His Rui

Chapter 784: Zhao Zhang Wei's Confession

The ministers looked confused as they looked at the minister of revenue and then at the Emperor unaware as to why the Emperor suddenly told him to come and stand.      

"Minister Zhou, Zhen saw a recent letter sent by you at Empress' palace. Minister Zhou is very worried for Zhen."     

Zhao Zhang Wei's eyes were sharp as he said those words while his lips had a gentle smile.      

Xi Ying watched this scene with somewhat interest-filled eyes. He wondered what exactly Minister Zhou did to irk Zhao Zhang Wei.      

On the other hand, Minister Zhou frowned in confusion with his head lowered. He had just given a suggestion to the Empress.      

Since he couldn't see the Emperor's face he didn't know if the Emperor was angry or whether he was really praising him for his thoughtfulness.      

Confused, Minister Zhou still decided to explain himself.      

"Your Majesty, this one was just thinking about Your Majesty. Your Majesty is now the Father of the nation however the clan doesn't have a rightful heir. Xin will soon need a crown prince. Hence, this subject advised that the palette system could be started soon."     

Only then the ministers sitting in the Imperial Court realized what actually has transpired.      

However, like Minister Zhou, they too didn't find anything wrong.      

It was only Xi Ying who looked at Zhao Zhang Wei carefully and saw the hidden coldness in his phoenix eyes. It seems that the Emperor didn't like the suggestion.      

Xi Ying sighed.      

Day by day he could feel that Zhao Zhang Wei had feelings for Yi Huiqing. His feelings were true. He could also see that Zhao Zhang Wei would do anything to protect Yi Huiqing.      

However, there was a big problem between them.      

He didn't know if the Emperor has still confessed his feelings to Yi Huiqing or not. Putting aside this, he wondered if Yi Huiqing would be able to accept Zhao Zhang Wei's feelings after whatever happened.      

Remembering how Yi Huiqing looked like when his wife had visited her less than a year ago, Xi Ying sighed again.      

Zhao Zhang Wei needed to have a lot of patience if he really wanted to live a good life with Yi Huiqing.      

"Your Majesty, this minister agrees with Minister Zhou. The palette system can be started now."     

It was Minister Xin who spoke this time.      

On hearing Minister Zhou's words, Minister Xin also seemed to realize that Zhao Zhang Wei didn't have a son.      

In other words, if something happened to the Emperor, they didn't have any rightful heir to the throne.      

Such a situation was dangerous for an Empire. When Minister Xin spoke, there was a kind of urgency in his voice, however, Zhao Zhang Wei frowned deeply.      

He had wanted to disapprove, however, his eyes went cold when all the ministers suddenly kneeled down and said      

"The subjects suggest the same, Your Majesty."     

Only Xi Ying was seated in his seat while General Li, Li Qiang, and Li Jiang were the last to kneel down. In their hearts, they actually didn't feel comfortable as it was their Yi Huiqing who was the Empress.          

However, this kind of matter could not be interfered with by the Li Clan or Yi Clan.      

The Imperial Court was silent.      

Too silent. Xi Ying looked at Zhao Zhang Wei wondering how the latter will handle the situation.      

His eyes surely flickered with surprise when he suddenly heard Zhao Zhang Wei say      

"Then Zhen would grant the subject's wish. The palette system would be started from today itself."     

Xi Ying looked at Zhao Zhang Wei's every expression carefully.      

When Zhao Zhang Wei said these words, his lips had a soft and gentle smile as if he had bowed his head in front of the ministers' wish. However, there was a cold glint in his phoenix eyes which made him believe that Zhao Zhang Wei had something on his sleeve and he would never bow his head like this.      

"Your Majesty is wise."     

The hall rang with the minister's praise for the Emperor.      

And Zhao Zhang Wei continued to smile as he looked at their bowed heads.      

Daring to meddle with his personal affairs. They think that he was weak. He could be controlled just because he had never shown his true side before.     

Whether or not it was a norm, Zhao Zhang Wei knew very well. Zhao Wang Lei had not followed this so-called norm and they never forced him.      

They were forcing him like this because they think he was too easy.      

However, Zhao Zhang Wei didn't mind it.      

He would just show them they were very wrong and that they should be careful in the future. It would be better if they thought about the Empress' problems rather than meddling with his inner courtyard.      

.     

.     

.     

That evening when Eunuch Zhang went to the Empress' chambers and informed Yi Huiqing that from tonight the palette system was to be started as it has been announced by the Emperor, Yi Huiqing was not surprised at all.      

She had already expected this.      

She looked calm as she ordered the maids to make palettes and write the names of all the concubines.      

Lin Daiyu didn't look even a bit happy as she helped the maids.      

The palette system meant that her mistress would have to share the Emperor with other concubines.      

Remembering how lost her mistress used to look in the past on such nights, Lin Daiyu felt like crying.      

However, she was surprised when she saw her calm mistress.          

"Bring the painting board."     

She heard her mistress ordering and immediately did so.     

