Chapter 547 - 325: Then I’ll Roll Up My Sleeves and Get to It

Chapter 547: Chapter 325: Then I’ll Roll Up My Sleeves and Get to It

Feng Yi’s brow furrowed. He had no desire to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Whenever her birthday was celebrated, the Gu’en Houfu would surely get ideas, and the thought alone was vexing.

Song Yunzhao looked at Feng Yi and said, "Princess Fuke’s eldest son was ennobled as the Changning Marquis. If the Empress Dowager’s birthday is passed over again, I’m afraid the court censors will start submitting memorials."

Feng Yi’s expression darkened.

Song Yunzhao didn’t care about the Empress Dowager’s face, but she had to think of Feng Yi now. "Besides, the birthday banquet wasn’t held last year. The Empress Dowager refused on the grounds that she had just returned to the palace and wanted some peace and quiet, but she definitely won’t do the same this year. Rather than letting unpleasant rumors spread, it would be better for the Emperor to take the initiative."

Feng Yi scoffed, "I don’t even celebrate my own birthday."

’So passive-aggressive,’ Song Yunzhao thought with a smile. "You don’t celebrate your birthday to save the National Treasury money, Your Majesty. But the Empress Dowager is your birth mother, after all. How can you let her feel wronged?"

Feng Yi said with a sullen face, "I never celebrated my birthday, even when I was little."

Upon hearing this, Song Yunzhao squeezed Feng Yi’s hand tightly. "Then from now on, I’ll be with you. I’ll celebrate your birthday with you every year."

In the two or three years since she entered the palace, Song Yunzhao really hadn’t celebrated Feng Yi’s birthday. Something always seemed to come up, and she honestly hadn’t given it much thought. After all, she didn’t even pay much attention to her own birthday.

Thinking about it, Song Yunzhao realized she wasn’t one for ceremony. She always felt it was enough to just get through the days. Fussing over such things was troublesome, laborious, and expensive.

’But I didn’t expect Feng Yi to have such a hang-up about it. My strategy must have been lacking.’

’I have to change that!’

The Empress Dowager’s birthday was in the tenth month. Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao. "Can you get the palace affairs in order before then?"

"It shouldn’t be a problem," Song Yunzhao estimated. "With the dismissal silver you approved, things are going much more smoothly. The first batch of palace attendants left with hardly a sound. The second batch, however, will be more difficult. Those who have been punished or have poor records... it’s fine if they want to leave, but I’m afraid the ones who don’t will likely cause trouble."

"Are you confident you can handle it?" Feng Yi asked.

"That depends on how much authority Your Majesty gives me," Song Yunzhao replied.

Feng Yi laughed. "As long as you don’t violate palace regulations, you can do as you see fit. And even if you do go against the rules, as long as your actions are fair and reasonable, I will back you up. Don’t be afraid."

"Then I’ll roll up my sleeves and get right to it."

Feng Yi laughed heartily. The phrase "rolling up my sleeves" was quite vivid.

With that playful remark, Feng Yi’s mood lightened. He knew Yun Zhao had brought up the Empress Dowager’s birthday for his own good. Otherwise, given her relationship with the Empress Dowager, she would probably wish the old woman never had another birthday in her life.

’If a young woman like Yun Zhao can be so mindful of the bigger picture, how can I, the great Emperor, fail to do the same?’

After having dinner at Yaohua Palace, Feng Yi first went next door to see his son. Song Yunzhao, on the other hand, still had some palace affairs to attend to. Now that she held power over the palace, she had many more things to do.

Consort Shu was an unruly sort, and Princess Consort Wan was lazy. The Six Departments were always trying to stir up trouble and reclaim authority over the palace. Therefore, Yun Zhao had to be exceedingly cautious in everything she did.

Leave no openings in the minor details, and show no mercy when the great axe falls.

By the time she finished her work, Feng Yi had already coaxed their son to sleep.

Of course, Song Yunzhao loved seeing the father and son so close. But in ancient times, the custom was for fathers to hold their grandsons but not their own sons. She hadn’t expected Feng Yi to disregard such things.

