Chapter 72: Who Dares Look? (Bonus for Alliance Master 'Ni Lan Xuan Zhen')

…

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

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

Didn't you hear? Zhang Chun no longer calls herself "this servant," but "this concubine"—clearly, she's now Zhao Yu's person.

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. As for her ability to perform Zhe Yanzhi's art, who knows if it's real or not? The Emperor is just too kind, too easily deceived, that's why he's been fooled by Zhang Shi.'

Zhao Yu looked at Zhang Chun and graciously said: 'My beloved, rise and stand.'

The word 'beloved' instantly made Zhang Chun's bones melt; she basked in sweet delight, thinking: '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 willingly.

Upon hearing this, the envious glances around her seemed to solidify into sharp arrows, all shooting at Zhang Chun at once. The palace maids' resentment surged like a tidal wave, nearly drowning her.

Zhang Chun's vanity was supremely satisfied. She puffed out her chest, lifted her head, like a proud little rooster.

'Why should I beg to come to him when it's far more prestigious to be fetched by Zhao Yu himself? Now my position in his harem is even more secure!'

At this moment, Zhao Yu looked perfectly agreeable to Zhang Chun; she thought: 'No wonder he's my own hand-raised good son—so filial. Later, Mama will spoil you rotten, hahaha…'

Though her heart was bursting with joy, even slightly giddy, Zhang Chun outwardly maintained a composed, graceful bow and softly replied: 'Your servant obeys~!'

Zhao Yu looked down at Zhang Chun, thinking: 'I must bring you close and control you—otherwise, if you develop other intentions, it'll be troublesome. And now I must begin governing this country; I urgently need talent, but I'm unsure who truly is talent. 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 ultimately 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—she might help him acquire wealth.

At this moment, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng arrived. They had just heard Zhao Yu was personally taking Zhang Chun away.

To be honest, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng were somewhat 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 would never have cared about face.

But now it was different: they had realized that face wasn't mere vanity—it was prestige. With prestige, they could survive in this treacherous, mercenary court, and better assist Zhao Yu in realizing their ambitions.

At that moment, 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 and stand.'

After letting Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng rise, Zhao Yu looked at Yuan Qing Cheng: 'You are Qing Cheng, skilled in agricultural arts?'

Yuan Qing Cheng answered confidently: 'Yes, your servant.'

Zhao Yu did not delve deeper with Yuan Qing Cheng—he had plenty of time later. He simply said to Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng: 'Pack your things too—you'll return to the palace with me, to reunite with Xiao Jiao. She often speaks of all four of you.'

Seeing Zhao Yu so readily allow them to join him, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng rejoiced: 'This saves us trouble—we won't seem too eager.'

Yet simultaneously, they felt mixed joy and worry: they were drawing closer to sleeping with Zhao Yu.

The question haunting Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng lately: how could they stay by Zhao Yu's side without sleeping with him?

Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng lamented: 'Must a man and woman together always sleep together? Can't they simply use each other?!!!'

Nearby, Zhang Chun, seeing Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng now interacting with Zhao Yu—and noticing Li Lin seemed familiar with him—grew sharply alert: 'Could they be trying to bypass me and approach Zhao Yu directly? What are they planning? Are they trying to compete for his favor? Dammit—they might be beyond my control…'

Zhao Yu didn't care, and didn't want to care, about the scheming among the four women.

Zhao Yu wanted only one thing: to keep a firm grip on all five of them, denying them any chance—or even any desire—to serve others. Otherwise, if Yanwu Daba, Li Qianshun, or others got hold of them, the consequences would be catastrophic.

This is one reason why, as soon as he had time, Zhao Yu rushed to bring them all to his side.

Notably, Zhao Yu's visit wasn't solely to fetch the four women—he also came for Zheng Yaban and Empress Dowager Xiang. Especially the former.

—Zheng Yaban had sent word to Zhao Yu that she had something extremely important to hand him in person.

Just as Zhao Yu told the four women to pack, Zheng Yaban, Wang Yisu, and Yang Jian led the main staff of Cide Palace to greet him.

Zheng Yaban spoke for the group: 'Your servants arrived late to welcome Your Majesty—we beg Your Majesty's pardon.'

What filled Zheng Yaban with astonishment—not fear, but ecstatic joy—was Zhao Yu grabbing her hand and pulling her into his arms: 'I've missed you.'

For this period, Zheng Yaban had appeared glorious, everyone treating her with utmost respect—as if she were Empress.

But Zheng Yaban was clearheaded—she knew she was merely Zheng Yaban, not yet Empress Zheng, and likely never would be.

Let's say it plainly: anything others could conceive, how could Zheng Yaban, with her seven-hole clever heart, not see it?

The Empress's seat was too coveted.

And she had no support whatsoever.

Her family could bring Zhao Yu no benefit.

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

Could Zhao Yu?

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

When the hunger for power spreads like wildfire, imperial tenderness burns to ash.

To consolidate imperial authority, even father and son may draw swords; once-cherished family bonds become sacrifices on the altar of power. Brothers, lured by the throne, shatter brotherhood; fratricidal tragedies replay endlessly. In the harem, imperial favor is a fickle wind; concubines fight bitterly for it, while the emperor watches coldly, letting them crush each other in this bloodless battlefield, utterly indifferent to past moonlit vows and tender affection.

Would Zhao Yu be the exception?

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

Zheng Yaban lifted her head, meeting Zhao Yu's eyes, her voice trembling: 'Your Majesty, so many are watching~!'

Zhao Yu laughed: 'When Emperor and Empress show affection—who dares look? Do you want to die?'

Empress!!!

Zhao Yu didn't let her lose face—he didn't let her become the greatest joke of the Zhao Song dynasty.

Zheng Yaban felt her life was worth it; heaven had favored her too greatly—even if she died now, she would die without regret.

The most rule-bound Zheng Yaban now publicly clasped Zhao Yu's waist tightly, burying her head in his chest.

She wept.

Overcome with joy, she wept…

……

(End of Chapter)