Chapter 348 Out of Reach
Su Mo, wearing a phoenix crown, a bridal robe, and heavy makeup, sat in the room blankly.
Upon learning of Emperor Ming of Qi's death, she fell into a trance. She had no idea how she'd been dressed like this and brought to the capital. She vaguely remembered Lin Kui constantly comforting her along the way, saying that Emperor Ming of Qi had been assassinated by Xiao Zhuo, a move confirmed by the Empress herself. The decree from Zhaixing Tower had appointed Xiao Beiheng as Crown Prince, something the Prime Minister and the various ministers had already confirmed... and so on.
She didn't believe Xiao Zhuo would do such a thing. But she was even more afraid of the other possibility. Whenever that thought came to her mind, she would force it down. The solution was to empty her mind, not think about anything, and let herself become a fool.
If people could really become demented, they wouldn't have to feel pain anymore, but unfortunately she couldn't do that. The thought was like a giant python spitting out its tongue, wrapping around her heart, tightening each time.
She didn't know what happened at the Anzhou hunting ground, but she knew that it was Xiao Beiheng who killed his father, and his mother was covering up for her son.
What kind of family had she married into? The once amiable people had become more terrifying than the last. Her father, perhaps the only normal person, was dead. And she could do nothing but let them manipulate her.
She hated her own weakness and incompetence, but she didn't know what to do to change it. She just held her head with both hands and shook it vigorously, trying to get rid of these thoughts from her mind. As long as she didn't think about anything, she would get temporary peace.
The door opened, and Xiao Beiheng, wearing a dragon robe, stood at the door with a smile on his face, holding the Yanque sword at his waist.
He was neatly dressed, his hair meticulously combed, exactly the same as always, and the smile on his face was the one she was most familiar with. He had been like this when they first met. Clean-cut, proud, with a youthful frivolity and disdain, he had won her heart with his outstanding conversation.
At this moment, in her eyes, his hands were dripping with blood, and even his exposed teeth were red. The blood was his father's. There were bloody footprints under his feet, some of men, some of women, and some of children... The bloody footprints led to the stairs behind him. Those stairs were piled with bones. He stepped on piles of bones to reach her.
She stood up in panic and tried to move backward, but her legs were blocked by the bed and she fell back down.
To Xiao Beiheng, this action seemed like Su Mo trying to stand up but lacking the strength. He smiled and steadily approached, helping Su Mo up, saying softly, "You don't feel well. Didn't you get enough rest on the way?"
Su Mo avoided his gaze and whispered, "No, I'm just a little nervous."
Although she had a lot to say, she didn't dare to ask anything. Once she made him angry, he would slap her in the face. He wasn't like this before.
Xiao Beiheng smiled and said, "Momo, Fengqi Palace belongs to you alone, why are you so nervous?"
He raised his arms, displaying his dragon robe like a bird displaying its feathers. "Look, I really am the emperor now. Haha, I'm not lying to you this time. I have my father's will, and the ministers have acknowledged it. Don't you want to congratulate me?"
Su Mo lowered her head, clutching her clothes tightly with both hands, and bowed slightly: "I congratulate Your Majesty."
She was Xiao Beiheng's wife. No matter what her husband did, she would stand by him. After all, without Xiao Beiheng, she was nothing. Without Xiao Beiheng, all her wealth and glory would vanish into thin air.
Xiao Beiheng reached out and lifted her chin, looking into her flickering eyes: "Momo, what you said is too perfunctory. There is no smile on your face, and your hair and jewelry are all messed up."
The corners of Su Mo's mouth twitched twice, and she forced a smile. She turned to the light, raised her hand to straighten her phoenix crown, and was about to kneel down to salute when she was stopped by Xiao Beiheng.
"Wait, let me sit down."
Xiao Beiheng straightened his robe and sat on the chair, his back straight. He looked at Su Mo with a smug look, but found that the latter was standing there in a daze, with a sad face. He felt dissatisfied and said with a gloomy face:
"Momo, what's wrong with you? Aren't you happy for me?"
