Jun Zishu rode the palanquin back to her imperial bedchamber. By the time she returned, the room’s incense had already been replaced with one that was much more pleasant to her nose.
Jun Zishu finally got a good look at the palace she lived in, and she found that it was much more luxurious than the one Yue Mingsheng lived in.
Most importantly, the bed here was massive.
Looking at the bed, Jun Zishu couldn’t help but massage her temples.
…
The next morning, Defu gently woke up the sleeping empress.
Although the original owner lived a debaucherous life, she still had the decency to wake up and attend morning court conferences every day. Of course, whether she liked to attend court was an entirely different matter.
As soon as Jun Zishu regained consciousness, her eyes snapped open, and they looked clear and void of sluggishness.
Defu was startled by how quickly the empress woke up, and he hurriedly bowed for fear of being chastised.
Jun Zishu ignored Defu’s reaction and got out of bed. Then, she spread her arms and waited for the palace maids to serve her.
After washing up and donning the dragon robe and crown, she made her way to the courtroom.
When Jun Zishu sat down on the throne, everyone in the room kneeled and worshiped her.
Jun Zishu gestured for everyone to stand up. Then, following the original owner’s footsteps, she lazily listened to the officials’ presentation one after another.
However, while she might look like she didn’t care, she was, in reality, carefully scrutinizing everyone’s behavior.
The courtroom was anything but peaceful. Many villains appeared in the courtroom because of the original owner’s irresponsibility, such as the person currently speaking.
“Your Majesty, the treasury has seen a significant deficit recently. I think we should appropriately reduce the Ministry of War’s expenditure now that the country is safe and secure. We can instead use that money on more appropriate places.”
Chen Bai, also known as the dynasty’s number one bootlicker, was deeply favored by the original owner. Apart from being good-looking, he was very good at fawning the original owner, always bringing novel ways to flatter the original owner.
“What a bunch of nonsense! You mustn’t listen to his words, Your Majesty!” the Minister of War promptly stood forward to refute Chen Bai.
“Why not?” Jun Zishu casually asked, her words causing an uproar among the officials beneath the throne.
The treacherous ministers smiled when they heard Jun Zishu’s response, while everyone else’s faces looked ugly to the extreme.
“Your Majesty, while there is no ongoing war right now, the foreigners on the northwestern border are constantly waiting for a chance to act! Food and wages for the military must not be reduced!”
The voices of admonition from both sides were incessant, and Chen Bai’s faction argued strongly for the reduction of military funding.
After spectating the argument for some time, Jun Zishu shouted, “Enough, enough! Where do you think this is? A market?”
The young empress wore a cold smile on her face. Although her movements were lazy, her every action exuded an air of nobility.
Everyone grew silent when they heard Jun Zishu’s criticism.
“Lord Chen, repeat what you said at the beginning,” Jun Zishu commanded.
“The treasury has seen a significant deficit recently. I think we should appropriately reduce the Ministry of War’s expenditure now that the country is safe and secure. We can instead use that money on more appropriate places,” Chen Bai confidently repeated his words.
“More appropriate places?”
Jun Zishu leaned back against the throne, her crown swaying along with her movements. Then, she looked at Chen Bai with a scrutinizing gaze.
“For example, your home, Lord Chen?”
Sarcasm laced Jun Zishu’s voice, and everyone was shocked when they heard her words.
Chen Bai’s faction was especially confused. They failed to understand why the situation had turned out like this. As for the other officials, some quietly observed the situation, trying to figure out what the empress was trying to do. Only a few loyal ministers felt that the empress might be trying to pull her act together.
“I dare not, Your Majesty.”
Chen Bai’s mind turned quickly. He concluded that someone must’ve badmouthed him before the empress, causing this irresponsible empress to grow suspicious of his loyalty.
“You don’t dare?”
Jun Zishu fiddled with one of the rings on her fingers as she quietly observed Chen Bai.
A silent pressure enveloped the courtroom. The various officials warily looked at each other, nobody daring to say a word.
