It’s hard to break a phoenix’s destiny

Chapter 492: Ending in Dandy Joy

Even though he acted extremely magnanimous in front of Yang Xianrong, Sima Chi was still very angry when he returned to Hanyue Palace. He even threw a lot of things before he felt a little better.

He gnashed his teeth and said, "I am already the emperor, why can't I do whatever I want? That old man Sima Yue is not here either. He is just a minister. Why does he care so much?"

The steward Yang who served him has died, and the others are all submissive. They can take care of his daily life, but there is really no one who can have a say.

Several newly promoted court officials knelt by the side and could only bow their heads and remain silent, listening to Sima Chi's temper. However, one court official named Ma secretly glanced at Sima Chi and observed his every move.

Sima Chi was still angry, "From now on, anyone who dares to go against my will will be cut into pieces!"

This sentence was a bit harsh, and it frightened everyone so much that they trembled again.

Du Jian, who was about to serve tea and cakes at the door, also knelt down at the door and did not dare to go in. However, he was quite happy. After all, Yang, the chief steward who had been oppressing him, had died. The vacant chief steward was a great position, which allowed him to serve the emperor and say a few words from time to time, and influence the government... Then, if anyone wanted to do anything, they would have to go through the chief steward. If he could do this... When he thought of this, he was secretly excited and trembled. He felt that if he could achieve this goal in this life, he would be worthy of his ancestors and the things he had lost even after his death.

The days pass one by one, and New Year's Eve is approaching.

The war stopped due to the cold weather and the court became a little calmer.

Because of the presence of the Liang family, Sima Chi went to Taiji Hall less often. He meant that Taiji Hall was too cold and he didn't want to go.

However, in such a heavy snow, he still had the mood to stand by Yingliu Lake and enjoy the scenery. This is the most unique scenery of Luoyang Imperial Palace. Even in the cold weather, Yingliu Lake is still not frozen. The underground river below is connected to Luoshui and is still flowing. Against the backdrop of the white snow on the shore, this dark green lake is like a large piece of emerald that can shine in the sun. The willow trees with only dead branches shivering in the cold wind give the illusion of a weak beauty.

Sima Chi was fascinated by this kind of scenery and often stood here in a daze on sunny afternoons.

There was a faint sound of stringed instruments, and Sima Chi's ears moved.

Ma Shizhong immediately stepped forward and whispered, "The Ministry of Rites has specially arranged some performances for the New Year's Eve banquet. Many new singers from the Luoyang Music Bureau are practicing in the Pear Blossom Garden."

"Wasn't the Lihua Garden previously home to the concubines and beauties of the previous emperor?" Sima Chi asked.

"Those people...actually, there are not many left. Some of them are still in Jinyong City, and some are arranged by Queen Hui to Tianyuan Palace and Xianyang Palace. She said that these two places are big, and she can have these women to keep her company and won't feel too lonely." Ma Shizhong replied immediately.

"Oh, I remember now." Sima Chi nodded. Liang Lanbi told him about this. She said that Yang Xianrong didn't want to disturb the emperor because of such a small matter, so she discussed it with Queen Liang and took the people over.

For Liang Lanbi, this was a great thing. Because she was now the "commander" of the harem, and had been tortured by the beauties Sima Chi had brought in to "educate" them every day, and she had no energy to manage the women of the previous emperor. So, she agreed to whatever Yang Xianrong said.

Sima Chi and Ma Shizhong talked as they walked. There was still a lot of snow on the road, making it slippery, so they walked very slowly.

But just as he was approaching the Pear Blossom Garden, he saw someone struggling in the haystack a few feet away. The reason why I used this word is because his image was very indecent: he was running around in the haystack, sticking his butt out towards the emperor, and shouting, "Ah, I caught him! I don't believe it, I can't cure him! Tsk, tsk, tsk, I finally caught him! If you don't listen, I will rip your hair off and chop off your feet, and stew you into a nourishing chicken soup for the emperor to replenish his body!"

"Who is it!" Ma Shizhong shouted. The eunuchs and guards serving Sima Chi also quietly prepared themselves.

However, the person who heard the shouting in the dry grass had already crawled out. Covered with dry grass and white snow, he looked very embarrassed, which made people laugh.

Sima Chi smiled, and the people serving him also let down their guard.

This was Du Jian, the tea steward. He had hurriedly knelt down in front of Sima Chi, kowtowed and begged for mercy: "I was wrong. I didn't know the emperor was coming. I disturbed the emperor. I deserve to die!"

But Sima Chi's attention was all focused on the living creature in his hands.

This turned out to be a fighting cock.

Small head, thin and tight scalp. Long face slope, fine hair. Deep red crown is tumor-like, and the wattles are no longer obvious. The beak is short, thick and curved... This is not a common thing.

Sima Chi's eyes lit up, because he loved cockfighting the most. Before he became emperor, he spent all day fighting cocks in his mansion for fun. If he hadn't become emperor and was trembling with fear in order to survive, he would have put this matter aside.

Now, the fighting cock in Du Jian's hand immediately aroused his interest.

"Your Majesty, this is the one I raised secretly... Your Majesty, please spare my life." Du Jian kowtowed again immediately. The fighting cock in his hand was struggling hard, trying to break free from his control, and even intended to peck his arm.

Sima Chi was also an expert. He immediately reached out and grabbed the fighting cock's long neck, making it unable to move.

Du Jian quickly hugged its wings tightly and held it in his arms. "Your Majesty, please don't kill it. It is the most powerful chicken in Luoyang City in recent days. It is called Red Phoenix and can be said to be invincible in Luoyang City."

"Oh? So powerful?" Sima Chi turned the fighting cock's head towards himself and looked at it carefully.

This fighting cock has a strong physique, a long body, a long neck, a well-developed chest, light feathers, and a red beak... "It is invincible in Luoyang City? I don't believe it!"

"It's true, absolutely true! I'm not afraid of your punishment... I really have earned ten taels of silver with it, just from the earthen platform over on the East Suburb Road." Du Jian said anxiously.

"Cockfighting on the East Suburb Road, horses galloping in the long corridor. In the past, the King of Zhao also won ten thousand taels of gold in Youdu with a red phoenix like this, but there has been no red phoenix since then." Sima Chi understood this very well and even quoted a poem, "Cockfighting mustard wings compete for heroes, and double-spur sharp swords show off their power."

At this time, not only Du Jian looked up at Sima Chi with great admiration, but even Ma Shizhong beside him flattered him in a timely manner, saying, "Your Majesty is so eloquent! I admire you so much!"

"Haha, I was just saying it casually." Sima Chi was in a very good mood. "What? How about letting it fight?"

"Ah this..." Du Jian was very embarrassed.