Su Mo quickly shook her head, but two tears fell: "No... no."
Seeing her tears, Xiao Beiheng frowned and said in a stern voice, "You're already the queen, what else are you dissatisfied with? What woman in the world can be the queen of a country? You can sit in this position, what is there to be unhappy about?"
As he spoke, he stood up and approached her step by step.
Su Mo couldn't help but raise her hands to protect her cheeks, fearing the slaps that would follow. She knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am not dissatisfied. I am just sad that the late emperor was assassinated by Xiao Zhuo."
Xiao Beiheng stopped, his face suddenly turning pale, as if all the blood had gone out of him, and he murmured, "Yes, it's Xiao Zhuo, it's Xiao Zhuo."
Su Mo lowered her head and looked at the boots exposed under the dragon robe. She first took two steps back, then turned around and rushed out the door almost as if she was running away.
She was alone in the room again. She didn't want to get up and lay on the ground crying silently.
Just as Xiao Beiheng had said, she had indeed reached a position no other woman could even dream of, yet she felt no joy or satisfaction, only pain and torture. If she could turn back time, she would rather return to that carefree Qixi Festival, competing with everyone in threading needles, and enjoying the scenery in a hot air balloon.
It was just an ordinary festive night, but it was out of reach.
…
Xiao Beiheng escaped all the way out of Fengqi Palace.
He read from Su Mo's tears that she knew who the real murderer of Emperor Qi Ming was. They both knew the truth, but she didn't say it, and neither did he.
Only then did he realize how stupid and ridiculous his actions were, and he hated Xiao Zhuo even more.
If there was no Xiao Zhuo, his father would not look down on him, his mother would not worry all day long, and Su Mo would not be so afraid of him.
Now his father is gone, his mother and father have gone somewhere unknown, and his wife looks at him as if he were a monster. But Xiao Zhuo and Shen Yuexi are still alive and well, and they are expecting their child next year.
Xiao Zhuo destroyed his family, Xiao Zhuo must die.
The spies had previously reported that Xiliang Queen Mei Dai had brought 20,000 cavalry to support Shengjing, while Xirong King Qianglin also had over 20,000 Xirong soldiers. Shengjing currently had around 70,000 to 80,000 troops, indicating that Xiao Zhuo was well prepared.
These troops alone were not enough to fight him. He was the Emperor of Great Yan, and he could mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops from all the states and counties to completely destroy the small city of Shengjing.
The most important thing now is to solve the problem of General Zhao Mu first.
Xiao Beiheng returned to his residence and summoned the Prime Minister, saying, "Pass on my order to have General Pingnan go to the border to take over the garrison."
The border was guarded by a hundred thousand troops, Zhao Mu's trusted troops. After Zhao Mu was promoted to general, he appointed one of his generals, Wei Liang, as commander-in-chief of the border. This force should not be underestimated and must be taken over first.
The Prime Minister said in embarrassment, "Your Majesty, the border is a strategic military location. According to the laws of Great Yan, the transfer of commanders at the border must be accompanied by a letter from the general himself and a military token. Now that the position of general is vacant, it will be difficult to mobilize troops from various places."
Xiao Beiheng's face was filled with anger: "Isn't even my will effective?"
The Prime Minister said, "Your Majesty, calm down. This is the law of Great Yan. When a general is away from home, he is not bound by the king's orders... I'm afraid General Wei Liang will not act according to your will."
Xiao Beiheng slammed the table, stood up and said:
"It's simply pedantic. I will abolish this law and command the entire army from now on."
The Prime Minister was stunned.
Since the Great Yan laws were established, they had remained unchanged throughout the dynasties. Xiao Beiheng had only been on the throne for three days when he had already sent the general to death row and then abolished the laws. Who knew what outrageous move he would make next?
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