Chapter 32

After the reunion banquet dispersed, Liu Li followed A Jiao and returned to the Jiaofang Hall on the Imperial Chariot, and her large box of Suppressing Evil Money was also carried back by the eunuchs.

Seeing such a large box being sent over, Qing Zhu and Qiao asked curiously: "Princess, what is this?"

Liu Li directed the eunuchs to carry the Suppressing Evil Money into her room: "Just put it there; thank you both."

The two eunuchs were flattered: "Your Highness is too polite; helping you carry things is our honor."

Liu Li opened the box and grabbed a few copper coins from it to give them: "Happy New Year, you all go back and rest."

The two happily accepted the Princess's reward. Although they didn't quite understand what "Happy New Year" meant, they respectfully said to Liu Li: "Princess, be happy too."

With the word "happy," it shouldn't be anything bad, right?

At this time, there was only New Year's Eve and guarding the year; there was no concept of New Year or the first day of the lunar year. The traditional festival of Spring Festival was gradually evolved in the long river of history.

After the two eunuchs left, Qing Zhu exclaimed: "My God, is this all the Suppressing Evil Money the Emperor bestowed on the Princess?"

Qiao's face revealed a proud expression: "The Emperor really dotes on the Princess." The little master is favored, and they, as personal palace maids, naturally have face.

Liu Li curled her lips and also grabbed a handful of copper coins from the box to give them: "This is the Suppressing Evil Money I give you." Qing Zhu and Qiao were only seventeen after the New Year; placed in modern times, they should still be high school students.

Qing Zhu took the New Year's money bestowed by the Princess with both hands and thanked her together with Qiao: "Thank you, Princess, for the reward."

"Alright, you don't need to serve me here; you go back to your room and rest too." Liu Li curled her eyes: "I'll give you two a day off tomorrow; you rest well."

The two thanked Liu Li again and again, then happily left the room.

Liu Li stood alone in front of the box that was half her height, looking at the box full of copper coins, revealing a smile like a little money-grubber.

If only these weren't copper coins, but gold.

She remembered that in the "History of Chinese Currency," it was recorded that the gold reserves used during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han reached more than 800,000 jin. Soldiers participating in the war against the Xiongnu could get 1 jin of gold for every Xiongnu head cut off. The more heads, the more rewards, and they could also be promoted and ennobled.

The money in the treasury of the Han Empire was squandered by him like this. Liu Li then picked up a copper coin to play with in her hand. Who knew that before she had used much force, the copper coin in her hand was actually broken by her.

No way, is the quality this poor?

Liu Li looked at the copper coin broken by herself, turned and opened the box again, casually finding a few in it to break with her hands; at least six out of ten were broken by her.

Tch, this is the result of allowing private minting of coins in the private sector. The money that could be broken by her, a five-year-old child, was probably all short-weighted.

No, must let Sang Hongyang hurry up and put the matter of unified minting on the agenda; otherwise, if this continues, there will be a currency imbalance sooner or later.

On the other side, in the Emperor and Empress's sleeping palace, the room was brightly lit. A Jiao took off her heavy clothes, preparing to go to bed, but saw Liu Che sitting by the bed with a solemn face.

She paused, sat by his side, and while taking off her shoes, said: "You wouldn't still be thinking about the fact that I gave A Li more Suppressing Evil Money today, right?"

Liu Che moved his eyes, and the light in his phoenix eyes gradually gathered. He said unhappily: "I'm not so petty as to think about this for a long time." If it were at the beginning, he would definitely be angry that A Jiao didn't discuss it with him before making a decision.

But now he seemed to be used to it; it was just that A Jiao gave her daughter some more Suppressing Evil Money, not other things.

He was just thinking about another thing.

"A Jiao, I decided to dismiss those beauties in the palace." Liu Che said his thoughts, and at the end, he emphasized: "You have always hoped I would do this before."

A Jiao's hand taking off her shoes paused: "What did you say?"

Liu Che narrowed his beautiful phoenix eyes, and the light and shadow of the candlelight jumped on his face, and his gaze also became scorching:

"I said, I want to dismiss those beauties."

