"Your Majesty..."
Outside the Yangxin Hall in the Zhou Royal Palace, Wei Xun called out.
Xiao Mo's consciousness withdrew from the Hundred Generations Book. He opened his eyes, let out a deep breath, and said, "Come in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wei Xun acknowledged the command and entered Yangxin Hall. He bowed respectfully. "This servant greets Your Majesty."
"What is it?" Xiao Mo asked slowly, looking at Eunuch Wei.
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Wei Xun said with a smile. "The Empress Dowager has summoned you for a meal."
Xiao Mo frowned. "Did Mother say what this is about?"
"The Empress Dowager did not say, but..." Wei Xun's eyes darted about. "This old servant speculates it's about selecting consorts."
"I understand. Prepare my chariot."
Xiao Mo had no desire to go out, but he had no choice. If the Empress Dowager invited him for a meal and he refused, he could easily be accused of being unfilial.
It didn't matter that she wasn't his birth mother and that he was merely adopted—the same rules applied.
"Yes... This old servant will go and prepare the Dragon Chariot for Your Majesty at once."
"Wait," Xiao Mo called out, stopping Wei Xun.
"Does Your Majesty have any other commands?"
"Find an empty plot of land within the Imperial Palace, somewhere remote and quiet. Arrange various Daoist Magical Artifacts there, including things like a Peach Wood Sword. I am going to set up an altar to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. No one is to enter without permission, do you understand?" Xiao Mo instructed.
"This old servant will see to it as soon as possible."
"You may go."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wei Xun wasn't suspicious of His Majesty's actions. He simply thought the Emperor had become truly obsessed with his Daoist cultivation, to the point of wanting to set up a Magic Altar...
Since ancient times, what Emperor had ever set up a Magic Altar in the Imperial Palace?
In reality, Xiao Mo wanted to practice the Grass Character Sword Intent; setting up a Magic Altar was just an excuse.
Although Yangxin Hall was large, practicing the Grass Character Sword Intent indoors was out of the question.
The Sword Qi would end up smashing this and breaking that. The commotion would be too great and would likely attract Yan Shanao's attention.
But if he practiced his swordsmanship there every day under the guise of Daoist cultivation and fiddling with an altar, Yan Shanao wouldn't suspect a thing.
In fact, Yan Shanao would probably just think His Majesty was being utterly absurd and let his guard down even more.
'Once my Realm is high enough, I'll summon him to the Imperial Palace and find an opportunity to... finish him off.'
Before long, Xiao Mo arrived at Lingxin Palace in the Dragon Chariot.
"Your son greets you, Mother. Have you been well recently?"
Xiao Mo came before Empress Dowager Yan and bowed.
"This mother is doing very well."
Empress Dowager Yan nodded with a gentle smile. She came down from her seat, helped Xiao Mo to a seat beside her, and patted his arm. "Ah, Mo'er, your mother has heard that you've become obsessed with Daoist cultivation lately. You're even dressed like a Daoist. This simply will not do. You must focus on the affairs of the state!"
"Mother, you worry too much. Prime Minister Yan is a capable minister, skilled in governing. He manages the Imperial Court so meticulously that everyone praises the Prime Minister for his wisdom. Your child is not worried, so Mother need not worry either."
Xiao Mo praised Yan Shanao against his true feelings.
In reality, the Imperial Court was a cesspool of corruption. Led by Yan Shanao, court officials formed cliques for personal gain, ostracized their rivals, and even sold official titles and positions.
The Zhou Kingdom now had the distinct air of being doomed.
Why was Yan Shanao in such a hurry to secure the Wanjian Sect as his backer?
It was because the neighboring Yan Kingdom was eyeing the Zhou Kingdom like a tiger stalking its prey. Yan Shanao was no fool; he knew the Yan Kingdom intended to annex them.
"Oh, you..." Empress Dowager Yan sighed, her tone sounding rather helpless.
But in reality, Xiao Mo felt that the Empress Dowager was secretly gloating.
"Forget it, forget it. My brother may be a disappointment, but he has some ability. If Your Majesty wishes to pursue Daoist cultivation, then so be it," Empress Dowager Yan said earnestly. "However, cultivation is one thing, but the foundation of the kingdom cannot be ignored."
"Mother's meaning is...?"
"Prime Minister Yan has already spoken to Your Majesty about this. Your Majesty is no longer young, and it is time to select consorts. The lists of eligible daughters from all the ministers have been submitted.
Your mother has looked them over. The young ladies from those ministers' families are indeed fine, but they don't quite feel right.
The most suitable candidate is still Yan Ruxue of the Yan Clan.
I'm sure Your Majesty has heard of Ruxue's reputation."
"Of course, I have," Xiao Mo nodded. "Yan Ruxue is the most talented woman in our Great Zhou. She is widely read, knowledgeable about both past and present, and is highly praised by everyone from the ministers in the Imperial Court to the common people."
As he spoke, Xiao Mo realized that he had named the little white snake "Ruxue"—accidentally giving it the same name as the talented lady of the Yan Clan.
Hearing Xiao Mo praise Yan Ruxue, the Empress Dowager was delighted, the corners of her mouth turning up in a slight smile.
"According to custom and rites, the original plan was to select ten young ladies from noble families to enter the palace as consorts. A year later, Your Majesty would then choose one of exceptional talent and virtue from among them to be the Empress.
But I have been thinking.
Your Majesty is focused on cultivation and does not have that much energy to spare.
Taking in so many consorts at once would likely be detrimental to Your Majesty's health.
Furthermore, the kingdom cannot be without an Empress for a single day.
The rites were established by men, after all.
Therefore, I propose that we first let Ruxue enter the palace to serve Your Majesty.
With Ruxue's background and reputation for talent, she will surely command respect as the Empress of our Great Zhou.
Afterward, Ruxue can help Your Majesty manage the imperial harem and recruit other consorts to fill it.
What are Your Majesty's thoughts on this matter?"
"..."
'How could I not know what the Empress Dowager is thinking?'
'Her original plan was probably to have me select consorts, ensure her Yan Clan's Yan Ruxue was chosen, and then maneuver her into the Empress's position a year later.'
'But now, she thinks that's too slow and too risky.'
'What if another woman gains my favor?'
'What if another consort gets pregnant first?'
'Besides, the other consorts would have powerful families backing them.'
'What if I were to conspire with other Noble Families?'
'So, after thinking it over, the Empress Dowager decided to just have Yan Ruxue enter the palace alone and secure the position of Empress first, to avoid any complications that might arise from delays.'
'As for her claim about "recruiting other women to fill the harem," that would only happen after Yan Ruxue gives birth to a Prince, at the very least.'
It wasn't that Xiao Mo was in a hurry to have a "harem of three thousand beauties."
Rather, it was this feeling of being controlled by them, of being reduced to nothing more than their tool, that was so infuriating.
He was like a puppet on a string.
"Your son has no objections. If Ruxue enters the palace, it would surely save me a lot of trouble. Besides, she and Mother can catch up on old times," Xiao Mo said respectfully.
"Good... good..."
The more Empress Dowager Yan saw how sensible Xiao Mo was, the more she liked him.
"The Elders from the Wanjian Sect have now arrived within the borders of our Zhou Kingdom. The Wanjian Sect is the First Sword Sect under heaven, so we must not be negligent. We are obligated to entertain them well.
When the Elders of the Wanjian Sect arrive, Ruxue will enter the palace, and we will hold the Empress's coronation ceremony.
We can have the Wanjian Sect's Elders participate in the grand occasion, which will be a fine display of Great Zhou's hospitality."
Xiao Mo lowered his head and said,
"Everything will be as Mother decides."