Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 616 Who Could Be the Whistle-Blower (2)

She stirred lazily. Although she felt some discomfort in her body, it was manageable. Someone had conscientiously applied medicine to her, ensuring that she wouldn’t be bedridden.

Baihe, who was guarding outside, heard the faint sound of movement and first poured water for the Empress to wash up, then entered the bedroom to help her change clothes. Seeing the red marks on the Empress’s body, her face flushed with embarrassment, and inwardly, she resented the Emperor for not being more gentle, not understanding how to value and cherish the fairer sex. Far away in the Imperial Study, someone sneezed vigorously. If he had known what Baihe was thinking, he might have felt wronged; he had already been as gentle as possible. It was just that she was too delicate, her fair skin reddening at the slightest touch.

After freshening up, the hungry Feng Xuxu devoured several shrimp dumplings and drank two bowls of date porridge before putting down her chopsticks, rinsing her mouth, and touching her slightly bloated belly with a wry smile.

"Has His Majesty returned from court?"

"Replying to Your Highness, the Emperor has returned. He saw that you were still asleep, stayed for a moment, and then left." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Hmm, understood. Go fetch a cloak; I’m going to the Imperial Study."

Donning the thick cloak, she sat in her palanquin, which smoothly proceeded towards the Imperial Study.

Parting the door curtain, she saw him, full of vigor, sitting in his chair, perusing documents, not at all appearing to be someone who had gone without sleep for a night.

"You’ve arrived. Did you sleep well last night?" Dugu Chen asked with a smile, getting up to offer her his seat.

Feng Xuxu didn’t stand on ceremony and sat down right away. She couldn’t even if she wanted to—her legs were still weak. She glanced at him sideways, "I’m thirsty."

Dugu Chen paused for a moment, then smiled faintly, bowed slightly with a raucous wink, "This husband shall pour tea for the Empress right away."

Her normally frosty face almost couldn’t hold back a laugh at his antics, but she managed to restrain herself, saying, "Alright, just leave it there."

After setting down the cup, he picked her up from the chair and carefully placed her on his lap, gently patting her back, "Are you still mad? Next time, your husband will be even more gentle."

"Hmph, I can believe anything else, but that, forget it." She gave him a sidelong glance, picked up the teacup from the dragon-patterned table, and took a delicate sip.

"I heard you gifted many treasures from the Warm Pavilion to Jiazhen!" Holding her, he remembered the instance upon returning from court when he saw a procession ferrying treasures out of the palace. It was only after Tian Yi inquired that he learned they were sent to the Prime Minister Residence on the Empress’s orders.

"Yes, that’s right. I saw that Jiazhen liked them, so I gave them to her." Pausing briefly, she set down her cup and looked up at him, "Speaking of which, my cousin isn’t getting any younger, and she still doesn’t have a suitor."

"It’s not that Jiazhen lacks suitors. The Prime Minister Residence’s young lady is sought after by many, the threshold of their residence has been replaced several times in recent years, yet not a single man has caught my uncle’s eye," he replied.

"It’s not that they can’t catch my uncle’s eye, it’s that my cousin doesn’t like them."

Dugu Chen looked astonished, "Since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words. Besides, my uncle has only one daughter; would he let her suffer in marriage?"

Feng Xuxu rolled her eyes at him, "Old-fashioned. Then why didn’t you follow your parents’ order, the matchmaker’s words?"

"Can it be the same? I was single for twenty years. It was not easy to find you; I didn’t need them to arrange my marriage."

"So you know to find the one you love to start a family. Why shouldn’t my cousin think the same?"

Dugu Chen chuckled awkwardly, "Does Jiazhen have someone she likes? If so, I’ll arrange their marriage for them."

"Forget it, you’ll only make things worse. I’m planning to invite girls and Young Masters from respected families in the Capital City, as well as accomplished scholars, over for a banquet in a few days."