Pampered by the Toughest Man After Divorce
Chapter 740 The Courtesy of This Path Cannot Be Avoided_1

Chapter 740: Chapter 740 The Courtesy of This Path Cannot Be Avoided_1

The women of the palace were all languishing in boredom, their days filled with gossip. The Empress was easygoing and did not discourage their chatter, since she herself was rather partial to it.

"Ah, I heard that the Emperor has been frequenting the Siyuan Bureau lately, does anyone know why?" Chen Daying asked.

Ning Liangpin had been left seething by Lady Nan Feng’s earlier remarks, and was now harboring a deep-seated resentment towards her. But the ladies of the palace were all experts in the art of spoken word; their faces were always innocent, yet their words were razor-sharp. "You’re referring to the Siyuan Bureau? General Nangong Ye’s wife is in charge there now. Perhaps the Emperor is visiting frequently to express his concern for General Nangong Ye’s tireless efforts in the field. It demonstrates how the Emperor cares for his subjects as if they were his children."

What a damning statement that simultaneously disclosed that Lady Nan Feng was spoken for, that she had profound connections, and that she was in the Emperor’s good graces. Surely, this was inappropriate.

But Zhang Liangdi retorted, "Are you sure about his wife? I heard she was just some woman Nangong Ye met while he was exiled. If they were truly wed, the Emperor would have surely honoured her with a title. Just look at the rank Nangong Ye’s achieved. It wouldn’t make sense to still have Lady Nangong residing in the palace."

Ning Liangpin interjected, "I heard that she comes from humble beginnings, a woman from a remote mountain village. Perhaps the Emperor wants to give her a few years to polish her manners in the palace and then she will be worthy of General Nangong Ye."

Ning Liangpin seemed to have a comprehensive understanding of Lady Nan Feng’s background.

"What do you think? Why does the Emperor keep visiting the Siyuan Bureau?" Chen Daying asked while cracking open a melon seed.

"I’m not sure," the Empress finally spoke up, "Regardless, the Emperor clearly values Lady Nan Feng. You all mustn’t provoke her unnecessarily."

Ning Liangpin sneered. As if she would dare to provoke that fierce lady!

After their discussions about Lady Nan Feng, they moved on to talk about the new batch of fabrics that had arrived for the imperial harem. As everyone chatted about the latest fashions, the room was filled with animated chatter.

...

Was it because of what Lady Nan Feng had said last time? She had told the Emperor to summon her directly if he needed her, rather than always going to the Siyuan Bureau. So the very next day, she was summoned to the Yangxin Hall.

When not attending court, the Emperor often dealt with state affairs there.

The Siyuan and Yangxin Halls were quite a distance apart. To have Lady Nan Feng attend him, the Emperor had even arranged for her transportation.

While she initially felt awkward being carried around, Lady Nan Feng now had no qualms. So, she made her way to the Yangxin Hall, her face a mask of impassivity.

Upon her arrival, Eunuch Wan announced her entrance to the Emperor.

Inside, the Emperor sat rigid, dressed in his bright yellow attire, reviewing petitions. His brows were furrowed, and a sense of relief only surfaced when he laid his eyes on Lady Nan Feng.

"See her to a seat," commanded the Emperor to Eunuch Wan.

Eunuch Wan promptly set up a cushion for Lady Nan Feng to sit on, right before the emperor.

After paying her salutations, Lady Nan Feng took her seat confidently, though her countenance remained cold.

"Lady Nan Feng seems to be adapting quite well to palace life; your etiquette is impeccable," said the Emperor.

"I dare not overstep my bounds. It’s our duty to show respect and no one can circumnavigate that," Lady Nan Feng replied in a single sentence.

"Are you implying that your reverence for me stems from obligation and is not heartfelt?" The emperor asked with a hint of a smile. Perhaps, he was just teasing her.

"Your Majesty, I merely act accordint to the rules. I have not broken any," replied Nan Feng, skillfully deflecting his question. After all, she hadn’t done anything wrong; she had strictly adhered to all the proper behaviours.