Dual Queens GL - Chapter 8

“Hua Chao, have you had breakfast?” Yang Zhao asked, looking at the two people before him. He had been so busy talking to his beauty just now, but now he felt hungry. Ye Guichen had come so early, he wondered if she had eaten breakfast yet.

“Guichen has had breakfast.” In truth, she had no appetite for food this morning and rushed over right after getting dressed. But even if she hadn’t eaten, Ye Guichen could only say that she had.

“I woke up early for the morning court, so I’m a bit hungry now. I’ll eat with you,” Yang Zhao said in a doting tone, as if he was specially accompanying Liu Hening for her meal.

Ye Guichen remembered that not long after she and Yang Zhao were married, Yang Zhao often returned from morning court to eat with her. At the time, she was quite touched. To eat with him, she would endure her hunger and wait for him to return. Later, as time passed, he probably found coming every time restrictive and troublesome, so he only came occasionally. Now, seeing Yang Zhao acting all affectionate toward his new wife again, Ye Guichen found it amusing. She realized how easily she was fooled back then, actually believing it and thinking she was special. Now, it seemed this indiscriminate favor was truly cheap.

Ye Guichen instinctively glanced at Liu Hening’s reaction.

“Wonderful! That would be best. Eating alone isn’t as enjoyable as eating with two people, is it?” Liu Hening said naturally, as if this was the most logical thing. Although she looked somewhat happy, she didn’t seem too concerned that Yang Zhao was joining her for the meal. Liu Hening didn’t seem too invested in Yang Zhao. It seemed she was much smarter than herself; no expectations meant no disappointment.

Liu Hening felt Ye Guichen secretly looking at her again. What is the beauty thinking about me now? she wondered. So, Liu Hening smiled openly at Ye Guichen.

Ye Guichen saw Liu Hening smile at her again, just as before, but Ye Guichen immediately withdrew her gaze.

Liu Hening felt Ye Guichen instantly looked away without any response. She felt a slight sense of loss in her heart. She felt that if it weren’t for her official status, Ye Guichen would internally prefer not to deal with her. Since childhood, although not everyone loved her, most people who interacted with Liu Hening liked her. Now, she had met a beauty she genuinely wanted to be close to, but the person didn’t want to be close to her.

“This subject will not intrude upon Your Ladyship and His Majesty’s meal. I take my leave.” Ye Guichen did not want to stay here and watch Yang Zhao and Liu Hening’s marital affection.

“Is Hua Chao really leaving now? I was hoping you’d keep me company while I eat breakfast!” Liu Hening said with reluctance.

“Hua Chao is the Empress who manages the Six Palaces. She is not as idle as you,” Yang Zhao said with a smile, thinking that Ning’er seemed to have a good impression of Ye Guichen. It would be the best outcome if his two wives could get along harmoniously.

“If Your Ladyship feels too idle, you are welcome to come and take on some palace duties for Guichen at any time, allowing Guichen to also enjoy some leisure,” Ye Guichen said with a smile.

“No, no, no. I really don’t understand any of that,” Liu Hening immediately refused. She wouldn’t invite a bunch of troublesome things onto herself.

“Oh, right, Hua Chao is one year older than me. Don’t call me ‘Niangniang’ (Your Ladyship) anymore; it makes me sound old. What should Hua Chao call me? Let me think… I’ve got it! Hua Chao, call me Huaxi (Flower Dusk) from now on. Chao Xi Xiang Dui (Morning and Evening Together)—it’s perfect!” Liu Hening seemed very delighted with the lovely new name she thought up for herself.

“Who does that? Just suddenly making up a new name for yourself,” Yang Zhao said jokingly. However, he was quite happy that Liu Hening hadn’t changed her nature after entering the palace, remaining as free-spirited as ever.

“Your Ladyship is joking,” Ye Guichen said with a smile, thinking she absolutely did not want to be with her morning and evening. Of course, she didn’t take it seriously, assuming Liu Hening was just trying to amuse herself.

“I’m serious. You don’t have to call me that if you don’t like it, but it doesn’t matter. As long as you don’t call me ‘Niangniang,’ any other way is fine,” Liu Hening insisted strongly.

“Since Ning’er cares so much, you should grant her wish, lest she really makes up a new name for herself,” Yang Zhao also felt that Liu Hening and Ye Guichen were of equal rank and shouldn’t be overly concerned with hierarchy.

“Then I shall call Your Ladyship Hening in the future.” Since Yang Zhao had spoken, Ye Guichen could only change her address.

Liu Hening was finally addressed in a way that wasn’t so distant as “Niangniang.” She always believed that titles were important, representing the nature of the relationship and the distance between two people. She wished for the beauty not to be so polite and distant to her, as she really liked her. However, her own words never worked; only Jun Shen’s words did. She didn’t like having to rely on Jun Shen to pressure her; it felt like a fox borrowing a tiger’s might. It would be better if she could genuinely move her heart; coercing someone was always unpleasant.

