Twenty-seventh bowl of soup (seven & eight)
Yuan Jia can't sit still like this. Even if he can only become Gu Yu's accessory in this world, he can't even lose the chance to meet her.
The empress doesn't care much about desires, so the number of visits to the harem every month can be counted on the fingers, even if it's a flop, she often chooses to go to the queen's place. Therefore, even if Yuan Jia came from a prominent background and was not favored by the empress, it would be very difficult to see her.
He had no choice but to walk barefoot on the cold, uncarpeted marble floor all night, and then drank cold water, and finally made himself sick.
But Yuan Jia miscalculated, he thought it was just a minor ailment like a cold and diarrhea, but he forgot that this body is not the same as before, naturally not as strong as before, the price of drinking cold water barefoot is that he is really sick, Moreover, she was not seriously ill, she had vomiting and diarrhea, and the imperial physician came several times and prescribed several medicines, but she didn't feel any better after taking it.
Yuan Jia was a little anxious, in this case, what's the use of letting Gu Yu come to see him? Now he looks ugly, sick, and unable to serve her, even if Gu Yu comes, it is only because of the Yuan clan behind him, not for him. After seeing his current appearance, I'm afraid I won't like him even more.
But it was useless for him to regret, because the empress had already learned of his illness.
Yuan Jia struggled to get up from the bed. Although he couldn't dress up, he definitely couldn't face the Empress with a sick face without winning her heart. Fortunately, the little eunuch who was accompanying him was quick-witted and quick-witted. Before the Empress came in, she covered up his haggardness a little bit with powder, but it was able to reveal a little weakness. state of need.
The empress is still wearing a bright yellow dragon robe. She happened to be going to court, when He Shanggong said that Yuan Gongjun was seriously ill, and asked her if she wanted to come and see. It's fine if it's other palace monarchs, the Yuan clan is kind to the empress, and there are more ministers in the family, so the empress will never chill the hearts of the Yuan clan.
Entering the hall, seeing Yuan Jia was really weak, but he still had to stand up and salute. The empress took a step forward to support Yuan Jia who was about to bow down, and said: "There is no need to be too polite, I have a rest, I will come to see you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern." Yuan Jia quietly raised his eyes to look at the empress, seeing that her phoenix eyes were long and narrow, she was not angry and prestige, and there was a domineering air in her words and deeds, she couldn't help but tremble.
"Help the gentleman back to the bed." He Shanggong hurriedly ordered to the eunuchs.
The eunuchs hurriedly helped Yuan Jia back to the bed. The Empress said a few words to Yuan Jia, expressing her concern and was about to leave, but Yuan Jia suddenly grabbed her hand. The empress was a little strange, and looked down, only to see Yuan Jia staring at her intently, with longing and begging in her dark eyes: "Your Majesty, can you stay a little longer? I haven't seen Your Majesty for a long time. …”
The empress thought for a while, and said: "Alright, I will wait until you fall asleep before leaving."
Yuan Jia did a lot of homework before he was going to bring Gu Yu back again, and he basically understood what men in this era are like. At the same time, he also learned from some faces. It was about the empress, almost as soon as the empress was mentioned, Yuan Jia would get to the bottom of it.
He put away all the male chauvinism and the so-called male self-esteem. He didn't know what those things were. What he wanted to do most now was to regain the empress's heart. Apart from that, he had nothing else to ask for.
Because of this, Yuan Jia did not hide the affection in his eyes at all, the fiery eyes made the empress stiff for a few seconds. There are countless beautiful men in the harem, and most of them are pleasing to her, but she has never seen such naked eyes, as if all the intentions are written in the eyes, so reckless, so sincere.
For a tough and cold emperor, nothing burns her like a fire of admiration.
As for Yuan Jia, the empress didn't like it at first, thinking that he was not as educated, sensible, gentle and virtuous as the Yuan clan said, but... a bit vulgar and difficult to be elegant. That's why she didn't set foot in his palace again after being lucky with him once. She is the emperor, she likes whoever she likes and dislikes whoever she likes, and she can do as she pleases, but this time, the empress felt inexplicably, as if this Yuan Palace You didn't hate it the first time you saw it.
In this way, Yuan Jia took every step of the way, and slowly began to gain a sense of presence in front of the empress. Since he is not from this world, many views and ideas are different from those of the ministers who stick to the rules in this world. The Empress can often get inspiration or new insights from him. Over time, the two get along very harmoniously harmony.
From a palace lord who was not cared for after being blessed for a night, to a lord who was summoned most often by the empress besides the husband, Yuan Jia has embarked on a path that makes all the beautiful men in the harem envy and hate.
