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墨書 Inktalez
Due to the unexpected incident of Mei Shuang falling into the water, Anriyan was feeling down. He forced himself to accept the "Purple Ribbon Golden Seal" gifted by Xiao Luo, along with countless other rewards such as silk from the Great Qin Empire, marking the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
At this point, Anriyan had successfully completed his mission.
Before he set off, Princess Ziqing, who had confined him, was overjoyed to hear of his safe return and surrounded Anriyan with questions.
Recalling Ziqing's bad ideas regarding Mei Shuang, Anriyan was reluctant to engage with her too much. Noticing Anriyan's dejected and distracted demeanor, Princess Ziqing asked curiously, "Brother, what's wrong? You should be happy that this mission was a success..."
Seeing that Anriyan still couldn't lift his spirits, she leaned closer to his ear as if trying to confirm something. "Brother, I heard that the woman named Lin went with you. Why didn't I see her come back?"
Anriyan shot her a glance and replied irritably, "Why do you care about that?..."
Ziqing felt a bit annoyed. "Did you eat gunpowder? It's fine if she didn't come back; she might have died from illness, humph!"
Only after saying this did Princess Ziqing realize she had spoken too much. Anriyan darkly asked her, "Who told you she was sick?"
"Not at all!" Princess Ziqing covered up. "If she didn't come back, it must mean she's sick."
Anriyan closed his eyes. "She will never come back..."
Princess Ziqing had originally received this information from Consort Chen and intended to use it to inquire about Mei Shuang's true condition. Now hearing this, she couldn't hide her surprise and a hint of shyness on her face. "Brother, I've made up my mind; I want to stay..."
Anriyan couldn't be bothered with Ziqing's infatuation with the Empress of the Great Qin Empire and continued to dwell on his own thoughts.
During this visit to the Great Qin Empire, he brought a letter from Queen Himiko containing two requests: one was to establish diplomatic relations with the Great Qin Empire and exchange envoys; the other was that Yamataikoku must swallow the Eastern Kingdom without interference from the Great Qin Empire.
In exchange, he had to follow Queen Himiko's instructions to assist the Emperor of the Great Qin Empire in finding those treasures. Moreover, before locating the treasures, Princess Ziqing had to remain in the palace as a hostage, which also included Mei Ru whom he wanted to take away...
Although he initially held little hope for Mei Shuang's involvement, it turned out that no matter how united they were in collaboration, without Mei Shuang, their mission would undoubtedly fail.
Throughout their journey, Mei Shuang left a deep impression on him; her intelligence, resilience, extensive knowledge, and calmness in emergencies made Anriyan admire her deeply. He never expected such an ending—it was truly lamentable; could it really be that beauty is often met with misfortune?...
Thinking of this made Anriyan feel inexplicably sad. Now that the situation was settled and their original purpose achieved, he couldn't feel any joy at all. Princess Ziqing chattered on for a long time without him absorbing a single word.
Seeing Anriyan looking exhausted and listless, Princess Ziqing offered him some words of comfort before seizing an opportunity to go share her joy with Consort Chen.
After leaving his homeland for several months, the news of Mei Shuang's misfortune left Anriyan feeling despondent and unwilling to linger. He only reminded Princess Ziqing not to be too naive before setting off back to Yamataikoku the next day.
When alone, Xiao Luo gazed at the belongings of Mei Shuang sent by Qizhou, sitting in the imperial study for over half an hour.
The Zhanlu Sword, the unopened Golden Coiling Dragon Imperial Edict, and a letter handwritten by Mei Shuang were on the table. Although Historical Consort Shi had committed grave offenses, she had repented and requested the emperor to pardon her and spare her family from punishment. She hoped that, as she was nearing death, the emperor would accumulate merit on her behalf.
Li Gonggong observed the emperor's changing expression from the side, feeling a sense of regret for him and for the reborn Lin Yuxiang's fate.
Thinking about the Empress Dowager's criticisms of the emperor, he could only sigh deeply. It was difficult for the emperor; who could understand his inner thoughts? But now that she was gone, it was too late to say anything...
Time flew by like a shuttle, summer passed into autumn, and autumn gave way to winter.
On the second day of the second month in the second year of Tianwu, it was once again time for the annual Spring Plowing Festival. The Purple Dawn Palace was filled with a peaceful atmosphere as all the concubines rose early to prepare themselves.
The Spring Plowing Festival, also known as the "Dragon Raising Its Head" festival among the common folk, signifies the arrival of spring when all things revive and hibernating dragons begin to stir, heralding the start of a year's agricultural activities.
For ordinary people, February 2 is a significant day. There is a saying: "On February 2, shine light on the beams; scorpions and centipedes have nowhere to hide." On this day, people drive away pests by lighting candles and shining them on beams and walls to expel scorpions and centipedes. Additionally, they honor dragons and pray for rain to ensure a bountiful harvest for the year.
As per tradition, on this day, the Empress of the Great Qin Empire leads civil and military officials in a grand ceremony to honor heaven. Besides commanding all officials to personally cultivate three mu of land, within the palace there is also an event where "the Empress serves meals while His Majesty personally farms," demonstrating the court's emphasis on agriculture and harmony under Emperor Qinse.
