The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 5

The Emperor’s Court

Shen Lingyan was already standing on the steps, turning back to look at Zhou Jin, who was still standing outside the palace. She smiled proudly, “This is my empire, my court. Attending the morning assembly is a must, isn’t it…”

With that, she didn’t give Zhou Jin time to react and walked straight toward the Chaohui Grand Hall of the court. Although she wasn’t wearing the standard court robe, her phoenix robe was acceptable, so she didn’t intend to change.

Zhou Jin followed behind her, also still in her red silk dress. This casual attire made the passing officials stare blankly. Shen Lingyan was slightly displeased. She took a long, ankle-length cape from Yun zhu and walked coldly behind Zhou Jin, wrapping her up entirely. “You’re not wearing a court robe. Where is your decorum?”

Zhou Jin blinked her eyes, then burst out laughing. She reached out a finger and playfully lifted Shen Lingyan’s chin. “Our female Emperor, the Empress, now speaks of decorum?”

The flirtatious intent was clear. Shen Lingyan tried hard to ignore her and continued to walk ahead. Yun zhu lightly held the train of the phoenix robe from behind until they reached the court hall before letting it down.

“Her Majesty the Empress is arriving!”

“The Regent, Zhou Jin, is arriving!”

The eunuch’s shrill voice cried out. The entire court of officials turned to look at the woman walking from the doorway toward the Dragon Throne. Though not in a standard court robe, her attire was bright, dazzling, and breathtakingly beautiful.

And Zhou Jin, who was usually hailed as a beauty, now followed Shen Lingyan, wrapped in a long cape that poorly matched her red silk dress, making her appear rather humble.

In every way, Zhou Jin seemed less beautiful than Shen Lingyan. Some recently promoted officials were momentarily stunned. Was this really the ‘mad Empress’ of all the circulating rumors?

“Seeing Her Majesty the Empress, why do you not quickly perform the full salute!” Yun zhu, as the head maid, loudly reminded all the officials, snapping those in a daze back to reality.

“Your subjects respectfully bow to Her Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

Shen Lingyan stood before the Dragon Throne, watching the officials all kowtow and salute her in unison. The feeling in her heart was indescribable, though Zhou Jin, standing amidst their prostration, was very conspicuous…

“Rise, my esteemed officials.”

Even if she hadn’t been an Emperor, she had seen plenty of dramas. Similarly, even if she hadn’t been an Empress, she had read history books. Shen Lingyan recalled the scenes from those dramas and history books, and she spoke with a grand, imposing air. It was correct.

The officials stood up and began their respective departmental reports.

However, even though Shen Lingyan had furiously caught up on things in the past few days, and even with her history background… she was still unable to resolve these issues because the real power was not in her hands. Some matters even required Zhou Jin’s arrangement.

‘What kind of Emperor am I exactly?!’

The originally motivated Shen Lingyan simply slumped into the Dragon Throne, looking at the gilded splendor around her, and then at Zhou Jin, who was busy swirling around. A wave of heartache suddenly surged within her.

“This subject has a matter to report.” Dai Junwu finally stepped forward, accompanied by many others.

They were all rough, burly military generals with loud voices. A single shout from them quieted the entire court.

“What is your matter, my esteemed official?” Shen Lingyan was so excited she almost stood up, finally waiting for Dai Junwu to speak.

Dai Junwu and his group knelt down, holding scrolls in their hands, and spoke in unison: “We, your subjects, willingly surrender the military power. All affairs of the military shall be dispatched by Her Majesty the Empress.”

Upon hearing this, the civil officials widened their eyes, looking towards Wei Kangsheng. Did the Prime Minister also intend to do this?

Wei Kangsheng secretly shook his head at those officials, indicating that he would remain still. The civil officials then understood and unanimously offered their congratulations.

Shen Lingyan stood up, smiling, and took all the scrolls and military tallies under Zhou Jin’s complicated gaze. Before recessing the court, she mocked loudly, “Since ancient times, military power and political power should be managed by the Emperor and the officials arranged by them. It is perfectly right and proper that the military power is now recovered. There is no need for congratulations. Furthermore… in a few months, after the lost border territories are recovered, I hope to see the reunification of the political power soon.”

With that, she announced the end of the court session and returned to her sleeping quarters first.

She had barely sat down when Zhou Jin arrived, bringing the cape and a stack of memorials petitions/reports with her.

“Sister Empress…” Zhou Jin was an expert at feigning innocence. Her voice sounded natural and even slightly tempting, but Shen Lingyan now saw her as an enemy and refused to acknowledge her, asking only coldly, “What is it?”

Shen Lingyan was almost moved by her own coldness, but Zhou Jin looked hurt, grumbling as she walked up to her. “Sister, why is your tone so frightening? What did A-Jin do wrong again?”

If anyone else had said this, Shen Lingyan would have felt deeply uncomfortable, yet she couldn’t find it in herself to dislike Zhou Jin saying it. The ‘Lotus-like’ innocent/flirty Zhou Jin, coupled with her enchanting face, made Shen Lingyan feel she dared not look at her.

So, she had to bury her head down, almost touching the memorials.

Zhou Jin reached out a finger, hooked Shen Lingyan’s chin, and reminded her gently, “Sister, you shouldn’t lean so close… it will hurt your eyes.”

Seeing Shen Lingyan as innocent as a little deer, Zhou Jin became increasingly interested. It seemed teasing this female Emperor was one of her great pleasures.

“What do you want, exactly!” Shen Lingyan slammed her hand on the table and stood up furiously, glaring at Zhou Jin.

Zhou Jin, however, innocently presented the cape, which came with the memorials she had specially brought.

“A-Jin only… only came to return Her Majesty’s cape…”

She spoke with such extreme grievance and pity that even Shen Lingyan couldn’t help but feel a little softened. After accepting the cape and the memorials, she saw Zhou Jin walking away, looking back repeatedly, and called out, “You… stay and help me. There are some things I still don’t know how to handle…”

The moment the words left her mouth, Shen Lingyan immediately regretted them. Why should she let Zhou Jin stay here? If she didn’t know something, she could ask Wei Kangsheng, or Dai Junwu!

Seeing Zhou Jin’s face light up with joy, Shen Lingyan cursed herself fiercely in her heart. ‘What enmity is this, to have Zhou Jin following me around all the time?’

However, Zhou Jin was indeed much more serious now. She didn’t speak with a ‘Lotus-like’ tone and could tell Shen Lingyan what was hidden behind these memorials. Before she knew it, the stack of reports that looked like they would take a whole day to read was finished by the end of the morning. Shen Lingyan was just about to compliment Zhou Jin when the latter started being inappropriate again…

“Is Your Majesty hungry? Shall A-Jin have a meal delivered for you?” She was frighteningly attentive, her beautiful face leaning so close it was almost touching Shen Lingyan’s, smiling brightly.

Shen Lingyan uncomfortably moved further away from Zhou Jin, then rubbed her stomach, which was indeed a bit hungry. She loudly called Yun zhu to prepare a meal. Zhou Jin’s smile instantly froze on her face. She walked out the door with a darkened expression, following behind Yunzhu, insisting on carrying the food to Shen Lingyan herself.

Just as she took the bowl of soup in her hands, a man holding a folding fan walked in, standing by the door and waiting to be summoned.

“Who are you?” Zhou Jin scrutinized the man up and down.

The man arrogantly closed his folding fan. After first saluting Zhou Jin, he raised his head and said, “I am the person my father wishes to introduce to Her Majesty the Empress…”

Introduce? Zhou Jin’s face grew even darker.