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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Translator's note: I would like to give a big shoutout and thank you to Everyone who stayed till the very end. A big thank you to all my dear readers who stayed even with the chaotic posting schedule. you all have my heart. These are the last few chapters please drop your comments and what you think i should do better or any novel you want me to translate or post more chapters on.
Chapter 156
The cold wind coaxed the plum blossoms to bloom. Last night, a blanket of snow fell, and upon opening the latticed windows in the morning, one saw only a world of pristine white outside.
Since the Noble Consort’s return from her family visit, no one had dared to cause trouble, and the palace had settled into a state of tranquility. However, the harem soon noticed something that they dared not dwell upon—whenever the Emperor entered the harem, he went only to Yihe Palace to spend the night. It seemed he had ceased summoning any other concubines entirely.
Gu Han was not the only one to notice this. As the beneficiary of this situation, she naturally remained silent, acting as though she were oblivious to the shift.
Consort Ye, who assisted in managing the harem, visited Yihe Palace every few days. Gu Han knew that many concubines had been flocking to Hanxi Palace recently to complain, but Consort Ye never breathed a word of it. After discussing palace affairs, she would leave noncommittally, as if she hadn't noticed anything unusual at all.
The sound of footsteps came from outside as Jiu si ran in, huffing and puffing from the cold. She held two pitch-black, round objects in her bare hands, hastily placing them on the table before reaching up to pinch her own ears. Her hands were frozen bright red.
Gu Han looked at her with a mix of exasperation and amusement:
"You aren't a child anymore; why is your temperament still so flighty?"
Some time ago, the Emperor had bestowed a crate of pears upon Yihe Palace. Gu Han was always generous to her servants, especially Jiu si and Jiu nian, awarding them each a plate to enjoy. Unexpectedly, Jiu si had accidentally dropped a pear into some water; by the time she found it, the basin had frozen solid. Pears were a luxury in winter, so Jiu si couldn't bear to waste it—she actually smashed the ice to eat the fruit. The pear was frozen rock-hard; Gu Han felt a phantom ache in her teeth just looking at it.
Yet, Jiu si seemed to have developed a taste for it. Seeing the snowfall yesterday, she buried two pears in the snow for a day and a night before digging them up just now.
Like showing off a treasure, Jiu si said to Gu Han: "Does Your Ladyship want to try one?"
Gu Han shook her head in refusal. "Frozen pears are too cold; look after your own health."
The inner hall had floor heating and was much warmer than outside. Gu Han usually turned a blind eye to Jiu si taking breaks in the inner hall, but when Jiu nian entered, she gave Jiu si a sharp glare. Jiu si immediately turned away, looking guilty.
Seeing Jiu nian return, Gu Han sat up straight and knit her brows. "How is it?"
Jiu nian shook her head worriedly. "The Empress Dowager refused to see anyone. I went there but only managed to speak with Nanny Wu for a while." She paused and lowered her voice: "From the looks of it, Her Majesty's health has not improved."
As the New Year approached, several more snowfalls hit the capital. The Empress Dowager was elderly and had fallen ill after catching a stray draft. The illness was aggressive; within days, she was unable to even leave her bed.
Gu Han had visited Cining Palace several times, and the rest of the harem had followed suit. Eventually, the Empress Dowager ordered that no one was to visit, Gu Han included. However, Gu Han could not simply ignore the situation. She insisted on going once every three days, and on other days, she sent Jiu nian. Because of their bond, the Empress Dowager turned a blind eye to Gu Han, occasionally letting her sit in the hall, though Jiu nian was not allowed inside.
It had been three days since Gu Han last went. She should have gone personally today, but the Empress Dowager had stopped her last time:
"You have a prince and a princess. However filial you are, you must think of them first."
Gu Han knew the Empress Dowager spoke from the heart. Moreover, An’er had started acting a bit listless yesterday, and Gu Han truly didn't dare take the risk. She massaged her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
That evening, when Lu Yu came to Yihe Palace, Gu Han keenly noticed that he was more silent than usual. Unsure of the cause, she asked tentatively:
"Your Majesty seems in low spirits. Are you worried about the Empress Dowager's health?"
Lu Yu seemed to pause for a second before giving a low hum of affirmation.
Gu Han glanced at him, a flicker of oddness crossing her mind, but she quickly dismissed it as overthinking. It was only natural for the Emperor to worry when his mother was gravely ill. Since life, death, and sickness were beyond her control, she could only offer comfort:
"I will keep an eye on the Imperial Physicians and urge them to cure the Empress Dowager as soon as possible."
Beyond that, she had no other power over the illness.
Lu Yu embraced her, burying his face in her neck, and remained silent for a long time. He seemed exhausted lately; dark circles had formed under his eyes. Leaning against Gu Han, he actually fell asleep almost instantly.
Gu Han called his name a few times before realizing he was truly out. She gently moved him onto the soft couch. As she smoothed his furrowed brows, her suspicions grew deeper.
She soon learned the reason.
