Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 55.2

Chapter 55.2

It was the first time Li Zhi had seen Shen Qingqing in such a state. 

Watching her cry so heartbreakingly made him feel a pang of guilt. Still, he agreed to the draft for her sake.

“Once the selection is over, Grandma won’t bother you anymore,” he said softly, trying to reassure her.

“Oh really? You say you’re choosing concubines for the palace but won’t favour them. Do you really think Grandma won’t interfere anymore? Will she come to you in Qianyuan Palace to ask why, or will she send me to find out why you are holding back? You sound nice now, but when those beautiful concubines arrive, do you honestly think you won’t be tempted? They’re not just going to sit there; they’ll do everything to get your attention. When you’re in the Imperial Garden, they’ll set up chances to run into you. When you’re busy with work, they’ll bring you homemade tonic soup and winter clothes they’ve made. How long do you think you can resist that kind of charm and care?” Her voice was full of sarcasm.

Li Zhi tried to hold back his frustration, but he couldn’t stop saying, “If you don’t join the talent show, you think my grandma will keep bothering you. But if you do participate, you’re still worried about her nagging. What do you want from me? After everything I’ve said, you still don’t trust me.”

He frowned impatiently as he said those words. Although he agreed to fill the harem with women, he vowed not to touch any woman except Shen Qinqing in this life. But it seemed his wife didn’t understand it.

However, Shen Qingqing understood those words from a different perspective. ‘He wants to choose his concubines, yet he is blaming me for not trusting him?’

Shen Qingqing smiled frustratedly.

The frustration she had bottled up for so long finally came out, but looking at the man’s determined look, she found an unexpected sense of calm. 

She pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped her tears, then said with a steady voice, “I won’t question the emperor. If you wish to select a concubine, then go ahead; I will follow your command.”

Her anger had faded.

‘No one is to blame, and it’s my mistake for placing too much trust in Li Zhi too quickly.’

Now she was ready to correct that and show him the respect he deserved as emperor. When he came to the palace, she would serve him, bear his children, and raise them as a mother. If he chose to favour others, that was his decision, not hers.

Though Shen Qingqing appeared composed, Li Zhi felt a wave of anger rising within him.

After all his explanations and assurances that he wouldn’t touch the concubines, she still doubted him and continued to mock him sarcastically! 

It seemed he had indulged her for too long, and she no longer considered his feelings. 

“Alright, after my grandmother’s birthday, I’ll leave this in your hands.” Since she agreed out of spite, Li Zhi decided not to press the issue further. After the talent show, she would see that he was a man of his word. He was just waiting for her to come to that realisation before she would apologise and try to make amends.

“Time to sleep.” Li Zhi pulled up the quilt and lay down on the bed first. The argument had worn him out, and he just didn’t feel like doing anything else.

Seeing the man’s indifferent back, Shen Qingqing smiled and turned over to sleep.

Li Zhi was already gone by the time Shen Qingqing woke up the next morning.

After taking the throne, Li Zhi had become incredibly busy.

However, he couldn’t fully focus on his work as his mind was full of his wife. He wondered if the old lady had summoned Shen Qingqing to Xi’an Palace for another lecture, or if she was busy playing with their daughter, or if she was alone in her room, lost in thought, feeling frustrated and upset. 

Once again distracted, Li Zhi set aside the memorial and leaned back in his chair, feeling annoyed.

‘She really is naive. There were countless chances when I was a wealthy merchant or a powerful official. Why did I wait until now if I were such a lustful man?’ 

Even though he treated her well, she still doubted him. Li Zhi felt a surge of anger and thought about ignoring her for a few days to teach her a lesson.

Finally, after three days of wrapping up all the important court matters, Li Zhi found some free time.

Upon hearing that the Empress had gone to Xi’an Palace, Li Zhi quickly changed into his casual attire and headed straight there. 

As he arrived at the palace gate, he spotted Shen Qingqing and Princess Channing walking out together, smiling and talking.

Li Zhi couldn’t help but be happy with his sister’s happiness, but his gaze soon shifted to Shen Qingqing’s face.

Shen Qingqing had been beaming like a flower, but her expression changed when she saw him. She quickly masked her smile with a rather insincere one and greeted him politely, “Your Majesty.”

Li Zhi: “…”

“What were you two chatting about?” After he greeted both ladies, he asked his sister.

Previously, Princess Channing felt closer to her brother than to her sister-in-law, but since her brother was now the emperor with everything he could desire, she didn’t feel the need to pity him.

So, she stood by her sister-in-law now, who felt wronged. As a former favoured concubine, Princess Channing knew the glory that came with it, but she also understood that a man’s exclusive affection could be misleading. In the previous emperor’s heart, beauty was never as valuable as the nation.

So, it wasn’t that Princess Channing didn’t hear her brother’s reassurances to her sister-in-law. Even if she did, she would still doubt him because he had agreed to hold a beauty contest.

“It’s just some family talk. Are you here to see Grandma?” Princess Channing said, linking arms with Shen Qingqing. Her tone was intimate yet laced with sarcasm. “Go in quickly! She was just telling us how many beauties to find for you.”

Li Zhi: “…”

“Come on, Your Majesty,” Princess Channing said with a smile as she took Shen Qingqing’s arm and led her away. As they walked a bit further, Li Zhi caught his sister’s voice encouraging Shen Qingqing in a light-hearted manner.

“Qingqing, don’t be upset. Honestly, being an empress or a concubine isn’t that different. If you’re strong, why rely on a man’s approval? Instead of vying for attention, why not spend more time with your daughter like me? I can’t believe they’ll be getting married at just fifteen or sixteen; I want to cherish every moment with them while I can…”

Li Zhi couldn’t catch the rest of the conversation as the two women went far away, but what he heard was enough to leave him feeling overwhelmed. ‘Has my sister been visiting the palace too often lately?’

“Your Majesty, please come in,” Eunuch Ma, who was with Old Lady Zhu, stepped out to greet him.

Taking a last look at Shen Qingqing’s retreating figure, he entered Xi’an Palace.

“Your Majesty,” Jiang Yiyue greeted with a gentle bow, stealing a shy glance at Li Zhi before looking down.

Li Zhi waved off the formalities and settled next to Old Lady Zhu.

Old Madam Zhu smiled and said, “You arrived just in time. Yiyue was just expressing her concern that you might be overworking yourself.”

At this, Jiang Yiyue lowered her head even more.

The simple words and gestures from the old and young had a far greater impact than Shen Qingqing’s cries and questions from the night before, instantly igniting Li Zhi’s frustration.

“Good thing I have some free time now,” he said with a smile, taking a sip of his tea. After setting the bowl down, he looked at Jiang Yiyue and turned to Old Lady Zhu, asking, “Grandma, I heard a matchmaker is looking to propose to Mr Xie. Are you really thinking about it?”

Old Lady Zhu frowned. She really wanted Jiang Yiyue to be her grandson’s concubine. “Don’t even think about it; he isn’t good enough for Yiyue.”

Li Zhi smiled and turned to Jiang Yiyue. “This is your future we’re talking about. If you have any thoughts, you should share them openly.”

Jiang Yiyue blinked back tears and muttered. “Brother Zhongchang, my life was given to me by the old lady. I don’t want to marry anyone; I just want to be by her side forever.”

To show her closeness to Li Zhi, she addressed him by his old name this time.

As she cried, Li Zhi offered a gentle smile. “Alright, I get it.”

End of chapter 55

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