Chapter 1959: You Don’t Need to Dress So Formally
If even a woman like Qiu Ling disliked Ning Shu’s way of dressing, then a man like Zhao Xu would obviously find her head full of ornaments and heavy makeup unsightly.
“Empress, we’re a couple. You don’t need to dress so formally.” Zhao Xu sat at the head of the table, holding chopsticks in his hand. Despite looking at a table full of food, he had no desire to eat.
What he was really looking at was the empress sitting next to him, sparkling with gold. It blinded and disgusted him. He’d lost his appetite and any desire to sleep with the woman along with it.
There were so many women in his harem, so it wasn’t like he had to make do with her. He had options. If he was dissatisfied then he wouldn’t force himself.
He recalled that the empress’ taste wasn’t like this before.
“The subject wife understands.” Ning Shu’s headgear jingled as she nodded.
Zhao Xu: …
“The palace will hold the Mid-Autumn banquet in half a month.” Zhao Xu put his chopsticks down. “I heard that Consort Zhuang had a fever. Let her go out for a walk and get some air now that the weather’s getting colder. Have the concubines get together and share a meal.”
Ning Shu nodded, causing more jingling. “I will do so. This subject wife will immediately arrange the affairs for the banquet.”
Ning Shu glanced at Zhao Xu, wondering if he specifically mentioned the Moonlight Palace because of Attendant Zhou.
Although he was thinking about her, he hadn’t even gone to see Attendant Zhou. Was he worried about Consort Zhuang’s disease infecting him or was there another reason?
Ning Shu found Zhao Xu difficult to read. He didn’t have any special preferences and wasn’t particularly passionate about his concubines. He usually left after sex. If he thought that a woman served him well, he would just send her gifts afterward.
Ning Shu suppressed all her speculations and told Zhao Xu, “Your Majesty. Since you have some free time, please go visit Consort Zhuang. This subject wife went to see her and Consort Zhuang misses the emperor a great deal. Since the weather is cooler now, her illness should almost be healed. And Attendant Zhou is also there.”
Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes. His gaze flickered slightly as he remembered Attendant Zhou’s flawless snow-white skin. He turned his head to the empress staring at him and lightly said, “We will naturally see her at the Mid-Autumn banquet. Have Consort Zhuang rest and recover well.”
Having intercourse with a concubine while another lay in the neighboring room, ill? Zhao Xu couldn’t do it.
Furthermore, Consort Zhuang was born to a general and he still relied on her family to guard the frontier.
Zhao Xu sipped his tea as Ning Shu asked, “Emperor, won’t you eat more? This subject wife sees that you’ve eaten very little.”
“I’m full, Empress. You can continue to eat and I’ll watch,” Zhao Xu said, smiling.
Ning Shu lowered her head shyly. As she did so, the pearl hairpins on her head collided with one another, and the clanging sounded again.
“Pff… cough, cough, cough.” Zhao Xu choked while drinking his tea.
Ning Shu quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth. “What’s wrong, Emperor?”
“I’m fine. Please continue eating.” Zhao Xu reached his hand out to wave Ning Shu off.
Ning Shu sat back down and asked Qiu Ling to put the dishes away after taking a few more bites.
Zhao Xu shot a look towards his personal eunuch who immediately stood up and said, “Emperor, Xiao Dezi came just now and said that the Ministry of War sent an emergency report from the border. A memorial has already been written up.”
Zhao Xu stood up, frowning. “Why hadn’t you informed us immediately?”
“Forgive me, Emperor, but this servant saw that the emperor and the empress were eating.” The eunuch knelt down.
Ning Shu: →_→
The frick? Did he think that his concubines were idiots? That he could bully the harem since they weren’t allowed to interfere in politics? That he could just take advantage of the fact that they were unlikely to know anything about the court’s affairs?
Ning Shu’s expression turned anxious. “Government affairs are very important. Your Majesty must hurry and deal with this.”
Translator: Kaho
MTL Editor: Shark
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