With just a light touch, it sent a numbing sensation through half of Di Nian's body.
He stood frozen, her words still echoing in his ears. He opened his mouth but found himself speechless.
Shen Zhili slipped her fingers between his, clasping his hand tightly before continuing, "Since you are willing to marry me, I will never do anything to betray you. You treat me well, and I will treat you well in return. From now on, you, Di Nian, are my husband, and this Di residence is my home. How could I feel wronged? Though I cannot assist you in military affairs, I will ensure you have no worries in the court. If you achieve fame for generations to come, I will be buried with you in history after our deaths. I do not ask for your constant companionship, only that when we are old and wrinkled, you will not regret marrying me in this lifetime."
Her voice was soft and low, yet each word struck his heart like a heavy hammer.
Though her words did not stem from genuine love, they were a precious promise from a wife—how could he not be moved?
Di Nian's eyes reddened. He abruptly withdrew his hand, pulled her into his embrace, and lowered his chin to murmur, "Enough."
Truly enough.
With her words tonight, even if he were to die tomorrow, he would never regret marrying her in this life.
Shen Zhili offered no resistance as he held her tightly, but she met his gaze intently and still spoke softly, "Not enough. I will bear you children, ensuring the Di lineage continues forever. I will share both joy and hardship with you, watching you command the three armies, honor the emperor's grace, and leave a name that commands awe throughout the land. In old age, I will still be by your side, and you by mine—only then will it be enough."
Di Nian took a deep breath of the night air, clenching his jaw to hold back tears.
She came from a chancellor's family, raised with strict propriety, her character a blend of her father's discipline and her mother's boldness. Since she had spoken thus tonight, she would surely follow through. Though he knew this was her loyalty as a wife, his heart was filled with overwhelming satisfaction.
Even if they could not be lovers in this life, what regret could there be in being such a devoted couple?
Besides, who said she could never come to love him!
Without a word, Di Nian leaned forward, swept her up into his arms, and strode through the hanging gate toward the bridal chamber.
Shen Zhili's brows twitched slightly, but she remained silent, lifting her hands to wrap around his neck.
The starry sky shimmered like pearls in a deep sea. Her crimson long skirt draped elegantly, her feet resting outside his arms, the pointed tips of her Phoenix Shoes swaying gently, utterly captivating.
Pushing the door open, the maid waiting inside blushed at the sight, rose without a word, and retreated, closing the door behind her.
The bedding was soft, but the red dates and lotus seeds beneath were hard.
As Di Nian drew the bed curtains and leaned over her, Shen Zhili was loosening her long hair. Before she could finish, he restrained her hands, watching as he kissed her, his eyes moist and unblinking. She sighed inwardly, closed her eyes slightly, and relaxed her body.
But he only kissed her lips and cheeks before lying down beside her, wrapping an arm around her and going no further.
Nestled against him, she could feel his heart racing and knew why he had stopped. She reached out to touch his lean waist and whispered softly, "It's only a matter of time. Why force yourself to hold back tonight?"Di Nian grasped her hand, his voice slightly hoarse: "Let it rest for tonight. We can talk again after you've had a few days to recover."
She remained silent, allowing him to pull the brocade quilt over both their bodies, yielding to his wishes.
He had known her for eight years. He was her elder brother's closest friend, and they had long been familiar with each other. Although she knew he had loved her for a long time, it seemed that only tonight, after all these eight years, did she truly feel for the first time how deeply he loved her.
In this world, besides her parents and brother, there really was someone who cherished and cared for her just as they did—someone who valued her every feeling, held her in the palm of his hand, and feared she might suffer the slightest grievance.
Her eyelashes grew slightly damp, but she felt him press something into her hand. Lifting it to look, she saw he had somehow produced that thin piece of peach wood again.
Di Nian said, "I obtained this when I went to suppress the rebellion in Chao'an. It's a token local men and women use to express their true feelings to each other, but I never had the chance to give it to you until now."
His voice vibrated softly against her ear, making her purse her lips involuntarily.
Shen Zhili toyed with the thin piece of peach wood, nestling deeper into his embrace. "Earlier, the servants saw that His Majesty's carriage is still outside the residence, and Minister Meng is also in the carriage."
Di Nian raised an eyebrow. "How could His Majesty be so imprudent?"
Though he served in the military and had heard some rumors about Meng Tinghui and the Emperor, his knowledge wasn't as detailed as Shen Zhili's. Puzzled, he made to sit up and send someone to check again.
