Chapter 58
"Four years from now, I will grant you what you desire."
But by then, she probably won't want it anymore.
Lingwu uttered these words in a low voice, and then told Sangyu to get up.
After getting up, Sang Yu's eyes were still filled with shock, but now panic had also appeared.
Ling Wu had already returned to normal. "Let's go, let's offer incense to our father."
A bitter feeling welled up in Sang Yu's heart, and she lowered her eyes. "Okay."
On the way there, Sang Yu couldn't help but glance at Ling Wu, "Royal Sister, have you ever resented your younger sister?"
Ling Wu paused, turned her head to look at the girl beside her, and there was a hint of weariness between her brows.
What does Ayu think?
Seeing Lingwu's tired expression, Sangyu's voice was a little hoarse. "My mother and father have always favored my elder sister the most since I was little, but as long as it is something I like, my elder sister will always give it to me. I, Ayu, do not know... but I hope my elder sister will not hate me."
Sang Yu's voice trembled slightly. Ling Wu gazed at her quietly for a long time, then sighed softly and reached out to ruffle the hair by her ear.
"I don't blame you."
Sang Lingwu had resented and hated in her past life, but in the end, she simply let it all vanish. Staring at Sang Yu's face, which resembled her own, she gave him a few words of advice:
"The common people are the foundation of a nation, Ayu, your elder sister doesn't blame you."
It's not that I don't blame them, but it doesn't mean I don't resent them.
Sang Yu lowered her guard a little. Some time ago, her elder sister's personality changed drastically. Although she quickly returned to her former gentle and indifferent self, she still had some doubts. Now, she had dispelled some of them.
The two walked slowly towards them.
The only ones who could make the current empress kneel down, besides Heaven and Earth, her ancestors, and the previous emperor, were her sovereign father.
Lingwu, kneeling before the memorial tablet in her capacity as Sang Lingwu, placed three incense sticks into the incense burner in front of the tablet.
Sang Yu, who stood up with her, looked quite awkward. Ling Wu didn't say anything to comfort her, but simply said, "Let's play a game of chess."
Upon hearing this, a smile flashed in Sang Yu's eyes, and her tense body slowly relaxed.
After five rounds, Sang Yu noticed that there were fewer and fewer pieces on the chessboard, while Ling Wu had more and more pieces behind her...
She spoke up irritably, "Royal sister! You're twenty years old already, how come you're still stealing chess pieces like you were when you were little! Look, how many pieces are left on this chessboard?"
"Your Majesty! You..." After thinking for a long time, Sang Yu finally managed to weakly utter, "If you continue like this... I will no longer play chess with you!"
Ling Wu smiled innocently, "I only picked up two at random, how could I have stolen them?"
Seeing this, Sang Yu had no choice but to slump in the chair and pretend to be numb.
But all the doubts in my heart completely vanished.
Lingwu was not annoyed and continued playing chess. As Sangyu was dozing off, a gentle female voice rang out, "I have won. Ayu must make me a promise."
The mulberry and elm trees reappear during the Qingming Festival.
"Your Majesty, it's bad enough that you have poor sportsmanship, but why did you take advantage of my unpreparedness... Fine, Your Majesty, just say it." Sang Yu sighed softly, helplessly resting her chin on her hand and staring at Ling Wu.
But the joy in his heart was unknown to anyone.
This is her elder sister!
Not that gentle and benevolent king, but simply her own elder sister!
"I haven't decided yet. Once I have, you must keep your promise."
Sang Yu said helplessly, "Of course, that would be a crime of deceiving the emperor. I haven't married yet and don't want to die."
Lingwu tidied up the chessboard and asked gently, "Does Ayu have a husband she likes? If they are mutually in love, I can grant Ayu a marriage contract."
"What if the two people are in love but not reciprocated?" Sang Yu's gaze met Ling Wu's directly.
