Chapter 108 The Death of the Empress "Bring me pen and ink, I wish to issue an imperial edict..."
"Who goes there!"
Luo Qinzhi quickly turned his head to look, but only saw the branches of the tree that had grown taller than the courtyard wall swaying gently in the moonlight, as if a bird had flapped its wings and flown away.
Lin Zhi picked up the small sleeve dart from the stone table and stared at it with a slight frown for a long time until Luo Qinzhi couldn't help but speak up, at which point she came back to her senses.
"Could it be someone coming for revenge?"
Lin Zhi gripped the hidden arrow in her hand, shook her head thoughtfully, and said, "It shouldn't be. Since this person was able to control the candle so precisely that it went out, it's definitely not a case of aiming off target."
"If that person really wanted to take our lives, we wouldn't be standing here unharmed now."
Luo Qinzhi frowned, still somewhat uneasy.
"Let's talk about the ledgers tomorrow. You rest now, I'll be leaving now."
After the servants saw Luo Qinzhi off, Lin Zhi turned her head thoughtfully and looked around, still feeling somewhat puzzled.
"What's going on outside? It's so noisy so early in the morning?"
As Lin Zhi walked out of the room with a faint bluish tinge under her eyes, Mianmian leaned on her shoulder and patted her yawning mouth with her little hand.
"Someone, I don't know, scattered a lot of papers on the top floor of the Drunken Voice Pavilion early this morning. They said that His Majesty was injured in both legs by an assassin and is now a cripple who can't stand up."
"This caused panic in the capital, and even the servants who went to make purchases were almost knocked down and trampled."
Feng Yujiao tucked her hair behind her ear and patted her chest, still somewhat shaken.
"Luckily you didn't go out today, otherwise you would have been terrified by that scene!"
"The paper was scattered everywhere, white as if it were scattering paper money!"
Lin Zhi patted Lin Mianmian's back, and seeing that the child was squinting and getting sleepy again, she quickly handed her over to the wet nurse next to her.
"Let me see."
The Xuan paper that Feng Yujiao brought back from outside had very simple characters on it, yet they were breathtaking.
Lin Zhi frowned and thought about the people at that palace banquet. Apart from the Northern Rong people, they were basically Xiao Ting's trusted ministers or concubines. How could such a thing happen?
The loss of public support is a huge problem. If that happens, Xiao Ting will have no choice but to abdicate, as he will be put on the hot seat of power.
"Who on earth caused this commotion! You bunch of good-for-nothings are paid by me and you can't even handle such a small matter!"
With a dark expression, Xiao Ting threw a stack of imperial edicts at the face of the head of the secret guards, making the man's face turn red.
"Your Majesty, please forgive us! In fact, we have already found out who is behind this..."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ting's expression softened somewhat. He leaned back on the dragon throne, rubbing his temples to relax: "Speak, who are you?"
"I wonder if His Majesty is aware of... the Xuan Ting Pavilion?"
Xiao Ting frowned and looked over: "Where is this place?"
The guard quickly picked up a piece of paper from the ground and pointed it out to Xiao Ting from a hidden corner: "Your Majesty, please look, the totem here is the symbol of Xuan Ting Pavilion."
"I've heard that as long as there's enough gold, the Xuan Ting Pavilion will accept the commission and do whatever is asked. The person behind it is also extremely mysterious, and no one has ever seen the true face of the Pavilion Master."
Xiao Ting narrowed his eyes dangerously: "There's actually such a thing? People actually believe in such superstitious nonsense?"
"In fact, Her Majesty the Empress has already gone to verify the authenticity of this pavilion..."
Upon hearing the mention of Shen Shu, Xiao Ting's eyes sharpened: "The Empress? What did she go to do?"
"Back then, even with hundreds of thousands of imperial guards, they couldn't find the assassin's body. It was only after someone from the Empress's side went to Xuan Ting Pavilion that they found the body."
"Although I knew about this pavilion at the time, I thought it was just an ordinary place, and besides, it was for the royal family's sake. I never expected that they would be so disrespectful to His Majesty!"
Xiao Ting gripped the vermilion brush tightly, and with a snap, it broke in two in his hand.
"Well done! Well done! The Empress is truly thinking of her son, even resorting to such despicable means!"
"The Shen family is truly willing to do anything for this throne!"
Xiao Ting threw away the broken pen in his hand, his palm covered in blood from the broken part, but he suddenly laughed.
"Bring me pen and ink. I wish to issue an edict to pass the throne to the Crown Prince."
"You may all leave now."
When Shen Shu saw her father arrive, she was still somewhat surprised, but she composed herself and asked the palace servants to leave first.
"Father? Why did you come so suddenly? Has something happened at home?"
As soon as Shen Jianshan sat down, he couldn't help but laugh: "Daughter, your method is really clever!"
"Now the whole capital knows that Xiao Ting is a cripple. Even if he still wants to sit on the throne, he has no choice but to hand it over to Yu'er!"
Shen Shu chuckled, but then frowned in confusion: "Father, what do you mean by that?"
"What do you mean the whole capital knows? How did they find out?"
After recounting what happened at Xuan Ting Pavilion, Shen Jianshan noticed Shen Shu's unusual expression and his own face grew serious: "What, didn't you arrange this?"
Shen Shu shook her head with a grim expression: "Ever since we found that assassin's body, my daughter has tried to go to Xuan Ting Pavilion to handle some business several times, but she has been turned down each time."
“This time it’s naturally not me.”
Shen Jianshan abruptly stood up and paced back and forth: "Then who did this? Who could be so concerned about the Shen family?"
