Ye Zao leaned into Fourth Master's embrace: "You must be exhausted."
"I'm a man; a bit of fatigue is no trouble." Fourth Master held her shoulder gently and whispered: "Next year, I shall make you..."
"No." Ye Zao interrupted him.
"I know you don't want to be the next Empress, but I want to give you something. Why be so insistent?" Fourth Master squeezed her shoulder.
"Words spoken must be accounted for. I don't want it." Ye Zao sighed: "I think things are quite good as they are now."
"I really don't understand what you're so insistent about." Fourth Master also sighed: "Since you feel this way, I won't force you. But you can't refuse the title of Noble Consort anymore; if you do refuse, I won't permit it. There won't be another Empress, and the imperial harem will still be under your management."
"Your Majesty, really no new Empress? What you say is a decree. It can't be changed." Ye Zao looked at him.
Fourth Master gazed at her: "Would I appoint someone to suppress you?"
