Chapter 15 Playing the Fool

Inside the imperial palace, in the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Empress Dowager Lu glared at Jiang Chen, her voice as cold as frost: "Your Majesty, you are being outrageous!"

"This old woman is your elder, and Changle Palace is not the harem. You should watch your words!"

Although she knew Jiang Chen was deliberately trying to anger her, Lu Wangshu was proud and arrogant. How could she endure such an insult?

Her usually calm state of mind collapsed instantly, and she even forgot the purpose of her visit, directly turning hostile and angrily questioning him.

This was the result Jiang Chen wanted.

An enemy who has lost their reason is much easier to deal with than a calm one.

He said leisurely, "Empress Dowager, I didn't mean that. Your own thoughts are impure, leading you to think crookedly. You can't blame me."

Lu Wangshu was so angered by Jiang Chen's blame-shifting that her eyes darkened, and she trembled, "My thoughts are impure?"

"Emperor, who wouldn't overthink after hearing those outrageous things you just said?"

"Talking about visiting Changle Palace, about fulfilling this old woman's wishes… If you truly didn't mean that, then explain those words clearly!"

Looking at the Empress Dowager Lu, whose delicate body was trembling with anger, Jiang Chen curled up the corners of his mouth and said, "Empress Dowager, don't be impatient. I really didn't mean that."

"Weren't you the one who suggested I favor those newly entered concubines? I don't know them, so I thought I'd discuss it with you, to decide which beauty to favor first."

"But I didn't expect you to react so strongly, not only misinterpreting my meaning, but also…"

Jiang Chen paused, and a mischievous smile returned to his face.

His meaningful gaze made Empress Dowager Lu want to leave immediately!

This dog emperor was doing it on purpose, making her lose face in front of so many palace servants. It was truly hateful!

She looked at Jiang Chen with a stern face and gritted her teeth, "So, it's this old woman's fault?"

A playful look flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes as he deliberately teased, "Empress Dowager, I know you've been celibate for many years, and it's inevitable that you feel lonely, but there's a difference in status. You'd best respect yourself!"

"I am, after all, the Emperor. If your improper thoughts were known to outside officials, it would likely stir up a storm."

Empress Dowager Lu was speechless, her delicate face flushed red, and she cursed incessantly in her heart.

Shameless, shameless!

How could this shameless dog emperor secure the throne?!

Her pair of autumn-water-like beautiful eyes widened fiercely, glaring at the front as if she wanted to swallow Jiang Chen alive!

"Tsk, why is Empress Dowager looking at me like that? Could it be that you're feeling disappointed, and want me to…"

"Your Majesty!" she exclaimed, interrupting Jiang Chen, her face as cold as frost. "There are so many people watching in the hall; it's best to watch your words!"

"Even if you are the Son of Heaven of Great Wei, holding power, this old woman is still your elder. You should still give this old woman the respect she deserves!"

As she spoke, a hint of ruthlessness appeared on her delicate face, and she coldly snorted, "Have you thought about what the consequences would be if today's words were leaked?"

"At that time, the condemnation of the people and the accusations of the officials would be the least of it!"

Jiang Chen's expression remained unchanged, only a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes: "Empress Dowager is overthinking it. I rule the country and am the master of all people. Everyone under the heavens must obey my will!"

"Don't say that I'm just joking now, even if I really forced you into my harem, who would dare to say anything?"

Empress Dowager Lu was stunned, and a look of shock appeared on her beautiful face.

This dog emperor actually dared to have designs on her. Wasn't he afraid of being condemned by the heavens for such an unethical thing?

Empress Dowager Lu was flustered and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

After a long while, she barely managed to calm down and reprimanded, "Your Majesty, I will pretend that I didn't hear what you just said, and you must not mention it again."

"If word gets out, both you and I will have no face to face our ancestors!"

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes. When she was plotting rebellion, why didn't she mention their ancestors?

"Would they dare to speak carelessly?" Jiang Chen glanced around.

His cold gaze made everyone lower their heads.

Empress Dowager Lu was also deterred, but when she thought of the outrageous words Jiang Chen had said about 'forcing her into his harem', anger surged into her heart again.

Unable to bear it any longer, she scolded angrily, "Shut up! You are the Emperor of Great Wei, how can your words and actions be so absurd?!"

Jiang Chen, however, was nonchalant and raised his eyebrows, "Empress Dowager, don't pretend. When you heard that I wanted to take you in, you were actually looking forward to it, weren't you?"

"Otherwise, why would you have such crooked thoughts as soon as you heard that I was going to Changle Palace, and even…"

Provoked by Jiang Chen's upside-down words, Empress Dowager Lu trembled and raised her face, wanting to slap this lecher hard.

But the moment she raised her hand, she felt a burst of dizziness and fell to the ground on the spot.

This sudden change stunned everyone, including Jiang Chen.

After a long while, he said with a strange expression, "You can't take it anymore with just this? I haven't even used a fraction of my strength."

Touching his nose, Jiang Chen ordered, "Someone, send the Empress Dowager back to Changle Palace, and then ask an imperial physician to see her. I will go see her in a few days."

Hearing this, the female officials standing stiffly in the corner immediately stepped forward and helped the unconscious Empress Dowager Lu away.

Feng Jin, the chief eunuch of the inner palace, was running around, solemnly issuing a 'gag order'!

It wasn't until this 'farce' was completely over and there were no more idlers in the hall that Feng Jin stepped forward with a wry smile and reminded, "Your Majesty, could you please consider this old servant in the future and not do such shocking things again?"

"If this matter is leaked, the imperial family and the ministers in the court will…" He hesitated, and sighed helplessly.

Although he knew that Jiang Chen was deliberately trying to anger people, once rumors started, the outcome would not be something they could control.

Jiang Chen didn't take it seriously and smiled, "Feng Jin, I was forced to do this. That woman used high-sounding reasons to force me to favor her confidants. If I didn't act like a scoundrel, I wouldn't have escaped her 'clutches' tonight!"

"Moreover, with this lesson, she shouldn't bother me again in a short time."

Feng Jin didn't say anything, and lowered his head in thought.

He had served Jiang Chen for many years and knew his master's preferences very well. The beauty and charm of that Empress Dowager Lu could be said to have struck the Emperor's heart, and these jokes today were probably a bit serious.

Just as the Hall of Diligent Governance was returning to order, Empress Dowager Lu, who had been sent back to Changle Palace, also slowly woke up.

She opened her captivating beautiful eyes, and her first reaction was to check her clothes. Seeing that her palace attire was intact and there were no suspicious marks on her body, she finally calmed down.

Although she coveted the throne, she never thought of using her body to get it.

Thinking of Jiang Chen's disrespect towards her in the Hall of Diligent Governance, a look of anger appeared on Empress Dowager Lu's delicate face.

Her eyes flashed with cold light, and she gritted her teeth and said, "That bastard! He actually dared to tease this old woman like that!"

"He even shamelessly wanted to take this old woman into his harem, not even looking at whether he was qualified enough. Hateful! Hateful!"

Grumbling, clenching the quilt tightly, Empress Dowager Lu narrowed her beautiful eyes, thinking about how to punish Jiang Chen.

After a long while, as if she had thought of something, she slowly curled up her red lips and coldly snorted, "Emperor, you wait for this old woman. You dare to speak disrespectfully; this old woman will definitely make you pay the price!"

"Someone, go invite the Prime Minister over!"