Zhao Ze took advantage of the fact that he was slightly tipsy.
He couldn't help but reach out and touch the little emperor's cheek. After staring at it for a long time, he pulled over the quilt.
He helped the other party cover up tightly.
When he walked out of the bedroom, a gust of cool wind blew.
Zhao Ze suddenly woke up.
When he realized what he had just done,
His fingertips trembled slightly.
He couldn't help but touch his lips, as if there was still a warm and soft touch there.
Doing such a thing against his superiors.
He should have been terrified and regretful.
But in reality, he couldn't control his joy.
The little eunuch guarding outside the hall bowed and stepped forward.
He asked if he wanted to stay the night.
When the emperor and his ministers were discussing important matters,
There were often situations where they discussed until late at night.
Therefore, the palace had rooms for ministers to stay the night.
Zhao Ze turned around and looked at the bedroom.
He shook his head and said, "No need."
When he was in the army,
He often thought about coming back.
At that time, he always felt that as long as he could stay by the little emperor's side and see him once a day, it would be enough.
But when he really saw the other party, he found that he was not satisfied at all. He could not help but want more.
He raised his hand and covered his eyes.
He sighed deeply.
Sometimes, he could not help but think that if he had not read those books when he was young.
If only he had not learned those etiquette lectures.
If he did not have those monarch and minister principles in his heart.
When the Little Emperor liked him.
Maybe... he would have agreed.
Back at the residence, Zhao Ze lay on the bed and tossed and turned. He almost did not sleep all night.
The next morning, he stood at the front of the court. He could clearly see that the Little Emperor's lips were much redder than usual.
He lowered his head guiltily and did not say a word throughout the entire process.
When the officials saw this, they thought that he was deliberately avoiding the limelight and trying to dispel the Emperor's suspicions.
Xiang Han did not notice the abnormality on his lips. Because of his hangover, when he woke up in the morning, his attention was focused on his headache.
After the morning court, he summoned Zhao Ze to discuss matters. In fact, he was looking for someone to help him approve the memorials.
Zhao Ze was now the assistant minister of the Zhongshu Department, which was equivalent to the deputy prime minister.
Xiang Han's intention of arranging him in this position was very obvious.
Zhao Ze was originally a civil official. Even if he led the troops, he still had a civil position on him.
In addition, he had made a great contribution this time, so it wouldn't be too much for him to be promoted quickly.
However, Zhao Ze's behavior was even more respectful and cautious, without the slightest sign of arrogance.
After a few days, Xiang Han also noticed that something was wrong.
He realized that after Zhao Ze came back, he seemed to be more distant with him than before.
Could it be that Zhao Ze was thinking the same way as the courtiers, that he was suspecting him and was purposely using his high position to kill him?
Xiang Han felt that this was not good. He was walking the path of a ruler and his subjects, not the path of mutual suspicion.
Therefore, he asked Zhao Ze to stay for a meal after he was done reviewing the memorials. They reminisced about the deep friendship they had when they tricked Emperor Liang together.
He couldn't help but grab Zhao Ze's hand and say affectionately, "Zhao Qing, you don't have to pay attention to those groundless speculations in the imperial court.
The relationship between us is not only that of monarch and subject, but also that of teacher and student.
I know your loyalty very well, and I will never be suspicious of you for no reason.
You are my right-hand official, a pillar of the country. Don't be estranged from me because of a few words of gossip. "
In reality, that night in the palace, Zhao Ze knew that the little Emperor had never been suspicious of him. Now, he was purposely being estranged because he was suppressing the desire in his heart.
However, when he saw the little Emperor's white and slender fingers holding his wrist, he couldn't help but feel restless again. He wished he could cut off the sleeve that was in the way and let the little Emperor directly touch his skin.
Xiang Han saw that he was lost in thought and didn't speak. His heart couldn't help but 'thump.' He thought to himself, Is the ruler and subject already at odds with each other?
"Zhao Qing?" He couldn't help but tighten his grip a little more and ask tentatively.
