Chapter 416: Chapter 173: Empress: There’s always a vixen trying to steal my man! Empress: Oh no, have I become the third wheel?_2
The person that little thief truly likes is her!
Yu Youhan, what do you have to compete with me?
"Since that’s the case, we’ll settle this matter for now."
The Empress said, "As for Ji Hongxiu, you better be careful. You wouldn’t want Chen Mo to be seduced away by her, would you?"
Yu Youhan replied coolly, "I don’t need you to teach me how to do things."
The Empress chuckled and said, "As long as you’re aware, that’s fine."
After speaking, she rose and left.
Watching the dignified bright yellow figure depart, Yu Youhan’s gaze flickered, her slender fingers tapping the table.
"Jiang Yuchan’s attitude is clearly off, as if she’s sure of Chen Mo... What exactly happened between the two?"
...
The Royal Palanquin proceeded steadily along the palace path, all the way to Zhao Hua Palace.
The Empress had just stepped off the palanquin when she saw a familiar figure.
Dressed in a water-blue dress, Lady Jin Yun stood in front of the hall door, holding a red wooden food box in her hand.
"Sister, you’re back."
The Empress asked, "When did you arrive?"
"Just now, I’ve personally made some crab cake, and brought it over for you to try." Lady Jin Yun said with a smile.
The Empress nodded, "Let’s go inside and talk."
The two entered the palace one after the other, arriving at the inner hall.
Lady Jin Yun was about to sit on the small couch as usual but was stopped by the Empress.
"Ahem, the couch is not very sturdy, I’m about to have someone fix it, let’s sit on chairs instead."
"Oh."
Lady Jin Yun didn’t think much of it.
A faint blush colored the Empress’s cheeks, remembering how Chen Mo had overwhelmed her here yesterday, the scene still vivid, making her wish she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
The whole bed...
Luckily that little thief was clever enough to clean up all traces, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to show her face!
"These are made with fresh Jade Claw Crab, just out of the oven, still warm, try them, sister." Lady Jin Yun opened the food box and handed her a piece of golden cake.
The Empress reached out, took it, and opened her red lips to take a bite.
The aroma of the oil instantly exploded in her mouth, accompanied by the unique sweet and savory taste of crab roe.
"How is it?" Lady Jin Yun looked at her expectantly.
The Empress nodded, "The taste is indeed good, but you shouldn’t eat too much of these cakes, or you’ll gain weight."
Lady Jin Yun laughed and said, "Sister’s figure is perfectly balanced, it has nothing to do with being fat."
The Empress looked down and appeared slightly helpless.
Although the little thief said he liked mature types, she was clearly somewhat overripe... already difficult to manage with one hand, if any bigger, it would be too exaggerated...
"Alright, just say it, what do you want?" The Empress asked.
Lady Jin Yun frowned, "What do you mean by that, sister? I haven’t seen you for days, I’ve missed you greatly, so I came here specially."
The Empress glanced at her, snorted coldly, "Enough, I don’t know you? Showing kindness with no reason, you’re either sinister or a thief. If you don’t speak now, don’t blame me for not giving you a chance."
"..."
Lady Jin Yun was silent for a moment, sighed, and said, "Indeed, nothing can escape sister’s eyes. It’s actually not a big deal, just about Chen Mo’s marriage contract..."
?!
The Empress’s expression froze, "What marriage contract?"
Lady Jin Yun frowned, "Sister doesn’t know? The Chen and Shen Families had agreed on a marriage contract years ago, but Chen Mo tore up the marriage contract..."
The Empress asked confusedly, "I know about that, but what’s it got to do with you?"
Lady Jin Yun said helplessly, "Although both families acknowledge this marriage, it’s not favorable to spread it. So the Shen Family wants to request an imperial decree to formalize the marriage, making it proper... after all, the Shen Family has ties with the Lin Family, that’s why they asked me to probe the Empress."
Recently, she had sent the Shen Family some brocade and tea leaves, along with a letter expressing the wish to rekindle old ties.
The motive for this was Lin Jingzhu’s lifelong happiness.
Although Lin Jingzhu’s status is notable, he still came later, and whether he can manage, depends on Miss Shen, the legitimate wife’s approval in the future.
If relations are established early and Miss Shen isn’t prone to jealousy, perhaps she could be a Secondary Wife...
Lady Jin Yun would then be quite satisfied.
"Hmph, how clever!"
"Shen Xiong and Chen Zhuo are so close to the Imperial Consort that they have caused me trouble in the court, and now they want an imperial decree for marriage? Do they think I’m a fool?"
The Empress’s expression was icy, instantly rejecting.
Actually, this wasn’t her main reason for refusing the marriage decree. After all, the Chen and Shen Families are already like ants on the same thread; a marriage alliance would only tighten this connection slightly, not make a big difference.
Originally, she had a neutral attitude towards Chen Mo’s marriage.
But things are different now.
Their relationship is already public; if Chen Mo got married, what would that make her?
A licentious woman enticing a married man? An interloper in someone else’s marriage? Or perhaps Mr. Chen’s secret mistress?
Such a thing is absolutely unacceptable!
Lady Jin Yun had anticipated the Empress’s attitude.
She took another crab cake from the food box and handed it to the Empress, saying, "I was just asking, sister, don’t be upset... This one has salted egg yolk added, with a special flavor, try it again."
"Hmm."
The Empress had just taken a small bite when Lady Jin Yun said, "Since you don’t wish Chen and the Shen Family to wed, I have a good idea."
The Empress raised her eyebrows slightly, "What’s your idea?"
Lady Jin Yun said earnestly, "You just need to grant a marriage to Zhu’er and Chen Mo, wouldn’t that fundamentally solve the problem?"