’As expected of a male lead. He really is different.’

"The wet nurse said he was being disobedient today, wetting his pants on purpose. We’ve had to change him seven or eight times," Song Yunzhao complained. ’He’s developing a mischievous streak at such a young age, throwing a tantrum just because I’ve been too busy with palace affairs to spend much time with him these past few days.’

Listening to Yun Zhao’s complaints, Feng Yi’s eyes crinkled with a smile. ’His son was indeed as clever as he was. If you were unhappy, you had to make it known. And if you couldn’t say it, you had to show it.’

"If you get too busy to look after him, I’ll have Meng Jiuchang bring him to Taixi Hall tomorrow," Feng Yi said.

Song Yunzhao: ...

"That... won’t be necessary, will it?"

’I refuse.’

’The tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be blown down by the wind. Even if Feng Ze is the Emperor’s only son right now, he can’t be treated in such an extraordinary manner.’

Feng Yi had recently taken a great liking to teasing Feng Ze, making a point to do so every day. The more he thought about it, the better his idea seemed. "It’s settled then. You focus on your work, and I’ll manage our son."

Song Yunzhao: ...

Just as she was about to object, Feng Yi swept her up and carried her behind the bed curtains.

’Ever since her body had fully recovered, this man had started collecting his interest. He was in the prime of his youth and strength, and with no other women around, he focused all that energy on her.’

’However, Song Yunzhao had no intention of having two children in three years. So, after discussing it with Feng Yi, she was now taking a medicinal decoction prescribed by the Imperial Physician. It was gentler and less harmful to her body than the usual contraceptive soups.’

’The two of them were very compatible in bed. Back when she had first begun to serve him, he had found that *Fireproof Map*. He never hid his interest in such things from her. She had no idea where the Emperor found all those outlandish things, but as soon as the curtains fell, he would start his mischief with her.’

’Song Yunzhao felt there was a lot of truth to a certain saying: if you keep the person you share a pillow with well-fed and satisfied, he naturally won’t spare a glance for anyone else.’

’Besides, she enjoyed it too. The most important thing was to keep Feng Yi firmly within her territory.’

’As for being shy... Feng Yi, the Emperor himself, wasn’t embarrassed, so what did she have to be afraid of?’

The two of them were at it for half the night. While Song Yunzhao was still sleeping soundly, Feng Yi had to get up for the morning court session.

Meng Jiuchang was already used to this. Ever since Lady Ming had ascended to the rank of *Fei*, she rarely woke up early to see the Emperor off to morning court.

He led his men in deftly serving the Emperor as he washed and dressed, all of them on tiptoe so as not to make a sound, terrified of disturbing the one inside. ’Who could possibly understand my suffering?’

More than an hour after Feng Yi left, Song Yunzhao finally woke up. She sat up, rubbing her lower back, then draped an inner robe over herself before finally getting out of bed. ’With all these red marks on her body, she still had some sense of shame.’

Song Yunzhao had just finished breakfast when the wet nurse brought Feng Ze over. She took her son, and the little one kicked his legs, trying to climb up her stomach. Startled, she quickly pulled him into her arms. ’After being tossed about by his father all night, my arms feel weak; I can’t handle his rambunctious energy.’

Feng Ze was now quite adept at rolling over. If you put him on the large daybed, he could roll from one end to the other and then back again. He had a blast doing it every day and never seemed to get bored.

Song Yunzhao played with him for a while, the mother and son babbling back and forth. Everyone in the room was doubled over with laughter.

"My Lady, Feng Xiaoyuan is here," Xiangxue entered and reported.

Song Yunzhao said, "Quickly invite her in. Did she come alone?"

"Yes."

Song Yunzhao picked up Feng Ze, gave him a kiss, and then handed him to the wet nurse. Nanny Qi quickly reached out, took the Eldest Prince, and carried him out.

Feng Ze let out an unhappy "AWOO," opened his mouth, and was about to cry. Nanny Qi, with great skill, produced a gilded ball. A single shake produced a clear, crisp sound, and with that, she coaxed him away.