Chapter 51 The shadows of the two queens seem to be one

The tea was slightly warm, but when it went down her throat it seemed to carry the coolness left from her fingertips, soothing the unspeakable anxiety deep in her heart.

Xiao Lingjun put down the teacup and tapped lightly on the wall of the cup with his fingertips.

"Ah Wei," he began, his voice gentler than before, "the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial today, mentioning the selection of concubines."

Shen Zhiwei had just picked up his chopsticks and had managed to pick up a piece of vegetable. Upon hearing this, he didn't stop and put the vegetable into his mouth, chewing slowly.

She found it amusing and feigned silence for a moment. After swallowing her food, she looked up at him. "Your Majesty has been on the throne for some time now, and leaving the harem empty is certainly not a long-term solution. The Ministry of Rites is obliged to submit a request according to the regulations."

Xiao Lingjun looked at her, trying to find a trace of displeasure or reluctance on her face, but he only saw silence, without even a ripple.

"I think so too," he smiled, echoing her words, "We should select a few sensible people to come in and take care of palace affairs, so that you won't be bothered by all those trivial matters."

He reached out and used his silver chopsticks to pick up a piece of roasted meat that she had just avoided and placed it on her plate. His movements were natural. "Try this. The new chef from Jiangnan who came to the imperial kitchen is quite skilled."

Shen Zhiwei looked at the shiny piece of meat on the plate without moving, and said, "If Your Majesty has no intention of choosing a concubine, just reject it. Why test me with this?"

If he really didn't want to, he had a hundred ways to make the Ministry of Rites shut up. Now that he brought it up in front of her, he just wanted to see her reaction, to see if she would show any concern at all about the word "selection of concubines".

Very childish.

Xiao Lingjun was exposed, but he didn't get angry. Instead, his smile deepened, and the gloom in his eyes dissipated, revealing a bit of real light. He leaned over, brushed his fingertips over a strand of hair that fell on her cheek, and tucked it behind her ear.

"Awei is always so insightful," he sighed and whispered in Shen Zhiwei's ear, gently pressing his cheek against hers. "So, tell me, should I choose or not?"

Shen Zhiwei turned her head away, reached out to pick up the spoon, scooped a spoonful of clear soup, blew it slowly, and fed it to his mouth: "This is your Majesty's family affairs, and also state affairs. Zhiwei is not in a position to interfere."

"Family matters... Ah Wei, you are my family." Xiao Lingjun was stunned, then drank from her hand, holding her fingertips in his palm, obviously enjoying it very much. "If I have to say anything, I only want to hear your opinion."

Shen Zhiwei raised her eyes and met his smiling eyes. She was silent for a moment, withdrew her hand, picked up the chopsticks, and ate the roasted meat.

The meat was tender and the sauce was rich, just to her taste.

"Since Your Majesty has spoken, I will obey your orders," she put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. "Selecting a concubine and establishing an empress is a rule passed down by our ancestors and is necessary for the stability of the imperial court. I believe there is nothing wrong with it. However, the candidate must be carefully considered. Her family background, character, appearance, and personality must all be worthy of the majesty of the royal family."

Xiao Lingjun looked at her businesslike appearance, his eyes darkened, then a smile appeared on his face. He reached out and took her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, holding his arms tightly.

"That's a good one, there's nothing wrong with that," he muttered in her hair, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Then how about Ah Wei helping me choose?"

Shen Zhiwei frowned for a moment, then quickly relaxed.

"I dare not overstep my bounds. This matter should be handled by the Ministry of Rites and decided by the Empress Dowager."

"I want you to choose," Xiao Lingjun's tone remained unchanged, and there was even a hint of laughter in his voice. "It depends on your preferences. Family background, character, appearance, talent... Whoever you think is suitable, then it is suitable."

"There will be a small banquet in the palace in three days, as a warm-up for the selection of concubines." He kissed her cheek affectionately, "Awei, accompany me."

He held her in his arms, no longer mentioning the imperial concubine selection, but instead gossiping about court anecdotes, asking her what book she had read today and whether the cat was still well behaved. Shen Zhiwei leaned against his chest, responding intermittently, often losing her mind mid-answer. Xiao Lingjun didn't mind.

The cool breeze from the ice mirror within the palace dispelled the summer heat and blocked out the chaos of the outside world. The tranquility of this moment was somewhat reminiscent of the memory she had felt in the Crown Prince's residence during her amnesia. However, the man holding her was no longer the Crown Prince, a clumsy imitator of his brother, but the true emperor who held the power of life and death.

