Chapter 72: Who Dares Look? (Bonus for Patron

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Zhang Chun’s appearance immediately ruined everyone else’s chance to approach Zhao Yu, making her utterly conspicuous.

Many secretly blamed and even hated Zhang Chun, yet they were powerless against her.

Didn’t you hear? Zhang Chun no longer calls herself “servant,” but “concubine”—clearly, she’s now Zhao Yu’s woman.

Many palace maids seethed with resentment, thinking: “Zhang Shi isn’t bad-looking, but she’s flat-chested and flat-backed, no better than us—just paler. And as for her ability to forecast? Who knows if it’s real or fake. The Emperor is just too kind, too easily deceived.”

Zhao Yu looked at Zhang Chun and graciously said, “My beloved, rise and stand.”

The word “beloved” made Zhang Chun’s bones melt; she basked in sweet delight: “Zhao Yu isn’t bad—worth all the effort I’ve put into helping him.”

“Thank Your Majesty,” Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun rose.

“You’ve come just in time. One of my purposes in coming here is to fetch you. Pack your things—you’ll return to the palace with me shortly,” Zhao Yu said voluntarily.

Upon hearing this, jealous glances around her seemed to solidify into sharp arrows, all piercing Zhang Chun at once. The maids’ resentment surged like a tidal wave, threatening to drown her.

Zhang Chun’s vanity was utterly satisfied. She stood tall, head held high, like a proud little rooster.

“Why should I beg to come to him when he comes to fetch me himself? This time, my position in Zhao Yu’s harem is secure!”

At this moment, Zhao Yu looked perfect to Zhang Chun. She thought: “No wonder he’s my own creation—such a filial son. When I get back, I’ll spoil him rotten—hahaha…”

Though her heart was bursting with joy, even bordering on euphoria, Zhang Chun maintained a composed demeanor, curtsying gracefully and murmuring softly, “Your servant obeys~!”

Zhao Yu looked down at Zhang Chun, thinking: “I need to keep her close, under my control. If she develops other ambitions, it’ll be troublesome. Now that I’m about to govern this empire, I need talent—but I’m unsure who’s truly capable. I need you, my living encyclopedia of history, to vet them for me.”

Zhao Yu then turned to Ye Shi Yun, standing quietly beside Zhang Chun: “Most problems boil down to money. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

Indeed, compared to Zhang Chun—whose skills overlapped his own—Zhao Yu valued Ye Shi Yun more, for she might help him secure funds.

At that moment, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng arrived. They had just heard Zhao Yu planned to personally take Zhang Chun away.

To be honest, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng were envious of Zhang Chun—not only could she easily reach Zhao Yu’s side, but she did so with such dignity.

In the past, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng wouldn’t have cared about appearances at all.

But now it was different: they realized appearances weren’t mere vanity—they were prestige. With prestige, they could survive in this treacherous, fickle court, and better assist Zhao Yu in realizing their ambitions.

Just then, Li Lin saw Zhao Yu beckoning to her.

Li Lin rejoiced, immediately pulling Yuan Qing Cheng through the crowd to Zhao Yu’s side and bowing: “Your servant Li Shi and Yuan Shi pay homage to Your Majesty!”

“Rise.”

After letting Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng stand, Zhao Yu turned to Yuan Qing Cheng: “You are the one skilled in agriculture, Qing Cheng?”

Yuan Qing Cheng answered calmly, “Yes, Your servant.”

Zhao Yu did not press further—he had plenty of time later. He simply said to Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng: “Pack your things. You’ll return to the palace with me, to reunite with Xiao Jiao. She often speaks of you four.”

Seeing Zhao Yu so readily invite them to his side, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng rejoiced: “This saves us trouble—we won’t seem desperate.”

Yet simultaneously, they felt mixed joy and anxiety: they were now closer than ever to sleeping with Zhao Yu.

How to remain by Zhao Yu’s side without sleeping with him—this was the dilemma Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng had been pondering lately.

Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng sighed in despair: “Must a man and woman together always sleep together? Can’t they simply use each other?!!!”

Nearby, Zhang Chun watched as Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng now interacted with Zhao Yu—and saw that Li Lin seemed familiar with him. Her vigilance flared: “Are they trying to bypass me and reach Zhao Yu directly? What are they planning? Do they want to compete for his favor? Dammit—they might be beyond my control…”

Zhao Yu didn’t care, nor did he wish to care, about the scheming among the four women.

All he wanted was to keep all five firmly in his grasp, denying them any chance—or even any desire—to serve others. If Yanwu Daba, Li Qianshun, or others got hold of them, the consequences would be catastrophic.

This was one reason why, as soon as he had the chance, Zhao Yu rushed to bring them all to his side.

Notably, Zhao Yu hadn’t come merely to fetch the four women—he also sought Zheng Xiansu and Empress Dowager Xiang, especially the former.

—Zheng Xiansu had sent word to Zhao Yu that she had something of great importance to hand to him in person.

As Zhao Yu ordered the four women to pack, Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, and Yang Jian led the main staff of Cide Palace to greet him.

Zheng Xiansu spoke for them all: “Your servants are late to receive Your Majesty—we beg Your Majesty’s pardon.”

To Zheng Xiansu’s astonishment—not shock, but ecstatic joy—Zhao Yu seized her hand and pulled her into his arms: “I’ve missed you.”

These past months, Zheng Xiansu had appeared glorious, everyone treating her with utmost respect—as if she were Empress.

But Zheng Xiansu remained Qingxing —she knew she was still Zheng Yaban, not Zheng Empress, and likely never would be.

Let’s say it plainly: what others could see, how could Zheng Xiansu, with her seven-hole clever heart, not see?

The Empress’s seat was too coveted.

She had no support whatsoever.

Her family brought Zhao Yu no advantage.

To become Empress—even to make Zhao Yu honor his promise and keep her—she could rely only on his word.

Could Zhao Yu be trusted?

Raised in the palace, she knew well: emperors were the cruelest.

When the hunger for power spread like wildfire, imperial tenderness burned to ash.

To consolidate authority, even father and son might draw swords; once-holy family bonds became sacrifices on the altar of power. Brothers, lured by the throne, shattered brotherhood, repeating tragedies of fratricide. In the harem, imperial favor was a fickle wind; concubines fought bitterly, while the emperor watched coldly, letting them tear each other apart, utterly indifferent to past moonlit vows and tender words.

Would Zhao Yu be an exception?

Now, Zhao Yu’s actions told her—and everyone—that he was the exception, that he hadn’t changed, that he would marry her.

Zheng Xiansu lifted her head, meeting Zhao Yu’s eyes, her voice trembling: “My lord, so many are watching~!”

Zhao Yu laughed: “When Emperor and Empress show affection—who dares look? Do they want to die?”

Empress!!!

Zhao Yu hadn’t let her lose. He hadn’t made her the greatest joke of the Zhao Song dynasty.

Zheng Xiansu felt her life was complete. Heaven had favored her so deeply—even if she died now, she had no regrets.

The most rigidly proper Zheng Xiansu now publicly clasped Zhao Yu’s waist, burying her head in his chest.

She wept.

Wept with overwhelming joy…

…

(End of Chapter)