Chapter 159 Pretending to Be a Scoundrel to Prevent Zi You from Entering the Palace
Old General Mu’s worry wasn’t without reason. Zi You’s guess was also completely correct. The Emperor had wicked intentions towards Zi You. He had originally wanted to have Zi You visit the Palace often, to better control Old General Mu.
Later, he had realized that Old General Mu really treasured his precious granddaughter. He was worried that Old General Mu wouldn’t let Zi You enter the Palace and instead resent him. As he was planning to wait for Zi You to grow up a bit more, Old General Mu then told him that Zi You wanted to form a female medical team. “General’s Manor has bought a lot of slaves who are the descendants of criminal officials from the slave market.”
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Emperor had seen that Old General Mu had a precious granddaughter of interracial descent whom he treated like a treasure in the General’s Manor. Actually, even before this, the Emperor had already heard of Mu Zi You’s famous name. Everything that had happened at Duke Anguo fu during the Mid-Autumn Festival between Zi You and his daughter Shangguan Lingluo had quickly spread throughout the capital.
It was difficult for the little yatou who could attract b.u.t.terflies and birds not to attract attention. The Emperor had noticed her, of course. Thus, he had summoned her into the Palace. The twelve-year-old little yatou did not disappoint him. She had left a deep impression on him the first time that they’ve met. She had also stirred his dark interest.
He was prepared to start his offensive to slowly capture the little yatou’s heart. As long as the little yatou was conquered by him, Duke Yongnan Shizi, his sons, or his nephew wouldn’t be worth mentioning. He didn’t believe that he, a monarch with mature charm, was not better than those small chickens.
He had believed that as long as Mu Zi You frequently went to the Palace, then they would occasionally meet. He would slowly use his gentle offensive. The little yatou, who lacked fatherly love, should fall for him. Then when he succeeded, he would let Zhao HongXiang suddenly die. He had believed that even Mu Junyuan wouldn’t oppose to the little yatou entering the Palace then either.
Xuanwu Emperor thought to here and he seemed to see what would happen. Three years later, Zi You would reach marriageable age and enter the Palace to become a consort. Old General Mu and Mu YingYi would wholeheartedly guard his border and the capital. He could be at ease and not fear anyone.
Xuanwu Emperor thought more and more beautifully. He almost got off his dragon throne and personally helped Old General Mu and Zi You up. He took two steps, but Eunuch Yu coughed. With this reminder, Xuanwu Emperor stopped his feet.
Then he smiled and said, “Don’t be nervous, You’er. You can boldly make prescriptions for the Empress Dowager. Zhen will have the imperial doctors do the final checks. It is decided then. You will enter the Palace every five days. You can go to the medical clinic on the other days!”
Xuanwu Emperor was very determined. He didn’t allow any refusal as he waved his hand. “Let’s go! Come with Zhen to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is also very concerned about your female medical team!”
Old General Mu still wanted to object, but Zi You pulled his shirt and stopped him. The Emperor had already decided. If he continued on refusing, the Emperor would be unhappy. He would think that Old General Mu didn’t respect him because of his military achievements. It would be bad if the Emperor was dissatisfied with her grandfather. According to her understanding, the Emperor was not a broad-minded person.
Enter the Palace, then enter the Palace. She would go up the mountains for training with grandfather after the New Year anyway. The Emperor wouldn’t have a reason to stop her then. Besides, she was still young. If the lecherous Emperor had any dirty intentions, he still wouldn’t do anything. But even if he really dared to, with her skills, she wouldn’t let him succeed.
Zi You was calm. The originally anxious Old General Mu saw this and also calmed down. He secretly chastised himself. How could a veteran on the battlefield not be as calm as a little girl?
Shangguan LingRan was there in the Empress Dowager’s Jingyang Palace. He deliberately looked l.u.s.tfully at Zi You.
Zi You deliberately looked disgusted, while secretly looking at Xuanwu Emperor. Indeed, his eyes held ridicule.
Zi You went over to curtsy to the Empress Dowager. “Chennu pays respects to Empress Dowager. Wishing Empress Dowager to live thousands and thousands of years.”
The Empress Dowager was surprised to see Old General Mu and Zi You come, but soon returned to normal. She looked at Zi You and lightly smiled. “Come let Aijia take a look. Let Aijia take a look at Great Yan’s first female soldier.”
Zi You smiled lightly and elegantly as she walked over to the Empress Dowager. She let her look her up and down without even glancing once at Shangguan LingRan, making him black belly.
Darned yatou! Even if you’re pretending, you don’t have to be so stingy, right? You won’t even look at me?
Shangguan LingRan was angry, so he propped his legs on a phoenix chair. He said in dissatisfaction, “Imperial grandmother, she didn’t curtsy to me! Talk to her after she curtsies to me, okay?”
Shangguan LingRan was accustomed to being unrestrained and willful. With the Empress Dowager and Emperor spoiling him, who dared to do anything to him? Or else why would he be called the leader of the capital’s “Four Tyrants?”
Although his tone was questioning, it was very overbearing. Probably only he dared to be so impudent in front of the Empress Dowager.
