#496 - There is no return
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
At the entrance of the Imperial Study in Wudu.
Wei Xun bowed slightly to Consort Xiao.
Although the Wu Kingdom's harem had no Empress, Consort Xiao was currently the master of the harem.
The concubines and palace maids of the harem were all managed by Consort Xiao.
And Consort Xiao had not disappointed Emperor Wu's high expectations, managing the harem in an orderly manner, with every concubine obedient to her.
“Has His Majesty still not eaten?” Consort Xiao asked, looking worriedly at the Imperial Study.
In Consort Xiao's eyes, the tightly closed doors of the Imperial Study were like Emperor Wu's heart, tightly shut.
Wei Xun nodded: “That is so, Your Highness.”
Wei Xun sighed: “Once His Majesty has matters weighing on his mind, he won't eat or drink. His Majesty hasn't eaten anything for a day and a night now.”
“His Majesty isn't one of those cultivators who can go without food. If this continues, how will His Majesty's body be able to endure it?”
The more Wei Xun spoke, the more heartbroken he felt.
It seemed to Wei Xun that Emperor Wu's refusal to eat or drink was more painful than being subjected to a thousand cuts.
Consort Xiao waved her hand to a palace maid beside her. Understanding, the maid brought forward a food box. Consort Xiao held the box and called out outside the Imperial Study: “Your Majesty, your concubine requests an audience.”
“Leave, I don't want to see anyone these few days,” Emperor Wu's voice came from within the Imperial Study, sounding very depressed. “I just want to be alone right now.”
Wei Xun swallowed and whispered kindly to Consort Xiao: “Your Highness, perhaps we should withdraw first. His Majesty is not in a good mood.”
But Consort Xiao remained calmly looking at the Imperial Study and continued to call out: “Your Majesty, your concubine requests an audience.”
“I said I don't want to see anyone, didn't you hear?” Emperor Wu's voice was already a little impatient.
But Consort Xiao did not back down and continued to say: “Your Majesty, your concubine requests an audience.”
“…”
No more sounds came from the Imperial Study.
Wei Xun and the maids beside Consort Xiao wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads.
It was the first time they had seen Consort Xiao so persistent.
To put it bluntly, Consort Xiao was not afraid of death.
Finally, Emperor Wu's rather helpless voice came from within the Imperial Study: “Come in then.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Consort Xiao's eyes curved into crescents.
Wei Xun was stunned for a moment, then quickly helped the Consort open the door.
Consort Xiao walked in, and Wei Xun quickly closed the door behind her.
Wei Xun glanced at Consort Xiao's personal maid: “What's with Her Highness today?”
The maid shook her head, indicating that she didn't know either.
Even Consort Xiao's personal maid, after so many years, was seeing her mistress like this for the first time.
“Your concubine greets Your Majesty.” Consort Xiao held the pastries and bowed slightly.
“You may rise,” Emperor Wu rubbed his eyes, then looked up at Consort Xiao. “Does Beloved Consort have something to say?”
Consort Xiao straightened up and said to Emperor Wu: “Your concubine heard that Your Majesty has not eaten or drunk for a day and a night, and the osmanthus flowers in the West Garden are in bloom. Therefore, your concubine picked these osmanthus flowers and made osmanthus cakes and brewed osmanthus wine, wanting to bring them to Your Majesty to taste.”
Emperor Wu smiled: “Just because of this, you bothered me so much? Aren't you afraid of death?”
Consort Xiao blinked innocently: “Would Your Majesty kill your concubine because you are feeling troubled?”
Emperor Wu sat up: “That's not certain.”
Consort Xiao continued, her eyes full of innocence: “If killing your concubine can make Your Majesty feel better and eat and drink something, then your concubine would rather die.”
Emperor Wu: “…”
“You ah…” Emperor Wu sighed, “Among everyone, you are most like…”
Halfway through his words, Emperor Wu closed his mouth and didn't continue.
Consort Xiao also knew what Emperor Wu wanted to say. Emperor Wu wanted to say that she was very similar to someone, and that someone was Emperor Wu's only Empress.
That person's name was a taboo throughout the palace, and no one could mention it.
Emperor Wu looked at the pastries and osmanthus wine she was holding: “Forget it, you have put in the effort. Bring it over and let me have a taste.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Consort Xiao stepped forward with the tray and poured Emperor Wu a cup of osmanthus wine.
Emperor Wu ate the pastries while Consort Xiao gently massaged his shoulders.
“The taste of this osmanthus cake is indeed good,” Emperor Wu nodded in praise. “Your skills have improved again.”
“Then does Your Majesty still want to kill your concubine?” Consort Xiao asked softly.
“You ah…” Emperor Wu shook his head with a smile. “You're still angry.”
Consort Xiao turned her head away娇嗔ly: “How dare your concubine…”
Emperor Wu just smiled.
The originally troubled heart was relieved a lot by Consort Xiao's actions.
“Without me saying it, you should also know what I am troubled about, right?” Emperor Wu said to Consort Xiao.
Consort Xiao organized her words in her heart: “Is it about the King of Xiliang?”
“That's right.”
A shadow flashed in Emperor Wu's eyes.
“That King of Xiliang ah, is too big to fail. There's simply no way to forcibly weaken his power. Every previous attempt to weaken the vassal states has failed to touch the King of Xiliang. The court's authority is always trampled under the King of Xiliang's feet.
There is even a nursery rhyme in Xiliang: 'Only recognize Xiliang, not the Emperor!'”
Consort Xiao lowered her eyes gently and asked: “Before, there was the Edict of Grace. If the Edict of Grace is implemented, in theory, given time, the problem of Xiliang should be resolved, right?”
Emperor Wu smiled: “But Beloved Consort, the King of Xiliang only has one son ah. Tell me, even if we promote grace, how can we promote it? Surely I can't ask him to have more children, can I?
Besides, even if the King of Xiliang has multiple children, so what?
The Edict of Grace is implemented by the vassal states, and the descendants underneath will start to make trouble.
The problem comes, with the King of Xiliang's authority, who would dare to make trouble if he says he won't heed the Edict of Grace?
Unless he dies!
His son certainly doesn't have such skills.
That old thing doesn't have many years left to live anyway. I'm just waiting for that old thing to die.
Once that old thing dies, his son certainly won't be able to suppress the authority of the Edict of Grace, and then Xiliang will be slowly divided by me.
That old thing also knows that his son doesn't have his skills, and in the future, Xiliang will definitely be dispersed in his son's hands.
But that old thing just wants to stir up some trouble before he dies!
You think he's letting his son marry Yan Han.
In reality, what that old thing wants is the throne!”
As the words landed, Consort Xiao immediately knelt on the other side: “In the hearts of the people of Wu, in the hearts of the civil and military officials, in your concubine's heart, Wu only has one Emperor, and that is Your Majesty!”
Emperor Wu smiled: “Get up, I don't need you to emphasize that. He thinks he can put me in a difficult position in Wudu! Hmph, this time! I will make that guy have no return!”
