperor was eager to show the ministers a capable eldest son, and he indeed fulfilled that role, but there was no intimacy between father and son, unlike the third brother who scored average on everything yet knew how to act spoiled to the late Emperor’s delight.

"At first, I was quite bothered by this, but later I realized that affection isn’t something you can earn through effort."

Women in the Deep Palace relied on the Emperor’s affection for their survival. Xie Zhixing realized from his mother’s behavior that a father’s affection was crucial, a matter of life and death. He was confident in everything he did, delivering perfect results, yet he was never as cherished as the third brother, leading to occasional chest pain and frustration.

Perhaps, his puzzlement over Yun Jiao not competing for affection stemmed from this.

He treated her so well, yet according to common sense, he couldn’t even gain half of her attention.

"I have no leisure time to dwell on such things; if you hadn’t brought it up, I would have thought I’d forgotten all about it."

Xie Zhixing curled his lips, his smile somewhat forced.

The struggles of being an Emperor, with so few moments truly belonging to oneself, constantly swept along.

"Emperor."

Yun Jiao’s hand gently stroked his back, looking at him as if he were a child abandoned in the hospital without care. She thought of one of the few times she saw her parents in her past life, both trying hard to dodge the responsibility of upbringing: "Even if they didn’t like it, in the end, they chose you to be the Emperor? The most favored child isn’t necessarily capable of bearing the responsibility. Even if he was the late Emperor’s favorite, he still had to bow to you, Emperor. If given the choice today, you’d still choose the throne."

Her method of comforting was not particularly sophisticated, but her tone carried a sense of freedom and ease: "Don’t be upset; from now on, others will line up to seek your favor."

"Why would I want them to like me?"

An Emperor was hard to cheer up.

Yun Jiao thought for a moment: "Then have more princes, and watch them vie for your affection."

He chuckled.

Sigh! If only he could live as carefree as she did, he wouldn’t have any worries.

Xie Zhixing drew her into his arms, but heard her continue: "Emperor, are you still upset? I don’t like Prince Kang; I only like you."

"..."

"If Prince Kang and you both fell into the water, not only would I save you first, I would also kick him back into the water with a shove to the head."

"...Alright, be sure to use some strength."

This simple act of common hatred oddly brought a smile to Xie Zhixing’s face.

She was the most infuriating woman in the world, yet those rare moments of warmth and willingness to soothe captured his heart.

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The image of the sad little boy unloved by his father lasted only until midnight before it collapsed.

Yun Jiao mused that this man was quite starved for love, and having a deceitful brother wasn’t easy. She patted his back to console him, but once the lights went out, they were occupied until the middle of the night, making her dizzy. Despite repeatedly pleading for mercy, she wasn’t spared, which ignited her anger, prompting her to say something exceptionally disrespectful.

She said angrily, "You’d be better off being a little weaker so you could sleep earlier."

Aware of her verbal slip, Yun Jiao quickly attempted to rewind the situation.

After rewinding, she didn’t dare to babble further, instead accommodating him with a bit of guilty flattery.

Who she referred to by "a little weaker" was very obvious. Xie Zhixing knew they had no contact at all and didn’t have the low self-esteem to push that cuckold onto himself. He simply found her coy demeanor infuriating yet amusing.

The next morning, Yun Jiao simply shut her eyes: "Emperor, please exempt me from paying respects today."

"Aren’t you afraid others will say you’re arrogant due to favoritism?"

"I’m working hard to adapt to the status of a favored concubine, so I should do things that are in line with the image."

Thus, the Empress at Jianzhang Palace waited and waited, only to receive a message from Weiyang Palace—

The Emperor excused Concubine Xi from paying respects today.