Chapter 32: How does Your Majesty feel about making Yan Ruxue the Empress?
"Your Majesty."
Outside the Yangxin Hall in the Zhou Imperial Palace, Wei Xun called out.
Xiao Mo's consciousness left the Book of Hundred Lifetimes, he opened his eyes and exhaled deeply: "Come in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wei Xun responded, walked into the Yangxin Hall, and respectfully bowed: "Your servant greets Your Majesty."
"What is the matter?" Xiao Mo looked at Wei Gonggong and slowly asked.
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Wei Xun said with a smile, "Empress Dowager Yan has called you to dinner."
Xiao Mo frowned: "Did Mother Empress say what it was about?"
"Empress Dowager Yan didn't say, but..." Wei Xun's eyes darted around, "This old servant guesses it's about choosing concubines."
"I understand, prepare the imperial carriage."
Xiao Mo really didn't want to go out, but he had no choice. If the Empress Dowager invited him to dinner and he didn't go, he would be accused of being unfilial.
Even if she wasn't his birth mother, and he was only adopted, it was still the same.
"Yes, this old servant will go and prepare the Dragon carriage for Your Majesty immediately."
"Wait," Xiao Mo stopped Wei Xun.
"What are Your Majesty's orders?"
"Clear out an empty space in the Imperial Palace, a secluded and quiet place. Arrange various Daoist Magical Artifacts there, including peach wood swords and such. I want to set up an altar to absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. No one is allowed to enter, do you understand?" Xiao Mo instructed.
"This old servant will do it as quickly as possible."
"Go."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wei Xun had no suspicions about His Majesty doing this. He just thought His Majesty was truly obsessed with cultivating the Dao, even wanting to set up a ritual altar.
Since ancient times, what emperor would set up a ritual altar in the Imperial Palace?
In reality, Xiao Mo wanted to cultivate the Caocijian Jue, and setting up a ritual altar was just an excuse.
Although the Yangxin Hall was large, cultivating the Caocijian Jue indoors was definitely not feasible.
At that time, Sword Qi would smash this, break that, and the commotion would be too great, possibly attracting Yan Shan'ao's attention.
But if he practiced swordsmanship there every day under the guise of cultivating the Dao and arranging an altar, Yan Shan'ao wouldn't suspect anything.
Yan Shan'ao would even think His Majesty was absurd and incompetent, and would become even more at ease with him.
Once his Realm was roughly sufficient, he would call Yan Shan'ao into the Imperial Palace and find an opportunity to 'snip' him.
Not long after, Xiao Mo arrived at the Lingxin Palace in his Dragon carriage.
"Your son greets Mother Empress. Is Mother Empress well recently?"
Xiao Mo came before Empress Dowager Yan and bowed to her.
"Mother Empress is very well."
Empress Dowager Yan smiled and nodded, then walked down, helped Xiao Mo to sit beside her, and patted Xiao Mo's arm: "Mo'er, Mother Empress heard that you've been obsessed with cultivating the Dao recently, and you're even dressed like a Daoist. This won't do, you must focus on state affairs!"
"Mother Empress worries too much. Prime Minister Yan is a capable minister who manages the court affairs in perfect order. Everyone praises the Prime Minister's sagacity. Your child doesn't worry, so Mother Empress doesn't need to worry either."
Xiao Mo praised Yan Shan'ao against his will.
In reality, the court was in chaos. Led by Yan Shan'ao, the courtiers formed factions, eliminated dissidents, and even sold official positions.
Now, Zhou had an air of impending doom.
Why was Yan Shan'ao so anxious to find the Ten Thousand Swords Sect as a backer?
It was because the neighboring Yan State was eyeing Zhou. Yan Shan'ao was not a fool; he knew YanState's desire to annex Zhou.
"You," Empress Dowager Yan sighed, her tone sounding quite helpless.
But in reality, Xiao Mo felt that Empress Dowager Yanwas secretly pleased.
"Alright, alright. Although my younger brother is not very promising, he does have some ability. If Your Majesty wants to cultivate the Dao, then cultivate the Dao," Empress Dowager Yan said earnestly, "However, while Your Majesty cultivates the Dao, the foundation of the state cannot be ignored."
"Mother Empress's meaning is?"
"Prime Minister Yan has already spoken to Your Majesty about this. Your Majesty is no longer young, and it's time to choose concubines. The lists of eligible young women from various ministers have also been submitted.
Mother Empress has looked at them, and those daughters of prominent families are indeed good, but they don't quite meet my expectations.
The most suitable is Yan Ruxue of the Yan clan.
Presumably, Your Majesty must have heard of Ru Xue's reputation."
"Of course I have," Xiao Mo nodded, "Yan Ruxue is the most talented woman in our great Zhou, well-read and knowledgeable of ancient and modern times. Whether it's court ministers or common folk, all praise her highly."
As he spoke, Xiao Mo suddenly realized that naming the White Snake "Ru Xue" had accidentally made her name the same as that talented woman from the Yanclan.
Hearing Xiao Mo praise Yan Ruxue, Empress Dowager Yan's mood brightened, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly:
"According to ritual, originally ten noble young women would be selected to enter the palace as concubines, and after one year, Your Majesty would choose one with both talent and virtue to be Empress.
But I thought about it.
Now that Your Majesty is cultivating the Dao, you don't have that much energy.
Recruiting so many concubines at once might also be bad for Your Majesty's health.
And the state cannot be without an Empress for a single day.
Ritual systems are man-made.
So, I propose, why not let Ru Xue enter the palace first to serve Your Majesty.
With Ru Xue's background and reputation, if she were our Great Zhou Empress, she would surely command respect.
Afterward, Ru Xue can then help Your Majestymanage the inner palace and recruit other concubines to enrich the harem for Your Majesty.
What is Your Majesty's opinion?"
...
How could Xiao Mo not know Empress Dowager Yan's true intentions?
She probably initially thought of choosing concubines for him, then getting her clan's Yan Ruxue selected, and then maneuvering her to become Empress after a year.
But now, she felt it was too slow and risky.
What if other women gained favor?
What if other concubines became pregnant first?
Furthermore, other concubines also had considerable influence behind them.
What if he colluded with other aristocratic families?
So, after much deliberation, Empress Dowager Yansimply decided to let Yan Ruxue enter the palace alone first, allowing her to secure the position of Empress to prevent future complications.
As for her statement about "recruiting other women to enrich the harem," that would at least have to wait until Yan Ruxue gave birth to a prince.
It wasn't that Xiao Mo was eager for a "harem of three thousand beauties."
Rather, this feeling of being controlled by them, completely reduced to their tool, was truly unpleasant.
He was like a puppet on strings.
"Your son has no objections. If Ru Xue enters the palace, your son will surely have less to worry about, and Ru Xue can also catch up with Mother Empress," Xiao Mo said respectfully.
"Good, good."
The more Empress Dowager Yan saw Xiao Mo being so sensible, the more she liked him.
"Now, the Elders of the Ten Thousand Swords Secthave already arrived in our Zhou territory. The Ten Thousand Swords Sect is the number one Sword Sect in the world, so we must not be negligent and must entertain them well.
When the Elders of the Ten Thousand Swords Sectarrive, Ru Xue will also enter the palace, and the Grand Empress Enthronement Ceremony will be held.
This will be a good opportunity to have the Elders of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect participate in the grand event, showcasing our Great Zhou's hospitality."
Xiao Mo bowed his head and said:
"Everything according to Mother Empress."