Chapter 328: Chapter 288: The Nine-tailed Country Shall Not Set Foot in the World of Ten Thousand Laws

"I think you’re the ridiculous one! Does Princess Qingyang not have a legitimate claim? This was a marriage contract established by the former Emperor, an ancestral pact. What more is there to say?"

For a moment, the Imperial Court descended into chaos, with officials arguing back and forth.

Empress Dowager Yan’s brow furrowed, her expression extremely displeased.

Yan Shanao, on the other hand, kept his eyes closed, affecting a profound and detached air.

As for Xiao Mo,

He was even calmer, watching the spectacle with some amusement, curious to see what outcome their bickering would produce.

"Silence!"

At that moment, Empress Dowager Yan took a deep breath and spoke.

Her voice was not loud, yet everyone could hear it.

The officials gradually fell silent, lowering their heads and returning to their positions.

"In the Imperial Court, under His Majesty’s very eyes, you have all been so discourteous! What has become of your decorum?!" Empress Dowager Yan scolded, her chest heaving with anger.

She turned her head to her brother, who had remained silent before the officials, and asked, "Lord Prime Minister, you have not said a word. Do you have any brilliant insights on this matter?"

As the Empress Dowager’s words fell, all the civil and military officials turned to look at Yan Shanao.

Yan Shanao opened his eyes, stepped forward to offer a salute, and began to speak at a leisurely pace:

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, this old subject believes that what the civil and military officials have said all has some merit.

Princess Qingyang’s marriage to Your Majesty was an agreement between the former emperors of our two kingdoms. That the Qin Kingdom still remembers its friendship with us after so many years, and is marrying their Eldest Princess into the Zhou Kingdom, is a great show of respect. If our Zhou Kingdom were to refuse, it would inevitably cause displeasure.

However, Yan Ruxue of the Yan Clan has already been designated as the Empress of Great Zhou, a fact known to all under heaven. To replace her now would likely provoke the wrath of the common people.

But this matter is not necessarily a choice between one or the other.

Emperor Xiaozong once faced a similar situation. At the time, there were two women eligible to become Empress, and the Imperial Court debated the matter endlessly.

In the end, Empress Dowager Lü brought both women into the Imperial Harem to assess their virtue and conduct.

A year later, His Majesty Emperor Xiaozong and Empress Dowager Lü chose one of them to be the Empress.

Therefore, this old man proposes that we have both Yan Ruxue of the Yan Clan and Princess Qingyang of Qin enter the palace together, so we may observe their words and actions.

After a year, Your Majesty may choose one to be his Empress according to his own heart. This would be the most appropriate solution!"

"..."

After Yan Shanao finished speaking, the court ministers exchanged glances, all thinking that Yan Shanao was truly an old fox.

There was indeed a precedent for this, and it was certainly a good compromise.

But in the Imperial Harem, the true master was still Empress Dowager Yan.

If His Majesty wanted to choose a consort, wouldn’t he have to consider the Empress Dowager’s opinion?

Therefore, after a year, the likelihood of Yan Ruxue becoming the Empress was much greater.

Of course, the main issue was that the Zhou Kingdom could not afford to offend the Qin Kingdom right now, and Elder Huang of the Wanjian Sect also seemed to be keeping a lukewarm distance from the Yan Family.

That was why Yan Shanao wanted to postpone the decision and observe the situation first.

And during that year, he would definitely be trying to find a new backer.

The Empress Dowager, who had already discussed this with Yan Shanao, lowered her head and pretended to think for a moment before looking at Xiao Mo beside her:

"Your Majesty, I also believe the Prime Minister’s words have some merit.

Although the matter of appointing an Empress is an affair of state, it is also Your Majesty’s personal affair.

Since you are in a difficult position, and you have not met either Ruxue or Princess Qingyang, it would be better to let them enter the palace first so you can spend some time with them.

After a year, you can choose one to be your Empress according to your heart. This will serve as an answer to both yourself and to the world.

What are Your Majesty’s thoughts?"

"Since Mother has said so, then I will follow Mother’s arrangements."

Xiao Mo said with a nod.

’Could I possibly have refused?’

’Then again, this is actually to my advantage.’

’A year’s time is enough for me to understand the personality of the Yan Clan’s talented lady, and to see if Princess Qingyang genuinely wants to help me.’

’When the time comes, I’ll choose a path—either borrow the Qin Kingdom’s power or stick to my original plan and get rid of Yan Shanao.’

"Do any of you beloved ministers have any objections?" Empress Dowager Yan asked the court.

"We have no objections."