Zhao Ze felt the strength on his wrist and suddenly came back to his senses.
He couldn't help but look at the little Emperor. Seeing the other's gaze looking at him nervously, he couldn't help but smile and say softly, "No, I will always believe in Your Majesty."
Seeing that he was no longer respectful, Xiang Han let out a sigh of relief. He then happily picked up a piece of meat and handed it over to solidify the relationship between ruler and subject.
The little eunuch who was serving the dishes saw this and couldn't help but have a conflicted expression.
Zhao Ze took the dish. His mind was full of thoughts. Those were the chopsticks that His Majesty had used. The tip of the chopsticks might have just been licked by His Majesty's bright red tongue. At this time, he was picking up food for him …
He suddenly felt his face heat up. He quickly lowered his head and put the piece of meat into his mouth. He slowly tasted it and seemed to be able to taste a trace of the little Emperor's taste.
After this conversation, the two of them returned to their previous intimacy.
After that, Zhao Ze was often asked to stay by the little Emperor to discuss matters and eat together.
In court, Xiang Han only needed to give a hint with his eyes and Zhao Ze would know what he wanted to do. They cooperated very closely.
Zhao Ze sometimes felt that other than the fact that the courtiers always sent memorials to ask the little Emperor to choose a consort and that Mother Zhao often urged him to get married, the current situation didn't seem to be bad.
He also occasionally thought that if they could never get married and just stay together like this, it would be good.
But he knew that this was impossible. The little Emperor had already gone through the ceremony. Whether it was good for women or not, for the sake of the country, the courtiers would ask him to choose a consort and set up an empress.
As for himself, two years ago, he could still use the war as an excuse. But when he returned to Chang 'an, not only was his mother worried, even his father, who had never asked about this kind of thing, mentioned it several times.
He could always refuse this kind of thing, but the little Emperor couldn't.
For the sake of the country, the other party had to choose a consort and set up an empress and give birth to an heir.
Because the courtiers had been urging fiercely recently, Xiang Han couldn't help but complain to Zhao Ze a few times.
Zhao Ze always had a smile on his face. He said that the courtiers also had painstaking efforts, but his heart was incomparably bitter.
He didn't know how long he could hold on. Perhaps when the little Emperor couldn't stand the urging and decided to compromise with the courtiers, he wouldn't be able to hold on.
He couldn't imagine himself watching the other party choose a consort and have a child. When that time came, he would probably write a request to go to the southwest.
If he couldn't see it, perhaps he wouldn't feel so bad.
Zhao Ze had thought that the little Emperor would choose a consort and have a child. He had thought that he would have his own child, but he had never thought that he would be so excited over a man that he would lose himself.
A few days later, news came from the capital of the Southeast State that Luo Bai, who had gone out to sea to search for crops, had returned.
When he heard this news, the little Emperor excitedly dropped the brush, picked up the hem of his clothes, and rushed out.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Ze felt a stabbing pain in his eyes. His heart seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand and couldn't help but tighten.
Luo Bai had returned. Was the Emperor this happy?
Was it because the Emperor had no one by his side all these years because he couldn't forget about Luo Bai?
Zhao Ze's hands, hidden in his sleeves, trembled slightly. He didn't know how he stopped the little Emperor. He even calmly said, "Your Majesty, the ship has just docked. It will take at least a month for Sir Luo to reach Chang 'an."
"Right, right."
Xiang Han fiercely slapped his head. He had almost forgotten this. He hurriedly ordered, "Have the relay stations along the way prepare good horses. I want to see Luo Qing as soon as possible."
Zhao Ze's eyes darkened slightly. He clenched his fists and said jokingly, "Your Majesty is in such a hurry to see Sir Luo. It seems that Sir Luo's position in Your Majesty's heart is not ordinary."
"Of course," Xiang Han replied without thinking.
Roasted corn, French fries, carroted sweet potatoes … he had thought about it for a long time. There was also Little White's cooking. He hadn't tasted it in a long time.
Zhao Ze's eyes darkened again. His palm had been pinched so hard that blood seeped slightly.