Although she was affected by her father's emotions for a moment, Shen Shu quickly recovered and stepped forward to comfort him gently: "Father, don't worry. Now that this matter has been settled, no matter who did it, as long as Xiao Ting has given his consent, that's all that matters."
"In this way, we will no longer have to worry about Yu'er's position!"
Shen Jianshan was no longer young, and at his age he had seen far more than his daughter. Although he didn't say anything more, he was still uneasy.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has sent this humble servant to deliver a decree. Please accept the decree."
Seeing the eunuch in the golden palace, the Shen family father and daughter hurriedly knelt down to receive the imperial decree. Upon hearing the decree that Xiao Yuze would succeed to the throne, Shen Shu could no longer hide the smile on her face.
"Your Majesty, although you are happy, please do not lose your composure. His Majesty will be visiting you tonight, so please wait patiently."
With her son's important matter settled, Shen Shu had no reason to be unwilling. With a smile on her face, she asked the palace servants to escort the eunuch out.
"Shu'er, you... don't get carried away today. You should be more vigilant and not lose your sense of proportion."
"Father, rest assured. My son is now the emperor, and Xiao Ting has injured his leg. He will have to rely on us, mother and son, in the future. He cannot do without our Shen family."
"That should be said to him!"
Seeing his daughter's confident expression, Shen Jianshan remained silent for a moment and said nothing more.
As night fell, Shen Shu waited until she was almost asleep but Xiao Ting still hadn't arrived. She couldn't help but feel a little resentful. She frowned and got up from the chaise longue when she bumped into a eunuch pushing Xiao Ting in.
"Welcome, Your Majesty!"
Looking at Shen Shu, who was kneeling at eye level with him, Xiao Ting raised his hand, pinched her chin, and brought her closer to him.
"The Empress looks quite pleased today. She has received the imperial decree. Is she happy?"
Shen Shu smiled shyly: "Your Majesty dotes on Yu'er, and I am happy."
"You may leave now. I will attend to His Majesty."
After the eunuch left, Shen Shu raised her hand to help Xiao Ting change his clothes, but he raised his hand to stop her.
"Don't rush, I have something else to tell you. I brought a pot of fine wine for you to try today."
Shen Shu looked at the side dishes laid out, all of which were her favorite flavors, and her eyes softened.
"Your Majesty is truly thoughtful, caring so much about your concubine."
"Before I entered the palace, I always wondered what my future husband would be like. Now Your Majesty has fulfilled my wish and is truly very good to me."
Xiao Ting personally filled the wine glass in front of her, and Shen Shu, feeling rather flattered, drank it all in one gulp.
"This wine is smooth and delicate on the palate; it is truly a fine wine!"
Xiao Ting smiled but didn't speak. He poured himself a cup and drank it down before slowly asking, "Are you happy to receive the imperial decree today?"
Shen Shu pursed her lips and nodded: "Your Majesty does not want me to think that I am hypocritical. I am happy, truly happy."
"But I don't know if it's for Yu'er's happiness, but even more so for His Majesty's happiness."
"Oh?" Xiao Ting continued to pour wine, raising an eyebrow to signal Shen Shu to continue.
"His Majesty endured much hardship and bided his time when he was still the Crown Prince, and rarely had a moment of unbridled joy in his life."
After drinking two cups of wine, Shen Shu's face flushed slightly.
"After ascending the throne, I was constantly restrained by Pei Lang, making it difficult for me to fully utilize my abilities. I truly feel sorry for him."
"Now that Pei Lang is dead, His Majesty has become the true ruler of this land, but his legs have been injured by villains."
Seeing the faint glimmer of tears in Shen Shu's eyes, Xiao Ting lowered his gaze and remained silent, only listening to her words as she continued to fill the empty wine glass.
"Now that Your Majesty has passed the throne to Yu'er, our child will surely be able to secure the Xiao family's empire! Your Majesty and I will also be able to enjoy more days."
"Isn't that wonderful?"
Shen Shu put down her empty wine glass and licked her lips shyly: "Your Majesty's wine is really good. It's sweet but not intoxicating, and it has a subtle aftertaste."
Xiao Ting then revealed his first genuine smile of the night: "Since the Empress likes it, how about I have someone offer you a few more pots on the anniversary of her death next year?"
Shen Shu's smile gradually froze, and even the slight intoxication sobered her up considerably. She stared at Xiao Ting in astonishment, "...Your Majesty, what are you saying? Don't joke with me..."
Before she could finish speaking, the sensation of something slowly flowing from the corner of her mouth made her involuntarily turn her head away and cover it with a handkerchief. Only after putting her hand down did she belatedly realize that the blood flowing from the corner of her mouth was bright red.
"you......"
Large spurts of blood gushed from her lips, and she coughed so hard she couldn't utter a single complete sentence.
Watching her fall to the ground in agony, Xiao Ting sneered, enjoying her miserable state.
"Shen Shu, Shen Shu, how could there be such a stupid person as you in this world?"
"Do you think I'm afraid of those rumors? Or that damned Xuan Ting Pavilion?"
"You dare to plot to seize my throne for Xiao Yuze? How audacious! Fine! I'll grant your wish!"
"From now on, Xiao Yuze will be the emperor of this Xiao family's empire. However, as long as I live, he will be my puppet! My puppet, and your Shen family's puppet! Are you satisfied now?"
Shen Shu was speechless for a long time, but her eyes, reddened to the point of bleeding, were fixed on Xiao Ting, staring at him without blinking.
"Fine, now you've died knowing why. In your next reincarnation, pray that you won't be so greedy again."
Xiao Ting grabbed a handkerchief from the table and casually wiped the two specks of blood that had splattered on his hands. He then threw the crumpled handkerchief down, where it slowly drifted down and covered Shen Shu's ferocious and unwilling face.
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