Chapter 535 - 439: Would Brother Your Majesty Accompany Mujiu to Hanjiu Hall?
Chapter 535: Chapter 439: Would Brother Your Majesty Accompany Mujiu to Hanjiu Hall?
"I have come to pay my respects, Your Majesty. Are you well?"
Before Yangxin Hall, Bai Ruxue and Qin Siyao curtsied to Xiao Mo.
"I am," Xiao Mo said slowly, looking at the two consorts before him. "My dear consorts, you may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Bai Ruxue and the other straightened up, their hands clasped before them. Standing beside Xiao Mo, they looked very demure.
But after learning that they were both Cultivators of the Middle Three Realms and even had ulterior motives, Xiao Mo had grown more wary of them.
Moreover, Xiao Mo was certain they knew that Jiang Qingyi had told him what had happened last night.
After all, this was likely part of the deal the three of them had struck.
But now, they acted as they always did, as if nothing had happened last night.
"Let’s go. It’s getting late, and we must go pay our respects to the Empress Dowager," Xiao Mo said to them.
Since they didn’t bring it up, Xiao Mo naturally wouldn’t be so tactless as to do so himself, also pretending as if nothing had happened.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Bai Ruxue curtsied with poise and followed by Xiao Mo’s side.
"Then, Brother Your Majesty, let’s hurry..."
Qin Siyao remained as lively as a little rabbit, hopping around beside Xiao Mo.
The three of them boarded the Dragon Chariot and set off for Lingxin Palace.
Aboard the Dragon Chariot, Bai Ruxue poured Xiao Mo a cup of tea. Her expression was full of composure, showing no signs of vying for his favor, yet her every action was considerate of him.
Xiao Mo even felt that with just a single glance, this Yan Family Woman would know what he wanted.
’It seems this Yan Family Woman is very good at taking care of people.’
On the other side, Qin Siyao was feeding Xiao Mo pieces of fruit. Her playful manner was quite endearing, and her eyes were filled with love and affection for him.
For a moment, Xiao Mo couldn’t tell if they were acting.
Because judging by their actions alone, they truly seemed like his wives, treating him just as a wife would treat her husband.
An incense stick later, the Dragon Chariot stopped. Xiao Mo and the two consorts had arrived at the entrance of Lingxin Palace.
Xiao Mo led his two consorts inside.
Empress Dowager Yan was already waiting for the three of them to arrive.
"Your son pays his respects to you, Mother. May I ask if you are well?"
"We pay our respects to you, Mother. May we ask if you are well?"
Led by Xiao Mo, the three of them bowed respectfully to Empress Dowager Yan.
"I am well, I am well. How could I not be? Today is such a wonderful day."
Empress Dowager Yan walked forward with a smile and helped the three of them up.
"How are things? Are you settling into the palace alright? If there’s anything making you uncomfortable, just tell me or His Majesty. There’s no need to suffer in silence."
The Empress Dowager very affectionately took Bai Ruxue and Qin Siyao by their hands, sat them down on a soft couch, and began to inquire solicitously about their well-being.
It was as if in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, both the Yan Family Woman and the Eldest Princess of the Qin Kingdom were treated with equal regard.
"Replying to you, Mother, this palace is just like home to me. I’m settling in quite well," Bai Ruxue said with a small smile.
"Yes, Empress Dowager! Brother Your Majesty treats me and Sister Ruxue very well," Qin Siyao added, her eyes crinkling in a smile.
"As long as you are living well, that’s what matters. You two are both dear to my heart. In the future, this imperial harem will be yours to manage."
The Empress Dowager squeezed their delicate hands, speaking earnestly like an elder genuinely instructing the younger generation.
"I also know that life in the imperial harem is not like other places. It isn’t as free, but it isn’t a completely cold and heartless place either."
"I hope you two can become good sisters, take good care of His Majesty’s daily affairs, and more importantly, hurry and give our Zhou Kingdom’s Royal Family some chubby, fair-skinned babies. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mother. I understand." Bai Ruxue nodded graciously and glanced at Qin Siyao. "I will certainly get along well with Mujiu, help you share the burden of harem affairs, and ensure that our husband’s home is peaceful."
"Mm-hm, mm-hm. Mother, you can rest assured," Qin Siyao said, nodding. "I will definitely get along well with Sister Ruxue, and I’ll come visit you often too."
"That’s good, that’s good," the Empress Dowager said with a smile. "But, the one you should be spending time with the most isn’t me, but His Majesty."
"And you too, Your Majesty." The Empress Dowager looked at Xiao Mo with a hint of resignation. "You must spend more time with Ruxue and Mujiu. Put your cultivation and all that aside for a while. I understand you were exhausted from the wedding yesterday, but don’t fall asleep like you did last night again."
"Yes, Mother. Your son will certainly... work hard," Xiao Mo said, feigning embarrassment as he bowed.
For the next hour, Empress Dowager Yan had breakfast with Xiao Mo and his two wives.
Qin Siyao and Empress Dowager Yan didn’t have much of a relationship; in fact, in some ways, they could be considered enemies.
After all, Empress Dowager Yan intended for Yan Ruxue to conceive the imperial heir and ascend to the position of Empress.
However, because Qin Siyao had a very lively and sweet personality, like a little ray of sunshine, she always managed to coax Empress Dowager Yan into cheerful laughter.
It was also possible that because Empress Dowager Yan had been the one to see her married into the palace, she held a certain affection for Qin Siyao.
So their relationship actually seemed to be quite good.
Naturally, Xiao Mo was happy to see this.
’No matter what, as long as the harem was peaceful and the relationship between his mother and wives was good, he could worry a little less.’
After breakfast, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao took their leave first.
Bai Ruxue, however, was asked to stay behind by Empress Dowager Yan, who wanted to have a private chat with her.
After Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao left Lingxin Palace, Qin Siyao walked ahead of Xiao Mo with her hands behind her back. Her legs moved beneath her skirt, her small feet occasionally kicking at the pebbles by the road.
Compared to her shy and budding demeanor from the previous night, the Qin Siyao of this moment seemed more like a young maiden who had yet to marry.
’If only Qin Mujiu were truly just an ordinary woman, that would be quite wonderful.’
’Having such a lively and simple person around would make his own thoughts feel a little simpler too.’
’It might even let him forget some of his real-world troubles.’
’But unfortunately, she had actually entered the palace with ulterior motives.’
But...
Xiao Mo couldn’t help but recall the times they had spent together, the innocent and carefree way she had chased fireflies.
He remembered her pure gaze as she sat on the hilltop, watching the clouds gather and disperse in the sky.
’Could everything she showed him have been fake?’
Just as Xiao Mo was gazing at her back,
Qin Siyao, walking ahead, seemed to notice the gaze of her beloved from behind.
She stopped, turned around, the hem of her skirt lifting slightly. The gentle breeze caressed it, revealing half of a fair, delicate ankle.
It was as if, in that moment, the spring breeze itself had taken shape.
"Brother Your Majesty..."
She smiled at Xiao Mo, her clear eyes full of innocence.
"Brother Your Majesty... if you have some free time now, would you accompany Mujiu to Hanjiu Hall?"