pdf-ebookys Chapter 1951 Giving a Bad Idea
Chapter 1951 Giving a Bad Idea
Zhou Shiyue was talking to Lu Zhaoling about things in the palace, related to the throne. It couldn't be entirely gossip, but the way he was talking about it made it sound like he had some personal worries.
He told Lu Zhaoling about his troubles, but he didn't seem particularly heavy-hearted.
The main problem was that he genuinely couldn't find anyone to talk to about these things before. Talking to his subordinates? The Qing members felt it was inappropriate given their status; even the most outgoing Qing Lin hadn't dared to speak ill of the Emperor and Empress before.
After all, there are many things that Zhou Shiyue can say, but they can't say them.
As for the retired emperor back then, he also wanted his family to live in harmony. Although he was fair in rewarding and punishing most of the time, his main goal was to smooth things over.
In front of Zhou Ze, he had to maintain the demeanor of an elder to put Zhou Ze at ease.
Therefore, the only person who would listen to him speak like that is Lu Zhaoling. So much so that Zhou Shiyue himself doesn't realize he's become far more relaxed in front of Lu Zhaoling.
"Wouldn't Zhou Ze be very upset to hear that?" Lu Zhaoling also found these words incomprehensible.
Empress, no, Empress Dowager, what is she thinking?
“How could he not be sad?” Zhou Shiyue sighed, then sneered. “However, having a mother like this, he’s gotten used to it, you could even say he’s become somewhat numb to it.”
Zhou Ze always harbored a sliver of expectation in his heart, but every time he went over, he would practically lean in and let her slap his face.
When I was slapped, I felt pain, and then I had this feeling: Sure enough, sure enough.
I'll go again next time.
“She always manages to shock people again,” Zhou Shiyue said. “But people’s hearts always die eventually, and Zhou Ze is probably close to that point too. After all, no one can be stupid so many times.”
Now that Zhou Zegang has ascended the throne, it can be said that this is the boundary he wants to change.
After becoming emperor, one will face more things, and one's heart will gradually harden. One's emotions will gradually become less tender and easily moved, and one's desires may not be as numerous. The older one gets, the clearer one's understanding of reality becomes.
However, the Empress Dowager should not regret it later, for she has finally lost something.
"It seems your sister-in-law still genuinely likes your brother."
Lu Zhaoling hadn't expected that an empress could have such innocent and pure love; it was probably a rare thing.
"Who wants this kind of affection?" Zhou Shiyue scoffed. "Have you ever seen anyone who truly loves someone and is willing to avoid seeing them for so many years? And then, when they do meet, they're all cold and sarcastic?"
Lu Zhaoling thought about it again, then shook her head. Yes, she didn't want it either.
No one would believe that he genuinely likes her, right?
"And she used to pride herself on being a good mother who cared deeply for her son, but what has she actually done all these years? Has she ever truly done anything for Ah Ze's benefit?"
Even her recent act of moving herself to disrupt his and Zhao Ling's wedding, claiming it was to appease Zhou Ze's marriage proposal, was practically putting Zhou Ze in a very difficult position.
Is this for Zhou Zehao's sake?
She didn't even consider that he and Zhaoling were already married. If she really made a scene, even if he got angry and they broke up, and the marriage was called off, would Zhou Ze still be able to marry Zhaoling?
If he really dares to act so recklessly, isn't he afraid that his royal uncle, who has protected him for many years, will break off relations with him?
If he weren't around, who else would Zhou Ze have by his side?
But after that incident, he didn't hold her accountable, and Zhou Ze also kept quiet about it.
If she were smart, she should lower her stance, focus on recovering, and even if she later became cunning and said she acted impulsively under the influence of the spell without thinking things through, it would at least show some remorse and give both of them a way out. No.
She can still be a good empress dowager in the future.
But now that Zhou Ze has ascended the throne, she feels sorry for her husband whom she has hated for nearly twenty years.
He even angrily rebuked his son for being unfilial.
"Even if she's angry, the coronation ceremony is already over, and Zhou Ze is now the new emperor of the Great Zhou. She can only curse him verbally, right? She should restrain herself after a few curses."
Lu Zhaoling was genuinely curious. "After she's finished scolding him, shouldn't she be happy for Zhou Ze? At least she should say a few words, like, 'After all, he's become emperor now, he should do a good job from now on...'"
"laugh."
Zhou Shiyue couldn't help but laugh.
"If she could say that, then Zhou Ze wouldn't have said he was going to sneak out of the Prince's mansion to drink later. After she finished speaking, she actually gave Zhou Ze an idea."
"What idea?"
What ideas can we come up with at this point?
She said that since things had come to this point, there was no way to change them. However, she suggested that the Emperor could attend to state affairs and make all the major decisions. In this way, everyone would know that he was still in charge of the Great Zhou, and he would save face...
"Pfft!" Lu Zhaoling's eyes widened. "Does she want Zhou Ze to be a puppet emperor with no real power?"
It seems that the new retired emperor is indeed in cahoots with Master Yu, and in the end they both want to make Zhou Ze a puppet.
Although this puppet is not that puppet.
Hearing these words from his own mother, Zhou Ze guessed that the injury was indeed quite serious.
Lu Zhaoling suddenly realized what was happening.
"You mean Zhou Ze is going to sneak out of the palace later?"
Zhou Shiyue nodded. "I've already asked Uncle Yun to prepare the food and wine."
"No, he just ascended the throne today. Is it appropriate for him to sneak out of the palace like this?"
"What's inappropriate about it?"
Zhou Shiyue disagreed, saying, "He has to vent his frustrations."
"So, are you going to have to drink with him tonight?"
“He’s drinking alone, but I’m not,” Zhou Shiyue smiled brightly. “I’m in a great mood.”
That's not his mother.
Even after being scolded and hurt, Zhou still had to live his life. Besides, he had already ascended the throne and should have gotten used to other things by now. If he were to become decadent because of this, he should just get out of here as soon as possible.
It's understandable to just drink alone in silence.
Once he sobers up, he should go about his business.
"Then I'll keep you company tonight?" Lu Zhaoling became interested. "Or I can drink with him. You're still injured, you can't drink."
Zhou Shiyue was stunned.
He can't drink?
He'd forgotten that. Now he's someone who's under someone's control.
“You can sit next to me, and we’ll have Qinglin drink with him.”
Qinglin, who was helping Uncle Yun move the wine, suddenly felt a chill down his back.
That night, the moon was bright and the stars were few.
As expected, the new emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Ze, dressed in a black cloak, quietly entered the back gate of the Prince of Jin's residence.
"The Emperor has arrived."
Qing Xiao's voice was very low; he had been waiting there for a long time.
Zhou Ze himself was taken aback for a moment.
He gave a wry smile, "I haven't gotten used to this form of address yet."
"The Emperor should probably change how he refers to himself," Qingxiao said.
You can no longer refer to yourself as "this palace"; you should now refer to yourself as "I, the emperor."
Zhou Ze said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow. Tonight, I'm still the Crown Prince here, so you can relax a bit."