From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 597

The trip to Jiangnan revealed too many things, and the eldest sister must have many dissatisfactions in her heart. Based on the current situation and the needs of future development, Zhou Yuan felt it necessary to talk to the eldest sister.

Then again, if Zhou Yuan was allowed to choose, Zhou Yuan would definitely choose the eldest sister to be the emperor unconditionally, rather than anyone else.

So the health of the eldest sister is still very important, and Zhou Yuan is not without worry about it.

After getting off the boat, two carriages, Zhuang Xuansu took the two sisters Bai Xue and Bai Bing to the Bishui Princess's Mansion. Zhou Yuan wrote a letter to Bishui, and there must be no problems there.

He just told Bai Xue before leaving: "Bishui's attitude towards you is likely to determine the fate of your Bai family."

Just this sentence is enough. Bai Xue is a smart girl. Even if she is only seventeen years old, she knows what to do in the Bishui Princess's Mansion.

Zhou Yuan followed Xiaozhuang and went directly to the palace.

He got off the car at the gate of Ziwei Palace without encountering any obstacles.

Looking at the familiar palace, Zhou Yuan was filled with emotion, and couldn't help but think of the exquisite face and deep eyes of the eldest sister.

This woman is indeed a competent emperor. If she hadn't done what she did last year, if she had never betrayed, perhaps he would feel much better.

"Go in."

Xiaozhuang said lightly: "I won't go in. Your Majesty may not want me to go in at this time."

Zhou Yuan looked up at the sky. It was already dusk.

The summer in Shenjing was a little hot, and people were a little restless.

When he walked into the bedroom, Zhou Yuan saw the eldest sister the first time.

She was sitting next to the desk, her body was blocked by the piles of memorials, revealing only a pale face.

Zhou Yuan had never seen her look so haggard. Not only was her face pale, but her lips were also colorless, and her eyes were no longer as clear and deep as before, but were full of bloodshot and sleepy.

Her hair was messy, she was wearing a purple thin skirt, and she looked at the memorials carefully.

"Your Majesty..."

Zhou Yuan walked over and saluted, saying, "I have finished my work in Jiangnan. I am back."

Empress Zhaojing raised her head and looked at Zhou Yuan. After looking him up and down, she said softly, "Junior brother, you have lost weight again. You have worked hard on this trip to the south."

Zhou Yuan said, "This is my duty."

"Don't say such things."

Empress Zhaojing stood up, walked to his side, and took his hand.

There was fatigue in her eyes that was difficult to conceal, and her mental state seemed to be very bad, but she still forced a smile and said, "Why be so polite? You don't call me senior sister anymore. Does this trip to the south mean that you are alienated from me?"

Zhou Yuan opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Empress Zhaojing threw herself into his arms and hugged his waist.

"If you have anything to say, can we talk later? Senior sister is tired and wants to rest."

Her tone was actually a little pitiful.

Zhou Yuan hugged her helplessly and whispered, "You haven't slept during this period?"

Empress Zhao Jing said, "I slept, but not much, maybe one or two hours a day."

Zhou Yuan frowned and said, "How can your body hold up with such a short sleep? No matter how deep your internal strength is, you can't ruin your body like this, right?"

Empress Zhao Jing sighed and murmured, "I can't sleep. There are too many things to worry about. These court officials are still playing power games and constantly putting pressure on me. It can only cost lives."

At this point, she sighed softly and said, "Let me sleep in your arms for a while. Now only you are at ease."

Zhou Yuan picked her up, strode inside as she cried softly, and put her on the bed.

The thin quilt is very cool, and it must be very comfortable to cover it in summer.

Zhou Yuan covered her with a blanket and said, "We'll talk about it tomorrow. Have a good rest tonight."

Empress Zhao Jing glanced at him and didn't refute. She just whispered, "Stay with me, don't leave..."

Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly and said, "Big sister, it's just the inner palace..."

"This is my inner palace, I have the final say."

Empress Zhao Jing held his hand and pulled him to the bed.

So, she hugged Zhou Yuan's arm and rested her head on Zhou Yuan's chest.

"It's great...Big sister, I'm glad to have you..."

Empress Zhao Jing murmured and fell asleep like this.

Looking at her closed eyes, trembling eyelashes, and quiet cheeks, Zhou Yuan sighed slightly in his heart.

