Shangguan Liqian knew exactly which words would shatter Luo Wushuang’s emotional defenses.
However, even as a joke, she couldn’t bring herself to hurt her again.
Wushuang had become so well-behaved, so obedient.
Tracing the tear mole at the corner of Luo Wushuang’s eye, Liqian lowered her gaze and offered a faint smile. “Why the sudden urge to give me my freedom?”
Meeting the tenderness in her sister’s eyes, Luo Wushuang hesitated for a moment before whispering, “Sister, you’ve agreed to be my Empress Consort. Whether you wish it or not, you will stand beside me in the annals of history under that title.”
Sensing that she wasn’t finished, Liqian gave a slight nod, gesturing for her to continue.
Luo Wushuang turned her head slightly, avoiding Liqian’s gaze as she spoke. “I don’t want future generations, who know nothing of the truth, to speculate that Sister was merely a songbird I kept in the palace for my idle amusement. I… I don’t want anyone to look down on you.”
By the end, her voice grew faint. “I was the one who forced Sister to be here. If there is infamy to be had, I alone should bear it.”
As long as Sister stays by my side—stays by my side forever—that is enough.
Hearing the full extent of her thoughts, Liqian was deeply moved, yet she remained rational. She knew Luo Wushuang could never give her absolute freedom. Even if she could enter and leave Phoenix Hall at will, she would surely be followed by a massive procession of attendants.
Palace maids and eunuchs in the open, Secret Guards in the shadows—every move she made would be watched at all times.
Still, she was happy. If Wushuang was willing to grant her even this much freedom, did it mean she was beginning to trust her again?
The persistence she had shown since her rebirth was finally yielding results. Liqian felt a surge of joy and warmth.
“It isn’t ‘forced’ anymore,” Liqian said, shaking her head. She took Wushuang’s hand and pressed it against her own chest, letting her feel the rapid, joyful rhythm of her heart. “Now, I am here of my own free will.”
Luo Wushuang’s fingertips twitched, and the expression on her face shifted inch by inch.
Is Sister… coaxing me?
The corners of her lips curled upward, and the mirth returned to her eyes.
“Sister…” she called out, her voice soft and honeyed.
Liqian looked up slightly and murmured, “Yes?”
“Sister…” Luo Wushuang didn’t have anything specific to say; she simply wanted to call her name, to hear her voice.
At the thought of Liqian using that soft, gentle voice to earnestly tell her she was here willingly, Luo Wushuang couldn’t contain her excitement.
“Hm?”
Hearing the note of confusion in Liqian’s tone, Luo Wushuang couldn’t help but call out again. “Sister…”
Seeing the endless repetition, Liqian’s brow furrowed slightly. “Stop!”
“It’s time for the midday meal. You have a whole desk of memorials to review later.”
The sentimental moment was interrupted, but the warmth remained.
The following day marked the occasion for the envoys of various nations to seek an audience at court.
With envoys from several kingdoms appearing before Her Majesty simultaneously, the scene was grand and imposing. However, the envoy from the Kingdom of Liang had apparently been delayed on the road. A message had arrived early that morning offering apologies and promising they would strive to arrive before the evening banquet.
The current state of the world hung in a precarious balance.
Anyone with eyes could see that the Kingdom of Liang was currently at the center of a storm, thanks to the reckless whims of their Empress, Feng Liuli. The motive behind the Liang Empress sending an envoy to the Kingdom of Luo at this time was obvious.
Therefore, the absence of the Liang envoy didn’t cause much of a stir in the Luo court.
After some brief diplomatic pleasantries, the envoy from Baiyue was the first to speak. He announced that the King of Baiyue had sent his most beloved prince, Baili Xuan, to seek a marriage alliance with Her Majesty.
Luo Wushuang and her ministers were equally dismissive of the Baiyue envoy’s claims.
If he were truly beloved, would you send him away for a political marriage?
That said, Baili Xuan’s looks and temperament were beyond reproach. The ministers thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea if Her Majesty took him into the harem as a consort. If Her Majesty finally “opened her eyes” and developed an interest in men, they might be able to find places for the illegitimate sons of their own households…
Such were the thoughts of the court officials.
Luo Wushuang’s thoughts were far more blunt. She sat high on her throne, looking down from a distance.
After wordlessly observing the behavior of the officials and the various factions, she began to calculate which high-ranking minister’s daughter she should bestow upon this Baiyue prince.
While she was searching for a target, the envoy from the Western Regions refused to be outdone. He began aggressively promoting his own prince… and his princess.
The Western Regions envoy glanced at his cold, aloof princess and smiled with immense pride.
Their King was truly far-sighted. Upon hearing rumors that the Empress Regnant kept a woman hidden in her palace, he had immediately decided to send their most beautiful and capable princess along.
It was no exaggeration to say that with the princess’s talent, were she a man, she would undoubtedly be the best heir for the Western Regions. It was just… sigh… a pity…
When the Baiyue envoy saw that the Western Regions had actually sent a princess, he looked dazed for a moment. Once he realized the implications, he cursed his rival’s cunning in his heart, deeply regretting that he hadn’t thought of it himself.
We didn’t know the Empress had an affinity for mirrors…
Having missed that detail, they had lost the initiative. However, when his gaze swept over the Western Regions prince, he straightened his back again. As long as the Empress’s aesthetic tastes weren’t bizarre, she surely wouldn’t favor that gaudy, peacock-like fellow.
In that sense, they were currently at a draw.
A flash of surprise crossed Luo Wushuang’s eyes when she saw the frost-covered princess of the Western Regions.
Sister only told me to pick wives for the two princes. What am I supposed to do with this princess?
Find her a fine husband? Or…
Luo Wushuang looked the tall, deep-featured princess over. No matter how she looked at her, this princess didn’t seem like the type to enjoy the company of men.
Maybe… I should find her a wife too?
While the court below was a bustle of activity, Luo Wushuang was daydreaming on her Phoenix Throne.
Sister should be awake by now, right? What is she doing? After learning she could walk freely through the palace yesterday, today she…
As Luo Wushuang’s mind wandered, the Baiyue envoy spoke up respectfully. “Your Majesty, our Prince sincerely admires you. We hope Your Majesty will give His Highness a chance.”
Seeing this, the Western Regions envoy refused to be left behind. “Your Majesty, both our Prince and Princess sincerely admire Your Majesty…”
The commotion below snapped Luo Wushuang out of her thoughts. She looked down, her lip curling in disdain.
Admire my foot!
That Western Regions prince was dressed like a gaudy peacock; looking at him felt like it would shave years off her life.
The Western Regions princess had worn a “stay away” expression since entering the hall. Her aura was even colder than Liqian’s when she was angry; she looked like she had some sort of affliction.
As for the Baiyue prince…
He seemed stable enough and appeared to have a brain. She couldn’t immediately spot anything wrong with him, which was precisely the biggest red flag. If he were actually a catch, would he really have been pushed out and sent here? He was either incompetent or harbored deep, malicious schemes.
Luo Wushuang reached a final conclusion in her heart: Among these scraps they’ve sent, not a single one is any good!
[The Old Man under the Moon (Matchmaker God): Quick, quick! Tie a few more red strings over here!
Luo Wushuang: Where did these twigs come from? Chop them all down for me!
The Old Man under the Moon: And for Shangguan Liqian…
Luo Wushuang: Tie them to me! Tie them all to me! Use steel rebar to tie us together!
Quack quack quack… (Laughter)]
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