But none of them could copy Yuanjia's glory. Many times the empress was troubled by certain government affairs, and Yuan Jia, who had decades of experience as an emperor, would quietly enlighten her and give her hints, but never said it out on her own initiative. This world has extremely high demands on men, especially the harem, if one dares to say a word or two on major national affairs, it will kill the nine clans.
Besides, Yuan Jia only wanted the empress's heart, not Jiangshan, and he didn't want to create a gap between him and the empress because of this, so that she would be on guard against him.
However, after working so hard for so long, the Empress only treated him mildly, she could say a few more words, and came to him more often. But in her eyes, Yuan Jia couldn't see anything except a little warmer.
He was a little sad, but quickly cheered himself up again after the sadness passed. How long has he been here, a little more than half a year, when Gu Yu was by his side for several years, and in the end it was like this, even if he repays the debt, he has to pay some interest, right
Thinking of this, Yuan Jia summoned up his courage again.
It just so happened that at the palace banquet on the eve of the New Year's Eve, all high-ranking palace monarchs were required to attend, and Yuan Jia was naturally included.
For the banquet in the evening, Yuan Jia started preparations under the urging of the eunuchs when he got up in the morning. What color robe to wear, what kind of jade crown to use, which piece of jade to wear...etc.
And he can wear any color, except the bright yellow that represents the emperor and emperor.
Yuan Jia's body was known as the most beautiful man when he was in his boudoir, and it was even more dazzling and handsome after careful grooming. His rank was second only to the husband of the king, so he sat on the lower left hand of the empress. Yuan Jia couldn't help but look at the empress all the time during the dinner.
She was also very beautiful today, but she didn't pay attention to herself from the beginning to the end. Except for a few words with Wang Fu, the empress basically ignored any palace monarchs. Yuan Jia held the chopsticks in his hand, but his heart couldn't stop being sore. He is not even qualified to sit beside her... He is just one of her many princes, maybe a little different, but in fact there is not much difference.
Yuan Jia couldn't restrain the strong sense of loss in his heart. In the past six months, the regret and pain he thought had been buried deep in his heart hadn't been reduced at all. It was just because he was good at self-comforting and covering up, so he didn't reappear, and he thought the wound was getting better.
But it still hurts so badly.
During this palace banquet, Yuan Jia didn't move his chopsticks much, couldn't eat, couldn't hold his breath, and even felt dizzy all over, but he drank a lot of wine and became dizzy, as if this could bother everything I forgot.
In the end, he didn't remember how he got back to the bedroom. Anyway, he woke up the next morning with a terrible headache, and the little eunuch brought him some wine and tea, and told him that it was His Majesty's order.
Yuan Jia shuddered immediately: "How did I come back last night?"
"Hui Gongjun came back in His Majesty's imperial chariot." The little eunuch was smiling, because his master was favored and his face was bright, so he was also very happy. Except for the husband, the only one who has ever sat on His Majesty's imperial chariot is Yuan Gongjun! This is an honor that no other palace monarch has ever had!
Yuan Jia tried hard to recall what he said last night, but found nothing. He should have a better memory, this is not his body that never pours a thousand cups, but the body of a frail man like Lin Daiyu. He should have remembered since the last time he fell ill, but he did it again last night.
Seeing that Yuan Jia didn't seem to be very happy, the little eunuch asked hesitantly: "What's the matter, Mr. Gong? Your Majesty values you so much. How gratifying is it? Why are you still frowning?"
Hearing what the little eunuch said, Yuan Jia sighed lightly. What he said was not bad. In other people's eyes, his position in the empress's heart is absolutely different, but so what, there is a royal wife in front of him , can he cross the past? Mrs. Wang made no mistakes, and she and the Empress were married again. Yuan Jia hadn't experienced that kind of relationship before. How could he not understand
It is not easy to completely snatch the empress over.
Yuan Jia was a little dazed as he waved the little eunuch down. He had been in this world for more than half a year, but it felt like years. Thinking about the past now, it seems like a lifetime away.
Maybe it was because I owed her that I had to pay it back in this life.
When Yuan Jia first got acquainted with the empress, he still had hope that the empress would remember him, but as time passed, he gave up. Gu Yu was different from him, he hadn't forgotten anything, but she hadn't. Why? Didn't they all carry the memory of each other in the last life? Why is it that only I can remember this life, but Gu Yu can't remember it at all
Is this how God punished him
In this regard, Mo Ze, who watched the whole process, said: Because Gu Yu drank the soup of Meng Po, and you are not eligible to go to Naihe Bridge!
