Chapter 31: The Splendid Country Part 2

“I…” Lin Qiao’er looked a bit embarrassed and said quietly, “Actually, I want to become a female official.”

“Good, that’s ambitious.” Xiao Luo approved.

Lin Qiao’er seemed to recall something and said, full of guilt, “Your Highness, in the past I was possessed by greed and almost did something terrible. Fortunately, I didn’t succeed.”

Otherwise, it would have been regicide—harming Her Majesty the Empress and possibly implicating Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo naturally knew what she was referring to. She smiled slightly. “Don’t think too much. Just rest well. We’ll talk after your wound has healed.”

“Mm.” Lin Qiao’er looked at Xiao Luo, her eyes once again shining with confidence.

Suddenly, she noticed several red marks on Xiao Luo’s neck and asked with concern, “Your Highness, what happened to your neck? Did insects bite you?”

Xiao Luo touched them and said, “Mm, I was bitten, but not by insects.”

Lin Qiao’er immediately understood what they were. Her face flushed slightly, and she said, “Your Highness, you’re still young. You can’t night after night…”

She couldn’t finish; it was too embarrassing.

Xiao Luo cleared her throat. This body was eighteen, which wasn’t young in ancient times, but she saw no need to continue the topic. So she said, “Rest well. I’ll take my leave.”

Then she slipped away quickly.

Watching Xiao Luo flee, Lin Qiao’er found it rather amusing. The Empress’s eye was indeed good—she had taken a liking to Princess Xiao, who was so much better than those overly arrogant men…

Suddenly, bird calls sounded outside the window. Her expression changed. This was the way Xia Wuheng used to send her messages in the past.

She threw back the covers, endured the pain to get out of bed, and went to the window. Opening it, a pigeon flew in with a small note tied to its leg.

She took out the note and glanced at it. It bore familiar handwriting: “Tonight at midnight, come to the old place in the Imperial Garden.”

How ridiculous, Xia Wuheng. Even in this state, he still thought she would work for him.

She tore the note into pieces, then swallowed them in one gulp. After that, she pretended she had seen nothing and returned to bed to lie down.

On the other side, the System had just issued a triggered quest: [Stop the heroine from going to the Imperial Garden to meet with the person sent by the male lead.]

But soon after it was issued, the System announced again: [Mission complete. Mission progress 55%.]

Xiao Luo: “…”

What was going on? She hadn’t done anything yet, and the mission was already complete?

This was too easy.

The System explained: [Because you, the host, have thoroughly ruined the male lead’s charm. The heroine no longer likes him at all, so she won’t do anything for him.]

Xiao Luo was very satisfied. She continued resting in bed. [Yeah, seems last night wasn’t for nothing.]

She pondered. Why not spread the tale of Xia Wuheng’s performance at the banquet so that everyone in the capital would know? Then let’s see if Xia Wuheng dared to show his face. Wherever he went, he’d be socially dead.

Xiao Luo rather enjoyed this feeling of being a villain. She set to work at once, writing a full ten-thousand-word short story. Then she sent Chuntao to invite Chief Lady Fang over.

“Chief Fang, you surely have a way to send this out of the palace, have it printed into a book, and distribute it, right? I think the commoners love this sort of thing. How about this: when we make money, we split it fifty-fifty?”

Chief Lady Fang took her manuscript and glanced at it. Her mouth twitched. “No need, Your Highness, Noble Consort. You can keep all the money.”

She dared not split the profits with Consort Xiao. Besides, she didn’t think this would make any money. Who would buy such an exaggerated novel?

Xiao Luo was even more satisfied. “All right then. This palace trusts Chief Fang’s ability. Hurry and go.”

Chief Lady Fang nodded and immediately left.

There was no helping it. The Empress had instructed that whatever request Noble Consort Xiao made should be fulfilled to the best of their ability.

Her mood was bright. She could almost imagine the glorious deeds of Xia Wuheng spreading throughout the capital. Given how much Xia Wuheng cared about face, he’d surely want to bash his head on the ground.

By evening, the smile still hadn’t faded from her face. When Xia Lingyu returned from the Imperial Study and saw her like this, she couldn’t help but pinch her cheek and ask, “My beloved consort looks so happy. What happened? Can you tell me?”

“Didn’t Chief Fang tell you? Your Majesty must already know, right?” Xiao Luo rolled her eyes at her and slapped away her restless hand.

Xia Lingyu smiled slightly. “Luo’er is getting bolder and bolder. I am the Emperor. Are you not afraid I’ll punish you?”

“Does Your Majesty really have the heart?” Xiao Luo batted her eyes.

“Of course I do.” Xia Lingyu whispered, her hands wrapping around her waist and deftly loosening her clothes, her movements very gentle…

After a night of passion, Xia Lingyu rose early again to attend morning court.

At court, after all government affairs were settled, the Director of the Imperial Observatory suddenly stepped forward and said with a grave expression, “Reporting to Your Majesty: Last night, while observing the heavens, I discovered an ill omen. A demon of chaos has entered the Imperial Harem, clashing with the nation’s fortune and threatening the realm. For the great destiny of the Dawn Kingdom, I beseech Your Majesty to deal with this demon and execute without mercy—”

At these words, the officials looked at each other, then began to echo, “A demon of chaos—this is terrible!”

“A femme fatale is most dreadful. Wasn’t there a dynasty recently that fell because a consort beguiled the emperor day after day, making him neglect the state?”