Shen Zhili quickly stopped him. "I've already given the necessary orders. Don't cause trouble." She tugged at his sleeve, drawing his gaze before continuing, "During the recent chaos around the empress appointment, it was thanks to Minister Meng that I emerged unscathed. She did me a great kindness, so of course I'll help where I can."
Di Nian thought for a moment, then nodded. "As we should."
That he could marry Shen Zhili was largely due to Meng Tinghui's efforts. Even if Shen Zhili hadn't mentioned it, he felt he owed Meng Tinghui a significant debt.
With this thought, he drew aside the bed curtains and reached out to extinguish the lamp on the table. "Let's sleep," he said to her.
In the darkness, her bright, moist eyes gazed at him as she suddenly sighed. "The court situation has grown increasingly turbulent lately. The influence of the senior ministers has greatly diminished, and His Majesty, with his grand ambitions, shows intent to promote new talents in both military and governance. When you go to the northern frontier, you must handle your duties impeccably. If you earn His Majesty's praise, you'll surely rise rapidly—perhaps even to overseeing the northern routes wouldn't be impossible."
Di Nian smiled faintly, unable to resist turning to kiss her again. With their lips nearly touching, he murmured, "I understand. Just look at how Meng Tinghui has soared through the ranks these past three years."
Only then did Shen Zhili fall silent, burying her face against his chest and closing her eyes.
Indeed, Meng Tinghui's rise in court had been meteoric, inseparable from the Emperor's favor towards her.
But judging by tonight's events, it seemed she would rise even faster in the future.
·
Outside the Di residence, carriages and horses gradually dispersed, leaving the late autumn night clear and cold once more.
Yet that luxurious carriage behind the rear gate remained stationary. The wind lifted a corner of its curtain, faintly revealing a sliver of dim light from within.
Having sat for so long, the carriage interior had grown quite warm.
Meng Tinghui remained in her original seat, though her expression had cleared considerably compared to earlier.
The heavy knot in her heart that had weighed on her for so long had been undone by him in an instant, leaving her both moved and somewhat embarrassed. Having shed tears before him made her too self-conscious to look at him again for quite some time.Ying Gua allowed her to remain silent as he knelt and retrieved a few memorials, reading them intently.
After a long while, she finally looked up, her gaze drifting through the curtain seam toward the high walls of the Di residence, murmuring softly, "I wonder how Lord Shen and Colonel Di are faring."
Upon hearing this, he snapped the memorial shut with a sharp sound, lifting his eyes to fix her with a penetrating stare. Then, abruptly, he reached out and pulled her close, pressing her down without a moment's hesitation—swifter and more decisive than a leopard springing from its cage.
Before she could even blink, she was pinned backward on the couch. The moment her lashes lifted, she met his fierce gaze up close; with every breath, she felt the scorching warmth of his lips. A flush instantly spread across her face, and she felt like a young prey caught by a beast—unable to escape or evade.
He brushed the stray strands from her face with his fingers, then tilted his brow slightly and retorted, "On such a fine night as this, what do you think they could be doing?"
With every movement and word, his handsome face captivated her senses.
She murmured, "Your Majesty," and instinctively reached to wrap her arms around his neck and shoulders.
The moment her fingertips touched the skin at his neck, he descended upon her, capturing her lips in a sudden kiss. His large hand tore fiercely at her collar, and when he finally grasped her full breast, he let out a soft hiss through his teeth, like a parched man tasting a single drop of clear spring water.
A faint satisfaction, but an even stronger craving.
Yet how could one drop quench the raging fire that had built within him over dozens of days?
Her garments were swiftly stripped away, scattered and tangled across her body.
"Your Maj—" As she tilted her head to speak, his lips moved to her neck, his hot tongue gently tracing the delicate hollow of her throat, causing her heart to flutter as if truly preyed upon by a fierce beast.
The fire in his eyes, the strength in his hands, the desire spilling from his lips and teeth—she felt it all clearly, and there was no way to resist.
A night breeze swept through the curtain, sending a shiver through her, and she vaguely glimpsed the two Junior Palace Attendants waiting outside the carriage.
Suddenly, a flicker of clarity returned. She remembered they were still in the carriage, and right outside the back gate of the Di residence—this... this was unthinkable!
Straining, she turned her head away, struggling to catch a breath, and gasped urgently, "Your Majesty, please wait." Then, in a panic, she pushed against his chest with all her might.