“Good,” Liu Hening said with a smile.

Whether it was Yang Zhao or the servants, the three people—husband and wives—were currently getting along harmoniously and cheerfully.

Just then, the palace servants brought up the prepared breakfast.

“If there are no other matters, Guichen will take her leave,” Ye Guichen excused herself again.

“Very well, you go back first. I will come to see you in a few days,” Yang Zhao said to Ye Guichen.

“Understood.” Ye Guichen bowed to Yang Zhao and withdrew. As for when Yang Zhao would visit her, she no longer had any expectation or excitement.

Liu Hening watched Ye Guichen turn and leave. Perhaps it was a result of being trained in the palace since childhood, but whether sitting, standing, or even walking, Ye Guichen maintained the most beautiful and perfect posture. She thought that even if ordinary people tried to learn, they couldn’t.

“Ning’er seems to be very fond of Hua Chao,” Yang Zhao said to Liu Hening with a smile after Ye Guichen left.

“Of course. She is beautiful and has such a good temperament. Who wouldn’t like her? Doesn’t Jun Shen like her?” Liu Hening asked back with a natural, smiling tone.

Yang Zhao smiled upon hearing this and did not deny it.

“Jun Shen, are there any other beauties in the palace?” Liu Hening asked, her face full of anticipation.

Yang Zhao looked at Liu Hening’s eager expression, thinking that Ning’er truly didn’t understand male-female affection, showing absolutely no jealousy.

“In a moment, they will all come to pay their respects to you,” Yang Zhao said. Although he loved Liu Hening the most, it didn’t stop him from loving other beauties as well.

“Are any of them more beautiful than Hua Chao?” Liu Hening asked with great anticipation, thinking about the many beauties she was about to see. She wondered if there could be any woman more beautiful than Hua Chao.

“Slightly inferior, but each has her own unique charm,” Yang Zhao answered truthfully.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Liu Hening said with a smile.

Yang Zhao smiled at Liu Hening indulgently yet helplessly. She truly did not understand.

Ye Guichen returned to Changle Hall and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Although everything seemed harmonious and pleasant there, she felt as if she had just returned from a battle. Only upon returning to her hall did she feel relaxed, and she realized she was a bit hungry.

“A-Meng, bring me some congee,” Ye Guichen instructed Ye Meng.

“Yes.” Ye Meng turned and immediately had the servants prepare it. Before long, Ye Meng brought in a bowl of mushroom congee and a few small, exquisite dishes.

“Although she is nominally the Central Palace, as long as the Empress Seal is with you, Miss is still the rightful Empress,” Ye Meng also felt relieved.

“Whether there is favor or not, my situation in the future will not be too difficult,” Ye Guichen said with a nod. It seemed she was destined to be a busy person. Fulfilling the duties of the Empress, although difficult, would at least bring her some sense of security.

“That’s right. At least no one will dare to make fun of Miss. Before she entered the palace, the consorts in the palace were all sucking up to Her Ladyship. When they heard that Her Ladyship was going to be deposed, they all stopped coming. It’s obvious they were all waiting to see what would happen—nothing but fair-weather friends.” Ye Meng sneered. Miss was not yet completely out of power, yet this was the treatment. If she truly lost power, the thought was terrifying.

“To cling to power and avoid danger is human nature. I am not their relative or close friend; why would they stick by me?” Ye Guichen said faintly, not as indignant as Ye Meng. Having lived in the palace for more than ten years, if she still couldn’t understand this, she would truly have lived those years in vain.

“Now the situation in the palace is clear. I estimate these fair-weather friends will soon come back to our Changle Hall,” Ye Meng said. Now that Miss had gone through this ordeal, she finally saw through people’s hearts.

“There’s no need to care too much about that. I just didn’t expect that the one who gets to enjoy the honor of Empress without fulfilling the obligations of one, would be her,” Ye Guichen felt. But if she could, she would rather be Liu Hening.

“The new Empress doesn’t seem bad,” Ye Meng felt. It was a good thing Liu Hening didn’t seem to have a contentious nature and seemed too willful and unrestrained to be an Empress. That was probably why the Emperor left the Empress Seal with Miss, otherwise, it would have been troublesome. Strangely, although she had only seen Liu Hening once or twice, she somehow felt Liu Hening was not a bad person.

“A person’s heart is hidden behind their chest; who knows?” Ye Guichen thought of Liu Hening’s smile at her and her seemingly overly intimate attitude. Abnormal behavior suggests something is amiss. It was best to be cautious, fulfill her duties, and keep her distance from Liu Hening.