Everyone seemed to snap to attention, and they all began to nominate Zhong Jing to be the imperial envoy.
Whether Zhong Jing had the capability or not was not important. What was important was that with her illegitimate son being granted the title of side consort on his very first night of service, the favored Zhong Yan side consort would likely dominate the imperial harem for a while.
As long as he was favored, even if this matter was handled poorly, His Majesty would not likely kill Zhong Jing.
If the "culprit" herself could survive, then they, the innocent ones, would be even safer.
Holding onto the philosophy of "better a dead comrade than a living self," half of the court officials nominated Zhong Jing. A few others had considered the matter seriously, but their voices were drowned out by the others and were not given any attention.
Finally, Zhuo Yan, as expected, decreed her to be the imperial envoy to handle this matter.
After the court session, on the way to Zhong Yan's palace, Zhuo Yan remembered what the officials had mentioned. The original host actually had three siblings: the youngest was herself, with an elder sister and an elder brother before her.
Her sister was, as expected, the heroine, Nangong Cai, the powerless Princess An Yang. Her brother was the only prince of the Vermilion Bird Kingdom, Prince Nangong Hao Xuan.
At twenty-two, he was already considered of marriageable age in this era.
The original host had no interest in this matter. When others had occasionally brought it up, she had brushed it aside. It wasn't that she was against them, she simply didn't want to be bothered. Su Dan Fiction Network
However, Nangong Hao Xuan was royalty. Without His Majesty's decree, it was very difficult for him to marry at will.
If it were Zhuo Yan, she also had no interest in the matter. Who would be suitable and capable of handling this?
Lost in thought, she arrived at Zhong Yan's palace. After the head palace maid announced her arrival, she entered.
To her surprise, besides Zhong Yan, there was another man in the palace.
"This servant greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years."
Hearing their synchronized, almost rehearsed greeting, Zhuo Yan inexplicably felt displeased.
Why the perfect coordination?
And hadn't she told them that they didn't need to greet her like this anymore? Such disobedient people.
"Rise."
The original host also had a side consort named Qiao Yu. This must be him.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be qualified to call himself a servant.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Have you eaten breakfast?"
Zhong Yan replied with his head bowed, "This morning, Auntie Zi Juan came to inform me that Your Majesty would be coming for breakfast, so this servant has been waiting for Your Majesty."
Meaning, he hadn't eaten yet.
"Then you must be hungry." Zhuo Yan said to those below, "Tell the imperial kitchen to serve the dishes quickly."
"Yes."
She sat next to Zhong Yan and noticed he seemed unhappy. Thinking back, she hadn't asked anyone to relay those messages, indicating that someone had been overly clever.
"From now on, if you're hungry, eat first. You don't need to wait for me."
"Yes."
"I told you yesterday not to be so restrained in front of me. You don't listen."
Zhong Yan: "..."
Qiao Yu was equally bewildered.
Hearing about it was one thing; seeing it was another.
In his mind, this empress had no major flaws, only minor ones. She indeed had the ability to govern, and her methods for handling state affairs were her own. It wasn't necessary to call her a wise ruler for all time, but she could certainly be a monarch who ruled without significant achievement or failure.
It was only in matters of the imperial harem. Logically, she had many people in her harem, dozens of consorts and young masters. Among them were people like him, who had been in the palace for several years. He had only served her a handful of times, and nothing had happened during those encounters.
If he were to say it, he was still a virgin, and no one would believe him if it got out.
Not only him, but it seemed no one in the entire harem who had served her had returned intact. Most would leave with injuries.
Except for the person in front of her.
After a long silence, Zhong Yan finally said, "This servant will pay attention in the future."
"Mm." Zhuo Yan nodded with satisfaction, then looked at the other person in the palace. "Aren't you leaving yet?"
Qiao Yu: "..."
Zhong Yan prompted from the side, "Your Majesty, Brother Qiao also hasn't had breakfast yet."
"Then go back and eat. Is your palace lacking food?" And he called him "Brother"? Such affection. Were they that close?
Qiao Yu: "..."
Now even Zhong Yan felt extremely awkward.
At least the person involved understood that this was a dismissal. He stood up and said, "Then this servant will take his leave."
"Go ahead."
As the man reached the door, she thought of something and suddenly said, "The affairs of the harem are being handled by you now, aren't they?"
"Yes." Qiao Yu thought she was going to ask him to relinquish his duties and felt a complex emotion.
Zhuo Yan, however, just wanted to find a free laborer. "Find Nangong Hao Xuan and ask him who he wants to marry. It's best to arrange this matter within half a year."
"...Yes."
"You may go."
"Yes."
After the man left, Zhuo Yan's expression softened slightly. She reached out to Zhong Yan and, before he could react, pulled him into her embrace.
"Ah! Your Majesty, what are you doing?"
"Hugging you." Zhuo Yan gently kissed his hair. "Who told you to call him 'Brother'?"
Zhong Yan: "What?"
"I asked you, who told you to call him 'Brother'?"
"Consort Qiao... He is older than me, and we are both Your Majesty's consorts. This servant naturally should address him as an elder brother."
Zhuo Yan disdainfully pouted. "Then we are husband and wife. Why haven't you ever called me 'Sister'?"
Zhong Yan: "..."
He found himself unable to refute her.
"Your Majesty is the sovereign. Addressing me that way is improper."
To hell with propriety!
Zhuo Yan was furious. "Then I won't force you to call me that. From now on, you are not allowed to call him 'Brother' either. Do you hear me?"
"Yes."
"Don't say 'yes.' Say you heard me."
Zhong Yan, going with the flow, said, "I heard you."
"So obedient!"
After breakfast, Zhuo Yan returned to her palace and sent many good things to Zhong Yan. Today, Zhong Yan had been quite obedient, so she was in a good mood.
The history of the four kingdoms... now three kingdoms, was quite extensive. Even if she read at lightning speed and had a photographic memory, it would take her several days.
To avoid losing her empire, Zhuo Yan decided to manage the matters that needed managing.
After reading for the entire morning, in the afternoon, when she was about to go and have a meal, a somewhat unfamiliar palace maid entered and told her that according to the rules, she could not go to Chen Yue Palace today.
Zhuo Yan was utterly bewildered.
What was this?
"You are Zi Juan?"
"This humble servant is."
"Are you bored?" Zhuo Yan immediately unleashed a barrage of words. "Are you the emperor, or am I the emperor? You're going to dictate where I sleep? You have quite the nerve. Also, who allowed you to go to Chen Yue Palace to deliver messages? Did I permit you? If you dare to act on your own initiative again, watch your head, and get out!"
The female official was terrified and quickly knelt down to beg for mercy.
She had been trained by the Imperial Clan, accustomed to order and discipline. In the past, the original host had barely acknowledged her. She had changed the original host's life in a subtle way, and the original host had been considerably influenced over time.
Unfortunately, she was not the original host and could not accept a life where her pace was controlled by others.
"Yes, Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This humble servant will leave now."