Accord de Mu Yucheng

Chapitre 118

"You... let the whole world watch how you trick me, the Empress Dowager, into your hands."

Oh dear, I'm afraid I'll be portrayed as utterly repulsive in the history books…

"Oh, so you knew that, old man. It seems like you'd love to know."

"That's not quite right." I quickly suppressed my smile and said calmly, "They want to be remembered in history. Future empresses will all look up to me, and thousands of years from now, when they mention me, they will all look at me with reverence."

"You?" Lu Xiu shook his head, his mouth full of sarcasm: "You're quite the one who was handpicked from among the virtuous and filial."

"You—" I punched him, "You know it in your heart, why did you have to say it out loud and embarrass me?"

Lu Xiu suddenly suppressed his laughter, shoved the reins into my hand, and rested his chin on my shoulder, which prickled painfully. I suddenly realized that he had really lost weight. Yes, after three years of diligent governance, he had not only lost weight but also developed gray hair.

"Why don't you go to the capital? You've already come all the way to Youzhou..."

My body stiffened; Lu Xiu's words pierced my bones, exuding a chill from within.

Lu Xiu closed his eyes slightly and sighed softly, "I heard that the Liao people erected a monument for him. I thought you would at least go and see it."

I tightened the reins and spurred the horse's flanks; the steed, wincing in pain, galloped further away. Didn't he know that person was not someone to be mentioned lightly?

"Your Majesty, these are the memorials that have been pending approval for the past few months." I had just returned to my palace from the grand banquet when the Secretariat delivered a stack of documents to me, and I immediately thought of running away.

"Put it on the desk."

"The top ten documents are urgent dispatches, delivered by imperial decree. The Grand Minister of State is awaiting your imperial approval."

"I understand. I will send someone to deliver it to the Xuanzheng Hall before the morning court tomorrow."

The lady bowed and was about to leave when I called her back.

"I haven't had a chance to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager yet. How is the Empress Dowager's eye condition?"

"Your Majesty, I have followed the imperial physician's prescriptions without fail, but..."

I sighed softly and waved her away.

Liu Shang lit an incense burner in front of the table, placed freshly brewed strong tea on the side, and skillfully ground ink.

"Your Majesty, you'll have a long night tonight." She sighed softly. I just smiled, walked over, and sat down at the table.

Flipping through the densely packed documents and memorials, I just feel... a headache coming on...

Huaibei was suffering from a severe drought and a widespread rat infestation. The governor submitted a memorial requesting permission to open the granaries to provide relief to the disaster victims.

To appease the displaced people, the thirteen prefectures of Shandong opened their city gates wide. Now, the displaced people are scattered and plague is severe, so they urgently need the national treasury to provide relief.

Lines of tiny, densely packed characters seemed to jump and dance under the lamplight, defying me. One cup of strong tea after another kept me awake. Only as the darkness outside the window gradually faded, revealing a sliver of light, and the candlelight that had burned out ignited, leaving behind only smoke.

Liu Shang arranged the documents on the table one by one in order. I handed him the last document, which listed the year-end sacrificial ceremony, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing my stiff shoulders and elbows.

"Your Majesty, would you like to rest for a while?"

"What time is it?"

It's past midnight.

I stood up. "Get ready and serve breakfast. We can't go to court on an empty stomach."

Just then, the door to the main hall was pushed open, and the man in the python robe walked in from the outer room, sat down at the table, and stared at the smoking candlestick. "Oh, you've been up all night too?!"

I smiled, walked over, and sat down next to him. "So, you're here too?"

"When I returned to the manor yesterday, all the memorials stored by the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue were presented to me, clearly indicating that they were not going to give people a good life."

In the imperial court, I was in charge of internal affairs, he was in charge of the Six Ministries, and the Fourth Prince was in charge of military power; each of us performed our duties.

“Before… Lu Li carried all of this on his own.” I smiled slightly. In those days, Chaoyang Palace was brightly lit every night.

Lu Xiu stared at me without saying a word for a long time until I poured him a cup of tea, at which point he came to his senses.

"Does the Ministry of Revenue also keep a copy of the Shandong loan request document?"

