General, Your Wife Is Requesting Your Return Home For Farming Chapter 1468: Acting Truly
Previously on General, Your Wife Is Requesting Your Return Home For Farming...
Chapter 1468: Acting Truly
Editor: Atlas Studios
Within the walls of the Marquis of Northern Zhen’s Estate, Princess Hui An and Su Xuan shared an unforgettable wedding night. The couple remained in bed until the morning was well underway, causing her to fall behind schedule for her mandatory palace visit to greet the two empress dowagers.
Panic seized Princess Hui An. “This is terrible! I am supposed to be at the palace to offer respects to my two mothers! It is entirely my fault for oversleeping. If I had only realized… If I had known, I would have…”
She cut her own sentence short.
Heat rushed to her face as scandalous memories of the previous night involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
Su Xuan reached out, his long fingers tracing the outline of her flushed lips. “What would you have done?”
Averting her eyes in embarrassment, Princess Hui An didn't dare look at him. The intensity of his gaze felt as though it might melt her where she stood.
“Ah Xuan, you have turned wicked,” she murmured softly.
A smirk played on Su Xuan’s lips. “Princess, does this version of Ah Xuan frighten you?”
Princess Hui An shook her head in response.
Moving closer, Su Xuan persisted, “Ah Xuan wishes to hear the words from Princess Hui An herself.”
Though she realized he was merely playing with her, she found herself unable to resist his magnetic charm.
With a face so crimson it looked ready to bleed, she bit her lip and confessed, “I adore everything about Ah Xuan.”
Su Xuan’s expression darkened with desire. “Princess, you are going to ruin Ah Xuan at this rate.”
“And what happens if you are ruined?” Princess Hui An questioned.
“I shall do many things that the princess claims she does not want,” Su Xuan replied.
Confused, Princess Hui An asked, “Such as what?”
“Like last night,” Su Xuan answered, his voice dropping to a gravelly rasp.
Blushing once more, Princess Hui An whispered, “Regarding that… I actually wanted to…”
“Yes?” Su Xuan urged, feigning deafness.
Taking a steadying breath, Princess Hui An shut her eyes tight. “I… I want to be with Ah Xuan. I want us to be a true husband and wife. I want to be with Ah Xuan… Oh—”
Su Xuan silenced her with a kiss and pulled her close, dragging her back into a whirlwind of passion.
–
Over at the Imperial Palace, the Saint Empress Dowager had already summoned Empress Dowager Jing early that morning.
Yawning with exhaustion, Empress Dowager Jing arrived at Kangshou Palace looking quite drained.
“My greetings to the Empress.” She offered a careless, half-hearted bow.
The surrounding servants were visibly startled by her lack of decorum.
The Saint Empress Dowager let out a sigh and corrected her firmly, “I am an Empress Dowager now, just the same as you.”
This seemed to snap Empress Dowager Jing out of her stupor.
In her groggy state, she had momentarily forgotten the passing of the late emperor, still imagining herself as Consort Xian. If that were the case, she wouldn't have to bow to the empress anymore.
She chuckled to herself. But wait—if she was already the Empress Dowager, why was she forbidden from sleeping in?
She stared at the Saint Empress Dowager in genuine shock. “Have I been stripped of my title?”
The Saint Empress Dowager was left at a loss for words.
“You are the birth mother of the Emperor,” the Saint Empress Dowager explained. “No one has the power to depose you.”
After a moment of reflection, Empress Dowager Jing grew even more agitated. “Does that mean my son has been overthrown?”
The Saint Empress Dowager chose to simply ignore the question.
She wondered how a woman like Consort Xian had ever survived the treacherous palace battles of the past. It truly was a stroke of luck that she had a son as brilliant as the current Emperor.
Then again, Hui An took after her mother. Empress Dowager Jing had never been truly dim-witted; she had her own tactics. However, after years of struggle, she had finally attained the rank of Empress Dowager and no longer felt the need to live in constant fear. It was only natural she wanted to enjoy a life of leisure.
“Jingning and Hui An have both wed,” the Saint Empress Dowager noted. “Today, they must bring the Prince Consorts to the palace to pay their respects.”
Finally understanding, Empress Dowager Jing relaxed and took a seat beside the Saint Empress Dowager. “They could have just greeted you, Sister. Why did you insist on calling for me?”
The Saint Empress Dowager replied sternly, “You hold the title of Empress Dowager as well. You cannot simply ignore proper etiquette.”
Empress Dowager Jing felt a surge of resentment. “Had I known being an Empress Dowager was this much of a chore, I never would have accepted the title!”
The palace attendants stifled their laughter behind their hands. When His Majesty had appointed two Empress Dowagers simultaneously, the staff expected a bloody power struggle. To their surprise, both women were incredibly indifferent to conflict. Far from a palace battle, they couldn't even be bothered to argue.
Eventually, Empress Dowager Jing drifted off to sleep on a chaise longue. The Saint Empress Dowager sighed at the sight and signaled a servant to cover her with a light quilt.
By seven o’clock, the sun was high in the sky. A carriage from the Princess’s Manor arrived at the palace gates. Xiao Zhonghua had considerately provided palanquins for his sisters to spare them the fatigue of walking through the vast grounds.
