CHAPTER 743: CHAPTER 743 WHAT IS HIS MAJESTY’S COMMAND?

Liu Dayou couldn’t bother to wipe his tears and turned his head to look. He silently praised, "Good lad, well-prepared. Truly someone who was trained under him."

Lian Hua’s eyes widened in amazement as she counted out loud, "One to ten, you’ve said them all, even ’fortune from all directions’ is included!"

Feeling very delighted, she said generously, "Little Doggie, it’s been some time since we’ve seen each other, and you really make one take a second look. Let me see, hmm..." She thought she should say a few words of praise.

Chen Weiwu looked at Lian Hua eagerly. Now, when others called him Little Doggie, he took note of it in his heart, but when Master Lian called him, he found it extraordinarily pleasant to hear.

Lian Hua touched her chin, carefully examining Little Doggie, wanting to say a few laudatory words. Seeing that he was still skin and bones, there wasn’t much to praise, but his spirit seemed much better than before. She took a closer look and discovered something, then immediately praised, "Oh, it seems you have grown a bit taller, indeed looking more imposing, hmm, not bad at all!"

Xiao Linzi followed her gaze, scratched his head, completely baffled. He couldn’t understand how his master noticed someone had gotten taller while they were kneeling. It was, however, true that Little Doggie’s hat was a bit taller today.

Xiao Jizi’s eyes twitched. Such a tiny difference in height was hardly visible to the naked eye, he didn’t know how his own master noticed it. But Xiao Qing changed every month, growing like a little sapling that’s been watered and fertilized, shooting up each month. When he first arrived, he was shorter than Xiao Jizi, but now he was taller, which was truly bittersweet.

Chen Weiwu’s eyes lit up; he had indeed grown a little, but nobody else seemed to notice—only Master Lian had eyes like a fiery torch.

He was extremely touched, his tears flowing freely, "It’s all thanks to Master Lian’s blessings. It’s because Master Lian named me Weiwu that even the heavens were moved, allowing me to grow a bit taller. In the future, I will certainly not fail to meet Master Lian’s expectations, continue to grow taller, and become imposing and majestic, not disappointing Master Lian’s high hopes."

With that, he kowtowed three loud times.

Ever since he was given the name, Chen Weiwu’s life had improved significantly. He ate well, slept well, and because of his changed status, Liu Dayou took much better care of him. Those who used to bully him didn’t dare anymore. His life improved, he relaxed, and his body began to grow properly, actually gaining a bit of height.

At this moment, everyone looking at the thin Chen Weiwu wouldn’t think that his words would come true, that in the next ten years, he would indeed grow into a tall and imposing figure, living up to his name.

"Where, where, you’ve done so well yourself, it’s all your own merit. Please get up," said Lian Hua with a beaming smile, then suddenly remembered something and quickly turned to the side, "Xiao Linzi, quickly write down what Little Doggie just said." She was planning to curry favor with His Majesty afterward!

"Master, which words?"

"Foolish Xiao Linzi, the part where he wished me wealth from numbers one through ten."

"Oh, right, Master."

Consort Xu De watched the scene with amusement, thinking to herself that wherever her sister was, there was joy to be found. Her sister’s attention was indeed easily diverted; she even left Liu Dayou hanging and forgot to inquire about the Emperor’s decree.

Catching a glimpse of Cui Laner’s expression, she immediately understood what was on the lady’s mind. Consort Xu De’s face grew somewhat colder; she couldn’t even be bothered to mock her. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Still hoping to turn things around through the Emperor, she probably had some crying to do later on.

Amidst Lian Hua and Chen Weiwu’s cordial exchange, Cui Laner felt her eyes sour with impatience, eagerly waiting for Liu Dayou to hurry up and reveal what the Emperor’s decree was, yet he didn’t seem to be in any hurry at all.

She fiercely thought, once she was free, she would certainly remember these servants, for the sake of ingratiating themselves with Beauty Lian, they delayed the imperial decree, a crime worthy of death.

Finally, Lian Hua finished her pleasant conversation, forgetting all about Cui Laner’s bad mood, and was in the mood to inquire about other matters.

She cleared her throat and straightened her expression before turning to Liu Dayou and asking with concern, "His Majesty isn’t busy now, is he? How is he doing?"

His Majesty must be quite tired today, busy from one task to another without rest. She really wanted to know what he was up to, hearing that there would be wine at the banquet for entertaining the officials later.

It was finally his turn, and Liu Dayou’s spirits lifted as he was about to answer; however, understanding the question, he couldn’t help but pull a long face. Not to mention his ignorance, even if he knew, it seemed he shouldn’t speak, as he was not one of His Majesty’s close attendants and couldn’t say.

The question was too difficult, and with a troubled expression, he said, "Master Lian, this... I’m not aware, it was someone from the Star Palace who informed this servant of His Majesty’s decree."

"Is that so..." Lian Hua felt a wave of disappointment, losing any further interest in the conversation. She was only worried about tiring His Majesty. Since Liu Dayou was unaware, then let it be.

Liu Dayou still wanted to say something pleasing, but Lian Hua, losing interest, waved her hand dismissively, "In that case, I won’t hold up Eunuch Liu’s important duties any longer, go ahead."

Feeling blocked, Liu Dayou thought it seemed that every time he failed to catch Master Lian’s attention. Before he could flatter her, Master Lian would already have sent him away, with all the limelight going to Chen Weiwu instead.

His heart sunk, and he wanted to struggle further.

Consort Xu De felt it was about time and asked, "What is His Majesty’s decree?"

Reminded, everyone lifted their eyes to look at Liu Dayou in unison.

Especially Cui Laner, whose eager eyes seemed almost to melt someone. Reminded by Lian Hua and unable to resist the thought, the current Shichen was precisely the time for the Longevity Event. No matter what, there shouldn’t be a decree at this time. But since the decree had come, the most likely possibility was that the Emperor had learned of her grievance and wanted to stand up for her. This thought alone made her ecstatic.

When it came to important matters, Liu Dayou regained a solemn attitude, his voice slightly raised so that all those around could hear him, and he respectfully said, "To answer the Consort, His Majesty sent a decree through this servant. It states that Lady Cui lacks talent and virtue, demoting Lady Cui to a commoner. Once Consort De has punished her according to the harem rules, this servant is to immediately escort Lady Cui out of the palace—there must be no mistakes."

Lian Hua nodded in understanding. She had said earlier that Cui Laner was without virtue and unworthy of her position, unable to remain in the palace, and that there must be punishment for faults. His Majesty and she seemed to share a heroic vision. She couldn’t help feeling very content, was this what being in perfect harmony felt like?

The crowd was shocked, even Consort De was somewhat surprised. For those concubines who had been sent out of the palace, the Emperor was very lenient, issuing a gracious decree personally to smooth their path home. These women could lead a smooth life if they did not bring it upon themselves to do otherwise.

But conversely, for those who were demoted to commoners and then expelled from the palace after being punished, their future was basically over. Any family would consider such a daughter a disgrace. This punishment was even more severe than she had imagined.

She unconsciously looked up at Lian Hua and noticed she was smiling sweetly, as if she hadn’t considered it so deeply. She couldn’t help but smile wryly herself.

The Emperor also went through a lot of trouble. To establish Lian Hua’s authority and make those who thought of harming her weigh the consequences carefully, he made an example out of Cui Laner to warn the entire harem. The most crucial point was to show that every move within the harem was under his watchful eye—even during the Longevity Event, he could spare the effort to deal with matters, so none should harbor any hope of luck.