"Oh, um... I saw it." He rubbed his forehead, looking exhausted.

"How much silver did you pay?"

He paused, then smiled. "The national treasury...hasn't it always been under my control? When did you become interested in it?!"

“I was just asking how many you plan to drive?” I glanced at him.

"How much of your predictions were accurate?"

Just as I was about to answer, he looked at me with a serious expression and said, "Leave this matter to me. Just do as I say."

"Oh?" I leaned closer, a little curious. "How much did you open?"

"Five thousand taels." He stared at me intently.

I laughed, "You spent more than this in one night at a brothel. I never thought... the whole of Shandong is less than what a single woman in a brothel would spend."

"You think it's not enough?" His smile deepened. "How much did you approve in the report?"

I got up, picked up a folded document from the desk, and tossed it over. "Look..."

He smiled slightly, his eyes paused for a moment, then he looked at me with even greater surprise, "As expected, we had a tacit understanding, exactly five thousand taels, no more, no less. When did Your Majesty become so stingy?"

"The previous relief efforts have been ineffective, and I fear that some people have embezzled the lion's share, leaving only the scraps for the common people. Find a reliable person to take the 300,000 taels of silver notes to the Guichong Bank in Huainan, exchange them for silver, and send them directly to Shandong. There must be no delay."

“I sent the men last night.” Lu Xiu’s eyebrows curved even wider with a smile.

The five thousand taels were merely a formality; those corrupt officials wouldn't gain much from it. Fortunately... Lu Li was one step ahead. At the beginning of his reign, he allocated a portion of the treasury silver to several major merchant houses to prevent unrest caused by disasters and refugees and to meet unforeseen needs. Now, this also serves to curb the momentum of corrupt officials, reducing their opportunities for personal gain.

I sat up, pressing down on the table, and turned to walk towards the back hall. "I've had breakfast prepared. Would you like to have some with me?"

"you--"

"What?" I didn't turn around, but paused to listen to what he had to say next.

"It's been three years, and this is the first time I've heard his name from you."

"Really? Heh, it's been three years. I wouldn't even dare to think about that name, yet it just slipped out today." She then chuckled and shook her head, taking a step forward. "Let's have lotus seed soup today."

Perhaps due to several sleepless nights, I actually fell asleep when the concubines were summoned to Changchun Pavilion. None of the women dared to speak, kneeling silently in the cold hall, waiting for me to wake up. It wasn't until the cold wind blew me awake that I regained some consciousness. Looking at my once radiant face, now haggard and cold, a pang of pity arose in my heart. I said, "During this time, I have had no time to attend to the harem, and have neglected my sisters. Please forgive me."

"Your Majesty," a young concubine bowed tremblingly, "when the young emperor ascends the throne, we will all be past our prime as imperial concubines... I wonder..."

"Consort Lin... I've already said, your stipends won't be less than before. Even the Dowager Consorts won't need to move out of the West Palace, nor will they need to shave their heads and chant scriptures. Everything will remain the same as before." I frowned slightly. Having dealt with these women for many years, I had to be cautious. Looking around, only Ling's face remained serene. Apart from Yao Shuhuan, who was sent to a nunnery by Lu Xiu—ostensibly for quiet recuperation, but in reality, imprisonment—Ling was the only concubine with a child, so naturally she had someone to rely on. Fu Jing, with the Prime Minister as her backer, naturally had nothing to worry about.

Lin Zhaoyi finally stood up, unable to sit still any longer. "Your Majesty," she said, "most of us concubines have never received the Emperor's favor. We do not crave wealth and honor, nor do we wish to die old in the deep palace."

"Is that so?" I tilted my head and rushed towards Liu Shang. "Go to the Imperial Household Department and ask if there are any concubines with empress dowager's handkerchiefs among them?"

As was customary, every concubine who was favored by the Emperor would have a handkerchief left in the Imperial Household Department as a record. After a while, Liu Shang presented me with a book.

I was shocked when I saw it. Apart from Yao Shuhuan and Ling, the rest... were all still virgins. Although the book in charge of the concubines' nights with the emperor was only for recording who Lu Li spent the night with. I really didn't know that even though he spent the night with the concubines, he never touched their bodies.

