Chapter 15
Inside the bedchambers of the Chonghua Palace, not a word was spoken.
But the chest of Emperor Xiao Yunzhou heaved up and down.
His expression shifted from astonishment to cold severity.
Wei Zheng, who had been attending him, sensed something amiss and dared not move.
[Father Emperor, you cannot continue to pursue the path of immortality, for it will only lead to your demise.]
[Your most trusted Consort, the future Empress of the new dynasty, is the Yuan King's beloved white moonlight!]
"Bang——"
The teacup in Xiao Yunzhou's hand shattered as he flung it away!
Xiao Chuchu was startled, her little hands trembling in fright.
Lower Concubine Liu hurriedly lowered her head, tightly embracing her daughter.
She dared not show any hint that she had heard her daughter's thoughts.
Previously, she had discussed this with her son, and she was prepared.
At this moment, she maintained a composed expression, as if she had heard nothing, merely being frightened by the Emperor's smashing of the cup.
After throwing the cup, Xiao Yunzhou's first reaction was to scrutinize Lower Concubine Liu's expression.
Finding nothing amiss, he narrowed his eyes and scanned the palace attendants and eunuchs.
Seeing them trembling in fear, with bewildered looks on their faces, unaware of why he had suddenly erupted in anger, Xiao Yunzhou breathed a sigh of relief.
The ugly events of him being poisoned, his grave being desecrated, and the downfall of his dynasty, even if they were false, could not be heard by others!
Otherwise, how could the Imperial family maintain its dignity?
How could he, the Emperor, maintain his dignity!
[Oh, why did Father Emperor suddenly become angry? Was the tea too hot...]
"Wei Zheng, the tea was scorching hot, how could I swallow it!"
Xiao Yunzhou shouted.
Wei Zheng was taken aback, for the tea did not seem hot at all.
But he was not foolish and quickly prostrated himself, "Your Majesty, please forgive this servant's foolishness!"
The other eunuchs and Lower Concubine Liu breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Yunzhou nodded inwardly, looking towards Wei Zheng, "What are you waiting for? Serve the food!"
He took a deep breath and then looked at the little princess in the cradle with her black eyes wide open, a complex expression on his face.
What happened next?
Earlier, he had been too enraged and had impulsively smashed the cup, interrupting the little one's words.
What happened after that?
Was there not a single person from the Xiao dynasty who rose up to overthrow the Yuan King and restore their dynasty?
Xiao Yunzhou gazed at his daughter with urgency.
But Xiao Chuchu only blew a bubble, and what she thought made his hands tremble with anger.
[The Consort had once saved the life of the Yuan Khan in Liang Province... Later, the Yuan cavalry charged into the palace, nearly killing the new Emperor, the Consort's son. The Consort pleaded in anguish, submitting to this change of dynasty.]
Xiao Yunzhou's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
The new Emperor was the son of the Consort and his third prince!?
The one who could not even write better than his younger brother!
He had never been interested in books, only skilled in horseback riding, how could he understand governance!
No wonder within two years, he had slaughtered hundreds of officials and led to the downfall of the Xiao dynasty!
He must have been blinded by something to have enthroned this third prince as his successor!
Xiao Yunzhou did not know why he would make such a foolish decision three years later.
[The new Yuan King, believing the Consort had been forced to submit to him, cherished her deeply and disregarded all opposition, enthroning her as the Empress.]
[But he did not know that the Consort only loved power.]
[At the time, to secure the throne for her son, she did not hesitate to poison and kill Father Emperor.]
[After becoming the Empress of the new dynasty, to cajole the Yuan King into allowing her to participate in governance, she lured three princes of the Xiao dynasty, who commanded powerful armies, into the palace and had them assassinated.]
[She also revealed to the Yuan King the deployment maps of the Xiao armies.]
[After the capital fell, Nanjing, Shu City, and other territories quickly surrendered as well.]
[From then on, the Xiao Imperial clan, numbering over ten thousand, was entirely slaughtered.]
[The Consort claimed she had a nightmare about Father Emperor, enraging the Yuan King, who then sent men to desecrate his grave and flog his remains.]
Xiao Yunzhou's rage burned within him.
But this time, he had nothing to throw.
Two years ago, he had taken a liking to meditation and seeking longevity.
In his youth, he had witnessed the late Emperor suffering from illness, writhing in agony, as the imperial physicians' acupuncture and medications only seemed to increase his suffering.
Thus, after ascending the throne, he did not trust the imperial physicians and preferred to consult with Taoist masters on cultivating the body.
