CHAPTER 359: CHAPTER 353: I AM THE MARQUIS MANSION DOWAGER 42

The Emperor Emeritus entered the room and immediately saw Anning with a stern face, showing not a hint of happiness.

He quickly handed the fish over to the attending young eunuch, and took a few steps to Anning’s side, asking, "What’s wrong? Who’s made you angry?"

Anning pushed the Emperor Emeritus away with one hand: "It’s not about who made me angry, I just feel it’s somewhat unfair to marry you."

Huh?

The Emperor Emeritus’s eyebrows shot up: "What are you thinking? Unfair to marry me? Tell me, have you taken a fancy to someone outside?"

That jealousy.

Xu Wan quickly stepped aside the moment she saw it, afraid of getting implicated by the Emperor Emeritus’s anger.

The Emperor Emeritus was angry, but Anning was even more so. She stood up with hands on her hips: "What kind of person do you take me for? Am I fickle? Outside, I could laugh and cry whenever I wanted, go wherever I desired. But after marrying you, I dare not even laugh out loud, and if the child cries out of misery, some meddlesome gossipers say crying in the palace brings bad luck. Pah! Can’t do this, can’t do that; what sort of life is this? Might as well not be human and just be a clay idol enshrined in a temple."

Anning didn’t just scold; in her fury, she even became physical, slapping the Emperor Emeritus: "When I complain to you, just look at your face; earlier, you looked as if you could eat me. When a countrywoman feels aggrieved, her man knows how to vent for her. And you call yourself the Emperor Emeritus. Are you even not as good as a countryman?"

The Emperor Emeritus was bewildered by Anning’s scolding and hitting.

He had never been through such things before.

His Imperial Concubines were all gentle and submissive, serving him wholeheartedly. None would dare show him a sulking face, let alone raise a hand to hit him.

It could be said that in the Emperor Emeritus’s life, the only one who dared to hit him like this was Anning alone.

He didn’t dare to retaliate or even get angry, instead just trying to dodge her blows: "Stop hitting, don’t hit anymore, your strength really does hurt... If you harm me, you’ll have to be a widow... That’s murder of your own husband, you know."

After Anning fiercely disciplined the Emperor Emeritus, she finally sat down and gulped down a cup of tea.

Seeing her charming face frosted over, the Emperor Emeritus quickly cozied up to console her: "What exactly is the matter, you suddenly snapped at me, and even I feel wronged. Who’s upset you? Just tell me, and I will take care of it."

"I don’t need you to take care of it; with that time, I can sort out the person myself."

Anning glared at the Emperor Emeritus, turned away, and drank another cup of tea: "How come I heard that yesterday in the palace, Consort Xu and Consort Liu actually sent you love letters, expressing their worries and longing for you, wanting to come over to attend to you? How so? Aren’t you going to invite them over to serve you well?"

The Emperor Emeritus hurriedly waved his hands: "I’ve been wronged! Ever since we got married, I haven’t looked at any other woman in the harem. I have no such desire."

Only then did a smile appear on Anning’s face: "If you dare to have such thoughts, I’ll go down with you."

Terrified, the Emperor Emeritus swallowed hard and assured Anning firmly: "No, really no desire of that sort. My heart belongs only to you, I will never get entangled with any other woman."

Anning’s mood changed fast. After the Emperor Emeritus’s promise, she smiled, affectionately rubbed his face: "Did that hurt just now? Let me blow on it for you."

Oddly though, the Emperor Emeritus actually enjoyed her attention, and they had a warm and affectionate chat for a while.

After he had soothed Anning, the Emperor Emeritus breathed a sigh of relief.

He had heard before of a Minister who had a ’tigress’ at home; in front of his wife, he didn’t dare to even breathe too heavily, and had no concubines at home. He used to secretly mock that Minister for being afraid of his wife, lacking masculine vigor.

But now that he was in that situation, he realized how terrifying it was to have a tigress at home.

At the same time, he now understood the feelings of that Minister.

It’s not that he was afraid of his wife, but rather, it was out of love and respect.

If he didn’t care about her, why would he be afraid?

For a moment, Anning felt better, and began talking to the Retired Emperor about the fish he had caught.

"If it’s a fish this long, it must weigh about five or six jin, it’s quite big too. Wow, you’re really skilled, to be able to catch such a big fish in one go. I was just thinking about eating fish, lets cook it up later."

The Retired Emperor smiled and said, "Alright, I’ll have the kitchen prepare a whole fish banquet later."

Anning thought for a moment, "Let’s grill the fish. We’ll call Wan’er and go to the back garden to find a spot, and then have the kitchen send over some charcoal. Let’s do a barbecue."

The Retired Emperor readily agreed, "Sure, let’s do as you say."

Anning summoned Xu Wan over, while the Retired Emperor took a young eunuch to find a place. Anning and Xu Wan went to the kitchen to grab spices and such.

After being busy for a while, Anning finally put the fish and meat on the grill, and Emperor Yong Guang casually strolled over.

As soon as Anning saw him, he smiled, "You’re just in time. We’ve just finished setting up, and here you are. You must have been drawn by the smell."

Emperor Yong Guang paid his respects and, while standing aside, he smiled at the Retired Emperor and said to Anning, "Then I’ll have a portion as well. The aroma is truly enticing."

Anning and Xu Wan were busy grilling, while Emperor Yong Guang and the Retired Emperor conversed softly.

They were probably discussing state affairs.

Emperor Yong Guang seemed to be talking about the national treasury not being abundant, with many ministers having borrowed silver from it without returning it, thinking of pressing for the repayment of the owed silver.

The Retired Emperor waved his hand dismissively: "You’re the Emperor, you make the decisions on these matters. There’s no need to consult with me."

Emperor Yong Guang was very humble, "How can we not consult? Among them are many old ministers. I know the Retired Emperor is lenient towards old ministers, and this matter must be run by you, otherwise I won’t be at ease."

At this time, Anning just finished grilling a few skewers of meat and put them onto a plate to be sent to Emperor Yong Guang and the Retired Emperor.

The Retired Emperor took a skewer of meat, eating as he said, "I understand. Go ahead and handle it."

Emperor Yong Guang also grabbed a skewer and took a bite. His eyes lit up after that bite, and he promptly started eating voraciously.

Seeing Emperor Yong Guang eating so eagerly, the Retired Emperor quickly joined in the feast.

After having a few skewers of meat, Emperor Yong Guang said, "There’s another matter. Prince Shun has taken a fancy to Tang Pei and wants to marry Princess Shuhui to him. I’ll need to mention this to the Father Emperor and the Queen Mother, and if the Queen Mother agrees, I will then issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage."

Emperor Yong Guang spoke in neither a loud nor soft voice, Anning had already heard him.

As she was grilling vegetables, she said, "I heard. This is not something I can decide on, I need to ask Pei’er. If he’s willing then anything goes, but if he’s not, we can’t force him to marry."

Emperor Yong Guang smiled, "Of course, that’s only proper."

After eating a few more vegetables, he didn’t linger and left again, casually strolling away with his entourage.

Anning wrote a letter and in the evening, she sent someone to deliver it to Tang Pei.

Just as it was getting dark, someone from the palace came, this time bringing Fan Yaofang.