On the way back to the palace, Little Gao was cautious and circumspect, not daring to utter a single inappropriate word. He observed privately that the Duke of Ning’s beautiful granddaughter seemed to harbor a trace of reluctance in her expression, as if she had been forced to accept the position of Empress. One had to wonder: among all the women in this world, who wouldn't dream of stepping into the imperial palace, wearing a phoenix crown and robes, and becoming the mother of the nation? Yet, only the Duke of Ning’s granddaughter had agreed with such reticence, as if coerced. Little Gao knew full well that the Emperor must have noticed this hesitation as well, which explained why His Majesty had remained melancholy and clearly disappointed throughout the journey. As a supreme ruler, the Emperor was unable to capture the heart of the Duke’s granddaughter; this was a regret that even a monarch found hard to reconcile. Moreover, the more a woman resisted being by the Emperor’s side, the more it stirred the innate desire for conquest within Zhao Zheng.
"Little Gao, do you know the deep significance behind my decision to make Ning Zixi Empress?"
Upon hearing this, Little Gao felt a tightening in his chest and answered cautiously, "This servant is dull-witted and dares not presume to guess the Emperor’s will." Having learned from previous experiences, Little Gao had become much wiser, knowing well that saying too much leads to mistakes.
Chapter 86