LRAB Chapter 634: Make Her Prioritize You As I Do
Chapter 634: Make Her Prioritize You As I Do
Chapter 634: Make Her Prioritize You As I Do
Hearing Huangfu Qing’s frustration from outside the door, Xia Chichi stuck out her tongue. She had to admit that she might have gotten slightly carried away, which was not ideal.
In truth, the sky was only just beginning to lighten, and it was not truly urgent to attend court. Xia Chichi could easily hear the hint of jealousy in her Empress Mother’s voice. The insistence on attending court was clearly just an excuse. But the real issue lay deeper—Xia Chichi was still adjusting to her role as empress. She knew this night should have rightfully belonged to Tang Wanzhuang.
If Tang Wanzhuang woke to find her man had slipped away in the night, the sting would be hard to bear. It would be a bitter pill, especially if it seemed like the empress was competing with her own minister for affection. That was a humiliation best left to palace maids like Baoqin, not the sovereign herself.
It really isn’t strange for her to be displeased. If the venerable catches wind of this, the resulting storm would probably be far worse.
Yet, the current situation and her own feelings left Xia Chichi clinging to Zhao Changhe. His presence was a wellspring of safety and comfort. Even now, as empress, she found solace in him, just as she had when they first met. Back then, isolated in unfamiliar territory, he had been the only one to share her burden. Even now, with their statuses having shifted dramatically, he remained her emotional anchor.@@@@
With a sigh, Xia Chichi rose and gathered the scattered inner garments, slipping them on. She opened the door, her expression mischievous. “By custom, shouldn’t I be greeting the Empress Mother at this hour?”
Huangfu Qing’s face was stormy. “Spare me. With a child like you, my heart can barely handle it.”
Xia Chichi leaned closer, a sly smile on her lips. “But isn’t your heart still in bed, brimming with energy...? Need me to send him over?”
Huangfu Qing: “...”
She shot a quick glance at Zhao Changhe, who was calmly getting dressed. His eyes met hers through the space between Xia Chichi’s shoulders, his gaze laced with something unreadable. A strange flutter stirred in her chest, and she hastily looked away.
Composing herself, she snapped at Xia Chichi, “The palace is newly established, and there is much to do. As both a representative of the holy cult and the empress dowager, I advise you not to indulge in this... and certainly don’t compete with Tang Wanzhuang.”
With that, she stormed off. “I have my own affairs to handle. I don’t have time for your childish games!”
Watching her storm away, Xia Chichi exhaled in relief.
As expected, my aunt-master truly is reliable.
The empress dowager’s reaction assured Xia Chichi that no reports would be made to the venerable, hence everything was safe... for now.
Hmm... My aunt-master mentioned that she would ask for a favor once she resolved things with my master. I wonder what embarrassing task awaits me.
She turned to Zhao Changhe, her eyes bright with resolve, and clenched her fist. “I’ll soon resolve the issue with the venerable. At that time, we can be together openly! Go and keep Tang Wanzhuang company—I have work to do.”
Seeing the little empress so full of determination, Zhao Changhe’s heart softened. Xia Chichi’s emotions were deeply buried, but her actions revealed all the struggles she kept hidden. Her acceptance of the throne, her resistance against the venerable, her willingness to endure humiliation for love—all spoke to her quiet strength and resilience.
Zhao Changhe was startled, blinking in surprise. “That’s quite a combat-ready way to wake up...”
“Huh?” Tang Wanzhuang exhaled deeply, brushing away imaginary sweat from her forehead. “I’ve never slept so deeply before. For a moment, I thought I’d missed something important. But... thinking it through, Baoqin hasn’t come to wake me, so I suppose everything is fine.”
Zhao Changhe sighed softly, his hand caressing her cheek with a touch of regret. “It’s alright now... Even before, I always told you to let go of some burdens...”
“Because you’re here?”
“Yes, because I’m here.”
Her beautiful eyes lingered on his face for a moment, only then noting that he was already dressed. A thoughtful look crossed her face.
Zhao Changhe spoke in a low, apologetic voice. “Sorry, earlier...”
“Shh...” She placed a slender finger on his lips, silencing him. “You didn’t lie back down and pretend nothing happened. That’s good enough for me...”
“Wait, are you... self-gaslighting?”
“What’s gaslighting?” Tang Wanzhuang asked, curious but not dwelling on it. She simply smiled and said, “Anyone seeking you out here would either be the empress or the empress dowager. It’s not like you can just turn them away...”
There was no reproach in her voice. Instead, she leaned into his embrace once more. “Changhe...”
“Hmm?”
“Calling her Your Majesty is just a courtesy for appearances. In my heart, you are the true emperor.” Her voice then dropped to a whisper as she said, “As for the Four Idols Cult, it’s wise to use affection to secure loyalty—not just with Chichi, but also with the empress dowager.”
Zhao Changhe shook his head, half-amused, half-exasperated. “One of you is the bureau chief of the Demon Suppression Bureau, while the other is venerable of the Four Idols Cult. Why does everything you say sound like a strategy for seducing a man?”
Tang Wanzhuang laughed softly. “Because right now, it’s the most straightforward, effective, and least costly approach. You may not like seeing it that way, but that doesn’t change how we view each other in this game.”
She paused, her expression turning serious. “I once advised the late emperor that Huangfu Qing was likely Vermillion Bird. He ignored me. Do you believe it now?”
“I do.”
Tang Wanzhuang let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile touching her lips. “I worried about finding proof, but if you believe it, things are simpler. Even if Vermillion Bird has shared intimacy with you, her heart is still dedicated to the cult. She only allows herself to be with you as Huangfu Qing. What you need to do now is make her prioritize you—just as, in my heart, the Great Xia is second to you.”