Chapter 1132: Noble Consort of Virtue and Her Children

"We welcome His Majesty!"

Stepping slowly into Spring Orchid Hall, he was greeted by the younger Lady Fu, now Noble Consort of Virtue, and the assembled attendants of the hall. Before he knew it, even the younger Lady Fu had reached thirty-five. The swift passage of time often stirred sighs in Emperor Liu, and it also made him hold ever closer those who had accompanied him along the way.

With good natural foundations, a life of ease and comfort, and proper upkeep, the younger Lady Fu retained her youthful beauty—only more mature now, her figure graceful, her charm moving. What had changed little, perhaps, was her temperament.

Even though both her children were gradually growing up, before Emperor Liu she always maintained the posture of a young woman—prone to jealousy, prone to envy, and directly displaying all her emotions.

Although Liu Chengyou had always demanded tranquility in the harem and advocated harmonious coexistence, in truth, seeing these noble ladies and beauties circling around him, vying for favor, inviting and flattering, sometimes Emperor Liu still felt a sense of self-satisfaction.

Personally helping the younger Lady Fu rise, he examined her lightly made-up face, gently held her hand, a smile at the corners of his mouth, his gaze sweeping a few times as he asked: "Where are Liu Jia and Liu Shu? I heard they returned to the palace—why don't I see them?"

At this mention, the younger Lady Fu's brows immediately furrowed as she said: "They suffered a fright and haven't yet recovered."

"What happened? Didn't they leave the palace to play at Liu Xi's place? Who could have frightened them!" Liu Chengyou was puzzled, his expression turning two degrees colder.

Among Emperor Liu's children, the one most beloved by his brothers and sisters was none other than the third son, Liu Xi, because he was the most witty and the least pretentious.

After Liu Xu, Liu Xi and Liu Fang had also successively established their own households. Occasionally, the princes and princesses in the palace would leave the palace to visit and play. This time, Liu Jia, the eldest sister, had brought her full brother Liu Shu to spend a few days at the Duke of Jin's residence.

Sensing the caring emotion Emperor Liu revealed, a satisfied gleam flashed through the younger Lady Fu's beautiful eyes, then she sighed and said: "Before returning to the palace, they heard that a criminal was being executed in the city. The siblings grew curious and had attendants lead them to watch. The result was that they were frightened. After returning to the palace they've been distracted and absent-minded—now they can't even hold a teacup steady..."

Hearing her explanation, Emperor Liu was briefly speechless, then smiled freely: "Just that?"

"You can still laugh!" The younger Lady Fu was somewhat displeased.

Liu Chengyou said: "Liu Shu is already ten years old. You should know that his older brothers, before they even reached ten, had already been on the battlefield, seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and were still unafraid..."

"The two cannot be compared—in the end, this was the siblings' first time seeing such cruel scenes." The younger Lady Fu said.

"So, growing up deep in the palace is not a good thing. We still need to let them go out and walk around more, see the outside world..." Liu Chengyou said this, then added: "Never mind—I'll go see them!"

Emperor Liu's eldest daughter, Liu Jia, was now nearly fourteen. Her features took after her mother—pretty and endearing, full of spirit. Liu Shu was the ninth son, having just turned ten not long ago.

When she saw Emperor Liu, Liu Jia immediately perked up, flying into his embrace, saying: "Father, it was so terrifying! A perfectly fine person—one stroke of the steel blade, and his head just fell off, rolled several times, blood splattered all over the ground, and the onlookers were even cheering..."

Patting the little head pressed against his chest, Liu Chengyou saw how clearly she described it, how coherently she spoke, her voice full of vigor, and revealed a gentle smile: "Are you still afraid now?"

At the question, Liu Jia immediately grabbed Emperor Liu's hand, leaning against his arm, and replied: "With Father here, I'm not afraid! But Ninth Brother is truly frightened—he still can't even stand up..."

The moment her words fell, Liu Shu beside her shot up to his feet, saying unconvinced: "I'm not afraid either!"

"Really not afraid, or pretending not to be?" Looking at his ninth prince, Emperor Liu teased.

A flicker of hesitation crossed his small face, and he involuntarily shuddered, then Liu Shu replied: "Really not afraid!"

"You said it yourself! As my son, how could you be so timid? Don't go back to not being able to hold a teacup steady..." Emperor Liu ruffled Liu Shu's head.

At these words, Liu Shu took two or three steps to the table, picked up a cup of tea, gulped down several mouthfuls, and then felt much more at ease.

Though it was still early in the day, Emperor Liu had no other engagements for the moment and planned to stay the night at Spring Blossom Hall. The younger Lady Fu, Noble Consort of Virtue, was naturally overjoyed. In recent years, Emperor Liu had begun to practice abstinence, which naturally pained the concubines of the harem—especially those at this wolf-like, tiger-like age. For a favored consort like the younger Lady Fu, the Emperor's favor was something she eagerly anticipated.

Emperor Liu seemed to be in a good mood, chatting with the siblings Liu Jia and Liu Shu, listening to them talk about the amusing events at the Duke of Jin's residence and their impressions of today's execution.

"When I saw the head fall, my whole body felt numb—numb from the top of my head to my feet. My heart felt empty, and it seemed like heaven and earth had darkened a few shades..." Having recovered, Liu Shu spoke with vivid detail.

"Your Majesty!" Before the meal, Yan Tuo sought out Emperor Liu alone.

"What is it?" Liu Chengyou glanced at him and asked.

"The palace attendants and guards escorting the eldest Princess and the Ninth Prince actually led the young nobles to watch an execution in the marketplace, frightening Their Highnesses. Should some punishment be administered?" Yan Tuo asked.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu studied Yan Tuo, unsure whether to call him attentive or something else. However, Liu Chengyou had no intention of making an issue of it: "Do I not know Liu Jia's temperament? If she's interested, how could palace attendants and guards stop her? There's no need to shift blame onto the servants!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo acknowledged, adding a bit of flattery: "His Majesty is merciful."

The nighttime hours were naturally the private time between Emperor Liu and Consort Fu. A bout of passion was unavoidable. After it was done, Emperor Liu gasped for breath several times, but his face wore an expression of satisfaction.

The younger Lady Fu's jade-white face was flushed red, and she looked quite content. Her delicate cheek pressed against Emperor Liu's chest. As her breathing gradually calmed, she asked softly: "Why did Your Majesty think to come to my place today?"

"I came to see you and the children. What, not happy?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"Too happy!" The younger Lady Fu answered, tilting her head up slightly, her autumn-wave eyes gazing steadily at Liu Chengyou.

Under that moving gaze, with her alluring body already in his arms, somewhat rarely, Emperor Liu became stirred once again...

After a rare bout of indulgence, as drowsiness crept in, the younger Lady Fu said softly: "I heard Your Majesty plans to go on an inspection tour next year?"

"Mm!" Emperor Liu's intention to leave the capital and tour the prefectures had already spread—it was no secret. Hearing this, he replied directly: "It's been many years since I've gone out to see the world. I should see with my own eyes what the unified empire looks like."

"When Your Majesty goes on tour, might I be fortunate enough to attend at your side?" The younger Lady Fu asked.

Hearing this, he was briefly startled. To be fair, since the younger Lady Fu had entered the palace, it had been over a decade, but in all those years—whether on campaigns or inspection tours—she had never been able to accompany him due to various reasons.

Therefore, when the younger Lady Fu made her request, Emperor Liu agreed readily: "I agree. I'll take you out to relax as well!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."