Chapter 122: The Empress Dowager's Intentions

The next morning.

The two on the phoenix bed stirred and awoke one after another.

Xu Boqing stroked the crown of the beautiful woman in his arms. He had hoped that since the Empress Dowager was so "supple," if she could resonate with the Water Deity Talisman and enter a divine office, it would be a marvelous affair. However, no matter how he tried, the Water Deity Talisman gave not the slightest response, seemingly indicating a lack of compatibility.

Could it be that "suppleness" is a talent?

"What is it?"

Seeing his brows slightly furrowed as if in deep thought, Empress Chen snuggled against his hand like a kitten, rubbing softly against him, and teased with a coquettish, mocking tone: "It’s only been half a year since you left the palace, have you already forgotten who I am?"

"How could that be..."

Xu Boqing shifted his posture to better fondle the snow-white globes in his hands, then sighed: "After drifting outside for so many days, I only realized upon returning that the Cining Palace, with you here, is my true home."

"You little thief..."

Empress Chen felt a surge of joy in her heart. Yet, she immediately thought of how she hadn't seen this rogue for half a year and wondered how many romantic debts he might have incurred out there. She couldn't help but lean down and nip his shoulder, chiding: "With that troublemaker of yours, I don’t believe you haven't been straying and finding other 'homes' elsewhere."

"My lady, you truly misunderstand me."

Xu Boqing’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said: "I’ve been living and eating with my subordinates from the Western Depot the whole time, doing my best to play the role of a eunuch. My heart has been filled only with you; how could I seek any other home?"

"You only know how to say sweet things."

Although she was delighted to hear it, Empress Chen gave a haughty, light hum, pretending not to believe him.

"My lady doesn't believe me?"

Xu Boqing raised a brow, then leaned into her ear and whispered: "It’s hard for me to prove my innocence with words alone. I can only trouble you to inspect my inventory once more and see if the quantity has decreased."

With that, he moved to roll over...

"I believe you, I truly believe you..."

Empress Chen’s face paled in alarm at his words. Seeing that he fully intended to flip over and "prove" himself, she hurriedly pinned him down, pleading with a coquettish, flustered tone: "No need to prove it, I really believe you..."

"Hahahaha..."

Xu Boqing pecked her forehead, satisfied, and lay back down.

Empress Chen smiled, resting in his arms, and murmured: "You must have been exhausted out there, right?"

"It was alright..."

Xu Boqing considered this for a moment, then laughed: "Aside from frequently missing your tenderness, it wasn't particularly tiring."

The corners of Empress Chen’s lips curled up. Then, as if remembering something, she asked: "By the way, have the matters outside been dealt with? Why did you return to the palace so suddenly?"

"No..."

"Hm?"

She sat up, startled and suspicious, and asked: "Then did you return because you received that letter?"

"You could say that..."

Xu Boqing pulled her back into his arms, playing with the soft flesh in his grasp, and said: "An accident happened on the road, and by chance, I saw your longing in the letter, so I hurried back."

He seemed to recall something and changed the subject: "By the way, why did you suddenly decide to help Empress Zhang?"

"The Emperor is obsessed with immortality and Daoism, ignoring all state affairs. Her maiden family, to avoid suspicion, won't even meet with her. I just felt pity for her and her son."

Empress Chen seemed lost in thought, her expression suddenly turning desolate: "I was only thirteen when I was chosen to enter the palace... I was just like Empress Zhang now, abandoned by my maiden family to avoid suspicion, with no one to rely on in the palace. It stirred a sense of compassion in me..."

"Your maiden family?"

Xu Boqing was slightly stunned. He then realized that he had been serving in the Cining Palace for nearly two years and only knew the Empress Dowager’s given name, Chen Yuerong; he had truly never heard her speak of her own kin.

"That's right."

Empress Chen saw his stunned expression and couldn't help but smile, then said: "What, are you curious?"

"A little..."