But he remained unmoved, the fire in his eyes flaring severalfold, his face showing no restraint. He seized her wrist with one hand, then snatched the Rhinoceros Belt from her waist. With a deft twist of his elbow, he swiftly bound her hands high above her head.
In an instant, she was rendered completely helpless, unable to resist any further.
She stared at him in shock, her gaze fixed on his face. Her hands instinctively struggled, but though he hadn't hurt her, she found herself utterly unable to free herself from the belt's restraint. A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she realized he had mistaken her reluctance for rejection.
But tonight, he was being far too domineering.
Just as she considered how to speak again, he buried his head against her and began to plunder her body without restraint, taking whatever he desired.
Where to touch, how to touch, and with what force—he knew it all perfectly.
He understood her so thoroughly, his lips and fingers precisely targeting every spot that made her tremble, gradually melting her into soft, yielding clay.
She surrendered step by step, no longer concerned with resisting him. The sensation of being restrained and unable to fight back was uniquely thrilling, and before long, she could only succumb to his teasing, letting out soft, involuntary moans.He had always enjoyed hearing her voice; the moment she made a sound, his breathing grew heavier, his desire more fervent, and his actions even more unrestrained.
Unable to bear it any longer, she gazed at him with misty eyes, twisting her wrists as she sobbed softly, "Your Majesty..."
Yet this soft sob was exceptionally alluring and provocative.
He paused briefly, studying her expression. Knowing she was trying to appeal to his sympathy, he deliberately propped himself up slightly, staring down at her motionlessly without touching her further.
Her body was half-exposed, torn fragments of her dress failing to conceal the spring-like allure within. Her soft, pale skin glistened with beads of sweat, gilded by the dim light in the carriage. Her hands were bound by the official robe's rhinoceros belt, rendering them immobile, her slender arms slightly bent. Her disheveled hair cascaded around her, and coupled with her expression—half pitiful, half seductive—it was enough to tempt even an immortal to abandon divinity.
Truly enchanting.
How could anyone fail to see her beauty?
The usual Minister Meng was merely a facade she wore. Once stripped of those layers of official attire, how was she any different from those coquettish, seductive women?
Moreover, she possessed a passion and boldness unmatched by other women. In matters of intimacy, she harmonized with him like perfectly tuned instruments—how could he possibly restrain himself?
"Your Majesty?" Seeing him unmoving, she called out again softly, continuing to twist her wrists, thinking he had finally decided to let her go.
He slowly straightened up, but the corners of his lips curled faintly, the fire of desire in his eyes burning even more fiercely. He reached down, lifted the hem of his robe, and undid a few fastenings at his waist. Raising an eyebrow, he fixed his gaze on her.
At the sight, her face flushed crimson instantly, yet she forgot to close her eyes. In that moment, she even neglected to breathe, struggling more violently with her hands, wishing she could vanish on the spot.
She had thought his straightening up meant he would release her, but instead, he was... so blatantly teasing her!
Who would have thought that the revered, wise emperor—stern and impassive in the eyes of his court officials—could be so audacious and unrestrained in private with her?
She could only mentally condemn his "shameless" behavior, never considering how she herself had ever cared about "modesty" in his presence.
Yet she couldn't control her eyes, unable to look away.
Though she had seen it before, never had she observed it so clearly and directly.
She knew he was peerlessly handsome, that every part of him was beautifully formed, but she hadn't realized that even there... he was so exquisitely shaped.
It left her mouth dry and her body growing weaker.
As she inwardly scorned herself, he suddenly leaned in, his warm palm sliding up her smooth calf and down to her ankle, forcing her to open herself to him.
She shuddered in alarm.
She wanted to evade but couldn't overcome his strength; she wanted to curse but dared not overstep her bounds as a subject.
Watching him raise a slanted eyebrow as he scrutinized the space between her legs, her face flushed so deeply it seemed blood might seep through. Never before, even after their numerous intimacies, had anything made her feel so acutely embarrassed.
If he was determined to torment her, she stood no chance of resisting.
Only then did she realize how insignificant she was in his presence—her past bold actions couldn't even compare to the tip of his iceberg.
Having looked his fill, he extended a finger to touch her, lightly teasing her most sensitive spot. Lifting his eyes to hers, he spoke in a hoarse voice tinged with smoldering flames: "From now on, no matter the circumstances, you must never act recklessly on your own or avoid me again."Her entire body trembled with delicate shudders.
Such an embarrassing position, such lingering techniques—she simply couldn't withstand them no matter what.
Desire piled up like rising tides, overwhelmingly drowning all her senses. She could only nod in agreement according to his will, hoping he would let her off just like that.
