"No, Your Majesty, you haven't been feeling well lately, so it's not good for you to get angry. I'll arrange for someone to serve you tea and water so you can relax..."
"Stop with the nonsense, Hua Xiangwan. You've always been a cunning schemer. I can tolerate everything else, but there's no room for negotiation on this matter of independence. Your mother is worried about you, which is why she made me the clan leader. If you don't want to drive me crazy, you'd better give up on this idea."
Hua De's serious expression made her seem like a very upright person.
Xiang Wan quickly filled her cup with water, her voice softening, "Aunt, wasn't I also thinking about the future of the Flower Kingdom? The Empress's position has been vacant for so long, it's inevitable that some powerful families would covet it. When Mother was alive, she delayed in choosing an Empress for me, wasn't that also to stabilize the situation? Now, the overall situation of our Flower Kingdom is settled, and I, the ruler, am almost thirty, and I have a daughter. Does it still matter so much who the Empress is? Mother was determined to expand the territory of our Flower Kingdom before she died, but she couldn't achieve her wish. Perhaps it can be realized in my hands? My decision to make Lin Wushuang Empress is also for future considerations. Think about it, if someone with no foundation becomes Empress, it will extinguish the hopes of those powerful families. If they want to gain status and honor, they have no other way but to establish merit. I want them to know that in our Flower Kingdom, only by serving the country can they gain power and status. As for anything else, they shouldn't even dream about it."
Hua De looked up and stared intently at Xiang Wan, who had a serious expression on her face.
His handsome appearance, unfortunately, fostered a philandering nature. His quick wit was specifically used for seducing men. A ruler like this, talking about expanding territory? Are you kidding me?
Seeing Hua De's expression, Xiang Wan knew that she did not believe her, so she did not argue further.
With a clap of his hands, a man dressed in coarse linen clothes walked in through the side door and knelt before Xiang Wan and Hua De, saying, "This servant greets the King and the Prince."
Hua De was startled. The teacup was knocked over, and tea splashed onto his clothes, but he seemed not to notice.
“You… lift your head!”
The man looked up, his clear eyes gazing quietly at Hua De, then lowered his gaze to block her view.
Hua De trembled all over, and it looked like he was about to lose control of his emotions.
Xiang Wan got off the couch, reached out to help the man up, and had Xiao Fuzi lead him to the courtyard next door to rest.
"Aunt, now you should believe me, right?"
Hua De's gaze followed the man until he disappeared, then he came to his senses, his face filled with excitement and disbelief.
"you……"
"Imperial Aunt, may we order the Imperial Clan Court to officially appoint Lin Wushuang as Empress?"
Xiang Wan smiled, and Hua De looked at her with complicated eyes for a long time before finally sighing and saying, "Auntie is old. It's your turn now. I can help you this time, but how to silence the gossip is up to you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
With her approval, even if the others in the Imperial Clan Court harbored resentment, they could not disobey the order and obediently followed Xiang Wan's instructions to begin drafting the matter of Lin Wushuang's inclusion in the imperial family genealogy right there.
Strike while the iron is hot, or you'll miss the window; Xiang Wan is all about getting things done quickly and decisively.
Hua De didn't stay there long; after the man left, her heart flew away.
Xiang Wan didn't stop her and had Xiao Fuzi help her out for tea.
The people from the Imperial Clan Court left the palace at dusk.
The court officials had already ordered people to wait outside the palace, and as soon as the person came out, they all stepped forward to inquire.
The result was always a shake of the head.
As darkness fell, Hua De led the man into a carriage and quietly left the Phoenix Palace.
The events of the day had already spread to every corner of the palace, and the ladies-in-waiting of the harem rushed towards the Phoenix Palace in the evening, forming a massive crowd. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they had all come out in force.
Xiang Wan had no intention of getting entangled with these people who were all about crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide. As soon as it got dark, she climbed over the wall and left.
Xiao Fuzi looked at her master and felt a little tired.
If we had known this would be the outcome, why did our master bring so many women into the family?
Being surrounded by these wolves and tigers is terrifying to even think about!
At this moment, Xiao Fuzi was extremely glad that she wasn't a real woman, otherwise she would have been eaten alive by them!
Lin Wushuang's Jushi Palace has not yet been besieged by those men. After Xiang Wan jumped over the wall and entered, she grabbed Lin Wushuang, who was eating, jumped onto the city wall, climbed out of the palace, and took a carriage to Zhongcui Mountain outside Huadu.
"What are you up to now?"
Before they had even finished their meal, Xiang Wan brought them out, and she was still scaling walls and rooftops. Lin Wushuang's expression was very unpleasant.
"Honey, don't you want to see the city at night? I promise you'll love it."
Xiang Wan remained assertive as always, leaving Lin Wushuang feeling exhausted and unwilling to speak.
So cute and obedient, Xiang Wan's heart immediately relaxed.
Perhaps because she knew it was him, Xiang Wan never minded showing her true self in front of him.
The carriage traveled for about half an hour before arriving at the top of Zhongcui Mountain.
The female guards had already arranged for people to be around, and when Xiang Wan led Lin Wushuang there, the tea and snacks in the pavilion were already prepared.
There is a moon in the sky, big and round.
Xiang Wan then remembered that it seemed to be the middle of the month. It was a pity there were no fireflies, otherwise she could have had a romantic moment.
After a long afternoon of travel, I was starving by evening. Four lanterns hung from the pillars of the octagonal pavilion, illuminating the interior.
Xiang Wan pulled Lin Wushuang to sit at the stone table, picked up a chicken leg from the silver spoon, and offered it to Lin Wushuang. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the fragrant aroma of the chicken leg, which seemed to be mixed with a hint of sweetness.
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