Chapter 359: Chapter 353: I Am the Marquis Mansion Dowager 42
The Emperor Emeritus entered the room and immediately saw Anning with a stern face, showing not a hint of happiness.
He quickly handed the fish over to the attending young eunuch, and took a few steps to Anningās side, asking, "Whatās wrong? Whoās made you angry?"
Anning pushed the Emperor Emeritus away with one hand: "Itās not about who made me angry, I just feel itās somewhat unfair to marry you."
Huh?
The Emperor Emeritusās eyebrows shot up: "What are you thinking? Unfair to marry me? Tell me, have you taken a fancy to someone outside?"
That jealousy.
Xu Wan quickly stepped aside the moment she saw it, afraid of getting implicated by the Emperor Emeritusās anger.
The Emperor Emeritus was angry, but Anning was even more so. She stood up with hands on her hips: "What kind of person do you take me for? Am I fickle? Outside, I could laugh and cry whenever I wanted, go wherever I desired. But after marrying you, I dare not even laugh out loud, and if the child cries out of misery, some meddlesome gossipers say crying in the palace brings bad luck. Pah! Canāt do this, canāt do that; what sort of life is this? Might as well not be human and just be a clay idol enshrined in a temple."
Anning didnāt just scold; in her fury, she even became physical, slapping the Emperor Emeritus: "When I complain to you, just look at your face; earlier, you looked as if you could eat me. When a countrywoman feels aggrieved, her man knows how to vent for her. And you call yourself the Emperor Emeritus. Are you even not as good as a countryman?"
The Emperor Emeritus was bewildered by Anningās scolding and hitting.
He had never been through such things before.
His Imperial Concubines were all gentle and submissive, serving him wholeheartedly. None would dare show him a sulking face, let alone raise a hand to hit him.
It could be said that in the Emperor Emeritusās life, the only one who dared to hit him like this was Anning alone.
He didnāt dare to retaliate or even get angry, instead just trying to dodge her blows: "Stop hitting, donāt hit anymore, your strength really does hurt... If you harm me, youāll have to be a widow... Thatās murder of your own husband, you know."
After Anning fiercely disciplined the Emperor Emeritus, she finally sat down and gulped down a cup of tea.
Seeing her charming face frosted over, the Emperor Emeritus quickly cozied up to console her: "What exactly is the matter, you suddenly snapped at me, and even I feel wronged. Whoās upset you? Just tell me, and I will take care of it."
"I donāt need you to take care of it; with that time, I can sort out the person myself."
Anning glared at the Emperor Emeritus, turned away, and drank another cup of tea: "How come I heard that yesterday in the palace, Consort Xu and Consort Liu actually sent you love letters, expressing their worries and longing for you, wanting to come over to attend to you? How so? Arenāt you going to invite them over to serve you well?"
The Emperor Emeritus hurriedly waved his hands: "Iāve been wronged! Ever since we got married, I havenāt looked at any other woman in the harem. I have no such desire."
Only then did a smile appear on Anningās face: "If you dare to have such thoughts, Iāll go down with you."
Terrified, the Emperor Emeritus swallowed hard and assured Anning firmly: "No, really no desire of that sort. My heart belongs only to you, I will never get entangled with any other woman."
Anningās mood changed fast. After the Emperor Emeritusās promise, she smiled, affectionately rubbed his face: "Did that hurt just now? Let me blow on it for you."
Oddly though, the Emperor Emeritus actually enjoyed her attention, and they had a warm and affectionate chat for a while.
After he had soothed Anning, the Emperor Emeritus breathed a sigh of relief.
He had heard before of a Minister who had a ātigressā at home; in front of his wife, he didnāt dare to even breathe too heavily, and had no concubines at home. He used to secretly mock that Minister for being afraid of his wife, lacking masculine vigor.
But now that he was in that situation, he realized how terrifying it was to have a tigress at home.
At the same time, he now understood the feelings of that Minister.
Itās not that he was afraid of his wife, but rather, it was out of love and respect.
If he didnāt care about her, why would he be afraid?
For a moment, Anning felt better, and began talking to the Retired Emperor about the fish he had caught.
"If itās a fish this long, it must weigh about five or six jin, itās quite big too. Wow, youāre really skilled, to be able to catch such a big fish in one go. I was just thinking about eating fish, lets cook it up later."
The Retired Emperor smiled and said, "Alright, Iāll have the kitchen prepare a whole fish banquet later."
Anning thought for a moment, "Letās grill the fish. Weāll call Wanāer and go to the back garden to find a spot, and then have the kitchen send over some charcoal. Letās do a barbecue."
The Retired Emperor readily agreed, "Sure, letās do as you say."
Anning summoned Xu Wan over, while the Retired Emperor took a young eunuch to find a place. Anning and Xu Wan went to the kitchen to grab spices and such.
After being busy for a while, Anning finally put the fish and meat on the grill, and Emperor Yong Guang casually strolled over.
As soon as Anning saw him, he smiled, "Youāre just in time. Weāve just finished setting up, and here you are. You must have been drawn by the smell."
Emperor Yong Guang paid his respects and, while standing aside, he smiled at the Retired Emperor and said to Anning, "Then Iāll have a portion as well. The aroma is truly enticing."
Anning and Xu Wan were busy grilling, while Emperor Yong Guang and the Retired Emperor conversed softly.
They were probably discussing state affairs.
Emperor Yong Guang seemed to be talking about the national treasury not being abundant, with many ministers having borrowed silver from it without returning it, thinking of pressing for the repayment of the owed silver.
The Retired Emperor waved his hand dismissively: "Youāre the Emperor, you make the decisions on these matters. Thereās no need to consult with me."
Emperor Yong Guang was very humble, "How can we not consult? Among them are many old ministers. I know the Retired Emperor is lenient towards old ministers, and this matter must be run by you, otherwise I wonāt be at ease."
At this time, Anning just finished grilling a few skewers of meat and put them onto a plate to be sent to Emperor Yong Guang and the Retired Emperor.
The Retired Emperor took a skewer of meat, eating as he said, "I understand. Go ahead and handle it."
Emperor Yong Guang also grabbed a skewer and took a bite. His eyes lit up after that bite, and he promptly started eating voraciously.
Seeing Emperor Yong Guang eating so eagerly, the Retired Emperor quickly joined in the feast.
After having a few skewers of meat, Emperor Yong Guang said, "Thereās another matter. Prince Shun has taken a fancy to Tang Pei and wants to marry Princess Shuhui to him. Iāll need to mention this to the Father Emperor and the Queen Mother, and if the Queen Mother agrees, I will then issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage."
Emperor Yong Guang spoke in neither a loud nor soft voice, Anning had already heard him.
As she was grilling vegetables, she said, "I heard. This is not something I can decide on, I need to ask Peiāer. If heās willing then anything goes, but if heās not, we canāt force him to marry."
Emperor Yong Guang smiled, "Of course, thatās only proper."
After eating a few more vegetables, he didnāt linger and left again, casually strolling away with his entourage.
Anning wrote a letter and in the evening, she sent someone to deliver it to Tang Pei.
Just as it was getting dark, someone from the palace came, this time bringing Fan Yaofang.