Chapter 36: The Splendid Country (End) Part 1

Since the last palace coup, Xia Lingyu had gained a fairly clear understanding of the court ministers’ attitudes.

She divided those ministers into three factions: one part consisted of her trusted confidants who stood firmly by her side, another remained neutral, and the last harbored disloyal intentions.

Thus, the first thing she did upon returning to the main hall was to carry out a major purge of the court officials. Using the pretext of the previous forced abdication attempt, she stripped the disloyal ministers of their positions one after another. No matter how they protested their innocence, she remained unmoved.

As for the neutral ministers, she kept a watchful eye on them but ultimately let them off the hook, deciding to observe their future conduct.

Afterward, she personally issued orders to select new officials, promoting a significant number of female officials. From that point on, her position as the Empress became even more secure.

By the time the court’s situation stabilized, nearly another half year had passed.

It was the fourth month of the lunar calendar, and the Imperial Garden was a brilliant tapestry of flowers, brimming with spring splendor.

Xiao Luo dressed in relatively light palace attire and wandered leisurely through the Imperial Garden. She had been cooped up in Azure Phoenix Palace for several months, and the outside temperature had finally warmed up a bit.

After breakfast, she had taken special care with her makeup and dress, then brought Chuntao out for a stroll.

As she walked, she suddenly noticed two women in the pavilion ahead. One was Xia Lingyu, and the other wore an official’s robe, apparently a female court official.

They sat across from each other at a table, chatting while playing chess. They seemed quite relaxed and cheerful.

Xia Lingyu was busy most of the time. She barely had time for leisure while handling state affairs and could only spend time playing with her a few times a month. She had never devoted time to anyone else.

Even though the other party was just a minister, a flicker of wariness rose in Xiao Luo’s heart.

She hid beneath a crabapple tree and watched them talk. She even saw Xia Lingyu smile.

She hadn’t seen wrong. Xia Lingyu had actually smiled, and she had smiled at another woman.

From her angle, Xia Lingyu’s smile carried a hint of deep affection, which made Xiao Luo grit her teeth.

“What are you looking at, Your Highness?” Chuntao asked curiously, following her gaze and catching sight of the same scene.

“Her Majesty and the Chancellor are playing chess here again.”

Hearing Chuntao say this, Xiao Luo’s elegant brows furrowed. She turned her head and asked, “What did you say? Have they often done this before?”

Chuntao replied, “Not before, but these past few days, at this time, Her Majesty and the Chancellor have been coming here… to discuss state affairs, and no one else is allowed to come close.”

Discussing state affairs, what a claim!

Xiao Luo suddenly felt a tightness in her chest and couldn’t help but walk towards them.

“Ah, Your Highness, why are you going over there?” Chuntao called out.

Xiao Luo said, “Don’t follow me. I’ll take a look myself.”

She didn’t believe Xia Lingyu would send her away.

Indeed, the surrounding guards didn’t stop her, and she entered the pavilion directly.

Xia Lingyu was deep in thought when she heard someone approaching. She raised her eyes and, seeing it was Xiao Luo, her gaze softened. She asked gently, “Luo’er, what brings you here?”

Xiao Luo glanced at her and gave a heavy snort. “What, am I not allowed to come?”

“Of course not.” Xia Lingyu naturally took her hand and pulled her to sit on her lap. “I thought you’d still be sleeping at this hour.”

Xiao Luo felt even more uncomfortable hearing this. So Xia Lingyu thought she was sleeping and took the opportunity to come out and “discuss state affairs” with the Chancellor?

Thinking this, she subconsciously glanced at the Chancellor. The Chancellor was named Bai Chenxin, recently promoted. Xiao Luo had often heard palace servants say how exceptionally talented and brilliant this Chancellor was.

Sure enough, upon meeting her today, she found the Chancellor to be just as outstanding as everyone described.

She stared at Chancellor Bai, who quickly performed a salute. “Good day, Your Highness the Empress.”

“Mm.” Xiao Luo nodded at her, her eyes carrying a hint of admiration. “This is the first time I’ve met Chancellor Bai. The Chancellor truly is a young prodigy of extraordinary bearing.”

“Your Highness flatters me.” Chancellor Bai wore a faint smile.

Yet despite her outward composure, seeing the intimate manner of the Empress and Empress Consort, she felt somewhat superfluous, awkward whether she stood or sat.

Finally, Xia Lingyu waved her hand. “It’s getting late. Chancellor, you may take your leave.”

Chancellor Bai cupped her hands in salute. “Yes!”

Once the person had left, Xia Lingyu gently pinched Xiao Luo’s waist and asked, “What’s the matter? You seem a little unhappy.”

Xiao Luo pursed her lips and said, somewhat displeased, “What’s wrong with me? Doesn’t Your Majesty know?”

Xia Lingyu found her expression utterly adorable and couldn’t help but pinch her cheek.

“Smack—” Xiao Luo swatted her hand away without a trace of mercy and said very tsundere-like, “Don’t touch me!”

Xia Lingyu was a bit surprised by this reaction. Then, as if realizing something, she hugged Xiao Luo’s waist with great amusement and said, “You’re sitting on my lap, and you’re telling me not to touch you?”

“Then I won’t sit. Let go of your paws.” Xiao Luo made to get down.

Xia Lingyu refused to release her, laughing. “Did Luo’er get jealous seeing me with another woman?”

Her thoughts exposed, Xiao Luo felt a bit embarrassed and angry, but she still stubbornly denied it. “I wasn’t jealous. What nonsense are you spouting?”

