Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 76 - 75: How Did Your Majesty Cherish Su Juan?
That night, the Emperor went to the Empress’s chambers for dinner. From the moment he sat down until they started eating, he couldn’t stop talking, constantly discussing the day’s events.
"When I originally bestowed a marriage upon her, what did she say about me behind my back?"
"Dog Emperor, old fool, even cursed me for being blind, granting her such a marriage, yet I endured it!"
"And now! She’s the one asking for a divorce, and I complied, but still, she’s not happy!?"
The Empress held her forehead, finding his complaints incessant about a little girl giving her a headache. She couldn’t understand what she ever saw in him when they were younger.
The Emperor had no idea what the Empress was thinking at the moment; he thought she was seriously listening to him, which made him feel much better, "Do you think, is this girl just ungrateful, not understanding my intentions, despite all my affection for her?"
The Empress suddenly asked, "How did Your Majesty show affection to Su Juan?"
She was genuinely curious, as she never knew this husband to be capable of tenderness.
"That was naturally..." The Emperor paused awkwardly, and after a while, said, "I never blamed her for not respecting me as Emperor. I believed everything she said and never doubted her."
The Empress remained silent, "Anything else?"
The Emperor was also silent.
For a while, neither spoke, quietly eating their meal. Only then did the Empress manage to eat in peace, glancing at the Emperor multiple times.
Previously, he had given Su Juan a token, allowing her unrestricted access to and from the palace. She visited a few times, but after the new year, she stopped coming altogether.
Recently, she had sent someone to invite Su Juan for a meal, but the girl declined, citing a cold.
If she really had a cold, with her lazy nature, how could she attend court and not come for her favorite foods? Perhaps she had been aggrieved by the Emperor and refused to come.
"Is Your Majesty’s love for Su Juan referring to the arranged marriage you bestowed upon her?" the Empress asked softly.
The Emperor straightened his back, "Of course, isn’t it?"
In the Capital City, she was the only merchant’s daughter granted an imperial marriage. Wasn’t that a huge honor?
The Empress said sternly, "But Your Majesty never asked for her opinion. It’s rumored that Prince Jing’s heir is mild and sincere, but is that truly the case?"
"Shortly after the wedding, he had an affair with a guest girl at the mansion, causing a huge scandal."
"The Princess Jing feared losing face and decided to take the girl as a concubine. The heir stayed with the concubine every night. If it weren’t for the girl’s old lover causing a scene, eventually giving birth to an illegitimate son, she probably would have had to endure it longer."
The Emperor remained silent, "I know, this matter wronged her. I didn’t know Song Qianfan was this kind of person. Today, I’ve granted her permission, and the decree for her divorce will be issued in a few days."
"Your Majesty allows her divorce, but this marriage was originally forced upon her by Your Majesty. Now that life isn’t as she wished, she can have the divorce, but as for her reputation? After a divorce with Prince Jing’s heir, who in this vast Capital City would dare marry her?"
The Emperor furrowed his brow, never having considered this, "If she has someone she likes, I will naturally grant her a marriage."
If the Emperor grants a marriage, who would dare refuse?
The Empress found it amusing, wondering when the once gentle and considerate husband transformed into the Emperor who forgot "don’t impose on others what you wouldn’t want yourself."
"Your Majesty, ask yourself, do you truly have no personal motives in approving her divorce today?"
The Emperor was momentarily at a loss for words, "But it’s for the sake of the state!"
The Empress: "I don’t think as deeply as Your Majesty, nor do I understand state affairs. I just believe that if one cares for someone, it should be according to their wishes."
The Emperor frowned, "That’s the viewpoint of a woman. I am the Emperor of Da Jin, and naturally, I should think for the people. Since she is a court official, she should think for the people. If she cannot endure such grievances, how can she...?"
Before he could finish, the Empress interrupted, "Didn’t Your Majesty grant her the Sixth Rank Official position to keep her close?"
The Emperor was left speechless.
Seeing his reaction, the Empress smiled, "Your Majesty, if you feel you’ve cared for her, then let it be so."
This statement left the Emperor with words stuck in his throat. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
The Empress took the soup offered by an attendant, sipped it elegantly, as if she wasn’t the one who had just cornered the Emperor with words, leaving him speechless.
The Emperor, belatedly realizing, noticed that the Empress hadn’t spoken to him like this in a long time, looked at her with suspicion for a while, "I feel like you’re different today."
The Empress looked indifferent, "Forgive me, Your Majesty, I lost my composure. It won’t happen again."
The atmosphere in the hall turned somewhat awkward.
The nanny looked on nervously. It had been so long since the Empress and Emperor dined together like this. It should have been a good thing, so why the argument?
It could be called an argument, yet it didn’t seem so.
Observing the Empress’s indifferent demeanor again, the Old Emperor felt another wave of irritation, "Forget it, I have some official business. Continue your meal; no need to see me off."
With that, he stood up, and the palace staff knelt until he exited the hall. The Empress didn’t even rise.
The nanny was anxious, "Your Majesty, why didn’t you stand up to send the Emperor off? It’s really against protocol..."
The Empress continued drinking soup, unbothered, "Didn’t he say not to bother seeing him off?"
If he said so, why should she see him off?
Just a matter of a few steps; as an Emperor, is he incapable of walking?
The nanny sighed inwardly. Once, their relationship was so strong, yet now they couldn’t even have a proper conversation.
The last time the Emperor visited, the conversation lasted late into the night. She thought they had finally cleared the air, but that very night, the Emperor left, and since then, they seemed even more distant.
Ultimately, because of the loss of their child, the relationship suffered. Decades have passed, and this issue remains a hurdle. When will they ever move past it?
...
At that moment, the Old Emperor, having already exited the hall, glanced back, his face livid with anger.
Didn’t I just say one casual remark; couldn’t she tell it was said in anger?
Did she really not come out to see me off, nor care if I was tired from handling official duties daily? This Empress cares less and less about me.
The eunuch beside the Old Emperor noticed him looking back repeatedly and cautiously suggested, "Your Majesty, shall we return to the hall?"
"After all, it’s late; perhaps spend the night in the Empress’s quarters?"
The Old Emperor snorted, waved dismissively, and got into the carriage, "No need!"
"She ignores me, and I won’t bother with her!"
That last sentence was shouted particularly loudly, as if fearing the Empress inside the hall wouldn’t hear.
The eunuch fell silent; clearly, the Emperor cared but refused to admit it. The Emperor was truly stubborn.
But he dared not voice this thought, fearing punishment.
That night, the Old Emperor flipped through the neglected memorials, criticizing each one.
The eunuch watched the blank Holy Decree almost pushed to the corner, noting that the Emperor didn’t want to deal with it, clearly venting his frustration with the Empress on Lord Su.
