Chapter 7: Staying in the Jiaofang Hall

Liu Che hadn't stayed in the Jiaofang Hall for a long time; he didn't even remember when the last time he stayed in the Jiaofang Hall was.

After returning to the Weiyang Palace Xuanshi Hall from the Changle Palace, the sky was already dark. The little yellow gate beside him, Su Wen, stepped forward to ask: "Your Majesty, do you want to serve dinner?"

Liu Che pondered for a while, as if thinking of something, and suddenly said: "No need, prepare the carriage to the Jiaofang Hall."

Su Wen looked up at Liu Che with some surprise, then restrained his mind and replied: "Nuo." While ordering people to prepare the imperial carriage, he also sent people to the Jiaofang Hall to pass the message first.

Ajiao, who learned that Liu Che was coming, couldn't help but feel a bit impatient. She looked up at the palace maid who came to pass the message, paused, and said to Fuqu: "Since His Majesty is coming, then you let the small kitchen prepare some dinner and send it over."

Fuqu replied: "Nuo, this servant will go and do it."

Other palace maids were preparing for Liu Che's arrival. Ajiao looked at Liu Li and said: "I guess Liu Che is coming because of you."

After all, the once-foolish princess had suddenly become smart. With his sensitive nature, it was impossible for him not to come and pay attention.

Liu Li rested her chin on her hands and lay on the table, her eyes turning slightly, and she said with a smile: "If he asks, just say that it was because of the high fever during that period that I gradually returned to normal."

Ajiao frowned: "This explanation... will he believe it?" Liu Che was not an easy person to fool.

Liu Li spread her hands: "We will stick to this explanation. If he doesn't believe it, let him verify it himself, if he can verify anything."

"That's true." Hearing this, Ajiao laughed along: "Then let's say so."

Liu Li looked at Ajiao's expression and asked: "Do you not want him to come?"

She remembered that Chen Ajiao in history seemed to have loved Liu Che to death. After being deposed to the Changmen Palace, she didn't hesitate to spend a hundred catties of gold to ask Sima Xiangru to write a "Changmen Ode" for her.

Chen Ajiao raised her eyebrows and said: "A person who has died once will take many things lightly."

For example, her love for Liu Che.

She raised her hand to gently touch the two buns on Liu Li's head, but her gaze slowly looked at the sky that had already been dyed ink-colored outside the window. She saw the moon in the sky that was not very obvious.

"A Li, do you know? I once hoped so much that he would regret deposing me, and then personally go to the Changmen Palace to apologize to me and take me back to Weiyang."

Just like every time they quarreled before, and then he lowered his head to apologize to her and reconciled.

But he never appeared again.

She had sat on the high pavilion of the Changmen Palace, looking toward the Weiyang Palace, and all that was left for her was endless loneliness.

Ajiao stood up and walked slowly to the window railing. "The Changmen Palace is empty, even the moon is colder and more lonely than in the Weiyang Palace. I waited for him for a long, long time, so long that I didn't have the strength to wait anymore... In the end, I gave up."

When she opened her eyes again, Chen Ajiao found that she had returned to the third year of Jianyuan. The days of being deposed and locked in the Changmen Palace in endless waiting seemed to have turned into a dream.

But when she saw Liu Che again, the feeling of being separated by a lifetime reminded her that she couldn't repeat the same mistakes.

It wasn't worth it.

"Before, I didn't have children. They said I couldn't give birth and wasn't fit to be Empress. I didn't allow Liu Che to take in beauties, and they said I was jealous." Ajiao turned to look at Liu Li and asked: "You say that now that I am no longer jealous and no longer stop Liu Che from taking in beauties, can I be this Empress forever?"

Listening to Ajiao's words, Liu Li felt inexplicably sad. How did she endure those years in the Changmen Palace before?

But she couldn't give Ajiao an answer now.

Ajiao lowered her eyes and said: "Actually, I don't necessarily have to be his Empress, I just... don't want to go to the Changmen Palace anymore."

Liu Li walked slowly toward her, held her hand, and said firmly: "I can't guarantee what the future will be like, but if you are deposed to Changmen again this time, I will save you."

Hearing this, Ajiao smiled. She bent down slightly to hold Liu Li's little face, lowered her head to look at her, her phoenix eyes gentle and bright, "Okay, I believe you."

Being looked at like this, Liu Li was a bit embarrassed, and a layer of red gradually appeared on her cheeks.

Liu Che arrived at the Jiaofang Hall when Ajiao was changing Liu Li into her undergarments. It had been a long time, and Liu Li still didn't understand how to wear ancient clothes.

Ajiao found it funny to see her clumsy appearance, so she personally helped her change into her undergarments.

There was no entertainment in ancient times, and basically, one had to return to their room to sleep and rest after dark. It was nothing like the modern world, where nightlife just started at this time.

Liu Li turned her head and asked: "Do I really not have to be with you?"

