Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios
Yin Huaixi was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly woken up by the sound of a crowing rooster. He subconsciously hugged the delicate body in his arms more tightly.
âThe rooster is already crowing. Donât make a fuss. Itâs time to go to court.â Yu Youyao turned around and muttered with her back facing him.
Yin Huaixi refused to budge. He wrapped himself around her from behind. As he bit her ear, he asked vaguely, âWhy is there the sound of a rooster in the palace? I must have heard wrongly.â
Yu Youyao was so annoyed by him that she fell asleep. âI was the one who asked someone to capture it into the palace.â
âWhy did you capture a rooster into the palace?â Yin Huaixiâs breathing was a little turbid as he asked vaguely, âIs it too boring in the palace? Iâll bring you out to play in a few days.â
Yu Youyao was angry. âYou still have the cheek to ask. Isnât it because of you? You lie on the couch every morning and refuse to get up. As a result, Eunuch Zhu has to come over to invite you. Iâm too ashamed to face anyone.â
She made it seem like he was the source of trouble. It was really embarrassing.
Yin Huaixi was not ashamed. Instead, he was proud. âThe hibiscus tent was warm overnight. Itâs just a pity that spring nights are short. Weâre newlyweds. Itâs only human nature for us to be deeply attached to each other.â
Yu Youyao rolled her eyes at him. âThis rooster will crow twice every morning. The first crow will be at 3:30am, and the second crow will be at 5:00am. I heard that no matter if itâs windy or rainy, even if itâs in the dead of winter, it will crow 360 days a year. Not only does it crow every day, but it also crows at the same time.â
If the rooster crowed too many times, Yin Huaixi would not be able to rest well. If it crowed for too long, Yin Huaixi would be vexed as it was too early. She was worried that it would disturb Yin Huaixiâs good dream.
A rooster like this that only crowed twice in the morning was a veritable âlazy roosterâ in the farming world. It was relatively rare. It took a few days to find this one in the villages near the suburbs of the capital.
She had put in a lot of effort.
Yin Huaixi rubbed his forehead and laughed. âTo think you could think of that.â
Yu Youyao said, âFrom today onwards, from now on, the rooster will sound twice a day. Get up consciously. Donât let Eunuch Zhu urge you anymore. Otherwise, Iâll capture 180 roosters and bring them into the palace.â
Imagine a 180 roosters crowing at the same time.
Hmph, couldnât she deal with him?
Yin Huaixi did not know whether to laugh or cry. Those of them who had gone to the battlefield could still snore like thunder even though the killing sounds in front of them were earth-shattering. Did she really think that 180 roosters could scare him?!
Yes, it really worked.
âAlright, Iâll listen to you.â He was not afraid of noisy chickens and would never let her suffer with him.
Yes, he had sacrificed himself for her.
Therefore, it was not too much to collect some interest!
âOh, what are you doingâ¦â
âIsnât it just the first crow? Itâs still early. Thereâs still an hour before the second crow. Thereâs enough timeâ¦â
âOh, you bastardâ¦â
This ordeal lasted until five oâclock.
At dawn, the second rooster crow sounded punctually.
Yin Huaixi hugged the delicate and weak person in his arms tightly. He reached out and brushed the wet hair on her face behind her ear. Then, he left the inner hall and instructed Chun Xiao to get some water.
Chun Xiao drew the water and reported softly outside the curtain.
Yin Huaixi lifted the curtain and brought the water into the inner hall. He gently helped Yu Youyao clean up. He couldnât help but feel a little restless. He couldnât help but wrap around her and kiss her lips, causing Yu Youyao to mutter weakly.
âAlright, I wonât disturb you anymore. Once I go to the morning court assembly, you can sleep well and wake up anytime.â Yin Huaixi looked at her flushed face. It was like a burning peach blossom, full of beauty. There was a hint of spring in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. His heart itched. He felt smug and sighed.
How could he have enough doting on such a delicate and soft person?
In answer, Yu Youyao turned around.
It was obvious that she despised him for being annoying and long-winded.
As she turned over, the blanket also slid down, revealing her round shoulders. She had a beautiful jade-like back with two butterfly-like bones. It was as if she wanted to spread her wings to fly. The beauty spread to her waist. She was so beautiful that it was almost soul-stirring.
Yin Huaixiâs breathing was a little chaotic. He quickly pulled up the blanket and wrapped her tightly.
This girl was delicate, but she did not notice it at all. She kept putting on an act, causing the control he was so proud of to collapse.
Yin Huaixi stood up and left the inner hall to the side hall.
Eunuch Zhu arranged for him to wash up and lead a group of eunuchs to wait in the side hall.
The new emperor did not like to be served close by. He did everything himself. It only took him half an hour to clean himself and wear it. He was simply swift and decisive.
After putting on his clothes, Eunuch Zhu brought over breakfast.
The Empressâs heart ached for the emperor, who woke up early and still had to discuss matters with the court officials. Every night before going to bed, she would personally prepare porridge and medicinal cuisine and ask the emperor to eat some medicinal cuisine before going to court every day.
In the spring and winter seasons, the morning court session started at 6:15am and ended at 8:15am.
The court session would start earlier in summer and autumn. It started at 5:30am and ended at 8:30am.
When the court session ended in the morning, it happened to be time for breakfast.
While Yin Huaixi was eating with Yu Youyao, he suddenly said, âSong Mingzhao has been back in the capital for a while.â
Yu Youyao stopped eating and said nothing.
Yin Huaixi stared at her hand for a while. âThe Marquis of Zhenguo died for the country. The glory of the Zhenguo Marquis Residence in the past has also disappeared with the destruction of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Song Clan was blessed by the Great Zhou Dynasty and is also bright on the surface. Very few people hold important positions in the court. The Great Zhao Dynasty has just been established, so we have to hire capable people. The talents of the Song Clan are not obvious, so few people were employed again.â
The old nobles looked glorious, but because they were deeply rooted and involved complicated interests, the emperor was most likely unwilling to put them in an important position.
This was unless a particularly talented junior in the family was recognized by the emperor and could protect the familyâs prosperity.
Song Mingzhao was such a person.
Yu Youyao understood immediately. âAs the eldest grandson of the Song family and the most outstanding disciple of the Song family, Song Mingzhao is carrying the rise and fall of the Song family. He wants to enter the capital to seek a future for the family.â
After Song Xiuqiâs death, the Song family established a cenotaph for him in Xiâan. When Song Mingzhao went to the capital, Second Young Master Song had to stay in Xiâan to mourn for Song Xiuqi.
Yin Huaixi nodded, as if he had thought of something. He said, âPreviously, when you were still in Jinzhou, Song Mingzhao stayed in Xiangping for a while.â
Yu Youyao had some impression of him. âI heard from Brother Shande that there seemed to be a problem with his health. He came to Xiangping to seek treatment. After all, theyâve been friends for many years and are cousins by marriage. I asked Brother Shande to send over a greeting card from the Immortal Master of Mount Wanjun.â
Seeing her ignorant expression, Yin Huaixi was silent for a moment. Suddenly, he pitied Song Mingzhao a little. âHe originally planned to go to Jinzhou, but at that time, there was a battle at the front line. Jinzhou was located at the border and was under full martial law and lockdown. Other than those with the documents of the Imperial Court and the token of the Yue Feiâs Residence, no one was allowed to enter or leave.â