The court had once again raised the issue of the Imperial Selection. Using the Empress Dowager’s illness as a pretext, the ministers argued that the Emperor's offspring were few and urged him to hold a selection early to bring "fortune" and pray for the Empress Dowager's recovery. In this world, bloodlines and fortune were often seen as intertwined.
When Xiao Fangzi hesitantly reported this news, Gu Han accidentally dropped and shattered a jade ruyi scepter.
The entire hall of Yihe Palace was startled. Gu Han’s face was cold as she lowered her eyes. "They certainly care a great deal about the Emperor's domestic affairs."
The servants dared not respond. In the eyes of the ministers, the Emperor’s personal affairs were state affairs, and the selection was directly tied to their own interests. How could they not care?
Gu Han understood this, but the ministers pushing for a selection was a direct threat to her interests. How could she be happy? Yet she also knew that the voices in court were unprecedentedly unanimous; this was not something the Emperor could easily deflect. In fact, he had no reason to refuse. Continuing the imperial bloodline was his duty. The fact that he had stubbornly dragged it out until now was already a miracle to Gu Han.
Yao Xiurong, who had been terrified by Concubine Wei’s death, had been ill for a long time. By the time she recovered, the New Year was nearly upon them. She, too, noticed the Emperor rarely visited the harem, and she hadn't even managed to see him once when she went to deliver soup.
Just as Yao Xiurong was complaining to her servants about the Noble Consort monopolizing the Emperor, she heard about the court’s pressure for a selection. She frowned, conflicted. No one wanted new women in the palace, it meant dividing their already thin share of favor even further. However, the Emperor’s exclusive doting on the Noble Consort had left the other concubines feeling uneasy. Most remained silent about the selection; if it could break the current deadlock in the palace, then a selection didn't seem so bad after all.
Yao Xiurong murmured to herself: "What on earth is the Emperor doing?"
No one knew what Lu Yu was thinking. Even Gu Han only saw the exhaustion in his eyes deepen. One day, as Lu Yu was closing his eyes to sleep, Gu Han bit her lip and said softly:
"Your Majesty, just agree to them."
Lu Yu’s eyes snapped open. He looked down at her without a word.
Gu Han reached up to stroke his brow. "Your Majesty hasn't had a good night's sleep in a long time."
The weight of both the Empress Dowager and the court was pressing down on him. Gu Han even felt that she was one of those burdens. Aside from state affairs, he had to worry about her mood. Stretched thin, he had grown noticeably thinner in just a short time.
Lu Yu knew what she was referring to. He gripped her hand and pressed it to his lips. "It’s no matter. Let them talk."
Gu Han stopped him. Nestling in his arms, she whispered: "I know Your Majesty is good to me. Having this piece of your heart is enough."
She had entered the palace selection because she was the daughter of the Marquis estate and had a responsibility to her family's honor. The Emperor was the same; even as the Son of Heaven, he could not act purely on whim. He had to carry the heavy burdens of his status. Furthermore, if the Emperor continued his obstinacy, rumors would likely spread among the commoners that she was a "seductress" bewitching the sovereign. This was a classic tactic used by those in power, using the ignorance of the masses as a blade. Words are fearsome; living in this world, no one can be completely indifferent to them.
Lu Yu said in a heavy voice: "It's not enough."
The human heart is unpredictable. No matter how much he cherished her now, he couldn't guarantee what would happen in the future. Their status also dictated an inherent inequality. Over these past few months, Lu Yu had come to understand that it was this very inequality that made Gu Han hesitate, even though he could sense she felt affection for him.
Lu Yu leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Do not worry. Leave it to me."
In truth, Lu Yu knew the selection was inevitable. The court was not yet his absolute mouthpiece. But even if there was to be a selection, Lu Yu would not allow himself to be coerced without doing anything.
His eyes glinted with a dark intensity. He said to Gu Han: "Wait a little longer."
He knew what Gu Han wanted, and what she desired, she would slowly receive.
Gu Han looked up at him blankly, realizing he had already made a decision. She said no more, knowing she only had to wait for the outcome. However, a flash of disgust crossed her eyes. Though the court seemed united in wanting a selection, those jumping the highest were the Lin and Chen clans. Did they truly think a daughter of their bloodline would win his favor just by entering the palace?
A mocking sneer flickered across her lips.
Lu Yu dragged the matter out past the New Year. The debate over the selection had reached a fever pitch. Someone even mentioned that the position of Empress should not remain vacant for so long.
Gu Han was from the Rongyang Marquis estate, a prestigious background. Once this was said, no matter how low-profile the Marquis estate tried to be, they could not remain silent. The next day, the court proposed crowning Gu Han as Empress, but it was quickly refuted on the grounds that she hadn't been in the palace long enough.
It wasn't until the beginning of February in the 6th year of Hanyu that the Imperial Selection was officially finalized. In early March of the same year, the selection formally began.
Gu Han had expected this result; her emotions were lukewarm at the news. However, at the same time, the Emperor issued two Imperial Decrees that sent the court and the harem into a dizzying spin.
