We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? - Chapter 439: Brother Emperor, Would You Accompany Mu Jiu to the Han Jiu Palace?New 5 days ago"Your servants greet Your Majesty. We hope Your Majesty is well."Before the Y
“Your servants greet Your Majesty. We hope Your Majesty is well.”
Before the Yangxin Hall, Yan Ruxue and Qin Siyao bowed before Xiao Mo.
“I am well.” Xiao Mo looked at the two consorts before him and said slowly, “Rise, both of you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The two women straightened up, folding their hands before them as they stood at Xiao Mo’s side, looking every bit the picture of gentle obedience but now that Xiao Mo knew they were both cultivators of the Middle Three Realms and that they each had their own hidden purposes, he felt a measure of wariness toward them that had not been there before.
Moreover, in Xiao Mo’s estimation, the two of them surely already knew that Jiang Qingyi had told him about the events of the previous night.
After all, that had likely been one of the conditions the three of them had agreed upon yet at this moment, they acted exactly as they always had, as though nothing from the night before had ever happened.
“Let us go. The hour is not early. We need to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager.” Xiao Mo said to the two of them.
Since they had not brought it up, Xiao Mo naturally had no reason to be ungracious about it either, and he likewise acted as though nothing had happened at all.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Yan Ruxue gave a composed and graceful bow and fell in at Xiao Mo’s side.
“Then let us hurry, Brother Emperor…”
Qin Siyao was still bouncing about at Xiao Mo’s side like a lively little rabbit.
The three of them boarded the imperial palanquin and set off together toward Lingxin Palace.
On the palanquin, Yan Ruxue poured Xiao Mo a cup of tea, her expression entirely at ease, without any air of competing for his favor. And yet her every move and gesture was considerate of Xiao Mo in the most thoughtful way.
Xiao Mo even felt that a single glance from him was all it took for this Yan family woman to know exactly what he wanted.
It seemed this Yan family woman was exceptionally skilled at caring for others.
On the other side, Qin Siyao was feeding Xiao Mo fruit, her playful manner utterly charming, her eyes brimming with warmth and affection for him.
Xiao Mo found himself at a loss to tell whether the two of them were performing or not.
Because judging solely from how they were behaving, they truly seemed like his wives, treating him genuinely as their husband in every sense.
After about the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, the palanquin came to a stop, and the three of them arrived at the entrance of Lingxin Palace.
Xiao Mo led the two consorts inside together.
Empress Dowager Yan had long been waiting for the three of them to arrive.
“Your son greets the Empress Dowager. May we ask if the Empress Dowager is well?”
“Your servant greets the Empress Dowager. May we ask if the Empress Dowager is well?”
With Xiao Mo at the head, the three of them bowed respectfully before Empress Dowager Yan.
“Well, well, of course I am well. How could I not be? Today is a wonderful day.”
Empress Dowager Yan smiled and stepped forward to help the three of them rise.
“How is it? Are you settling in comfortably in the inner palace? If anything is not to your liking, simply tell me or His Majesty. There is no need to endure it in silence.”
Empress Dowager Yan took Yan Ruxue and Qin Siyao by the hand with great warmth and sat together with them on the soft couch, asking after their well-being with genuine care.
It seemed that in Empress Dowager Yan’s eyes, whether it was the Yan family’s daughter or the First Princess of the Qin Kingdom, she regarded them both with equal affection.
“In reply to the Empress Dowager, this palace feels just like home to your servant. Your servant has settled in very well,” Yan Ruxue said with a smile.
“Indeed, Empress Dowager! Brother Emperor has been very kind to both Ruxue Elder Sister and me,” Qin Siyao said, her eyes curving into a smile.
“As long as you are happy. You two are both dear to my heart. In the future, the affairs of this inner palace will be in your hands.”
Empress Dowager Yan held the soft hands of the two women and spoke with earnest sincerity, like a true elder imparting heartfelt guidance to those younger than herself.