A Jiao suddenly felt it was funny: "Why dismiss them?"

She thought of the past, when she asked him to send away those beauties in the Yongxiang, but he said to her: "A Jiao, those beauties were sent by Sister; if I send them back for no reason, what would Sister think?" Then he promised her that he would never touch those beauties, and when the time came in a few years, he would let the beauties leave the palace.

And the result? Wei Zifu had two children in three years, Wang Fu was also pregnant, and there were many, many beauties whose names A Jiao couldn't even call out, who were favored by him one after another.

Why was she so stupid in her previous life, believing his ghost words?

Liu Che raised his slender willow eyebrows and said as a matter of course: "Because I am the Empress now, and I don't want to see them."

"But..." A Jiao said slowly: "Aren't these beauties sent to you by your sister, the Pingyang Princess? If you send them back, aren't you afraid she will be angry with you?"

Liu Che was speechless for a while. Why did A Jiao's words sound so familiar? He paused and said: "I will explain to Sister myself."

A Jiao thought about it and didn't refuse: "If you want to do this, then dismiss them. If your sister asks, I will let her come to find you."

"Mm-hmm." Liu Che nodded.

Actually, he wanted to send those women away because he was afraid that A Jiao would not be able to hold back one day and favor them. It was better to do it once and for all and send them all away. With no one in the harem, he naturally wouldn't worry anymore.

"Then should Wei Zifu also be sent away?" A Jiao said faintly, as if thinking of something: "Didn't she also come out of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion?"

"Zifu has my child in her belly; how can she be sent away?" Liu Che said: "She still has to stay."

A Jiao nodded and said: "Since that's the case, then I want to keep Yin Meiren."

As soon as Liu Che heard this Yin Meiren, he felt his forehead throbbing, and he couldn't help but raise his voice: "It's this Yin Meiren again; what kind of love potion did she give you to make you like her so much?"

A Jiao rubbed her ears: "Keep your voice down; are you afraid the palace maids outside don't know we are quarreling again?" If Liu Li were here, she might silently complain in her heart: Why are you roaring so loudly?

She didn't know if Liu Che was relying on the fact that A Jiao at this time wouldn't really quarrel with him, or relying on the fact that he was Chen Ajiao at this time, he said: "I don't care; that Yin Meiren must be sent away, otherwise I won't be able to sleep peacefully."

Facing the suddenly unreasonable Liu Che, A Jiao raised her eyebrows and only said one sentence: "Liu Che, look at you now; how much you are like me in the past."

Liu Che was suddenly stunned: "..."

A Jiao threw down the shoes in her hand, lay on the bed, turned her head to look at Liu Che who was still sitting there, and said in a helpless and doting voice: "Forget it, since you want to send them all away, then send them all away; I will follow your wishes."

She would agree to Liu Che's request, partly to make him feel at ease; after all, he was still pregnant with a little cub. Secondly, it was to make him have a misconception that she still loved him. Only then would he be at ease handing over more matters in the court to her.

As for those beauties, sending them away was also good. After all, they had all shared a bed with Liu Che, and she didn't know them. It was better to let them leave the palace to seek other futures; maybe they could marry a good husband in the future, which was always better than staying in this Weiyang Palace. (In the Western Han Dynasty, women remarrying was a common occurrence, even the Son of Heaven's women could.)

Liu Che heard A Jiao's compromise. He moved his body and finally lay down slowly beside A Jiao, his body leaning toward her.

The sleeping palace was quiet for a while, and Liu Che said muffledly: "Actually... I used to think you were quite cute like that."

A Jiao heard Liu Che's words. She didn't respond, just silently turned around with her back to him and said: "Rest, I'm tired after a day today."

Liu Che stared at the back of his own head for a long time, feeling inexplicably blocked in his heart.

What he said just now was sincere. Once upon a time, A Jiao's every smile, every anger, and every temper were so beautiful and cute in his heart.

But he didn't know when he started to get annoyed by that

kind of A Jiao.

He was checked and balanced by his grandmother in the court, and he had to look at A Jiao's face in the harem; he was really tired. He liked women like Zifu, who were as gentle as water and obedient and respectful to him.