That night, the Empress came. Yuan Jia was very happy, but he was also worried that he said something he shouldn't have said last night. He looked at the empress with hesitant eyes. He didn't run over like a puppy until the empress waved to him. He squatted down in front of him, letting her cold fingers pinch his cheek.
"What's the matter, what kind of expression is this? Is there something about me that makes you uncomfortable?"
"Of course not, it's just... Your Majesty, I didn't say anything bad last night, did I?" Yuan Jia asked anxiously. Now he is very afraid that if he doesn't pay attention, he will tell the things of his past and present life again. The facts are the facts, but it is really not good for him to say these strange things in front of an emperor. If someone used this as an excuse to attack him as being possessed by a demon, and he didn't remember anything after waking up, how would he explain it
Thinking of this, Yuan Jia carefully observed the expression of the Empress. Her face was as beautiful as ever, but nothing could be seen from her expression and eyes. Yuan Jia was a little discouraged, but he mustered up his courage again. Instead of letting the empress hear it and then cover it up, it's better to ask it outright. "Your Majesty, did I really do something stupid?"
The empress closed the book in her hand and said, "I didn't do anything stupid, I said a lot of nonsense."
lies? Yuan Jia looked at the Empress' face more seriously, and confirmed that although her tone was a little cold, her eyes were relaxed, which showed that she was teasing him, not blaming him. Thinking of this, he breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a smile, "Is Your Majesty angry with me?"
"You talked nonsense at the palace banquet, shouldn't I be angry with you?"
The empress's expression was half a smile, which made Yuan Jia's heart pound again after taking the reassurance. What the hell is going on... "Then, what did I say?"
He Shanggong on the side burst out laughing. "Mr. Yuan Gong, you, in the crowd, rushed over and hugged His Majesty's waist, crying and saying that you love Your Majesty. You also said that you have done something wrong and I am sorry for Your Majesty. You will definitely treat her well in the future. You will never do anything Your Majesty wants you to do." Nothing else."
Just think about it, in a public place, with so many eyes staring at him, he is a majestic prince, hugging the emperor's waist and crying and apologizing to show his loyalty... Yuan Jia thought, let him die, no wonder he said everyone will watch today His eyes are a bit strange, as if he is some kind of comedian.
The Empress also found it interesting when He Shanggong said it so vividly, the corners of her mouth slightly raised. Yuan Jia and Wang Fu gave her a completely different feeling. She felt peaceful by Wang Fu's side. The two had been together for many years, and Wang Fu never bored her. Everything he did was just right, so she was very pleased with the Empress. Heart.
But Yuan Jia and Wang Fu are completely different. Yuan Jia had a wild temper and always said something surprising. If the empress could let her guard down in front of the husband, then the empress would feel a rare sense of ease and comfort when she was beside Yuan Jia. This is why she likes to come to Yuan Jia's place, he doesn't need her to say anything, he can always make her happy.
To be able to please the emperor to such an extent, Yuan Jia is not an ordinary person.
He Shanggong thought so.
Yuan Jia originally wanted to kneel down and apologize first, after all, if he really did such a stupid thing as Shang Gong said last night, he would definitely lose face to the royal family in full view. But now seeing that the empress didn't intend to question her, he just hit the snake with the stick. He Shanggong winked and immediately led the eunuchs back, leaving room for the two of them.
Yuan Jia snuggled up beside the empress, staring at her face. They have been together for half a year, and the atmosphere is always very relaxed. In addition, yesterday he was drunk and made a big joke, Yuan Jia wanted to take a gamble, he wanted to ask what the Empress was thinking. "His Majesty."
"Um?"
"What kind of feelings does Your Majesty have towards Mrs. Wang?" He considered for a few seconds before asking.
But after asking, he immediately regretted it, because the empress looked at him with a cold look in her eyes: "Is this the question you should ask?"
"Your Majesty, forgive me!" Yuan Jia immediately knelt down to plead guilty, his body trembling slightly. Unlike Gu Yu who loves him deeply, the woman in front of him at this moment is a well-deserved iron-blooded emperor. Yuan Jia must admit that Gu Yu is better than himself as an emperor. He can help her purely because of his knowledge. The reason is that it is more extensive and richer in experience. When it comes to ability and skill, he is inferior to Gu Yu.
The empress looked down at him for a few seconds and said calmly, "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yuan Jia stood up, only to realize that he was in a cold sweat. He actually... has been unable to control his fear in front of Gu Yu, it seems that in the past six months, while their distance has gotten closer, he has been slowly tamed by her.
The empress didn't speak for the next few minutes, but Yuan Jia, who was standing aside, couldn't control her physical reaction. He was startled by his own changes, he never found out that something was wrong with him, he thought that he was gradually "going to the countryside to do as the Romans do", but in fact, his essence had already changed.
