nycdaug Chapter 180: Seizing the Opportunity, Controlling the Emperor
Chapter 180: Seizing the Opportunity, Controlling the Emperor
This time it was Yingfeng who spoke.
Mu Lianzhi was startled, but Beitang Yi was obviously displeased by being disturbed:
"what's up?"
"Sir, I just received news that the emperor has summoned you to the palace for an audience."
After looking at each other, Mu Lianzhi unconsciously grasped his collar, but Beitang Yi's expression did not change at all:
"understood."
"Is it still about this incident? Who wants to kill you? It's more important to find the murderer first. The emperor's will is hard to predict. Don't be too stubborn and lose the big picture. Don't force things. I'm not unreasonable..."
She really wanted to leave the Marquis' Mansion and be with him openly, but she also knew that it might not be so easy in this era and their current situation. There might be many obstacles waiting ahead, and the Marquis' Mansion was at least one of the cages.
"It's okay, don't panic."
Turning back, Beitang Yi hugged her comfortingly, stroked her hair, lowered his head and gave her a heavy kiss on the lips:
"Don't worry, I know what's going on. Nothing will happen."
"Zhizhi, you are mine. I will definitely marry you this time. From now on, all you have to do is remember this one thing, take good care of yourself and wait to be my bride."
"No one can stop me this time. I will kill anyone who stands in my way, even the Lord God, and even your dead ghost who is resurrected."
It was just a casual remark to comfort her, Beitang Yi never dreamed that one day his bad words would come true.
"Hmm~"
Seeing that he seemed to be confident, Mu Lianzhi felt reassured. She said nothing more and smiled back at him.
He helped her back to the bed and laid her down. Beitang Yi also pulled the quilt over her before leaving slowly.
……
By the time he arrived at the imperial study, more than half an hour had passed.
Beitang Yi knelt on the ground for a long time before the emperor's voice came from behind the imperial desk:
"I haven't seen you so diligent on duty, have you known each other before?"
It usually takes only an incense stick of time to travel from Beitang Mansion to the Imperial Palace. This time, he still sent a carriage to pick him up. The emperor's tentative words were almost affirmative, and it was obvious that he already knew that he was going to the Marquis' Mansion.
Beitang Yi had no intention of hiding their relationship, and he knocked his head to the ground again:
"I am terrified."
Li Beitang Yi, who came late to admit his mistake, was very calm. A closer look would reveal that he was not at all panicked. This was not the first time he had clashed with the emperor. In fact, they had been together for a long time and understood each other's thoughts and personalities.
Therefore, Beitang Yi did not answer the emperor's question, but he did not deny it either.
The emperor narrowed his eyes coldly and understood what was going on.
He stood up and walked out of the imperial desk. At the same time, the emperor raised his hand to signal the eunuchs serving on the side to go down. He slowly walked to Beitang Yi and hooked his hanging hand. Beitang Yi thanked him and stood up from the ground.
The emperor did not speak. He walked around twice and then returned to his desk.
"So, was your tryst accidentally discovered this time, or are you doing this for this little widow? You even deceived and used me?"
The emperor's tone was very light, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry, but the corner of his eyes never left Beitang Yi.
Beitang Yi naturally knew this, and he bowed and clasped his fists, but he remained neither humble nor arrogant:
"Your Majesty is wise, I dare not. You did not ask before and this matter involves a woman's reputation, so I did not say much. I knew her before and had a little affair with her, but it has nothing to do with this matter. I have absolutely not lied about this matter. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can send someone to investigate it thoroughly."
"profound?"
In fact, His Majesty had already investigated this matter many times, and the testimonies of several key figures were all asked before he woke up. This was also the reason why His Majesty did not get angry even though he had just confirmed the doubts in his heart.
Because everything was within his expectations.
"Then why do you love her so much this time, and even go so far as to ask for permission for her? I really don't believe that you don't have some special feelings for her."
He has made countless contributions over the years, and as far as I can remember, he has never asked for anything on his own initiative. Even for his family members who were far away in a cold and bitter place, he used his own connections to ask others to take care of them, and they never asked him for amnesty.
Of course, he was actually taken care of secretly.
This time, he asked for permission to rescue the woman. The emperor probably guessed that his requests, in addition to protection, were just to make it easier for him to visit her.
Therefore, when his men reported back today that he had gone to the Marquis' Mansion, the emperor was not surprised.
"Your Majesty, here..."
Beitang Yi hesitated for a moment, and the emperor's neck straightened up a little more:
"Tell the truth, tell it all, this time, I will forgive you, but if you tell even a lie -"
"I dare not, but I am afraid of polluting His Majesty's ears due to some private matters."
"I really want to hear how a widow could win over Lord Beitang, whom even the princess despises."
He looked around, as if he had made a big decision. After a moment, Beitang Yi told the emperor about his past with Mu Lianzhi in a half-dejected tone.
Seven points true and three points false.
The message he conveyed was very simple. The transaction between him and Mu Lianzhi was originally an accidental one. Later, due to instinctive reasons, they made do with it a few more times. Later, they got tired of it and broke it off.
This time, they met unexpectedly on Qingyun Mountain, and she sacrificed herself to save him. He felt that it was God's will. He was grateful for her sincerity, and because he was old, missed his family, was lonely, and wanted a companion, he wanted to marry her.
"Your Majesty, this is probably the case. I dare not hide anything. In the past, I didn't care about her and just regarded her as a dispensable toy that occasionally relieved my emotions and released my stress. But now I feel that it is the most precious thing to have a lover."
"Although she is a widow, she has had some interactions with me after all. How can a new person be better than an old one?"
"I know I shouldn't have taken advantage of someone's misfortune before, and my behavior was shameless. It was my selfishness that got me into trouble, and I was a jerk. I am willing to pay any price for my mistakes, and I only ask Your Majesty to give me a chance so that I can make it up to her for the rest of my life."
With a lift of his clothes, Beitang Yi knelt down again.
This time, he stood straight, as if he was waiting to be demoted and punished, and just wanted the beauty.
"You mean that when you are together, she can relieve your discomfort? How are you uncomfortable?"
The emperor straightened up unconsciously and quickly turned the jade ring on his hand.
"I can't explain this very clearly. I just had a sudden feeling and guess. It seems that since I broke up with her, I have been feeling anxious and uncomfortable for the past year. My old illness has inexplicably recurred twice. I have never experienced this before, no matter how serious the poison wound was."
"At first, I thought it was because of a relationship between a man and a woman, and I even forced myself to go to Qicailou and Baimingfang to look for a few women. But later I realized it was not the case."
"Please grant me your blessing, Your Majesty."
"That's it, no wonder..."
No wonder Mu Lianzhi risked his life to save him, no wonder he would do this.
Now everything made sense. Suddenly the emperor remembered the scene where Mu Lianzhi fainted at the banquet and that the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion had used her blood as a medicine.
Could it be that she really has a special physique and can help to appease the Gu King?