His Rui

Chapter 785: Zhao Zhang Wei's Cleverness

He exited the chambers even before he had his meals.      

While leaving, he asked Eunuch Zhang to spread the rumor that he was not feeling well and that's why he left the Empress' chambers early.     

He didn't why anyone to spread some false rumor regarding him and Yi Huiqing.      

As he walked to his chambers, he remembered Yi Huiqing's shocked face when he had ended the kiss.      

It was a short kiss. He didn't want to leave her. But he had to reluctantly in the end.      

She was too stiff throughout the whole kiss.      

Zhao Zhang Wei remembered how shocked she looked. A sigh escaped his lips. So she never knew what he felt for her.      

Zhao Zhang Wei felt helpless.      

He had thought that his actions had really conveyed his feelings. However, that didn't seem to be so.      

Was she just being polite to him these days?      

When he was inside his chambers, his mind was full of different thoughts. He wondered if he did right by telling her his feelings.      

What if doing this would send her away from him?     

Zhao Zhang Wei didn't know what would happen but he felt very light in his heart.      

It felt so right when he said those words.      

He had wanted to say them again and again but he knew that he needed to give Yi Huiqing some time.      

He didn't know what her reaction would be but seeing how shocked she looked, he merely kissed her cheek and asked her to rest.      

Afterward, he silently left the chambers.      

She deserved all the time she needed.      

And he would wait for her patiently.     

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The next morning when Zhao Zhang Wei entered the Imperial Court, he could easily see that the ministers wanted to talk to him about something.      

And he knew very well what this something was.      

However, he calmly waited for them to initiate whatever they wanted to say.          

"Your Majesty"     

It was, in the end, the Minister of revenue who stood up and started to talk about what he had wanted to say so eagerly.      

Zhao Zhang Wei generously focused all his attention on him and Minister Zhou continued      

"Your Majesty, perhaps the palette system might be new for Your Majesty so this one would humbly suggest something. The system is there, not only to have heirs for the Imperial Clan but it is also there to maintain the peace of the Inner courtyard for the Imperial Clan."     

Minister Zhou paused for a moment and then he continued as if he had been thinking of some right words.      

"Your Majesty, giving the whole attention to only one woman in the inner courtyard can destroy its peace. A woman's envy can provoke her to do anything and hence the palette system was started to make sure that the Emperor would grant the privilege to spend a night at every concubine's courtyard at least once a year."     

The Imperial Court was silent after Minister Zhou's words.      

Minister Zhou raised his head slightly and looked at the Emperor as he said respectfully.      

"Your Majesty, this subject is worried that favoring a single woman, even if she is Her Majesty, the Empress can create chaos in the inner yard.      

Although no one said anything, everyone found Minister Zhou's words reasonable. In fact, for this very reason, Minister Xin had stood in the favour of Minister Zhou, and today, too he was nodding his head in agreement with every word of Minister Zhou.      

Xi Ying sat silently in the Imperial Court. In such matters, he would just watch from the surface. Until there was any need to interfere, he would not do so in any condition.      

He wanted to see what Zhao Zhang Wei would say.      

Zhao Zhang Wei's face was emotionless as he looked at all the ministers who seemed to have formed a single group. He knew that they were also right at their place but he still found it very annoying that just because he was an Emperor they could interfere in these matters so freely.      

He wanted them to know he didn't need their suggestions in such matters. The only woman he cared about in his inner yard was his wife, Yi Huiqing. The rest of the women…he knew very well they just wanted to bear his child and then climb high.      

"Minister Zhou thought so much for Zhen."     

He said calmly. His voice was gentle and he didn't seem to be angry at all. Seeing this, Minister Zhou looked relieved.      

He even pointed out one more fact.      

"Your Majesty, Imperial Clan doesn't have an heir as well. That is something dangerous for an Empire."     

At these words, the calm Zhao Zhang Wei raised his eyebrows and said      

"Xin doesn't have any heir? When did that happen? As much as Zhen knows Bo Jin is still alive. Minister Zhou's words are really offending."     

Minister Zhou's eyes widened when he heard what Zhao Zhang Wei said. He was too speechless to say anything for a few moments but in the end, he couldn't help but say gibberish.      

"Young Prince Bo Jin…how can he …"     

How could he be the heir to the throne? Would not the Emperor want his own son to be the next Emperor?     

Minister Zhou stopped talking when he saw Zhao Zhang Wei looking at him with questioning-filled eyes. Though the latter had such an Expression, Minister Zhou felt as if Zhao Zhang Wei was daring him to continue his words.      

Zhao Zhang Wei looked at the other ministers who also seemed to be shocked by what he said but he didn't explain anything.          

Actually, he had already thought about this.      

Whatever happened to their children, he was afraid that Yi Huiqing would not want another child. Even if she wanted, it would not be in the near future and he never wanted to force her.      

However, he was also aware that these ministers would today or tomorrow bring this matter. And it happened very soon.      

And hence he expressed his wish that if something happened to him then Zhao Bo Jin could also ascend the throne. Zhao Zhang Wei never had the greed for the throne. He didn't want his child to have the same.      

It didn't matter who ascended the throne, he would ensure that the one who will ascend after him would be a capable one.      

Though no one had expected that the prince would say such a thing, they couldn't really say that what he said was wrong.      

In the end, Zhao Bo Jin was also from the Imperial Clan. He couldn't be blamed for his father's deeds and his mother was actually against Zhao Zhuang Chen.      

They could not show any resistance to Zhao Bo Jin being an heir to the throne.      

Minister Zhou sighed and didn't bring this up again but he still had one thing in his favor.      

"Your Majesty…"     

He had just opened his mouth when Zhao Zhang Wei interrupted knowing very well what he would say.      

"As for the peace in Inner yard…"     

Zhao Zhang Wei paused for a long time before he suddenly smiled and said      

"Zhen thinks that there are too many concubines in the Inner yard. Minister Zhou doesn't need to worry. Zhen would manage this matter well."     

Not only Minister Zhou but other ministers were also confused regarding what Zhao Zhang Wei said.      

Why did he say that there were too many concubines in the inner yard? In fact, they thought that it was way too less.      

But how would the Emperor manage this matter?     

Everyone was confused.      

It was only when they reached their manors and soon received the news from their secret sources that they got to know how the Emperor would manage this.     

Minister Zhou said that favoring one woman over a single woman could create chaos in the inner yard.      

Hence, what Zhao Zhang Wei did was very simple.      

He gave a huge some of money to all the concubines. He granted them the freedom to marry anyone they wanted. In return, he asked them to leave the Imperial Palace.      

And hence, soon the inner yard would not have even a single woman except the Empress.      

That was his way of making sure that there would be no chaos.      

Minister Zhou smiled bitterly when he came to know about this. However, he also understood that the present Emperor was not going to bend down just like this. He felt actually happy seeing Zhao Zhang Wei's wisdom and persistence.          

In the end, he decided not to interfere with these things again.      

Regarding the Emperor's decision, everyone was shocked.      

One shocked woman was also seated in her courtyard which she found way less luxurious and beautiful than the Empress's chambers.      

On the bed, Shaolin was breathing heavily with a pale face.      

The Eunuch had just left after conveying the message of the Emperor asking her to leave the Imperial Palace.      

She looked at the huge sum of money. Shaolin had never seen so much money in her whole life but she was sure that with this sum of money, she could easily live well for the rest of her life.      

Unfortunately, that was not what she wanted.      

Shaolin's cold eyes flickered as she suddenly clutched her stomach and then a smirk played on her lips.      

She was not going to leave this Imperial Palace in any situation.