Volume One, Chapter Seven: Your Majesty Truly Shows Compassion for Your Servant

Because of Pei Yueshu’s actions after her rebirth, some things turned out differently.

The emperor, unlike in the previous life when he secretly brought her into the palace, suddenly declared at court his intention to honor those who had sacrificed for the nation.

An official promptly added that the families of these officials should also be properly taken care of.

Emperor Tianxi suddenly understood and further decreed that the widows of deceased generals were not only permitted to remarry but would also receive a dowry from the court.

All the officials praised Emperor Tianxi’s benevolence.

But the real intention came from Xiao Xuanyu himself. He pointed out that General Yu’s wife came from a noble family and that he felt deeply indebted to Yu Hechuan and wished to compensate their family. Yet, he feared that if the Pei woman were sent to another household, she might suffer humiliation.

Therefore, he proposed altering the clan system by adding a fourth consort among the three existing ones, symbolizing completeness in all four directions.

“She shall be titled Consort Chen; I will never neglect the wife of a meritorious subject.”

Upon hearing this, nearly everyone’s mouths dropped in shock.

It was not unheard of for an emperor to take a subject’s wife, but it was always done in secret, never as openly and publicly as Emperor Tianxi had just declared.

Duke Yu was the first to weep and thank the emperor. Duke Pei was initially unwilling but was pressured by the court officials and ended up kowtowing in the hall.

Since the Pei woman’s husband was dead, and neither her mother nor her in-laws opposed, the officials dared not provoke the emperor’s wrath. With this precedent, they all praised His Majesty’s noble virtue.

Of course, some opposed, but their voices were drowned out.

Look at this: they seized another family’s daughter-in-law and were praised for it.

Such is the nature of the imperial family—because they have such power, they can do as they please.

In the Kunning Palace, a woman wearing a phoenix crown bore a cold smile on her imposing face.

“There’s no need to investigate how His Majesty got that injury on his hand. Since he so favors a widow, it would be best for father to select several married sisters from the clan to enter the palace.”

“Your Highness, you overstate. Our clansmen serving at court do not even regard that Pei woman. If you bear an imperial son, you will no longer need to pay attention to the emperor or that Xiang woman’s expressions,” advised Lady Qiongfang.

“An imperial son? Xiao Xuanyu never comes to me. How am I to bear an imperial son?” Empress Ji slammed the teacup on the table.

A palace maid quickly stepped forward to clear the shards.

Empress Ji’s anger didn’t last long before a report came that the emperor had arrived.

Empress Ji concealed her fury and forced a faint smile, rising to greet the emperor. Her bearing and manners were those cultivated only by noble families, every move exuding grace.

“Your Majesty’s health! Judging by the joy on your face, I’m sure the new sister pleases you greatly.”

Empress Ji smiled without revealing her teeth and placed a cup of perfectly cooled tea before Xiao Xuanyu.

He did smile indeed, but disdain darkened his eyes.

“Your Majesty, the news travels fast. In that case, I shall not hide it from you: I plan to assign Jingyang Palace to Consort Chen. It has already been prepared, so there is no need for the empress’s attendants to trouble themselves.”

This was a direct blow to Empress Ji’s schemes and planted spies in Jingyang Palace.

“Your Majesty is truly considerate,” Empress Ji smiled, covering her mouth.

Xiao Xuanyu continued to pour salt on the wound: “Consort Chen has been in poor spirits and health lately. Once she enters the palace, she will no longer need to come to Kunning Palace to pay respects every day.”

The empress replied, “I also wish to be considerate of my sister-in-law, but as for the Empress Dowager…”

“Empress, do not trouble yourself. I have my own arrangements for the Empress Dowager. You only need to take care of your health and give birth to an imperial son soon,” Xiao Xuanyu said, seemingly oblivious to Empress Ji’s trembling lips.

“I have official business to attend to and will forgo lunch. Empress, please make yourself comfortable.”

Once he left, Empress Ji smashed the teacup into fragments.

“Nurse, do you think there’s any meaning left in my role as empress?”

Lady Qiongfang dared not reply.

This was what the Ji clan had long hoped for, whether it was Empress Ji or Ji Yiling—they were too insignificant.

When the imperial edict reached the Duke Yu’s mansion, several female attendants assigned to instruct the consorts arrived as per protocol.

Unfortunately, before they could enter Mingyue Residence, Pei Yueshu had them driven away.

This Consort Chen was so arrogant and overbearing even before entering the palace that the female attendants immediately reported it to the empress.

Ji Yiling, who looked down upon a widow, suspected Xiao Xuanyu would protect her, so she escalated the matter to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager summoned the emperor, but whatever Xiao Xuanyu told her left her silent.

Xiao Xuanyu even visited Kunning Palace personally. “Consort Chen comes from a duke’s household and need not learn any palace rules. Besides, I like her bright and free-spirited nature.”

Ji Yiling could only respond with a cold smile.

Bright and free-spirited? In her realm, let’s see how this little widow dares to remain so.

“Third Brother, why are you daydreaming again? Did I do something wrong today?”

In a refined chamber, a petite woman dressed in pink sat opposite Huo Chi.

His mind was pulled back, but his eyes remained somewhat vacant, turning pitch black when resting on Lu Xuanyan.

“What did you say?”

A mere glance from him silenced her.

Though Third Brother always appeared gentle and polite to her, Lu Xuanyan sometimes found him quite frightening.

Yet even so, it could not quell her love for him.

“Third Brother, I... my mourning period ends next year,” Lu Xuanyan said shyly, lowering her head.

She was already eighteen this year. Had her grandfather not died suddenly two years ago, she would have long since become the lady of the Huo family.

But she waited a long time without hearing a word from Huo Chi.

When she looked up again, both angry and hurt, he was daydreaming once more.

Huo Chi stared at the round table in the chamber and involuntarily recalled last night’s passionate encounter.

After nights of such intimacy, the already breathtakingly beautiful peony seemed to bloom even more vividly, apparently no longer resisting his closeness but finding pleasure in it.

Last night she even clung to his waist, begging softly for mercy.

Though summer had not yet arrived, Huo Chi felt a stifling heat and had no mood for idle chatter with the young lady.

“Is there anything else?”

Before she could speak, Huo Chi rose to leave.

Lu Xuanyan’s eyes reddened; she sprang up abruptly.

“Third Brother, will you marry me?”

Huo Chi was momentarily stunned but recalled that in his childhood, when he was desperate, a very young girl brought him to a mansion, provided for his needs, and often came to keep him company.

Though that little girl was small, she never ceased talking.

Though noisy, it was the only warmth he had in his childhood.

“I will.”

Huo Chi’s gaze softened. He intended to stroke her head but thought of what his hands had been doing these days and silently withdrew.

Reassured by his words, Lu Xuanyan sweetly called him “Third Brother” several times and, understanding that he was busy, obediently watched him leave.

Indeed, Huo Chi was busy. He had come to the capital ostensibly to mourn but was secretly investigating his second brother hiding there.

Yet the strange dream seemed to reflect reality in many ways. In the dream realm, he had even seized Huo Yu, who had been hidden by the Ji family.

He was busy, but now he was not. Suddenly, he asked the coachman the current time.

“Young master, it is already the third quarter of the Shen hour.”

Huo Chi frowned deeply—the night was still far from dark.