Finally, that princess married a civil official of relatively high status in the court.
From then on, the reputation that Su Mingyu was a vicious queen spread.
Su Mingyu was lying lazily in Gu Ruobai's arms, complaining aggrievedly, "I was clearly helping you get rid of those flies. How come I'm the vicious one?"
Hearing her affected words, Gu Ruobai twitched the corners of his mouth. "Is that what you call getting rid of flies for me? I feel like you're just smearing my name."
Now everyone knows that the emperor of Liuyun is not only brave and good at fighting but also has ingenious strategies in governing the country. For example, he redesigned the tax - payment system and used the national treasury to stimulate people in poor areas to develop their unique agricultural products, thus promoting the local economic circulation.
All these actions demonstrated his genius - like wisdom. But such a legendary figure was actually afraid of his own queen.
No matter how many princesses other countries sent to him, in the end, they either disappeared without a trace or were directly married off to his court officials. For all these years, Gu Ruobai had truly lived up to his promise of only marrying Su Mingyu.
Su Mingyu pretended not to notice Gu Ruobai's complaints. "You know, my Sinan Pavilion has expanded to several neighboring countries. Shouldn't I go and see how well it's doing there?"
Gu Ruobai reached out and pinched Su Mingyu's chin, forcing her to look at him. "No way!"
This enchantress! Since he became the emperor, he had been swamped with state affairs every day and had no time to take care of her. She always sneaked out of the palace, and every time she caused him a lot of trouble.
Last time, she was spotted by the prime minister's son and almost forced into marriage. The time before that, she was even targeted by the crown prince of a neighboring country. If he hadn't threatened them with military force, she might have been taken away by the crown prince and become someone else's princess consort.
This woman was too dangerous to be let out. She always managed to cause trouble in unexpected places.
Su Mingyu was not happy to hear this. "Anyway, a large part of your national treasury was funded by me, right? When your father passed the throne to you, the national treasury was already empty, and you could hardly pay the salaries of the court officials. If I hadn't come to your rescue, do you think you could have sat firmly on the throne? Now that I want to go and earn some silver, you won't even let me?"
"I can't argue with you. In any case, you're not allowed." Gu Ruobai pinched Su Mingyu's nose. In fact, his salt - merchant business also brought in a substantial income, and he could easily fill the national treasury. But seeing Su Mingyu looking at him so proudly made his heart tingle. So he just let her think that he was useless and had to rely on her.
"Then can I take our son with me? You should agree to that, right?" Su Mingyu pouted. She was really bored staying in the palace and wanted to go out for a walk.
Gu Ruobai looked at her pouting lips and kissed her without thinking. After the sweet kiss ended, there was a glint of amusement in Gu Ruobai's eyes. "If you're really this bored, why don't you have another child for me?"
As he said this, Gu Ruobai's hand wrapped around Su Mingyu's waist, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became amorous.
The little prince, who had been peeping outside, couldn't help covering his ears. "Tsk, Mother is so useless. She still can't convince Father!"
Mu Yi, standing beside him, twitched the corners of his mouth. "Your Highness, let's leave first. If His Majesty finds out, we'll be scolded..."
Just as Mu Yi finished speaking, a flying needle shot out from the room, scaring Mu Yi and the little prince into taking several steps back instinctively.
Gu Muyu glanced at Mu Yi and then pouted. "He even uses poison needles. Uncle Mu Yi, I'm not Mother's real child, am I?"
Mu Yi quickly covered his mouth. "My little master, stop talking. Let's get out of here quickly."
With that, Mu Yi picked up Gu Muyu and ran out as if fleeing.
In the pavilion, Mu Yi checked Gu Muyu up and down. Fortunately, he wasn't injured. "Your Highness, what are you talking about? Of course, you're the queen's real child..."
"Then I'm not Father's real child." Gu Muyu propped his head up with his small hand and sighed. "No wonder Father gets angry every time he sees me sticking to Mother. It turns out I'm not his child..."
Mu Yi couldn't help rubbing his forehead. He didn't have the face to tell the little prince that, in fact, His Majesty was jealous of his own son.
It was not until the third day that Su Mingyu got out of bed. She supported her waist and glared angrily in the direction where Gu Ruobai had gone to court. Then she stomped angrily into Gu Muyu's room, picked him up, and with a light leap, landed on the roof.
Gu Muyu quickly hugged Su Mingyu's waist, his little face shining with excitement. "Mother, are we going out of the palace?"
Su Mingyu nodded. "I'll take you out to play and make your father worry!"
With that, Su Mingyu quickly took care of the imperial guards and then openly left the palace, disappearing with little Gu Muyu into the bustling market of the capital.
In the main hall of the Forbidden City, Gu Ruobai was sitting majestically on the high throne, listening to the irrelevant reports from the officials below. At this moment, a ghost - like figure suddenly appeared in the main hall and walked unimpeded to Gu Ruobai's side. After whispering something in his ear, Gu Ruobai's face suddenly darkened. He slammed his palm on the table. "Outrageous! My dear ministers, I suddenly have something urgent to attend to. I'll leave the rest of the government affairs to Minister Zhang. I'll be back soon."
After saying that, Gu Ruobai disappeared from the main hall in a flash. All the ministers looked at each other in dismay and could only shake their heads helplessly. "He's gone after the queen again..."
"Surely His Majesty must have done something to make the queen angry again."
"Judging from His Majesty's hurry, the little prince must have been taken away too."
The ministers whispered to each other, clearly looking like they were already used to it. Mu Yi, standing behind the high throne, couldn't help touching his nose. His master probably didn't know that his image of being afraid of the queen had not only spread among the neighboring countries but also become a common sight among the court officials.
On this side, just as Su Mingyu and the little guy sat down in front of a wonton shop, a tall figure suddenly appeared. "Waiter, bring me a serving too."
Su Mingyu pouted and looked at him. "What are you doing here? I don't want to see you!"
Gu Ruobai took Su Mingyu's hand without hesitation, his eyes filled with gentle amusement. "I'm here to accompany my wife and son to stroll around the market and pay the silver for my wife."
Su Mingyu pouted again. "You just know how to say nice things!"
Although she said so, there was already a smile in Su Mingyu's eyes. Gu Muyu couldn't help sighing. Well, every time his mother was so easily won over by his father. She was so easy to coax.