mtlumby2d Chapter 274 Can Your Majesty Kill Everyone?
Chapter 274 Can Your Majesty Kill Everyone?
Xu Jiaoran came to Li Zhen's imperial study. Li Zhen was sitting alone at the desk, looking at volumes of books with a serious expression.
"Your Majesty." Xu Jiaoran spoke softly.
Li Zhen sat alone at his desk, his eyes as deep as the sea, his pen tip wandering on the paper, writing lines of solemn comments. However, at this moment, he looked up and saw the skirt slowly approaching, and heard a familiar voice in his ears, and the ink under his pen seemed to stop.
Li Zhen was a little surprised when he saw Xu Jiaoran coming in: "Why are you here?"
Xu Jiaoran's arrival surprised him, but also made him happy. He put down his pen, stood up and went to meet her. His eyes fell on her slender hand holding the bowl of soup, and a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.
"Send the palace maids to come immediately, why do you have to do it yourself?" Li Zhen asked softly, his tone revealing his deep love and concern for her.
Xu Jiaoran smiled slightly, like a spring flower just blooming, and she said softly: "I heard that the emperor has been tired recently, so I specially prepared this bowl of medicine, hoping that it can relieve the emperor's fatigue."
Li Zhen took the bowl of soup from her hand and sniffed it gently. The aroma of the soup made him feel relaxed. He smiled and said, "I am lucky to have you so considerate."
He sat at the table, while Xu Jiaoran sat on the soft couch beside him. He picked up the soup bowl, blew the hot air gently, and then took a sip. The soup tasted mellow and sweet, as if it could dissolve all fatigue and sorrow.
"This medicine is really top-grade." Li Zhen praised, "Jiao Ran is so attentive, I am very pleased."
Xu Jiaoran said softly: "Your Majesty has been working hard for the world, and I should do my best."
The two smiled at each other, and the air seemed to be filled with a kind of silent warmth and sweetness. The candlelight in the imperial study flickered, illuminating each other's faces. At that moment, it seemed as if time had stopped.
Li Zhen put down the soup bowl, held Xu Jiaoran's hand, and said affectionately: "With you by my side, I feel everything is so beautiful."
Xu Jiaoran's eyes flashed with emotion, and she whispered: "I am willing to stay with the emperor forever and never leave him."
Their words echoed in the imperial study, as moving as beautiful music. At this moment, they seemed to have forgotten all the disputes and complicated affairs in the palace, leaving only their deep affection and love for each other.
However, this feeling of happiness only made Li Zhen stay for a while. Xu Jiaoran's tone was full of concern, "I heard that the court officials are worried about your concubines. I want to ask what you think."
Li Zhen put down the book in his hand and was silent for a while before saying, "I don't want to."
There was a hint of coldness and determination in Li Zhen's voice.
Xu Jiaoran was calm and kept a magnanimous smile on her face. She continued to persuade him, "Your Majesty, your decision has its own reasons. However, for the sake of national affairs and the prosperity of the royal family, you still have to..."
"Do you want me to take a concubine?" Li Zhen's voice became a little colder.
Xu Jiaoran was silent for a moment, and from this silence, Li Zhen understood her thoughts.
Li Zhen's face was gloomy, and there was a hint of anger in his eyes. He looked directly at Xu Jiaoran with a trace of unquestionable determination: "Do you think that I only care about the country and not you?"
There was a royal majesty and deep dissatisfaction in his words.
Xu Jiaoran's heart tightened when she heard this. She knew that Li Zhen's anger was not caused by her words, but by his misunderstanding and confusion. She knew that as a queen, she had a heavy responsibility and should advise the monarch to put the country first. It was reasonable to recruit more concubines. Since she was the queen, she could not bear the name of a witch queen. She had to be a virtuous queen.
"Your Majesty, I have no such intention." Xu Jiaoran spoke slowly, her voice full of gentle sorrow, "I just hope that the royal family will have many descendants and the country will be forever strong. National affairs and your Majesty's love are equally important, how could I not know the importance?"
However, Li Zhen was not shaken by these words. He looked at Xu Jiaoran with sharp eyes and said, "I know your intentions clearly. But your words are like a knife or a sword, which hurt my heart. Don't you know what I think and want in my heart? How can you easily advise me?"
The atmosphere in the palace became increasingly tense, as if it was about to explode. Xu Jiaoran felt mixed emotions. She knew that Li Zhen's pride and self-esteem would not allow any doubt or misunderstanding. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her confusion: "Your Majesty, I did not mean to offend you. I am just worried about the affairs of state. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Li Zhen was silent for a moment, with a trace of helplessness and pain in his eyes. He knew Xu Jiaoran's good intentions, but he also knew that his knot was hard to untie. He slowly said, "Jiaoran, do you know that I only have you in my heart? Why do I need others to cause trouble?"
Xu Jiaoran felt a pang of pain when she heard this. She lowered her head and said softly, "Your Majesty is so affectionate and thoughtful. I appreciate it. But national affairs also need to be taken seriously. I am willing to share your worries."
When Li Zhen heard Xu Jiaoran talking about something else, he suddenly raised his voice and said, "You really don't understand why I rejected the requests of these court officials?"
Xu Jiaoran was startled.
Li Zhen raised his head and his eyes met Xu Jiaoran's.
He saw the tenderness in her eyes, which was the result of her compromise, but she still didn't see him in her eyes. His heart ached, but his tone became much softer, and he asked her directly: "Do you really not mind the woman beside me?"
Xu Jiaoran just smiled lightly and said, "Which woman doesn't mind her husband favoring another woman? But my status is different now. I am the queen. Even if I mind, I have to be generous."
Li Zhen was a little unhappy. What's the matter with the queen or not? If it was Li Ji who sat on the throne now, would she be so generous?
It's just that you don't have yourself in your heart.
He really wanted to ask her about this, but their relationship had finally improved recently and he didn't want to ruin it, nor did he want her to think of Li Ji again.
Li Zhen asked her, "Putting aside these great principles, let me ask you, you are unhappy about my taking a concubine, right?"
However, Xu Jiaoran did not immediately give the answer he wanted.
Xu Jiaoran reacted and immediately replied: "Of course, you are my husband, so I naturally don't like it."
Li Zhen got the answer he wanted, and he couldn't help but feel a little relieved.
He embraced Xu Jiaoran and said, "Since you don't like me, then I won't take anyone else in. Just you by my side is enough."
However, Xu Jiaoran was not moved at all. Instead, she stepped away from Li Zhen and said seriously:
"But Your Majesty, I don't want this. I already have a bad reputation. You know I used to be a face-conscious girl. I don't want to keep having this bad reputation."
Li Zhen knew how outsiders cursed Xu Jiaoran. They called her a sorceress who brought disaster to the country, and called himself a tyrant.
Li Zhen knew that Xu Jiaoran was bothered, so he said, "If anyone says anything about you again, I will chop him off. Let's see if anyone else says anything about you."
"Your Majesty, can you kill everyone?" There was no longer any gentleness in Xu Jiaoran's eyes, but a hint of sharpness.
Seeing her like this, Li Zhen felt a little worried, afraid that she would be cold to him again.