Xu Boqing nodded slightly: "You are gentle and kind-hearted, but as your bedfellow, I know very little of your past, so naturally I am curious."

"It’s been over twenty years; there’s not much worth saying about the past..."

Empress Chen just smiled. After a moment of silence, she said: "I am a descendant of Duke Ding, Chen Hong. Over twenty years ago, the position of Great General of Xuanwu belonged to my father. At that time, he held military power and guarded the borders; he was considered the leader of the military nobility of the Great Liang. But his power was too great, and having troops stationed abroad inevitably drew the attention of those in the imperial court. With so many impeachments and memorials, he naturally fell under the suspicion of the late Emperor. My father was stripped of his military command, and as compensation, I, the daughter of Duke Ding, was selected to enter the palace. I was young then and didn't understand what 'avoiding suspicion' meant; I wrote many letters home, but I never received a single reply. Only later did I slowly come to understand."

Her voice faltered, and she added with a strange look: "Years have passed, and there has been no contact. When my father passed away, no one even came to inform me. Thinking back, it's been over twenty years; perhaps no one in the Duke Ding clan even remembers that I exist."

"..."

Xu Boqing remained silent, not knowing how to console her.

"I’ve long since let go..."

Empress Chen smiled, caressing his cheek gently: "Beyond pitying her and her son, there is actually another reason I want to help Empress Zhang—you."

"Me... the reason is me?"

Xu Boqing was taken aback, then with a sheepish expression, said: "I really have nothing going on with Empress Zhang. The mistake I made last time was entirely a misunderstanding of your intentions. And I already told her as much afterwards. She is still the Zhang Empress of the Kunning Palace, and I am still the Chief Eunuch of the Cining Palace. We have gone our separate ways and are each doing fine."

"Hehehehe..."

Empress Chen had been keeping a straight face, but seeing his earnest explanation, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. She then explained: "That’s not what I meant."

"Then what..."

"You are my man!"

"Hm?"

Xu Boqing was stunned by this sudden declaration. Before he could speak, she added with a stern face: "So I don't want you to follow in the footsteps of Chief Eunuch Huang."

"..."

"A gift in the snow is far more valuable than adding flowers to a brocade."

Empress Chen analyzed it seriously: "Though I am deep in the palace, I know that the position of Crown Prince is currently vacant, and both the Second and Third Princes are fighting for it. I know you possess extraordinary martial arts and care little for power, but as the Director of the Western Depot, you cannot remain neutral in this struggle for the throne. Even if you wish to, others will force you to choose."

"Empress Zhang and the First Prince, Zhu Hong, are in a dire situation. If you can help them now, you will surely earn a massive favor. You are the Chief Administrator of the Cining Palace, my man. Even if the Second or Third Prince takes the throne, they won't dare to trouble us too much in the future. And if Zhu Hong shows promise and manages to recover his strength to reclaim the position of Crown Prince, that favor will be magnified countless times—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the merit of supporting a new ruler. This is a secure investment."

"Besides, my sister Zhang only looks clever and cold; she actually has no schemes or means, and right now, she is so panicked that she has lost her backbone. Such a person... is easy to control. If you and the Western Depot assist them now, and Zhu Hong sits on that throne in the future, even if we say nothing else, just based on this contribution..."

Her voice trailed off. Seeming to think of something amusing, she leaned into Xu Boqing’s ear, her breath like an orchid, and whispered: "I could even bear you a child, and it would be perfectly fine..."

"..."

Xu Boqing’s breath hitched, and his heart pounded faster.

Empress Chen pressed against him, naturally feeling his reaction, and smiled: "Little thief, do you think we should help them?"

"Help! We must help!"

Xu Boqing raised a brow and pulled the beautiful woman onto his lap. Because the Empress Dowager had the "Suppleness" technique to rely on, it was easy to find the right position. Amidst bursts of surprise, he laughed: "Whether we have a child or not is secondary; I’m just a vulgar man who loves being someone else's backbone!"

"..."