Change.
It turned out to be such a terrible thing.
Thinking of oneself and others, so, the self in the previous life was also subtly changed by the ancient feudal society? Denied the idea of equality between men and women, monogamy, and loyalty to his lover, he took it for granted that as an emperor, he should embrace left and right, and Gu Yu must forgive.
That world is cruel to Gu Yu who refuses to change with him, and therefore, in the end, Gu Yu would rather die than give in. It's better to be broken than to be whole, but he himself has never understood this truth.
And in this world, he began to change again. This is the so-called "do as the Romans do", this time the change is different from the previous life, but there is no difference in essence.
In the final analysis, it was his weakness that caused this result. His soul is not strong enough, persistent enough, and self-maintaining enough, but in order for the world to assimilate him and allow him to survive, he must be changed.
He is inferior to Gu Yu in terms of being an emperor, and he is also far behind Gu Yu in terms of being a human being.
In the modern world, Yuan Jia always thought that he was an extremely good man, and it was true. In the ancient world, he always believed that he was unique and worthy of Gu Yu's efforts and sacrifices. But now he realized that from the beginning to the end, he was not worthy of Gu Yu.
He is not worthy of such a good woman.
The funny thing is that he is still complacent, thinking how powerful and charming he is.
It was... scary.
Yuan Jia shook his body, it was the first time he realized this, he was completely unable to resist, he only felt fear. With him like this, it's no wonder that Gu Yu in this life couldn't fall in love with him, because he himself didn't have the qualities to make her fall in love with him. She deserves better, what kind of better, Yuan Jia doesn't know, but it's definitely not like him.
"What's the matter? I just said a few words to you, and you're scared like this?" The empress looked at him suspiciously. When he asked about her relationship with Wang Fu, it really made her a little unhappy. But it was just a few random words, knowing that he was a sensible person, and didn't think about how to blame him. But look at this appearance, what is this for
Yuan Jia knelt on the ground without raising his head: "... Your Majesty."
"What's wrong?"
The empress reached out to help him, but Yuan Jia knelt on the ground and remained motionless. She frowned slightly, but Yuan Jia looked up at her: "I like Your Majesty."
Caught off guard by being confessed, the Empress was somewhat surprised. There are not many people like Yuan Jia who outright express their admiration for her.
"No, I love Your Majesty." Yuan Jia said. "But I am not worthy of His Majesty."
"There's nothing worthy or not." The empress never thought about such boring things, she forcefully picked up Yuan Jia from the ground, put him on the chair, and sat down, then the corners of her mouth slightly curled up. "Since you can achieve this position, it must mean that you are superior. Could it be that you are doubting my vision? Not long ago, I promoted you to the position of a first-rank palace monarch. In charge of the affairs of the harem. Now you are saying in front of me that you are not worthy, aren't you doubting my vision?"
Yuan Jia stared at her obsessively, and asked after a while: "Your Majesty saw me, did you know me?"
"I met you once before entering the palace, but that's all."
She forgot everything and didn't remember anything. Whether it was love or hate in the past, those sweet or bitter, beautiful or sad pasts, love for a lifetime, tit for tat for a lifetime, in this life, only he can remember those memories.
He was saddened by those memories, but she had already forgotten them gracefully. Just like she left in the previous life, never looking back, never regretting, daring to love and daring to hate, he really doesn't deserve this woman.
"Does Your Majesty believe it? I have a strange memory."
"Um?"
"In my memory, I have done many things that I have done wrong to His Majesty. What is even more frightening is that I have never realized my mistakes. I always feel that I love Your Majesty, and if I give His Majesty love, then I can withdraw my loyalty. But in fact, this is Isn't it right?"
"What are you talking about?" The Empress didn't understand why Yuan Jia said some muddle-headed words today. "Just now you asked about the relationship between me and Mrs. Wang, and I don't know how to answer you. Mrs. Wang and I are married. Before I ascended the throne, he took care of the back house for me. After so many years, I have never let me worry about the affairs of the harem. Yuan Jia, in terms of virtuousness and magnanimity, you are far worse than Wang Fu."
When Yuan Jia listened, her eyes almost burst into tears! He is so unwelcome... Damn it, it's all because of this body, otherwise how could he want to cry
"But you also have characteristics that the husband does not have. Neither of you can replace the two of you. I have a righteous relationship with the husband and love with you. I don't deny that I like you, but the husband is more important than you in my heart. The relationship between me and him will never change, do you understand? If one day, I have to choose between the two of you, Mrs. Wang is my best choice. I hope you can understand this. I am an emperor first, and your wife-lord second."