Chapter 581: I’m Angry
Translator. Dragon Boat Translation | Editor; Dragon Boat Translation
“It’s winter. Aren’t you cold dressed like this?”
Su Ying’s words caused the hall to fall into a deathly silence.
The beauty’s face instantly turned as pale as paper.
Of course, Su Ying could sense the change in the atmosphere. She merely raised her eyebrows slightly, as if waiting for the beauty’s reply.
The beauty was already trembling in fear, and even her own father didn’t dare to step out at a time like this and put himself in the Empress’s line of fire. Just as everyone thought that Su Ying was preparing to use this innocent beauty as a warning, a figure stepped out.
“Your Imperial Highness, please calm down. This young lady is dressed like this only to liven up the mood by dancing for Your Majesty and Your Imperial Highness. Why is Your Imperial Highness making things difficult for her?” Chu Min stepped forward. His face was smiling, but there was no smile in his eyes. “It is enough to get dancers to liven things up. Or are you saying that dancers are not enough to catch your eye, Lord Chu? Do you need a young lady from an aristocratic family to dance and play a song to satisfy you?
Chu Min’s expression changed slightly, but he quickly reacted. “Your Imperial Highness, you jest. It’s their honor to be able to perform a song in front of Your Majesty and Your Imperial Highness. We were also able to watch everyone’s performance because of Your Majesty and Your Imperial Highness’s grace. How can a dancer be compared to the young ladies of the aristocratic families?” The beauty also came back to her senses. Her voice was soft and she appeared very pitiful. “Your subject has embarrassed herself. Thank you for your concern, Your Imperial Highness. Your subject is not cold.”
“You are wearing so little that your eyelids are twitching from the cold, yet you still say that you are not cold? Bring her away to change into a warmer dress.” These words frightened the beauty so much that she almost fainted. The Empress was implying that she wanted to seduce the Emperor!
Su Ying’s words were undoubtedly a resounding slap to the faces of those officials who wanted to send their daughters into the palace. The Empress had no intention of letting a new woman enter the palace at all, but there had never been such a precedent in history. Could it be that the Empress wanted to set a precedent?
“Your Majesty, the harem has been empty for nearly half a year since you ascended to the throne. If this continues, it will not be beneficial to the Imperial Family in its endeavor to propagate offspring. Your old minister implores Your Majesty to open up the harem so that the Imperial Family can have an endless number of descendants.”
The civil and military officials were absolutely enthusiastic about Xiao Jin getting concubines.
Since someone had spoken, there were people who now dared to stand up and voice their agreement. What they were talking about was an important matter. Could the Empress punish them for this? Wasn’t she afraid of arousing public anger?
Upon thinking of this, the ministers became even more emboldened.
“Your Imperial Highness cares about the people and has a strong sense of duty. We believe you also hope that there will be more concubines who will help His Majesty spread his seed.” After giving some lofty statements and praising Su Ying to the sky, it was clear that these officials knew how to brainwash people.
Xiao Jin’s handsome face was already visibly gloomy. He was about to speak when Su Ying gently pressed down on his hand.
Xiao Jin turned his head with a puzzled look and saw Su Ying shaking her head slightly at him.
Xiao Jin knew then that she had an idea, so he swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
Su Ying raised her almond-shaped eyes slightly with a faint smile on her face. It was an expression that indicated that she was totally amenable to all suggestions.
“All of you lords are right. Begetting heirs and descendants in the Imperial Family is an important matter. His Majesty has ascended to the throne for so long now. It is time to add people to the harem.”
When all the ministers heard that there was a chance to expand the harem, their faces lit up with hope.
“Your Imperial Highness has a strong sense of duty. It is indeed the fortune of our Chu State.”
Su Ying’s smile was deep, and her face seemed to be visibly moved. “Tomorrow, all of you can send me a list of women of suitable age. As long as they fulfill the selection criteria, they will be allowed to enter the palace.
