The Chen brothers sent word to the palace, and before long, the news that the Emperor’s carriage was accompanying Lady Chen back to the Chen residence in Guanshang Li had spread throughout Weiyang Palace.
From there, it continued to fly toward the estates of the "Five Marquises" and other high-ranking nobles.
Lady Chen had been in the palace for little more than two months, yet it was said His Majesty had already taken her out of the palace several times—first to the estate of the Marquis of Changping, and now specifically accompanying her back to the Chen family home.
*Tsk, tsk.* Which of the other imperial consorts had ever enjoyed such favor?
Yang Deyu had nearly fainted earlier when he saw the Emperor and Lady Chen vanish into thin air. Fortunately, Master Chu Haiguang had woken Huan Jun in time, claiming they had hidden the Emperor in a safe place. Otherwise, he truly would have gone mad.
His heart hadn't even settled when Huan and Chu came to tell him that His Majesty was truly missing! Although Huan Jun said, somewhat uncertainly, that "His Majesty should be fine," Yang Deyu felt a sharp pang of cardiac arrest upon hearing it.
He then used the excuse that His Majesty had lost a jade pendant on the road, coordinating with the Minister of the Household to have men search the palace grounds in secret.
It wasn't until Chen Chuo arrived, claiming the Emperor had summoned him and carrying the Emperor’s robes into the hall, that Yang Deyu finally breathed a true sigh of relief.
By the time they reached the Chen residence, His Majesty was resting. Yang Deyu stole a glance; aside from a slight flush on his face, the Emperor seemed largely unharmed.
"Your Majesty!" Yang Deyu was nearly moved to tears. He had served the Emperor for a long time and had almost never encountered a situation where the Emperor’s whereabouts were unknown. For a moment, he had utterly lost his composure.
"Was there any unrest in the palace?" Liu Che lay on the bed, staring straight at the ceiling. His entire body ached fiercely, especially his legs, which felt as heavy as lead.
Two maidservants sat to his left and right, cradling his legs and massaging them. Though his legs were pressed against the soft skin of the slave girls, he couldn't muster the slightest hint of amorous intent. This was because A Jiao was currently right above his head, clinging to the rafters.
Hanging from the ceiling! Liu Che had never seen one of his consorts act so much like a monkey; it was almost too painful to look at. Yet, if he didn't look now, he didn't know when he would see A Jiao’s true face again once she returned to Chen Wan’s body.
"In response to Your Majesty, this servant, along with Huan Jun and Master Chu, suppressed the news. We only said Your Majesty lost a jade pendant and sent men to search the palace. Others should be unaware."
"Mm." Liu Che nodded and moved to sit up slightly.
The maidservants massaging his legs lacked intuition and didn't immediately think to support him. Yang Deyu, however, stepped forward quickly and helped the Emperor into a sitting position.
"Let us return to the palace. And bring Lady Chen along."
As Liu Che was helped toward the carriage, he looked back every three steps to see if A Jiao was following. Once he was seated, A Jiao drifted weightlessly into the carriage and sat cross-legged opposite him.
"Your Majesty, Lady Chen has been brought over." Yang Deyu looked at the unconscious "Chen A Jiao" being supported by maidservants and felt a bit conflicted.
Liu Che frowned, about to wave his hand to have them find another carriage, when A Jiao leaned in and said, "Quick, let her in! Were you planning to leave her here? What would I do then?"
"When did I say I was leaving her here?"
"Your expression says you don't want her in the carriage!"
"Can't we just get another carriage? I don't want to share one with her."
"Liu Che, how can you be like this? You've pampered her for two months, and now you're turning your back on her?"
"Who pampered her? I only did that for the sake of your face." Liu Che huffed and turned to Yang Deyu. "Lady Chen is ill. Arrange another carriage for her."
He then closed his eyes to rest.
A Jiao was stunned for a moment but didn't argue further. She could only watch as Chen Chuo brought over another carriage.
Ever since the incident with Princess Wei Qing, Chen Chuo had been suspended from his duties, and Wei Yuan had been forced to return to the Chen family. At this moment, A Jiao could see Wei Yuan standing to the side with Ruan Qing.
Her pregnancy was now showing. Wei Yuan held her waist with one hand, supported by two young maidservants on either side to prevent any accidents. Her complexion looked much better than before.
Now that Liu Qing had been taught a lesson and Chen Chuo was idle at home, Wei Yuan had actually come out ahead, gaining the title of Lady Yunchun for nothing.
Even if the Chen family harbored resentment toward Wei Yuan over Chen Chuo’s suspension, they wouldn't dare offend her. On the contrary, whether Wei Yuan chose to stay with Chen Chuo or leave him in the future, she now had the status to back herself up.
But thinking back to her previous words, she likely wouldn't seek a divorce. A Jiao rubbed her temples, then remembered Chen Xuan and Yi'an. She hadn't heard much about them lately. When Sister-in-law Longlü and Yi'an had visited the palace recently, Yi'an had been quiet and hadn't mentioned Chen Xuan.
