Chapter 23: The Empress Dowager and Her Young Substitute Lover

The two stood in an embrace, with Wan Jinyu almost completely leaning into Wei He’s arms. Wei He’s hand rested on her waist.

It was quite harmonious.

If Hua Yue hadn't seen it wrong, Wei He’s hand had... squeezed Wan Jinyu’s waist?

Ugh!

Disgusting.

Wasn't this blatant sexual harassment of a subordinate?

In the original plot, while spending time together, Wei He had already developed hidden feelings for Wan Jinyu, though he hadn't realized it himself.

He hadn't realized it.

But the original host had.

She could not bear the fact that she was losing to a man.

And a very effeminate man at that!

Hua Yue raised an eyebrow, shifting her gaze away from Wan Jinyu’s flustered face.

"I have matters to discuss with His Majesty, Minister Wan?"

Wan Jinyu hurriedly pulled away from Wei He’s embrace.

"This official shall take her leave."

Wei He released her and nodded.

Yet, a strange thought arose in his mind: was his Minister Wan’s waist perhaps too thin and soft? It didn't feel like the sturdy, powerful waist of a man, but rather...

He felt a moment of confusion but didn't dwell on it.

Wei He frowned at Hua Yue, his voice cold and indifferent: "Why are you here?"

Hua Yue didn't mind, smiling slightly: "You aren't young anymore; at your age, you should be doing what is expected of you. Do I need to teach you that?"

Qingli nudged Hua Yue’s waist from the side: "Your Majesty, address yourself as 'This Empress Dowager'! 'This Empress Dowager'!"

Hua Yue: "...No, it sounds awful."

Qingli: "..."

Wei He’s frown deepened. "You’ve lost your mind."

What was she talking about?

Was she pressuring him to marry?

Who did she think she was? Did she really want to act as his mother?

He turned, sat down, and picked up his brush to review the memorials, not even looking up. "If there is nothing else, you may return. That Master Wen is likely waiting for you."

Hua Yue: "Are you jealous?"

Wei He: "..."

For these past days, Hua Yue hadn't been pestering him, choosing instead to mingle with that merchant without regard for her status; he had thought she had finally come to her senses.

A faint smile bloomed on Hua Yue’s face. She walked toward Wei He step by step, though her beautiful, dark eyes were filled with frost.

"If you hadn't been avoiding me, why would I have sought him out? He is merely a comfort when I am bored."

"You know, my heart belongs only to you, Your Highness."

Hua Yue was conquered by her own acting skills.

She raised a porcelain-white fingertip toward Wei He’s cheek, only to have it swatted away.

Hua Yue: "..."

Hmph.

She didn't want to touch his face anyway.

"What exactly do you want to say? You and I are merely partners. Now that you have the favor, the status, and everything a woman in this world could want, you have it all."

"Do not act unreasonably."

Now that he had secured the throne, Wei He no longer needed to act subserviently before Hua Yue.

Instead, he stood high above, even viewing her as an enemy.

This was because the original host had witnessed everything during his lowest points, and also because of her father, the powerful General Xiao, who held command over the armies.

Once, that had been his support.

Now.

The roles had reversed.

He didn't just want support; he wanted those military forces in his own hands.

Hua Yue sneered: "To think that back then, you were so attentive to me, tending to my every need, wagging your tail like a dog and saying you wanted to be with me forever."

Wei He retorted in a fit of shame and anger: "Xiao Su!"

404 rarely saw Hua Yue working, and found it quite interesting.

[Host, that’s enough. You can get to the main point now.]

"I haven't finished scolding him yet."

Hua Yue replied in her mind, but didn't break her flow: "Now that you have ascended the throne, you want to cast the past aside, and cast me aside? Ungrateful, despicable man!"

Xiao Su still feared the influence of the Xiao family. He masked the murderous intent in his eyes before looking up and saying:

"Our statuses are different now. Isn't it fine to just keep things as they are?"

Hua Yue was delighted to see him grinding his teeth in frustration.

She snorted and returned to the point: "You keep refusing me—is it because you have someone else in your heart?"

Her eyes were dark and deep, staring straight at Wei He.

Wei He still thought she had gone mad.

Wanting to appease her just to get her to leave quickly, he frowned and said: "What nonsense are you spouting? I have just ascended the throne; I don't have the heart for other matters."

"Is that so?"

"Of course."

"I hope so."

She stood up straight. "Very well, let’s talk business."

Wei He: "..."

If she had business, why was she rambling like a lunatic earlier?

"What is it?"

"I am quite bored lately, so I intend to host a Spring Banquet." Hua Yue lowered her eyes, admiring her newly manicured nails.

Yes, Wei Yan had painted them.

It took an hour, and he even drew a rose.

Must say, his painting skills were quite good.

It looked lively and realistic.

Wei He frowned: "That is against protocol."

The seven-day mourning period for the late Emperor had barely passed.

Hua Yue sneered: "Then will you keep me company?"

"You are the Empress Dowager; such trivial matters do not require my consultation." Wei He stepped back.

Hua Yue smiled with satisfaction: "Since that is the case, I find that Minister Wan from earlier is quite capable. Let her handle the preparations for this banquet."

"Minister Wan is from the Ministry of Personnel." Wei He refused.

"Are you feeling protective of her?"

Wei He truly couldn't stand her anymore.

"What nonsense are you saying?"

Hua Yue sneered: "Just tell me: will you give me this person, or not?"

Wei He: "..."

...

...

"This official greets the Empress Dowager."

Wan Jinyu hadn't even left the palace gates before she was summoned back to the Empress Dowager’s palace.

She couldn't help but feel puzzled.

She had no history with the Empress Dowager and did not know why she had been specifically named to oversee this banquet.

Before she came, Wei He had specifically instructed her to follow the Empress Dowager’s wishes in everything.

"Rise. Qingli, provide a seat."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Wan Jinyu sat in the seat below Hua Yue, the two of them quite close.

"Minister Wan is truly handsome. With such boundless prospects, I imagine there must be many admirers in the capital."

Wan Jinyu stood tall; she wore official robes embroidered with cloud and dragon patterns. She looked elegant, upright, and truly distinguished.

"Your Majesty is too kind."

She offered a polite smile.

Hua Yue smiled: "Minister Wan is young and promising. I wonder, do you have someone in your heart?"

"I do not."

"If I recall correctly, Minister Wan is already twenty-one and an only child. Are you not in a hurry?" Hua Yue blinked, resting her chin on her hand, looking at the heroine with a charming, radiant smile.

Wan Jinyu did not expect the Empress Dowager to be so concerned about a subordinate’s family affairs.

After a moment of thought, she replied truthfully: "Replying to Your Majesty, this official’s heart is set on the nation. I have yet to fulfill my ambitions, so I am not considering anything else."

"What ambitions?"

Hua Yue was curious.

Wan Jinyu pursed her lips, and for once, a hint of the rashness of youth appeared on her usually steady face.

"This official wishes to restore the system that allowed women to serve as officials in the previous dynasty. This world should not be a place where only men can shoulder great responsibilities."

Wan Jinyu looked earnest, her brows slightly raised, as if she were glowing.

Hua Yue blinked and quickly re-examined the plot in her mind.

Only then did she find the reason for the heroine entering the court in the corner of her memory.

Just as she had said.

But later...

She would be trapped in the deep palace, bearing children.