Chapter 32: The Empress Dowager Thinks I’m Too Young?

When Feng Junyi heard this, he stopped fiddling with his jade ring.

He had wanted to kill someone just now.

But now…

Feng Junyi narrowed his eyes and quietly looked at the little girl in front of him. He said in a rather impatient tone, “I won’t kill anyone.”

The minister of the Office of Palace Construction, who was still kneeling, was completely frozen.

Only he understood how dangerous his situation was a moment ago—the tyrant had obviously intended to kill him. If the Empress next to him had not spoken up, his entire household—young and old alike—would have died altogether.

When Su Nuan heard Feng Junyi’s reply, she immediately stopped sobbing. Teardrops hung from her eyelashes like sparkling dewdrops. Her large eyes, stained with tears, flickered, and she looked exceptionally lovable..

She was not aware of how adorable she looked. She simply sniffed and asked, “Really?”

Feng Junyi was in a much better mood when he looked at her. He said in a low voice, “An Emperor’s words are to be taken seriously. Come here.”

Su Nuan did not know why Feng Junyi wanted her to go over, but she came to him obediently anyway.

At the next second, Feng Junyi reached out to wipe her tears.

She looked at Feng Junyi with her big eyes and had a better impression of the rumored ruthless and unpredictable Emperor.

Feng Junyi didn’t realize that he had started to wipe the little girl’s tears. But, when his fingers touched her soft and warm face, he fell in love with this feeling.

He couldn’t help pinch his face after wiping her tears.

“Ahem.”

Feng Junyi finally realized that his actions were a little abnormal. He coughed dryly and immediately retracted his hand, reverting back to his cold demeanor.

The minister of the Office of Palace Construction, who was still on the ground, did not dare to raise his head to look. His life was in the Emperor’s hands.

Finally, Feng Junyi looked at the old man kneeling on the ground.

He slowly said, “Since you are old, why don’t you return to your hometown as soon as possible? I heard that your son is talented. Did he take the Imperial examination?”

The minister understood the Emperor’s intentions. He told him to return to his hometown and asked him about his son—he wanted his son to stay in the capital and become an official. Thus, he hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, I have three sons. The eldest son is mature and steady. He has some achievements in this field. Previously, he was… ranked third overall in the triennial Metropolitan examination[1].”

Feng Junyi waved his hand and said, “Let’s do this then. From today onwards, your eldest son will take over your position.”

When the old man heard this, he immediately overlapped his hands before his chest and said, “Your humble subject accepts the decree. Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”

His eldest son was already in his 30s. Even though he was ranked third in the Metropolitan examination, he did not have a good official position and was only a small official in the capital.

He was upright and honest. When someone hinted that he could put in a good word with the Emperor so that his son could be promoted, he immediately refused. However, he knew that his eldest son was indeed a promising man.

The Emperor offered him what he had never dared to dream of.

After the old man thanked him and left, Feng Junyi continued to fiddle with the building in front of him. He even sent an artist to draw out the things he had assembled and requested the sketch to be handed over to the Office of Palace Construction.

Su Nuan watched Feng Junyi quietly, feeling as if she had taken a ride on a roller coaster.

After Feng Junyi was done, he stood up from his seat. Su Nuan saw that he was in a good mood and remembered her motive for trying so hard to please him.

She moved over and tugged at his robe, saying softly, “Big Brother Emperor~”

Feng Junyi glanced at her and asked, “What is it?”

She looked at him with her big eyes and whispered, “Big Brother Emperor, can I be allowed to not attend school?”

Feng Junyi’s gaze turned cold after she spoke.

He never dared to neglect his studies. The humiliation he experienced in the past was the motivation for his hard work today, but this little girl…

“No,” he replied sternly.

“Why not? Don’t they say that a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue?”

She continued to stare at him with her big eyes, pretending not to notice the coldness in his eyes.

She felt that she was putting her life on the line to resist studying.

Feng Junyi glanced at her and said, “Since you’re aware of this saying, you should know that a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue, but a woman with talent possesses both integrity and ability. As the Empress, you should achieve this.”

Ouch.

When Su Nuan heard this, she felt that no matter how much she protested, it would be futile.

Since her resistance was futile, she might as well be obedient.

It wouldn’t be worth it to offend Feng Junyi and have her head chopped off.

She returned to her palace sulkily. Zhen Zhu kept asking her, “Your Majesty? Your Majesty, what happened? Did His Majesty agree to your request?”

Su Nuan glanced at her but didn’t say anything. She sighed on the bed.

“It’s not a bad thing if Your Majesty studies with His Majesty and the other princes and princesses,” Zhen Zhu quickly comforted her.

Nope, nope, I don’t want to hear a single word about it.

It was fine that she got rejected after making Feng Junyi happy. What was truly devastating was the fact that Eunuch Wang issued an Imperial edict for her to attend school tomorrow.

Su Nuan was shattered by the news.

But other than obediently accepting the decree, there was nothing she could do about it.

After feeling depressed for a while, Su Nuan got out of bed and asked Zhen Zhu to dress her up before going to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.

It was the first day of the lunar month again. She had busied herself with Feng Junyi after paying respects in the morning. She was going to pay her respects again after taking a nap. The day passed just like that.

Her big eyes looked a little drowsy because she had just woken up a moment ago. She did whatever Zhen Zhu told her to do and cooperated like a robot.

It was only until she heard a coquettish voice at Ci’an Palace then she perked up.

Why did Commandery Princess Shuanghua enter the palace?

She stopped in her tracks and did a quick mental calculation. Oh, it’s been exactly a month.

Commandery Princess Shuanghua is going to act coy with the Empress Dowager as soon as her ban is lifted.

“Aunt, I heard from Father that some ministers have been asking Cousin to select concubines recently. I think they’re up to no good. They probably wanted to send their daughters to Cousin to get his love. They all have ulterior motives. You can’t let Cousin fall for them.”

The Empress Dowager didn’t get angry. Instead, she smiled and said, “Shuanghua is right. I will keep this matter in mind. Indeed, the Emperor is not young anymore. He should have a confidant who can take care of him. The Empress is too young. She is just a playmate.”

???

She thinks I’m too young?

I’m actually not young, okay?

On second thought, my body is only 10 years old. That’s rather young.

But the Emperor is only 13 years old! And he has to hold a concubine selection now? I know these things happened in history, but it’s shocking to actually see it happen.

At that moment, Granny Zhao had already led Su Nuan in. Commandery Princess Shuanghua took a look at Su Nuan and was certain that Su Nuan had overheard the conversation she was having with the Empress Dowager.

[1] The Metropolitan examination is the highest degree in the Imperial examination