“I know too that the inner palace is not like the outside world, and that there is not quite as much freedom here, but it is not as bleak as an icehouse either.”
“I also hope the two of you will become like good sisters, and tend carefully to the small matters of His Majesty’s daily life. More importantly, you must make haste in giving us a few chubby, fair little babies for the Zhou Kingdom’s imperial family. Understood?”
“Yes, Empress Dowager. Your servant understands.” Yan Ruxue gave a gracious nod and glanced at Qin Siyao beside her. “Your servant will certainly get along well with Mu Jiu, share the burdens of the inner palace with the Empress Dowager, and ensure that our husband has peace in both his home and his affairs.”
“Yes, yes, Empress Dowager, please rest assured.” Qin Siyao nodded and said, “Your servant will certainly get along well with Elder Sister Ruxue, and will also come to keep the Empress Dowager company often.”
“Very good, very good.” Empress Dowager Yan said with a smile. “Though the ones you should be spending time with most are not me, but His Majesty.”
“As for His Majesty,” Empress Dowager Yan looked at Xiao Mo with a touch of fond exasperation, “during this period, make sure to spend proper time with Ruxue and Mu Jiu. Set aside your cultivation for now. I can understand that His Majesty was exhausted from the wedding ceremonies yesterday, but do not go falling asleep again as you did last night.”
“Yes, Empress Dowager. Your son will certainly make every effort.” Xiao Mo clasped his hands and bowed with a suitably abashed expression.
Over the following half hour, Empress Dowager Yan shared an early meal together with Xiao Mo and his two consorts.
Qin Siyao and Empress Dowager Yan did not have much of a prior connection, and in some respects the two of them could even be considered on opposing sides.
After all, Empress Dowager Yan’s intention was for Yan Ruxue to carry the imperial heir and take the position of Empress. However, because Qin Siyao had such a lively and sweet disposition, like a natural source of cheer, she always managed to coax Empress Dowager Yan into smiles and laughter.
It was also perhaps because Empress Dowager Yan had been the one to send Qin Siyao off as a bride, and so had developed a degree of affection for her.
Whatever the reason, the two of them seemed to get along genuinely well.
Xiao Mo was naturally pleased to see it.
No matter what else was going on, as long as the inner palace could be harmonious and free of trouble, and the relationship between his consorts and the Empress Dowager could be a warm one, he could rest a good deal easier.
After the meal was finished, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao took their leave first.
Yan Ruxue was kept behind by Empress Dowager Yan, who wished to have a casual chat with her.
After Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao left Lingxin Palace, Qin Siyao walked ahead of Xiao Mo with her hands clasped behind her back, her legs stepping forward beneath her skirt, her small feet occasionally kicking at the pebbles along the path.
Compared to the shy and tender way she had looked the night before, like a flower not yet in full bloom, Qin Siyao at this moment looked far more like a young girl who had not yet left her maiden home.
Xiao Mo thought that if Qin Siyao truly were nothing more than an ordinary young woman, that would actually be quite a fine thing.
Having someone so lively and uncomplicated at his side would make his own thoughts feel a little lighter too.
It might even let him forget some of the troubles of reality for a while but unfortunately, the truth was that she had entered the palace with other intentions.
And yet, Xiao Mo could not help but recall the way she had looked chasing fireflies that one evening, so carefree and full of wonder.
He thought of the pure, clear look in her eyes as she sat on a hilltop watching the clouds drift and shift across the sky.
Could everything she had shown him truly have been false?
Just as Xiao Mo was gazing at her figure walking ahead of him,
Qin Siyao seemed to sense the gaze of the person behind her.
She stopped in her steps and turned around. The hem of her skirt lifted gently, stirred by the soft breeze, revealing a glimpse of fair, white ankle.
It was as though even the spring wind had taken on a shape in that moment.
“Brother Emperor,”
She looked at Xiao Mo with a smile, her clear eyes full of pure warmth.
“If Brother Emperor has some free time right now, would you accompany Mu Jiu to the Han Jiu Palace?”
