The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 988

Chapter 988: Chapter 465 - When Husband and Wife Meet (First Update)

The Emperor looked at her with a shadow of grief in his eyes, a look that said he knew all along!

Empress Dowager Zhuang flatly denied it, "I did not, when have I ever been unable to go play cards?"

The Emperor continued his grievous complaint, "Then it’s just that Mother doesn’t want to get up early."

Empress Dowager Zhuang: When did your brain become so sharp!!!

Years of habit of rising early were lost in just one year in Bishui Alley, when it comes to this, it’s rather helplessly ironic.

In the end, the Emperor still agreed that Empress Dowager Zhuang should no longer attend the morning court, he, after all, is the Emperor, and no matter how much he trusts Empress Dowager Zhuang, he still craves to rule alone.

This was a contradiction of feelings.

Living to her age, what could Empress Dowager Zhuang not understand?

It’s normal for a sovereign to have such feelings, otherwise if everyone were like the Crown Prince, offering unconditional and bottomless indulgence and trust in someone, in the end, whether they would hand over the country to the one by their side if asked?

To be an Emperor, or rather, to be a benevolent ruler is not a bad thing at all. It’s fine to be gentle where one should be, but one must never lack the ambition of a monarch.

However, the Emperor did not agree unconditionally to Empress Dowager Zhuang’s request to refrain from attending court, she must agree to include him in her card games, the kind that happens three or four times a month.

And she must carve out time every day to deal with state affairs with him.

––––The solitary time with Mother in the afternoon!

Empress Dowager Zhuang didn’t really relinquish all her power, she just stopped attending the morning court, that’s all. She still had to play her tricks in private.

Xiao Liulang got a promotion, but the salary was still not enough to afford the monthly rent for the young monk.

Alas, with so many children at home, the burden is heavy.

...

Hanlin Academy, Xiao Hen got off duty and spotted a carriage parked across the alley.

The coachman was a stranger, and the carriage was unfamiliar.

But his instincts told Xiao Liulang that the owner of the carriage was waiting for him.

With no one around at the moment, he didn’t bother disguising himself and walked directly over with great strides.

Without asking much, the coachman put down the wooden stool.

He hesitated for a moment, then Princess Xinyang slightly lifted a gap in the curtain.

Xiao Hen was slightly taken aback, then stepped into the carriage.

He sat down across from Princess Xinyang, who then said to the coachman, "Let’s go to the Medical Hall."

"Yes."

The coachman cracked his whip, and the wheels started to turn.

Princess Xinyang’s complexion looked a bit better compared to when she had just returned to the capital; today, she even seemed to have a hint of rosiness, and the gentle smile in her eyes was almost spilling out, though she was not smiling much with her lips.

"I’ve come to see you," she said.

"Mhm."

Someone felt a little discomfort.

Princess Xinyang smiled slightly, looking at his right foot, "I saw you walking just now, is your leg better?"

"Yes, it’s better," Xiao Hen responded vaguely, without concealing the truth.

Being apart for so long, it’s quite difficult to return to the past level of closeness, especially since she had deeply hurt him. Princess Xinyang actually felt more awkward than Xiao Hen, but she didn’t show it outwardly.

Princess Xinyang smiled again, pointing at the cane beside him, "Then why not throw this away?"

"I’ll discard it in a few days," Xiao Hen said.

"Oh." Princess Xinyang instantly understood; nobody knows her child better than a mother, could she be unaware of what he was planning?

How children grow beyond their mother’s control.

He had never shown such concern for a maiden back when he was betrothed to Wo Linlang.

Princess Xinyang lowered her gaze to hide her amusement, then changed the subject, "Have you heard about Zhuang Yuheng joining the cabinet?"

"I have," said Xiao Hen.

Princess Xinyang added, "It was Grand Tutor Zhuang’s idea. Joining the cabinet as a seventh-rank Zhongshu meant a demotion in title but a promotion in status."

So all the official ranks were settled.