章 24: Chapter 24: She works harder than you thought
Wu Jinmai's POV
I look at the empty hall. They had already left, and I asked my three husbands to send them home.
The servants have already cleaned the hall. It's only me and Uncle Liu.
"What do you think, uncle? Is there a chance that everything will be okay? Am I doing the right thing, or… am I digging my own deathbed?" I ask.
He's standing on my side and bows his head before giving me his honest opinion.
"You saw how Pei Qin doubts you, your highness. The journey you chose was harder than how Wu Jinmai chose to be the villain of everyone's stories. It will be a tough road ahead," he answered.
I sighed deeply and took a seat on the stairs. I stretch my feet forward and look at the places where the three families are seated.
"Have you noticed something about Zhang Yihua and Wei Pei Rou?"
I raise my head and look at him. He was hesitant to share with me what he noticed. I told him to be observant of the family and give me his opinion.
"Your highness, I will give you my opinion as your uncle. Among the three ladies, Yang Hua seems to be harmless. As for Zhang Yihua and Wei Pei Rou, I want you to be careful if you continue your plan of making a verdict and summoning them as your three husband's concubines," he remarks.
Based on Wu Jinmai's memories, Eunuch Liu was the late Empress Dowager's youngest nephew.
His mother and the late Empress Dowager were first-degree cousins. He's the same age as the late empress, and they're cousins.
He's an upright and righteous man who values morality and dignity. He never loses his light and walks on the right path, even if the imperial palace was a beautiful jail.
"I guess I'm not being paranoid then. I notice that their calmness, gazes, and glares are scary. Send some spies to keep their eyes on them. I want to know if they're ladies that I can trust," I remarked.
He nodded gently. "By the way, how's the other task that I ask you to do, uncle?"
He looks around and moves closer. "It's been years since the last time that I visited the quarters of the late emperor's royal concubines and noble consorts. Your highness, you have to be careful with them. They're being indulgent and dominant, causing an imbalance in the inner palace."
I sighed and looked at my hands. Wu Jinmai's fingers were beautiful. I wish nail polish with rhinestones existed in this era. I'm sure it fits on these fingers.
"My late mother, the empress, died three years after my younger brother was born," I mumbled.
"She was known for being ruthless as well, and she poisoned my father's concubines to make sure there were no other descendants that would threaten my brother's position. I know they never forget that," I added.
Uncle Liu's eyes were saddened. He sighed and stood properly facing the entrance of the hall.
"Like you said, the loneliest person in this empire was the emperor. Technically, you are the emperor of this kingdom. You will slowly and deeply fall into the abyss of loneliness. A phoenix that is bound to warm the world but dies coldly, alone, and lonely," he remarks.
Tears fall on my cheeks because of what he says. I guess death really loves me. I will die because of betrayal once again. I don't want that to happen but I think it inevitable again.
"Your highness, you have to be careful with the two noble consorts and the two royal consorts. They're from respective families and have been in the opposition for ages," he added. I shed my tears and acted like I didn't cry.
"I bet they're from noble families. They've been our problem for ages. I learned from the historical books written by my grandfather that he wants my late father to stop the noble faction from their selfish aims," I utter.
In the end, my father turned into a tyrant who was afraid of the Song's military power. He was too afraid of the families, who had thousands of soldiers.
He spent his entire life listening to these noble families, who clearly manipulated him.
"I hope it will not be too hard for you to gain the trust of the Song family, your highness."
I tap my heel on the floor and try to release my stress using this method. It helps every time I'm in a bad mood.
I died at the age of 33, waiting for my cheater boyfriend to propose to me, but he did to my best friend.
I was a resident doctor, graduated from law school, and took a political course. I was raised in a strict family and owned a martial arts training center.
I even compete in the Olympics. I know how to play piano, qin, guitar, and drums. I was too intelligent and an overachiever.
"I don't know if fate hates me or what. I was killed because my boyfriend and best friend were jealous of my achievements. Now that I was reborn, I was hated because I was a selfish, ruthless, and tyrannical ruler. Tss," I scoff. I sighed and stood up.
"Uncle, continue to send reliable people to different places in the inner and outer courts. I want to make sure that I will make good decisions in the near future. By the way, send someone that can serve as our eyes in Pei, Li, and Shanguan households," I remarked.
He bowed his head and faced me after. "Don't worry, your highness. I've been doing that for several months after you married these men. I will inform you if there are things that we should be worried about," Eunuch Liu answered.
I smiled and left the pavilion. They followed me right away. I decided to check on the servants who were washing the dishes that we used for the banquet.
They stood up and bowed their heads. "Greetings, your highness," they said.
I raise my hand. "After you wash these dishes, go to bed already. Warm yourselves with tea before sleeping. Thank you," I remarked, smiling at them.
They blink and watch us as we leave them. I dropped by the kitchen and saw the servants and the chefs as they cleaned the whole place. They bowed their heads when they saw me.
"Thank you, everyone. You've done a great job. Go to bed after and warm yourselves with a cup of tea."
They blink and watch as we leave. We reach my quarters, and before I get inside, I face them.
"Thank you for tonight, everyone. You may go back to your quarters and rest. I'll see you all tomorrow," I remarked.
They blink and look at each other. They bow their heads and watch me as I get inside. I sit on the dresser and look at my reflection in the mirror.
"This head piece was really heavy. How should I take this off? Oh boy…"
I groan in pain whenever I try to take off the phoenix crown. "You're doing it wrong," he says.
I was startled and fell on the floor because of surprised. "Aahh! Ghoossttt!" I yell.
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