xymnovel Chapter 433 The Azure Phoenix Delivers the Imperial Edict
Chapter 433 The Azure Phoenix Delivers the Imperial Edict
That day, Lin Chen was lying on a deck chair in the yard, basking in the sun.
The warm sunshine felt wonderful on my skin, making me feel comfortable even to the bone.
Lin Nian'er lay on his lap, holding a small wildflower in her hand, intently tucking it into his hair.
The little girl moved very quietly, like a thief. After inserting a flower, she tilted her head to look at it, shook her head, pulled it out, and inserted it again.
Lin Chen squinted, remaining motionless, letting her do as she pleased.
Yao Yao and A Yue squatted down to peel lotus seeds. In front of them was a small basin of water. The peeled lotus seeds were white and tender. When they were thrown into the water, they splashed up small water droplets.
The two of them were peeling the shells while whispering to each other, no one knew what they were talking about.
Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang stood under the eaves making tea.
The large double-handled teapot and the small double-handled warmer, the movements light and coordinated, clearly the work of an old craftsman.
The aroma of tea wafted on the breeze, mingled with the scent of osmanthus, sweet and delightful.
Zhao Mingyue sat on the chair next to her and read a book.
I flipped through two pages and then put it down.
He picked it up again, flipped through two pages, and then put it down again.
Lin Chen opened one eye and glanced at her: "Can't you concentrate?"
Zhao Mingyue sighed: "What kind of crap is this book? The male lead is like an idiot, and the female lead is even sillier. It gives me a headache."
Lin Chen chuckled: "Then don't look."
"Why not read it? I'm just killing time anyway," Zhao Mingyue said, picking up the book again.
Lin Chen shook his head and continued to bask in the sun with his eyes closed.
That's how life should be lived.
What earth-shaking changes, what Central Plains power? To hell with them all.
At this moment, Qingluan walked in from behind the moon gate.
She was dressed in a light blue palace gown, with a long sword at her waist. Her back was ramrod straight, and she walked with a graceful and heroic air.
She walked into the courtyard and immediately saw Lin Chen, then paused for a moment.
Because Lin Chen's hair was covered with wildflowers.
Red, yellow, purple, white, all sorts of colors, like a moving flower basket.
Qingluan's lips twitched, but she quickly composed herself.
Having served by the Empress's side for so many years, what storms haven't I weathered?
We can handle this small situation.
She walked up to Lin Chen, bowed, and spoke in a clear and crisp voice:
"Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence at the palace."
Lin Chen opened one eye and asked lazily, "What is it?"
Qingluan shook her head: "This servant does not know. His Majesty only said that he wanted you to come over, and said nothing else."
Lin Chen thought for a moment, then sat up, plucked the flowers off his head one by one, and patted off the grass clippings and petals from his body.
"Okay, let's go."
Lin Nian'er was displeased. She grabbed Lin Chen's sleeve and pouted, her little mouth pouting so much it could hang an oil bottle: "Daddy, where are you going?"
Lin Chen bent down and kissed her on the cheek: "Go take care of some errands. Be a good girl at home and listen to your aunts."
Lin Nian'er pouted: "Then come back soon."
"Okay, okay." Lin Chen rubbed her head and pinched her little cheek before turning around and following Qingluan.
Zhao Mingyue called out from behind, "Come back soon! I've made you some soup for dinner!"
Lin Chen didn't even turn his head, just waved his hand.
Once outside the courtyard, Qingluan asked, "Your Highness, the carriage is ready, you—"
Lin Chen waved his hand to interrupt her, then lightly touched the ground with his toes and leaped into the air.
Qingluan was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed.
The two people, one in front of the other, transformed into two streaks of light and flew towards the capital.
It takes half a day to travel from Dongshan to the capital by carriage, but to fly there—it wouldn't even take the time it takes to burn an incense stick.
Lin Chen flew with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering in the wind, his hair blowing back, making him look like an immortal.
Qingluan followed behind Lin Chen, watching his back, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
When she first met this man, she thought he was a playboy.
What now?
He was a king of equal rank, and even the empress became his person.
Qingluan shook her head, not daring to think about it anymore.
We've arrived at the palace.
Lin Chen landed from the air, his feet landing on the bluestone slabs in front of the Meridian Gate.
With the Meridian Gate wide open, the red walls and yellow tiles gleamed in the sunlight, exuding an air of solemnity.
The imperial guards at the gate saw Lin Chen and immediately clasped their hands in salute, their movements perfectly synchronized.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Lin Chen waved his hand, put his hands in his sleeves, and strolled inside as if he were visiting his own backyard.
Qingluan followed behind him, half a step behind.
Along the way, all the palace maids and eunuchs he encountered stopped and bowed when they saw Lin Chen, not daring to raise their heads.
Lin Chen didn't even look at them, continuing his journey with ease.
At the entrance of the Imperial Study, Chief Eunuch Li Fuquan was standing there waiting.
Upon seeing Lin Chen from afar, she quickly approached, smiling as brightly as a chrysanthemum: "Your Highness has arrived! His Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time, please come in!"
Lin Chen nodded and pushed open the door to go inside.
In the imperial study, the Empress was sitting behind her desk reviewing memorials.
A pile of folded paper was stacked like a small mountain, stretching from the top of the desk to the bottom.
She flipped through the books one by one, occasionally writing a few words in annotation, her brows slightly furrowed, looking like she wasn't in a good mood.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
Upon seeing Lin Chen, his brows immediately relaxed, and the corners of his mouth curved into a smile: "You're here?"
Lin Chen walked over, sat down on the chair next to her, and casually grabbed a pastry from the table and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Yes, he's here. What does Your Majesty need me for?"
The Empress put down her pen, leaned back in her chair, and looked at Lin Chen.
"Zhou Sihai from the Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce has come to see me."
Lin Chen chewed on a snack and mumbled, "And then?"
"He wants to open branches all over Dayan, and he even said he wants to cooperate with the imperial court to develop roads together." The Empress picked up her teacup, took a sip, and
"That sounds nice, all that talk about mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, a whole set of rhetoric."
Lin Chen swallowed the snack, picked up his teacup, took a sip, rinsed his mouth, and swallowed it.
"What did you say?"
The Empress looked at Lin Chen with a malicious smile.
"I say, you should discuss this matter with Prince Qian; I will not interfere."
Lin Chen was taken aback for a moment before remembering that this Prince Qian was himself. He coughed twice and said, "You certainly know how to push things."
The Empress raised an eyebrow: "What? You don't want to get involved?"
"I'll manage it, I'll manage it." Lin Chen waved his hand. "His Majesty has spoken, how can I ignore it?"
He crossed his legs and said casually, "So, how do you plan to collaborate?"
"That's why I asked you, I didn't know." The Empress picked up her teacup, took another sip, and said, "You've met him, what do you think of him?"
Lin Chen leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers twice on the armrest.
"A cunning old fox, always smiling like a Buddha, but deep down he's incredibly shrewd, however—"
Lin Chen paused for a moment, then said, "In business, you can't grow a business if you're not shrewd."
The Empress nodded: "So what do you mean?"