Chapter 106 - The Unfeeling Emperor

Chapter 106: Chapter 104: The Unfeeling Emperor"Useless, all of you are useless!" Xiao Rou slammed another vase in anger, her once delicately beautiful face now darkened.

"Lady, please calm your anger, today is the 15th, due to ancestral rules, the Emperor had to attend, but you are definitely still his favorite," the senior palace maid spoke bravely.

As per tradition, the Emperor takes his rest at Weiyang Palace on the first and fifteenth day of each month. However, today Ye Qiu also summoned the Crown Prince to stay in the Imperial Study Room all day, making Xiao Rou overthink. In her heart, the positions of the Empress and the Crown Prince had long been destined for her and her son, and they couldn’t afford any mistakes.

But thinking of her cousin’s affections for her in the past, she began to think she might be overreacting. Indeed, how could her cousin like the boring Empress? Besides the first and fifteenth, which day did he visit Weiyang Palace?

With that thought, Xiao Rou’s complexion softened slightly, and the senior palace maid by her side let out a sigh of relief, quickly moving forward to please her: "Lady, the wet nurse is here with the Third Prince to pay respects, the servant thinks that the Third Prince is getting smarter by the day."

Indeed, upon hearing about the Third Prince, Xiao Rou’s face softened even more: "Quickly clean this place up and invite the Third Prince in."

Thus, the storm passed, and the palace maids along with the eunuchs collectively breathed a sigh of relief as they hurried to sweep up the broken debris.

As a result of the Emperor’s visit today, the atmosphere in Weiyang Palace was even more solemn.

Ye Qiu nodded to the Empress, his face showing no emotion; "Serve the meal."

Seeing the Crown Prince getting ready to leave, he added, "You eat as well."

"Yes, this son thanks Father Emperor," Ye Huaijin promptly replied, not sure why, but he felt that his Father Emperor seemed different today. Although they hadn’t spoken much today, somehow he felt his Father Emperor wasn’t as frightening?

Li Yanlan, standing nearby, wasn’t aware of her son’s inner thoughts; she had been anxious all day long. When His Majesty then asked her son to stay and eat together, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Given Ye Qiu’s usual demeanor, both the Empress and the Crown Prince did not dare to speak much during the meal, and Ye Qiu knew that such a sudden change might be frightening, indicating a need to take things slowly.

The next morning, just as Chen hour arrived, Ye Huaijin followed his Father Emperor’s instructions from the previous day and went to the martial arts training field. The early summer morning was not as hot as during the day, which helped calm his mood a bit. Just as he was wondering who his Martial Arts teacher would be, he saw Ye Qiu appear in front of him.

Ye Huaijin was startled and hurriedly bowed, "This son greets Father Emperor."

"Rise," Ye Qiu replied, dressed in a tight outfit, appearing even more valiant than usual.

"From today onward, I will personally teach you."

It wasn’t just the Crown Prince; even Eunuch Shun was stunned. They hadn’t expected such an outcome. Although the Emperor had practiced Martial Arts before, it hadn’t been for long. Could this really work?

But clearly, now they had to make it work.

"Little Shunzi, have someone guard the martial arts training field, without my command, no one is allowed in."

"Yes, I obey!"

Although Ye Huaijin was slightly skeptical of his Father Emperor’s ability, he dared not disregard Ye Qiu’s words. He thought to himself, Father Emperor had practiced for a few years, so teaching a novice like him shouldn’t be a problem. Even if Father Emperor’s teaching was inadequate, he could still ask his uncle for guidance once he returned to the capital.

"First, run around the training field twice and let’s see," said Ye Qiu.

"Yes." Having said that, he took off running energetically forward.

Ye Qiu, in turn, gradually followed behind him: "Focus and maintain a steady pace, no need to run so fast."

Ye Huaijin felt rather bewildered by the world at this moment; hadn’t his Father Emperor shown disfavor towards him? Yet why was he still patiently running alongside him? Although his mind was in a turmoil, his pace was no longer as disordered as before.

The martial arts training ground was vast, and even Ye Qiu was somewhat out of breath after running two laps, not to mention the seven-year-old Ye Huaijin, who was supporting himself on his knees, drenched in sweat.

"Don’t stop, just walk slowly for a bit." Seeing that the child was truly exhausted, Ye Qiu supported his shoulders to help him stand up slowly.

At this moment, Ye Huaijin truly felt overwhelmed by the favor shown to him, looking dazed and not even knowing to say thank you, just slowly following in Ye Qiu’s footsteps.

From a distance, Eunuch Shun squinted at this scene, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth, foreshadowing that changes might be brewing within the harem.

After resting for a brief moment, Ye Qiu began to teach Ye Huaijin the Body Forging Technique, demonstrating it himself first, and then slowly correcting Ye Huaijin’s movements.

Ye Huaijin was intelligent; his body, although young, had been neglected for years. If not for relying on his experience, he might not even compare to his son.

Although Ye Huaijin found the movements his Father Emperor taught him odd, he felt somewhat refreshed. Could this be some untransmitted secret martial arts manual? Thinking this, he performed the movements even more conscientiously.

From that day, father and son started their daily routine of martial arts training.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests an audience," reported Eunuch Shun as soon as Ye Qiu had finished bathing.

"Did he mention the matter?" Ye Qiu paused while straightening his attire.

"The Prime Minister did not say."

"Ask him to go to the Imperial Study Room." He resumed his usual expression, his instructions calm and indifferent, revealing no emotion.

"Yes!"

"This humble official greets Your Majesty." As soon as Ye Qiu appeared, an elderly man with white hair and a stern face knelt before him. He paused briefly, realizing that Ye Qiu did not help him up or instruct him to rise as he usually would, instead he remained kneeling solidly on the floor.

He pondered secretly, wondering if there was some recent news he was unaware of. After thinking it over, he dismissed the thought, confident that nothing in either the harem or the previous dynasty could escape his notice.

"Rise," said Ye Qiu, seemingly oblivious to the man’s displeased countenance.

"This humble official thanks Your Majesty for his grace."

Without being offered a seat, even as the Emperor’s personal father-in-law and despite his age, he had to stand.

"My vassal, do you have important business?"

Because there were precedents of Emperors in the Hong Dynasty dying from overwork, the protocol for court attendance was later changed to a minor court every five days and a major court every ten days, granting the Prime Minister and Chief of Staff significant authority to reduce the Emperor’s workload.

Normally, unless there was an extremely urgent matter of state, it was rare for a Minister to request an audience.

"Your Majesty, there has been a change in the military situation in the Northern region," he replied.

"Bring me General Li’s memorial for review."

Eunuch Shun handed over the memorial from Prime Minister Xiao, which was not only from General Li but also included a joint memorial from him and the Imperial Censor, criticizing General Li. Ye Qiu looked over it quietly, and Prime Minister Xiao spoke up immediately: "Your Majesty, this General Li really seems to dismiss your authority, he has presumptuously led the Li Family Army to attack the Xiongnu."