Chapter 1567: The Regent Prince Dotes on Me Too Much—What Should I Do? 36

Chu Qingqing urgently found Jin Chen, had the palace maids and eunuchs all withdraw without even observing etiquette, and asked hurriedly.

"The Regent Prince has agreed on your behalf to the enthronement ceremony next month when you return to the palace; are you aware of this?"

Jin Chen, who was lying around like a salted fish, was so startled he nearly choked on the watermelon.

"What did you say!"

Jin Chen sat up from lying flat, his eyes wide as saucers, "How could I not know about this?!"

He was even preparing to grant Chu Qingqing a marriage and bestow an official post!

Seeing that Jin Chen was unaware, Chu Qingqing slightly relaxed, not even bothering to sit down, and said, "I, your subject, only just learned this from my father; they said the Ministry of Rites has already begun preparations, and this time it will surely be flawless."

"The Regent Prince clearly … why then agree to the enthronement?"

Jin Chen walked back and forth with his hands behind his back, his tall and slender frame somewhat slumped.

"I also want to know! No wonder these past few days I've seen Zhiwei acting strangely; it must be that he's holding something bad in his heart."

Even someone like Yu Huayao can make him jealous like that, yet he still so eagerly agrees to the enthronement.

There's a problem, definitely a problem.

"Liu Feng! Go fetch the Regent Prince!"

Liu Feng opened the door with a complex expression, "Your Majesty… the Ministry of Rites officials have come to take your and Miss Chu's measurements."

Jin Chen: "..."

Chu Qingqing: "... Can I, your subject, refuse?"

"Let them in." Jin Chen, somewhat annoyed, said a few words in a low voice to Chu Qingqing.

Chu Qingqing took a deep breath, "Your… gall is truly enormous."

At least she didn't refuse.

This scene, seen by the several officials filing in, showed the deep affection between the emperor and empress, and they also felt a sense of relief.

They just feared that if His Majesty didn't cooperate, no one would be able to explain things later.

Whenever one gets close to His Majesty, they always feel a chilling draft, even more useful than standing near ice.

A minor official shivered, secretly pulling his sleeves tighter as he continued taking measurements.

This feeling of gloom lingered in Jin Chen's heart until dinner.

He still does not want to hold power; everything is still managed by Xie Zhiwei, even though the traveling palace has many affairs to attend to, and after Mu Zhengzheng's downfall, many officials have begun to demand accountability, making these days especially busy.

Usually at this time, the two would dismiss the attendants to speak privately, and Jin Chen, being a picky eater who doesn't want to eat much, also needs to be coaxed.

But today, both of them are very silent.

Jin Chen glanced oddly at the person serving him vegetables, deliberately not eating, picking and choosing for a long time, and still ended up with over half a bowl left after the meal.

Xie Zhiwei sighed softly, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Your Majesty, you need to take care of your health."

"I won't."

Jin Chen flung down his chopsticks, "Attendants, withdraw!"

"No one may enter." Xie Zhiwei said coldly.

The palace maids guarding the door: "..."

Xie Zhiwei rose, walked to Jin Chen's side, sat on his leg, and coaxed gently, "I know you're angry, but you can't take it out on your body; after the meal I'll explain everything to you, all right?"

Jin Chen remained fierce, letting him sit there without embracing him, "No, either you say it now, or wait until my wedding day to say it."

These words were meant to provoke him; Xie Zhiwei could tell, and a sore ache spread throughout his body.

"Very well, I will tell you the reason."

Xie Zhiwei stroked Jin Chen's brows and eyes, his fingertips wandering like a small snake, sticky yet affectionate.

After weighing the pros and cons, gaining the support of the Minister of Works will increase your prestige in the court, and thereafter you won't need my patronage to control the realm.

Upon hearing the first half, Jin Chen's gloom turned to anger, "Is that the reason?"

Lying.

Lying even now.

Jin Chen pressed him, biting his lips, eyes narrowing dangerously, "I don't want to argue with you over this again; if today it isn't resolved, I'll just wash my hands of it."

"Is it because of the Divine Medicine, having side effects or being ineffective?"

Xie Zhiwei's fingers gripping Jin Chen's waist tightened, his expression unchanged, merely kissing Jin Chen wetly, "No, Your Majesty…"

"As long as the one you favor is still me, having more empresses is just that—what difference does it make?"

Jin Chen sneered, "The difference, I'll tell you what it is: history records only the emperor and empress, and you can only be the Regent Prince."

"The empress will be my sole companion, acknowledged by all officials and commoners."

Xie Zhiwei: "..."

His kissing motion stalled, his stunningly beautiful face silently showing a cruel smile as he slowly lifted Jin Chen's face, allowing the pain in his heart to fester and rot.

"Your Majesty, I will not let this happen."

Xie Zhiwei drew near, pressing his forehead to Jin Chen's, the corners of his eyes reddening, his long, wet lashes fluttering lightly as they brushed Jin Chen's nose, his voice hoarse and so faint it was almost soundless.

"Regardless of whether there is an empress, you can only belong to me."

Jin Chen remained silent for a long time, then let out a sigh.

Since it's come to this, he must take some action.

——

The Ministry of Rites officials originally thought coming to the traveling palace to escape the heat would be a wonderful thing, but these past few days they've been the busiest!

Not only do they have to prepare the attire for the emperor and empress's grand wedding and all the wedding rites, but His Majesty, for some unknown reason, actually agreed at this critical juncture to various proposals from officials and ministers, consenting to every prince who had been mentioned.

Furthermore, they began bestowing titles left and right based solely on the portraits sent up.

"This one's looks are passable; grant him the rank of Noble Attendant."

"This one is granted the rank of Noble Person, this one is ennobled as Noble Lord."

"There is also the remaining Noble Attendant, to be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, the title… let him choose it himself."

"This…" the portrait was thrown away, "You're insane, sending someone who's only fourteen! Get out!"

The hall was filled with portraits spread out, resembling a large‑scale consort‑selection scene; Jin Chen said that for each sentence, the ritual official had to record one, after all the emperor had ordered the plaques to be made as soon as possible.

Jin Chen flipped through the last one, then asked Gao Kun beside him, "Is that all, none left?"

Gao Kun: "... None left, Your Majesty, do you still have someone you favor in mind?"

If we also count the young ladies, there are naturally still some, but the emperor's preference for men has spread throughout the Great Jin Country, so fundamentally no officials are willing to send their daughters to suffer in the inner palace.

The remaining young men aren't all willing to enter the palace to serve the emperor and compete with the Regent Prince for men—they're practically asking for death.

"Very good." Jin Chen threw down his brush, tapped the table, and said: "Send a copy of the portraits I've selected to the Little Royal Uncle; he is my elder, so of course he should review them."

Gao Kun: "……" Me?

I, the servant, still want to live to serve you, Your Majesty!

"Yes, the servant will have someone take care of this right away."

Half an hour later.

Xie Zhiwei, who was still reviewing memorials, saw the little eunuch bring up a thick stack of portraits.

"What is this?" Xie Zhiwei wondered.

The little eunuch, covering the money in his pocket, risked his life to reply: "Your Lordship, these are the attendants selected by His Majesty."

Xie Zhiwei's hand holding the brush trembled, a drop of ink fell onto his cuff, "What did you say?!"

The little eunuch closed his eyes, steeled himself, and continued: "His Majesty said… since it's a grand wedding, why not double the joy? You are his elder, so… so we're sending them for you to review."

Xie Zhiwei: "……"