She hadn’t thought she was being that obvious.

Xia Lingyu said, “Don’t deny it. I can see it as plain as day with both eyes.”

Xiao Luo: “…”

Of course, she knew there was certainly nothing between Xia Lingyu and Chancellor Bai, but she just felt a tiny bit annoyed and hadn’t wanted Xia Lingyu to notice.

“Alright, alright, don’t be angry.” Xia Lingyu, seeing her sulk, smiled and said, “Actually, the Chancellor and I were truly discussing an important matter.”

“What important matter?” Xiao Luo asked.

Seeing her attention diverted, Xia Lingyu continued, “It’s about the position of Crown Princess, the matter of succession.”

Xiao Luo looked at her with some shock.

“The Crown Princess’s position must be settled. Otherwise, if I die one day with no one to inherit the throne, that would be troublesome. The entire court would descend into chaos.”

Xiao Luo frowned and covered her mouth unhappily. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

She was still young, so why was she thinking about death? Xiao Luo disliked Xia Lingyu saying such disheartening things.

Xia Lingyu sighed with a hint of helplessness. “Luo’er, birth, old age, sickness, and death are natural laws. We will all go through this process eventually. But having you in this life is enough for me…”

Xiao Luo said, “Let’s change the subject. Tell me, who do you wish to make Crown Prince?”

Xia Lingyu returned to the topic. “Xia Caijie, the great-grandson of the Former Emperor’s eldest sister, Princess Chaoyang. He’s ten years old now, an orphan with no parents. I also had the Chancellor test him. He’s a smart, studious child with decent character.”

Xiao Luo asked, “Is that so? How does Your Majesty know this child’s character is good or not?”

Xia Lingyu replied, “The Chancellor spent several months testing a few selected children and personally witnessed him distributing food to the poor every day.”

Xiao Luo said, “Just based on that?”

She felt it was a bit unreliable.

The System triggered a quest: [Help Xia Lingyu select the best Crown Princess.]

Xiao Luo’s interest was also piqued. She said, “Your Majesty, don’t be so quick to draw conclusions. And people aren’t necessarily what they appear on the surface.”

Xia Lingyu’s eyes flickered. She smiled. “I was thinking the same. Do you have any other ideas?”

Xiao Luo said, “For such a major matter, Your Majesty should personally conduct the test… ahem, and take me along, of course!”

“Please, Your Majesty, won’t you～?” Xiao Luo wrapped her arms around her neck and shook her, acting cute.

Xia Lingyu immediately agreed. “Fine, fine, fine, I promise. You just want an excuse to leave the palace and have fun again, don’t you?”

“Mm-hmm, Your Majesty is the best. Here’s a kiss as a reward.” Xiao Luo smiled and leaned in, quickly pecking her on the cheek.

Xia Lingyu, receiving only this fleeting, light kiss, looked dissatisfied. “You call that a kiss?”

“Does it not count?” Xiao Luo blinked and asked, “Why isn’t Your Majesty satisfied?”

Xia Lingyu looked at her bright, captivating face. Her heart raced, and she couldn’t resist leaning forward to capture her lips, prying open her teeth to intertwine with her…

The streets of the Capital City were more prosperous than ever, lined with shops and bustling with people.

Both Xiao Luo and Xia Lingyu had disguised themselves well. Their hair was coiled up, their faces smeared with a layer of grime, and they wore the roughest fabric, making them look like a pair of sisters from an impoverished family.

Xiao Luo carried a basket containing some wilted vegetable leaves and held Xia Lingyu’s hand as they approached a stall to buy groceries.

“What do you want to buy?” The vegetable vendor glanced at their attire and lazily averted his gaze.

Xia Lingyu said, “Just looking around.”

She glanced towards a corner of the city wall, where an unusually well-dressed young boy, surrounded by family servants, was slowly handing out steamed buns to the poor queuing up.

Those paupers were tattered and filthy, their dirty fingers occasionally touching the young boy’s noble and delicate hands. Despite this, the boy showed not a trace of disgust and wore a gentle smile.

Seeing this, Xiao Luo leaned close to Xia Lingyu’s ear. “Your Majesty, this child’s movements are efficient. I wonder how many months he’s been handing out steamed buns.”

Xia Lingyu thought for a moment. “It should be about three months.”

“Oh?” Xiao Luo was a little surprised. She asked again, “Has news of the Crown Princess selection leaked out?”

Xia Lingyu shook her head. “No. The Crown Heir selection is a matter for this month. There was no such news a few months ago. And I’ve heard that this child gives out food to the poor every year. He’s just a child; he shouldn’t have that many schemes.”

Xiao Luo said mysteriously, “You never know.”

The vegetable vendor, seeing them whispering about something but not buying anything, grew impatient. “Hey, are you buying or not? If not, move along, don’t block…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Luo tossed him a piece of silver. The vendor stared blankly for a moment before reacting, a flash of delight in his eyes. “Silver? Why are you giving this to me?”

Xiao Luo smiled. “Boss, we’d like to ask a few questions. What’s happening over there?”

The vendor quickly pocketed the silver. “That’s a young master from a wealthy family doing charity, distributing food. The poor and homeless can get three steamed buns a day, enough for three meals.”

“Does that little young master come every day?”

The vendor replied, “Yes, the young master is still small but very kind-hearted. Over these past few months, he’s come here to give out food regardless of wind or rain. All the surrounding vendors have seen it.”

Hearing this, both Xiao Luo and Xia Lingyu felt something was amiss.