Chen Bai gritted his teeth under pressure, wondering what had come over the person sitting on the throne today. Not only was she behaving out of the norm, but she had also become much scarier than usual.
A woman’s laugh broke the silence. Then, Jun Zishu waved her hand dismissively and said, “Alright, who else wants to present?”
No one answered.
After waiting a while longer, Jun Zishu glanced at the eunuch beside her, and the eunuch perceptively announced the end of the morning court.
Afterward, the ministers left the courtroom in twos and threes and started expressing their amazement over the empress’s unusual behavior.
“Why did Her Majesty suddenly change her nature today?”
“Thankfully, Her Majesty did not agree to that thieving dog’s proposal. Otherwise, the country will be ruined if she continues in such a muddled state.”
…
Jun Zishu didn’t care what others thought of her. She was currently considered a tyrant, so it was normal for her to switch from liking someone to hating someone for no rhyme or reason. She also found the freedom to do whatever she wanted a pleasant experience.
After leaving the courtroom, Jun Zishu changed into lighter clothing and sat before a round table inside her palace. Then, she waited as the palace maids served her an exquisite breakfast.
The palace maids came in and quickly set up the table, filling the table with all sorts of dishes.
Seeing the amount of food placed before her, Jun Zishu couldn’t help but find the meal a huge extravagance. There was no way she could finish everything by herself.
“Go and ask if Mingsheng has had breakfast yet. If she hasn’t, invite her to dine with me,” Jun Zishu said to Defu.
“Understood.”
While Defu left for Mingxi Palace, a eunuch tasted the food for poison. In the meantime, Jun Zishu leaned back in her seat comfortably, adapting perfectly into the role of empress.
Yue Mingsheng arrived shortly afterward, just like Jun Zishu expected.
Or, more specifically, Jun Zishu knew that Yue Mingsheng couldn’t not come.
“Why do you look so pale, Little Sister? Did you not rest well last night?”
“It’s probably because I caught a little cold, but it’s fine,” Yue Mingsheng answered while pinching the hem of her robe.
Even after Jun Zishu left her palace last night, Yue Mingsheng found that Jun Zishu’s scent lingered in her mind. Moreover, probably because she had been wondering about Jun Zishu’s behavior the entire night, she had ended up dreaming about Jun Zishu smiling at her. Then, she woke up in a panic and couldn’t fall asleep the rest of the night.
Why did that happen? Yue Mingsheng wondered to herself as she looked at Jun Zishu absentmindedly.
In reality, Yue Mingsheng had already eaten breakfast. However, there was no way she could refuse an invitation from the empress. Moreover, she also had a strong urge to see Jun Zishu.
The person before her seemed to have become very different.
Not only did this person stop exuding an air of frivolity and debauchery, but she had even started revealing hints of imperial dignity.
“Make sure to get the doctor to take a look at you if you’re not feeling well.”
“Okay.”
The air turned quiet, and only the sounds of bowls and chopsticks clinking together could be heard for a moment.
Jun Zishu chewed her food carefully. Everything served in the palace was exquisite, and nothing tasted bad.
Yue Mingsheng also ate her food quietly, her eyes constantly sneaking peeks at Jun Zishu throughout the meal.
After Jun Zishu stopped eating and lowered her chopsticks, the palace maids quickly removed the dishes from the table.
Meanwhile, Yue Mingsheng waited for Jun Zishu to make her next move. Going by this person’s habit, she should be leaving to have fun with her male concubines after breakfast.
However, for some inexplicable reason, Yue Mingsheng felt that this person wouldn’t be doing so today.
“Come with me to the imperial study, Little Sister.”
Sure enough.
“Okay.”
…
The original owner rarely set foot into the imperial study. She would typically have her work documents delivered to Mingxi Palace for Yue Mingsheng to process on her behalf. This was common knowledge within the palace complex. The original owner never bothered hiding this fact, either.
Yue Mingsheng dared not ask if Jun Zishu planned to take over government affairs once more. After all, government affairs were originally supposed to be the sovereign’s responsibility.
“Today at court, Chen Bai told me that he wants to reduce military expenditure.”