Instead, it was Longlü who had thanked her for the matter of Chen Xuan’s appointment as the Assistant of Paper Production.
A Jiao wanted to use this opportunity to prop up the Chen family again, but upon reflection, she realized she was quite unfamiliar with the current state of the Han Dynasty—perhaps even less so than the outsider, Lin Gao.
Thus, it was better to place Chen Xuan by Lin Gao’s side.
As for her eldest brother’s lineage, Liu Che had told her that he had reclaimed the Tangyi Marquis Estate and confiscated its wealth. Her eldest brother’s son, Chen Lang, had already moved his entire family to Baling, effectively withdrawing from the circle of Chang'an nobility.
She heard that her eldest sister-in-law had died a few years ago from grief. Chen Lang had spent a fortune to barely secure a position as a minor clerk, only to be forced home to observe the mourning period.
Liu Che opened his eyes slightly and asked, "What are you sighing about?"
A Jiao looked at Liu Che for a moment, thinking that his face practically had the words "ungrateful and cold-hearted" written all over it. She said, "I was just thinking of my brothers."
Liu Che said with some surprise, "Aren't they right outside? They just can't see you. Are you really getting upset over that?"
A Jiao choked up and said, "I mean my biological brothers, Chen Xu and Chen Jiao!"
Liu Che thought for a moment, remembering they had committed suicide to avoid punishment. He couldn't help but say, "Haven't they been dead for a long time? Why are you still thinking of them?"
"Can't I think of them just because they're dead? My brothers still have sons!" Her eldest brother had two legitimate sons, Chen Lang and Chen Jing, who weren't much younger than her. Her second brother and Sister-in-law Longlü had been blessed with a child late—only that little devil, Chen Xuan!
Liu Che turned his head to look at A Jiao and said softly, "Didn't you already ask for a minor post for Chen Xuan?" It was minor in name, but if Lin Gao truly produced that so-called paper that could be written on, the rewards would certainly be substantial.
However, Liu Che considered it and felt those rewards wouldn't hurt anything. To be honest, over the years, aside from hearing his sister Yangxin sigh about how overbearing Chen Xuan was, he hadn't heard of the boy having any talent—he was neither skilled in letters nor martial arts. Back then, he had wanted to give Sister Longlü some face by granting him a minor official post, but that brat had thought it beneath him and refused to go...
The Emperor had been very angry! He didn't lack nephews; even if he had none, it wouldn't matter to him as Emperor. So, he hadn't bothered with Chen Xuan, merely turning a blind eye to his antics for the sake of Sister Longlü.
But ever since the last time Yi'an and Chen Xuan had fought and she demanded a divorce, Chen Xuan had quieted down significantly. Although part of it was because his leg hadn't fully healed, the fact that he had been thrown into the papermaking workshop as soon as his leg was better without complaining showed some progress.
A look of embarrassment appeared on A Jiao’s face as she said, "There’s also my eldest brother’s family!" Lin Gao had told her many things before, all of them novel inventions. If they could just latch onto a bit of that, it would be beneficial.
For instance, he hoped the Emperor would authorize the promotion of a crop called "cotton." A Jiao thought that although Chen Lang and Chen Jing were in their forties, there shouldn't be a problem with them overseeing a few farm fields.
It would prevent the family from having no source of income at all.
Liu Che gave her a cool glance, turned his cold face away, and said, "I am weary. We shall speak of it later."
A Jiao was fuming. She swung her hand and smacked Liu Che. "Liu Che, why is it that you give titles and rewards to other women so freely, yet you're so stingy with me? My second brother’s marquisate was given by our Uncle!"
Liu Che caught her hand and said angrily, "Can you stop being so unreasonable?"
"How am I being unreasonable?"
"Your maternal grandfather was Emperor Wen, your maternal grandmother was the Grand Empress Dowager, your uncle was Emperor Jing, your mother is the Grand Princess, and your grandfather, father, and two brothers were all Marquises. What else is there to bestow? A kingship?" There was nothing left to grant, yet she still asked; women were truly unreasonable!
A Jiao: "..." That actually seemed to be true!
Seeing A Jiao’s look of sudden realization, Liu Che knew this woman had had another moment of silliness. Feeling that his temper had been a bit sharp just now, his voice softened: "Fine. It’s not impossible for you to seek posts for your eldest brother’s family, but will you let me sleep for a while first? I am truly exhausted!"
Only then did A Jiao smile. She took Liu Che’s head and pressed it onto her lap. "Lie on my lap and sleep!"
Once the Underworld finished dealing with Lin Gao’s matters, she would go discuss the cotton issue with him. Such a cheap commodity would surely be beneficial if promoted early.
She had heard that poor families couldn't afford fur coats or silk-padded clothes. In winter, they could only fill their winter garments with dried grass or reed catkins. Those with great luck might find discarded, rotten padded clothes from wealthy families; those with bad luck would inevitably freeze to death every year.