But he Empress Dowager not only did not get angry, but looked dotingly at him. She smiled widely. “This child. Mu Xiaojie is a girl. Can’t you let it go? How is it good to be so petty?”
“Muhou, don’t hold back Ling’er’s personality. Zhen likes his frankness and sincerity.” Xuanwu Emperor looked at Shangguan LingRan and hid the ridicule in his eyes, as he pretended to speak dotingly.
Zi You now finally understood why Shangguan LingRan’s subst.i.tute was spoiled into becoming a dandy. Someone deliberately spoiled him. No wonder.
The Empress Dowager’s pampering was out of true love for her grandson. But it was hard to say with Xuanwu Emperor.
After all, he had a brother who was versed in both civil and martial arts. His appearance and talents were all better than him. The Emperor wouldn’t feel very good if his brother had an excellent son just like him.
Zi You deliberately stared at Shangguan LingRan and went over to curtsy. “Chennu pays respects to Shizi Yi. Wishing Shizi Ye good fortune!”
“How does this Shizi have good fortune?” Shangguan LingRan looked at Zi You and asked frivolously, “When your scary eyes don’t stare at this Shizi anymore, then this Shizi will have good fortune. Hey! Little yatou, why are you always at odds with this Shizi?”
He then rushed to act spoiled with the Emperor. “Imperial uncle, did you see that? This darned yatou is glaring at me. Why don’t you give her to me as a wife?! I will make her obedient.”
The Emperor looked at him acting like a scoundrel and was happy. Shangguan Yixuan, you are better than Zhen in all areas. But Zhen’s sons are much better than yours. Your Di son is a dandy. Your Shu sons cannot be seen in public. As a result, Zhen’s country will not fall into your hands.
The Emperor was happy, so his tone was gentler to Shangguan LingRan. Although he reprimanded, his tone was doting. “This child. Mu Xiaojie is already engaged to Duke Yongnan Shizi. How can Zhen marry her to you? Besides, a wife is not for you to discipline, but for you to love.”
As he spoke, he looked tenderly at Zi You. Shangguan LingRan was nauseous. He hated that he couldn’t punch the Emperor twice. He suppressed the anger in his heart with difficulty. He looked devilishly charmingly at Zi You, shocking Old General Mu.
It seemed that An w.a.n.g Shizi was also in a difficult situation! When he was in the General’s Manor, he couldn’t be more mature and sensible.
But in front of his grandmother and uncle, he had to wear a mask and act. It really showed that the saying “Every family had its problems” was true.
The Emperor saw that Shangguan LingRan was improper and was even prouder. He spoke even gentler to the Empress Dowager, “Muhou, You’er is here because this yatou will be one of your imperial doctors. Although this yatou is young, she can cure Duke Yongnan Shizi’s skin ulcer. Her medical skills certainly are not worse than the imperial doctors.
“Besides, as the commander of the first female medical team in Great Yan, we should support and encourage her. Zhen……”
“What? No, no.” The Emperor had not finished speaking, but Shangguan LingRan shook his head like a rattle. “Imperial uncle, your nephew doesn’t trust this yatou’s medical skills. Your nephew doesn’t want her to experiment with imperial grandmother’s phoenix body.” He shielded the Empress Dowager behind him with a face of vigilance, angering Xuanwu Emperor until his face sunk.
The Empress Dowager was very touched. She lightly chided Shangguan LingRan. “Don’t speak nonsense. Mu Xiaojie’s medical skills must be superb. Otherwise, why would your imperial uncle entrust her with this task?
“Besides, your imperial uncle is right. She is Great Yan’s first commander of the female medical team. Your imperial grandmother should greatly support her.”
“Chennu thanks Empress Dowager for your trust and support.” Zi You hurriedly curtsied. Old General Mu also followed in thanking the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor looked at Shangguan LingRan with a smile, but that smile contained endless coldness. “Ling’er, your imperial grandmother is Zhen’s Muhou. How can Zhen not be thinking of her? After Mu Xiaojie diagnoses your imperial grandmother, Zhen will send imperial doctors to check. Your worries are nonsensical.”
“Ling’er is just concerned,” the Empress Dowager faintly said. She was apparently a little upset that her son treated her grandson like that.
Zi You knew that Shangguan LingRan didn’t want her to enter the Palace. He deliberately spoke out to stop the Emperor and sway the Empress Dowager to prevent Zi You from entering the Palace.
However, the Empress Dowager clearly did not see his real intentions. As such, the Empress Dowager not only did not raise objections, but the Emperor disliked him even more now.
He had repeatedly helped her. She couldn’t watch his circ.u.mstances get worse because of her, right? Zi You thought this and immediately secretly sent a message to Shangguan LingRan, “Take care of your own business! Don’t worry about me. I have ways to deal with them.”
She pretended to look indignantly at Shangguan LingRan. Then she looked at the Empress Dowager and said, “Please rest a.s.sured, Empress Dowager. Chennu will study more diligently and improve Chennu’s medical skills. Chennu will never let you or the Emperor down or make Shizi Ye worry.”