For those newly entered into the palace—concubines who had never touched farm work and could not even distinguish between leeks and wheat shoots—wearing peasant clothing distributed by the Internal Affairs Office felt fresh and interesting. They were particularly looking forward to participating in the Spring Plowing Festival's ceremony for the first time.
At mid-morning, all concubines gathered at Changqing Hall to await His Majesty's arrival. With nothing much to do, they began joking about their outfits for today, inevitably touching upon some sensitive topics.
The Spring Plowing Festival emphasizes "the Empress serving meals while His Majesty personally farms." However, with two Empresses having been deposed within just one year since His Majesty ascended to the throne, there was currently no Empress in the palace. What should they do now?
"Someone has to represent the Empress and bring meals to the Emperor..." A certain outspoken concubine shouted loudly upon seeing Consort Chen approaching from a distance.
Consort Chen maintained her composure on the surface, but inside, she felt as if she had drunk honey. She thought to herself that if she could indeed have the honor of "bringing meals" to the Emperor today, then she would be one step closer to filling the vacant position of Consort.
In the Empress Dowager's chamber.
Empress Dowager Mingxi had been unable to sleep since the early hours of the morning. After attending court, Xiao Luo sat before her bed, sipping the hot tea served by Aunt Yu.
Wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown adorned with emeralds, he exuded the majesty of an emperor.
With the world now at peace and the Founding Ancestor's wishes fulfilled, treasures long hidden had finally been revealed. The true identity of Zhao Prince Nanguo Nuo, who had been secretly operating within the palace for years, was exposed. Since fleeing from Qishan, there had been no news of him, and his followers were captured as well. It seemed unlikely that they would stir up any more trouble. Logically, with peace reigning, life should be easier; yet his face remained as cold as ice.
Looking closely, one could see faint dark circles under his eyes—likely a result of sleepless nights.
Ever since hearing about Mei Shuang's tragic news from Consort Chen, Empress Dowager Mingxi felt a deep pain in her heart and blamed all mistakes on her son. In the vast Great Qin Empire, with millions of people, was there truly no one capable? Why did it have to be her daughter-in-law who took such risks? It was as if they couldn't stand to see her happy or to have someone caring by her side; in the end, it all came back to that Chu Xiruo!
Thinking about this made Empress Dowager Mingxi so furious that she nearly spat blood. She didn't want to pay him any mind; however, he was her own flesh and blood. Despite her anger, she still felt a pang of concern.
After a moment's thought, she set down her gilded teacup and said lightly, "The Emperor should take care of his Dragon Body; there's no need to come here often to pay respects. Those concubines need you more. Today is the Spring Plowing Festival; you should prepare for it..."
Speaking of the harem concubines only added to Empress Dowager Mingxi's frustration. Oh, where does one even begin with their troubles? Each one was like a delicate flower—beautiful and exquisite—but they schemed against each other like cunning spirits. Not a single one could capture the Emperor's heart.
Her son was nearing thirty but had no children—a source of great worry for her. Not only did she fret over him; every noble in the palace shared her concerns. The worst part was that there were whispers questioning whether the Emperor was incapable of fathering children. Would the Great Qin Empire's lineage truly end here?
These thoughts kept Empress Dowager Mingxi awake for three nights straight. She recalled how Mei Shuang had been favored by the Emperor for days without any sign of pregnancy. The more she thought about it, the more doubts crept in, leading to even less sleep.
She discreetly inquired about Mei Shuang through her maids, who all reported that everything was normal; thus, she had no choice but to let it go.
Flipping through records of the harem's history revealed that the Emperor's affections for women were few and far between; most of his time was devoted to state affairs.
Sighing, she thought that while men prioritizing state and dynasty was indeed important, having no heirs ultimately equated to nothing at all.
Upon thinking of this, Empress Dowager Mingxi could only sigh deeply.
She did not know what was going on with her son. Although he usually kept his distance from women, when he became infatuated, his stubbornness was such that not even a hundred oxen could pull him back.
A mother knows her child best; she understood her son's nature to some extent.
Xiao Luo's current situation was undoubtedly related to Mei Shuang's misfortune. Just like with Chu Xiruo before, he seemed to have changed from his usual self. Thus, while she had complained before, she still had an understanding of the situation in her heart.
Take the Emperor's attitude towards Mei Shuang for example. If one were to say he did not like her, it would be false. He personally left the palace to remove her poison and later arranged for her to stay in a secluded garden where ordinary concubines rarely ventured. His daily visits and affection were undeniable. However, if one were to say that her son had fallen for Mei Shuang, it was strange that he never mentioned giving her a title; they interacted without any formal acknowledgment. After weighing everything, he ultimately allowed her to take risks.
Thus, while outsiders found it hard to see through their relationship, she understood it clearly in her heart.
The strongest evidence was that after hearing about Mei Shuang losing contact shortly after going up the mountain, the Emperor became restless, wishing he could sprout wings and fly over to find her. After finally locating Mei Shuang and the others, he immediately drafted an edict stating that as long as Mei Shuang returned safely, she would be granted a title. Wasn't this a sign of his concern for Mei Shuang?
Well then, it seemed her son had developed feelings for Mei Shuang that were about to blossom into something more. However, fate had other plans; although Mei Shuang successfully completed that damned secret mission, she never returned.
So now, she watched as her son's spirit seemed to have vanished along with her...
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