The sudden turn of events instantly silenced the boisterous civil and military officials, making them wish for a hole in the ground to disappear into.
Two guards with swords stepped forward, and Yao Shuyu, who had just snapped back to reality and realized she was about to die, quickly knelt down and begged for mercy. Zhu Zhen, however, showed no reaction, allowing her to be dragged away by the guards. Not long after, a messenger announced that she had been executed.
Zhu Zhen smiled, her laughter soft yet carrying through the entire Golden Grand Hall. Although the civil and military officials knew their Empress had a volatile temper and a cruel streak, she mostly killed those serving her closely. This was the first time she had someone killed in front of the court.
"Continue speaking. Why are you all staring at me?"
The officials were silent for a few seconds before an elder minister tremblingly stepped forward, agreeing with the proposal of the Minister of Personnel.
The other officials seemed to have found their backbone and echoed his sentiment.
"Your subject proposes that imperial envoys be dispatched to Nanhuai immediately to work with local officials in excavating the canals and assisting the populace with spring plowing."
"I second this motion."
"I second this motion as well."
"I also second this motion."
After they had finished speaking, Zhu Zhen finally said, "Then go. All of you, discuss this matter today and recommend suitable candidates during tomorrow's morning court. If the dispatched imperial envoys successfully handle this matter, the recommended individuals will be rewarded accordingly. If they fail, they will be punished together."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The officials who had been hoping the imperial envoy position would be a lucrative one, intending to place their own men to profit, instantly abandoned that thought upon hearing that failure would result in collective punishment.
"If there is nothing else, the court is adjourned."
The presiding palace maid shouted at the top of her lungs, "Report if you have any matters, otherwise, the court is adjourned."
The others remained kneeling on the ground. Zhu Zhen stood up and was about to leave when she turned back to the civil and military officials. "If no candidates are recommended tomorrow, it will be considered laziness and negligence in your duties, and you will all be punished accordingly."
"Yes!"
After she left, the civil and military officials who had been kneeling on the ground gradually stood up.
Apart from the few officials who had narrowly escaped death, the most bewildered was Zhong Jing, the Vice Minister of Rites. She had only reached the position of Vice Minister of Rites at the age of forty-five. At first glance, she seemed to be a young and talented individual, envied by many scholars. However, in this capital city filled with princes and nobles, a loose tile on any roof could potentially fall and kill a second-rank official. A third-rank Vice Minister like herself was hardly significant.
Why had Her Majesty specifically asked for her opinion today?
This was not only a question she wanted to know but also one her immediate superior, the Minister of Rites, wished to understand.
As they left the palace together, she inquired about the matter.
Zhong Jing was utterly clueless. "I truly do not know why this is the case, Your subject."
The Minister of Rites also appeared very puzzled.
Even when Zhong Jing returned home and her household staff delivered the good news, she remained perplexed.
Her principal husband, along with a young attendant, came out. Both immediately offered their congratulations. The young attendant, who was also Chong Yan's biological father, had a face beaming with joy.
"Wife-lord."
"What is happening? Is there any joyous occasion at home?"
Her principal husband also wore a smile. "A message just arrived from the palace. Yan'er has been enfeoffed as a side consort!"
Zhong Jing was stunned for a moment, then her expression turned to surprise.
"What?"
"It was Side Consort Qiao herself who sent someone with the good news. Yan'er, the side consort, attended to the Empress last night, and this morning she was enfeoffed as a side consort!"
Chong Yan's biological father was grinning from ear to ear. His lack of decorum in front of his wife-lord and lord was quite rude, but everyone was in a state of both shock and joy, so no one held it against him.
"Yan'er has been enfeoffed as a side consort!"
Zhong Jing found it hard to believe. While their Empress possessed the ability to govern, her personality was eccentric, and she was known for her ruthlessness. Rumors of her abusing and killing palace servants were frequent, with some consorts even being beaten to death after attending to her.
Although her son was merely a secondary son, he was still her own flesh and blood. Her principal husband was gentle and kind and would not mistreat any secondary children. The reason for sending Chong Yan into the palace was simply that he was the most suitable in age.
They hadn't expected him to be favored by the Empress; being able to protect himself would have been a blessing. After several months of no news, being enfeoffed as a side consort after his first attendance to the Empress, Zhong Jing, while happy, also wondered if this was a blessing or a curse.
After all, to be beside a ruler was like being beside a tiger!
—
The "great tiger" was now going to visit her "little white rabbit."
She hoped her sudden change in temperament yesterday hadn't scared him.
"Her Majesty has arrived!"
A clear announcement from outside made Chong Yan even quicker to hide things this time. He was afraid that if that person saw it, he would laugh at him.
After all, it was just a robe, what was there to see?
But ever since last night, when that person had used his robe to cover him, wrapped him up tightly, and personally escorted him into the soft sedan chair, his heart had been unable to stop its frantic beating.
Like now, just hearing those two words made him immensely nervous.
The attending palace servants quickly said, "Side Consort, hurry down, you must bow."
"Oh, oh."
He hastily jumped off the bed, but his leg was caught by the quilt. He lost his balance and fell.
"Side Consort, be careful!"
The palace servants were a step too slow and could only watch as he landed flat on the ground. At that moment, Zhu Zhen had already entered.
Seeing Chong Yan lying on the ground, looking dejected, she couldn't help but chuckle. "Side Consort Chong has not yet seen Us, and already you offer such a grand salute."
Though the words came from her mouth without any discernible emotion, Chong Yan heard a distinct tone of teasing.
He impudently raised his head, giving her a glance filled with pleading eyes, then slowly shifted his posture to a kneeling one and bowed to her.
"Your subject attendant pays respects to Her Majesty. May Her Majesty reign supreme for ten thousand years."
Zhu Zhen walked forward and helped him up. "Henceforth, Side Consort Chong need not offer such a grand salute when seeing Us."
Supported by her, their skin touching, Chong Yan's heart couldn't help but race again.
Zhu Zhen gently led him to the table and sat down. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
A palace servant replied, "This morning, while still at Mingyue Pavilion, Side Consort Qiao visited and sent someone with a pot of tonic soup for the Side Consort."
"Then you haven't eaten yet," Zhu Zhen said. "I also have not had breakfast. Side Consort, accompany Me for breakfast."
"Your subject attendant obeys."
Upon hearing that the female Empress would be dining in Chenyue Palace, the Imperial Kitchen dared not slack. Within a quarter of an hour, they began serving dishes one by one, and the two started eating.
Although Chong Yan was a secondary son, he had been educated in etiquette and rules. For instance, since there was no Empress consort currently, all individuals in the inner palace, when dining with the female Empress, could not refer to themselves as "master" but rather as attendants.
Thus, he instinctively stood to the side, waiting to serve dishes to Zhu Zhen.
"What are you doing?"
"Your subject attendant is serving Her Majesty during the meal."
Zhu Zhen pulled him to sit beside her. "I asked you to accompany Me for breakfast, not to serve. The task of serving is not yours to undertake."
"Yes."
Zhu Zhen looked at his submissive demeanor and suddenly felt a surge of annoyance.
This was nothing like the female-dominated society she had imagined.
"Henceforth, you need not be so formal in front of Me."
He stood up, cupped his hands in a salute. "Yes."
Zhu Zhen was annoyed and said unhappily, "Alright, sit down and eat!"