Seeing her consent, the tension between his brows eased slightly, and his grip loosened as he released her.
She wanted to bend her legs and close them, but he was still faster. Before she could catch her breath, he thrust in, making her gasp halfway in surprise.
The latter half of the sound caught in her throat, turning into fragmented, intermittent notes that escaped her lips with his movements, so seductive they drifted directly out of the carriage with the wind.
The thought that there were people outside the carriage made her entire body tense up again. Hearing a hoarse sound rumble in his throat, she felt him thrust even more fiercely.
Having not tasted this pleasure for months, it was no wonder he couldn't restrain his intensity, devouring her like a wild beast descending a mountain, leaving not a single trace.
The carriage was narrow and cramped after all, leaving no room for him to indulge freely. After several rounds, he took a deep breath, paused his movements, released the restraint on her wrists, and wrapped his arms around her waist to sit up, positioning her astride in front of him.
She had long been rendered as soft and boneless by his torment, no longer caring about the posture. As soon as she rose, she hooked her arms around his neck and leaned down, nestling against his shoulder, letting him grip her rounded buttocks and freely adjust her position.
The carriage was filled with the scent of desire. Their sweat-drenched clothes clung to their bodies, their breaths growing increasingly ragged, and sparks of passion flickered deep in their eyes.
He paused briefly after a slight movement, then turned to nibble her red lips. His hands moved up to knead her body, making her contract repeatedly. Watching her furrow her brows in impatience and feeling her dig her fingers into his shoulders, he lowered his voice and said, "Try moving on top."
She slowly opened her eyes, a bead of sweat gathering where her brows were furrowed, her expression growing even more pitiable. Burying her head, she whispered, "Your servant has no strength left..."
He pinched her chin, forcing her to look up, and gripped her waist as he thrust upward forcefully. Seeing her cheeks flush abruptly, he knew she was pretending again. With a fierce glare, he commanded, "Move."
He had doted on her, loved her, indulged her, allowed her to avoid him for months, restrained himself from summoning her to court, and let his longing for her freeze in his heart. Yet, after seeing her tonight, he could no longer control this surging desire. After so long without such intimacy, how dare she claim she had no strength to move?!
She, however, felt a surge of frustration. On the very night of Shen and Di's wedding, he had abducted her into the imperial carriage outside the Di residence to engage in such intimate acts, disregarding the dignity of the Son of Heaven and the attendants outside the carriage, making her lose face along with him. Since he was the one who insisted on seeking pleasure regardless of the setting, why should she be the one to exert effort?
His tyranny was truly unparalleled.
The same could be said of that edict abolishing the Secretariat's authority to deliberate on the empress's appointment—disregarding all the considerations she had previously made for him, he had so directly tarnished his own reputation.
The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she felt. She simply tightened her arms around his neck, imitating him by nibbling his earlobe, and moved one hand down to caress his chest. Softly, she murmured, "How does Your Majesty wish your servant to move..." Her lower abdomen contracted gently yet deeply, clamping down on him tightly.His brows suddenly tightened, and he clamped an arm around her waist, abruptly withdrawing from her.
The arm holding her trembled slightly as he breathed heavily for a long while before grabbing some clothing to wipe away the mess between their legs.
Her face flushed again.
Though she had deliberately intended to make him finish quickly, he had always been self-controlled and precise at critical moments—never so perilously close to the edge as tonight.
Holding her, the desire in his eyes still hadn't faded. "You got your wish. Are you pleased?"
Recognizing his expression, she feared he might restrain her for another round, so she averted her gaze to avoid provoking him and changed the subject: "If Your Majesty truly wishes to grant my desire, why abolish the Secretariat's authority to deliberate on the empress appointment?"
He remained silent, his hands idly caressing her.
She dodged slightly and continued, "Although court officials currently fear Your Majesty's power and dare not oppose, and those coveting high positions in the Hall of State Affairs seize the chance to flatter, does Your Majesty not care how future historians will judge this act?"
His movements paused briefly, his eyebrows sharply raised, yet his gaze probed her with feigned nonchalance. "Should I reward you for daring to offer blunt admonitions during such a beautiful night?"
She choked, speechless.
The deed was done; her remonstrance came too late. What use was speaking now?
She merely resented his autocratic decision to not discuss it with her beforehand...
This thought startled her profoundly.
He was the infinitely noble Emperor—why would he need her consent for his decisions? Offering counsel was her duty, but how could she entertain such presumptuous notions? Just because he treated her well, did she actually think her status had elevated?