After dinner, Xiao Lingjun reviewed memorials as usual. Shen Zhiwei sat beside him reading a book. A black cat curled up at her feet and took a nap. The candlelight in the hall was bright.

Late at night, Xiao Lingjun put down the last memorial, rubbed his brows, and his face was tired. He stood up and walked to Shen Zhiwei, leaning over and holding her sideways.

"Rest."

Shen Zhiwei didn't resist, her arms loosely wrapped around his neck. He laid her on the soft bed, took off her coat, covered her with a thin blanket, and then lay down beside her, holding her in his arms as usual.

His embrace was warm, with a faint scent of ambergris. Shen Zhiwei closed her eyes, listening to his steady heartbeat, and felt a little drowsy.

Just when she thought he had fallen asleep, he suddenly spoke in a low voice. The sound was so abrupt and clear in the silent night that it frightened her back.

"Awei," he called her, his arms tightening slightly, "When the situation stabilizes, I will make you my queen."

It's not a question, it's not a discussion, it's an announcement.

Shen Zhiwei's eyelashes trembled, but she didn't open her eyes or respond.

Establishing a queen was no easy task. As the daughter of a guilty minister of the Shen family, how could the old officials in the court easily agree to this?

What's more, although no one dared to speak openly about her past relationship with Xiao Wangqing, it was an unspoken taboo.

Xiao Lingjun seemed to know what she was thinking, and his fingertips gently stroked her back, as if soothing a frightened cat.

"Don't worry," he said firmly, "I have my own arrangements. This throne can only be yours."

Shen Zhiwei remained silent, and Xiao Lingjun stopped talking, only holding her tighter in his arms. The night was deep, but Shen Zhiwei had no desire to sleep.

She listened to the gradually even breathing of the people around her, her thoughts in a mess.

Three days later, a small banquet was held at the Linshui Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. As night fell, the palace lanterns lit up one after another, reflecting the shimmering water surface, which was quite interesting.

Shen Zhiwei attended the event with Xiao Lingjun. She wore a palace dress specially prepared by Xiao Lingjun. The color was a pale moonlight white, but the material was a priceless, shimmering brocade. Her hair was simply styled, with only a plain silver hairpin in her hair, which swayed gently with her steps.

When she and Xiao Lingjun appeared, the previously noisy pavilion fell silent. Those present included royal princes, important court officials, and their daughters and sisters, all in their prime. Everyone's gaze fell on her, either overtly or covertly, filled with curiosity, inquiry, fear, and... hostility.

Xiao Lingjun seemed oblivious to this, and took her hand, guiding her to the seat beside him. The seat was very close to the throne, and the meaning was self-evident.

The banquet began, string music sounded, and dancers entered gracefully. As the wine glasses mingled, the atmosphere gradually became lively. Ministers kept coming forward to toast and offer compliments, but their eyes couldn't help but glance towards Shen Zhiwei.

Xiao Lingjun seemed to be in a good mood, occasionally chatting with his ministers or commenting on songs and dances, but most of his attention was on Shen Zhiwei.

He would personally serve her food and whisper to her if it was to her taste; when her wine glass was almost empty, he would signal the palace servants to refill it; he would even follow her gaze when she was looking at some singing or dancing, and then whisper to her if she liked it.

He did it naturally, and Shen Zhiwei was used to being served, so she let him do it.

She ignored those overt or covert glances. Occasionally, when her gaze met that of a minister's wife, she would nod slightly as a return gesture. Her attitude was distant yet polite.

After three rounds of drinking, an old prince from the imperial clan stood up, holding his glass and said to Xiao Lingjun with a smile, "Your Majesty, today is a beautiful day, and the young ladies are both talented and beautiful. I wonder if Your Majesty has anyone he likes? This will allow us, the old ministers, to share in the joy and look forward to the arrival of the royal heir soon!"

There is always someone to ask.

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked at Xiao Lingjun with bated breath, especially the ministers who brought their daughters with them, their eyes were even more eager.

Xiao Lingjun paused holding the cup, a warm smile on his face as he looked at Shen Zhiwei beside him. She was looking down at the sake in the cup, with an irritating look as if she was oblivious to the world outside.

The nameless anger in his heart rose again.

"Uncle Emperor is thoughtful," Xiao Lingjun put down his wine glass and raised his voice, "but the selection of a queen concerns the foundation of the country, so it must be handled with caution. I have already made plans in my mind and will make a decision when the time comes."

