inspire-indiana Chapter 264 Affection
Chapter 264 Affection
Li Zhen surrounded Queen Xu Jiaoran with endless love, however, his doting actually caused complaints from the people. The people expressed strong dissatisfaction with the extravagant and wasteful royal life.
The riot of flowers and gold in the central palace showed the nobility and splendor of the royal family, but it also made people sigh at the heavy waste of money and labor. The common people were dissatisfied with such extravagance and waste, and complained about its injustice.
On the northern frontier, Li Ji took this opportunity to launch an attack on Li Zhen in the name of the orthodox royal family and under the banner of justice.
His army was as fierce as wolves and tigers, and they marched southwards, heading straight for Kyoto. Li Ji's banners were getting bigger and bigger, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.
In this turbulent time, the Duke of England in the northwest could no longer sit still.
He knew that the safety of the country was closely related to the rise and fall of the royal family, so he wrote a letter to Emperor Li Zhen. He used gorgeous words to describe the people's dissatisfaction, the war in the north, and the crisis of the country.
The letter reads: "Your Majesty, the affairs of the world are like a chess game. One wrong move will lead to a complete loss. Today, the people are complaining because of your Majesty's excessive pampering of Queen Xu Jiaoran. This act of wasting people's money and resources is not what a wise ruler would do. Li Ji in the north took advantage of the situation and launched an attack in the name of the orthodox royal family. The country is in danger. I hope your Majesty can wake up soon, reorganize the government, and reassure the people."
The words in the letter were like a sharp sword that went straight to people's hearts. In the letter, the Duke of England did not directly accuse the emperor of his mistakes, but instead put the overall interests of the country first and tactfully put forward warnings and suggestions. He hoped that the emperor could understand the voice of the people and the crisis of the country, so as to change the status quo and restore the prestige of the royal family.
This letter was delivered to Li Zhen. After reading the letter, he knew that he had been too fond of Xu Jiaoran. He also knew that the country was in danger and there were some complaints in the court. Now was a critical moment. After dealing with Li Ji, it would not be too late to make amends to Xu Jiaoran.
Li Zhen had a plan in mind and did not go to Xu Jiaoran's palace for some time. He thought that he would make up for Xu Jiaoran after the war subsided.
However, Xu Jiaoran didn't care whether Li Zhen came or not. She just wanted to get what she wanted.
"I've been craving for fresh and sweet lychees lately. Go and ask someone to bring some here quickly!" Xu Jiaoran ordered the palace servants.
The palace maid was a little worried and said, "My queen, there should be no lychees at this time of year!"
"Then get someone to look for it everywhere! Dasheng is so big, is it impossible to find a place with lychees?"
"This... is... I will go and ask right now..." The palace servant was obviously embarrassed, but she had no choice but to agree, and then ran to the Qinzheng Hall to report the matter to Li Zhen.
Li Zhen heard that Xu Jiaoran wanted to eat lychees, but there were indeed no lychees at this time of year. If she wanted to eat them, she had to go to Lingnan, where she might be able to find some.
Lingnan is so remote that it would be a lot of labor and money to transport it here!
Li Zhencai was thinking about being cold to her, but she didn't ask him about it when he treated her coldly these days. He couldn't help feeling unhappy in his heart, and even felt like he was being coldly treated.
If I reject her request again, she will definitely be even colder to me.
Li Zhen had no choice but to go to the palace to visit Xu Jiaoran in person and persuade her.
When Li Zhen came, Xu Jiaoran did not greet him, but leaned on the chaise longue with her eyes lowered.
"I heard you wanted to eat lychees?" Li Zhen knew that she had nothing to say to him, so every time she came, he would go straight to the point.
Xu Jiaoran hummed and said nothing else.
But Li Zhen advised: "This is not the right time. I will ask someone to look for her after some time, okay?"
Xu Jiaoran snorted coldly, getting angry with Li Zhen, and said with a hint of sarcasm: "Why? Can't you satisfy me with just such a small request? Didn't you say that you are willing to do anything I ask you to do?"
Her words were like spring thunder, striking Li Zhen's heart. But Li Zhen could only bear it silently, with helplessness and sorrow in his eyes.
Li Zhen tried to persuade her: "Stay for a while, okay?"
There was endless tenderness and doting in his words.
However, Xu Jiaoran refused to give in. She snorted coldly, her eyes flashing with displeasure as she said, "I won't!"
Her voice was like a clear spring hitting a rock, revealing an unquestionable firmness.
Xu Jiaoran certainly knew Li Zhen's situation. Many people outside scolded him for being bewitched by beauty and being incompetent, and even scolded her for being a witch concubine who brought disaster to the country. Since she wanted to be a witch concubine, then of course she had to do a better job.
In the past, Yang Guifei ate lychees, which was laborious and costly. She also wanted to see how much Li Zhen could tolerate towards her.
Faced with Xu Jiaoran's determination and willfulness, Li Zhen fell into deep distress.
He couldn't go back on his oath, nor could he let her suffer any injustice.
"Okay, I'll find someone to help you find it!"
Li Zhen had no choice but to find ways to satisfy her request, but this time, he became more secretive and did not let the court officials know.
In the deep palace, a silent contest is going on. Li Zhen secretly prepares everything for her, from palace treasures to folk treasures, all of which are carefully selected. He even uses the power of the royal family just to win her smile.
Xu Jiaoran was waiting quietly in the palace, but she did not feel any expectation or happiness in her heart. Oh no, she was still a little happy, because she had proved this time that Li Zhen did have feelings for her, and she could indeed be a charming concubine.
I also want to see if I have the ability to bring disaster to the country.
Now that she knew his feelings for her, her heart had not wavered. Xu Jiaoran chose to retaliate against him in an extreme way, making him lose power. Without power, he naturally could not imprison her anymore.
She began to make all kinds of excessive demands on him and tried every means to harm his dynasty. She knew that her actions had caused public outrage, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to see his painful expression and see his high throne crumbling.
She wore gorgeous clothes and heavy makeup, and sang enchanting ballads with her melodious voice like a harp string. But when night fell, the light in Xu Jiaoran's eyes was like a cold and ruthless knife.
The palace was filled with undercurrents, and voices filled with anger and resentment rang in her ears, as if cursing her evil deeds. But she turned a blind eye, with only a sneer in her eyes. She knew that her actions had caused public outrage, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to see Li Zhen's pain and anger.
Li Zhen once promised her that he would protect her for the rest of her life. But now it seems that it was just a joke. Xu Jiaoran sneered in her heart. She knew that her fate was closely linked to this dynasty. She wanted to let him know that his dynasty was not so stable. She also knew that Li Ji was fighting against Li Zhen. Maybe she could help him by doing this.
Every night, Xu Jiaoran watched the prosperous palace being eroded by darkness bit by bit, but she had no pity or regret in her heart. She just wanted him to know her pain and despair.