The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

As the summer heat dissipated and autumn deepened, the people who had spent the summer in the imperial palace returned to the capital.

Two incidents have been making headlines in Beijing recently.

First, after King Cheng Xie Xuancheng successfully controlled the floods in Yuzhou and returned to the capital, he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Originally, the Crown Prince proposed in court that he be sent to the Ministry of Works, which was a lucrative position, but Xie Xuancheng pleaded his case and insisted on being transferred to the Ministry of Justice.

He reported that he had witnessed the hardships faced by the people of Yuzhou, and the difficulty in seeking redress for their grievances. He expressed his willingness to take charge of criminal matters and redress the grievances of the people.

Secondly, there was the grand wedding of Prince Cheng and He Qinghui, the eldest daughter of the He family.

On the day of the wedding, the wedding procession unexpectedly ran into a funeral procession.

According to etiquette, funerals should yield to weddings, and there is no reason for a prince to back down.

However, upon hearing that the person in the coffin was Xu Gong, a man of great virtue in the capital, King Cheng immediately reined in his horse and said, "Xu Gong is a man of high moral character who has helped countless people. It is only right that I, the king, step aside."

Then he ordered the red sedan chair to move aside so that the funeral procession could proceed first.

Some people have expressed their opinions, saying that this move might disrupt the festive atmosphere and bring bad luck.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xuancheng calmly replied, "Ghosts, gods, good fortune, and misfortune are all illusions. One should only act with a clear conscience; why fear what others say?"

Upon hearing this, the praise from the public only increased, with everyone saying that King Cheng was benevolent, righteous, and not arrogant about power.

Inside the study of the Eastern Palace, the air was filled with the faint scent of ink.

Shen Tinghe sat upright behind the desk, suspending his wrist to wield the brush, writing with composure.

Crown Prince Xie Yanzhao stood to one side, holding a Xuanbi ancient inkstone in his hand, slowly grinding ink with elegant and focused movements.

The guard Jing Cang stood below and reported the details of King Cheng's wedding ceremony one by one.

After Jing Cang finished speaking, a faint sneer crossed Xie Yanzhao's lips, his eyes as cold as a deep autumn pool.

His younger brother, the emperor, has now abandoned his facade of gentleness and humility, revealing a hint of his sharpness.

However, this method of winning people's hearts is rather superficial.

Xie Yanzhao saw it clearly: Xie Xuancheng's various actions were nothing more than knowing that his position as the Crown Prince was as solid as a rock.

As long as his elder brother, the emperor, was around, he had no chance of ascending to the throne, so he turned his attention to cultivating the reputation of a "wise prince" in order to establish himself.

Xie Yanzhao could almost predict what to do next.

Shen Tinghe continued writing, only letting out a soft hum from her throat, the last syllable rising slightly with a hint of disdain.

Shen Tinghe then put down her pen and asked Jing Cang, "Why is all the praise directed at Prince Cheng? A wedding is clearly a matter between two people. Didn't the bride, He Qinghui, sitting in the sedan chair have the magnanimity to 'yield'? Why is no one praising the 'bride's noble character'?"

Jing Cang was taken aback, then replied truthfully, "Your Highness, the rumors circulating in the streets are indeed concentrated on Prince Cheng."

Shen Tinghe gave an almost inaudible scoff and lowered her eyes.

This is how the world often behaves, magnifying men's words and actions to an extreme degree and treating them as the ultimate standard, while quietly erasing the existence and will of women, as if they were merely a silent background in this grand performance.

If she hadn't been born into the Shen family, with her parents loving each other equally, and Xie Yanzhao showing her his wholehearted love and utmost respect, she really didn't know if she could have stayed in this ancient world for so long.

Xie Yanzhao was very perceptive and noticed her low spirits.

He waved his hand imperceptibly, and Jing Cang immediately bowed and withdrew, closing the study door behind him.

Only the two of them remained inside.

Xie Yanzhao put down the ink stick, and very naturally reached out to take Shen Tinghe's hand into his palm, gently pulling it away.

Shen Tinghe fell into his arms and was held securely as they sat on the large rosewood chair.

"What's wrong? Yuan Yuan, what's making you unhappy?" He gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips, his voice deep and resonant.

Shen Tinghe pressed her face against his warm neck: "It's not that I'm unhappy... it's just that I suddenly feel that Xie Xuancheng's behavior seems a bit hypocritical."

"When that Mr. Xu was alive, I never heard of him having any special interactions or providing any assistance. After he died, giving way once became a golden signboard for demonstrating great righteousness? Besides, according to ancient etiquette, when people meet on the road, the funeral should give way to the wedding. If I were the bride in that bridal sedan chair, I would definitely feel uncomfortable..."

He ignored his wife's feelings for a complete stranger.

This is not true respect for the deceased; it is clearly using the wedding ceremony of the living and the dignity of the bride as a stepping stone for personal fame and gain.

Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly engulfed by a warm breath.

Without warning, Xie Yanzhao lowered his head and captured her lips in his mouth.

The kiss came suddenly, and even carried a hint of punishment.

He first sucked hard on her lower lip, and when she cried out in pain, his tongue invaded her mouth forcefully, unlike his usual gentle and tender touch. Instead, it swept over every part of her mouth with a bit of force.

Caught off guard by the kiss, Shen Tinghe's breath hitched instantly. Her hands, which had been pushing him away, were easily caught, leaving her no choice but to passively endure the sudden assault.

When he finally released her, her eyes were already red-rimmed, glistening with moisture, and her voice was soft and delicate: "What...what are you doing...?"

Xie Yanzhao's eyes were deep and unfathomable, carrying a lingering sense of danger. His fingertips traced the corner of her moist lips, his voice low and husky.

"Whose bride would you be?"

Shen Tinghe was taken aback, then suddenly realized that the slight annoyance she felt at his rude behavior was instantly replaced by a feeling of being both amused and annoyed.

This man's jealousy was so irrational, yet... it softened her heart.

She stretched out her arms and gently wrapped them around his neck, leaning closer like a playful kitten, her gesture conveying a sense of comfort.

Light, delicate kisses landed on his tightly pursed lips, his slightly furrowed brows, and his sharply defined cheeks.

Each touch was gentle and devout.

She breathed heavily, her nose brushing against his, her breath sweet as orchids, "Of course I am my husband's bride."

The tense, dangerous aura surrounding Xie Yanzhao slowly dissipated because of her words and her proactive intimacy.

He gave a soft hum, which was a way of accepting this "pleasing."

Recalling her incisive analysis of Xie Xuancheng, Xie Yanzhao couldn't help but smile with genuine approval as he twirled a strand of her hair around his fingertips.

"My Yuan Yuan is unusually intelligent today."

Finally, I saw through Xuanxuan's carefully crafted facade.

Shen Tinghe: "What do you mean by 'today'? I've always been smart, okay!"

Suddenly, she thought of something, her expression turned serious, and she cupped Xie Yanzhao's face in her hands, making him look into her eyes.

Her clear eyes reflected a clarity and determination that transcended that of women confined to their chambers in this era.

"Xie Yanzhao, listen carefully. Since you love me, you must give me complete respect. I want to be your wife, standing shoulder to shoulder with you, on equal footing. In the future, when you ascend to the throne, I will be your empress. This world will naturally be shared equally between you and me."

In fact, there was no need for her to say it. Xie Yanzhao's daily treatment of her had long exceeded the "respect" and "care" that should be given to a wife or even an empress in this era.

He indulged her, gave her special privileges, listened to her voice, and cherished her. How could Shen Tinghe not feel it?

But now that the matter has been brought up, she wants to make it even clearer.