Chapter 32: Your Majesty, what do you think about letting Yan Ruxue be the queen?
"His Majesty."
Wei Xun shouted outside the Yangxin Palace of the Zhou Dynasty Imperial Palace.
Xiao Mo's consciousness left the Book of Hundred Worlds, he opened his eyes, and took a deep breath: "Come in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wei Xun responded, walked into the Yangxin Palace, and bowed respectfully: "Your servant greets Your Majesty."
"What's the matter?" Xiao Mo looked at Eunuch Wei and spoke slowly.
"Your Majesty," Wei Xun said with a smile, "The Empress Dowager is calling you over for dinner."
Xiao Mo frowned: "Did the Queen Mother say what it was?"
"The Empress Dowager didn't say anything, but..." Wei Xun's eyes turned, "This old servant guesses that it should be about the selection of concubines."
"I understand. Please proceed."
Xiao Mo really didn't want to go out, but there was nothing he could do. The Queen Mother invited him to dinner, and if he didn't go, he would easily be accused of being unfilial.
Even if she is not his biological mother and he is just adopted, it is the same.
"Yes, I will go and prepare the dragon chariot for Your Majesty."
"Wait." Xiao Mo called Wei Xun.
"What are your commands, Your Majesty?"
"Clear out a piece of space in the palace, a secluded and quiet place, and place various Taoist instruments in it, including peach wood swords and the like. I want to set up an altar to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. No one is allowed to enter, do you understand?" Xiao Mo ordered.
"I will do it as soon as possible."
"Go ahead."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wei Xun had no suspicions about His Majesty's actions, but he felt that His Majesty had truly become obsessed with practicing Taoism, even going so far as to set up a ritual altar.
Since ancient times, which emperor would set up an altar in the imperial palace?
In fact, Xiao Mo wanted to practice the Caozi Sword Technique, and setting up the altar was just an excuse.
Although the Yangxin Palace is large, it is definitely not possible to practice the Caozi Sword Technique in the room.
When the time comes, the sword energy will smash this and break that, and the noise will be too loud, which may attract Yan Shanao's attention.
However, Yan Shanao would not suspect anything since he was practicing sword there every day under the pretext of practicing Taoism and fixing the altar.
Even Yan Shanao would only think that His Majesty was ridiculous, and then he would be more confident in himself.
When his level is about right, I will call him to the palace and find an opportunity to kill him.
Not long after, Xiao Mo arrived at Lingxin Palace on a dragon chariot.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Is your Majesty well these days?"
Xiao Mo came to Empress Dowager Yan and bowed to her.
"The Queen Mother is doing very well."
Empress Dowager Yan nodded with a smile, walked down, helped Xiao Mo to sit beside her, and patted Xiao Mo's arm: "Mo'er, mother heard that you have been obsessed with Taoism recently, and now you are dressed like a Taoist priest. This is not good. You must concentrate on state affairs!"
"Your Majesty, you are overly worried. Prime Minister Yan is a capable minister who manages the court in perfect order. Everyone praises his wisdom. My child is not worried, and neither is Your Majesty."
Xiao Mo praised Yan Shanao against his will.
In fact, the court was in a state of chaos. Led by Yan Shanao, court officials formed cliques for personal gain, excluded dissidents, and even sold official positions and titles.
Now the Zhou State seems to be in a state of panic.
Why is Yan Shanao so anxious to find Wanjian Sect as his backer?
That's because the neighboring Yan State was eyeing the Zhou State covetously. Yan Shanao was not a fool, he knew that Yan State wanted to annex the Zhou State.
"You." Empress Dowager Yan sighed, her tone sounding quite helpless.
But in fact, Xiao Mo felt that Empress Dowager Yan was secretly happy.
"Forget it, forget it. Although my brother is not a good person, he is still capable. Your Majesty, please practice Taoism." Empress Dowager Yan said earnestly, "But your Majesty, practice Taoism. The foundation of the country cannot be ignored."
"What does the Queen Mother mean?"
"Prime Minister Yan has already told Your Majesty that Your Majesty is not young anymore and it is time to choose a concubine. The names of women of appropriate age from various ministers have also been submitted.
The Queen Mother saw that the ladies of the ministers were indeed good, but she always felt that they were not quite to her liking.
The most suitable one is Yan Ruxue from the Yan family.
I believe Your Majesty has also heard of Ruxue's reputation."
"Of course I've heard of it." Xiao Mo nodded. "Yan Ruxue is the most talented woman in our Great Zhou. She is well-read and well-versed in ancient and modern times. Whether it's the ministers in the court or the ordinary people, they all praise her highly."
As he was talking, Xiao Mo realized that when he named the little white snake "Ruxue", he accidentally named it the same name as the talented woman Yan.
Hearing Xiao Mo praising Yan Ruxue, Queen Mother Yan was in a good mood, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised:
"According to rituals, ten ladies from prominent families were originally chosen to enter the palace as concubines. One year later, Your Majesty would choose a woman with both talent and virtue as the empress.
But I thought about it.
Your Majesty does not have that much energy to practice Taoism now.
Recruiting so many concubines at once might be bad for His Majesty's health.
A country cannot be without a successor for a day.
Rituals are established by humans.
So I suggest that we let Ruxue enter the palace to serve Your Majesty first.
With Ruxue's background and talent, if she became the Queen of our Great Zhou, she would surely win the hearts of the people.
Afterwards, Ruxue helped His Majesty manage the harem and recruit other concubines to enrich the harem.
What is your Majesty's opinion?"
“.”
Xiao Mo didn't know what Empress Dowager Yan meant.
I guess what she was thinking at the beginning was to choose a concubine for herself, and then choose Yan Ruxue from her Yan family, and then make her the queen a year later.
But now, she feels it's too slow and risky.
What if other women are favored?
What if other concubines get pregnant first?
Furthermore, there are many forces behind the other concubines.
What if I'm colluding with other noble families?
So Empress Dowager Yan thought about it and decided to let Yan Ruxue enter the palace alone first to let her secure her position as queen, so as to avoid any further complications.
As for what she said about "recruiting other women to enrich the harem", she would have to wait until Yan Ruxue gave birth to a prince.
This is not because Xiao Mo is anxious about the "three thousand beauties in the harem".
But it’s really unpleasant to feel that I’m controlled by them and have become their tool.
I am like a puppet.
"I have no objection. If Ruxue enters the palace, I will probably have less worries. Ruxue can also reminisce about the past with the Queen Mother." Xiao Mo said respectfully.
"well."
The more Empress Dowager Yan saw how sensible Xiao Mo was, the more she liked him.
"Now the elders of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect have arrived in our Zhou Kingdom. The Ten Thousand Swords Sect is the number one sword sect in the world. We must not slack off and must entertain them well.
When the elders of the Wanjian Sect arrive, Ruxue will enter the palace and the ceremony of crowning the queen will be held.
It is a good opportunity to invite the elders of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect to join in the celebration and demonstrate the hospitality of our Great Zhou."
Xiao Mo lowered his head and said:
"I will obey my mother in everything."
(End of this chapter)
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