Most of the beauties sent in by Sister Pingyang later were like this. They were so humble, looking up at him all the time. Only in their eyes could Liu Che feel that he was the Son of Heaven, the most noble person in the world.

A Jiao was different from them. She never treated him as the Son of Heaven. In her eyes, he was just her A Che, an equal person to her.

Ever since A Jiao gave birth to her daughter, whether it was the palace servants or the Empress Dowager, they were all saying that A Jiao seemed to have changed. She could actually ignore him favoring other beauties.

But Liu Che knew that his A Jiao hadn't changed. In her bones, she was still that proud and noble Chen Ajiao. When she was unhappy, she would still retort until he, the Son of Heaven, had nothing to say.

She would never be like Wei Zifu and those beauties, bowing and scraping to him, relying on his grace.

Liu Che thought it might be because he had become A Jiao, so his mind had become delicate, and he had thought of so many things in that instant just now.

Because it was the first day of the new year, even the Son of Heaven didn't have to handle political affairs and could rest for a whole day. It was also on this day that Liu Che wanted to send away those beauties in the Yongxiang.

A Jiao thought of how happy Yin Meiren was when she bestowed the sleeping palace on her during New Year's Eve, and she really couldn't bear to drive people away on the first day of the new year.

So she said to Liu Che: "Today is the first day of the new year; you should handle this matter in a few days."

Liu Che thought about it and nodded in agreement.

So three days later, when the beauties in the Yongxiang were notified that they were to be released from the Weiyang Palace, they were collectively dumbfounded. Of course, the most dumbfounded was Yin Meiren.

Clearly, the Emperor had already bestowed a sleeping palace on her; why was she also to be released from the palace? Yin Meiren thought of the look the Empress gave her that night, and she instantly understood.

It must be the Empress who wanted to drive her out of the palace; the Empress was just jealous that she had received the Emperor's favor. Having figured this out, Yin Meiren decided to find a way to save herself.

She suddenly thought of Wei Zifu, who had a similar situation to her.

Yin Meiren entered the palace after the sixth year of Jianyuan, so she only heard about Wei Zifu's affairs by hearsay. Mostly, it was in the third year of Jianyuan that the Emperor intended to release some palace maids from the palace. Afterward, Wei Zifu cried and begged to see the Emperor, begging the Emperor to let her go home too.

Maybe Wei Zifu at that time was really pitiful, and the Emperor actually had a heart of compassion and favored her once again. And Wei Zifu's belly was also very capable, actually getting pregnant with a child in just one time.

She didn't know what method Wei Zifu used to move the Emperor. Yin Meiren thought again and again, and she decided to bring something to visit Wei Zifu and ask her for experience.

In the Pixiang Hall, Wei Zifu was walking slowly in the room with a big belly, supported by palace maids. The palace maid Xia Ling said auspicious words to her: "Lady, in another month, after the little Imperial Prince is born, your body can be relaxed. By then, the Emperor will definitely come to our Pixiang Hall."

Wei Zifu stroked her stomach with a gentle expression: "It hasn't been born yet; how do you know it's a little Imperial Prince? What if it's a princess?"

Xia Ling laughed secretly and said: "Then does the Lady hope for a little Imperial Prince or a little princess?"

Wei Zifu paused, then smiled: "Then it's better to have an Imperial Prince." Which woman in this palace doesn't want to give birth to an Imperial Prince? After all, the Emperor doesn't have a son yet.

Xia Ling whispered: "Lady, our eldest Princess is the Emperor's first daughter; the little Imperial Prince in your belly is the Emperor's eldest son."

Xia Ling originally thought that what she said would definitely make the Lady happy, but she didn't expect Wei Zifu's expression to turn cold all of a sudden, and she even frowned tightly.

This change made Xia Ling feel a bit uneasy, and she asked cautiously: "Lady, did this servant say something wrong?"

Wei Zifu took a deep breath and said: "Xia Ling, don't say such things in the future."

"Nuo." Xia Ling agreed with her mouth, but she didn't understand it in her heart,

thinking she hadn't said anything wrong.

