Chapter 75 Long Live the Empress!
The bright yellow dragon robe shone before his eyes, the golden dragon coiled atop it as if ready to soar into the air at any moment. Its embroidered pattern, reminiscent of a vast expanse of mountains and rivers, represented power, responsibility, and an unimaginable burden. Lou Wanqiao's gaze was fixed on it, a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind, like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, its waves suddenly rising.
Is Li Yulan crazy?!
He was going to give away the throne that was within his grasp, the empire that he had fought for with so much effort and even at the risk of his life, so lightly and in such a shocking way?
When did it start...
Absolute silence fell throughout the hall, a still air flowing through it. The air seemed frozen, and every glance directed at her held suspicion, scrutiny, expectation, or perhaps hidden disapproval.
Everyone waited with bated breath for her reaction.
Lou Wanqiao stood there, feeling that time had suddenly stretched out very long, yet it also seemed as if it had only been a moment.
Many lights and shadows suddenly flashed through her mind.
She recalled the snowy night when she had slain her enemy with her own bare hands. After mercilessly stabbing her enemy's chest with her embroidered spring knife, she raised her eyes, her heart ablaze with fire. She felt a sense of relief she had never felt before, as if years of pent-up anger had been released. But what followed was a deeper, piercing loneliness and emptiness.
Not enough, not enough.
The pleasure of personal revenge is like a drop in the bucket. Will the world change for the better by killing one or two villains? The injustices hidden in corners where the sun never shines, the entangled forces that swarm around us, will continue to breed new evils. To make the justice and order she firmly believes in shine like the sun, to prevent such tragedies from taking advantage of the earth, individual force is far from enough.
We must let this justice flow in the sunshine and prevent such people from taking advantage of the situation.
To do this, she needs to gain more power.
Initially, she chose Li Su simply because she saw him as a legitimate pawn, a stepping stone that would allow her to play by the rules and ultimately restore the Liu family's reputation. She meticulously calculated, calmly planned, and deeply buried her emotions, all for the sake of that initial goal.
Lou Wanqiao hadn't considered the possibility of rising to the pinnacle of power. Deep within her heart, perhaps she had long harbored such ambitions—only by wielding supreme authority could she reshape the rules to her will and protect everything she desired. However, her original plan was more circuitous, intending to wait until the current complexities were completely settled and her power was more consolidated before taking her time and making her plans.
She had never imagined that this day would come so suddenly, so... without explanation. In such a crazy way, Li Yulan had laid this shortcut to the summit, or rather, the steeper and more dangerous peak, directly at her feet.
Refuse?
As someone not of Jin imperial blood, it seemed reasonable for her to refuse the unexpected throne. She could continue to be Lou Wanqiao, or hold power in the position of Dali Temple Minister, or roam the world with Wen Xuechi, perhaps influencing the world in her own way.
But is that really enough? Relying on the power of others is ultimately a barrier to something else. Li Yulan is sincere at this moment, but who can guarantee that the emperor's mind will remain unchanged? How much can the distant Jianghu truly change the affairs of the imperial court?
...Do you want to accept it?
This meant she would completely bid farewell to her former relative freedom. From now on, her every word and action would determine the fate of the nation, her every move affecting the entire world. She would shoulder unprecedented responsibilities, face countless attacks, and walk on the brink of an abyss. This dragon robe was both a glory and a shackle.
Her gaze fell once again on the dragon robe, on Li Yulan, who bowed respectfully, holding it high above his head. He remained in that position, motionless, like a silent sculpture, handing over all his choices, along with the vast land, to her.
At that moment, her gaze strayed over the solemn gathering of officials below. She saw doubt in the eyes of some of the older officials, suppressed excitement and anticipation on the faces of some of the younger ones, and a yearning for stability and renewal in the eyes of many others. This land, newly freed from the shadow of tyranny, needed someone who could bring about a fresh start and truly care for the world.
She thought of the crops beginning to flourish in the fields and the light rekindled in the eyes of those in the palace who had been reborn.
Something deep down in my heart seemed to be gently touched. The fire that had been burning since that snowy night was now fueled and began to burn brightly.
Holding power isn't about selfish desires, but about practicing the principles in one's heart and protecting more people. Isn't this exactly what she's always been pursuing? Now, the most direct, yet also the most difficult, path lies before her.
She took a deep breath, and the breath was particularly clear in the silent hall.
She took a step forward and walked towards Li Yulan.
He bowed his head respectfully and lifted the dragon robe higher, almost above his head.
Until she stood in front of Li Yulan, she looked down at his black hair and his hands whose knuckles were slightly white from exerting force.
She didn't immediately take the dragon robe, but spoke slowly, her voice clear and melodious: "Li Yulan, do you know what it means to give this position to me?"
