If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a figure dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe stormed in, bringing with him a gust of cold wind.

The person who arrived was none other than the current Empress, Meng Qianshan's elder sister, Meng Jing.

Zhao Yu's eyes lit up.

Previously, I could only hear her voice but not see her in the sedan chair. I never expected that this Empress would still be so charming.

With willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes, a delicate nose, and red lips, her slender figure could not be concealed even by her elegant and luxurious phoenix robe. In particular, her mature and charming temperament was captivating.

At that moment, he suddenly understood Prime Minister Cao a little.

"His Majesty and the Empress harbor resentment and have never gotten along," Li Fu'an whispered in his ear. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "But they're not irreconcilable enemies."

Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow.

Doesn't that mean that he already revealed his weakness when he yelled at the Empress in the sedan chair?

However, the Empress did not investigate further at the time and left directly, presumably unaware of anything.

As he was thinking this, Empress Meng Jing walked up to him, her phoenix eyes filled with murderous intent, her voice icy cold.

"Is this the explanation His Majesty gave me? It is indeed a very good explanation!"

Zhao Yu looked up at her calmly.

"Why does the Empress say such a thing?"

"What makes you say that?" Meng Jing sneered. "How could you not know in your heart? There are no more than ten thousand troops inside and outside the capital, while the Wolf Kingdom has a hundred thousand troops pressing in! You're ordering General Meng to defend the capital to the death, are you trying to use the loyalty of my entire Meng family to buy yourself time to escape?"

Zhao Yu snorted coldly.

"I think you're too idle as Empress, spending your days lost in idle thoughts. If there's nothing else, you may leave."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jing gritted her teeth and glared at Zhao Yu, but immediately her anger turned to sorrow, and she began to sob softly.

"Yes, I've been too idle! I've been all alone ever since I entered the palace!"

You think I'm five years older than you, and you think the Meng family is behind me and gets in your way!

I don't blame you for never setting foot in my Phoenix Palace! I also understand why you always give me perfunctory answers!

But you… how could you use the loyalty and courage of the entire Meng family to fill that bottomless pit!

The cries were heart-wrenching, and those who heard them were saddened.

Looking at the beautiful woman with tears streaming down her face, Zhao Yu couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.

It's true what they say, "You're too young to appreciate your older sister, and you mistakenly treat your younger sister like a treasure."

At this age, when one has tasted the sweetness of love, how can those young girls who are just beginning to experience romantic feelings compare?

but·······

Zhao Yu looked at the half-veiled empress, his anger subsided, and he sighed softly, revealing a helpless expression.

"I have no such intention. If I wanted to escape, I could have left long ago. The fact that I haven't left means that my life is now tied to General Meng's."

If General Meng is defeated, I too will not survive.

Do you understand?

Meng Jing's sobs stopped abruptly. She raised her teary eyes and looked at Zhao Yu.

"really?"

Zhao Yu nodded slightly.

"Of course it's true."

Seeing that the situation had eased, Li Fu'an quickly stepped forward to break the ice.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, time for dinner."

Zhao Yu nodded, turned his gaze to Meng Jing, and asked a question as usual.

"Your Majesty, why don't you dine with me?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Jing's face darkened again.

She gave a cold snort, clearly annoyed.

"Your Majesty has quite the appetite. Having just acquired the beauty Shen Miaochu, you still have time to eat. I won't disturb Your Majesty's enjoyment any longer!"

With that, she abruptly flicked her sleeve, turned around, and strode away without a trace of lingering affection.

Zhao Yu was stunned on the spot.

What... is going on?

They were fine just a moment ago, so why did she get angry again after I invited her to dinner?

Could it be that I'm going through menopause?

……

outside the temple.

Meng Jing sat down in the phoenix carriage with a gloomy expression, all traces of the tenderness she had shown just moments before gone.

The accompanying maidservant quickly stepped forward, massaging her shoulders while whispering words of comfort.

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry. At least His Majesty said himself that he didn't want to run away."

The phoenix carriage slowly started moving.

Meng Jing leaned against the cushion, her beautiful eyes slightly lowered, and spoke in a low voice.

"His Majesty certainly doesn't want to run away, but when have you ever seen him offer an explanation the moment I cry?"

The young palace maid was taken aback and thought about it carefully.

"This... seems to be something I've never seen before."

Immediately, her eyes lit up, and she said excitedly, "Your Majesty, could it be that the Emperor... the Emperor has changed his mind about you?"

"Change your mind? Ha."

Meng Jing sneered, a cold glint flashing in her phoenix eyes.

I'm afraid it's not a change of heart, but rather... a switcheroo!

but……

That raccoon is right; his life and the life of my Meng family are now intertwined.

Zhao Yu, you've disgusted me for so many years, it's time for me to really disgust you!

"Come closer."

The young palace maid obediently whispered in her ear.

Hearing the Empress's whispers, the young palace maid's expression changed from calm to alarm.

"Ah?" The young palace maid turned pale with fright. "Your Majesty, that...that's pushing the Emperor into a fire pit!"

Meng Jing gave her a cold glance.

"Never mind that, just do as I say."

"Yes...this servant obeys."

……

Inside the study.

Seeing that the Empress had really left, Li Fu'an gritted his teeth and lowered his voice to angrily say to Zhao Yu.

