Chapter 543: The More One Played, The More Intoxicated
One Became
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Throw the corpse out to feed the dogs.” This woman didn’t deserve to die with an intact corpse.
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
When Su Ying returned to the Conjugal Phoenix Palace, the lights in the main hall were still lit.
Xiao Jin didn’t have dinner with the kids tonight. Instead, he had been dealing with state affairs in the Imperial study all the while. Su Ying didn’t inform him when she went out just now. She assumed that Xiao Jin would already be asleep by the time she returned.
Su Ying only returned to the main hall after washing up. After all, she had just returned from the place where dead people were kept.
Xiao Jin was reading a book by the bed in his inner clothes.
“You went to the Ministry of Justice?”
Su Ying nodded, walked to the bed, and climbed over him onto the bed.
Just as she was about to lay down on the bed, Xiao Jin tossed the book away and pulled her into his arms.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Su Ying leaned on him and closed her eyes in comfort. She was like a lazy cat taking in the faint fragrance on his body and her entire body relaxed.
“You were busy with your own matters. Why would I interrupt you?”
Xiao Jin’s slender fingers caressed her back from time to time. “What happened there?”
“Zhou Xiangrong strangled herself. When she died, some strange signs were drawn on her corpse with blood. I have copied down those signs. Tomorrow I will bring the drawing to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and let the staff there take a look.” The Imperial Astronomical Bureau should be familiar with stuff like this.
“Mm-hmm. Sleep first.”
Su Ying yawned and was a little groggy. “Are you attending court tomorrow?”
“Yes. The court session will only be adjourned the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, then I’ll go play with Ling and Ji tomorrow.”
Xiao Jin hugged her and lay down on the bed. “Okay. Have fun.”
“I’m just accompanying them. It’s not built for me.” Was she that childish?
Xiao Jin smiled and did not say anything else.
In the morning, before Su Ying woke up, she heard the two little fellows chattering.
The night before, Su Ying had discussed with them for a long time about going to the playground, and they still remembered.
“Is Mother awake?”
Ji and Ling stuck their tiny heads in from outside the door.
Su Ying smiled brightly at them. “Yes, I am. Aren’t you two going to study and attend classes today? Go first. After you come back, Mother will bring you two out to play.”
“Mother, can we bring our own companions?” Ling’s big eyes were sparkling.
After all, she was still a child. She always liked to show off whatever fun things she had at home to her friends.
“Sure.”
“Yay! Yay! Big Brother, hurry up, hurry up! We have to tell our friends. Mother has agreed to let them play together with us.”
Ling dragged Ji along as she scooted off happily. Her speed was so fast that the group of palace maids behind her almost couldn’t keep up.
Su Ying went to the playground first before the two little ones were released from classes.
She had come twice before for a look. At that time, the playground had not been completed yet. When she came this time, even the tall outer walls were brand new.
In order to make the playground look more lively, she also asked the gardener to paint some vivid small animals on the inside and outside of the courtyard walls.
However…
Su Ying’s eyes twitched as she looked at the image of a ferocious tiger descending the mountain on the outside of the wall. They were animals all right, but they were a little scary. In particular, when the light reflected off the tiger’s eyes, which had been deliberately dabbed with green color, in the middle of the night, who wouldn’t be scared out of his wits?
“Greetings, Your Imperial Highness.”
When the Imperial Guards keeping watch at the playground saw Su Ying walking toward them, they all bowed in greeting.
Su Ying nodded and gestured for them to open the gate.
The Imperial Guards obeyed and opened the gate. Su Ying was immediately attracted by the things inside the moment she entered.
She couldn’t help marveling at the craftsmanship of these state-level craftsmen. The head of the rocking horse looked like a real horse’s head. If it weren’t for the incongruous color, she would have mistakenly thought that a real horse’s head had been planted there.
There was also an elephant-shaped slide. Although it was made of wooden logs, it had been polished until the surface was very smooth. When Su Ying reached out and touched it, it felt silky smooth.
The entire empty plot was almost completely occupied by the playground. A heartfelt smile spread across Su Ying’s face. When she confirmed that there was no one else present, she excitedly ran up to the slide. The slide was constructed quite high, so even if she climbed on it, there was enough height for her to slide down.
“Hehe! This slide is quite interesting.”
Su Ying excitedly climbed up and slid down. After sliding down, she climbed up again. The more she played, the more intoxicated she became.
“See how good I am!” She easily propped herself up and stood on the parallel bars. Her body spun like a whirlwind and she used her two hands to walk freely on the bars. “This is simply child’s play. And here I was thinking it would be fun.”
She released her grip and jumped down before hopping onto the swing. She kicked hard with both feet and almost flew out. However, she felt it was exceptionally thrilling.
“Hahaha…”
Su Ying’s cheerful laughter echoed throughout the entire playground. She didn’t notice at all that a group of little turnip heads had already gathered at the entrance.
“Your Highness, Her Imperial Highness the Empress looks so happy. It must be very fun.” Nie Jun gave a sniff. Why did he feel that this Empress was different from what the rumors said?
She looked so silly when she laughed.
Ji looked at Su Ying who was bouncing around like a fool, and a crack appeared on his solemn little face.
“It must be too much fun. You can’t tell anyone what you’re seeing now, okay?”
Those little turnip heads nodded repeatedly. Otherwise, there would be no more fun for them.
“I want to play too.” Ling rushed in excitedly.
Su Ying turned around when she heard the commotion and realized that the children had already finished their classes.
“Mother, I want to play too. I want to play. Quickly teach me how to play this.” Ling ran over and hugged Su Ying’s leg as she stared up and down the slide with wide-open eyes.
“This one is easy. Mother will demonstrate for all of you.” Su Ying turned around and climbed up the slide. In a flash, she slid down.
Then, she jumped onto the rocking horse. “For this, you have to rock hard, okay? Like this. Hehe!”
Nie Jun and the other children had only heard about Su Ying from the adults before, but they had never been in close contact with her. They had only heard that the Empress was particularly arrogant and domineering, without any hint of a woman’s gentleness. She was very, very fierce.
However, when they looked at the Empress who was smiling like a blooming flower in front of them, they felt that she was not fierce at all. Instead, she seemed particularly fun to hang out with.
“All of you come here. I will teach all of you how to play with them.” Su Ying waved at the children who were staring at her eagerly.
Ji had always remembered Xiao Jin’s teachings. He was the eldest son of the Emperor and had to do many things and lead many people in the future. Therefore, he had to be dignified and not be as delicate as he was whenever he was in front of his mother.
Therefore, Ji had always conducted himself in a dignified manner in front of his friends. However, now, when he saw his friends running to his mother, he was so angry that his tiny face puffed up and he rushed over as well.
“Mother, Mother, I want to play too. I want to play too.”
Su Ying lifted him up like grabbing a little chick and spun him around in the air as she held him.
“The Firestorm Wheel is coming. Hahahaha!”
“Mother, go higher. I want to fly higher and higher!” Ji squealed happily.
At some point, Xiao Jin had appeared and was standing outside the entrance watching Su Ying romping around with the children. A faint smile crept across his face..