Li Yulan raised his head, his eyes devoid of hesitation, only a clear, almost sacrificial enthusiasm and determination: "I only know that Your Majesty can create a truly 'Zhao Ming' era. Only Your Majesty can bear the responsibility of these two words! "
He looked at her with burning eyes, like the most devout believer, so dependent.
She reached out, her fingertips touching the cool, smooth brocade and the heavy, shimmering gold embroidery. The touch carried the weight of history and the promise of the future.
She took the heavy dragon robe from Li Yulan's hands and held it steadily in her arms.
At this moment, no more words are needed.
When she turned around and faced the still stunned civil and military officials below, and raised the dragon robe slightly in her hand to signal, Li Yulan was the first to lift his robe, kneeling on one knee, and said in a loud and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, Li Yulan, pays homage to His Majesty! Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"
Like a stone dropped into a still lake, ripples spread rapidly. Wen Xuechi gazed deeply at Lou Wanqiao's back, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions, which eventually morphed into a barely audible sigh before he bowed. Then, like a tidal wave, the civil and military officials, guards, and palace maids inside and outside the palace, after a brief moment of hesitation and shock, all knelt on the ground. The roar of a tsunami gathered into a torrent, breaking through the confines of the palace and resounding through the sky:
"Long live our emperor, long live our emperor, long live our emperor!"
Lou Wanqiao put the dragon robe on himself and listened to the deafening cheers in his ears. The turmoil in his heart caused by Li Yulan's crazy behavior gradually subsided, turning into an unprecedented clarity and determination.
Now that you have chosen this path, you must stick to it unwaveringly.
The era of "Zhao Ming" began amid the cheers of "Long live the emperor".
…
Dali Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The hall was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood, a habit Li Su had developed over years in the temple, a soothing influence. Yet, at this moment, this familiar aroma did nothing to soothe the turmoil in his heart. He sat alone behind the imperial desk, clutching an expedited secret report, his knuckles white from the strain.
It turns out that this was the disaster I predicted a few days ago.
Li Su fell into deep thought.
The Jin dynasty changed its ruler, and a new emperor ascended the throne, with the reign title "Zhaoming." The new emperor, dressed in a dragon robe and receiving homage from the civil and military officials of the Jin dynasty, was surprisingly his own Dali Temple Minister.
Li Su looked at the familiar name and fell into a long silence. Only his slightly trembling fingertips revealed the shock in his heart.
His slender, fair fingers suddenly tightened, gripping the thin letter paper tightly. The fine rice paper groaned under the weight, crumpling into a ball. His usually handsome, gentle, seemingly unperturbed face was now, for the first time, a look of unmistakable irritation, even a hint of... the frustration of having been robbed.
The pile of memorials and scrolls on the imperial desk was noticeably thinner than it had been a few days before. To quickly unburden himself of the burden, he worked tirelessly, accelerating the pace of government affairs, sorting out the many backlogs, and even quietly beginning to make some follow-up personnel arrangements. The days of toil had left a faint darkening under his eyes, but at this moment, his usually clear and peaceful eyes shone with a startling brilliance, as if a small flame of resentment burned.
"Damn it!" He finally managed to escape a low curse from between his teeth, which was particularly clear in the silent Yangxin Palace. "I was actually...beaten to it!"
How come this guy moves so fast!
Li Su had made up his mind these days.
He knew Lou Wanqiao's abilities, ambitions, and character well. She possessed a decisiveness and the fortitude to govern the country that he lacked. If the Dali kingdom were handed over to her, it would surely usher in a new era unlike any before.
And he retired after achieving his goal and lived a carefree life.
Li Su had never intended to hold onto the throne long-term. He knew Zizhao was using him, but he didn't mind. Now that his revenge had been achieved, his wish fulfilled, he no longer had any attachments to this world.
He had been waiting for her. Once she returned from her duties with the Jin, he would find a suitable opportunity, perhaps feigning frailty or declaring his unwavering devotion to Daoism, to "abdicate" the throne of Dali to her. He had even secretly drafted several reign titles, feeling none of them seemed perfect enough for her.
He thought everything was within his expectations and control, and he was just waiting for the east wind.
But he had calculated everything, but he hadn't expected that his Purple Star would be snatched away! !
Li Su closed her eyes and took a deep breath, but her mind couldn't help but imagine Lou Wanqiao, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, receiving the worship of the people. The scene should have been unfamiliar, but now imagining it, it felt strangely harmonious, as if she was born to stand at the top of the crowd.
He turned his head and looked behind the screen deep inside the hall, where there was a dragon robe that was different from the one he was wearing.
That was what he prepared for Lou Wanqiao.
An indescribable sense of loss and urgency gripped him. He was a step slower, a step late.
Li Su's fingertips tapped gently on the imperial desk, producing a rhythmic tapping sound. The fire burning in his eyes did not die out, but instead transformed into a deeper light.
No problem, no problem.
He knew that Zizhao would never give up Dali no matter what.
He knew her ambition.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