Just at this time, a palace maid from outside came to report: "Lady, Yin Meiren requests an audience."

Wei Zifu frowned: "Why does she come to see me?" She had never had much contact with those beauties in the Yongxiang and couldn't understand why Yin Meiren came to find her.

However, thinking that the Emperor bestowed a palace on Yin Meiren during New Year's Eve, Wei Zifu guessed that Yin Meiren might be coming to get close to her.

"Bring her in." Wei Zifu said, and then, supported by Xia Ling, sat on the soft cushion on the side, waiting for Yin Meiren to enter.

Yin Meiren followed the palace maid into the hall, took off the cloak draped over her body, walked gracefully to Wei Zifu, and performed a salute: "Greetings, Lady."

Wei Zifu had a polite smile on her face: "My body is heavy, so it's inconvenient to return the salute; Yin Meiren, don't blame me."

Yin Meiren hurriedly said: "Lady, you are too polite."

Wei Zifu: "Yin Meiren, please sit."

Xia Ling added a cushion for Yin Meiren. After Yin Meiren sat down, she glanced at Xia Ling and said in a pretty voice: "You go out; I have some private words to say to Lady Wei."

Xia Ling looked at Wei Zifu, and after getting Wei Zifu's nod, she left the hall.

Yin Meiren took out the gift she had prepared and handed it to Wei Zifu: "Lady, this is some meager gift I prepared; I hope you don't dislike it."

Wei Zifu glanced at the box Yin Meiren handed over but didn't touch it, only smiling and asking her: "We both serve the Emperor together; if you have anything, just tell me directly. If I can help you, I will definitely help you."

Hearing Wei Zifu say this, Yin Meiren didn't hide it anymore and directly stated her purpose for coming: "This morning, I heard some wind from my sisters in the Yongxiang that the Lady intends to let the sisters in the Yongxiang leave the palace. I don't know if Lady Wei knows about this?"

"There is such a thing?"

Yin Meiren nodded: "Lady, you don't need to worry; after all, you still have the Emperor's offspring in your belly. It's just me..." She looked conflicted: "That day, the Lady's look at me was unkind; I'm afraid that when the time comes, the Lady will make me leave the palace together."

Wei Zifu listened to Yin Meiren's words and understood what she was worried about. She smiled and asked: "So you came to find me for what matter?"

Yin Meiren said: "It's like this. I once heard people say that the Lady also encountered such a thing back then, but later you met the Emperor, and the Emperor pitied you and kept you. Afterward, didn't you immediately get pregnant with Princess Yue? So I wanted to ask the Lady for advice on how to make the Emperor keep me too."

Of course, if I could also get pregnant with the Emperor's child, that would be even better.

When Wei Zifu heard Yin Meiren say the latter part, the smile on her face could no longer be maintained. Her hands clenched tightly, and she asked calmly: "Who did you hear that from?"

Yin Meiren answered truthfully: "A eunuch in the Yongxiang; when he was idle, he told me about it."

The process of Wei Zifu's restoration of favor was not a secret, but she didn't know why she had always avoided this matter. Now hearing Yin Meiren bring up the past, her face naturally didn't look very good.

"Back then, the Emperor just pitied me; that I could get pregnant with Princess Yue was also just right." Wei Zifu's voice gradually became flat: "If you want to stay, why not go to the Xuanshi Hall to request an audience with the Emperor."

Yin Meiren bit her lip, feeling that Wei Zifu was a bit insincere: "I am just a small beauty; how can I go to a place like the Xuanshi Hall? Lady, you saying this, isn't it harming me? I came just to ask you where you intercepted the Emperor's Imperial Chariot back then. If the Lady is not sincere in helping, you can just say so directly."

Wei Zifu: "I also told you, I just happened to meet the Emperor back then."

Seeing Wei Zifu unwilling to reveal it, Yin Meiren felt some dissatisfaction in her heart. She angrily took back the gift she had just brought and held it in her arms: "Lady Wei probably has a noble person helping her, so she is unwilling to say it clearly."

