#508 - Queen Wu

The day of the Myriad Laws Assembly arrived.

The Myriad Laws Assembly was scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM.

However, before 7:00 AM had passed, Xiao Mo Chi had already woken up.

As usual, Xiao Mo Chi changed into his official robes, washed up, and then ate breakfast in the courtyard.

Xiao Mo Chi's breakfast was very simple.

Unlike the extravagant meals of ordinary princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials.

Xiao Mo Chi's meals had always been very simple. In the morning, it was just pickled vegetables, a salted duck egg, and a bowl of porridge.

After finishing breakfast, the maid took the tableware away.

In the past, Xiao Mo Chi would either attend the early morning court session or read in the courtyard, depending on his availability.

But this time was different from the past.

Today, there was no need to attend court, and there was still a long time before the Myriad Laws Assembly, but Xiao Mo Chi did not read in the courtyard.

Xiao Mo Chi walked into the study, sorted out some books, and then packed them one by one into boxes, writing labels on each of the wooden boxes.

Finally, Xiao Mo Chi cleaned his study, dusted off his clothes, and walked out of the Prime Minister's residence.

In front of the Prime Minister's residence, a carriage was already prepared, waiting for Xiao Mo Chi to board.

However, this carriage was a bit different.

The carriage that the Prime Minister rode in naturally had its own specifications.

But the carriage that appeared in front of Xiao Mo Chi was like the kind that ordinary groomsmen used to transport goods.

In front of the carriage stood an old man.

The old man was dressed in ordinary people's hemp clothing, with a hunched back, just like an old farmer.

But this old man's aura, as well as his eyes, were like an abyss.

It was as if, if you stared for too long, the old man would pull you in.

"Old Mr. Fang."

Looking at the old man in front of him, Xiao Mo Chi respectfully bowed, his tone full of respect.

"Yes."

Fang Ling nodded, smiled, "How about riding in my carriage today? The Prime Minister wouldn't mind, would he?"

Xiao Mo Chi also smiled: "Old Mr. Fang, you are too kind. It is Mo Chi's honor to be able to ride in the same carriage as you. How could I possibly mind?"

"Then, Prime Minister, please."

Old Mr. Fang Ling stepped aside and even personally lowered the wooden stool.

Xiao Mo Chi stepped onto the wooden stool and boarded the carriage. Old Mr. Fang Ling put it away and sat next to Xiao Mo Chi. The two of them drove the carriage towards the palace.

"Today is destined to be extraordinary."

Old Mr. Fang looked ahead, his hand holding the reins without the slightest tremble.

"Isn't that right?"

Xiao Mo Chi nodded, "Today is destined to be very lively."

"What do you think, how will future generations judge us?"

Old Mr. Fang asked, his tone carrying frankness and a resolute sense of jest.

For this old man, he had been waiting for this day for a very, very long time.

Xiao Mo Chi thought for a moment: "That depends on whether things are successful or not. If things are successful, then everything will be fine, and today will leave a passable evaluation.

If it doesn't work out, then those sects won't let the Wu Kingdom off the hook.

The people of the Wu Kingdom will have to suffer.

No one likes to suffer.

At that time, we will probably be scolded miserably by the people."

Old Mr. Fang nodded: "That's true, but fortunately, at least there is someone to accompany this old man to be scolded."

Xiao Mo Chi just maintained his smile and did not speak.

The two of them fell into silence again.

"You actually didn't have to go to your death,"

After a while, Old Mr. Fang spoke again.

Xiao Mo Chi shook his head: "This is not going to one's death, and if this junior doesn't go, how can today's events be carried out?"

"Alas."

Old Mr. Fang sighed, "There are really too few scholars like you in this world, so few that it makes people feel pity."

"Actually, there are still many."

Xiao Mo Chi looked at Old Mr. Fang, "Isn't the old gentleman one of them?"

"Me?"

Old Mr. Fang pointed at himself, then laughed, "Hahaha! I don't have your kind of awareness. If I were you, I wouldn't necessarily do this. This old man is already living almost long enough, and if I die today, then I die. Furthermore . . ."

As he spoke, Old Mr. Fang's eyes dimmed, as if he had thought of something, and he shook his head: "I just don't want to have nightmares anymore, just hoping to make my heart feel more at ease."

"Enough, enough."

Old Mr. Fang spat out the grass root from his mouth: "How is His Majesty doing?"

Xiao Mo Chi nodded: "His Majesty didn't say anything. Old Mr. Fang, you also know that compared to us, His Majesty is actually . . ."

Xiao Mo Chi didn't finish his words, but Fang Ling already knew what Xiao Mo Chi was going to say.

"His Majesty, ah . . . perhaps from beginning to end, His Majesty has never seemed like an emperor."

Fang Ling said with emotion.

Xiao Mo Chi adjusted his sleeves: "It is precisely because His Majesty is like this that he is more like a person. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come back."

"Many people think that after His Majesty experienced that incident, his whole person changed, but in reality, His Majesty has never changed. His Majesty has always been like that."

Xiao Mo Chi raised his head and looked at the sky, speaking earnestly.

"It's a pity . . . she won't be able to see today's scene."

To the south of the imperial palace, there was a sea of purple orchid flowers.

This place had always been a taboo in the entire imperial palace.

Apart from the Martial Emperor and Wu Yanhan, no one else could come to this place.

In the sea of flowers, there was a palace.

However, because it had been abandoned for too long, the entire palace was covered with a layer of purple orchid flowers.

The Martial Emperor, wearing a dragon robe, arrived at this sea of flowers.

In his hand, he carried a wine pot and a basket.

Walking to the very center of the sea of flowers, there was a tombstone standing on the ground.

On it were written a few simple words—Grave of Beloved Wife Jiang Hua.

In fact, this tombstone should have been engraved with more things.

For example, the four words "Martial Kingdom Empress."

Walking to the front of the tombstone, the Martial Emperor sat down cross-legged, placing stacks of pastries from the basket in front of the tombstone, and then pouring a cup of wine for his wife.

"I'm here."

Looking at the tombstone, the Martial Emperor slowly spoke, his tone as gentle as if he had become a different person, completely lacking the decisive and ruthless taste that his ministers saw.

"This time, it may be the last time I come to see you.

You would also support the things I am going to do next, right."

The Martial Emperor reached out and gently stroked the tombstone, but no one was able to answer.

What existed was the summer breeze blowing through the sea of flowers, like a woman's embrace, slowly holding the man in her arms.