Chapter 104 - The Unemotional Emperor

Chapter 104: Chapter 102: The Unemotional EmperorName: Ye Qiu

Merit Points: 4000

Skills Redeemed: Hacker God

Level 2 Light of the God of Cooking

Level 5 Body Forging Technique

Ten Times of Luck Bonus, Seven Remaining

Upgrade Body Forging Technique?

"Yes."

Task completed, proceed to the next world?

"Yes."

In the 150th year since the founding of the Hong Dynasty, Ye Qiu was the ninth Emperor. The ancestors of Hong Dynasty were military generals who rebelled, well aware of the power of military might. Once becoming Emperor, they drastically reduced military power, and through the dynasties, several Emperors adhered to the ancestor’s last wish, valuing literature over military.

Not until the late Emperor ascended the throne did the northern Xiongnu and southern pirates invade, gradually reinstating the military generals, but even then, the civil officials held significant power, restricting the military generals despite their reinstatement.

Ye Qiu’s Empress, Li Yanlan, came from the Great General’s Mansion. Initially, during the border chaos, the late Emperor married Li Yanlan to then Crown Prince Ye Qiu to stabilize the morale of the border soldiers. Influenced by Empress Xiao at that time, Ye Qiu never favored her.

After ascending the throne, and with the morale of the Li Family Army, Ye Qiu gradually quelled the rebellion at the border. Remembering the lessons from the previous dynasty, he immediately recalled the Li Family Army to the capital, adopted a scorched earth policy, and even his capable ministers who advised caution were purged. From then on, everyone in the court was in danger, angry but dared not speak.

Later, under the instigation of Empress Dowager Xiao and Noble Princess Consort Xiao, he even deposed the always virtuous Empress and confined the Crown Prince. The previous court was dominated by Prime Minister Xiao, and the harem was managed by Empress Dowager Xiao and Noble Princess Consort Xiao, making Ye Qiu a puppet of the Xiao family since his youth.

Within two years, without the great army of the Li family, the Xiongnu returned more fiercely, pushing their way to the capital, causing great suffering among the people, and Ye Qiu became a ghost under the Xiongnu’s knife.

In his next life, he resolved to treat the Empress and Crown Prince kindly, to cherish loyal ministers and distance himself from the treacherous, to drive away the Xiongnu, and to maintain the prosperity of the Hong Dynasty.

Merit Points: 8000, this time Ye Qiu chose to upgrade to Level 7 Body Forging Technique.

"Your Majesty, whose tablet will you turn over tonight?" Ye Qiu opened his eyes, and a pale, beardless eunuch asked in a high-pitched voice.

The Empress does not require a tablet, so the first in line was Noble Princess Consort Xiao, who was Empress Dowager Xiao’s niece and his cousin. She entered the palace already as a concubine, and at the beginning of this year, she bore a son and was promoted to Noble Consort.

Noble Princess Consort Xiao, eighteen this year, bore striking beauty, and was adept at acting coy. Since her entrance to the palace, she had been greatly favored. For nearly half of the previous month, the Emperor spent most of his time in her palace, and the staff of the Internal Affairs Office, always adept at reading faces, arranged that on the days convenient for Consort Xiao, the other concubines placed alongside her were of plain appearance, thus increasing the chance of Ye Qiu turning over her tablet.

Today, however, Ye Qiu waved his hand, dismissing the eunuch: "No need, I still have memorials to review."

The chief eunuch, Eunuch Shun, who served him closely, poured a cup of strong tea, feeling that today’s Emperor seemed somewhat different than usual. As he watched Ye Qiu under the fluctuating lamplight, Eunuch Shun grew even more deferential, silently thinking that he needed to serve even more carefully from now on.

Ganquan Palace, Noble Princess Consort Xiao had just emerged from her bath, cheeks tinted with twin blushes, her demeanor languid and a beauty beyond compare. She lay on the soft couch, letting the maids dry her hair and massage her as she asked her head palace maid indifferently, "Has the Holy Emperor come yet?"

"Replying to Your Highness, there has been no movement from the Imperial Study Room."