"Good. Then it is settled."

Empress Dowager Yan’s eyes curved into a smile.

"Today, I shall write a letter to the Sovereign of Qin and explain the situation cordially. If the Sovereign of Qin agrees, we will choose an auspicious day and invite Ruxue and Princess Qingyang to enter the palace.

But whether it is Ruxue or Princess Qingyang, they will both be Your Majesty’s wives. You must get along well with them both. A husband and wife should treat each other with mutual respect, and you must produce heirs for our Zhou Kingdom."

Towards the end, the Empress Dowager’s tone became quite sincere, as if she were a real mother giving earnest advice to her son.

"Mother is right. I will remember," Xiao Mo replied.

Empress Dowager Yan nodded. "Do any of you beloved ministers have anything else to report? If not, let us adjourn the court."

"We have nothing to report!" the ministers shouted in unison.

"Then let the court be adjourned..." Xiao Mo said calmly.

"Court is adjourned!!!"

As Wei Xun’s duck-like voice echoed through the Imperial Court, the ministers all cried out, "We respectfully send off Your Majesty."

Xiao Mo stood up and helped Empress Dowager Yan slowly out of the grand hall.

...

"Miss... Miss... This is bad..."

Two hours later, Xiao Chun ran into the courtyard, shouting breathlessly.

"Oh, you..." Yan Ruxue sighed softly as she looked at Xiao Chun. "This panicky nature of yours... you absolutely must change it after we enter the palace. Otherwise, you’ll be reprimanded by His Majesty."

"Please forgive me, Miss." Xiao Chun quickly bowed.

"Go on, what is it this time?" Yan Ruxue asked.

"Miss, the Master just returned to the residence and was discussing matters of the court with the Madam. In the end, the Empress Dowager decided that you and Princess Qingyang will both enter the palace. A year from now, His Majesty will choose one of you to be the Empress."

"Oh, I see." Yan Ruxue continued to turn the pages of her book.

"But Miss, you were first! That Princess Qingyang is the one who came later!"

Xiao Chun said, speaking up for her mistress with a hint of resentment in her voice.

"Honestly, are the heavens deliberately making things difficult for you? Why does getting married have to be so full of twists and turns?"

"Alright, alright. Since it has already happened, we’ll take it one step at a time. What’s the use in overthinking it?" Yan Ruxue said with a smile. "Go bring me some pastries. I’m a little hungry."

"Alright..."

Even though her Miss accepted it so calmly, Xiao Chun still felt very upset. But not knowing what else to say, she could only mutter to herself as she left the courtyard to fetch some osmanthus cakes for her.

After Xiao Chun left, a gentle breeze swept through, and a graceful figure in green appeared by Yan Ruxue’s side. "Sister... would you like me to enter the palace with you?"

"There’s no need." Yan Ruxue shook her head. "They are just two little girls. What kind of trouble could they stir up? In comparison, I need you to go somewhere for me."

"Please tell me, Sister."

"There has been some movement from the Nine-tailed Country recently. Take this letter, and as a representative of the Four Seas, go on a diplomatic mission to the Nine-tailed Country. Deliver it personally into the hands of the Sovereign of the Nine-tailed Country."

Yan Ruxue’s golden, vertical pupils stared at the horizon.

"If the Sovereign of the Nine-tailed Country refuses, then go find He Yeye. No matter what methods you must use, do not allow the Nine-tailed Country to take a single step into the World of Ten Thousand Laws."

...

「Demon Race’s World, the Yehuo Kingdom.」

A kingdom situated at the border between the World of Ten Thousand Laws and the Demon Race’s World, it occupied a strategically perilous location and served as a crucial barrier for the Demon Race’s World against the World of Ten Thousand Laws.

It was also a vital route for the Demon Race’s World to dispatch troops into the World of Ten Thousand Laws and an important granary in times of war—a position from which one could both attack and defend.

And on this very day, hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the Nine-tailed Country had broken through the capital of the Yehuo Kingdom and stormed the Imperial Palace. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

A woman in a light blue long dress stood atop the city walls, simply gazing into the distance.

"Your Majesty, the Sovereign of the Yehuo Kingdom has been executed."

A Fox Race maid knelt on one knee behind the woman, holding the black dog head of the Yehuo Kingdom’s Sovereign in her hands.

"Mm."

The woman nodded, her gaze still fixed on the distance.

Her line of sight stretched all the way to the Great Wall of China.

Atop the Great Wall, a delicate girl holding a giant scythe sat on a giant’s shoulder. She spat on the ground, muttering and cursing about something unknown.