0p0 Chapter 238 The Emperor's Attitude
Chapter 238 The Emperor's Attitude
Upon receiving the Emperor's praise, Ling Lanhua's face immediately filled with a fawning smile.
"Your Majesty, I love every part of you. I will do more to please you..."
Her words were loaded with meaning. The Emperor, recalling how she served him in bed, couldn't hide his excitement. He immediately took her hand and eagerly asked...
"My beloved consort, what other tricks have you not yet used? I want to know now..."
"emperor……"
Ling Lanhua placed her hand on the Emperor's shoulder, her fingers sliding from his shoulder to his hand, then took his hand in hers and said softly:
"Your Majesty, I will now let you have a taste."
After the Emperor's Adam's apple bobbed a few times, he stood up, touched her belly, and followed her into the inner room with a broad smile, still talking as he did so.
"My beloved consort truly captivates me. After you give birth to our child, I will cherish you dearly..."
Suddenly, a furious roar came from outside.
"I need to see the Emperor. Go and inform him immediately."
Wei Jianning's angry roar at his servants shattered the beautiful moment that was about to begin.
The Emperor paused in his forward steps, and Ling Lanhua's heart began to pound wildly.
Since she entered the palace and became Consort Lan, Wei Jianning has not seen her yet, and Lan Zhi probably hasn't mentioned her to him either. If he finds out that she has been conferred the title of Consort Lan by the Emperor, he might do something out of anger.
Thinking of this, she covered her forehead with one hand and said softly:
"Your Majesty, it seems the Crown Prince has arrived. He's in such a hurry, he must have something to tell you. My head is a little sore, I'll go back to my room and wait for you."
Although the Emperor was reluctant to leave Ling Lanhua's gentle embrace, he could only nod in agreement when he heard Wei Jianning's increasingly urgent desire to see him.
"I'll take you back to your room to rest for a while. I'll come back to keep you company after I've finished dealing with this."
Consort Lan nodded as if granted a pardon, and then, supported by the Emperor, walked into the imperial bedchamber.
Wei Jianning stood in the inner courtyard of Zhenlan Garden, his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with anger.
Although he was furious and eager to see the Emperor, this was, after all, Consort Lan's inner palace, and he could not force his way in. He could only stand there and wait for a servant to announce his arrival.
Seeing that the Emperor had not yet come out, Wei Jianning grew anxious and was about to force his way in when he was stopped by Cui, who had just arrived.
"Hey, who are you? How dare you barge into Zhenlan Garden? Don't you have a death wish?"
Hearing her shrill voice, Wei Jianning turned around.
"you……"
"you……"
They both uttered the word almost simultaneously. When Cui realized she was about to be exposed, she turned to run, but Wei Jianning rushed forward and grabbed her by the collar.
"Why are you here?"
She was Lan Zhi's stepmother. Although Lan Zhi didn't like her, she was the one who raised Lan Zhi, so Wei Jianning treated her fairly politely.
However, her sudden appearance here surprised Wei Jianning.
Did she go to work in the palace?
That's impossible. At her age, she has nothing to her name and is not qualified to enter the palace.
Could it be that Lan Zhi spoke on her behalf?
That's impossible. Lan Zhi would rather never see her again, so how could she possibly assign her any work?
Besides, what kind of place is this palace? It's not a place a country woman like her can just come and go as she pleases.
Moreover, her attire exudes elegance and nobility; she doesn't resemble a nanny at all, but rather... rather... a mistress?
Seeing Wei Jianning's eyes, filled with resentment, scrutinizing her, Cui Shi became a little nervous.
"I... let me go, I'm going to call for help."
"Tell me, why are you here?"
"Let me go first, and I'll tell you."
She was, after all, Lan Zhi's aunt, and it was indeed a bit inappropriate for him to grab her collar like that.
He released his grip, and Madam Cui quickly took a few steps back, then straightened her clothes and stammered:
"That...I..."
"Why are you here?"
When Wei Jianning asked the question again, Cui looked pleadingly towards the doorway and then said:
"The Emperor is calling for you."
As Wei Jianning turned around, Cui took off running...
When he looked back again, he only saw the hem of Cui's clothes disappear at the moon gate.
"Your Highness, the Emperor requests your presence inside."
Upon hearing the maid's voice, Wei Jianning lost all interest in Cui Shi and quickly walked towards the inner hall.
The Emperor sat upright, and upon seeing him enter, gripped the armrests of his chair with both hands and inquired:
"What urgent matter brings you to me so urgently?"
Wei Jianning did not bow as before, but asked directly:
“I have a deep affection for Lan Zhi, and she saved my life. I promised her that I would only marry her in this life. Why are you going against my wishes and insisting on marrying me?”
The Emperor had already guessed that he had come for this matter, and calmly replied:
“Lan Zhi is pregnant. Finding another woman to serve you with her will lighten her burden. This is a good thing. Doesn’t she appreciate it?”
"A good thing? Not everyone is like Your Majesty, who falls in love with every woman he sees, sleeps with every woman he loves, and spends all his time indulging in women's beds, neglecting state affairs."
"presumptuous!"
Suddenly, the emperor's face contorted with rage, veins bulging. He slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair and roared.
"Are you speaking to me?"
"Yes, I heard that you haven't attended court for three days and haven't reviewed any memorials. You've been spending all your time in Zhenlan Garden?"
The Emperor's face turned ashen, and he angrily rebuked:
"My affairs are none of your business."
“I can ignore your affairs, but this is a matter for the Northern Wei Kingdom. This time, due to the defeat at the border, you have stripped me of my regency. However, as the crown prince, I still want to remind you that as the ruler of a country, how much will be delayed if you don't attend to state affairs for three days?”
The emperor knew he was in the wrong, but still stubbornly argued:
"I have been unwell recently and have been recuperating at Zhenlan Garden for a few days. If you came today because I am neglecting state affairs, I can attend court tomorrow. If you do not wish to marry Zhu Fangfei, I will absolutely not agree."
Wei Jianning also stated firmly:
"I'm here today to tell you that I do not agree to this marriage. Even if you depose me from my position as crown prince and punish me, I will not agree."
"It's not up to you."
The emperor suddenly lowered his head, stamped his feet, and shouted a rebuke.
"I have issued this imperial decree of marriage, and I have already ordered the Ministry of Rites to post notices to inform the people. If you defy this decree now, it is tantamount to disregarding my imperial decree. Do you not know the consequences of disobeying an imperial decree?"
What if I don't answer?
Wei Jianning seemed determined to defy the imperial decree; his eyes were resolute. The emperor paused for a moment, then pressed him for an answer:
"If you dare not obey, I will punish you for disobeying my imperial decree and deceiving the emperor. I mean what I say."
"Then issue an order to punish me!"
The Emperor's words contained no hint of compromise, and Wei Jianning showed no intention of yielding. Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, Lan Zhi's voice rang out.
"He doesn't answer, I do."
As she spoke, she approached the Emperor. When Wei Jianning saw her, he was taken aback for a moment, then asked:
"Madam, why are you here?"