Queen Jiang: My husband is the greatest in the world! Who dares call him a lecher?
Nine Chamber Hall.
On the emperor's desk, bamboo slips were piled up like a mountain.
Di Xin held a scroll in his hand, reading with utmost concentration. His brows would sometimes relax and sometimes furrow slightly. The only sound in the entire hall was the rustling of the bamboo slips as he turned the pages.
"Her Your Ladyship has arrived."
Outside the palace, a respectful announcement came from a palace attendant.
"Your the King, the Your Ladyship has arrived."
Di Xin put down his vermilion brush and stretched his somewhat stiff neck.
Looking up, he saw Queen Jiang, dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe, carrying a food box, gracefully walking into the hall.
A gentle smile appeared on Di Xin's usually dignified face.
"What brings the Queen to this Nine Chamber Hall today?"
Queen Jiang gently placed the food box on a corner of the table, opened the lid, and a rich aroma of ginseng soup instantly filled the air.
She ladled out a bowl and pushed it in front of Di Xin.
"Seeing Your the King working so hard day and night, I am deeply worried, so I specially prepared some ginseng soup for Your the King to nourish your body."
She looked at Di Xin, and beneath that dignified demeanor that usually made him the mother of the nation lay a wife's purest concern for her husband.
"It is good that Your the King is diligent in state affairs, but you should also rest more and not overwork yourself."
"The fate of this nation rests entirely on Your the King's shoulders."
Di Xin felt a warmth in his heart.
He picked up the ginseng soup, took a big gulp, and the warm broth slid down his throat.
"Thank you for your trouble, Your Majesty."
"I am in excellent health, Your Majesty need not worry."
Di Xin took her hand and patted it gently.
"Just some administrative work, it won't tire me out."
Queen Jiang leaned gently on his shoulder, and the atmosphere in the palace was warm and peaceful.
The two chatted about trivial matters in the palace and some interesting anecdotes from the court.
Di Xin looked at Queen Jiang and spoke.
"By the way, how are those two boys, Jiao'er and Hong'er, doing lately?"
"I've been busy with official duties these past few days, and it's been quite some time since I've seen them."
"If the Queen finds herself bored in the palace, she can spend more time with Jiao'er and Hong'er."
"They are at a time when they need their mother's company."
When her two sons were mentioned, Queen Jiang's face, which had been slightly worried, instantly showed a helpless yet doting smile.
"Those two brats, where would they find the time to spend with their mother?"
She said it half complaining and half boasting.
"Ever since the King had them train with Nezha in martial arts, the two of them have found their pillar of support."
"He's always following Nezha around, either honing his skills in the Martial Arts Arena or running around the palace. He hardly listens to his mother anymore."
Nezha "Nezha all day long, they're incredibly affectionate with him.
Di Xin couldn't help but chuckle as he listened to the queen's complaints.
"They are still young and naturally love to play."
"Nezha is lively and has some real skills. Jiao'er and Hong'er are not much older than him, so they naturally like to play together."
"That's a good thing. Boys should have some masculinity. If they're always cooped up in the palace studying, they'll lose their edge."
Queen Jiang smiled and nodded slightly.
Although she said that, she was actually happy inside.
Having such a happy and carefree childhood, and having a trustworthy playmate and Elder Brother, is of great benefit to the growth of my two sons.
That's enough.
The atmosphere inside the hall was warm and peaceful.
During a break in the conversation, Queen Jiang finally mustered the courage to steer the conversation toward the true purpose of her trip.
She gathered her thoughts and spoke in as calm a tone as possible.
"Your the King."
"Hmm?" Di Xin was picking up another bamboo scroll when he casually responded.
"It has been seven years since Your the King ascended the throne."
"Now that the Four Seas is at peace and the court is stable, Your the King... should also consider your own future."
Queen Jiang's words were somewhat tactful, carrying a hint of probing.
Di Xin stopped reviewing the documents.
He thought to himself, "They're here."
He knew that the Queen's visit today was not simply to bring a bowl of soup.
What does the Queen mean by that?
He asked, feigning ignorance.
Queen Jiang composed herself and spoke in an extremely virtuous and magnanimous tone.
"Your the King possesses the wealth of the Four Seas, yet in this harem, there are only my concubine and my sister, Consort Huang. It is truly too empty."
"For the sake of the Shang Great Shang Dynasty's stability and prosperity, I believe it is time to select some virtuous and beautiful concubines to enrich the harem."
Her words were eloquent and impeccable, perfectly embodying the image of a virtuous empress who cared for the king and the nation.
After hearing this, Di Xin laughed.
He put down the bamboo slips in his hand and looked at Queen Jiang with a leisurely air.
It seems that what those two idiots, Fei Zhong and You Hun, did has reached her ears.
These words sound like an encouragement to take more concubines, but in reality, every word is a questioning of Su Daji.
Instead of responding directly, he threw the question back at his wife, his gaze calmly fixed on her.
"Has the Queen heard about... Su Hu's matter?"
With a single sentence, Queen Jiang shattered all the carefully laid plans she had made.
Queen Jiang's composure froze for a moment.
She hadn't expected the King to be so direct.
Her prepared, indirect approach was instantly choked back down.
Now that the matter had been made clear, she decided not to hide it any longer and nodded.
"Yes."
"Your Majesty, I have heard some rumors circulating outside the palace."
"If Your the King truly wishes to enrich your harem, there is no need for such measures."
"As the Queen, it is my duty to share Your the King's burdens."
"Your Majesty, I can personally preside over the selection of the most outstanding women in the King to enter the palace."
Why make such a fuss and stir up such a storm over the mere daughter of a courtier?
These words already carried a hint of admonition.
Di Xin, his expression unchanged.
He spoke slowly only after she finished speaking.
"In the Queen's eyes, am I a lustful man who craves beauty?"
This question struck Queen Jiang like a heavy blow.
Almost instinctively, she immediately retorted.
"No!"
"In my heart, Your the King is a unique and wise ruler, unparalleled throughout history!"
Her husband had the world in his heart and Four Seas.
For seven years, she was diligent in her duties and cared for the people, working hard to govern the country and making achievements in both civil and military affairs. In the harem, there were only two of them, her and Consort Huang.
How could such a powerful ruler be swayed by mere beauty?
Anyone in this world can doubt the King, but she, his wife, will never waver.
Seeing her excited expression, Di Xin smiled.
He reached out and gently pulled her back to her seat, then asked again.
"Then why does the Queen still urge me to choose a concubine?"
These words came from the bottom of my heart.
"..."
Queen Jiang fell silent instantly.
She was rendered speechless by Di Xin's counter-question.
yes.
Since he doesn't consider him a lecherous man, then isn't my suggestion of "actively selecting concubines" just utter hypocrisy?
She felt her cheeks getting hot.
Seeing his wife's anxious and embarrassed appearance, Di Xin chuckled inwardly.
Her personality is still the same as before, endearingly upright.
He stopped teasing her and took the initiative to steer the conversation.
"The things Fei Zhong and You Hun did were not at my behest."
"But I am also aware of it."