When the palanquin halted outside Kangshou Palace, an attendant announced, “Princess Jingning and Scholar Shen request an audience—”
“Jingning and her Prince Consort have arrived.” The Saint Empress Dowager’s voice woke Empress Dowager Jing, who reluctantly prepared herself for the day's duties.
It was no surprise to the two matriarchs that Princess Jingning and Shen Chuan were the first to appear. The new couple performed their kowtows and, following the traditions of the Great Zhou, served tea to the two Empress Dowagers.
Delighted, Empress Dowager Jing showered them with gifts. “Jingning, you have grown up so quickly. You are already married to a Prince Consort. Shen Chuan, you must treat her with kindness. I will not have you bullying her or wandering off to find trouble, do you understand?”
Shen Chuan bowed with his hands cupped. “I shall keep the Empress Dowager’s instructions in my heart.”
“You are still calling me Empress Dowager?” she teased. “Call me Mother!”
Shen Chuan looked genuinely honored. “Yes, Mother.”
Princess Jingning shot a quick look at Shen Chuan. He was an expert at maintaining a refined, scholarly facade. No one would guess the sheer audacity hidden beneath that calm exterior. Just last night… he had actually dared to treat her that way…
“Jingning, what are you lost in thought about?” the Saint Empress Dowager inquired. Being her biological mother, she noticed immediately that something about her daughter had shifted.
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Jing took a closer look at Jingning and burst into laughter. “Jingning, your cheeks are burning. Are you thinking of your Prince Consort?”
Shen Chuan looked slightly sheepish. Princess Jingning’s lashes fluttered as she regained her composure. “I was merely wondering about Hui An. Has she not arrived yet?” She skillfully shifted the focus.
Empress Dowager Jing dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand. “Don't bother waiting. If she isn't here by now, she likely won't show up at all today. I know my daughter; now that she has a husband, she won't have any room left in her heart for me.”
“Ahem,” the Saint Empress Dowager cleared her throat. “She is your own daughter. You should at least help her save some face.”
“Does she even care about such things?” Empress Dowager Jing knew her daughter well; Hui An had traded her wits for beauty and had never once bested Jingning in a battle of minds. Empress Dowager Jing had long since stopped worrying about appearances. It didn't matter—her son was the Emperor. From now on, the Prince Consort would be the one dealing with her daughter’s antics, not her.
Princess Jingning rose and spoke formally, “Mothers, the hour is late. We shall not disturb your rest any longer. We will return another day to pay our respects.”
The Saint Empress Dowager’s eyes softened. “Very well. You may go.”
After Princess Jingning bowed and turned to leave, Shen Chuan followed suit with a respectful gesture. Even after they disappeared through the doors, the Saint Empress Dowager continued to stare at the entrance.
Empress Dowager Jing sighed. “If you wanted her to stay, you should have just said so. Why do you always hold back?”
There were moments when the Saint Empress Dowager felt a twinge of envy toward Empress Dowager Jing. The latter had lived her life as a favored concubine, doing as she pleased and letting nothing weigh on her soul. In contrast, the Saint Empress Dowager had been burdened by the heavy responsibilities of the empress’s throne for as long as she could remember.
Noticing her somber mood, Empress Dowager Jing offered comfort. “Don't worry. Based on my years of experience navigating the harem's search for favor, those two are truly in love.”
Though she had become an Empress Dowager and grown lazy, Empress Dowager Jing hadn't lost her sharp instincts. Her ability to read people remained top-tier. She knew Princess Jingning had spent her life feeling controlled by her mother and had chosen Shen Chuan almost out of spite. However, she hadn't expected Shen Chuan to be bold enough to actually claim Jingning's heart.
Truly, one could not judge a book by its cover.
The Saint Empress Dowager closed her eyes. “She has spent her life being angry with me. I only hope she finds no cause for regret later.”
Once they were settled back in their carriage, Princess Jingning’s calm facade crumbled. She glared at Shen Chuan and hissed, “How did you dare… last night… how could you…”
Shen Chuan put on a look of pure innocence. “Princess Jingning told me I could stay on the 1st and the 15th.”
Gritting her teeth, she snapped, “I meant you could stay for dinner!”
“The Princess is far more delicious,” Shen Chuan replied smoothly.
Princess Jingning was left speechless.
On their journey home, they crossed paths with Su Xuan and Princess Hui An, who were finally heading toward the palace. Princess Hui An looked radiant with shyness, while Su Xuan appeared absolutely triumphant, the very picture of a happy groom.
Leaning out of her window, Princess Hui An called out to her sister, “Jingning, did you and your husband…?”
“Be quiet!” Princess Jingning interrupted.
Princess Hui An gave a knowing, mischievous grin. “Oh~” She then retreated back into the carriage and clung to Su Xuan. “Ah Xuan, she’s being mean to me!”
Princess Jingning looked away, unable to watch her sister’s shameless behavior. Suddenly, she felt a firm hand rest on her own shoulder.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked with a stern look.
Shen Chuan replied with mock seriousness, “Whatever others have, my wife shall have as well. There is no need for you to be jealous.”
Princess Jingning had no words left to say.