Chapter 299 - 187: Curfew

Chapter 299: Chapter 187: Curfew

Leng Xuanshuang walked out of the ancestral hall again.

This time, she had completely removed the cloth that covered the memorial tablets.

The clamor outside the Imperial Palace had been going on for most of the day, and it would continue until the dust settled.

She squinted up at the sky.

The scorching summer sun was enough to make anyone anxious, and it left her own state of mind unsettled.

At a moment like this, no one could remain completely calm.

In truth, Leng Xuanshuang’s greatest concern wasn’t the members of the imperial court, but the Immortals in the heavens.

The imperial court was already under her control. And while the Immortals wouldn’t care if she wanted to become an Empress, they would ultimately mind if she used the methods of an Immortal Family.

Fortunately, the few Immortals who had come before, including the Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master, had not seen through the monster’s methods.

Someone approached.

"Eldest Princess, public support is at its peak."

Leng Xuanshuang said faintly, "Release the Imperial Decree."

She had not closed her eyes all night.

Last night, the Young Emperor had signed the Imperial Decree of abdication in her arms. Its contents were simple: a voluntary request to cede the world to his Elder Sister.

By announcing the contents of the Young Emperor’s decree when public support was at its peak, becoming the second Empress would be a simple matter.

’It’s still a bit early.’

Leng Xuanshuang hadn’t actually planned to ascend the throne just yet. But she’d had a bad feeling lately—the mysterious appearance of the Immortals, the attitude of the Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master... Her scheme felt as if it were about to be derailed by strange, sudden developments.

’In that case, I won’t delay any longer.’

Besides, Wang Dayun had already reached the Fifth Realm. The time was, just barely, ripe.

"Prepare the honor guard."

After giving one last order, Leng Xuanshuang dismissed everyone and returned to the side hall. The monster’s painting still hung in the exact same spot, shimmering with a cold light that made her heart palpitate.

Leng Xuanshuang walked up to the painting. "It’s about time."

She didn’t expect the monster in the painting to respond.

The last time she had seen the monster was two years ago. Back then, the monster had used its means on Wang Dayun, turning him into a vessel for its Magic. Then, after telling Leng Xuanshuang what to do, the monster had departed.

For two years, the painting had been as if dead. No matter how she called out to the monster within, there had been no sign of activity.

But today was different.

The monster in the painting actually began to move, and it spoke in human tongue.

The eyes on its cat-like face, as large as bronze bells, stared at Leng Xuanshuang.

"Is it time already?"

Leng Xuanshuang glanced at the Xiao in the Ink-Wash painting. "Just about. Any delay could bring unforeseen problems."

The Xiao said, "Humans are always like this, worrying about one thing or another. Fine, have it your way."

For some reason, Leng Xuanshuang felt that today’s Xiao was not quite the same.

The Xiao from before, though not of the Human Race, had understood human emotions—otherwise, it wouldn’t have been able to grasp her psychology so precisely. But the Xiao today lacked that quality, instead exuding a more inhuman, monstrous feel.

’No matter.’

’It was a monster to begin with.’

"I cannot speak with you much longer. As for what follows, I imagine you already have it well in hand."

Leng Xuanshuang nodded. "According to our agreement, once my enthronement is complete, I will have to rely on your divine abilities."

She didn’t just want to become an Empress; she wanted to truly become the second Holy Virtue Empress.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What’s so good about being an emperor?"

"Even if you ask, Miss Qiu, I have no answer to give you."

In the inn, the Black Skirt Fairy finished washing up and neatly donned her black dress. She then looked at the young woman cradling a fox and said, "He’s not around, so you just act this dead?"

Su Youwan shook her head. "I’ve told you before, Miss Qiu. Only when I am by his side do I have emotions. Only then can I be considered human."

Qiu Yuehan was at a loss for words.

Whenever Lu Changyuan was absent, this Little Ancestor of the Compassionate Palace seemed as if she weren’t part of the Mortal World, possessing a detached air as if her body were on earth but her soul in the heavens.

Qiu Yuehan even felt that if she and Su Youwan didn’t have Lu Changyuan as a connecting bond, the Little Ancestor of the Compassionate Palace wouldn’t even deign to speak with her.

Only that Lifebound Spirit of hers could pull this person down from the nine heavens.

Qiu Yuehan leaned against the window, watching the seething crowd on the street. "If you hadn’t gone into Cultivation, perhaps you could have become the Empress of the Glazed Dynasty."

"I was always going to pursue Cultivation."

"You have no desire for the throne at all. You’re not like that Leng Xuanshuang."

The Silver-haired Maiden gently stroked the fox’s fur. She wasn’t used to being without her cage, so hugging the fox had taken its place. "To mortals, the Emperor is the greatest there is. Glory, wealth, beauties in the harem... everything can be obtained just by sitting on that throne."

Qiu Yuehan stared blankly, lost in thought. After a long moment, she said, "But in the end, it’s only for a hundred years."

"That’s why Young Master Lu strictly forbids the Royal Family from practicing Cultivation."

Su Youwan’s tone was placid. "Besides, even if it is only a hundred years, the higher one’s position, the greater the pleasures. Not everyone’s century is the same. Not to mention death—even in death, mortals are ranked. Some are wrapped in a straw mat, while others have tombs that take years to build."

Only then did the Black Skirt Fairy realize she had never truly witnessed the lives of mortals.

In her eyes, death was the great equalizer. But she had never considered that death, too, might not be fair.

"When this is over, I will travel the Red Dust alone."

The Black Skirt Fairy felt she had begun to grasp the connection between the Red Dust Dao and the Death Dao, but she still needed to witness it with her own eyes to truly integrate the two.

Su Youwan said softly, "Then no one will be competing with me for Young Master Lu."

Qiu Yuehan shot Su Youwan a look. "Who’s competing with you? My junior sister and I have no need to."

"Then I have Sister Qiu to thank," the Silver-haired Maiden said out of the blue.

The Black Skirt Fairy felt her teeth ache with irritation.

This Little Ancestor of the Compassionate Palace was like a stone wall; apart from Lu Changyuan, nothing left a mark on her heart. What would it take to teach this girl a lesson?

’Whatever.’

’Let’s see how you get past my junior sister.’

「As evening fell.」

The noise from the streets, however, grew more clamorous as the number of petitioners swelled.

Su Youwan rose and looked at the setting sun. "The Dragon Vein trembles. The throne is about to change hands, and the Dynasty’s fortune is about to fall into chaos."

A sudden uproar erupted from the street.

Listening closely, it was about the Emperor abdicating and voluntarily ceding the throne to his Elder Sister, the current Eldest Princess.

Someone shouted, "Before the Eldest Princess came to power, our Great Xia was beset by troubles from within and without! The price of rice rose year after year, month after month! Isn’t that right?"

"YES!"

"The Eldest Princess has been managing state affairs for less than two years, and those corrupt Princes are dead! We’ve beaten back the Great Yue! Isn’t that right?"

"YES!"

Qiu Yuehan found the noise grating and closed the window, but waves of chanting—"The Holy Mother descends! May the Empire flourish eternally!"—still rolled in.

"The Dynasty’s fortune is in chaos. If Xiao has a scheme, it will likely use this moment to conceal its true intentions."

"I fear there will be no peace tonight."

Luoyang had a curfew, but it would certainly not be enforced tonight.

Therefore, this demonstration would continue until daybreak.