CHAPTER 230: CHAPTER 230: TREAT GENEROUSLY

Phoenix Palace.

The Empress was throwing things around like a madwoman.

Crash! Bang!

Since marrying into the palace, she had never faced such a severe punishment as today.

The anger in her chest could only be vented by smashing things.

After smashing some things.

The Empress’s anger subsided a bit.

Inside the Imperial Study.

The Emperor was troubled.

Eunuch Fu had sent someone to buy mahjong tiles.

They bought all they could from the Beauty Pavilion, but there were only six sets.

The usual palace reward rules dictate to first honor the Empress Dowager, then the Empress.

Even if the Emperor and Empress were estranged, the Empress still managed the inner palace and was the exemplar for the nation, she had to be shown enough respect.

But the Empress hated mahjong, and was punished because of it. Rewarding her with mahjong felt like an insult.

And then there was the Empress Dowager—

Duke Chong and Marquis Dongxiang were blood enemies.

The Empress Dowager certainly wouldn’t use anything from the Beauty Pavilion.

But it’s not quite right to overlook the Empress Dowager and the Empress just like that.

The Emperor was in a dilemma.

Eunuch Fu said, "Your Majesty?"

The Emperor waved his hand, "Distribute the rewards according to the usual practice."

"Your servant obeys," Eunuch Fu said.

Eunuch Fu first went to Yongning Palace.

After coming out of Yongning Palace, Eunuch Fu then went to the Phoenix Palace.

Eunuch Fu waited outside for quite some time.

The palace maids and eunuchs were kneeling on the ground cleaning up the mess.

After the floor was cleaned up and wiped again.

Eunuch Fu then went inside.

The Empress, holding back her anger, said, "Eunuch Fu, is there something for this palace?"

"His Majesty sent someone to buy mahjong, and according to the usual practice, I brought a set to the Empress," Eunuch Fu said.

The Empress’s face froze like frost.

No one humiliated her as the Emperor did!

The Empress gritting her teeth, thanked the Emperor for the reward.

Eunuch Fu bowed and left.

But as soon as he left, the sound of things being smashed was heard again.

Eunuch Fu felt a bit sorry for the mahjong tiles.

This was the real way to play mahjong.

The mahjong tiles were smashed to bits.

Yet, aside from the Empress, a wave of mahjong fever swept through the palace.

Once mahjong entered the palace, the Emperor was neglected.

In the Imperial Garden, no concubines "accidentally bumped into him."

Staying in the Imperial Study, no concubines brought swallow’s nest porridge and pastries.

The whole world became much quieter.

"Mahjong is such a good thing," the Emperor was quite satisfied.

"No one comes to bring you food now, and the Imperial Kitchen said my appetite has increased significantly these days," Eunuch Fu said with a half-smile.

"..."

"Let’s go, for a stroll in the Imperial Garden."

The Emperor went to the Imperial Garden.

After a while, he heard the sound of mahjong being played.

The Emperor followed the sound and saw several concubines playing mahjong, chatting and laughing, immense happiness.

The Emperor stepped forward.

Eunuch Fu stopped him, "Your Majesty, you’d better not go."

The Emperor frowned, "Why not?"

Eunuch Fu hesitated to speak.

"Speak up!" the Emperor urged.

"The other day, Marquis Dongxiang ordered me to tell you not to play mahjong," Eunuch Fu softly said.

The Emperor’s brows knitted together.

Fury surged from his limbs to his face.

"He dares to forbid me from playing mahjong?!" the Emperor said angrily.

Eunuch Fu looked at the Emperor and said, "Marquis Dongxiang feared that the Emperor might indulge in mahjong, thereby losing sight of your duties, becoming a foolish ruler, which would then implicate the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion in disgrace."

"Playing mahjong is a pastime for idle women of the boudoir, but the Emperor cannot."

The Emperor was extremely upset, "I haven’t even played it yet, and he’s sure I’ll become obsessed?!"

"That’s what I said too, but Marquis Dongxiang asked me to remind the Emperor of one thing," Eunuch Fu said.