Upon hearing this, Ling Wu was slightly taken aback, then smiled gently, “Your Highness always favors A-Yu, but Your Highness is unwilling for A-Yu to spend her whole life for someone who doesn’t love her, only to end up battered and bruised.”
"Your Majesty speaks in such detail, could it be... that there are servants in the harem who do not love you?"
Lingwu did not punish her for her offense, but instead stared blankly, her gaze turning into a trace of helplessness.
"It's lonely at the top, so wearing more clothes is always a good thing. They won't prioritize the emperor's love, which makes things easier for me."
“They sacrificed their lives for their families, becoming a link between the harem and the court. I am reluctant to change this, but I am powerless to do so. Therefore…” Lingwu tilted her head to look at Sangyu, “That is why I wish that Ayu can find a good man and not repeat the mistakes of my elder sister.”
"I understand, thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty." Sang Yu concealed the complex emotions in her eyes.
So this position is not as easy to hold as people think.
But my elder sister ascended the throne at the age of seventeen.
Could it be that she is really no match for her elder sister?
The higher you climb, the colder it gets...
The next day.
Night falls and the city lights come on.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, all the officials gathered together to raise their glasses in celebration. Ling Wu, sitting on the throne, had a gentle expression. With the wine in her mouth, her stunning face became languid, so beautiful that the courtiers dared not look directly at the emperor's face.
Since being granted the title, Yun Ji has been the most popular figure in the entire harem for a time.
He held up the wine cup with his delicate fingers, gazing at Ling Wu from afar, his still-childish face blushing with shyness. "Your Majesty, I wish that every day of the year could be like tonight."
Ling Wu smiled and downed her wine in one gulp. "I feel the same way."
Yun Ji, sitting below, blushed, clearly overjoyed that Ling Wu had agreed.
This scene aroused vigilance in everyone.
Qianqing stretched the handkerchief in her hand until it was taut, her former pride and arrogance now tinged with a hint of caution.
During this period, all his glory was stolen by Xi Ruoyu and Yun Ji, who came from the Yongxiang Palace!
Yongxiang...
He gripped the wine cup tightly, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he softly asked Jingzhe, "Have you arrived?"
Jingzhe's eyes showed pity, and she advised again, "Your Highness, His Majesty has only been temporarily taken by others. You are of unparalleled beauty; those people cannot even compare to a single finger of yours. Why resort to such a drastic measure? If you displease His Majesty, you will also suffer..."
Qian Qing frowned, her face displeased. "Enough! Where is that bitch Lu Chengfeng now?"
Jingzhe's lips curled into a bitter smile. "He has already bathed and changed his clothes, and is waiting outside..."
Upon hearing this, Qianqing gripped her wine glass even tighter.
My father said that all women are the same – they are fickle and easily bored.
What about His Majesty? Would she do the same?
Qianqing looked up and saw a woman in a black phoenix robe. Her extremely beautiful face had a faint, gentle smile, but her eyes were indifferent, making it impossible to fathom her true emotions.
The next instant, Lingwu's gaze followed Qianqing.
Lingwu's harem has not yet established an empress, so Qianqing, as the Imperial Noble Consort, is currently the closest to Lingwu.
Yet, despite the short distance, it felt as if there were countless chasms between them.
The moment Qianqing was gazed at gently by Lingwu, she hurriedly picked up the wine.
Her original firm idea of sending Lu Chengfeng to Lingwu's bedside was now tinged with regret due to the bitterness in her heart.
Lingwu raised her wine cup and clinked it against his from a distance.
As an emperor, her every word and action was silently watched by everyone. Her every move was like a weather vane, and the rumors that the Imperial Noble Consort had fallen out of favor were slowly overturned.
Xi Ruoyu never drinks alcohol. He sits with impeccable manners and grace, a demeanor even surpassing that of a banished immortal.
Liu Qing finally couldn't hold back and said to Xi Ruoyu, "Your Highness, your hands are red from making mooncakes, now is the perfect time to present them."
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