He did not answer directly, but he did not deny it either. Instead, he left a thought-provoking idea.

Everyone's eyes focused on Shen Zhiwei again, with even more complicated implications.

Shen Zhiwei lowered her eyes, her expression still calm. But she had never been good at dealing with such situations, so she could only silently recite the Great Compassion Mantra, trying her best to block out the whispers and those piercing gazes around her.

Xiao Lingjun took in her reaction, his lips curled up, and then he coughed lightly and returned to normal. He reached out and gently held her hand under the table.

Shen Zhiwei's fingertips trembled, but she didn't break free.

After the banquet, Xiao Lingjun held Shen Zhiwei's hand and walked back to Qingliang Palace. The moonlight poured down like flowing water, and the shadows of the two seemed to be one.

He was silent all the way.

It was not until I stepped into the courtyard of Qingliang Palace that I saw the black cat squatting on the highest point of the newly built cat climbing frame, basking in the moonlight and licking its paws leisurely.

Xiao Lingjun stopped and looked up at the cat.

"It does know how to find a place," he said suddenly.

Shen Zhiwei also looked up. Under the moonlight, the cat's outline was a little blurry, and only its pair of golden eyes were surprisingly bright, not like an ordinary creature.

"Yeah." She responded.

Xiao Lingjun withdrew his gaze and looked at her.

"Awei, what do you think of the women at today's banquet?"

here we go again.

Shen Zhiwei sighed in her heart, with a helpless look on her face: “They are all ladies from famous families, with outstanding talents and looks.”

"Really?" Xiao Lingjun took a step forward, approaching her, and raised his hand to touch her cheek. "But I think that all of them combined are not even one ten-thousandth as good as Awei."

"One in ten thousand..." Shen Zhiwei repeated, "Your Majesty, I am too kind to praise you. I am a humble servant, and I dare not compare myself to the ladies of noble families."

"You're being flattering?" Xiao Wangqing leaned forward slightly, his breath caressing the strands of hair across her forehead. "When did Ah Wei learn to be so self-deprecating, or... would you rather I admire those distinguished ladies?"

He ran his fingertips down her cheek to her jaw, gently lifting her face and forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Awei, the queen will only be you."

Shen Zhiwei's breath hitched.

"Your Majesty..." She opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but he pressed his finger against her lips.

"Hush," Xiao Lingjun shook his head and smiled, "Don't say anything that will make me unhappy."

He leaned over and kissed her lips. The heat from the alcohol came over with the kiss, which was so fierce that it didn't feel like a kiss, but more like a mark and a declaration.

Shen Zhiwei endured it passively until he let her go, then she collapsed and gasped for breath.

"You're tired, take a rest." He put his arm around her waist and led her into the hall without giving her a chance to speak.

In the dead of night, Shen Zhiwei lay on the familiar bed, with Xiao Lingjun, who was already asleep, beside her. He still hugged her from behind as usual, his arm across her waist, holding her in his arms.

Shen Zhiwei opened his eyes, his whole body was sore, but he had no desire to sleep.

Queen.

He finally said it out.

She moved slightly, wanting to turn over, but the arm around her waist immediately tightened. Xiao Lingjun muttered sleepily in her ears: "Don't move..."

Shen Zhiwei froze, motionless. A long moment passed, until she heard the sound of even, long breathing behind her. Only then did she carefully pry his hands loose from around her waist, and gently sit up.

She put on her outer robe and walked to the window. The walls of Qingliang Palace were not very high, but the palace was strictly guarded, with layers of guards outside.

She opened the window, and the cool night breeze blew in, and the heat gradually dissipated.

At this moment, a dark shadow flashed on the wall, and a figure lightly avoided the patrolling guards and came to her window in a few jumps.

The moonlight illuminated the visitor's face.

It’s Xiao Wangqing.

He was wearing a nightgown, with his black hair tied up high, and he still had the same cold expression that had never changed for thousands of years.

Shen Zhiwei's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked back in the direction of the bed.

Xiao Lingjun was still sleeping.

When she turned back, Xiao Wangqing had already silently climbed in through the window and landed in front of her, bringing with him the coolness of the night dew.

"you……"

As soon as Shen Zhiwei opened her mouth, he covered her mouth with his hand.

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The author has something to say: Consider the ending

What if Xiao Shen becomes emperor?