Li Wanming watched her departing back and sighed softly. "Look, this is exactly why I didn't want Elder Sister to enter the palace."
The harem of Emperor Zhao Yanke was far from peaceful. Previously, in order to win over the court officials, Empress Dowager Kang had arranged for him to take in a whole bunch of beauties of all shapes and sizes. The palace was filled with charming women.
Wanxin had a gentle nature. For her, the position of the empress would probably be even more difficult to hold than sitting on a volcano.
It was a pity that her warning was in vain. Elder Sister had already given her heart away, and nothing could change her mind.
"Don't worry, Princess Consort. Life in the palace is tough, but is life in the inner chambers of a noble family any easier?" Su Xiaozhu smiled gently. "Take yourself, Princess Consort, for example. Haven't you had your fair share of heart - stopping moments this past year?"
Well, that's true...
It was really hard to say which situation was more dangerous and which role was more difficult.
The moonlight shone through the gaps in the clouds, casting a soft silver glow on Su Xiaozhu's profile, making her look even more delicate and charming.
Li Wanming suddenly felt a bit awkward. If her elder sister entered the palace, wouldn't that mean Su Xiaozhu would have another superior and a powerful romantic rival?
This... At this moment, how should she face her?
Just when she didn't know what to say, Su Xiaozhu suddenly burst out laughing. "Princess Consort, don't be concerned about me. In fact, I'm looking forward to Elder Sister holding the imperial seal of the empress."
This unexpected reaction left Li Wanming stunned on the spot. But Su Xiaozhu had already taken her hand and stuffed a warm hand - warmer into her palm.
"The position of the empress won't remain empty forever. If it's not Elder Sister, it will be someone else. Anyway, it will never be me."
There was no trace of desolation in Su Xiaozhu's words. Instead, there was a kind of happy excitement.
"I know Elder Sister's character. If she becomes the empress, maybe the bullying atmosphere in the palace can finally be corrected..."
Li Wanming suddenly became a bit suspicious. "You're not trying to use my elder sister's hand to deal with Lady Lü, are you?"
Instead of being embarrassed after being seen through, Su Xiaozhu became even more calm. "What's wrong with me hoping that the future mistress of the harem will be just and upright, and that there will be a virtuous empress in the Great Sheng Dynasty, so that the palace will no longer be filled with corruption?"
Li Wanming stammered, "But Elder Sister has a gentle nature and a kind heart. How can she deal with Lü Songyuan?"
Su Xiaozhu opened her eyes wide in surprise. "Princess Consort, don't you think... Elder Sister will be bullied?"
"Isn't she?" Li Wanming said blankly. "With Lü Songyuan's methods, how can my elder sister withstand them?"
"Alas, you're just too worried and confused."
Su Xiaozhu couldn't help but laugh and gently tapped her on the forehead with her index finger. "Don't you think about it? Elder Sister now has a father who is a third - rank general, a mother who is the first female general since the founding of the Great Sheng Dynasty, and you, a princess consort, as her younger sister... Who in the whole palace would dare to bully her? Even Lady Lü would never dare to act rashly!"
Li Wanming suddenly realized. Yes, their Li family was no longer what it used to be. They had officially entered the ranks of the noble families and were no longer the poor family with no name in the capital!
Humph, dare to bully her elder sister?
Lü Songyuan had better weigh her own capabilities!
Li Wanming finally let go of her concerns. She and Su Xiaozhu looked at each other and smiled, then walked hand in hand back into the hall.
The music was light and pleasant, filled with the joy of the New Year.
...
At the beginning of February, the ceremony for enthroning the empress was held.
Li Rusong and Yuan Jinqiu were dressed in official robes. With lowered eyebrows and subdued looks, they stood solemnly among the court officials on both sides of the imperial road, watching the magnificent phoenix - carriage slowly approaching.
