"Your Majesty, that day in the imperial garden, aside from Her Majesty the Empress, there were no other women at all."
Ling Yao suddenly saw the light. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "So it was that liar of an empress who lost me my Aqiu."
Beside me, Wanqing was deeply worried. She tugged at my sleeve and whispered, "Your Majesty, if the Emperor finds out you lied to him, won't he be angry?"
I looked up at the sky, sighed, and shrugged my shoulders. If he is angry, so be it. We'll talk when he can actually recognize my face. Anyway, he can't remember who is who. Moreover, watching Minister Li and Ling Yao each looking so miserable and worried, I actually find it quite amusing.
In fact, before entering the palace, I already knew about the grievances between the Emperor and my family. Ever since I was born, my mother forced me to study the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, embroidery, and household management. I was originally meant to marry the heir of the Duke of Zhen. My mother cried night after night, fearing I would be neglected by Ling Yao after marrying into the palace. To avoid making her feel bad, I cried along with her, wailing, "Mother, your daughter's life is so bitter." But the moment I turned around, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
All men in the world are pretty much equally unreliable. Rather than marrying a son of a noble family, it is better to marry the man with the greatest power. At least I can enjoy endless wealth and honor. Why not?
Sure enough, after marrying Ling Yao, I didn't have to do any work. Except for the lack of explicit love, I got everything. Fine clothes, gourmet food, wealth and honor, as well as absolute authority in the imperial harem.
Oh, actually, that is not true. It wasn't completely devoid of the sparks of love. At least every time he mistook my identity, he was quite nice to me. He would even bring me snacks from outside the palace. Although every time, he would ask, "Do you like eating this? I remember she likes it." But I didn't mind. As long as there was food, it was fine.
The day I went to the imperial paddock to ride horses again, I ran into Ling Yao again. He was dressed in black riding attire, looking athletic and noble. He had shed the majesty of his imperial robes, showing a bit more youthful vigor. He sat tall and straight on his horse, his eyes full of confidence and high spirits. Watching him, I actually lost myself for a moment.
I deliberately slowed down, waiting for him to come over. I wanted to see if this time he would mistake my identity again.
Sure enough, he strode toward me, muttering to himself, "This woman is free-spirited and cheerful. She can be granted the rank of concubine."
Clearly, he didn't recognize me again. He patiently taught me how to ride, gently explaining equestrian techniques. When his fingertips occasionally brushed against my wrist, my face flushed with heat. Just as I was about to confess my identity, he slowly spoke again.
"As the saying goes, a gentle and graceful lady is a fitting mate for a gentleman. You are the most pleasing woman I have ever met in my life."
My mind was full of question marks, and I silently complained in my heart. How many people had he said this line to? He said it to Li Aqiu last time. To me when I was practicing archery the time before last, and to me when I was pruning flower branches the time before that. So this is his only love line.
My heart instantly grew cold. It is all because my father never let me meet other men since childhood, which made me so naive and inexperienced, allowing myself to be fooled by him time and again.
I deliberately pulled hard on the reins. The horse suddenly reared up on its hind legs, scaring Ling Yao so much he almost fell off.
I feigned panic. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
He held on to the saddle, his face pale, yet he still forced himself to look calm. "It is fine. Take it slow. I will accompany you."
I ran back to the Su manor crying, seeking out my father to complain. But my father was also full of bitterness, saying that Ling Yao had also confessed his feelings to him back then.
I was shocked, my eyes wide as I asked. "What? Ling Yao even confessed to you? Father, you have a face full of beard and are over fifty years old. He could actually fancy you? He must have been truly desperate."
My father sighed and slowly recounted an old story.
"Lord Su, rest assured. If I ascend the throne in the near future, the position of prime minister will surely be yours."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
At that time, Ling Yao had not yet ascended the throne and was a master at making empty promises. My father had started as an ordinary scholar and climbed all the way to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, enduring endless cold shoulders and exclusion. Once he gained Ling Yao's appreciation, he was naturally deeply grateful and followed his lead blindly, wishing he could pour his heart out to him.
Until one day he went to visit Minister Li's manor. He accidentally got caught in the rain and changed into Minister Li's clothes. Ling Yao, who arrived later, mistook him for Minister Li and spoke those familiar words.
"Minister Li, rest assured. If I ascend the throne in the near future, the position of prime minister will surely be yours."
My father's beard trembled with anger on the spot. He pointed at Ling Yao's nose and questioned him. "Does Your Highness still remember Vice Minister Su Xuanwu?"
But Ling Yao had a blank look on his face. "Why bring up Vice Minister Su? His talent is mediocre, unfit to be prime minister."
My father had an upright nature. Upon hearing this, he went to align himself with the Fifth Prince that very night. And because of this, he topped Ling Yao's blacklist.
I laughed so hard I couldn't stand up straight after hearing this. "Dad, so you were actually the first one of all the people he fooled. It seems his face blindness has been a chronic issue for a long time."
After returning to the palace, I continued to eat and drink as usual. Occasionally, when I was bored out of my mind, I would deliberately wander around in front of Ling Yao just to watch him mistake my identity. Sometimes I dressed up as a maid, sometimes as a concubine, and sometimes even as a eunuch, deliberately loitering in front of him just to see his puzzled face as he tried hard to recognize me. I found it incredibly amusing.
Wanqing always warned me that this was too risky and that it would be trouble if Ling Yao found out. But I didn't care at all. He couldn't even remember my face, so how could he possibly find out?
To my surprise, he had gotten smarter this time. Just as he was about to show that lustful look of his, he first turned to ask Xiaoluzi. "This woman is so free-spirited that she has a unique charm. Who is she?"
Xiaoluzi bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, she is the Empress."
His face instantly darkened. He pointed at my clothes and demanded, "Why are you wearing a maid's clothes? How improper."
I blinked, pretending to be innocent. "Then I shall take them off now."
Ling Yao instantly became angry and flustered. He pointed at me for a long time, unable to speak a word. His face turned red, and in the end he could only fling his sleeves and walk away. Before leaving, he didn't forget to throw back a line. "Utterly ridiculous."
He was so angry that his steps were a bit flurried. Xiaoluzi secretly gave me a wink from behind him, with a hint of a smile he couldn't hold back on his lips. But after taking a few steps, Ling Yao turned back to caution me.
"Don't actually take them off. It is bad if you catch a cold."
Looking at his retreating figure, I laughed so hard I couldn't stand up straight. This face-blind emperor, who is harsh in words but soft in heart, is actually quite cute.