The First Decree: Appoint Noble Consort Zhao as the Imperial Noble Consort (Huang Guifei), with status equal to a "Vice-Empress."
The court had been shouting that Gu Han's tenure was too short for her to be Empress. Lu Yu hadn't argued back, and the ministers thought he had quietly compromised. No one expected him to issue this decree. As long as there was no Empress, the Imperial Noble Consort was the mistress of the harem; her daily ceremonies and standard of treatment were virtually identical to those of an Empress.
The Second Decree: Appoint the Third Prince as the Crown Prince (储君).
As soon as this decree was issued, countless voices of opposition rose in court, with the Chen clan being the most vocal. The Chen clan was the maternal family of the First Prince; naturally, they could not accept this.
But Lu Yu’s decree was logically sound: appointing a Crown Prince early avoided future fraternal conflict. By first appointing an Imperial Noble Consort, the Third Prince became the "Di" (legal) son. Appointing the Crown Prince based on the principles of legal seniority and the auspicious "dragon and phoenix" signs surrounding his birth silenced the disinterested ministers.
Through these actions, everyone finally saw that even if new women entered the palace, the Imperial Noble Consort's position would never be shaken.
Upon receiving the news, Gu Han stood rooted to the spot for a long time. Finally, she whispered:
"...So, the Emperor was asking me to wait for today."
When Lu Yu said to "wait a little longer," Gu Han hadn't thought much of it, assuming he was just stalling. That was why she hadn't been emotional when the selection decree arrived. But who could have known he was preparing such a massive surprise?
These are the last few chapters please drop your comments and what you think i should do better or any novel you want me to translate or post more chapters on.
Vice-Empress, Crown Prince, every single thing was exactly what she desired and sought. Since the Empress had passed, she had hoped for that position and longed for her family's glory to endure. She did have affection for the Emperor, but she felt those feelings were insignificant compared to power and her clan.
That night, Gu Han waited for Lu Yu outside Yihe Palace. As soon as Lu Yu stepped off his sedan, he saw her standing there gracefully.
Lu Yu stepped forward and caught her before she could bow, narrowing his eyes: "Are you happy?"
Gu Han did not hide it. Her eyes shimmered like starlight as she looked at him. She nodded, and for a moment, unable to find words, she simply gave a soft "Mn."
Lu Yu looked at her, his gaze momentarily deep. He knew she would be happy; he had given her everything she wanted, things no one else could provide.
Someone had to sit on the throne of the Empress and the Crown Prince. He had spent so much effort giving them to Gu Han, but that didn't mean he was a "good man." Rather, he wanted Gu Han to stay in this deep palace with him—willingly.
Since he loved her, he would not let her stay where she was. He wanted her to take step after step toward him, even if she was driven by external things.
———— Main Story End ————
I need to do a happy dance.
please check out: I CULTIVATED BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DEMON LORD
Description/Summary:
Chu Li found herself reincarnated as the supporting female lead of the Hehuan Sect in a xianxia novel. In the original story, this supporting character vied with the female protagonist for the overpowered male lead to boost her cultivation, only to meet a tragic end.
Chu Li scoffed: What's so great about that arrogant dragon anyway? Isn't this pitiful little thing by the roadside far more appealing?
Chu Li gently lifted the pitiful youth's chin with a finger and murmured softly, "Young man, I see you possess extraordinary bone structure and exceptional innate talent. Why not cultivate with me? Together, we can ascend to immortality."
The youth's eyes glistened with moisture as he flushed and nodded. "Yes, Sister."
From then on, Chu Li shamelessly coaxed the innocent youth into relentless day-and-night cultivation with her. Unexpectedly, the boy proved an extraordinary match for her. Not only did her cultivation soar, transforming her from an obscure outer sect disciple into the sect's new darling, but she also dominated the crowd at the Immortal Sect Assembly.
The female lead, whose spotlight had been stolen, nearly lost her mind. She ordered the overpowered male lead to slash her face —
The usually meek and obedient little darling effortlessly threw the arrogant hero to the ground in a single move, casually snapped his divine weapon, and unleashed such overwhelming malevolence that it cleaved the Immortal Sect's tournament stage in two.
Chu Li's pupils dilated in shock. Wasn't that the signature move of the original novel's archvillain?!
Recalling the villain's glorious exploits of slaughtering half the cultivation world in the original story, then remembering how she'd forced him to study cultivation techniques day in and day out... Chu Li fled that very night, clutching her paper umbrella.
Later. The archvillain pinned her against the Union Tree, eyes reddened, looking aggrieved: "Sister, have you abandoned me?"
Chu Li clasped her hands together, resigned to her fate: "Demon Lord Daddy, please spare me. I swear I'll never — wait, you're a thousand years old and you still call me 'Sister'?"
The villain's eyes lit up with delight: "My wife?"
Chu Li: ???
Manipulative, scheming villain × Beautiful, seductive female cultivator of the Union Clan
Scheming green-tea Demon Lord × bold, devastatingly charming Hehuan Sect cultivator
One-line summary: "Choosing right matters more than trying hard."
Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/
TRANSLATOR
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