Xiao Rou frowned slightly and commanded, "Send someone to inquire where the Emperor is tonight."

"Yes."

Half an hour later, Xiao Rou relaxed her brow after learning that Ye Qiu did not favor anyone tonight. Hmph, fortunately it was because of official duties. Had she learned that some vile woman gained her cousin’s favor, she would definitely not spare her.

Anyway, the Emperor spends more than half of the month lodged with her. If he didn’t come today, he definitely would tomorrow. Without giving it much thought, Xiao Rou went to sleep, but the following five days left her disappointed. Ye Qiu was either staying in the Imperial Study Room or residing in Yangxin Hall, and because of work, she couldn’t make a fuss as usual. The harem was abuzz with rumors, all speculating whether Noble Princess Consort Xiao had fallen out of favor.

Every first and fifteenth of the lunar month was the day when the concubines paid respects to the Empress, who would then lead them to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. However, it was almost Chen time, the time for giving respects was almost over, and there was still no sign of Noble Princess Consort Xiao. Probably used to it, Li Yanlan didn’t wait any longer and led the women of the harem to Cining Palace to pay respects.

Indeed, at that moment, Noble Princess Consort Xiao was sitting by Empress Dowager Xiao, coquettishly cajoling her, causing the Empress Dowager to burst into hearty laughter.

"Paying respects to my Mother-in-law," Li Yanlan led the concubines in their salute. Xiao Rou was sitting next to the Empress Dowager, and even though the Empress kneeled down to pay respects, she didn’t stand up, her eyes carrying a hint of arrogance, looking down upon the Empress.

The Empress Dowager acted as if she saw none of this, waved her hand for them to rise but did not offer them seats, instead continuing to joke around with Noble Princess Consort Xiao. This was the scene when Ye Qiu walked in.

"Mother." He bowed to Empress Dowager Xiao, then looked at all the standing concubines with a frown, "What is this appearance, all standing?"

Only then did the Empress Dowager casually say, "Alright, sit down, everyone." She then pulled Ye Qiu’s hand, making him sit beside her, and grasped his and Xiao Rou’s hands together, laughing heartily, "Still, you two lovebirds are closest to my heart."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Rou blushed and coquettishly said, "Oh dear Aunt, you embarrass me with such words."

The Empress, on the other hand, turned pale, tightly clutching her handkerchief. If they were the lovebirds, then what was she, the Empress? Yet, it seemed she was accustomed to such scenes, and in just a moment, she regained her composed and virtuous demeanor.

Xiao Rou, seeing her demeanor, slightly raised her eyebrows and laughed even more heartily, thinking to herself that one day, the position of Empress would be hers.

But at that moment, Ye Qiu withdrew his hand, speaking seriously, "Mother, you really mustn’t say such things in the future. If the Imperial Censors hear of this, they will surely submit a petition."

Xiao Rou’s smiling face stiffened slightly, looking at Ye Qiu with hurt in her eyes, while Empress Dowager Xiao harshly exclaimed, "How dare they!"

"Mother," Ye Qiu said with a stern voice, advising her, "I have just ascended the throne for a year, it is the time to achieve deeds to win their trust, I do not wish for them to seize any pretext."

Seeing his unyielding attitude, Empress Dowager Xiao still doted on her son and compromised, "Alright, alright, Mother will listen to you, I will refrain from saying it in the future. But don’t worry too much, your maternal grandfather is the Prime Minister; with his support, those ministers wouldn’t dare turn the heavens."

Ye Qiu didn’t pick up her words, but smiled slightly, "Thank you for your understanding, Mother."

"I heard from the Noble Consort that you’ve stayed in Yangxin Hall for six consecutive days, is there some urgent official matter?" After asking, Empress Dowager Xiao immediately added, "No matter how busy official matters are, take care of your health. Moreover, there are only three princes in the palace now, the royal lineage is too weak, you should pay attention to that as well."

"It’s nothing major, just that the frontier has become somewhat unstable again."

"That is a major issue indeed." Since ancient times, the Xiongnu have been audacious. After hearing this, the Empress Dowager advised a couple of sentences and didn’t say much more, leaving Xiao Rou alone, secretly anxious.