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Before Zhu Bafu could figure it out, an arm swept across her neck and pulled her into its embrace. The Holy Emperor gave her a brotherly hug.
"It's alright, it's alright. I'm just happy to walk side by side with Pig Kid and Little Jing."
A sidelong glance revealed that the Young Master had received the same treatment, being held in His Your Majesty's arms, looking quite displeased.
"I'm warning you, get your filthy hand off Little Eight."
"Little Jing, those words sound rather meaningful. Are you perhaps jealous of me? I'm a man, and so is this Pig Kid. Your jealousy is unreasonable."
"So what if you're a man? Who knows what evil thoughts you harbor?"
"Pfft." His Your Majesty shook his head. "I just came from a woman's place. I'm clearly a pure-hearted man, without your kind of tastes."
"... Young Master didn't have this hobby before." Hearing His Your Majesty say this, Zhu Bafu couldn't help but interject, but then realized his mistake and hurriedly tried to cover his mouth, but it was too late.
"What are you saying, Pig Kid? Are you perhaps hoping that I'll end up like Little Jing, smashing my head and becoming Cut Sleeve only interested in men?" He stroked his chin and grinned mischievously. "It's not impossible, but if I don't find a woman to lay an egg, who will inherit my throne?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I was just joking. Your Majesty just ignore it."
"It's alright, Pig Kid. With Little Jing's father here, the court will never be without an emperor. The late emperor's clan is so numerous, even if I were to leave, it wouldn't be a big deal. Right, Little Jing?" A seemingly casual remark floated from His Your Majesty's lips. The Young Master didn't understand it, but to Zhu Bafu, these words were like thunderclaps in the sky.
The Zhu Household was destroyed because of this saying; some members scattered, some left, and some were imprisoned.
The Holy Emperor ascended the throne at the age of six but holds no real power in the court. All important and confidential matters are in the hands of the regents entrusted by the late emperor. This is a well-known fact.
Because he was not the late emperor's biological son, but rather the heir to the throne recommended by the regent ministers, he resolved the embarrassing situation of the late emperor having no children.
According to the rites and customs of kinship, the late emperor was merely Your Majesty's paternal uncle.
The fact that this six-year-old child was able to stand out among hundreds of his nephews and ascend the throne with the Jade Seal in his hand was not because he had any extraordinary abilities, but because it was the decision made by Prime Minister Prime Minister Li, the head of the regents.
Originally destined to be just an unknown prince in Little Prince, he suddenly received a windfall and was adorned in Imperial Robe, welcomed into the Capital from the Nanyi territory, ascended the throne as the supreme ruler, and held the Common People in his hands.
In Zhu Bafu's view, this was already an exceptionally good fortune, and one should be content with what one has.
Even if he spends his whole life as an emperor who "forgets his homeland in pleasure," it's not a big deal. Someone else will take care of the affairs of state for him, while he can just enjoy the wine and meat of his imperial concubine Inner Palace, eat and have fun, and lay eggs.
However, there are always people who think completely differently from her, and her idiot father is the most prominent example of that.
The late emperor's Imperial Edict stated that the new emperor should not rule personally until he is over twenty years old, and all state affairs should be handled by regents.
The emperor is now over twenty years old, but the regents show no intention of letting him rule in his own right. While the emperor is still unconcerned, her foolish father is getting anxious. He frantically drafts a memorial, earnestly requesting the new emperor to assume full power.
How incredibly stupid do you have to be to do something so incredibly foolish?
Let alone a young girl who has never held an official position, even a pedantic scholar who has only studied for a couple of years knows the way of officialdom: self-preservation is key. The emperor isn't even worried about losing his power, so why are you, a lowly fourth-rank censor, getting killed by any random signboard in the Capital? What's the rush? Why are you courting death?
As expected, not long after the memorial was presented, the emperor was still enjoying his retirement in the Inner Palace, while the Zhu Household was completely finished.
What should be paid must be paid, what should be confiscated must be confiscated, what should be imprisoned must be imprisoned. Her father was even flogged dozens of times in the Imperial Court. Thinking back to when she heard the devastating news, she was stunned, tears and snot streaming down her face. Now... she was much calmer. She could actually walk away with the foolish emperor who indirectly caused the destruction of her Zhu Household family. Sigh...
Father, look how worthless you are! You've lost your official position, had your property confiscated, and been exiled to Qingzhou, while she... is having a romantic time with the Courtesan at the Chunfen Pavilion. She wouldn't deign to serve an emperor like that.
"Pig Kid, am I overthinking it? I have a feeling you're rolling your eyes at me?"
"... No, no. How dare this humble subject. Hehe, hehe..." Zhu Bafu chuckled dryly, his eyes darting away. "Your Majesty, forgive my indiscretion, but the way back to the palace doesn't seem to be this way. Have we gone the wrong way?" Where have we been dragged to? Has His Your Majesty not had enough fun yet?
"I suddenly remembered there's another place I must go to today."
"Are you deliberately stalling for time? Get back to your palace right now. Little Eight and I have other things to do. What kind of lousy place are we going to? You can go wander off by yourself next time. Today, go back to your palace."
"..." Young Master, how come you haven't forgotten some unacceptable promises?
"No. It's meaningless if it's not today. I must go."
"May I ask Your Majesty, where is this place?" If it's a casino, restaurant, or brothel, then I'll trouble you, Young Master, to knock His Your Majesty unconscious and drag him straight back to the palace.
Chengshou Temple.
"Huh?"
Monastery? What are you going there for? Are you thinking of becoming a monk, Your Majesty?
Chengshou Temple.
An ordinary temple on Xiaopan Mountain near the outskirts of Capital.
There are no eminent monks here, and it has absolutely no connection to any royal shrine. People don't come here to seek wealth, blessings, or even romance. This temple is so obscure that it has become a temporary stopover for people traveling to and from Capital, which shows that its incense is hardly any kind of efficacious or popular.
Why did Your Majesty come here?
Zhu Bafu looked at the Young Master with suspicion in his eyes. If it were before he lost his memory, he would have at least given an answer, but now, the Young Master's dark eyes were filled with nothing but confusion.