Chapter 60:

Fu Jinyao became Hui Zhaorong. Layue did not say much, continuing life as usual. No matter what, she had to keep living. As for Fu Jinyao, Layue was convinced she would never rise to the position of Empress, not even to that of Imperial Noble Consort.

Although her current status was low, she believed steady progress was a relatively good approach.

“Madam, people outside are spreading rumors that it was Virtuous Consort who pushed Hui Zhaorong down during that day at Huici Palace,” Tao’er chatted with her mistress.

Seeing several senior maids around, Layue smiled: “Is that so? The Emperor himself will investigate this matter. We needn’t meddle. We should just behave ourselves.”

“Rumors about this matter are spreading all over the palace,” Tao’er chuckled.

Layue didn’t seem to care much, focusing on her embroidery: “What others say is their business. I believe the Emperor. Whatever conclusion he reaches, I will believe it. There are many baseless rumors in the palace; we needn’t believe them all. Just remember, as long as there is the Emperor and the Empress Dowager in the palace, everything will be fine.”

The girls giggled: “Madam indeed believes the Emperor in everything.”

“What does Your Majesty believe in?”

The Emperor Jing suddenly spoke up.

Everyone seemed to be used to the Emperor’s sudden appearances. Layue had already lost count of how many times this had happened. The Emperor had a habit of eavesdropping and making surprise visits. She wondered if he behaved similarly in others’ quarters.

The maids quickly left, their eyes sharp and hands quick.

Layue had previously instructed that no maids were needed when the Emperor came. Since that was the case, they didn’t delay and left promptly.

The Emperor was also accustomed to not needing any palace maids when he visited Layue.

Layue stood up and gave a graceful curtsy, then went into the inner room. Soon after, there was the sound of water. Then she came out with a wrung-out cloth, standing in front of him to gently wipe his face without letting him do it himself. She went back in again, came out again to wipe his hands. Seeing her behaving like a doting wife, the Emperor was somewhat moved.

Yue’er acting like this is just like a little girl trying to please me.

“You are naturally my husband,” she smiled at the Emperor, unwilling to avert her gaze.

Seeing her like this, the Emperor pulled her into his arms. Layue struggled slightly, and the Emperor looked at her with some confusion.

Layue stood up again, knelt down, and took off the Emperor’s shoes.

“With the weather so cold, it’s much more comfortable to lie on the heated brick bed.”

Layue said solemnly, but it caused the Emperor to smirk.

“Could it be you’re trying to seduce me again?”

Layue rolled her eyes slightly: “Certainly not.”

But recently, the Emperor seemed somewhat listless and indeed hadn’t been handsy. Instead, he held her and lay on their sides on the heated brick bed, chatting idly.

“It’s been a while since I last visited you. Do you hold it against me?”

(Note: The Chinese character “朕” is an imperial first-person pronoun historically used by Chinese emperors. In modern English translation, it’s typically rendered as “me” or “I” unless the context specifically requires maintaining the imperial tone.)

Layue didn’t know what motive the Emperor had for asking this question. She had already gotten used to attributing motives to every action the Emperor took. If he was just making small talk, she would find it hard to get used to.

Layue hesitated slightly, then looked up at him. She looked at him for a while before suddenly bursting into laughter: “Why would you think that, Your Majesty?”

Although she laughed, her smile did not reach her eyes. The Emperor gently pinched her cheek.

“Don’t smile like that. It looks fake. I don’t like seeing you pretending in front of me. Be happy and laugh, be sad and cry. That’s the little Yue’er I like best.”

(Note: The term “朕” is an archaic Chinese imperial pronoun used exclusively by emperors to refer to themselves. In modern English translation, it’s appropriately rendered as “I” while maintaining the original authoritative tone through context rather than literal translation.)

Layue’s eyes immediately misted over. After a long while, she murmured softly: “I don’t blame you. I really don’t. It’s just that I feel uncomfortable here.”

Layue took his hand and placed it on her chest, saying in a muffled voice: “It’s dull.”

This expression was truly heart-wrenching. Seeing her clearly upset but unwilling to say so directly, even when he pointed it out, she still stubbornly refused to cry. Such a Layue made the Emperor wish he could merge her into his very being.

“Seeing you so distressed, I almost want to hit myself a couple of times. How could I hurt my precious one like this?”

Layue quickly shook her head, holding his hand: “I’m not distressed. I’m really not distressed. You are the Emperor, you should be like this. Moreover, Fu Jiejie lost her child, which is already the greatest grief. How could I possibly quarrel with her over such a matter? I’m not distressed, really not distressed. It’s dull because I miss you, I miss you so much. And I feel for you.”

Layue’s words took the Emperor somewhat by surprise. After a brief hesitation, he repeated: “Feel for me?”

