Chapter 252: You Are the Rose Blade I Personally Forged
After Wang Wanqing finished crying, Xiao Li went to change her clothes before coming out to speak with them again.
Aware she had lost her composure, Wang Wanqing sat to one side, her face flushed with shame. She clutched her teacup, not daring to make a sound.
Xiao Li was much more relaxed speaking with Wang Yizhu. In addition to informing her of future arrangements in the court, there was one other important matter.
"You were once the Empress, but Xiao Jingyun is dead. You are a free woman now. With me here, you have no need to remain a widow for his sake."
"If you meet a man you like, you can take him into your household, but I have two restrictions: first, the man you choose cannot be an official; second, you cannot marry him."
Wang Yizhu immediately declared without a second thought, "I have long since lost any desire to marry. My only wish for the rest of my life is to follow Your Majesty."
Xiao Li shook her head. "That’s where you’re mistaken."
She reached out and patted the head of Wang Wanqing, who had leaned in too close. "The world is divided into heaven and earth, yin and yang. Humanity has men and women; it’s only natural for them to desire each other. Don’t go turning yourself into Master Extinction. As for men... if you can’t find one you truly love, can’t you at least find one who’s agreeable?"
"The reason I gave you those two requirements wasn’t to test you. It’s because you are my Rose Blade, forged by my own hand. You cannot be broken by a man."
"They cannot control your life, nor can they dim your light. You are the most dazzling Lady Wang."
Wang Yizhu nodded emphatically, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "I understand. I will absolutely not disappoint Your Majesty."
Xiao Li couldn’t have been more direct in her affection. How could Wang Yizhu possibly betray such profound kindness?
As for Wang Wanqing, Xiao Li pinched her cheek. "This August, the imperial examinations will be held again. There will be plenty of candidates, and plenty of women among them. Don’t you dare embarrass me."
Wang Wanqing nodded obediently. "As you command."
Her two most valued female officials were both from the Wang family. ’It must be fate.’ However, Xiao Li didn’t mind that they came from the same clan; it might even become the stuff of a fine tale.
While Xiao Li chatted and drank tea with the two Wang women, Lou Yan attended to them from just behind a screen.
’The man you choose cannot be an official, and you cannot marry him.’
’As for men... if you can’t find one you truly love, can’t you at least find one who’s agreeable?’
’They cannot control your life, nor can they dim your light.’
Those words were meant for Wang Yizhu, but did they not also reflect her own attitude?
The Empress had no desire to remarry, nor did she seem to have any intention of taking an Imperial Consort. Even with him, her actions were mostly teasing, with little genuine affection to be seen.
Cold and heartless.
Lou Yan was once again struck by the clear realization that he meant nothing to the Empress.
He was still the Chief Eunuch, but the Empress had no shortage of people to manage her affairs. In fact, as a female ruler, she had no fundamental need for eunuchs and could have him replaced at any moment.
In terms of civil administration, the Empress did not abuse her power, appointing officials based on merit alone. He had no way to interfere in the affairs of the court.
In terms of military might, the Empress lacked no military generals. There were countless people willing to sacrifice their lives for her.
He controlled the late Emperor’s Dark Scale Guards, a fact the Empress knew but never mentioned. And though the Dark Scale Guards were spread throughout the palace, they were entirely contained by the Silver Armor Army.
The Empress appeared to trust everyone, but in reality, she was on guard against them all.
’Of course, I’m not entirely useless. I’m certain the Empress is keeping me as a piece in her grand political strategy—her Emperor’s Skill—but it’s definitely not because she has any feelings for me.’
’I’m no different from Song Junzhan. In fact, in the Empress’s heart, there’s little difference between me, Song Junzhan, Rong Qing, and any other official who could be of use to her.’
’Anyone who can be an Emperor is bound to be cold and ruthless, regardless of their gender.’