Ajiao's movements were gentle as she helped Liu Li take down the two little buns on her head, touching her smooth, dark hair and saying: "No, your body has just recovered, so you should rest more. I will handle the things outside."

"Okay then." Liu Li nodded and watched Ajiao leave her room before closing her eyes to continue researching her system.

Today she saw many historical figures, such as Wei Zifu, Wang Taihou, and Zhang Tang, etc., but only unlocked Wang Taihou's favorability, because she didn't have physical contact with others and couldn't unlock it.

Favorability is linked to points. She currently had only two hundred points left that she could use. If she didn't unlock new favorability as soon as possible, she wouldn't be able to redeem things from the system store.

For example, she quite wanted the clock that could be redeemed for 300 points, and the bicycle for 400 points!

Thinking of this, Liu Li set her sights on Liu Che's favorability. This bright 1 point of favorability was really a bit of an eyesore.

The points that could be redeemed for his favorability were twice that of Empress Chen's favorability. According to the system's prompt, the higher the popularity of the historical figure, the higher the multiplier of the redeemed points.

So for the sake of this tenfold points, Liu Li decided to brush up Liu Che's favorability toward her as soon as possible.

The Weiyang Palace was like a modern workplace, and Liu Che was her top boss.

In this feudal ancient society, whether it was money or power, it was actually fake; everything was just a word from the emperor. If she could get Liu Che's full favorability, Liu Li believed she could walk sideways in the Weiyang Palace.

With this thought, Liu Li gradually entered a dream, dreaming that she was riding a bicycle in the Weiyang Palace.

On the other side, the palace servants sent the prepared dinner to the side hall. Liu Che sat at the table and enjoyed his dinner in a leisurely mood. Seeing Ajiao come in, he raised his eyebrows and asked: "Why did you come alone? Where is A Li?"

Ajiao replied: "A Li is sleepy and went to rest first." Saying this, she walked to her table and sat down, lowering her eyes to look at the dinner prepared by the kitchen, and for a moment she had no appetite.

Because Liu Che came to the Jiaofang Hall, the kitchen specially prepared some meat dishes, including dried meat that looked very tough, a plate of boiled beef, and a pot of pepper wine, which could be said to be very rich.

Liu Che took a shallow sip of wine and said: "Today at the Changle Palace, A Li's performance was quite impressive. I didn't know when A Li became so smart."

Ajiao listened to Liu Che mentioning her daughter, thought to herself "as expected," and then followed the explanation she had discussed with Liu Li before: "It is quite magical. After A Li's fever subsided, she gradually changed. The imperial physician also came to check, and A Li is now considered to have recovered."

Liu Che was half-believing of Ajiao's explanation; after all, he had never heard of a fever burning a brain into health.

Ajiao mocked: "It is also thanks to Wang Meiren's poisonous scheme, otherwise how could A Li have gotten better?" Saying such words, she felt exceptionally uncomfortable in her heart, because only she knew that her real daughter would never come back.

Liu Che was silent for a moment, and suddenly said: "After she gives birth to the child in her womb, she will receive the punishment she deserves. I will give you and Zifu an explanation."

Hearing herself and Wei Zifu being mentioned together, Chen Ajiao felt physically uncomfortable. She looked at him and nodded lightly: "Okay, I will wait for Your Majesty's explanation."

Liu Che narrowed his eyes slightly, and then let out a sigh: "I find that since having A Li, Ajiao has become less like before."

Ajiao picked up her wine cup and took a sip of the pepper wine. Hearing Liu Che's words, a trace of mockery flashed in her eyes, and she asked back: "Before? What was I like before?"

If something like this happened before, with her temper, she would probably have made the entire Weiyang Palace restless or smashed his Xuanshi Hall.

But she didn't know when it started, she gradually restrained her temper and wouldn't even quarrel with him anymore.

Thinking of this, Liu Che seemed to be nostalgic: "The Ajiao before would quarrel and make a fuss, very willful and arrogant."

Ajiao only felt that these words sounded ironic. She scoffed and stood up slowly: "Your Majesty, people always grow up. Besides, do I still have the capital to be willful now? The person who could protect me is no longer here."

She in her previous life was because she didn't recognize this reality, and challenged Liu Che's patience for her again and again, eventually falling into the end of being deposed.

Now that she recognized the reality, he started to miss the past. Is there something wrong with him?

Ajiao didn't want to deal with him anymore and said: "Your Majesty, I am full, you can eat slowly." After saying this, she didn't even give him another look and turned to leave the side hall.

Liu Che looked at her leaving with a calm gaze, then turned to look at Su Wen, who was serving on the side: "In the entire Weiyang Palace, except for her, who else dares to leave first when I am eating?"

This didn't sound like he was angry, but rather a bit happy.

Su Wen said quickly: "Your Majesty, is the Empress angry with you?"

Liu Che snorted, tasted a piece of dried meat on the plate, and drank a sip of wine before saying: "She is a bit obedient, but not completely obedient."

