Chapter 337: Untitled

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The army retreated as hundreds of officials marched in orderly. Neatly categorized according to the type of officials they were, they uniformly knelt down on the floor where the blood had yet to dry.

Everything was prepared, all that was left is for the name to be announced.

The Prime Minister led hundreds of officials to kneel down in front of the palace, nervously waiting for that person that would decide their fate from now on. He did not know who it would be but only knew that His Majesty had once told him that whoever walked out of the palace would be the new ruler.

The sun rose as sunrays cascade down on the majestic, long stretch of jade stairs. The reflected light rays gave the illusion of a mystical, heavenly stairway.

At the top, the tightly shut door to the palace finally slowly creaked open in the watchful eyes of the crowd. A slim black figure stepped out with the imperial degree in her hand.

She stood against the light. She resembled a god that oversaw the world as she stood there, with her back straightened and facing forward.

The hundreds of official squinted their eyes, trying to get a good look at the face of their new leader.

A shocking revelation for the Prime Minister!

‘Why is it King Meng of Dahan!?’

The Prime Minister stared at that cold, emotionless lady dressed as a man in stupefaction. Her sharp gaze was somehow familiar.

He suddenly recalled a long time ago, when His Majesty had granted him an audience and said those profound words, “Don’t worry, I will search for us a resolute and steadfast leader for this nation.”

Back then, he had bravely pointed out, “Your Majesty is wise. Indeed, our current dynasty is chaotic and requires a resolute and wise leader. But… there seem to be none amongst the prince and princess.”

His Majesty had smiled before replying. After a long time, he had said, “Perhaps, there will be when the time comes.”

Only today, only at this moment, did he understand!

Only today did he finally understand what His Majesty meant!

The thoughts of a visionary emperor were not something that a mere official could understand!

With respect for the old emperor and fear of the new, he quickly straightened his back and led the crowd to prostrate themselves in front of their new leader.

“Your Majesty!”

Xuanji Tiancheng, the sixth day of the fourth month, the identity of the mysterious Empress, was finally revealed. The legendary lady who was Wuji’s General, the King of Meng, as well as the Preceptor of Xuanyuan, had once again unfolded a new chapter that astonished the seven countries.

On the sixth day of the fourth month, noon, the newly appointed Empress, Meng Fuyao, ascended the throne. The sun rays mercilessly hit down on the ground, Meng Fuyao donned on a phoenix robe embroidered with the majestic seas and the stunning skies, adorned with accessories made of precious stones. She sat there on the throne, as her robe’s long train laid down on the jade stairs. The 19-year-old young lady was at the peak of her prime, so radiant, beautiful, and glorious.

However, the gaze of the Empress reflected none of that; it was cold and sinister. As her icy gaze swept through the place, all the aristocrats and officials lowered their heads.

As the sounds of the long, resounding bugle-horn, Shao Yue 1 and the boisterous firecrackers intertwined, the officials began their flattery. As the officials prostrated themselves once more, another imperial decree that Feng Xuan had prepared for this coronation ceremony was being read out, giving the audience a well-manicured and beautified version of Meng Fuyao’s birth and life experiences – Born from royalty, she had gone out to experience the world from a young age, and gaining the approval of His Majesty with her admirable character and she had to be the next empress, so on and so forth.

The officials, as well as ambassadors from various countries, noticed that as the imperial decree was being read out, the Empress had displayed her mild annoyance as she tapped her fingers against the throne. It seemed as if she was tapping to the rhythm of a certain melody yet no one knew what that melody was.

Only Meng Fuyao knew. She was tapping to the rhythm of a folk tune that a professor, who was obsessed with it, and one of them was ‘Zhong Lǔ·Red Embroidered Shoes.’

“The peak of the mountain gleams ominously like precious blades. Sharpened icicles hang down from the cliff as apes and monkeys mourn, fooling around amongst the clouds. The cuckoo cries as it roars viciously in the dark cave. The dangers that lie in the steep mountain is nothing compared to the evils that lie in the human heart.”

The ruthlessness of a steep mountain was nothing compared to the ruthless human heart!

After the reading of the imperial decree, it was time for her to receive the imperial seal. Feng Xuan handed over the ‘imperial seal’ over to Meng Fuyao before retreating to the back of the palace. Naturally, the seal was no more as it had been destroyed by Meng Fuyao. Yet, the ceremony could not do without it, and so, Meng Fuyao had casually grabbed a steamed cake, wrapped it in a yellow satin cloth, and shoved it into Feng Xuan’s hands. And so, Feng Xuan could only solemnly hand the ‘steamed cake imperial seal’ over to the official and during the ceremony, hand it over to Meng Fuyao after the official had delivered it to him. During that period, the corners of Feng Xuan’s mouth twitched while Meng Fuyao continued as if nothing was wrong. In fact, if not for the fact that she would have to receive the seal, she would have gotten someone to dig out a pile of shit and wrapped it in yellow satin as if it was the seal.

