Wei Yi Yi met Jiang Yu with wide eyes. She was bathing in autumn"s cold breeze under the starry sky. The moment Jiang Yu showed up, their gaze collided and she accidentally swallowed the candied fruit she was gnawing on.
Her face paled while her eyes reddened, ready to cry at any moment.
It hurts. It really hurts, she wants to vomit it out. Wei Yi Yi covered her mouth and swallowed a few mouthfuls. Only the devils know that her real desire was to stick a finger in and vomit.
In the face of Wei Yi Yi trembling, Jiang Yu filled in the blanks for her and conveniently misunderstood. His countenance softened, and at the same time, a certain numbness crept into his bones, weakening his stance.
"My empress, the breeze blew cold at night, let us go inside." Jiang Yu smoothly invited himself in.
Boss, I"m stress eating and you"re interrupting. Wei Yi Yi bellied a stomach full of reproach.
Invasion of privacy!
Tang Mei served them tea, followed by a tactful retreat with the other servants. Her actions were swift and practiced.
Wei Yi Yi grabbed the teacup, drowning herself until she"s bloated. Seeing her restlessness, Jiang Yu let her settle down and silently sip his tea, observing a momentary silence before speaking first.
Slow in his words and gentle in his gestures, Jiang Yu goes round and round, even speaking some matters unrelated. He took great care in piecing each of his words and yet, still unable to speak of the weight in his heart.
"…Yi Yi," Jiang Yu paused at his attempts and called out in embarra.s.sment.
Such honeyed tone, if he uses it to coquettishly call out to another guy, then maybe her head will snap a sharp turn. Too bad. Wei Yi Yi blinks away the evil"s temptation.
"About the matters of the court and the young masters, I could only lend an ear to listen and be a companion." Such a big pot, she will not help carry, ah! "As for other matters, please speak freely."
"Imperial Consort Shen… I had visited her."
"That"s good."
"..."
"....."
"...." Jiang Yu awkwardly consumed the whole pot of tea. As for Wei Yi Yi, she munched on her candied fruits as if she didn"t choke just now.
Her appearance of calmness was the silence before the storm for Jiang Yu.
"It"s a scheme," he said, finally interrupting the deafening silence.
"Indeed."
"We are far from the palace, it might be a plot of others to harm Shen s.h.i.+. Or it might be her own design to warn others, after all, it resulted in a big ruckus and now everyone is looking at her direction…"
"Boss, it will be fine. You should not worry," Wei Yi Yi said as always. Not forgetting to a.s.sure Jiang Yu of her qualification as a proficient employee.
"Aren"t I just worrying about you? You…" They have yet to consummate their marriage. Jiang Yu hesitated to speak of the taint on their marriage. "You should host more banquets at the palace, a.s.sociate with the madams frequently. It will… In the meantime, it will be the best for you."
She was almost moved, if not for him telling her to conduct meetings. Is it too late to claim that I have social anxiety?
"Regardless of motive or who it is that plotted, her matters, as well as the others in the harem, they won"t affect you, for I"ll be here as your empress. Right now, your concern should be---"
"That… are you not upset?"
---the inevitable lover"s quarrel with Ye s.h.i.+…
The bitter experience of constant interruption hunted Wei Yi Yi. "Do you accept constructive criticism? Formal complaint?"
"You are upset." Jiang Yu stated, perceiving her reaction.
Of course, she"s upset! Just thinking about the harem, those concubines and their not-so-hidden ambitions, and how much trouble she"s going to settle, Wei Yi Yi wanted to cry but have no tears.
They might be pretty to look at but the gears in their brain never stop working. Authentic vases are hard and then the flowers are th.o.r.n.y.
Wei Yi Yi wanted to cry injustice. How come the Boss she followed can produce more trouble than her?
"No need to act in front of me. I promise to make it up to you." Jiang Yu spoke more words of rea.s.surance.
Wei Yi Yi almost jumped and started hissing. Sc.u.m, ah! Always seducing me with incentives!
Who made her so loyal to such a sc.u.m? It was a momentary depletion of IQ, she forgot to count how many enemies she"ll have with such a boss.
But she was really tempted, ah! Evil capitalist!
With her last bit of professionalism, she held on the arm itching to throttle Jiang Yu. "My opinion doesn"t matter."
"How could it not? As my Empress, all children of the harem will still need to call you mother."
Wei Yi Yi pressed her lips. "Right." A whole pack of silly little kids, she really doesn"t want a share of them.
Picking up a candied fruit, Jiang Yu ate one then helped feed her.
"Knowing Yi Yi, I know any storm won"t be enough to make you bow." He attentively watched Wei Yi Yi while an idea formed in his mind. "Even so, if it becomes too much, there"s still me."
The sweetness in Wei Yi Yi"s mouth doubled which reflected into her smile. This kind of coaxing, Wei Yi Yi likes it the best. Especially when Jiang Yu says it without the same helplessness as before.
With such a tone, she feared the reluctance and was always careful not to fully irritate him, always having a flight respond. Now, look at him promising so willingly!
Isn"t she looking over the harem just for this sweet promise of subordination?
"I know. My boss is the most amazing."
Hehe. They could all try to jump at her and she"ll play with them~ If it seems she"s losing, see if she doesn"t dare to cry injustice towards her big boss.
Wei Yi Yi"s mood soars to the sky, wanting to ascend. She even promised to decrease the dissing she"s subjecting Jiang Yu secretly.
What morals, ah? Everything is subjective to its era.
Spreading the seed and sharing the rain and dew is part of their belief. What position are you using to condemn a man and his hundred years of culture and practice~
Such a happy mood could tide her over a few extra working hours, if not for Jiang Yu"s following words.
Her "amazing" Boss caressed her loose hair, bringing it close to him. He said, in her utter horror, "You are my empress, the only empress that my reign shall have. As husband and wife, let us have our own children."