“The Director of the Imperial Observatory’s divinations have always been accurate. It is better to believe it than not, Your Majesty!”

“Please deal with the demon, Your Majesty, execute without mercy—”

The officials grew more and more impassioned, and by the end, half of them had knelt, begging Your Majesty to slay the demon.

The atmosphere in the court grew frigid. The woman on the Dragon Throne showed no change in expression. Her deep eyes looked down at the officials below, and she spoke calmly, “Oh~ A demon of chaos. Who exactly are you talking about? Zhen doesn’t quite understand.”

Don’t understand? How could she not understand when they had spoken so plainly?

But everyone could tell the Empress might be angry. No one was willing to come forward and risk her wrath. After all, the killings during the Empress’s ascension were still fresh in their minds. They feared that in her fury, she might drag their entire families out and execute them.

Trembling, the Director of the Imperial Observatory stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, it is… it is Noble Consort Xiao. I divined the celestial signs; she is the demon of chaos.”

“Hehehe…” Before he could finish, a low laugh sounded from above, sending chills down everyone’s spine.

The Empress’s brows and eyes seemed to frost over with ice, yet her voice remained gentle as she said, “When Zhen first ascended the throne, I recall the omens divined by your father, Lord Liu.”

“Your father even privately cast a divination for Zhen, saying that with Zhen, a woman, ascending the throne, the fortune of the Dawn Kingdom would be exhausted within three years, and that yielding the throne to Prince Heng was the way to resolve the nation’s fate.”

“So Zhen gave him three years. If the Dawn Kingdom had not fallen after three years, Zhen would cut off his head and feed it to the dogs!”

Xia Lingyu looked at the trembling officials, the corners of her lips curving up slightly. She continued, “Three years passed, and so Zhen cut off the Director of the Imperial Observatory’s head and fed it to the dogs.”

Everyone broke out in cold sweat. So that was how the former Director died. Oh no, oh no, they hadn’t known. Now they had surely provoked the imperial wrath.

The current Director couldn’t help but tremble. He still tried to struggle: “Your Majesty, I did this for the sake of the realm…”

Xia Lingyu cut him off. “Lord Liu, give Zhen an exact timeframe. How many years must Zhen be with this demon woman to deplete the nation’s fortune? When will the kingdom fall? Hm? Like your father, wait until that year. If you are correct, Zhen will accept fate and become an eternal sinner. But if you are wrong…”

Her phoenix eyes sharpened, glittering with venomous cold. She said icily, “For deceiving the throne and committing treason, you father and son—Zhen will have your body dismembered, your bones ground to powder so that you can never reincarnate, and then exterminate your nine clans—”

“Thump—” The Director of the Imperial Observatory was scared out of his wits. He hastily knelt and kowtowed repeatedly. “Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare me! Perhaps I misread the signs. Please give me another chance!”

Xia Lingyu waved her hand. “Someone, take Liu Zhi to the Imperial Prison.”

“Yes!” The Imperial Bodyguards came forward and dragged away the pleading Director.

The officials who had just remonstrated wished they could bury their heads in the ground. They must have been kicked in the head by a donkey to step forward and echo him. Damn it, they’d been screwed over by that dog of a Director!

Xia Lingyu observed each official’s reaction below, her fingers idly tapping the armrest of the Dragon Throne. After a long while, she said, “My esteemed ministers, do you have any further business?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty, please do not take my words to heart. I was led astray by Lord Liu.”

“Yes, yes. Noble Consort Her Highness clearly looks like a blessed person. How could she be a demon? This minister wishes Your Majesty and Her Highness a long life together…”

Xia Lingyu was satisfied. She smiled slightly. “The Noble Consort has been wronged by all of you; she must have been aggrieved.”

Bullshit! The person isn’t even here; what grievance could she suffer?!

The officials, faces to the floor, secretly rolled their eyes.

“Zhen feels she should be well compensated.” Xia Lingyu thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s elevate Xiao Luo to Empress.”

At these words, those officials nearly jumped up again, vehemently opposing: “Your Majesty, you must not!”

“Your Majesty, reconsider! Her Highness the Noble Consort is merely a hostage princess sent by a rival state. How can she become Empress?”

“Do you wish to threaten Zhen like the father and son of the Liu family?!” Xia Lingyu frowned in displeasure and cast them a warning glance.

Officials: “…”

Fuck! Fine, they wouldn’t interfere anymore, all right?!

Thus, Xia Lingyu smoothly announced that Xiao Luo would be made Empress. The investiture ceremony would be held the day after tomorrow, a celebration for all.

That day had finally arrived.

After completing the investiture ceremony with Xia Lingyu, Xiao Luo changed into the elaborate crimson empress wedding robe, put up her hair in an intricate updo, applied light makeup, added the touch of vermilion, and finally donned the bridal veil.

Azure Phoenix Hall was also festively decorated throughout. Large red candles burned on the incense table, and the character for “double happiness” was pasted everywhere.

On the bridal bed, Xiao Luo sat quietly in her veil. Seeing this, Xia Lingyu quickened her steps, came over, and sat on the bed.

Xia Lingyu slowly lifted her veil, and in the warm candlelight, Xiao Luo looked up, her eyes curving like crescents, and called out, “Laopo~”

Why not “niangzi”? Laopo?! What in the world was “laopo”?

Xia Lingyu was somewhat bewildered.