“Uh-huh, feel for you.” Layue gently placed her small, plump hand on his face, continuously stroking his eyebrows and eyes: “Everyone knows Fu Jiejie is heartbroken over losing her child, but Yue’er knows the Emperor is also sad. That was also your child, the child you have always longed for.”

The Emperor was stunned by her words. He had imagined many things that Shen Layue might say, how she might tell him of her grievances and longing, but he had never expected her to speak of his own sorrow instead.

She said, that was also his child.

The Emperor’s heart trembled. At some point, even he himself had already forgotten that that was his child.

The Emperor naturally knew that his appearance, temperament, and family background were all considered top-notch in the eyes of women. However, if he were to think of someone in the palace who liked him purely for who he was, rather than because of his position, the Emperor felt that Layue must be one of them.

Such a small girl, who met a man and fell for him, thinking of him in that wifely manner, the Emperor sighed softly.

He also liked Shen Layue, though not in that passionate, inseparable way between a man and a woman. However, this girl could please him, and besides that, although she wasn’t particularly outstanding in any aspect, she was still a good object of favor.

She didn’t have a prestigious family background, didn’t have a stunning appearance, and certainly didn’t have impressive skills. She always needed his protection, and whenever she tried to show her claws, she often ended up hurting herself.

The Emperor couldn’t quite describe his feelings, but he knew he could dote on her.

Such a harmless little girl, if he could favor her, then he would.

“Now that Hui Zhaorong has lost her child, many people are happy,” the Emperor began.

Layue wasn’t surprised: “That’s natural. Your Majesty should know what the palace is like. Who wouldn’t want to rise in status through their child? Now that Fu Jiejie has lost her child, others’ happiness is understandable. At the very least, for many, it means one less threat.”

Layue spoke candidly, and the Emperor pinched her nose.

He especially liked her straightforwardness and her complete trust in him.

“What about you then?”

“Me?” Layue laughed a few times, wrapping her arms around his waist: “I’m not. I’m not happy.”

“Why?” This question was purely out of the Emperor’s curiosity.

He carefully examined Layue to see if her words were sincere.

“What why?” Layue looked at the Emperor somewhat strangely.

“That was your child, Your Majesty. Now that your child is gone, why should I be happy? Anything that makes you unhappy will never make me happy.”

She replied innocently.

“Yue’er…” The Emperor suddenly felt warmth in his heart.

Now that she was so innocent, she would admire him so much, thinking of him all the time. If one day she discovered his cruelty, would she still admire him as she does today, thinking only of him with her whole heart?

Looking into her clear eyes, the Emperor suddenly felt he was worrying unnecessarily and curled his lips into a smile.

But then he saw Layue freeze.

She looked at him in confusion: “Your Majesty, could you please smile at me more often in the future?”

As if murmuring to herself.

“Oh?” The Emperor raised his eyebrows.

“Why? Haven’t I always been smiling at you?”

(Note: The term “朕” is an ancient Chinese imperial self-reference used exclusively by emperors. In modern English translation, it’s typically rendered as “I” or “We” depending on context, with the imperial tone conveyed through phrasing rather than literal translation. Here, “I” maintains natural flow while implying authority.)

Layue quickly shook her head, as if still immersed in his smile.

“It’s different, different. Your smile just now, it was so captivating. I think, as long as you’re willing, with just a smile like that, all the women in the world would like you and admire you.” After saying that, she seemed to think of something else.

Holding his arm, she begged: “Please only smile like that for me, not for others, okay? I don’t want many people to like you. There are already so many people competing with me. I don’t want more.”

Look at that, such childish words, yet the Emperor felt particularly pleased.

He chuckled deeply and lightly pecked her cheeks a few times.

“You are truly my treasure.”

Upon hearing these words, Layue was overjoyed, her little face beaming with a bright smile, though in her heart she couldn’t help but smirk slightly. This Emperor was really good at flattering people. He probably said the same set of words in every palace.

How tiring it must be to act like this all the time?

Layue was puzzled, but then she thought of herself. If she wasn’t tired, how could he be? Moreover, his skill was much deeper than hers.

And in this palace, everyone was acting. Who would feel tired?

For some reason, Layue suddenly thought of Consort Li and Zhu Yuning. She didn’t know whether they were also acting. If not, then why were they melancholy? It seemed that even without acting, one might still feel tired.

The women in this palace had always been at the mercy of fate.

Whether willing or unwilling, once they had entered this battlefield, this woman’s battlefield, they must prepare their armor and charge forward without hesitation.

Behind each person stood not just themselves. Take Concubine Zhou, for example; her entire family was now in prison.

Thinking of all this, Layue sighed.

No matter what, one step must never be wrong.

One mistake, and it would be an abyss from which there is no return.