CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 60 ’BELLOWS SKIN’ KNOW-IT-ALL (7.3K)

A few days later, inside Changxiang Hall.

"Mother Empress, your son has returned."

Zhang Feng strode into the hall with a tiger’s gait. After simply changing clothes and freshening up upon returning to the city today, the first thing he did was to see his Empress mother.

However, the voice behind the curtain paused for a moment before giving instructions as usual:

"Dismissed."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Palace Decree who could administer acupuncture to the concubines and a group of palace maids went to stand below the hall steps.

Inside the hall.

"Mother Empress?" Zhang Feng looked puzzled at the figure behind the jade curtain but saw that the Empress did not come out as usual.

Instead, she didn’t say a word and lifted her hand to rub something in her eyes.

Seeing his mother seemed to be crying, Zhang Feng hurried a few steps, lifted the curtain, sat beside his mother, and saw that her eyes were indeed red, with a few more wrinkles.

"Why did you come back?" The Empress turned her head away, "Leave! Go back to your South City!"

"What Mother Empress says is right." Zhang Feng grabbed his mother’s sleeve, then realized, "No, it is I who was wrong."

"You are not wrong." The Empress pulled back her sleeve angrily, trying to shake off Zhang Feng’s hand but couldn’t.

They went back and forth like this for a bit.

Zhang Feng hadn’t even had time to find a reason to comfort her.

The Empress’s tears finally couldn’t be held back and flowed from her reddened eyes,

"You child, how could you just leave mother without a word a few years ago... If you don’t want to marry, then don’t marry. Mother won’t force you anymore..."

The Empress wept as she spoke, "In the future, just don’t leave Mother again..."

"I will not leave," Zhang Feng said, suddenly feeling an indescribable emotion in his heart.

He understood why some people return home for the New Year, spend it with the elderly, and find it so hard to part when leaving after the holiday.

At the same time, Zhang Feng also missed his master in the infant world, his third senior brother, his senior brother Mouse, and his father Zhang Youfa, his elder brother and second brother.

But he really couldn’t stay there for long, because everyone, including the master, was getting old.

Zhang Feng couldn’t stop their aging, so no matter how much he missed them, he didn’t want to go back without meaning and waste their longevity.

"Mother Empress, please don’t be sad."

Zhang Feng sighed inwardly as he comforted his mother.

And took out some rare little jade earrings from his sleeve, which he had collected from abroad as little treasures.

"Mother Empress, look at these agate earrings."

Zhang Feng also applied his gemstone expertise from the adventurous world undercover to explain these stones to his mother, "This one is red agate, but with a touch of green, which is rare, representing..."

"Hmm..." Being a woman, his mother was indeed quickly attracted by these shiny earrings and rings.

However, it wasn’t the items that she liked, but rather her joy and relief.

As the Empress, what types of treasures and jewels had she not seen under heaven?

"What is this?" But now she pretended not to have seen them, wishing to speak more with her child.

Zhang Feng did not know his mother’s heart was like a needle at the bottom of the sea, so he continued explaining to the Empress.

After talking for a while.

The Empress suddenly thought of something and asked Zhang Feng, "Have you entered the palace to see your father, the Emperor?"

Normally, when a Prince returns to the court, after a simple change of clothes and freshening up, he is supposed to meet the Emperor.

But Zhang Feng had forgotten and had instead gone straight through the west gate into the rear palace.

Which of the guards on duty dared to stop the youngest son of the main figure in the rear palace?

So Zhang Feng came this way.

"What Mother Empress says is right," Zhang Feng admitted frankly, "but I just wanted to see Mother Empress first."

"You child!" The Empress’s face showed displeasure, but her heart was filled with joy, yet she reluctantly said, "Go quickly! Go quickly! There is no morning court session today, and after hearing you’d return today, your father has been waiting for you in the Imperial Study since the morning."

7:00 AM marks the start.

Today is a day with no court sessions.

Meanwhile.

Outside the Imperial Study.

Eunuch Zhao, in his fifties with a plump figure, was pacing anxiously at the hall entrance.

He shielded his eyes and looked at the sun; it was almost noon.

’The rear palace guards have reported that the young master has entered the palace. Why hasn’t he come over yet?’

He pondered, wanting to instruct the young eunuchs under him to probe again but thought it inappropriate.

Because without a word from the Emperor inside the Imperial Study, he dared not presume the Emperor’s mind, let alone send someone to investigate the true queen of the rear palace.

Though seemingly very influential, Eunuch Zhao, as the chief steward of the imperial court, was truly in a difficult position; he could only wait or follow the Emperor’s explicit instructions.

’My young master returns, and immediately gives this old servant a challenge...’

Just as anxiety filled his heart.

A familiar figure gradually approached from a distance.

Although Zhang Feng had grown much taller.

Eunuch Zhao recognized the ’unique silhouette’ at a glance and happily moved forward to greet him.

Once closer.

He first bowed, then in lowered voice said, "Oh my young master! The Emperor has been waiting for you all morning! You’ve finally arrived!

If you haven’t come, I, your servant, would have worried myself to death first!"

Realizing his words amiss, he quickly patted his mouth, "This old servant will go first; you shall live long and prosper!"

"All live long and prosper." Zhang Feng, seeing his old friend Eunuch Zhao, was still very happy and spoke quietly with him, "I didn’t mean to make you worried, Elder Zhao. I just went to see Mother Empress and got so delighted that I forgot about Father Emperor."

"Oh?" Hearing this, Eunuch Zhao immediately covered up with his sleeve and secretly gave Zhang Feng a thumbs-up, "You’re truly something!"

"What time it is, be serious." Zhang Feng was almost amused by Eunuch Zhao but kept a calm exterior, "No more chatting, I must see Father Emperor first."

Arriving at the Imperial Study.