Husband, Be A Gentleman 『Liskook』

Chapter 8

At the palace the emperor held a meeting with the court officials.

The empress, Jungkook and Lisa waited for the emperor in the De Fang chamber.

The empress was forty years old, but she maintained her youthful appearance and looked no older than thirty years old. The empress wore an intricately embroidered silk dress and she was seated high on a platform next to the chair reserved for the emperor. She smiled politely at Lisa. 'Little girl, I remember the first time I met you two years ago. I thought you were beautiful and I didn't know who would be blessed to marry you. If I knew back then you would marry little nine then I would have asked little nine to come back to the imperial city earlier.'

The empress' fake praises didn't enter Lisa's heart. Although in the past Lisa didn't meet the empress often, it was clear to her that the empress' loyalty was reserved for Princess Kang Hua and Yan Shi Ting. Princess Kang Hua hated her so there was no reason for the empress to love her. Besides, everyone in the palace had years of experience of giving fake praises, especially someone of a high status like the empress.

'Imperial mother, you are too kind,' Lisa said. 'I'm blessed to be married to ninth prince.'

Lisa smiled politely at Jungkook.

'Imperial mother, I'm the one who is blessed to marry Xiao Lisa,' Jungkook said sweetly and smiled warmly at Lisa.

Lisa refrained from vomiting earlier when Jungkook called her 'wife' endearingly in front of the maids, but she felt more nauseous after hearing Jungkook called her 'Xiao Lisa' too sweetly.

The empress' ears stiffened after hearing the newlyweds' loving exchange. It reminded her of the year she married the emperor. Except the emperor married her to secure the throne. She didn't know if the newlyweds' situation was similar to her and the emperor... it couldn't be, the deep love aura in Jungkook's eyes were too clear.

Suddenly the empress felt Jungkook's warm smile was too blinding. She picked up a cup, drank a sip of tea and hid her cold smile. She put the cup down and smiled politely. 'I'm happy to see the strong bond between the two of you. My heart was saddened when little nine was heartbroken after the little girl Yewu... forgive a muddled elder like me, I shouldn't talk about the sad past. You two should start eating. The imperial cooks made many delicious food.'

The empress saw Lisa frown like she expected and she smiled brightly. She glanced at Jungkook but his head was lowered while drinking tea.

Lisa couldn't remember who Yewu was and frowned. She thought deeply and finally remembered six years ago when Jungkook was eighteen years old, the emperor arranged a marriage between Jungkook and a court official's daughter Yewu. Lisa was overjoyed and relieved Jungkook was going to marry Yewu, it meant he wouldn't look for her in Xuan Qing and trouble her anymore. Unfortunately less than two months after their betrothal was announced, Yewu became severely ill and died. Then Jungkook asked the emperor to allow him to visit his former teacher's country home in Xuan Qing while he grieved for Yewu. The emperor consented and during Jungkook's grieving period, Jungkook bullied Lisa in Xuan Qing.

Lisa's heart laughed mockingly. The empress' intention to strain hers and Jungkook's relationship was too clear. The empress wasted her saliva, even if Jungkook married Yewu, she wouldn't be depressed.

'The emperor, crown prince and Consort Mu are approaching De Fang,' a guard announced.

Everyone inside the De Fang chamber stood to kowtow and greet the emperor.

While Lisa kowtowed on the floor she felt the emperor's gold sleeve swept past and her anxiety surfaced. It was the first time she officially met her father-in-law who had the highest status under the sky.