CHAPTER 197: 133. IN THE HALL OF LONGEVITY... (5K LARGE CHAPTER) - 3

However, it is difficult to say what will happen after Emperor Tiande’s death!

"Your Majesty..."

"Grieving harms the body."

"Your Majesty, being responsible for the state, must not harm the phoenix’s body."

Seeing Zhao Yunniang heartbroken, Xiu Lan, who was standing by her side, quickly stepped forward to support her and began to offer words of comfort.

Xiu Lan knew that what pained Zhao Yunniang was not the pressure from the Civil & Military Officers, but Xu Zhang’s lack of understanding.

Could Zhao Yunniang, a mere woman, really usurp the Rivers and mountains?

Xu Zhang was Zhao Yunniang’s only Son, and also Emperor Tiande’s only Son. As long as Xu Zhang conducted himself properly, the position of Emperor would naturally fall into his hands when the Time came.

But Xu Zhang’s recent actions, this pressuring, deeply wounded Zhao Yunniang’s maternal heart.

"Xiu Lan, I understand."

Zhao Yunniang wiped away her tears and sighed, "I’ve merely made a fool of myself in front of you, that’s all."

"Your Majesty must not say such things..."

Xiu Lan hurriedly bowed in response, "Your Majesty is only human. After working hard outside, it’s natural to cry and confide in His Majesty upon returning home. Such vulnerability is reserved for His Majesty alone, not for me, Xiu Lan."

Having been In the palace for many years, this servant Xiu Lan had also learned the art of flattery.

"This is reasonable."

Zhao Yunniang nodded slightly, agreeing with Xiu Lan’s words.

Then, she warned, "If the Crown Prince asks you for some news, remember not to tell him. He has made many Scholar friends in the Eastern Palace. Although these people are talented, the Crown Prince’s character is far inferior to his Father Emperor’s. He cannot manage his subordinates; on the contrary, he might be misled by these Scholars into making mistakes."

After accompanying Xu Xing for several years, Zhao Yunniang had also learned some of his methods of dealing with matters.

She knew that judging an Official solely on loyalty versus treachery, or virtue versus vice, was too narrow-minded. While some Officials might lean towards being loyal or treacherous, with skillful management, even Treacherous ministers could be made loyal...

Therefore, she didn’t rush to dismiss the Officials in Crown Prince Xu Zhang’s Eastern Palace. Instead, she merely gave Xiu Lan a few instructions to prevent palace matters from being leaked.

Her handling of matters is quite methodical.

"Yunniang, I chose right when I picked you as the Empress!"

Xu Xing, who was standing on the beam above, heard this and jumped down, praising her. Before he left the outer city to go to the Imperial Palace, he did not directly meet Zhao Yunniang but first inquired about some palace affairs.

When he found out that Zhao Yunniang planned to go to the Hall of Longevity to pray for him, he stood on the beam, waiting for Zhao Yunniang to come.

Every word Zhao Yunniang said went into his ears.

Including how to handle Crown Prince Xu Zhang...

If the Eastern Palace’s staff were dismissed, it would prove that Empress Zhao Yunniang truly harbored ambitions to control the imperial court. By not dismissing them, it showed she was merely holding power temporarily on behalf of Xu Xing and Xu Zhang, ready to return it when the Time was ripe.

As his voice fell, Zhao Yunniang and Xiu Lan were first surprised, and then anxiously knelt down to greet the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, you..."

"How are you here?"

After the courtesies, Zhao Yunniang’s face became a little flushed.

For her innermost thoughts to be overheard by Xu Xing, even for someone like her who had weathered many storms and was usually unfazed by favor or disgrace, it was intensely embarrassing at this moment. However, she was his wife, after all. After a brief flicker of shyness, her composure returned.

"I’ve achieved some small success on the Immortal Path, so I returned to the Mortal World to see my family."

Xu Xing did not hide from Zhao Yunniang and told her the truth.

"This..."

Hearing this, Zhao Yunniang suddenly felt quite disappointed.

She could hear the implication in Xu Xing’s words.

This Time, he was only returning to Fengxi Country temporarily. After visiting his family, Xu Xing would go back to the Immortal Sect, not remain in the Mortal World.

"Zhang’er merely acted rashly for a moment."

"His nature is still good."

Suddenly, Zhao Yunniang remembered what she had just said and hurriedly began explaining to Xu Xing in order to save Xu Zhang’s image in his heart.

Being unfilial is a great sin!

Forget the imperial family; even among Common People, Unfilial Children would not be tolerated.

"It’s a small matter."

Xu Xing waved his hand, not taking it too seriously.

His affection for Zhao Yunniang outweighed his feelings for Xu Zhang. After all, he and Zhao Yunniang had shared intimacy and spent considerable Time together, whereas his Time with Xu Zhang had been very limited.

During the Three Years in Guanxi Road, he spent most of his Time in Seclusion Cultivation.

In the Three Years after conquering Shenjing, he was also mostly in Seclusion Cultivation.

He simply had no Time to take care of this Son.

Besides, weren’t Xu Zhang’s ’rebelliousness’ and ’unfilial conduct’ part of the basic makeup of an Emperor? If an Emperor didn’t even dare to harbor such thoughts, how could he dream of ruling the world?

An Emperor without a shred of ambition—could he still be called an Emperor?

However, despite saying this, deep down, Xu Xing was still displeased with Xu Zhang. It was only because he lacked deep fatherly affection for Xu Zhang that he suppressed this dissatisfaction within his heart.

"Xiu Lan..."

Seeing Xu Xing deep in thought, Zhao Yunniang quickly signaled Xiu Lan with her eyes, indicating for her to leave the Palace and not disturb the two of them In the Palace.

Just moments before, she had noticed a flicker of desire in Xu Xing’s eyes for her.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Xiu Lan, after a moment’s delay in understanding, withdrew from the Hall of Longevity and closed the doors.

「...」

Before a cup of tea’s Time had passed, sounds of intimacy emanated from within the Hall of Longevity.

Outside the Hall, the group of palace maids waiting there were momentarily surprised, their faces showing inscrutable expressions.

Glancing at each other, they understood each other’s thoughts.

No wonder the Empress had rushed to the Hall of Longevity. So, it turned out that in the Hall of Longevity...

How had they never noticed this before?

"Bold!"

"Men, take these individuals away and slap their faces."

As a Second-Grade Court Lady, Xiu Lan had been In the palace for a long Time; how could she not know what these palace maids were thinking? With an angry look on her face, she directly ordered the punishment of these palace maids.

The crime of slandering in one’s heart was severe, but if these palace maids truly started to gossip, even if the Empress was innocent, her reputation would inevitably be stained.

Furthermore, punishing them swiftly was also for their own good. If such talk really did spread, these low-ranking palace maids would certainly lose their heads.

"Second-Grade Court Lady, spare us!"

The palace maids knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

But soon after, a group of female Officials escorted them to another Palace to carry out the punishment.