Previously, he had instructed them to find ancient formulas and concoct elixirs to nourish his body and prolong his life.
The words of the little princess were horrifying, and anyone else might not have believed them.
But Xiao Yunzhou found himself somewhat convinced.
To aid the recovery of his injured leg and prevent any lingering ailments,
he had just dismissed the imperial physicians and ordered the eunuchs to seek an elixir from a Taoist master.
Did this not align with what the little princess had said?
[Hmm, if Father Emperor does not consume the Taoist Master Wang's elixir this time, perhaps he can avoid all of this.]
[The new Emperor is unworthy, so Father Emperor must take action!]
His daughter was loyal to him.
But Taoist Master Wang?
Xiao Yunzhou raised his eyebrows, unable to suppress a fond glance at the little princess in Lower Concubine Liu's arms, his expression perplexed.
He had no Taoist Master Wang here.
The Taoist masters who usually guided his meditation and those responsible for concocting elixirs did not have the surname Wang.
But as he was thinking this, someone announced from outside, "Your Majesty, Lord Chen, the Left Censor, requests an audience."
Xiao Yunzhou frowned.
Lord Chen's wife was the sister of the Consort.
After hearing the Consort's misdeeds, the last person he wanted to see was someone associated with her!
Wei Zheng hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty, Lord Chen says that when he was serving in Shu Province, he met a renowned Taoist adept, most skilled in elixir concoction. Now in his sixties, he is still hale and hearty."
"Lord Chen has heard that Your Majesty was injured last night and wishes to recommend this Taoist adept to you."
Xiao Yunzhou's eyelids twitched, "What is this Taoist adept's name and where is he from?"
Soon, Wei Zheng inquired and returned with the information.
"Your Majesty, this Taoist adept is named Wang Fangming, from Liang Province."
[Ah, it's him!]
Xiao Yunzhou's heart trembled.
Just as he mentioned a Taoist Master Wang, one had indeed arrived!
The little princess's words were not a heavenly omen, what else could they be?
It seemed they were all true.
His death was so tragic.
He would be merely thirty-four years old three years from now!
[The Consort feared that once the truth was revealed, people would connect Taoist Master Wang to her, so she claimed to the public that Father Emperor had died from excessive indulgence.]
"Outrageous!"
Xiao Yunzhou, half sitting on the bed, clad in his yellow robe, could not help but curse loudly upon hearing this.
Excessive indulgence referred to a man dying during vigorous sexual activities.
Not only did the Consort poison him, but she also tarnished his reputation after his death, claiming he died in the arms of a woman!
"This is a blatant defamation of the highest order! How could such a thing be possible!"
Xiao Yunzhou was enraged.
Lower Concubine Liu nearly burst into laughter and hurriedly lowered her head to conceal her expression, feigning disinterest in the matter of the Taoist adept.
"Send someone to Liang Province to arrest this Wang Fangming and bring him to the capital!"
"I want to question him personally about this elixir that has kept him so hale and hearty!"
Xiao Yunzhou raged.
Lord Chen, the Left Censor, who was waiting outside, had expected to be rewarded by the Emperor for recommending the elixir.
But instead, he received the Emperor's wrath.
"As the esteemed Left Censor, instead of monitoring officials and caring for the people, you are more concerned with Taoist adepts and elixirs!"
"By my decree, from this day forth, the Left Censor shall be sent to the Taoist monastery to refine elixirs!"
Lord Chen, standing outside, collapsed to his knees, his face drained of color as he trembled, "Your Majesty, I am wronged... Your Majesty..."
[Oh, Father Emperor is so wise!]
[Well done!]
After venting his anger, Xiao Yunzhou felt refreshed upon hearing his daughter's praise.
"Bring the little princess to me."
He stretched out his arms affectionately and took the soft, plump infant from Lower Concubine Liu's embrace.
As he did so, he caught a whiff of the faint fragrance emanating from his daughter.
The soothing floral scent that had alleviated his pain earlier had come from his daughter.
"Hahaha, you are indeed my beloved daughter."
Lower Concubine Liu struggled to suppress an eye roll.
However, Xiao Yunzhou was overjoyed.
Lowering his gaze, he saw Chuchu's delicate features and broad forehead.
She was a child blessed with good fortune.
This was likely due to his previous meditation and offerings, reaching the heavens and moving the deities, who had granted him this precious daughter to warn him.
What Taoist adept could compare to his beloved daughter?
She must be a reincarnated celestial being!
"By my decree, the third princess shall be granted the title of Princess Gulun."
"Lower Concubine Liu shall be elevated to Concubine Liu."