Chapter 480: Three Birds with One Stone, You Knew All Along

Liang Muhui leaned against the door, arms crossed.

"Your esteemed Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, what sort of lovers’ game are you playing in front of my palace gates?"

The two were invited inside for tea.

Caught in the act of eavesdropping, Ji Qingwu scratched her ear in embarrassment and sat quietly beside the Emperor.

Emperor Wu Su, in contrast, was completely unflappable. Seated in the seat of honor, he began, "You can no longer stay in the Imperial Palace."

Liang Muhui said, "Oh? Is it the Empress who doesn’t want me to remain in the palace?"

Ji Qingwu shook her head.

Zhao Mingyan said, "It’s not just you. None of the women in the harem need to stay."

Ji Qingwu turned her head, looking at the Emperor in astonishment.

Liang Muhui could tell at a glance that this was Emperor Wu Su’s own decision, and the Empress knew nothing of it.

She said decisively, "Fine. I’ll pack my things and leave tonight."

Zhao Mingyan said, "Take that injured man with you. Since you’re the one who wounded him, you’re responsible for nursing him back to health."

Before Liang Muhui could utter a sarcastic retort, she saw the Emperor’s eyes lower as he said in a heavy voice, "This is an imperial decree."

Faced with Zhao Mingyan’s cold expression, Liang Muhui didn’t dare to provoke him. She just snorted and left.

Once they were alone in the room, Ji Qingwu tugged his sleeve and asked, "What’s really going on with those two?"

Zhao Mingyan said, "Liang Muhui’s parents died when she was young. Fated to be a baleful star, she was sent by Empress Dowager Liang to cultivate at Hanshan Temple, where she and Shen Wei studied under the same master."

Ji Qingwu asked, "Then why did they turn on each other? Liang Muhui’s sword showed no mercy at all."

Zhao Mingyan said, "Everyone from their sect has a special destiny. Shen Wei cannot die, which is why she would strike such a heavy blow."

’So when the Emperor said he couldn’t die, he meant it literally.’

Zhao Mingyan continued, "The reason is that Shen Wei, on his own initiative, transferred Liang Muhui’s fate as a Heavenly Killer Lone Star onto himself. He simply thought that once she was freed from her cursed destiny, she could live the life a normal person should have."

Ji Qingwu said, "For instance, she could marry the man she was betrothed to, and live as a wife and mother."

Zhao Mingyan coughed. "But what Shen Wei didn’t know was that Liang Muhui had long since fallen for him. And so, by a strange twist of fate, Shen Wei ended up with the destiny of a lone star combined with an undying life."

Ji Qingwu was silent for a moment, then asked, "So, the grandmaster now has a fate that brings harm to his wife and children? And Your Majesty still wants them to be together? Aren’t you afraid of some mishap?"

Zhao Mingyan said, "I’m only giving them a push. What happens next is up to the two of them."

Ji Qingwu linked her arm with his. "Perhaps even a few days together is better than never seeing each other again in this lifetime."

Zhao Mingyan smiled and kissed her on the lips. "Ah Wu and I are always on the same wavelength."

*

The Emperor wasn’t just talking when he said he would dismiss the harem; he soon ordered people to carry it out.

They were given a choice: to live a monastic life, or to return home and remarry under a new identity.

Anhua Palace was the first to be emptied.

However, there were also many ladies and consorts who were unwilling to leave the Imperial Palace and came crying to Chening Hall.

Most of these women were unfavored at home. If they couldn’t fight for a future in the palace, returning meant a life of torment, control, and waiting for death.

Wei Liru, who was still under house arrest in Guanju Palace, also sent her attendant Bitao over.

Ji Qingwu truly found these women pitiful. When the Emperor came to her quarters for lunch after court, she waited until he was nearly finished eating.

Ji Qingwu began, "Your Majesty, the women of the harem don’t necessarily have to..."

