Chapter 28: Come to Me—Better Have a Good Reason!

“You speak as if I can’t come visit you when I have nothing to do?”

The Empress Dowager walked to Li Chen’s desk and sat gently beside him, her movements soft and delicate.

She hadn’t done anything unusual, yet the sway of her figure always carried an endless allure.

“You’d better have something important.”

Li Chen put down the intelligence report and spoke with a hint of impatience.

You’ve got nothing better to do, but I’d like to sleep.

Besides, if you don’t return for tomorrow’s morning court, I’ll have to go instead.

Li Chen even considered whether he should make the Empress Dowager preside behind the curtain to share the burden.

This idea of his was unprecedented—while other new emperors feared such things, he truly didn’t care.

Hearing Li Chen say this, the Empress Dowager’s beautiful eyes rolled dramatically.

I barely showed you any tenderness, and yet you’re completely unmoved?

Any other imperial prince would have risen immediately to thank me profusely.

Never mind, never mind—who else but a Saint Realm emperor could make me overlook it?

“It’s not much, just two matters. What do you think of that Chu girl?”

The Empress Dowager was asking Li Chen about his progress with Chu Ruoyan so she could decide whether to cultivate her.

If Li Chen didn’t like her, she’d send another girl to the palace.

“We haven’t had much time to talk these past two days, but my impression of her is fairly good.”

Li Chen had indeed been busy lately and hadn’t had much time to get to know her.

Still, winning over Chu Ruoyan was just a matter of time—he was certain of that.

Because young women around eighteen still believe in love; they’re pure, untouched by the world’s ‘contamination.’

They still long for a romantic tale of a prince and a Cinderella.

If they’re moved, they’ll even abandon everything to follow a man they like, even if he’s penniless.

If she were a woman at that stage, Li Chen would need to put in some effort.

But Chu Ruoyan is different—she’s clearly a woman with experience, having seen much in the capital’s chaotic mix.

Such women understand their own worth and know exactly what kind of man they want.

In Li Chen’s view, that made her far easier to handle.

After all, he was the Emperor of the Saint Realm—wealthy, powerful, and unrivaled in strength.

To court Chu Ruoyan was outright dimensional suppression.

All he needed now was time to grow closer to her.

As for love—that could wait for later.

“Fine, do as you please. I support you.”

Saying this, the Empress Dowager seemed ready to rise and leave.

“Didn’t you say there were two matters?”

Li Chen asked, puzzled.

“Oh, you reminded me—I’d forgotten.”

The Empress Dowager shifted her hips slightly, leaning closer to Li Chen as if about to share a secret.

Li Chen could already sense the alluring scent emanating from her body.

“It’s just—how did you make that hot pot last time? I had the imperial kitchen prepare all the ingredients, but none of them tasted like yours.”

Hearing this, Li Chen was speechless—you made such a mysterious fuss over this trivial matter?

I thought you were coming for some other kind of exchange.

“You can’t make that hot pot without the base seasoning. If you want to eat it, I’ll write you a list of ingredients.”

She’d helped him choose consorts—he couldn’t be stingy.

Li Chen took out a sheet of paper and wrote down some ingredients.

But halfway through, he remembered the Empress Dowager couldn’t handle too much spice, so he set the paper aside and rewrote the list.

Even though it was just a hot pot ingredient list, the Empress Dowager received it like a little girl clutching a treasured gift, her face lighting up with a bright smile.

Li Chen thought the Empress Dowager might genuinely be a food lover.

But women like her were fickle and skilled at disguise—he couldn’t tell if this was truly her nature.

Or perhaps this was the image she deliberately showed him. What she wanted from him, her ultimate goal—Li Chen couldn’t guess yet.

The Empress Dowager seemed full of weaknesses, yet precisely because of that, no one knew where to strike.

That was why Li Chen found her the most difficult woman to handle.

