Chapter 62

Inside the Zichen Palace, morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of the high windows, casting dappled and solemn shadows on the floor. Wisps of smoke rose from the gilded dragon-shaped incense burner, carrying the cool fragrance of ambergris, yet unable to dispel the heavy atmosphere in the air.

Wu Qing held a jade tablet, his brows furrowed, his gaze sweeping over the young emperor who sat crookedly on the dragon throne. He saw the emperor with his hand on his forehead, his fingertips pressing hard on his throbbing temples, his sword-like eyebrows tightly furrowed, his eyelids lowered and tightly closed, as if some unbearable troubles were churning in his mind, making him exude an aura of extreme impatience and suppressed irritability.

The hall was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop. Now that the internal and external troubles of Yuan Chu had been resolved and the world was at peace, it should have been the most comfortable time for the emperor. However, this emperor, who had swiftly pacified the world with his iron-fisted methods, seemed to be facing a problem more difficult than a thousand troops, and a lingering gloom hung over him.

Wu Qing's mind was as clear as a mirror. His fingertips gently caressed the warm jade tablet, and a complex and unfathomable light flashed deep in his eyes. A decision he had long pondered had taken shape. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and his voice was exceptionally clear in the empty hall.

"Your Majesty, the world is now at peace, the land is clear and bright, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. I believe that Your Majesty should consider the foundation of the nation, choose an auspicious day to select virtuous and beautiful women to enrich the harem, so that the royal family can have many descendants, and only in this way can the foundation of our Yuan Chu be forever solidified and prosperous for generations to come."

These words, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, immediately triggered a murmur of suppressed whispers within the hall. In truth, this matter had long been on the minds of veteran officials, but they had been hampered by the emperor's strong will and ruthless methods. In the past, their suggestions had always been dismissed with a few lukewarm words, leaving them unable to find a more compelling reason to refute him. Now, seeing Wu Qing, a close advisor to the emperor, speak first, several other officials, unable to contain themselves, immediately stepped forward to echo his sentiments.

“Your Majesty, what Lord Wu said is absolutely right! The harem is currently empty, with only one empress, and this one…” An old minister with gray hair and beard paused, seemingly unsure how to evaluate the controversial empress, and could only gloss over it, before continuing, “…we should really select virtuous, well-educated women from noble families to enter the palace, so as to demonstrate the grandeur and prestige of our great nation, Yuan Chu.”

The unspoken implication was almost to say that the woman residing in Zhaoyang Palace came from a rural background and was unfit for the position of empress.

Pei Yun felt the throbbing pain in his temples intensify, as if steel needles were constantly pricking him. Ever since he was poisoned by the 'Bewitching Powder,' he had often felt restless and unable to control the turbulent and violent energy within him. Now, listening to the buzzing voices of His Highness's group, like flies trying to interfere in his harem affairs, a surge of murderous intent rose in his chest, and he almost wanted to immediately order the guards to drag these people out and beat them to death.

Wang Dequan, who was standing beside the dragon throne, was already pale with fright, his inner shirt soaked with cold sweat. Having accompanied the emperor for days, he knew better than anyone that the emperor's emotions had been extremely unstable lately, and there were signs that he was about to lose control. Seeing the courtiers below getting more and more excited, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his spine felt cold.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall was becoming increasingly tense and about to reach its peak, Pei Yun finally slowly raised his hand, stopping the discussions below.

He didn't look at the old ministers who echoed his sentiments, but instead shot his cold gaze directly at Wu Qing, the instigator. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an imposing aura of impending doom: "Wu Qing, now that the country is peaceful and prosperous, your job as an imperial censor must be quite leisurely." He paused slightly: "Since you have nothing to do, why don't I grant you permission to follow the example of your mentor, Grand Secretary Qin, and retire to your quarters to cultivate your character and temperament?"

The words had barely left his lips when the entire Zichen Palace fell into a deathly silence. The courtiers, who had been whispering just moments before, were now completely silent, even their breathing held still. This seemingly casual remark was tantamount to a decree of dismissal!

Pei Yun slowly sat up straight, his previous crooked posture completely gone, replaced by the dignified and imposing presence of an emperor. His deep eyes were now firmly fixed on His Highness Wu Qing.

Wu Qing's body trembled almost imperceptibly, as if something had collapsed the moment their eyes met. He quickly lowered his head, concealing the turbulent emotions in his eyes, and cupped his hands again. His voice remained calm, but revealed a barely perceptible strain: "Your Majesty... is wise. Your subject only wishes... for the eternal prosperity of Yuan Chu and for Your Majesty's good health."

Pei Yun stopped looking at him, indifferently withdrew his gaze, and said in a clear voice, "Dismiss the court."

*

Inside Zhaoyang Palace, Xi Xiao was intently fiddling with a small, purplish-red box, her fingertips lightly tracing its cool surface. Hearing hurried, familiar footsteps approaching from outside, her gaze sharpened, and she swiftly and silently pushed the box into a hidden compartment of the treasure pavilion. The mechanism closed without a trace.

The beaded curtain was violently flung open with a sharp, jarring sound. Pei Yun strode in with a cold expression, grabbed her wrist without a word, his grip so tight it almost crushed her bones, and pulled her off the brocade stool, dragging her outside.

