Honorable Consort An’s had a virtuous character, was pregnant, and she selflessly acted to shield the Emperor from harm.
These events combined gave the court officials increasing confidence in petitioning for her to be made Empress.
Yet Xuanyuan Mo didn’t immediately agree. Instead, he told them he needed two days to consider the matter.
He went to Tang Guo’s palace. Since that day, she seemed to have never fully recovered, her expression perpetually tired.
For some reason, the words he was about to say filled him with a sense of guilt.
But whenever he thought of An Ningxiang shielding him from the sword, risking her life for him for a second time, his previous thoughts would fade.
“The court officials have petitioned for Honorable Consort An to be made Empress,” Xuanyuan Mo said. “This time, I cannot refuse.”
Tang Guo raised her eyes and smiled at Xuanyuan Mo. “Ah Mo, there’s no need to feel troubled on my account. You’ve favored me all these years, and I am content. If Honorable Consort An can win the love of the court officials and the people, then she will undoubtedly be a fine Empress.”
Hearing such magnanimous words, Xuanyuan Mo felt a flicker of anger in his heart.
“Does the Imperial Concubine have no other thoughts?” His voice rose unconsciously, but realizing this, he softened his tone. “If you’re upset, just say so.”
“If I were to say it, would Your Majesty change his mind and not crown Honorable Consort An as Empress?” She looked directly at Xuanyuan Mo, her gaze unwavering and causing his heart to race with unease.
Of course not.
She lowered her head. “Then what difference does it make whether I say anything or not?”
“I have never forgotten that Ah Mo is an Emperor, and Emperors have their burdens. If I were to push you, I’d only be making things difficult for you.”
Xuanyuan Mo didn’t know how to respond.
“Ah Mo, as long as you continue to treat me sincerely, that’s enough.” Her misty eyes gazed at him, filled with unspoken sadness. “I also want to ask you not to make Honorable Consort An the Empress. But… I lack the confidence.”
“I’m just an Imperial Concubine. I have no one behind me but you. If my father were still alive, he could have stormed the palace in my defense. But now that he’s gone, if I were to make a scene, the court officials would only brand me as jealous, irrational, overindulgent, and immoral. They’d accuse me of seducing the Emperor with my beauty and heap endless accusations upon me. How could I bear such a burden?”
Xuanyuan Mo opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
He suddenly realized that over the years, the Imperial Concubine had changed.
“Ah Mo, if you’ve come here today to tell me that if I object, you’ll give up the idea of making her Empress and protect me no matter what, even if I have to bear the infamy of being a wicked temptress, then I’ll fight for myself.”
She grasped Xuanyuan Mo’s hand. “Ah Mo, would you dare?”
Xuanyuan Mo was flustered. Would he dare?
This wasn’t a matter of daring. His original intent had always been to make An Ningxiang Empress. Why, then, did he feel like he was making a grave mistake?
He steadied himself and patted Tang Guo’s hand. “The Imperial Concubine’s wisdom and magnanimity comfort me deeply.”
After speaking, he didn’t dare look at her. Yet, he couldn’t help but seek her reaction and ended up meeting her gaze.
She simply smiled at him. “Ah Mo, have you ever truly loved me?” she asked a question she had posed many times before.
As always, Xuanyuan Mo replied, “Of course.”
“Hmm.” She lowered her eyes, letting out a faint laugh. “I understand.”
Xuanyuan Mo left in a disheveled state, his steps unsteady. He felt as if he had done something terribly wrong but couldn’t find his way forward.
Returning to the secret chamber, he couldn’t help but seek out Xuanyuan Mie.
“I’ve decided to make Ningxiang the Empress. I told the Imperial Concubine today.”
Xuanyuan Mie replied coldly, “In my presence, Brother should address her as Imperial Sister-in-law.”
Xuanyuan Mo froze. Imperial Sister-in-law? Why did hearing that term make his heart ache so much?
He subconsciously ignored the truth. That in secret, the Imperial Concubine was already his Imperial Sister-in-law, the woman Xuanyuan Mie held dearest to his heart.
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