’What’s truly laughable is that while the Empress has never shown the slightest emotion, I’ve already fallen in so deep I can’t pull myself out.’
’But it doesn’t matter whether she has feelings for me, or if she even likes me at all.’
’What matters is that I have given her my entire heart, and now I’m determined to entangle myself with her for good.’
’I, Lou Yan, am a venomous snake, a devil. Whatever I set my sights on, I will obtain.’
’In the past, I killed my way to the top, step by step. Now, I will climb my way into the dragon bed, step by step.’
’An agreeable man? No. What I want is to make Her Majesty the Empress utterly unable to resist me.’
----
With the issuance of several appointment decrees, the court was thrown into an uproar. Everyone was speculating: had the Empress awoken?
The Empress hadn’t ordered them to keep it secret, so Tang Shuyu and the others naturally confirmed that she had.
But aside from summoning them, the Empress did not attend court or see anyone else. Her bedchambers even remained off-limits to all outsiders.
Inevitably, some began to suspect. Had the Empress truly awakened? Or was this all a smokescreen created by Song Junzhan so he could appoint the Six Ministers?
When Song Junzhan was questioned, his answer was, "The Empress has truly awakened."
Everyone else: ’He’s definitely lying! He’s just trying to form his own faction and seize control of the court. The man is savagely ambitious and a conspirator! A treacherous Prime Minister!’
The unfairly maligned Song Junzhan: "..." ’This is a terrible injustice.’
’I tell you the truth and you don’t believe me, but the Empress won’t make an appearance. What am I supposed to do?’
Song Junzhan had wanted to use this as an excuse to go to the Empress, play the victim, and perhaps curry some favor. Unfortunately, she had already left for Longxi Gully, leaving him to face the music alone.
Unlike the others, the moment Rong Qing received his appointment decree, he was convinced the Empress had awakened.
Song Junzhan might be able to control the civil servants, but he had absolutely no sway over the military generals. Rong Qing had been by the Empress’s side longer than Song Junzhan. Even as Prime Minister, Song Junzhan could not issue him an appointment decree without the Empress’s authority.
And the fact that the Empress had only sent the decree without summoning him back to the capital meant she must be coming to Longxi Gully herself.
Sure enough, two days later, the Empress’s procession arrived.
The heavy iron gates slowly swung open. Suppressing his excitement, Rong Qing knelt and performed a deep bow. "Your subject, Rong Qing, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Xiao Li raised a hand slightly. "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Unlike them, Xiao Li had not experienced that year-long absence. Her emotions were steady, and she spoke with the same calm and natural ease as always.
Rong Qing had always been steady and composed, rarely showing his emotions. He was only stunned for a moment before naturally carrying on the conversation.
He seemed unchanged, but a rare hint of a smile was clearly visible in his eyes.
Rong Qing first reported on his investigations. A spy had indeed infiltrated the area, but they were detected almost immediately. Seeing no escape, the spy had made a last-ditch effort by starting a fire.
"The person was captured, but they were too severely burned and did not survive."
The main reason Rong Qing had remained here for a month was to re-vet every single person on site. Anyone found to be the least bit suspicious was to be isolated for interrogation. His orders were to risk capturing the innocent rather than let a single guilty party escape.
Xiao Li was naturally confident in Rong Qing’s methods. Besides, as the Empress, she couldn’t very well go around interrogating people herself.
Longxi Gully appeared to be a manor estate, but it actually encompassed five mountains, a river, and a sheer cliff face.
The estate was filled with one workshop after another, mainly producing cotton clothes, footwear for soldiers, and fletching for arrows. Even though there was no war at present, the people here were still bustling with fervent activity.
All finished goods were transported to the warehouses in the Capital City. These were military supplies, to be distributed by the Ministry of War.
Any spies who came looking for firearms would surely be disappointed by what they saw. Little did they know, this was the very firearms base they had been dreaming of finding.
It just wasn’t on the surface. It was underground, extending deep into the mountains.