"What's wrong with you now?!" Xi Xiao frowned in pain, a sharp pain shooting through her wrist. She tried to pull her hand back, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree, she couldn't budge it.

The palace servants standing around were so frightened that their legs trembled, and they all lowered their heads and knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound, and even holding their breath.

Xiangmo's face turned ashen. She reacted quickly, grabbing a soft fur cloak and jogging to catch up with the two figures pulling at each other.

Pei Yun felt that familiar burning pain in his chest return, along with the headache he thought had subsided, which surged back like waves. However, when his gaze fell upon Xi Xiao's taut profile, tense with anger and resistance, and her clear expression of disgust, the pain within him strangely eased somewhat, even giving rise to a twisted sense of pleasure.

"Shouldn't the rumors in the palace stop now?" He loosened his grip slightly, his voice revealing a rare weariness, and he always seemed to show a hint of helplessness and compromise when speaking to her.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xi Xiao twisted her almost numb wrist, trying to break free, but the moment she moved, he gripped it even tighter. A flash of undisguised disgust crossed her eyes, and she finally gave up the futile struggle, coldly sneering, "Does Your Majesty fear what others say about what you've done?" She turned her head, her cold gaze piercing his eyes, her tone low but each word scathing, "What's being said in the court and harem these days? Which of these things is baseless? Aren't they all things Your Majesty did personally?"

"Xi Xiao!" Pei Yun's forehead veins bulged, and the evil fire and violent energy in his heart suddenly surged, almost breaking through the cage of reason. His face was so gloomy that it could drip water. Without saying another word, he suddenly exerted force, almost dragging her, and walked towards the long-abandoned Changmen Palace.

He suppressed the urge to completely imprison her, but the person behind him seemed to be deliberately provoking him, choosing the most hurtful words to say. The voice was not loud, but it was filled with cold mockery: "Your Majesty has secured this country through intrigue and bloodshed, and you are even keen on the bedroom matters, taking the love of your subjects and violating human ethics. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by the world?"

That sinister tone, filled with utter disdain, struck his most sensitive nerves repeatedly.

And so, the two of them, facing the still chilly breeze of early spring, one forcibly dragging the other coldly stammering, hurried through the desolate palace path until they reached the Changmen Palace, overgrown with weeds and peeling with vermilion paint.

As soon as they pushed open the heavy, creaking palace door, dust that had accumulated for countless years rushed out, scattering across their hair and shoulders. Combined with their equally gloomy and iron-like faces, they looked exceptionally disheveled.

The commotion along the way had already alarmed everyone in the palace. The accompanying palace servants and eunuchs were all ashen-faced, inwardly groaning. Although His Majesty had previously personally ordered that no one was allowed to clean this place, now that he was furious, who dared to mention the old order? They could only kneel tremblingly on the ground, preparing to bear this undeserved disaster.

Xi Xiao stood aside, coldly watching the palace servants who were implicated, her face remaining calm and expressionless, without uttering a word.

Pei Yun dismissed everyone, leaving only the two of them in the empty, dilapidated hall. He still held her wrist tightly with one hand, but with the other, he suddenly pulled her forcefully into his arms. Ignoring her struggles, he lowered his head and whispered in her ear, each word filled with a kind of obsessive sorrow: "My mother and I used to live here."

His voice echoed in the empty palace, tinged with self-mockery. "At that time, my mother was heartbroken and wanted to die, even though she knew she was pregnant... She originally wanted to end my life first." He paused, feeling the body in his arms stiffen instantly, and continued, "Unfortunately, I am too tough, and I didn't die."

Xi Xiao sneered inwardly, but her face remained as cold as ice, expressionless and silent.

"Later, she gave birth to me and discovered that I was born with a birth defect and wouldn't live long... Perhaps she felt pity for me again, which is why she started to treat me wholeheartedly." As Pei Yun spoke, his gaze involuntarily swept over Xi Xiao's flat stomach, and a very complicated emotion flashed in his eyes, as if there was a hint of indescribable madness. "Women... are always like this. When they are ruthless, they can give up everything, and when they are weak, they are easily moved by pointless pity."

When Xi Xiao was swept by his venomous, cold, and sticky gaze, she felt goosebumps rise all over her body, and a chill ran down her spine. Her teeth chattered involuntarily, but she forced herself to endure it, raised her eyes, and stared at him with the same vicious and resolute gaze, as if she would take him down with her if he said another word.

Looking at her like this, Pei Yun actually twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that wasn't quite a smile. Although she was clearly disheveled and utterly wretched at the moment, there was a hint of world-weary slovenliness forced into that smile.

He stopped looking at her and turned his gaze to the broken and dusty old objects in the palace, continuing to recount the unbearable past: "Xi Yu used to come here often back then. In order to hide my existence and allow me to survive peacefully in this cannibalistic harem, my mother often brought him into the palace to keep me company. Therefore, it is not surprising that there are children's toys left in Changmen Palace... It was also at that time that the ending of my life being swapped with his was decided."

He noticed a fleeting, almost imperceptible relaxation in Xi Xiao's tense brows when she heard the name "Xi Yu." The violent jealousy within him instantly overwhelmed the dazed feeling brought on by those pitiful memories. He tightened his grip on her, holding her even closer, almost pressing his ear against hers, and added viciously, his voice filled with possessiveness and obsession: "But he's ultimately just my slave! Everything he has was born to be mine, including you!"