Su Ying’s words made all the ministers’ hearts bloom with joy while all the young ladies became very bashful. The Emperor was so incredibly handsome. If they could gain the Emperor’s favor, they would truly have no regrets in their lives.
After all the dishes had been served and Su Ying had eaten everything that she could eat, it was meaningless to sit there any longer.
Xiao Jin could tell she was tired and got up to bring her out of the hall. As she walked out of the main hall, a freezing wind blew against her face. The chill dispersed the lethargy in Su Ying’s body a little.
Xiao Jin didn’t say a word as the two of them returned to the Conjugal Phoenix Palace. Su Ying was about to follow him into the inner hall when she was pulled back by Ji.
Su Ying looked at Ji with a baffled expression. “What’s wrong, Ji?” “Mother, you’ve made Father angry again,” Ji said in a low voice after glancing in the direction of the inner hall.
Su Ying’s face froze. “Are you sure?”
Ji nodded his head with certainty. “I’m sure, I’m certain, and I’m very positive. Mother, please placate him well. Don’t make Father angry. I’m going to read my books.”
Su Ying frowned as she watched her son abandon her without sympathy. When did Xiao Jin get angry? Why wasn’t she aware?
Puzzled, Su Ying walked into the inner hall and silently observed Xiao Jin, who was sitting in front of the desk
After Xiao Jin entered the hall, he sat in front of the desk and casually picked up a book. When she entered, he still didn’t raise his head and continued reading the book in his hand without any reaction.
Su Ying furrowed her brows. She was sure that this rascal was just throwing a tantrum.
“Your Imperial Highness, Uncle Hea has already prepared the food. Do you want me to bring it here now?”
Su Ying hadn’t eaten her fill at the banquet at all, so she definitely wouldn’t refuse.
“Mm-hmm. Bring it up.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
While her staff went to get the food, Su Ying changed out of her complicated palace robe. When she came out, the palace maids had already placed the hot dishes on the table.
All this while, Xiao Jin had been sitting in front of the desk reading the book in his hand without even blinking. Could it be that his eyes wouldn’t get tired?
“Your Majesty, do you want to eat some more?” Su Ying walked up to him and asked.
Xiao Jin’s eyebrows moved slightly, and his dark eyes seemed to be suppressing thousands of thoughts as he looked at her. “I’m not hungry.
“If you’re not hungry, then it’s fine. I’m not full yet.” Su Ying sat down at the table alone, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating.
Xiao Jin’s eyebrows twitched as he looked at her back profile while she gobbled down the food happily. If he got angry with this woman, he would only end up angering himself to death!
Just as Su Ying was about to finish the last bun, a hand reached out and snatched the bun away.
Su Ying chewed on the chicken still in her mouth. She raised her head to look at Xiao Jin and saw him take a ferocious bite of the bun.
Su Ying thought that with this bite, it seemed like he wanted to bite her and not the bun!
After they were full, the palace maids cleared the table. Only Su Ying and Xiao Jin were left in the inner hall.
Su Ying suddenly remembered what Ji had told her and looked at Xiao Jin with a puzzled look. “Are you upset?”
Xiao Jin’s hand that was holding the teacup paused slightly. Very good. She finally knew that he was angry.
“No, I’m not.”
“Oh, that’s good then.”
Xiao Jin was utterly speechless.
“Then you carry on. I’ll go and sleep for a while.” Su Ying yawned and walked to the bed.
The sound of Xiao Jin grinding his teeth could be heard behind her. “Su Ying! Su Ying turned around and frowned. “You want to sleep too? Xiao Jin took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, “I am angry!” Su Ying carefully studied his face and then walked back to him after a while. Suddenly, she hugged him from behind and planted a kiss on the corner of his lips.
Xiao Jin didn’t know what to say.
The impending storm on Xiao Jin’s face instantly turned into a clear sky.
He tried his best to suppress the corners of his lips that were about to curl up, but he could no longer quite control himself!
“Are you still angry?” Su Ying hugged him and whispered into his ear. Xiao Jin’s face tensed up as he tried to make himself look angry. “You don’t even know why I’m angry..”