As if reading her mind, his gaze sharpened. "Since the court officials regard me as a resolute and discerning ruler, they should know that resoluteness favors decisive action while discernment favors particular scrutiny. Even enlightened rulers have moments of unilateral decisions and focused inspections. History won't judge an entire reign based on this single matter." He reached out to touch her face, a faint smile curling his lips. "Besides, would you truly wish to see me enthrone another as empress?"
She lowered her eyes. "I would, of course."
But he pressed her head down, fingers threading through her sweat-damp hair to cradle her skull, and murmured two words: "Deceiving your sovereign."
She grew frantic, tilting her head back to break free from his grasp, and stared at him as she rapid-fired: "Does Your Majesty think I covet the empress's position?"
What a joke.
She knew exactly what status and reputation she possessed! To secure a place beneath his throne was already enough—when had she ever hoped to stand by his side? Since it was an unattainable aspiration, she would never scheme for it.
Claiming complete indifference to his harem would be false, but she possessed self-awareness: she understood his love for her wasn't due to girlish charms. If she wanted to assist him further, standing beside him ultimately paled compared to serving beneath him. Given this, how could she not strategize to climb faster?
She wasn't so imprudent, nor so aloof. From drafting imperial edicts to joining the Hall of State Affairs—this was the dream of every civil official, and she was no exception. Currently holding the title of Drafter of Imperial Edicts and overseeing Ministry of Personnel evaluations, she well knew that the distance from Drafter to Deputy Chief Administrator might seem short, but beyond the drafting rank, each step upward was immensely difficult.How tempting was Gu Qin's proposal that day? If the candidate had not been Shen Zhili, and if this matter had not involved Di Nian's desire to seek an imperial decree for marriage, she might well have agreed to Gu Qin's offer.
Her every calculation on the abacus was for his sake, yet he believed her motive for stirring up such turmoil was merely to prevent another from being appointed empress?
The thought sparked a flame of anger that crackled within her heart.
Though furious, she could not possibly vent this rage at him. If he wouldn't even answer a simple question, how could she confront him about anything else?
He too suppressed his slight smile, studying her expression for a long moment before realizing she was upset with him. The corners of his mouth curved upward again as he cupped her face and said, "Meng Tinghui, your ministerial audacity grows by the day. Even if you're angry with me, you ought to maintain some composure."
His words struck her like a clanging bell, jolting her awake.
She felt a small shock in her heart, suddenly realizing she had forgotten the propriety between ruler and subject. She constantly claimed to desire nothing, yet what was she angry about now?
His indulgence toward her had already been excessive—so much so that it made her apprehensive.
She immediately composed her expression, forcing a faint smile as she softly said, "How could this subject dare be angry with Your Majesty? It's just that there is one matter I have never reported to Your Majesty. I originally thought it insignificant, but tonight I realized its importance." She paused slightly, seeing him listening with a furrowed brow, then continued, "When Minister Gu privately met with me that day, he said if I refrained from involving myself in the Secretariat's deliberations about appointing an empress, he and the other Chief Administrators would nominate me for the positions of Supervising Secretary and Associate Commissioner of the Privy Council."
She intentionally omitted half of Gu Qin's words and altered them slightly, not wishing to further embarrass Gu Qin. These fragmented words should suffice to make him understand how trapped she had been between a rock and a hard place.
She expected him to show some surprise upon hearing this, but he merely raised an eyebrow slightly and murmured, "Why would you need to tell me?"
Now she was the surprised one. Did this... didn't this mean he had long understood her thoughts?
Then why had he still abolished the Secretariat's authority to deliberate on the empress appointment?
Before she could ponder further, he embraced her more tightly and said casually, "In your heart, do you wish to enter the Privy Council?"
This was the first time he had spoken to her about civil officials entering the Privy Council, and in such an intimate setting too. It made her somewhat uneasy, uncertain whether to answer his casual question honestly or divert the conversation from such important military and state matters.
Her hesitation betrayed her completely—before she could respond, he could already see that she desired the position in her heart.
Yet clearly, it wasn't out of particular interest in military affairs, but rather attracted by the opportunity to enter the Privy Council and the prestige of the Associate Commissioner position.
Though he understood her motives, this didn't hinder his decision.