No one dared to point out whether it resembled the seal, and none of the princesses and princes were present—they were duped into the back of the palace and were told that they were not allowed to join the coronation. They were all invited to pray in front of their ancestors for the future of the country. Once the doors were shut as an army of soldiers guarded outside, the princes and princesses began swearing and cursing, of which no one bothered, of course. That being said, Meng Fuyao did give Ji Yu the right to shove a handful of rotten soil into the mouths of those who cursed. As the pungent, unbearable smell filled the room, the descendants of the previous emperor finally quietened down.

Feng Xuan had no issues with it. Honestly, for someone that had finished off all his siblings the moment he ascended the throne, a mouthful of soil was nothing.

Meng Fuyao sat down on the throne, accepting the flattery and congratulations of both the ambassadors and officials alike. Suddenly, she froze.

Zong Yue and Zhangsun Wuji were both there.

The Emperor of Xuanyuan and the Crown Prince of Wuji could have sent an ambassador in their stead instead of turning up personally. Even so, the two seemed unbothered by the heated discussion and the lack of etiquette in this case and sat there.

As she glanced at them, the two looked up. Zhangsun Wuji gave her a reassuring smile. He knew that to Meng Fuyao, this was not a moment of glory but rather a frustrating time where she had to sit through these formalities.

However, Zong Yue stared at her. His eyes were no longer void but straightforward, filled with pain and anxiousness. Meng Fuyao welcomed his gaze and gave him a small smile.

According to the traditions, Zong Yue was the Emperor of Xuanji, the one with the highest status amongst all guests. Naturally, he should be the first to offer his well-wishes. He bowed slightly and said, “Congratulations on ascending the throne. May the country under your reign be peaceful and prosperous. I would love for the two countries to extend our relationship and trade with one another to mutually benefit.”

Meng Fuyao stood up to return the favor. Xuanji’s officials were pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. Xuanji’s trade was renowned in the world with a huge landmass, dense population, and plentiful goods. If the two countries were to begin trading, there would be a new market for the various products that Xuanji had to be exported, ensuring an inflow of income. Furthermore, they could import ores from Xuanyuan, which were beneficial to the research and development of weapons. Xuanyuan’s offer was of timely assistance in the face of Xuanji’s weakening economy.

Looking at his pained gaze, she seemed to have been brought back to 14 years ago. That youth donned in white, gently holding on to her shaky, painful teeth as he murmured under his breath, “I hope you can forget this… I hope you can forget this… Don’t be like me… Remembering it every day…”

What wrong did he have? The young child that had carried the pain and revenge of his family. His father was murdered in front of his eyes, forcing him to run for his life. What reasons did he have to not be cold?

Those he had relations with never bothered saving him, yet, he saved her whom he had no relations with.

He was burdened with such agony and suffering, tormented by it day and night. That’s why he hoped she could be unburdened and grow up happily.

He gave her a new beginning.

In some sense, he created her—without the Meng Fuyao who had forgotten everything, there wouldn’t be a her that would face it courageously.

The sentence that Old Lu did not complete, Meng Fuyao completed it for him.

He is… your savior.

Yes, savior.

Perhaps, to Xu Wan, he was heartless. But to her, he owed nothing.

She looked at Zong Yue and laughed. “Yes, Fuyao is always thankful for your good intentions.”

Zong Yue’s face lit up and wanted to say something. Then, Zhangsun Wuji stepped forward and interrupted the two. “Wuji would love to maintain a good relationship with Your Majesty. May Your Majesty fulfill this wish.”

Meng Fuyao glanced at him. ‘This person can sure joke about in this kind of situation. Seriously, a leopard can never change its spots, huh?’ Meng Fuyao thought inwardly.

“Thank you.” Meng Fuyao plastered on a fake smile. “To say ‘fulfill’ would be too serious of you. It is my pleasure, too,” she replied.

Zhangsun Wuji happily went back. ‘Oh well, at least it was a smile.’ He hadn’t seen her smile in a very long time, specifically, 232 hours.

Xuanji’s officials were all extremely elated at this point. They knew that Her Majesty had a good relationship with the two and was even the King of Han. With such a relationship with the three countries, they no longer had to worry about their country being conquered!

Meng Fuyao greeted the ambassadors. Suddenly, Meng Fuyao squinted her eyes.

A lady walked towards her, donned in blue with streaks of dark red. The colors on the dress complimented her smooth, honey-toned skin, giving her a unique charm. She had a longer and more slender neck than others, and as the sun shone upon her, her beautiful features were highlighted. Those eyes of hers were like the night.

‘It’s her.’

The mysterious lady she had seen at the restaurant the other day.

Because of that one amulet of hers, she had opened the heavy palace doors of her past memories, recalling her past memories.

Meng Fuyao did not know what to say of this person. The actions of this person were natural and friendly but also odd.

Meng Fuyao noticed Zong Yue’s frown as he stared at the lady.

‘Do they know each other?’