He gently touched Big sister's long hair and clearly felt that she had completely entered a deep sleep.

Perhaps, she hasn't felt this way for a long time.

Zhou Yuan didn't want to disturb her, so he held her like this until late at night. He couldn't open his eyelids anymore, so he just fell asleep.

Zhou Yuan also slept soundly until the next day, when the sky was bright and the sun was rising.The morning sun shone through the window onto his face, and he slowly woke up.

He looked down and saw that the eldest sister was still lying on his chest, but she was still awake. Her clear eyes looked at Zhou Yuan foolishly, with a relaxed smile on her face.

She slept for a full six hours, and her spirits recovered a lot, and her face became brighter.

"I have suffered so much these years..."

Empress Zhaojing reached out her hand, stroked Zhou Yuan's face, and said: "Perhaps I was moved by the ancestors of the Great Jin Dynasty, and they blessed me, so that I met you."

Zhou Yuan found it difficult to respond to such words, and could only whisper: "Are you better?"

"Much better."

Empress Zhaojing said: "Perhaps I slept too deeply, and my whole body is sore."

Zhou Yuan said: "You are too tired."

Empress Zhaojing looked at him and said faintly: "Do you think I am tired too?"

Zhou Yuan sighed and smiled bitterly: "The Great Jin Dynasty is so big, and there are holes everywhere. Natural disasters and wars have just passed. It can be said that there is a lot of work to be done. Of course, there are endless things to do."

"Plus the constant turmoil in the court, the open and covert party struggles, ah, I feel tired just thinking about it."

Empress Zhaojing heard this, her eyes were a little red, and she whispered: "After all, you still understand me, and it is not in vain that I understand you."

Zhou Yuan knew that the key thing was coming.

Empress Zhao Jing said: "The intelligence organization Shenque has committed too many taboos. Under normal circumstances, this is actually equivalent to treason."

"But the eldest sister does not blame you, does not want to blame you, and does not want to blame you."

She hugged Zhou Yuan's arm and whispered: "No one is a saint. There will always be shortcomings and mistakes. There is nothing incomprehensible about this."

"The eldest sister has made mistakes. You are still brooding about what happened last year, right?"

"What's more, you are younger than me, and it is understandable that you made a mistake."

At this point, she looked at Zhou Yuan and said: "But little junior brother, the eldest sister made a mistake and corrected it with all her heart. What about you? Do you plan to correct it?"

This is a fatal question.

The eldest sister's tone was very sincere and her words were very convincing.

Zhou Yuan could only say: "Big sister, I don't think so much. I just want to do things well, help big sister revitalize Dajin, and fulfill the long-cherished wish of prosperity in the world."

He was playing a trick, basically did not give a direct answer, but just generally stated his fundamental thoughts.

Empress Zhaojing was so smart that she would not be fooled by such rhetoric.

But she still smiled lightly and said: "Big sister will not force you. You are still young and it is normal for you to be a little stubborn."

"But little junior brother, the situation in Dajin is still grim now. This salt inspection killed all the corrupt officials and the court was shaken. There are many things we need to make up for."

"Revitalize the salt business, investigate the administration, and lay out new laws. There are too many things to solve."

"At this critical time, big sister can't be distracted. Don't make trouble with big sister, okay?"

Zhou Yuan could only nod.

Empress Zhaojing said, "After getting married, you are rarely at home. Xiao Wenxin is still in the cradle. You should spend some time with your child."

"I'm tired, and you're tired too. You should take a good rest during this period, spend more time with your family, and spend more time with me, okay?"

Zhou Yuan sighed and said, "There is always a solution to all matters. Don't worry too much, elder sister. We are not old. We are still young and have plenty of time to solve them."

Empress Zhaojing laughed, and her mood was obviously much happier. She chuckled and said, "I am very happy to hear you say that. As long as the two of us work together, there will be no difficulties that cannot be solved."

Zhou Yuan also thought so.

Just work together...

After such a long time, Zhou Yuan gradually saw the elder sister clearly.

She is indeed a wise monarch, a monarch who is practical, capable, and has a pattern.

But she also has the common problem of monarchs, that is, the imperial power is above everything else.

This also means that sooner or later, because of the imperial power, her vision will tilt in a direction that Zhou Yuan does not want to see.