"If my father likes this painting, please accept it." Chu Ye said respectfully with his face as usual.
Emperor Zhaochu did not reach out to pick it up, nor did he answer Chu Ye's words. He just looked at the person in the painting fixedly, his eyes full of memories, fascination, and yearning.
It lasted for three full seconds.
Three seconds later, he sighed and said in a faint tone, "Your mother doesn't like to have her portrait drawn, so there are very few portraits left. I didn't expect that I could still see your mother's portrait."
"I also discovered it accidentally when I was cleaning up my mother's room." Chu Ye responded warmly.
Emperor Zhaochu remembered something, and his smile turned bitter for a moment, "Prince Chen's Mansion was originally intended to be left to you, so your mother stayed in Prince Chen's Mansion for a period of time in advance and left some things for you."
"I should have given it to you a long time ago, but I forgot about it because of your illness."
"My son, because his condition has improved recently, he often walks in the mansion and goes to the courtyard where his mother and concubine live, so I saw these things." Chu Ye's voice was very calm, with a bit of reminiscence.
"Put it down." Emperor Zhaochu slowly sat back and leaned on the back of the chair, just looking at the face of the person in the painting.
Chu Ye put the painting on the desk.
"You have reached the age where you should get married, do you have someone you like?" Emperor Zhaochu suddenly mentioned Chu Ye's marriage, his tone was rare and gentle, and his face was kind.
Chu Ye declined politely, "My son is still ill from tuberculosis, so there is no rush."
"Don't worry about tuberculosis." Emperor Zhaochu showed a faint smile, "Princess Minghui has arrived in the capital, and she has medicine that can cure tuberculosis. After you recover from tuberculosis, you will eventually get a wife."
"How do you like Princess Nangong? I intend to marry Nanzhao and marry her as your concubine. How about that?"
Chu Ye shook his head, "Thank you very much for your kindness, father. Princess Nangong has done a lot for my son's tuberculosis. I am grateful in my heart and have no other thoughts."
"Don't worry, as the concubine, I will find someone who can help you a lot. You will definitely be satisfied." Emperor Zhaochu's eyes softened.
Chu Ye was silent for a moment, then shook his head again, "I really have no intention of thinking about marriage for the time being."
Emperor Zhao Chu's eyebrows moved and he looked at Chu Ye a little deeper, then a flash of disappointment flashed across his face.
His son may have been ill for a long time and is not used to ambition.
"Your Majesty, Concubine Yi would like to see you." Eunuch Liu suddenly walked in.
Emperor Zhaochu's eyes darkened, "It's already late at night, why would she come to me if she doesn't have a good rest?"
"Your Majesty didn't say anything, she just said that she had something urgent to ask for," Liu Gong said.
"Xuan." Emperor Zhaochu's eyes darkened slightly.
Eunuch Liu went out, and soon Concubine Yi walked in quickly and saluted Emperor Zhaochu, "I have seen the emperor, but I have no choice but to disturb the emperor late at night. Please forgive me."
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Chu Ye standing aside, and a flash of doubt flashed through his mind.
It seemed that she was not the only one who disturbed Emperor Zhaochu late at night.
"I've met Concubine Yi." Chu Ye said politely.
"My beloved concubine came to see me late at night, but what's the urgent matter?" Emperor Zhaochu's eyes were clear, with only a faint hint of softness.
Thinking of the scroll on the table, his expression remained unchanged as he picked up the scroll casually and rolled it up slowly.
Yi Fei took a step forward, and just as she was about to speak, her eyes swept over the scroll being rolled up by Emperor Zhaochu, and she happened to see the face of the person in the painting, and her heart suddenly trembled.
That face is 70-80% similar to mine!
When she entered the palace, she heard people secretly commenting that her appearance was somewhat similar to that of Concubine Zhen, who had been dead for many years.
She only thought it was a rumor from the palace people and never paid any attention to it. It was normal for people to be somewhat similar.
Unexpectedly, tonight she saw this portrait on Emperor Zhaochu's long book table. She was not just a little bit similar to Concubine Zhen, but eighty-nine times similar! Her heart suddenly sank. So, what was the emperor's treatment of her over the years?
Is your love sincere? Or is it because of this Concubine Zhen?
"My beloved concubine?" Emperor Zhaochu called. Seeing that Concubine Yi was stunned as she looked at the portrait, there was a hint of coolness in her voice.
Concubine Yi came back to her senses in an instant and quickly saluted Emperor Zhaochu, "I was temporarily absent-minded. Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"It's okay, you came to see me late at night, but what's the important thing?" Emperor Zhaochu would only ask the same question twice without being cold-hearted when he was talking to Concubine Yi.
Chu Ye stood with his head lowered, his expression calm.
"I have been to the Qitian Palace and learned that King Han and Princess Han have left the palace and returned to the palace, so I came to ask the emperor to send someone out of the palace to summon Princess Han into the palace." Concubine Yi immediately explained the purpose of her visit.
If Wu Peiya hadn't committed suicide by slitting her wrists, she wouldn't have come to see Emperor Zhaochu late at night.
Originally, she thought that as long as she accompanied her attentively and enlightened her, Wu Peiya would be able to figure it out, so she did not ask Xie Yao to go to Zuoyi Palace. But she didn't expect that Wu Peiya would have such a violent reaction!
Caught off guard, she could only go to Xie Yao, but learned that Xie Yao and Chu Han had both left the palace and returned home. Without the emperor's summons at night, the people in her palace could not leave, so she came to find Emperor Zhaochu.
She couldn't wait for a moment, worried that Wu Peiya would do something stupid again during the long night.
Upon hearing the words 'Princess Han', Chu Ye's eyes that had been silent suddenly moved for a moment.
"Huh?" Emperor Zhaochu thought that Concubine Yi was unwell, so he looked over with concern in his eyes.
Concubine Yi's mood eased slightly, but the emperor still cared about her, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I am in good health and I am my niece."
At this point, she looked back at Chu Ye and stopped talking.
She understood Emperor Zhaochu's character, and if she didn't explain the situation clearly, even if Emperor Zhaochu granted her request, she would still be suspicious.
Therefore, when she came, she was ready to tell the truth. Even if she didn't tell Wu Peiya's things, Emperor Zhaochu might not know about it, but she didn't expect Chu Ye to be there.
Emperor Zhaochu glanced at Concubine Yi, his calm and authoritative eyes showed a touch of gentleness, and he took a sign and said, "I understand, you can send someone to do this."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Concubine Yi took the sign, suppressed all her thoughts, and left.
It seemed that the importance of Chu Ye's matter had exceeded her purpose of meeting Xie Yao, so Emperor Zhao Chu did not reject Chu Ye, but casually gave him a sign to let him leave.
After taking the token, she returned to Zuoyi Palace and gave it to Mu Yue, asking Mu Yue to invite Xie Yao.
As long as Xie Yao can be found, Wu Peiya's situation may improve.
In the Imperial Study Room, after Concubine Yi left, Emperor Zhaochu briefly chatted with Chu Ye for a few words before asking Chu Ye to leave.
Alone in the empty imperial study room, with the portrait sent by Chu Ye hanging in front of him, he looked at each other affectionately without saying a word.
…
When Xie Yao saw Mu Yue, she had just finished washing and was about to fall asleep.
After learning Mu Yue's intention, she immediately put on her clothes and prepared to enter the palace.
He finished dressing as quickly as possible, picked up the medicine box and walked out.