"Your subject dares not,"
"If you dare not, then shut up." Zhuo Ni was truly annoyed by his incessant chatter. "What the Qiao family did, you should know. Without you, they wouldn't have dared to be so presumptuous. Instead of crying your eyes out over a pair of eyes, you should advise them to be more careful in their actions in the future. If this continues, you'll have plenty to cry about later."
Qiao Yu: "..."
"An Yang Wang arrives."
The pair of siblings entered from outside. The female lead had only recently been reborn, but she was already vastly different from her previous life. She bowed respectfully with her younger brother.
"Rise and be seated."
The female lead had fallen into the water while trying to save the man she loved, then taken leave and not come to work. This illness led to her rebirth. She had been contemplating life at home recently.
Zhuo Ni naturally needed to offer some guidance first.
"I heard that Imperial Sister accidentally fell into the lake earlier and caught a chill. Are you well now?"
"Your subject is fine, thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern."
"Since you are well, you will attend court from tomorrow onwards."
Nan Gong Cai was shocked. By reflex, she thought her recent drastically changed behavior had made Zhuo Ni suspicious.
"Yes, Your subject obeys."
"Mm." Zhuo Ni looked at the other person. "I summoned you two today because I wish to inquire about Imperial Brother's marriage."
Nan Gong Cai's heart, which had just settled, tensed again. She had not forgotten how, in her previous life, her younger brother had married poorly, suffered greatly, and died young and dejected.
Nan Gong Hao Xuan stepped forward first. In terms of status, he was the model for all men in the land. Born into royalty, he had enjoyed some favor in his childhood, but later, when Nan Gong Huang fell in love with the heir of Prince Chen, she gradually neglected her two children.
However, Nan Gong Huang only had three children. No matter how unfavored they were, the education and preferential treatment they received would not be too poor.
He bowed and said, "Your subject will let Your Majesty decide."
Zhuo Ni then looked at Qiao Yu. "I had previously entrusted this matter entirely to Side Consort Qiao. However, recently, court officials have repeatedly offered advice, so I thought I would ask about Imperial Brother's wishes. If Imperial Brother has someone he fancies in his heart, he can speak up, and I will bestow a marriage upon you."
Perhaps in the minds of the other two, Zhuo Ni had never been so accommodating before.
Therefore, they did not believe her.
Nan Gong Hao Xuan was actually a little moved, but he dared not say it. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Your subject has no one in mind. Your Majesty may decide this matter."
"Then, does Imperial Sister and Side Consort Qiao have any candidates in mind?"
Nan Gong Cai: "..."
Qiao Yu: "..."
The strangeness of this question was as if they were being treated as parents, being asked for their opinions on selecting a wife for their son.
A flicker of strangeness passed through their minds. Qiao Yu stood up first. "Yesterday, your subject made some inquiries about unmarried women in the capital. I had intended to wait for a painter to create portraits and compile a register before presenting it to Your Majesty. Since that is the case, your subject will speak of what he has gathered first."
"Speak."
"Observing the capital, your subject has identified approximately a dozen women whose family background, appearance, and talent would be suitable for His Highness, and who are not yet married. Among them are Chang Yun, daughter of Grand Tutor Chang; Jiang Cai Ping, granddaughter of Grand Tutor Jiang; the younger sister of the Vice Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Relations... Qin Dan, the County Princess of Prince Qin's mansion. These fourteen are unmarried. For those from other prefectures, it will take a few more days to receive information."
Zhuo Ni felt that if she waited another day, she would be driven mad.
She looked at the people below. "Among these fourteen, does Imperial Brother have anyone he fancies?"
Nan Gong Hao Xuan's expression was somewhat gloomy, and he hesitated, remaining silent.
Nan Gong Cai clearly heard names that displeased her among them. She stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Zhou Ting'er, the younger sister of the Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Relations, has countless male companions at home and often frequents pleasure quarters. How can such a person be a suitable match?"
Zhuo Ni looked at Qiao Yu.
Qiao Yu had clearly not investigated thoroughly enough, and there was also the possibility of him hiding something. At this moment, he stood up anxiously and knelt in front. "Your Majesty, it is your subject's poor judgment of character. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
"Enough." She was extremely vexed. If it weren't for Chong Yan sitting beside her, she would have lost her temper long ago. "I am choosing a wife for Imperial Brother. Do not include such undesirable individuals. Anyone who has been to pleasure quarters, or whose family has male companions, is to be excluded."
"Yes."
She then looked at the two. "Imperial Sister and Imperial Brother can also go down and discuss this. Imperial Brother is a prince of the nation. When choosing a spouse, he can follow his own inclinations and need not be overly cautious. If you cannot make a choice, Side Consort Qiao, you will have to put in more effort. My Vermilion Bird is vast and prosperous; there are always daughters of good family, with beautiful appearances and virtuous character."
"Yes."
—
After sending them away, Zhuo Ni pulled the person onto the couch.
Chong Yan leaned gently against her chest, feeling the warmth of each other's bodies. His mood was surprisingly calm.
Zhuo Ni sighed. "It's truly exhausting."
If it weren't for accumulating merit points for this little fellow, she wouldn't have cared about this blasted throne at all.
In the modern world, although she had to work, as long as she hired suitable people, many things didn't require her personal attention. In her previous life, she had just started, and the people in the company could have elevated Chong Yan to godhood.
Unlike this world, where finding people who could be useful was incredibly difficult.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?"
"I'm troubled."
Zhuo Ni pulled him closer, and their eyes met, the atmosphere intimate.
"Your Majesty is the ruler of a nation, above ten thousand people, and you still have worries?"
"Everyone has worries."
She wasn't originally a person, but now that she occupied a human body, she had to live like one.
This was the first time Chong Yan had seen her wear such an expression; he was quite surprised.
"What troubles Your Majesty? Perhaps you can tell your subject... me."
Zhuo Ni buried her face in his neck and inhaled deeply. Then she said, "Being an emperor is vexing. Few of the civil and military officials are willing to do substantial work. I truly wish they would all go home and retire."
Chong Yan: "..."
This matter, he could only listen to.
He didn't dare to offer any commentary.
"Shall I rub Your Majesty's shoulders?"
"No need." Zhuo Ni wanted to ravage him more.
"Just let me suck on you."
Chong Yan looked confused. "Suck on me, what is that?"
Zhuo Ni flipped over, pinning him beneath her, and hugged him, sucking on him fiercely a few times, like one would pet a cat. Filling herself with his scent slightly soothed her inner irritation.
This body had likely been taking medicine for many years. To completely return to a state without any issues would probably take some time.
Despite this, as they snuggled, sparks began to fly between them.
She felt the change in the person beneath her, and Chong Yan also felt the changes in himself. His face turned bright red, and he gently tried to push her away, but he dared not exert much force, his face flushed with shyness.
Zhuo Ni felt that they had developed some affection over these past few days, so she tentatively asked, "Will you stay tonight?"
Chong Yan's pushing motion paused, and he seemed a little at a loss.
Zhuo Ni looked at his flustered gaze. After a moment, she sighed.
"Forget it, if you don't want to, then don't stay. I'll send you back after dinner."
Chong Yan's thoughts swung back and forth between disappointment and relief. Several times he almost said that he was willing to stay.
But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say it.