The eunuchs held golden maces and bone - shaped weapons, while the female officials carried pheasant - tail fans, round fans, flower canopies, and precious banners. They stood on both sides in a solemn and stately manner, looking like a long dragon wrapped in red and gold.
Li Rusong watched the approaching carriage and still felt as if he were in a dream. How had his most gentle, kind - hearted, and smiling daughter caught the emperor's eye?
And in the blink of an eye, she had become the empress who would rule over the world!
The heavy - chariot slowly passed by, and the pearl curtain was slightly rolled up.
The twelve hairpins on the phoenix crown sparkled in the morning sun. The gold - foil peonies swayed gently with the carriage, and the golden - like light spots were scattered on Wanxin's calm eyebrows.
Wanxin folded her hands on her knees. The hairpin with nine phoenixes holding pearls remained motionless. Only when passing by her parents did her almond - shaped eyes, which resembled Yuan Jinqiu's, suddenly wink playfully.
At that moment, Li Rusong almost burst into tears.
She was truly his daughter!
He clenched his fists tightly under his official robe, desperately holding back the sourness in his nose.
What was going on?
The daughter who had nestled in her mother's lap and whispered yesterday had become the mother of the nation whom they had to kneel before today!
From now on, if they wanted to see each other, they would have to submit a name - card!
Li Rusong almost wanted to cry out loud.
Even when he got home, his hands were still trembling slightly. If Yuan Jinqiu hadn't helped him, this newly - appointed father of the empress would have almost tripped over the threshold.
In the Buddhist hall in the west, Old Lady Li was kneeling in front of the Buddha statue, chanting "Amitabha" repeatedly.
Li Rusong looked at her from afar and couldn't help but say, "I've always told you to be nicer to the three of them, but you just wouldn't listen! Now that Wanxin has become the empress, you're scared!"
He deliberately raised his voice. "You'd better just chant Buddha from now on and stop causing trouble... If you cause any more problems, with just one word from the empress, your life will be over!"
Old Lady Li shrank her neck and immediately chanted even louder.
Yuan Jinqiu shook her head. "Why do you have to scare her?"
Since the edict to enthrone the empress was issued, Old Lady Li had hardly left the Buddhist hall.
She chanted from morning till night and even wanted to sleep there, for fear that the Buddha wouldn't hear her sincerity and forgive her sins, and that her granddaughter, the empress, would arrest her...
"After Wanming's wedding, she was already a bit muddled. If you scare her like this, won't she become even more stupid?" Yuan Jinqiu frowned slightly.
Li Rusong poured himself a cup of tea and grumbled, "It's better for her to be stupid. Only when she's stupid will she stop causing trouble."
As he sipped his tea, his eyes drifted towards his mother in the Buddhist hall, who was almost lying prostrate on the cushion. He said calmly, "For the rest of her life, let her chant scriptures at home. A life of a lamp and a Buddha is better than losing her head."
...
Outside the city, Li Wanming was tugging at Wanmo's sleeve, her eyes full of reluctance. "Second Sister, are you really leaving?"
Wanmo was impatient. "You girl, why are you even more long - winded than Elder Sister? When I left last time, I didn't see her cry like you! I've always said that I'm a child of the jianghu and am destined to roam the world!"
Saying this, she gave the man behind her a sideways look. "If it weren't for him, I would have seen the lonely smoke in the desert last time!"
He Muhao was holding the reins of the horse and scratched his head, smiling. "It's the same to go and see it this time. With me by your side, it will be even more beautiful..."
Li Wanming asked, "Mr. He, are you really willing to give up the wealth of the Earl's Mansion?"
"What Mr. He? Call me Second Brother - in - law!" He Muhao glared at her. "I'm just a concubine - born son. What does the wealth of the Earl's Mansion have to do with me? It's better to leave this place full of troubles earlier so that some people can feel at ease."
His eyes then fell on Wanmo, as if they had taken root there. There was endless tenderness in his gaze. "Moreover, I've already found the one I've been longing for."