Yue Mingsheng wrinkled her eyebrows when she heard this, evidently against the proposal.
Yue Mingsheng detested the minister known as Chen Bai. Unfortunately, her cousin liked and favored that minister. She had even tried talking sense into her cousin twice in the past, but to no avail, so she gave up for fear of earning her cousin’s discontent.
“Don’t frown. I did not agree to his proposal,” Jun Zishu said as she gave Yue Mingsheng a tap on the forehead, her action expressing intimacy.
Yue Mingsheng touched her forehead, her mouth subconsciously curling into a smile. Then, she said, “That man isn’t a good person, Big Sister.”
“I am aware of that.” Jun Zishu nodded nonchalantly before sitting down on the throne in the imperial study. Then, she gestured to Yue Mingsheng and said, “Come here.”
“Hm?”
Yue Mingsheng moved closer, standing very close to Jun Zishu.
“Do you want to try sitting here?” Jun Zishu asked as she patted her lap, her eyes smiling as they looked at Yue Mingsheng.
“I dare not.”
Yue Mingsheng raised her head and looked Jun Zishu in the eye. Then, just when she was about to kneel to apologize for her impudence, Jun Zishu suddenly dragged her over.
“What are you afraid of? Who says women can’t be in a position of power? Aren’t I a good example? Not to mention, you are incredibly talented, and your handling of government affairs is in no way inferior to men,” Jun Zishu said, chuckling. Her words, though, were filled with sincerity.
“I am and will forever remain your people, Your Majesty. I have never once had any inordinate ambitions. The world under the heavens will forever belong to Your Majesty,” Yue Mingsheng said in a sincere tone.
However, Jun Zishu did not believe Yue Mingsheng’s words in the slightest. Otherwise, why would Yue Mingsheng band together with Meng Lanxi to overthrow the original owner in the original storyline?
In reality, Jun Zishu didn’t have any ill feelings toward the male and female leads. After all, it was a fact that the original owner was quite an asshole. Yue Mingsheng and Meng Lanxi were actually on the righteous side, all things considered.
“I know you don’t have those kinds. You are my wonderful little sister, after all. Even if others betray me, you will never turn your back on me, right?” Jun Zishu asked with a friendly smile.
“Yes. I am willing to go through fire and die for Your Majesty,” Yue Mingsheng swore.
“You don’t need to be like this, Little Sister. How could I possibly let a delicate girl like you go through fire and water for me?”
Jun Zishu took Yue Mingsheng’s hand and gently tapped the girl’s fingers.
Yue Mingsheng was stunned, the only thought coming to her mind was that Jun Zishu’s hand felt soft and warm to the touch.
“Come, sit.”
Jun Zishu gently tugged at Yue Mingsheng’s hand, pulling her into her arms and sitting the girl in her lap.
“Big Sister…”
Yue Mingsheng’s body stiffened. The thighs underneath her felt incredibly soft, and she couldn’t help but worry she would crush them. Moreover, this was the high and mighty empress they were talking about. How could she possibly sit on the empress’s lap?
Then, Yue Mingsheng got a whiff of the warming fragrance again. At the same time, she felt an arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her back, instantly removing the gap between her and Jun Zishu.
“Are you so afraid of me, Mingsheng?” Jun Zishu whispered into Yue Mingsheng’s ear.
“I-I’m not afraid…”
“Why is your voice trembling if you aren’t afraid? Why is your body so stiff?”
Yue Mingsheng nervously gulped, her face revealing a struggling expression outside of Jun Zishu’s view.
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For some reason, Yue Mingsheng felt as if she had lost control over her body, her voice trembling and her body stiffening against her will.
“Don’t be scared. I won’t eat you,” Jun Zishu said in a teasing tone. “If you’re already so afraid after sitting on my lap, wouldn’t you break into tears if I had you sit on this chair directly, Mingsheng?”
“Big Sister!”
Yue Mingsheng gritted her teeth and turned to glare at Jun Zishu.
Jun Zishu laughed. She felt that it was truly fun to tease this little cousin of hers.
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