After a few moments, Yi Huiqing was completely immersed in doing something she could never do nicely.      

Lin Daiyu looked at the white sheet as it was painted with colors as time passed. She couldn't even comprehend what her mistress was trying to draw.      

However, as she looked at her completely busy mistress, Lin Daiyu thought that it was good.      

As long as her mistress didn't feel upset as she used to look in the past, she didn't care about anything else.      

Joyous, she prepared more colors for her mistress.      

She could happily prepare such colors for the entire night if her mistress liked to paint so much.      

Lin Daiyu had a smile on her lips and Yi Huiqing looked at her questioningly when she saw the smile as she took the colors for her maid's hands.      

The maidservant first shook her head and then suddenly said      

"Your Majesty must stay like this in the future as well."     

Yi Huiqing frowned in confusion at Lin Daiyu's words. She was about to ask what exactly she meant when both of them heard the announcement by the Eunuch.      

"Welcoming His Majesty, the Emperor…"     

Yi Huiqing as well as Lin Daiyu only heard these three words as they looked at each other with wide eyes.      

Both of them had never thought that Zhao Zhang Wei would come here tonight as well.      

Was he not going to choose palettes today?     

Yi Huiqing frowned while Lin Daiyu came out of her trance and asked her mistress to go and welcome the Emperor.      

Yi Huiqing sighed and nodded her head as she left the chair she had been sitting on.      

However, Zhao Zhang Wei had already entered by this time.      

Lin Daiyu bowed her head immediately while Yi Huiqing also greeted him politely     

"Greetings, Your Majesty."     

Zhao Zhang Wei sighed as he gave up telling her that she didn't need to be so formal. Instead, his eyes went to the white sheet full of colors.     

They were full of mirth as he remembered something from the past.      

The pig she had drawn…     

Zhao Zhang Wei coughed lightly to stop the laughter that was trying to erupt. A moment later, he looked at his wife and said          

"Qingqing, Let's have dinner."     

  Yi Huiqing raised her head to look at him when she heard his words. She glanced at Lin Daiyu and then back at Zhao Zhang Wei before she said      

"Your Majesty, this one already had her dinner."     

Zhao Zhang Wei was startled when he heard this.      

"Did I delay today?"     

In the past few days, they have been having their dinner and breakfast together. Zhao Zhang Wei really wished to have lunch as well with her, but he didn't do so thinking that too much presence of him might irritate her.      

So he would give her all the space when he would be in the Imperial Court and later he would have his lunch alone.      

However, in the past few days, she had been starting to wait for him. Though he asked her that she didn't need to do this, he was still very touched by such a gesture.      

Although he knew that she did this just because of politeness, it made him feel that someone was waiting for him to come back.      

But she already had her dinner today.      

Could it be that today he was too late?'     

Zhao Zhang Wei couldn't help but try to look at the sky from the opened window.      

When Yi Huiqing saw his actions, she didn't know why but she felt slightly embarrassed and guilty.      

"Your Majesty, this one was unaware that Your Majesty is going to accompany this one tonight. Apologies for the presumptuous behavior."     

Yi Huiqing bowed politely and apologized.      

Although she knew that she was not at fault, she could only do this. He, after all, was an Emperor.      

Zhao Zhang Wei looked at her bowed head with a blank face.      

"You leave."     

He said to Lin Daiyu suddenly.      

Lin Daiyu reluctantly left while Yi Huiqing continued to stand in the same position. Zhao Zhang Wei's face was still emotionless as he walked toward her.      

He suddenly held her hand and pulled her towards him.      

A gasp escaped from Yi Huiqing's lips because of the sudden actions. She looked at Zhao Zhang Wei with wide eyes that were filled with confusion.      

"Your Majesty…"     

She was about to say something when Zhao Zhang Wei interrupted her, not letting her finish.      

"You thought that I would really go to someone else's courtyard?"         

Yi Huiqing blinked at the question and then nodded her head in confusion. Of course, why would he not go?     

The palette system was started only because of that purpose, right?     

Zhao Zhang Wei suddenly chuckled bitterly when he saw her nodding. He had actually wanted to wait but seeing her behaving like this, he felt a sense of crisis.      

He suddenly held her cheek and leaned closer to her. One of his arms was wrapped around his waist and Yi Huiqing blinked as she looked into his phoenix eyes that carried a somewhat different emotion that she had never seen there before or perhaps she did but ignored always.     

Today, it was too difficult to ignore her.      

"Qingqing, can't you really see that I want to be around you constantly?"     

His warm breath caressed her cheeks as he whispered.      

Yi Huiqing's heart was in chaos and she felt her mind going blank as she registered his words in her mind.      

He wanted to be around her constantly…     

The words made her feel a little numb.      

But the impact was greater when she heard his next words.      

"Qingqing, I love you."     

Yi Huiqing's eyes went blank. When he leaned closer to her lips, she didn't even dare to move.      

Zhao Zhang Wei looked into her eyes and confessed again.     

"I love you so much, Qingqing."     

And then he kissed her gently as if she was the most precious treasure of his life.