Chapter 957: I've imprisoned the Empress—how do I fix this!? 10

Under that pressuring gaze, Jin Xiao Mo did not dare to show anything; even though he was furious enough to vomit blood inside, he could only leave as if nothing happened.

At this moment, Jin Xiao Mo's hatred toward Jin Chen increased again.

He had painstakingly cultivated this person for so long, and finally they could secure a position in the court, yet just a few words from that Grand Tutor made Jin Chen believe it so easily!

This matter absolutely cannot be left as is.

After leaving the Imperial Study, Jin Xiao Mo thought it over and still headed for the Return Spring Palace.

When Jin Chen went to see Wen Zhi Heng again, he was once again turned away at the door; Wen Zhi Heng's excuse was still that he was ill, genuinely fearing to spread infection to the Emperor, otherwise it would be a loss.

This excuse left Jin Chen with no way to refute.

After two more days, to avoid being barred from the palace again, Jin Chen headed straight to the Resting Heart Palace after court.

Yun Wu and Shun Ping dared not stop him, but likewise dared not wake the still-sleeping Wen Zhi Heng; they could only watch helplessly as Jin Chen entered the sleeping quarters.

Wen Zhi Heng was lightly sleeping; as soon as Jin Chen entered, he heard the movement. Before he could react, upon opening his eyes Jin Chen had already lifted the curtain and sat beside the bed.

"Huai Feng is never willing to see me."

Jin Chen first grew sulky, swiftly took off his outer robe, and, feeling wronged, clung to his own Empress to whisper.

"Those stupid officials in court keep angering me; I'm so angry I can't sleep well."

"Huai Feng, keep me company while I rest."

When one just wakes, there's always a moment of grogginess; Wen Zhi Heng watched Jin Chen lie down beside him, and even with his eyes closed, his brows remained tightly furrowed, as if he truly hadn't rested well.

In his daze, he actually didn't push him away; half-asleep and about to drift off again, he suddenly recalled the events of these past days, his mind instantly cleared, he sat up straight, and his expression turned cold in an instant.

"Since Your Majesty wishes to rest, I will not disturb you."

Jin Chen had truly been exhausted these days; the previous owner left him a mess of troubles, he was about to fall asleep when he suddenly felt Wen Zhi Heng rise to get out of bed, and instinctively grabbed his hand.

"You just don't want to stay with me."

His low voice already carried a sullen anger.

Wen Zhi Heng lowered his eyes, tied the waistband of his sleep‑disheveled undergarments, and said, "Your Majesty, you're overthinking… ah!"

He was suddenly pulled backward, his whole body falling onto the bed; in an instant, dark strands of emotion spread across, and above his startled phoenix eyes was the very angry Jin Chen.

"Your Majesty, hurry…" Wen Zhi Heng widened his eyes; the hand trying to break free was firmly gripped by Jin Chen, his lips felt heat, and immediately a full, aggressive sandalwood scent enveloped his breath, the air thick with overheated fragrance.

Wen Zhi Heng stared blankly at Jin Chen's eyes; even angry, there seemed to be him in the depths.

He quickly reacted, forcibly wrenched free from the held hand, pushed Jin Chen's chest aside; his handsome face turned slightly pale, as if frightened.

Clear rejection.

Jin Chen was pushed back, stunned for a few seconds, still holding the posture of leaning in for a kiss, but the person in his arms had already fled to the other side of the bed.

He turned his head, the anger in his chest uncontainable: "You reject me, you just hate me."

Wen Zhi Heng turned his head away, not looking at him; whether it was rejection or disgust, Jin Chen couldn't tell, but he could be certain it was no longer merely a matter of not accepting.

Jin Chen sneered, anger rising, he forcibly pulled Wen Zhi Heng's arm, pinched his chin, and kissed him fiercely; every breath carried full aggression.

Wen Zhi Heng seemed to know he couldn't escape, stopped resisting, but his face grew ever uglier; in the struggle, his bitten lip leaked a few traces of blood, his shoulders trembled slightly.

This is nothing like how partners should kiss; even if arguing, with emotional distance, such a reaction shouldn't happen.

Jin Chen suddenly stopped moving, silence propping up his body as he locked eyes with Wen Zhi Heng; the latter's face was pallid, his phoenix eyes filled with a mist, yet his gaze was almost cold.

A few seconds later, Jin Chen rose, violently flung open the curtain and got off the bed; Yun Wu, kneeling outside, saw this and hurried over to help him put on his outer robe, not daring to lift his head.

On the bed, Wen Zhi Heng wiped his lips, turned his back to the outside; his bodily tremors lasted a while before easing, his trembling fingertips touched the jade bracelet, he gripped it tightly, and closed his eyes.

0731 was baffled in the space.

"Host…… calm down, your Heartbeat Value is still -45! Maybe it's because of this."

"【There have been negative values before, but he's never… rejected me like this.】 Jin Chen said, feeling wronged."

"【……】 That's also true."

Having dressed, Jin Chen fiercely flicked his sleeve and strode away.

Yun Wu broke out in a sweat; it was the first time he'd seen the Emperor being driven from the bed by the Empress, thank goodness… thank goodness the Emperor didn't take out his anger.

His mood at rock bottom, Jin Chen could only stew alone in the Imperial Garden.

He seethed with anger, his steps swift; the retinue of attendants behind could barely keep up, and Yan Fu An was so frightened he dared not speak.

But letting the Emperor stay angry like this isn't a solution; nowadays the Young Virtuous Noble has lost favor too, and it seems truly no one can calm the Emperor's wrath.

Yan Fu An was worried sick, when suddenly a flash of inspiration struck his mind.

"Your Majesty, the Little Crown Prince is due to return to the palace today; you mentioned a few days ago wanting to refurbish the Eastern Palace, and I heard the staff below have gathered quite a few of your former belongings."

"Perhaps there are still memories with Her Highness the Empress; would you like to go take a look?"

Jin Chen's steps halted; silence fell, and Yan Fu An knelt, trembling with fear, awaiting his reply.

"Have someone take it to the Imperial Study."

"As you wish."

——

Actually, they're just some small items.

Jin Chen rummaged through the tray's contents, his gaze suddenly locking onto a jade pendant: "What is this?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, this was a gift from the former Grand Empress Dowager; you and the Empress each received a jade drop symbolizing unity of heart and virtue—your jade pendant, the Empress's jade bracelet."

"Jade bracelet…"

Wen Zhi Heng's wrist indeed always bore a jade bracelet.

Jin Chen grew more puzzled, tapping the jade pendant with his fingertip; since Huai Feng still wore a jade bracelet, why was he so rejecting of him?

He slipped the jade pendant into his pocket, gesturing for Yan Fu An to take the other things away for storage.

"Your Majesty, when the Little Crown Prince returns to the palace, Your Highness will surely come to greet him; then you can ask him again."

"Hmph, what's there to ask, nothing worth asking."

Jin Chen huffed and took a sip of tea, "He ignores me, I ignore him too!"

At least before he clarifies the cause, he won't go courting misfortune again.

The little Crown Prince's return to the palace was a grand spectacle; Jin Chen deliberately wanted everyone to know that this time he would personally raise the Crown Prince in the palace, and thereafter he would never leave until his ascension.

Jinyu Feng, who is just under six this year, suddenly left the familiar temporary palace for this extremely close yet luxurious but unfamiliar place; it was inevitable that he would be afraid, his face remained tense.

But when he saw Jin Chen, his eyes suddenly brightened a little; he timidly hurried over, grabbed Jin Chen's sleeve, looked up and called, "Uncle…"