Chapter 333: Because He Wants To

“Your Majesty, the dinner has been cleared away.”

Chief Eunuch Li Zhongxin bowed and reported, his voice so soft it seemed he feared disturbing the Emperor’s thoughts.

Emperor Jing slightly nodded, his gaze still fixed on the memorial that was just delivered to his desk.

This memorial was sent by Jingzhou Zhizhou Song Peilin, rushed over eight hundred li.

The memorial stated that the General of Jingzhou’s garrison, Su Qi, had also been inexplicably struck dead by lightning, leaving no remains. The Jingzhou Prefecture, along with the garrison, was searching everywhere for suspicious individuals.

The memorial mentioned lightning, mentioned no remains left. Isn’t this exactly like how the Champion Marquis’s family died?

The attack happened within merely two or three days of each other, such precise strikes; is this heaven punishing the Su Family, or is someone secretly targeting the Su Family?

Today, there’s finally some development in the Champion Marquis case. Although the murderer Wei Dabao has been caught, he still needs to be judged by the three divisions before facing execution.

Daring to act against the imperial family, what kind of power could be involved behind this, and what kind of hidden currents will it cause at court, are far from resolved.

If this case was indeed perpetrated by Wei Dabao, then did Mr. Wei know about it? Also, does he have treasonous thoughts? Then his position as Prime Minister…

Alas! Forget it, tomorrow is the diplomatic marriage ceremony. Let’s wait until that beautiful prairie princess enters the palace before dealing with these messy affairs!

The Empress still doesn’t know about Su Qi being struck dead, it’s better not to tell her for now!

“Li Zhongxin,” Emperor Jing suddenly spoke, his voice low and resonant as the evening drum yet with some excitement, “Convey my decree, I’m going to Weiyang Palace.”

Li Zhongxin’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise; tomorrow is the diplomatic marriage ceremony when the Turkic princess enters the palace, yet His Majesty intends to go to the Empress’s palace tonight?

But he dared not speak further and immediately turned to arrange the carriage.

Emperor Jing got up and paced to the window of the Imperial Study Room, pushing open the carved window lattice.

The June night’s breeze carried the fragrant scent of flowers from the Imperial Garden, but it couldn’t dispel the unspeakable worry in his heart.

After much thought, he felt that he should spend tonight with the Empress.

After all, the Empress lost a close relative and has been weeping her eyes out, becoming much haggard over the past few days. Today the Ministry of Justice found the murderer, and both emotionally and rationally, he should inform the Empress.

Most importantly, the Empress has not yet emerged from her grief, and tomorrow is his diplomatic marriage ceremony with the Turkic princess.

And the Empress is his legitimate wife; if he takes a concubine at this time, surely the Empress would be even more saddened.

Tonight, he should stay at the Empress’s Weiyang Palace, talk intimately with her, and help her ease her mind.

In the direction of Weiyang Palace, the lights were dimmer than usual. Ever since the news came of the Empress’s brother’s murder, Weiyang Palace became as silent as still water.

In Emperor Jing’s mind appeared the Empress’s increasingly emaciated face. Those usually calm and smiling almond eyes were now bloodshot, and fine lines had appeared at the corners in just a few days.

Actually, he didn’t need to marry the Turkic princess to pacify the frontiers because the Turkic had already offered compensation and proactively sought peace.

But he liked those amber eyes. He was willing to exchange two million dan of grain and weaving machines, cloth, and other goods for that unique prairie princess to enrich his harem.

Simply because Da Jing is now stronger than the Turkic; he is now the supreme Emperor of Da Jing, and he wants to subjugate the Turkic just as he did Zhao Zun back in the day.

The main point is—he is willing.

“Your Majesty, the carriage is ready,” Li Zhongxin’s voice brought him back to his senses.

The palace path under the moonlight was like a flowing Milky Way.

Emperor Jing sat in the imperial palanquin, unconsciously rubbing his fingers over the dragon pattern carved into the armrest.

He suddenly recalled the Empress’s forced smile when she first heard of his plans for a diplomatic marriage with Princess Yujia.

“Your Majesty need not worry about me.”

She had said this at the time, yet her hands clutched a handkerchief tightly, its edges frayed from being twisted, “Your Majesty is also doing it to stabilize the borders; state affairs are paramount, I…understand.”

The Empress’s feigned strong voice still lingered in his ears, making Emperor Jing feel suffocated.

Suddenly he remembered something and turned to ask Li Zhongxin: “Are the two jugs of wine that Princess Changle sent to the palace still at Weiyang Palace?”

“In answer to Your Majesty, the Empress said that the wine is rare and must be shared with Your Majesty when you arrive at Weiyang Palace. As per your instructions, the two jugs of wine are still kept well at Weiyang Palace.”

“That’s good,” Emperor Jing slightly smiled, “Those wine jugs do indeed have a unique design. With the Empress in a bad mood recently, perhaps those jugs can lift her spirits a little.”

Li Zhongxin nodded, wearing a fawning smile.

“Indeed. Those wine jugs are exquisitely compact, something this old servant has never seen. Once Your Majesty and the Empress enjoy the wine, may this old servant be bold enough to ask if Your Majesty might grant those exquisite wine jugs to me, so I can admire and play with them?”

Emperor Jing gave him a sidelong glance from above, amused, and said, “Granted! Hurry up!”

“Oh!” Li Zhongxin rejoiced, “This old servant thanks Your Majesty, thanks Your Majesty.”

After speaking, Li Zhongxin ordered the palace attendants carrying the sedan to quicken their pace.

As Emperor Jing gazed in the direction of Weiyang Palace, he felt much more at ease.

Since the Empress longed to share a drink with him, tonight he would accompany her for a couple’s drink!