readsfreenovel Chapter 151: Mo Yu Yun Jian
Chapter 151: Mo Yu Yun Jian
Wan Ning remained silent: "No need for idle chatter. I have other matters to attend to outside the palace. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
There's nothing to talk about with her. It's good enough that she even came. If she's being so helpful, she must have ulterior motives. I'd better get out of here.
As the woman walked away, the Empress overturned her teacup: "Ungrateful wretch! I invited her here, and she doesn't even give me face."
Thinking about how the emperor, for some reason, actually named a princess as the crown princess.
Wan Ning returned to her residence after leaving the palace, had breakfast, and prepared to catch up on her sleep.
When Xiao Heng arrived, Wan Ning was already asleep. Sensing the familiar presence, she did not wake up.
Looking at the person on the bed, eyes tightly closed, her breathing was calm and even, clearly she was deeply immersed in a sweet dream.
He sat down by the bedside, a smile on his lips, and quietly watched over her.
I don't know when it started, but seeing her makes me feel content.
When Wan Ning woke up, she found Xiao Heng lying by her bedside.
I vaguely remember this person coming when I was asleep, but I was too sleepy to pay attention to him.
Wan Ning stretched out her foot to kick him awake, but just as she was about to kick him, someone grabbed her ankle.
"Your Highness, are you trying to seduce me?"
Xiao Heng's teasing voice came from behind. Looking up, she saw that he had already woken up and was looking at her with a smile in his eyes.
Wan Ning calmly said, "Let go."
Xiao Heng stroked her ankle, his rough fingers caressing her skin, causing a slight itch. Wan Ning unconsciously pulled her leg back.
"Haha." Xiao Heng laughed.
Wan Ning was indignant at being teased, so she kicked him with her other leg, accidentally stepping into a dangerous area.
Xiao Heng's expression changed slightly, and her voice became hoarse: "Your Highness, have you had enough sleep?"
Wan Ning looked at the obvious change and withdrew her leg: "Enough, I'm going to get up."
Just as she was about to get out of bed, someone pushed her back: "It's late now, Your Highness, you should sleep a little longer!"
Wan Ning: "I, um..."
Before she could finish speaking, her words were sealed with a kiss.
……
When it was late at night, Xiao Heng returned from the princess's residence. Wen Ji stood guard at the door, looking at him with suspicion.
"My lord, something is wrong with you. You didn't come home last night, and you're back again in the middle of the night today."
Lu Ji nodded, standing to the side: "Indeed."
Xiao Heng thought of Wan Ning and smiled slightly: "You don't need to worry about it."
After saying that, he went inside, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "Oh, right, prepare water for my bath."
After everyone went inside, Wen Ji walked up to Lu Ji and whispered, "What do you think the Lord has been up to lately? He takes a bath every time he comes back?"
Lu Ji looked at the person walking behind him, lowered his head and remained silent.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Wenji urged, "Say something!"
Lu Ji tugged at his sleeve, then looked away.
Wen Ji: "Lu Ji, I'm talking to you. Do you think our lord has a woman outside?"
"Wenji, go down and receive ten strokes of the military rod." Xiao Heng's voice came from behind.
Wen Ji recoiled in fright: "My lord, why?"
Xiao Heng: "You're making unfounded speculations about our master."
Wenji: "Huh?"
Xiao Heng: "Hurry up and call someone to prepare water."
Lu Ji replied, "Yes." He then pulled Wen Ji away quickly.
Wen Ji: "Lu Ji, why didn't you remind me that the lord is here?"
Lu Ji: "I reminded you."
Wenji: "Where was the reminder given?"
Lu Ji: "I think you've been beaten silly by military batons all the time, that's why you're so slow to react."
Wenji: "I'm very smart."
Lu Ji remained silent and first ordered someone to carry water to the master's room.
*
In the misty, steamy environment, Xiao Heng sat in the bathtub, his slender body immersed in the water. His nose was high and straight, and his lips were tightly closed.
