Chu Chen was so stunned by the slaps that he was disoriented. Ever since he arrived in Yunyue Kingdom, Chu Chen had never experienced being slapped twice in a row.
The Empress's strength was indeed formidable and domineering, brooks no defiance.
Chu Chen knew he was utterly powerless to resist in front of the Empress, so he simply let himself go.
"Your Majesty, strike me as you please. This humble minister will have no complaints."
Chu Chen tried his best to appear indifferent, but the Empress couldn't help but chuckle.
Seeing Chu Chen's face swollen on both sides, with the swellings of unequal size, the Empress's body trembled violently.
Chu Chen touched his face, looking puzzled, "Your Majesty, why are you laughing?"
The Empress snorted and said, "When we return to Shuangyue City, I will temporarily stay at your residence to see what those petty individuals are up to."
It was true that the Empress was concerned about what Chu Chen had said.
If she were to return now, she could imagine that the court officials would not dare to do anything.
"Your Majesty, this, is it not appropriate? If someone discovers it, will they not gossip?"
Chu Chen couldn't help but say.
The Empress looked Chu Chen up and down with great interest, then her expression changed, "If I find out that you are spreading rumors outside, I will have your head."
Chu Chen scratched his head, feeling a chill on the back of his neck, "Your Majesty, if it wasn't a message leaked by this humble minister, and someone else found out you were at this minister's mansion, what then?"
The Empress snorted, "You'll still lose your head."
"Your Majesty is wise. This humble minister's admiration for Your Majesty is like the endless flow of the Yellow River."
The Empress flashed and continued to move forward with her movement technique. Chu Chen took a deep breath and quickly followed.
At the same time, the victorious army of Yunyue Kingdom was returning to the capital, escorting countless prisoners and captured warhorses.
An urgent dispatch of eight hundred li had already been sent out, speeding towards Shuangyue City.
Approximately a day later, Chu Chen and the Empress returned to Shuangyue City together and, under the cover of night, went back to Prime Minister Chu's residence.
Chu Chen said somewhat awkwardly to the Empress, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment in this humble minister's bedchamber. This humble minister will fetch some suitable clothes for you."
Seeing that the Empress did not object, Chu Chen then left the bedchamber, closing the door tightly.
Chu Chen lightly clapped his hands, and a Jin Yi Wei guard jumped out from the distance, "Prime Minister Chu."
Chu Chen nodded and said, "I'll give you the measurements. Go and get suitable clothes, women's wear, understand?"
The Jin Yi Wei guard nodded and said, "This subordinate knows what to do. Please rest assured, my lord."
Chu Chen waved his hand, and the guard immediately left. Chu Chen glanced around before returning to his room.
Seeing the Empress sitting on the bed, observing her surroundings with interest, Chu Chen felt a little embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, this humble minister's room is a bit simple. I hope Your Majesty will not be offended."
The Empress shook her head and said, "You will report important news to me three times a day. If there is any urgent news, you can increase the frequency."
Chu Chen nodded and said, "Your Majesty, this humble minister heard from the Jin Yi Wei that the armies from all directions have set out. I expect battle reports to arrive within two days at the latest. You must be tired from your journey, please rest first. This humble minister takes his leave."
With that, Chu Chen was about to leave, but the Empress immediately stopped him in a low voice.
"What are you doing? If you leave now, won't it arouse suspicion?"
Chu Chen was stunned, then frowned and pondered for a moment, nodding.
"Your Majesty's words are reasonable. In that case, what should this humble minister do?"
The Empress pointed to the side of the bed and said, "You sleep on the floor here and wait."
Chu Chen's eyes widened at this. "Your Majesty, is this... not quite appropriate?"
The Empress gave Chu Chen a sideways glance, "What's inappropriate? Will I eat you?"
Chu Chen quickly waved his hands, "This humble minister dares not speak carelessly. This humble minister merely feels that it is improper for Your Majesty and this humble minister to share a room."
The Empress suddenly became somewhat exasperated, "We've slept together, and you're still bothered by this?"
Chu Chen looked astonished, then pouted.
The Empress is indeed the Empress. At her age, full of vitality, her words were indeed bold.
Could it be that because of what happened in the cave earlier, the Empress was no longer reserved in front of him?
"Alright, stop standing there like an idiot. Do what you need to do."
Chu Chen nodded and called for a servant to bring a bathing tub for the Empress to bathe.
Chu Chen, of course, left the bedchamber, strictly forbidding anyone from entering, and instructed the Jin Yi Wei guards to stand watch at a distance.
Then Chu Chen went out of the Prime Minister's residence and wandered outside for about half an hour before returning to the bedchamber.
"Prime Minister, the clothes you requested are ready. They are all there."
The Jin Yi Wei guard pointed to the clothes at the entrance of the bedchamber and said respectfully.
Chu Chen looked at the large chest of clothes and his eyes widened.
"Well done, you've prepared so much."
Chu Chen pushed open the bedchamber door, and seeing that there was no sound from inside, he cleared his throat and carried the clothes in.
Closing the door, Chu Chen glanced at the room from the corner of his eye, then looked at the bed.
The Empress at this moment was huddled under the covers, looking nervously at Chu Chen.
"Throw the clothes over, and you turn around first."
Chu Chen looked at the skin exposed by the Empress and couldn't help but have lascivious thoughts.
Could Her Majesty be wearing nothing underneath?
Thinking of the scene in the cave earlier, Chu Chen's mind began to wander again.
"What are you looking at? Hurry up, or I'll dig your eyes out."
Chu Chen heard this, took a deep breath, quickly brought the clothes in his hand to the bedside, and then turned around.
The Empress fumbled to pull the clothes into the quilt. After a moment, she relaxed.
Chu Chen couldn't help but wonder why he didn't hear the sound of clothes being put on.
The Empress changing clothes naked, even if he couldn't see, just the thought was pleasant.
"Alright, you can turn around now."
Chu Chen heard this and turned around. He saw that the Empress was still huddled under the quilt, but there was a newly changed plain garment on her shoulders. Only then did he realize.
So Her Majesty changed her clothes under the quilt. How is this different from what's written in novels?
The Empress glanced at Chu Chen and said, "Have you received any news?"
Chu Chen shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, it's late. The latest battle reports will likely not be received until tomorrow morning."
"If Your Majesty is anxious to know, this humble minister can go to the warm pavilion to inquire from the Princess."
The Empress waved her hand, "No need. Let's sleep first. Don't let anyone know we're back."
The Empress did not want Xin Yue to know they had returned yet. She had not figured out how to face Xin Yue.
She was supposed to be the mother-in-law, but instead, she had snatched the son-in-law before her daughter.
Although this was not her intentional doing, the fact remained, and she could not deny it.
It was hateful that Chu Chen was an indispensable figure in Yunyue Kingdom, otherwise, the Empress would have simply cut him down with a single sword, saving her trouble.