As she left Li Chen’s chambers, the Empress Dowager tucked the recipe into her robe and resumed her dignified posture and expression.

Her entire aura changed drastically, as if she’d become a different person, causing nearby palace maids and eunuchs to tremble in fear.

Perhaps just as Li Chen found her hard to manage, she found him equally difficult.

In her view, Li Chen appeared too casual—as if interested in everything, yet never truly committed.

She couldn’t determine what Li Chen truly desired, and thus couldn’t ‘control’ him.

As a woman with immense ambition, no one knew what she was truly thinking.

The next day, dawn broke.

!

The silhouette of the Forbidden City gradually emerged through the mist—the time for morning court had arrived.

Outside the hall, on the stone steps, ministers in court robes walked toward the grand hall.

Inside, several ministers had already arrived, standing or leaning, greeting those who just entered.

Within the hall, gold and jade gleamed brilliantly, radiating majestic grandeur.

At the center stood a towering dragon throne, carved with lifelike five-clawed golden dragons; on either side stood phoenixes with wings outstretched as if ready to soar.

Before Li Chen appeared, the hall was already bustling with activity.

Ministers whispered to one another, murmured quietly, their faces relaxed and smiling.

Some were already discussing where to go after court—which restaurant to dine at, who would treat this time.

Others spoke of the new dancer a certain minister had hired, urging each other to go see her, their words brimming with envy and jealousy.

Yet amid the noise, a few ministers—like Chancellor Zhao Wenyuan—stood straight, their gazes firm and expressions solemn.

There had once been another minister at his rank, but he’d been confined to his residence for seven days by Li Chen; now Zhao Wenyuan was the highest-ranking official in court.

At that moment, a long cry echoed from outside the hall.

“His Majesty arrives!”

With that cry, all murmuring in the hall ceased instantly.

Li Chen entered, clad in a dragon robe and crowned with a golden diadem, his steps steady and composed.

His face carried a casual, unrestrained air, yet every gesture radiated an indescribable imperial authority.

Though he’d only ascended the throne days ago, his innate aura of rulership filled every soul present with inexplicable awe and submission.

Li Chen’s arrival meant the court session had officially begun.

The Vice Minister of War stepped forward first, presenting a report with both hands.

His voice rang out clearly: “Your Majesty, I have urgent news to report.”

Li Chen nodded, signaling him to proceed.

After handing the report to the eunuch, the Vice Minister said: “Your Majesty, the rebel Third Prince, upon hearing of Your Majesty’s heavenly might and wrath, was so terrified he retreated his troops overnight and dared not advance again. This news is truly a blessing to our dynasty and a testament to Your Majesty’s glory!”

Seeing Li Chen’s reaction, the Ministry of War officials quickly began to echo his praise.

“Your Majesty’s wisdom and valor shake the four seas, causing such villains to flee at the mere rumor of your presence.”

“This is the will of heaven and the people’s desire—our dynasty shall endure for ten thousand generations, forever enjoying peace!”

Around the hall, ministers’ flattery poured forth without end.

The Vice Minister of War actually wanted to ask what to do about his superior, the Minister of War.

The one Li Chen had sent out to capture the Third Prince.

But knowing Li Chen’s nature, he feared asking might get him sent out too—so he gave a brief report and waited to see how Li Chen would respond.

Li Chen acted as if he’d forgotten the matter entirely, merely acknowledging it and saying nothing further.

It seemed the Minister of War wouldn’t be returning anytime soon—the Vice Minister returned to his seat.

Next, several other ministers reported on regional matters.

At this point, Minister of Rites Yan Hai stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, I, Minister of Rites Yan Hai, have urgent matters to report. Recently, the Wang Ting in the north has dispatched envoys seeking an audience with Your Majesty, wishing to establish friendly exchanges and discuss state affairs. This concerns the diplomatic relations between our two realms—I come to seek Your Majesty’s instruction: should we immediately arrange for the envoys to be received?”

(End of Chapter)