She was thinking that the emperor was on his deathbed and that it wouldn't be long before she moved into the palace. It wouldn't be so easy for him to enter the palace.
*
Time passed, and one day more than half a month later, the emperor suddenly fell ill, and Wan Ning entered the palace upon receiving the news.
When she arrived, the Empress and the concubines of the harem were already inside.
As Wan Ning passed by one of them, she glanced at her subtly; this was Consort Li from the original storyline.
She continued walking inside and asked the imperial physician, "How is Father?"
The imperial physician, his face filled with fear, dared not lie: "Your Highness, the Emperor's health is severely depleted, and he will not last more than a few days."
Upon hearing this, the concubines who were standing to one side all rushed forward and surrounded the emperor, weeping.
Wan Ning: "I understand. I will entrust my father to you."
Imperial Physician: "Your subject obeys the decree."
Wan Ning took one last look at her father's body before turning back.
*
Three days later, the Emperor passed away, and Zhao Jing ascended the throne before his coffin. (From then on, she would be referred to as Zhao Jing; Wan Ning was merely a title.)
Because of the troops of her Dai Kingdom and the emperor's decree, no one dared to oppose her.
After Zhao Jing ascended the throne, she first arranged the funeral of the late emperor and the vigil, and she made a point of going there once a day.
After the late emperor was buried in the mausoleum, Zhao Jing officially began attending court and had to deal with memorials every day.
After the Great Yan and the Dai Kingdom merged, Zhao Jing changed the name of the kingdom to Xining, which meant peace and tranquility.
The Dai Kingdom was designated as Youyun City, and a special person was sent there to manage it. Shi Mo was also in charge. The two were responsible for different tasks, which allowed them to supervise each other.
The Empress became the Empress Dowager, but she had no real power; Zhao Jing was the one who called the shots in the palace.
Prince Cheng and the other princes and princes were all assigned to their respective fiefdoms to live in.
Once Zhao Jing took power, she used swift and decisive methods to suppress all those who disagreed with her.
Use those who are useful, and demote those who are not, or find fault with them, confiscate their property, imprison them, and exile them—all in one fell swoop.
For a moment, the ministers were as quiet as chickens, behaving themselves obediently, for fear of being purged.
Recently, Zhao Jing has been busy dealing with various trivial matters, and Xiao Heng has not seen her alone for a long time except when he attends the morning court session.
Therefore, after the morning court session this day, he made a special trip to see Her Majesty the Empress.
Zhao Jing was still reviewing memorials when her head maid entered.
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Su requests an audience."
Zhao Jing thought that it had indeed been a long time since she had seen him: "Let him in."
"Yes."
After Xiao Heng entered, Zhao Jing waved for everyone else to leave.
"You came."
Xiao Heng: "Your Majesty is too busy with affairs to see me."
Sensing the grievance in his tone, Zhao Jing said, "I've been quite busy lately."
Xiao Heng: "Since Your Majesty refuses to see me, I have no choice but to come and request an audience with Your Majesty."
Zhao Jing smiled and asked, "Are you going back tonight?"
Xiao Heng: "Since Your Majesty has decreed that I be spared, I will naturally comply."
Zhao Jing didn't mind his misinterpretation: "Then you read the memorials to me. My eyes get uncomfortable from reading them for too long."
Xiao Heng stepped forward with a smile: "Your Majesty trusts me so much?"
Zhao Jing retorted, "Do you want to seize power? Are you confident in your abilities?"
Xiao Heng stepped forward, picked her up, and sat her on his lap: "I have no interest. Your Majesty is enough for me."
Zhao Jing closed her eyes: "Read it."
Xiao Heng lowered his head and kissed her eyes, whispering, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Zhao Jing's eyelashes fluttered slightly before slowly returning to calm.
Note: Thank you all for your donations and likes!