"Didn't we tell you that the Emperor and Empress have a grudge? And you still went to explain to her! Luckily, you weren't discovered, or you would have ruined the Emperor's plans!"

Zhao Yu turned back to his seat, glanced in the direction the Empress had left, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"Don't worry, Eunuch Li, everything is under my control."

"That had better be!" Li Fu'an glared at him fiercely. "Otherwise, you know exactly what our family's methods are!"

Zhao Yu completely ignored his threat, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke calmly.

"Serve the meal, I'm hungry too."

Looking at his leisurely and carefree demeanor, Li Fu'an felt a surge of resentment.

This kid really thinks he's the emperor!

However, you won't live much longer.

Once the court assembly is over on the third day, I will personally kill you and send you on your way!

A murderous intent surged within him, but he remained outwardly calm. He turned to face the door and shouted in a shrill voice.

"Serve the meal!"

As Li Fu'an's shrill voice faded, one after another, graceful palace maids, carrying exquisite dishes, filed in.

only……

Zhao Yu was stunned by what he saw.

These palace maids, each with high-piled hair and beautiful faces, wore only a thin veil, exposing large expanses of their snow-white skin, their chests and bellies bare, displaying boundless pride.

Zhao Yu couldn't help but turn his head and look at Li Fu'an beside him.

"Eunuch Li, what does this mean?"

Seeing Zhao Yu's naive and unsophisticated demeanor, Li Fu'an felt secretly pleased, but his face remained composed and matter-of-fact.

"Your Majesty, this is a rule you personally established, called 'Naked Vegetables'."

You said that this would allow you to see the dishes more clearly and enjoy your meal more.

"His Majesty is truly wise. This naked dish is a scene that people outside the palace can never even imagine in their entire lives."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu was speechless.

That damn emperor really knows how to live!

No wonder everyone wants to be emperor; this scenery is truly not something that ordinary people can appreciate.

Seeing that Zhao Yu remained silent, Li Fu'an assumed that he was intimidated by the show of force, and his smug expression grew even stronger.

He stepped forward and said in a seductive tone, "Your Majesty, this 'naked dish' not only includes the dishes on the plate, but also these standing dishes... You can eat whichever dish you wish to eat."

After saying that, he looked at Zhao Yu with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

I want to see how impatient this refugee will be.

However, Zhao Yu's reaction was surprisingly calm.

Zhao Yu sighed softly.

"With so many delicacies, it's a bit boring for me to eat alone. I need to find someone to share it with."

Upon hearing this, Li Fu'an smiled disdainfully to himself.

Refugees are just refugees; they think of being grateful for any favors they receive, unaware that these are nothing but baseless and unsavory things.

He felt contempt in his heart, but on the surface he pretended to be humble and bowed down.

"This old servant is not fortunate enough to dine at the same table as His Majesty, the most supreme ruler."

Zhao Yu glanced at him and spoke coldly.

"You bastard, what are you thinking? You think you're worthy?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the palace maids inside the hall let out soft chuckles.

Li Fu'an's face instantly turned a deep liver color!

He suddenly looked up, staring intently at Zhao Yu, his fists clenched so tightly in his sleeves that they cracked, his eyes filled with shame, anger, and resentment.

That damned brat! How dare he make fun of our family!

Zhao Yu, however, seemed oblivious to his murderous glare, and tapped the table as if reminiscing.

"I remember...didn't I just take a beautiful concubine as a concubine? What was her name again...?"

He paused for a moment, then suddenly realized.

"Oh, I remember now, her name is Shen Miaochu. Go, have Consort Shen come and dine with me."

"What?!"

Li Fu'an cried out in shock.

Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow and slowly turned to look at him.

"Hmm? What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Li Fu'an quickly suppressed his surging anger, forced out a smile that looked worse than crying, and said shamelessly.

"Your Majesty, you are unaware of this, but Consort Shen... she has recently caught a cold and is feeling unwell. To ensure Your Majesty's health, she must not be summoned."

After saying that, he leaned closer and whispered through gritted teeth in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"That's His Majesty's woman. How dare you touch her? Let me tell you, there's absolutely no way!"

Seeing his resolute attitude, Zhao Yu knew that this matter was probably not going to be easy.

He didn't insist, but just sighed with feigned regret.

"If that's the case, then so be it."

Then, he changed the subject.

"I have to go to the library to study martial arts techniques this afternoon. Time is tight, so let's keep lunch simple."

Li Fu'an frowned.

This kid, is he trying to use learning martial arts techniques to get his way with the Emperor's women? He's really cunning! Trying to pressure us with something important?

But... never mind, it's only for two or three days anyway, he probably won't learn anything anyway.

Once the three-day court assembly is over, I'll kill this brat first.

Thinking of this, Li Fu'an immediately put on a respectful expression.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Zhao Yu nodded, then waved to the palace maids who were still standing there.

"These 'naked dishes' should also be removed."

Li Fu'an was immediately surprised.

He didn't expect that Zhao Yu would also dismiss these beautiful palace maids.

This kid isn't interested in women, which suggests he wasn't just a beggar before.

The palace maids who had initially held onto a sliver of hope immediately showed undisguised disappointment on their faces.

They bowed gracefully to Zhao Yuying, responded with "Yes," and slowly withdrew from the study.