Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 45 - 44: What Can Duke Ping, an Old Man, Give You!?
The old emperor, his old face flushed, reluctantly handed the hand warmer he’d been clutching all afternoon to the eunuch beside him. He rubbed his hands together, took a deep breath, and, with steady steps, walked onto the Golden Hall.
Only then did Su Juan compose herself and bow along with the other officials.
She couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but it seemed like they were kneeling longer than usual this time.
As the end of the year approached, the weather was bitterly cold, and the vast Golden Hall wasn’t warm enough with just a dozen or so braziers.
Su Juan, who had always been very afraid of the cold since childhood, quietly placed her reddened hands in front of her to keep warm, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Whew! It’s a good thing I wore the warm clothes pre-filled with hot water, otherwise depending on just a few braziers in this weather would be freezing to death."
The courtiers, who were so cold they wanted to stomp their feet, widened their eyes. Such a good thing existed!
The old emperor was utterly taken aback!
From a young age, he couldn’t stand the cold, no matter how many layers he wore. While outside, hand warmers only kept his hands warm. He would love to stay inside all day to keep warm, but as a man, he was too embarrassed to admit it. It would be humiliating if people knew that an emperor was afraid of the cold.
But Su Juan had such a good thing that she could wear undetected?
Su Juan squinted her eyes, "So comfortable!"
In the front, Scholar Yuan from the Hanlin Academy suddenly understood. No wonder it felt so toasty warm near Su Juan; she seemed to be radiating heat.
The old emperor was getting restless, and several of the older ministers began to stomp their feet against the cold.
No one knew what these "warm clothes" looked like or how they were made, having never heard of such a thing.
"The weather’s getting colder. I’ll have Dongdong get someone to make three more sets to give away tomorrow."
The old emperor’s ears perked up. Three sets!?
He silently straightened his back, squinting his eyes. Surely one of those sets must be for me, he thought.
"This Vice Director, he hasn’t learned much else, but he’s a natural at pleasing me."
The Minister of Rites also felt a bit excited; the older he got, the more he feared the winter chill. He had almost failed to get out of bed today.
"One set each for Father and Mother... "
Upon hearing this, Prince Jing straightened his back, basking in the envious gazes of his colleagues. Not everyone was blessed with such a filial daughter-in-law.
Song Qianfan snorted coldly, his eyes scornfully fixed, "This woman is adept at using such despicable tactics to curry favor."
"One for the Empress as well."
The old emperor’s smile froze on his face, "..."
His gaze inadvertently met Duke Ping’s, who wore a sly grin, as if mocking him.
The old emperor put on a sour face, "What’s so funny?!"
If I don’t get one, can you possibly have one? he thought.
"I wonder if the old Duke Ping has worn it yet... "
The old emperor: "???"
"I gave him two last time; I wonder if they fit."
Prince Jing: "???" Two!?
Amidst the envious stares, Duke Ping patted his clothing, making the warm clothes fit snugly as if to say: Two pieces, that’s all, with a nonchalant expression.
The old emperor’s face darkened, "Foolish child! What can an old Duke Ping give you!?" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
If you had pleased me, I could have promoted you a bit!
...
As the court session ended, the old emperor hurried back for warmth. As soon as he left, Su Juan slipped away like her heels were greased.
Duke Ping was surrounded by several colleagues, all subtly and overtly inquiring about the two warm clothes Su Juan gave him. Earl Shengping, relying on his good relationship with Duke Ping, directly placed his hand on him, feeling its warmth.
Earl Shengping: "Truly warm!"
"Why is Xiao Su so good to you? Do tell!"
Duke Ping cleared his throat with feigned modesty, "It’s nothing much, really. The child just recognized me as a godfather, and this is her filial gesture."
"I’ve told her I don’t really lack these things, but she’s just stubborn and insisted that I take them... Oh well, I’m helpless against her."
Earl Shengping was envious, "You’re truly lucky!" If I’d known, I would’ve recognized that kid first!
The smile on Duke Ping’s face seemed endless, like it cost him nothing.
Prince Jing scoffed, "It’s just warm clothes. Isn’t everyone wearing them?"
To wear one is fine, but two, and look at him showing off!
Someone immediately set their eyes on Duke Ping’s other warm garment, especially Minister Wu, who wanted it most.
Minister Wu, with a cheeky grin, inched closer, whispering, "Dear Lord Duke, about those two warm clothes of yours... might you spare this old man one...?"
Duke Ping snorted, "These are gifts from my adopted daughter, a token of her respect!"
"Minister Wu, if you’re interested, perhaps you should ask your children yelling at the gates of the Duke Mansion!"
Minister Wu’s face flushed with embarrassment, "Fine, if not, then not! Who even cares?"
Earl Shengping, usually a kind man who never offends, assisted Duke Ping in scolding Minister Wu, "Minister Wu, it’s just improper what your children are doing. Why are they blocking the Duke Mansion?"
"You better call them off. We’re all fellow courtiers, and what the Wu Family is doing is just not right!"
"Do you intend to cause a scandal before His Majesty?"
Minister Wu huffed coldly, turning around and leaving.
Duke Ping noticed Earl Shengping’s surprise; it seemed he was going through a change, unexpectedly speaking in his favor?
After Minister Wu left, Earl Shengping cleared his throat, sidled over to Duke Ping, and with his hands tucked, said, "Old Xie, we’ve been friends for decades!"
Duke Ping stayed silent, decades indeed.
Earl Shengping continued, "My Liu Xuan and your Xie Xun have also been friends for over a decade... our two families have decades of history, don’t you think?"
His words never quite reached the point, almost making Duke Ping spin in confusion.
Duke Ping eyed him suspiciously, "What exactly do you want to say?"
Earl Shengping coughed, glanced around, "About those warm clothes your adopted daughter gave you..."
Before he could finish, a eunuch approaching them interrupted.
The eunuch respectfully said, "Lord Duke, His Majesty requests your presence."
The old emperor wanted to see him, so Earl Shengping had no chance to finish his words. Seeing his old friend escorted away, he could only gesture that he’d wait outside.
...
In the Imperial Study, the old emperor discussed various state affairs with Duke Ping.
After talking back and forth, the old emperor finally, acting casually, said to him, "The weather has been getting colder lately!"
Duke Ping responded, "It seems like it’s going to snow in the next few days. Please take care of Your Majesty’s health."
The old emperor, "..."
Seeing that Duke Ping acted as if he didn’t understand his hint, he felt frustrated, determined to get those warm clothes today!
The old emperor feigned a worried look, shaking his head and sighing, "I’m fine; it’s just the Empress..."
Duke Ping had one half-brother and two half-sisters. Of those still alive, only the Empress remained in the palace.
Duke Ping furrowed his brow in concern, "What’s wrong with the Empress?"
The old emperor was full of concern, "The Empress has been very sensitive to the cold lately. Even with several braziers in her room, it’s still cold. She hasn’t stepped out even once, and I’m quite worried!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Duke Ping, feeling quite anxious internally!