Zhao Mingyan put down his chopsticks. "Ah Wu, your heart has softened."

Ji Qingwu nodded. "A little."

Zhao Mingyan frowned. "After we pass away in a hundred years, are you willing to have all these women buried beside our Imperial Mausoleum, Ah Wu?"

Ji Qingwu said honestly, "Of course I’m not."

’Never mind after death; even now, the thought made Ji Qingwu uncomfortable. No woman wants to share her husband, even if it’s only in name. It’s just sickening.’

Zhao Mingyan said, "Ah Wu, those who achieve great things cannot be constrained by minor details and petty principles."

"People’s hearts are fickle. If we let them stay, there’s no guarantee they won’t become jealous one day. By the time they cause immeasurable harm, it will be too late."

Ji Qingwu nodded. "I understand the reasoning."

Zhao Mingyan picked up a damp cloth and dabbed the corner of her mouth. "As long as you understand."

Ji Qingwu rested her hand on his leg. "It’s just that the women Your Majesty selected for the palace are all talented and well-behaved. I was thinking it would be even better if they could continue to serve Your Majesty elsewhere."

Zhao Mingyan continued by wiping her fingers. "Does Ah Wu have any good ideas?"

Ji Qingwu said, "The court is short on capable people because of the purge of officials who colluded with Xijin. Has Your Majesty considered trying to establish a system of female officials?"

There was nothing the two of them couldn’t talk about now. Ji Qingwu stared at him, her eyes shining brightly.

Zhao Mingyan looked into her eyes and suddenly let out a laugh.

"Li Chengxun just sent a memorial from Longzhou, hoping to abolish the recommendation system of the great families and give students from humble backgrounds more opportunities to become court officials."

The morning court session had erupted into chaos over it. The bureaucratic elite were naturally unwilling to let scholars from the countryside stand on the same starting line as their own children. They wouldn’t let their ancestral prestige be so easily erased.

Hearing this, Ji Qingwu said excitedly, "These women were all selected from the great families. If the officials won’t agree to abolish their recommendation system, but Your Majesty insists on pushing the new policy, then they’ll most likely concede on the matter of female officials."

Zhao Mingyan pulled her hand and pressed a kiss to her lips.

"Only Ah Wu could think of a way to kill two birds with one stone like this."

Ji Qingwu said, "It kills three birds with one stone. The imperial court gains capable people, and the women of the harem gain a wider world."

Zhao Mingyan asked, "And the third bird?"

Ji Qingwu chuckled. "I can also relax in Chening Hall and—"

Zhao Mingyan finished her sentence, "—wait for me to come back."

Ji Qingwu leaned close to his ear and whispered two words.

The soups and liquids on the dining table were knocked over, spilling all over the floor. In his shock, Zhao Mingyan had overturned the table. He quickly swept her up in his arms and moved to the side.

In her spare time, when Ji Qingwu asked the system about other things, she discovered that her rating had changed the night before last. It was now A-level.

And the condition to unlock A-level was pregnancy.

The system needed two days to confirm the changes in her body.

Zhao Mingyan had heard it took at least a month to diagnose a pregnancy pulse in a woman. Beads of nervous sweat instantly broke out on his forehead. ’Did I hurt her on our wedding night...?’

"When did this happen? How are you feeling now, Ah Wu?"

Ji Qingwu said, "Hmm, it’s only been three days, I think."

So many unreasonable things had happened around her that Zhao Mingyan accepted this with a simple nod.

Ji Qingwu observed his expression and asked, "Why aren’t you surprised, Your Majesty? How could a pregnancy pulse be detected in just three days?"

Zhao Mingyan said, "Naturally, it’s because Ah Wu’s medical skills are superb."

But Ji Qingwu’s lips curved into a smile. "Naturally, it’s because Your Majesty’s abilities are heaven-defying, and you know everything."

"You’ve known from the very beginning why I appeared in the Northern Border Camp."