The relationship between veteran officials of the Privy Council and the Hall of State Affairs had long been strained. Whenever major military and state matters required joint deliberation between the two councils, their opinions frequently diverged. Over time, this led to the Hall of State Affairs avoiding military affairs while the Privy Council stayed out of court politics. Although this somewhat eased tensions between the two councils, should sudden military unrest or national crisis occur, the two councils would inevitably fail to reach swift agreement, thereby delaying crucial responses to chaos—the recent Willow Banner Imperial Guards mutiny served as a prime example.
Allowing civil officials to participate in Privy Council military affairs aimed to change the current dynamic between the two councils. Those who entered the Privy Council now would eventually take positions in the Hall of State Affairs, thus gradually easing relations between the two councils and enabling them to openly deliberate military and state matters together.However, this reform was a major undertaking, affecting not only the court system but also involving the most senior and prominent civil and military officials in the court. Who should be selected for the Privy Council—someone who would not only satisfy the Chief Administrators in the Hall of State Affairs but also reassure the veteran generals in the Privy Council about military affairs?
Although Meng Tinghui’s reputation was somewhat tarnished, her political achievements in the court were undeniable. Since the Xu Ting incident, no civil official of the second rank or above dared to criticize her openly. Moreover, whenever she was promoted, the young and newly appointed scholars who had passed the reformed examinations felt a shared sense of pride, something the old ministers could not afford to underestimate.
Most importantly, during her previous mission to quell the Imperial Army rebellion in the Chaoan North Circuit, she had earned the goodwill of many Imperial Guards officers. Furthermore, when he had intentionally taken her to the training grounds to practice archery and horsemanship, it was clear that the veteran generals in the Privy Council held no animosity toward her.
Moreover, she had recently done favors for Di Nian and Shen Zhili. The status of the late Duke Wu, Di Feng, and Madam Zeng in the eyes of the Privy Council’s veteran generals went without saying—after this, they would undoubtedly regard her as one of their own.
He understood these reasons, and presumably, Gu Qin did as well.
Otherwise, given Gu Qin’s decades of adherence to court regulations and stubbornness in officialdom, how could he have casually promised her such a thing?
Although Gu Qin had agreed to nominate her for the Privy Council, the other Chief Administrators in the Hall of State Affairs were not so easily persuaded.
She thought Gu Qin intended to use a high-ranking position to make her back down, unaware that it was merely his strategy to ensure the other Chief Administrators raised no objections.
Gu Qin had been loyal to the sovereign his entire life, and after decades in court, there was little he failed to see through. Although Gu Qin always had his best interests at heart, he was too rigid, unaware that the matter of appointing an empress was something he could not allow others to influence.
This had nothing to do with wisdom or folly.
Sooner or later, the court officials would come to understand that Meng Tinghui was destined to stand by his side, and that the position of empress beside him was one only she had the capability to occupy.
She believed he had spared Gu Qin’s position as Chief Administrator because of her plea, unaware that such a loyal minister was someone he would inevitably protect. Yet, her maneuver had been clever, at least tempering Gu Qin’s obstinacy somewhat, ensuring he would act less rigidly and uncompromisingly in the future.
It also saved him some trouble.
His gaze traced the contours of her brows and eyes as he lost himself in thought.
After a long while, she pouted childishly, looked up at him, and whispered, “To be honest, Your Majesty, I do wish to join the Privy Council. Would you blame me for being overly ambitious?”
He studied her expression, suppressing a smile, and asked solemnly, “Tell me, why do you wish to join the Privy Council?”
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her voice grew even softer. “Your Majesty has placed great emphasis on the Privy Council’s military affairs in recent years. If I could hold a high position there, I wouldn’t need to seek an audience in the Forbidden Palace to see you from time to time…”
His heart stirred unexpectedly, though his expression remained unchanged. He reached out to help her roll up her sleeves and dress, replying calmly, “Very well, you may join the Privy Council.”
She seemed doubtful. “If Your Majesty orders me to join the Privy Council, the Chief Administrators in the Hall of State Affairs will not agree.”
Continuing to help her dress, he replied nonchalantly, “I will say it was Gu Qin who nominated you.”
She was speechless. This… this… She glanced at him again. Though his face showed no hint of jest, his tone was far too casual, as if he weren’t scheming behind someone’s back.
But upon second thought, his idea was truly ingenious.If it were said to be Gu Qin's proposal, given his current situation, it would be impossible for him to deny it openly in court. Meanwhile, the other Chief Administrators aspiring to the position of Right Minister would not defy the emperor's will at this moment.
Only after he had gathered her scattered garments and dressed her did she seem to regain her composure, giving a slight nod.
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