"What thing?"

"As goes the emperor, so goes the realm," Eunuch Fu said.

Whether the Emperor would get addicted to mahjong, Eunuch Fu didn’t know.

But whatever the Emperor liked to do, the officials would also study it.

If the Emperor played mahjong, wouldn’t the officials play too?

Mahjong isn’t played alone; it requires four people.

The Emperor despised factions and cabals; don’t give the ministers an excuse to do what he hated.

The Emperor’s steps seemed to be planted firmly on the ground.

He glanced at the pavilion, then turned and left.

After walking a few steps, the Emperor stopped again.

"He’s a mere bandit, and he understands ’as goes the emperor, so goes the realm’?" the Emperor asked with a frown.

"Your Majesty, that is Marquis Dongxiang’s exact words, I didn’t add or subtract a word," Eunuch Fu hurriedly said.

"But it’s indeed strange that a mere bandit knows ’as goes the emperor, so goes the realm,’" Eunuch Fu was also puzzled.

The Emperor’s lips curled into a smile.

Wondering what he thought of.

In any case, the Emperor was in a good mood.

...

Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.

Today was Xie Jingchen’s last day of medicinal baths.

Getting out of the bath, Xie Jingchen’s skin was flushed red, but he was in good spirits.

The Hidden Guard was happy for him, looking at Su Jin, "Eldest Young Madam, is the poison in Eldest Young Master’s body fully cleared?"

"It’s all cleared," Su Jin said.

Xie Jingchen rested for a quarter of an hour, then went to bathe to get rid of the medicinal smell on his body.

When he returned to the backyard, he stepped into Su Jin’s bamboo house.

Su Jin casually tossed him a medicine bottle.

"Smell it," Su Jin said with a smile.

Xie Jingchen took the medicine bottle.

He opened the lid, sniffed, and said, "It has a faint fragrance, smells nice."

"What is this?" he asked curiously.

"Knockout medicine," Su Jin said.

"..."

With just those two words, Su Jin continued to rummage through drawers.

Xie Jingchen had a face full of black lines.

He handed the medicine bottle to the Hidden Guard.

The Hidden Guard sniffed the bottle, but couldn’t tell what it was.

Xingxing took the bottle from him and smelled it with all her might.

Then—

Xie Jingchen hadn’t even sat down yet.

Without martial arts, Xingxing collapsed to the ground.

Along with her, the Hidden Guard also fainted.

Su Jin, "..."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

Su Jin glared at Xie Jingchen, "Didn’t I tell you it’s knockout medicine, why did you let them smell it!"

Xie Jingchen’s mouth twitched, "I thought you were joking."

"They probably thought so too."

"I’m serious, big brother!" Su Jin said, holding her forehead.

"..."

"What big brother? I’m your husband!" Xie Jingchen frowned, correcting her.

Su Jin, "..."

No way to communicate anymore.

Su Jin didn’t speak for a while.

Xie Jingchen broke the silence.

"Why didn’t I faint?" he wondered.

Su Jin walked to Xingxing’s side, helped her onto a small couch to lie down on.

Xie Jingchen helped the Hidden Guard.

Su Jin threw him another medicine bottle, saying, "You were deeply poisoned, and over time, your bones have developed some resistance to toxins, and now I’ve detoxified you, so ordinary poisons don’t work on you much, although it’s not as magical as being completely invincible to all poisons, it’s still a surprise."

"I don’t believe it," Xie Jingchen said.

"It’s absolutely true. It’s like ’No pain, no gain,’" Su Jin said seriously.

"..."

"I am serious, brother!" Su Jin said, exasperated.

"..."

"Here, try it," Su Jin said, handing over a bottle of arsenic.

Xie Jingchen, "..."

"I believe you," Xie Jingchen said.

"I’m glad you think it’s a pleasant surprise," Su Jin said, "You’re welcome to treat me as you see fit for this gift."

"..."

"Alright," Xie Jingchen replied.

Su Jin, "..."

No way to communicate.