TFWYH – Chapter 265 Staying to Freeload

He still remembered the day Su Qing left, when she held his hand and said,
“I know Your Majesty’s difficulties, and I know how hard Your Majesty works. In this lifetime, I don’t know whether I’ll ever be able to see Your Majesty again, but Your Majesty—please put the people first in all things, put the realm and the state above all else. I am not aggrieved at all.”

People all said that he favored Su Qing—how could he not cherish such a Su Qing?

He was the emperor, but he was also a man!

Yet every woman in the palace treated him as the emperor, as heaven itself, and never as her own man.

Only Su Qing thought of everything from his perspective, understood his hardship and helplessness.

What the emperor did not know was that this, too, was Su Qing’s brilliance.

To not contend was itself a form of contention—this principle, she understood perfectly.

She knew all too well that her husband was the emperor. No matter how she made a fuss, it would be useless and would instead provoke his displeasure.

Powerless to change anything, she could only rely on the emperor’s pity to secure a place in his heart.

The emperor knew even less that at every moment, Su Qing was constantly gauging his thoughts, treading on thin ice within the palace.

Otherwise, how could a merchant’s daughter have risen to become one of the four consorts?

The emperor patted her hand and continued, “The edict conferring your title has already been drafted. When you return this time, you will be Noble Consort Li. As for Su Yuan, he’s already advanced in age—there’s nowhere for me to promote him even if I wished to. However, I’ve heard that your nephew is quite learned and is already a Tongsheng. If he can make it to the end, I will make an exception for him.”

Su Qing was stunned when she heard this, and immediately her face filled with worry.
“Your Majesty, let’s forget it. It’s better to have fewer matters than more. Being able to accompany Your Majesty again already leaves me deeply content. I truly dare not harbor any other thoughts.”

The more she behaved this way, the more the emperor felt that she was sensible, and the more his heart ached for her.
“Enough. My decision is made. This matter is settled. As for Wan’er, I’ll have to go back and think it over carefully.”

“But Your Majesty, if that’s the case—”

“Alright. You, don’t always worry about other things. I am the emperor—if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up. Do you think those people would really dare rebel? It’s because your backing isn’t strong enough that you’ve been bullied. I’ll support you—let’s see who dares bully you again in the future!”

“Your Majesty, you treat me so well…”

Su Qing leaned into the emperor’s embrace, a cold glint flashing across her eyes.

A man’s words—just listen to them and that’s that!

In any case, she had already obtained what she wanted.

The position of Empress!

Empress—just you wait!

This consort will be back very soon!

—

When Ji Wushuang drove the carriage and sent Tang Wan home, the mother and her two children were all at home.

Seeing Tang Wan get down from Ji Wushuang’s carriage, they were instantly stunned.

Ling Yue’s little face flushed red. She glanced at Ji Wushuang, then quickly withdrew her gaze.
“Sister-in-law, this is…?”

“Ji Wushuang—from the Su residence,” Tang Wan replied casually. Her nose twitched, and her eyes lit up. “Hotpot?”

Ling Yue smiled and nodded. “Mother said it was to satisfy your cravings! Not only hotpot—I also made the milk tea you like!”

“Good girl!” Tang Wan rubbed her little head and immediately rushed into the kitchen.

Jiang-shi was startled and hurried after her. “Wan’er, it’s not ready yet—don’t touch anything, I’ll do it!”

Ji Wushuang also caught the spicy fragrance filling the courtyard, and his mouth instantly began to water.

Ling Yue looked at him, her face slightly red, and asked,
“Thank you, sir, for sending my sister-in-law home. Why don’t you… stay and have a simple meal?”

Normally it wouldn’t have mattered, but the smell was just too tempting.

Ji Wushuang really wanted to try it, so he cupped his hands with a thick face and said,
“Then I’ll trouble you!”