Su Wen listened to the Emperor's tone and couldn't figure out the Emperor's attitude toward the Empress, so he didn't dare to say anything more.

Liu Che ate most of the dinner on the table, but drank all the wine. Seeing him stumbling when he stood up, Su Wen reached out to help him.

"Return." Liu Che brushed off Su Wen's hand. Although his face was flushed with some drunkenness, he was still very clear-headed.

"Is Your Majesty going back to the Xuanshi Hall?" Su Wen thought Liu Che was not going to stay in the Jiaofang Hall.

Liu Che walked out of the side hall door, but went straight to the bedchamber in the back hall. He said: "I will stay in the Jiaofang Hall tonight."

Inside the bedchamber, Ajiao had just finished washing up and was changing into her undergarments under Fuqu's service, sitting in front of the bronze mirror combing her hair.

Suddenly hearing movement at the door of the room, Fuqu put down the things in her hand to look, and saw Liu Che coming uninvited.

Fuqu bowed quickly: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Liu Che waved his hand: "You retreat."

Fuqu didn't dare to say more and left the bedchamber with her head down.

Ajiao was startled, stood up and walked over, her phoenix eyes filled with dissatisfaction: "Why did you come?"

At this time, Ajiao was only wearing undergarments, her long, dark, beautiful hair hanging down to her waist, her clean face without any makeup, but with a different kind of charm.

Liu Che rolled his throat, his gaze a bit straight, and he walked toward her slowly: "I am the Son of Heaven, the entire Great Han is mine, why can't I come?"

Chen Ajiao heard the self-satisfaction in Liu Che's words. In the three years since her grandmother passed away, he could finally show his ambition and realize his political aspirations in the court.

The current Liu Che was the well-deserved Son of Heaven of the Great Han, no longer the puppet emperor who was constrained by the Grand Empress Dowager.

Ajiao lowered her eyes and smiled, not agreeing with him, but saying: "Since Your Majesty wants to live here tonight, then I will go and accompany A Li." In any case, she didn't want to deal with him at all today.

She was about to turn and leave from his side, but was grabbed by the wrist by Liu Che, and then directly hugged into his arms. Her chin was gently hooked by him, and Ajiao was forced to look up at the man in front of her.

The hot breath accompanied by the smell of pepper wine rushed toward her face. His big hand tightly clasped her waist, "Ajiao, I have neglected you these years."

Chen Ajiao struggled, but couldn't break free from his powerful arms. Enduring the dissatisfaction in her heart, she said: "No, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven and has many things to be busy with, I understand."

Clearly it was considerate words, but Liu Che felt that it was not the case at all. Looking at Ajiao's gaze toward him, he suddenly frowned: "What kind of look is this?"

It was as if she was looking at something dirty.

"Your Majesty should go elsewhere today, Ajiao is not feeling well and is not convenient to serve Your Majesty." Chen Ajiao resisted his closeness with both hands against Liu Che's shoulders.

Liu Che's attitude toward her daughter made her heart cold. She needed a period of adjustment before she could continue to deal with him, otherwise, Ajiao was afraid that she would be unable to help but scold him to his face like before.

With a soft, fragrant jade in his arms, Liu Che had long been moved. Seeing Ajiao's slightly wet lips, he didn't talk nonsense, clasped her head and kissed her.

The fragrance of pepper wine filled their noses. This kiss made Liu Che even more unable to stop, only feeling that her lips were becoming more and more sweet.

"Hmm... Liu Che, let me go, you bastard... who allowed you to touch me?" Ajiao struggled in Liu Che's arms, but Liu Che directly picked her up and strode toward the bed on the side.

He placed her on the bed, and while untying her undergarments, he bit her lips and said: "The world is mine, and you are mine."

Ajiao's strength couldn't compete with Liu Che at all. Unable to break free, she bit his chin in anger.

Liu Che groaned in pain, but his movements didn't stop at all. After a while of entanglement, Ajiao was also aroused, so she just let him do it.

After it was over, Liu Che got up and called the palace maids to prepare hot water for the two to wash up.

Ajiao put on her clothes, sulking and not wanting to deal with Liu Che in front of her. Who knew that as soon as her feet touched the ground, she couldn't stand steadily, and stumbled and fell from the pedal.

Liu Che wanted to grab her quickly, but the two fell to the ground together, their heads hitting each other heavily, and both fainted.

This scene scared the palace maids who were preparing hot water, and for a time, the entire Jiaofang Hall became lively. ===== CHAPTER 8 =====

A Jiao put on her clothes, sulking and unwilling to pay attention to the Liu Che before her, but who would have thought that as soon as her feet touched the ground, she failed to stand steady and stumbled, falling off the footstool.

Liu Che was quick-witted and fast-handed, wanting to catch her, but as a result, they both fell to the ground together, their heads knocking heavily against each other, and both of them fainted.

This scene scared the palace maids who were laying out hot water nearby so much that the entire Jiaofang Hall became bustling with activity in an instant.