The Weiyang Palace is so big; how could she, Wei Zifu, just happen to meet the Emperor's Imperial Chariot? Anyway, Yin Meiren didn't believe it. She had entered the palace for four or five years; why hadn't she "happened" to meet the Emperor's Imperial Chariot even once?

She didn't know who told Wei Zifu the Emperor's whereabouts back then.

Yin Meiren also

didn't pester anymore, stood up and said: "Since Lady Wei is unwilling to help, I will find a way myself." Saying this, she performed a salute to Wei Zifu again, turned, and prepared to leave.

Wei Zifu behind her suddenly called her: "Wait."

Yin Meiren turned: "Does the Lady have anything else?"

Wei Zifu slowly reached out to Yin Meiren: "You help me up first."

Yin Meiren hesitated for a moment, but still walked toward Wei Zifu, reaching out to help her up. Who knew that just as she helped Wei Zifu, Wei Zifu suddenly fell to the side. Yin Meiren was caught off guard and fell to the ground with Wei Zifu.

Wei Zifu covered her stomach in pain. Seeing this, Yin Meiren also panicked: "Lady Wei, you... what's wrong with you?"

The palace maids outside heard the movement in the hall and hurriedly ran in to check, naturally seeing this scene. There was a puddle of water under the Lady's body; it was likely that her amniotic fluid had broken.

Wei Zifu's voice came out from between her teeth, and there was a tremor in her words: "Yin Meiren, why did you push me?"

Yin Meiren: "??" At this time, her mind was blank, and her head was full of: Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?

Xia Ling shouted: "Come quickly, go invite the Imperial Physician, and also the midwife; Lady Wei is likely about to give birth!"

For a time, the hall was in a mess. Yin Meiren reacted belatedly, and she shouted: "It wasn't me, it wasn't me, I didn't push her."

Xia Ling glared at Yin Meiren: "Only you and the Lady were in the hall; could it be that the Lady fell down herself to frame you?"

Yin Meiren nodded: "Yes, that's it." No one would believe this.

Xia Ling angrily had a few palace maids take Yin Meiren into custody, waiting for the Emperor to come and deal with it.

When the news that Wei Zifu was about to give birth reached the Jiaofang Hall, A Jiao was helping her daughter wash her hair.

Liu Li lay by the side of the soft couch, her long hair, which had already reached her shoulders, hanging down. Zhuqing and Qiao held the basin on the left and right, soaking Liu Li's hair in the water.

A Jiao picked up something called "shampoo" from the side, squeezed a little into her palm, and then wiped it on her daughter's head. Before long, a lot of white foam appeared; it was so magical.

No wonder A Li's hair was always fragrant.

Liu Che sat on the side watching them, inexplicably feeling that his head was also very itchy. He coughed and said: "Your Majesty, after you finish washing A Li's hair, help me wash mine too."

A Jiao lifted her eyelids and glanced at him: "Let the palace maids wash it for you."

"You can help A Li wash, why can't you help me wash?" Liu Che touched the beautiful hair on his shoulders: "What's more, this is still yours." Because there were palace maids, Liu Che could only use an suggestive way to remind A Jiao that this was her body.

A Jiao hummed: "A Li is my daughter, you are not."

Liu Che blurted out: "I am your..."

Paused, he said: "Your wife."

Listening to him admit his identity as a wife so awkwardly, A Jiao curled her lips slightly. Liu Li was greatly surprised by Liu Che's performance and couldn't help but shake her shoulders and laugh secretly.

Shocking! Emperor Wu of Han actually admitted he was a wife for this matter!

It was just at this time that a eunuch from the Pixiang Hall hurriedly came to inform Su Wen that Wei Zifu had given birth, and it was an accidental premature birth.

Su Wen didn't dare to delay at all when he heard this, and hurriedly went in to report to the Son of Heaven and the Empress. Liu Che asked in confusion: "Isn't there still more than a month before birth?"

Su Wen said: "The eunuch who came to report just now said that Lady Wei was pushed by Yin Meiren, which led to the premature birth."

Hearing this, Liu Che was furious: "This Yin Meiren actually dared to harm the Imperial offspring. I knew she was a disaster; send her to the Tingwei Office to be dealt with, and never be lenient!"