Volume 1, Chapter 29: The True Heiress is a Mastermind

The red candles flickered, casting a suggestive, rosy glow throughout the room.

"The... the sacrificial prayer today, I wrote it myself. Sharing this empire with you is my intention as well." Si Chengnian gripped his sleeves tightly, his gaze drifting.

"Hmm, it was well-written."

An Qianqian moved to remove the heavy phoenix coronet from her head, but Si Chengnian immediately reached out to hold her wrist. "Don't move, let me."

Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, softening the naturally aloof expression on her face. Si Chengnian’s gaze became involuntarily fixed upon her; his Adam’s apple bobbed, and the words he intended to say died in his throat.

He wanted to say, "You look beautiful today," but it felt too cliché. He wanted to say, "With me here, no one will dare bully you," but he feared she would find it overly formal.

His mind was a whirl of words, yet all he could manage was: "Would you like... some tea? The Imperial Kitchen offered some fresh Longjing tea harvested before the rains. I had them keep it warm..."

Before he could finish, a sudden force tugged at his wrist. Si Chengnian gave a start, falling backward uncontrollably as the back of his head struck the bed frame. When he looked up, An Qianqian was already leaning over him.

The wide sleeves of her phoenix robes slid down, revealing her fair, jade-like forearms. She propped herself up on one hand beside his ear, while the other held his wrist—the grip was gentle, yet carried an irresistible authority.

"Si Chengnian, what are you nervous about?"

Her breath brushed against his cheek, carrying the sweet scent of the wedding wine, yet her eyes remained calm and detached. Si Chengnian’s face flushed a deep crimson, the heat spreading from his cheeks to his earlobes. His heart hammered, making his voice stutter: "I... I am not..."

"Not?"

An Qianqian leaned down, her nose nearly touching his, a cunning smile curling the corner of her lips. Taking him by surprise, she leaned in and kissed him.

[Wow! Host, are you really this bold? Is this something I can watch without a premium membership?]

"Go to the dark room."

...

The shadows of the candle flames danced on the bed curtains, stretching their intertwined silhouettes long across the room.

***

The candle wick popped, and the light within the curtains flickered until dawn.

The next day, An Qianqian slept until noon. When she awoke, Si Chengnian was still reviewing the memorials he hadn’t finished the day before. Being an emperor meant there was truly never a day of rest.

"Qianqian, you're awake?" Habitually glancing over, Si Chengnian noticed she had stirred.

"Yes. It is time to offer tea to the Empress Dowager."

"No rush. Mother knows we were exhausted yesterday and granted us time to rest. If you wish to pay your respects, we can simply send word ahead."

After freshening up, the two walked side by side toward Changle Palace. The Empress Dowager had resided there since her abdication. Upon entering, they found the chairs on both sides already filled with people.

The Empress Dowager, now the Retired Emperor, set down her teacup as they approached, a gentle smile gracing her face. An Qianqian followed Si Chengnian forward, performing the formal kowtow. A palace maid brought over the prepared hot tea, and An Qianqian took it with both hands, offering it to the Retired Emperor first: "Mother, please have some tea."

The Retired Emperor took the cup, her gaze landing on An Qianqian with the scrutiny and affection of an elder: "Good child, from now on, the burden of this harem and this empire will require you and Chengnian to shoulder it together."

"This daughter-in-law will certainly not fail Mother's trust."

An Qianqian’s tone was respectful and her demeanor composed; she saw nothing amiss in the Retired Emperor's words about sharing the burden of the empire with Si Chengnian.

Si Chengnian also offered a cup of tea. The Retired Emperor drank it with a smile, then picked up the phoenix seal from a tray held by a lady-in-waiting and placed it into An Qianqian’s hands.

"This is the phoenix seal. If you encounter difficulties, do not force yourself. Chengnian is reliable, and my old bones can still shield you from the wind and rain."

"I shall strictly follow Mother's teachings."

No sooner had she spoken than a woman sitting in the first seat to the Retired Emperor's left set down her teacup. She cast a sidelong glance at An Qianqian, a trace of veiled sarcasm on her lips: "The Retired Emperor's words are biased. The phoenix seal is a sacred instrument of the state; how can it be easily handed to a woman from another country? What if she harbors ulterior motives? Would that not plunge the people of the Yan Kingdom into fire and water?"

Si Chengnian’s brow furrowed, and he was about to retort, but An Qianqian pressed his hand. "Mother, who is this?"

The Retired Emperor glanced at the woman indifferently. "Just a consort of the late Emperor. She has no children, and she begged so bitterly back then that I allowed her to remain in the palace. She arrived at Changle Palace early today and has refused to leave."

Seeing the Retired Emperor's attitude, An Qianqian gathered the situation. She took the phoenix seal, not even sparing the woman a glance, and said coldly: "The Emperor's grace is vast. Instead of being grateful, you dare to put on airs before me, the new Empress. Whether the phoenix seal should be given to me or not is hardly a matter for you to interfere with. You seem to be a creature who knows no propriety. Lingyi, drag her out and deal with her according to palace rules."

The woman’s face turned deathly pale, her arrogance instantly crushed. She fell to her knees with a thud, crawling toward the Retired Emperor’s feet, sobbing and pleading: "Retired Emperor, mercy! This subject was confused, blinded by greed, and spoke out of turn! Please, for the sake of our past, spare me this once!"

Seeing the Retired Emperor sitting with her eyes closed, not even lifting her lids, she turned to Si Chengnian, tears and snot streaming down her face: "Your Majesty! This subject knows her wrong! The Empress is truly fit to rule the world; the phoenix seal should naturally be in her hands. I was blind! Please, Your Majesty, say a word for me!"

Si Chengnian looked down at her, his eyes colder than the winter wind outside the hall: "The Empress’s decision is my own."

The woman panicked completely and turned back to An Qianqian, kowtowing desperately: "Empress! This subject will never dare again! Please, show mercy and spare my lowly life!"

Her forehead struck the gold-tiled floor, producing a dull thud, and blood soon began to seep out. An Qianqian did not even grant her a peripheral glance, merely playing with the phoenix seal in her hand.

Lingyi stepped forward. Before the woman could speak again, she pulled out a handkerchief and stuffed it into her mouth. The woman struggled, kicking and flailing, but was held by two young eunuchs behind Lingyi. They dragged her out like a dead dog, and she soon vanished beyond the palace doors.

The hall was silent as a tomb. The way everyone looked at An Qianqian now carried a touch of awe.

The Retired Emperor finally opened her eyes slowly, looking at An Qianqian with a satisfied smile: "Good, very good."

She took a sip of her tea, her tone filled with relief: "The Yan court is not a place for the soft-hearted. Seeing you act this way, I am at ease." She looked at Si Chengnian: "Chengnian, you have married a good Empress. From here on, the two of you must shoulder this empire together, and my old bones can finally find some rest."

Si Chengnian took An Qianqian’s hand. They looked at each other and spoke in unison: "We shall obey Mother's decree."

After leaving Changle Palace, Si Chengnian left to attend to government affairs. An Qianqian dismissed all the palace servants and released the system.

"I have done as you said, following everything Si Chengnian says, but so much time has passed, and he still hasn't told me his wish. You keep asking me to complete tasks this way, but the progress is so slow. If he never says it for the rest of his life, won't I never finish the mission?"

[What the host says actually makes a lot of sense. What should we do then?]