Could it be that his health is failing him? But then I thought about it again, and I never saw him have any problems when we were intimate.

I put down the book and sighed. "In that case, the sisters who are still virgins can decide for themselves whether to stay or leave. Those who want to stay will certainly not be shortchanged. Those who want to leave can take their silver and leave the palace."

These words elicited joy from some and indifference from others. A frail figure rose from the corner, looking as if a mere gust of wind would cause him to collapse.

"Consort Lan?" I stared at her intently. "You want to go back to Dali?!"

She smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, the five-year mourning period has ended, and I wish to join the late Emperor."

"You are still a virgin, and you don't need to stay in the palace to die. Why do you want to be buried alive with her?" I looked at her in confusion.

"Your Majesty..." Her eyes suddenly reddened, "I fear that Your Majesty will be too lonely on the road to the underworld... I was unable to serve you well in life, and in death I only wish to follow my husband."

I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart. This woman truly loved Lu Li, and loved him so unconditionally.

After everyone else had been ordered to leave, only Consort Lan stood alone in the main hall.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to persuade me anymore. My mind is made up, and there's no need to test me further." She smiled coldly. "Isn't it all clear in the Imperial Household Department's handkerchief register? It's also a fact that he never touched my body. But I've always been confident... If I had given him more time, he would definitely be moved by me, and I would definitely be able to leave such a small place in his heart. He was alive, and I didn't have him... If he dies, I will follow him..."

I turned my back, my voice soft and melodious, “Once upon a time, there was an ancient tree outside my room that had been withered for many years… No one had ever seen it bloom. Everyone said it should be cut down and replaced with a new one, but my grandfather said that the tree's spirit was wandering outside and had not yet returned. He told me to wait, so I waited, from a naive little girl until my grandfather passed away, and it still did not bloom. My grandfather, even on his deathbed, still told me to wait. Until a year after his death, suddenly, red flowers bloomed on the branches overnight. Perhaps it was not the tree's spirit that returned, but my grandfather. So I have always believed that… what is meant to return will surely return… and so year after year I waited… and the withered tree bloomed…”

Why bring this up...? Could it be that I'm still hoping that person will come back...?

Consort Lan looked at me with a flicker in her eyes, her voice trembling, "Your Majesty... are you still waiting...?"

"For me... waiting or not waiting, the outcome is the same. But... it's different for you."

Chapter Four: Repaying the Debt

During the busy season at the end of the year, I rushed to the Marquis's mansion, only to hear that Xiao Yi was ill.

Over the years, Xiao Yi had fought countless battles, but without the tireless effort of day and night, he seemed only interested in letting his life wither away. The death of Xiao Xuan, the departure of Xiao Yu, and the passing of Yu Ning—all these had weighed heavily on his heart. He had long been overwhelmed and had come to see through his own fate, finally breaking down.

I can't help but blame myself. If I had stayed by his side the whole time, if he had found out in his despair that his sister was still there for him, what would he have done? It certainly wouldn't be like this now.

Inside the Xiao residence, the strong smell of herbs filled the air, and servants wept softly with their faces bowed. Several young maids were brewing medicine with red eyes. I knew these were women given to Xiao Yi by high-ranking officials of the court, but I feared that none of them could stay in Xiao Yi's heart.

Now, who is truly in his heart, Yu Ning or Xiao Yu? I no longer know.

Xiao Yi lay half-reclined on the couch, his face as pale as paper, his cheeks thin and gaunt, his eyes particularly large, unfocused, staring blankly in this direction, as if looking at me, as if looking at Lu Xiu behind me, but in fact, he was looking at no one.

Le Mei coughed intermittently, and I realized that her health had deteriorated since she lost her child due to premature birth many years ago, and she couldn't recover no matter what I did. So I sent someone to help her up, so she no longer needed to kneel.

"It's all because of my poor health that I can't even take good care of the Prince," she said, her face pale. Presumably, she had done everything she could for Xiao Yi's health.

"Don't say that. Over the years, you've managed this large manor so well. I don't know how to thank you enough." I looked at her. She was no longer the stubborn, short-tempered girl she once was. Now, as a wife and mother, and the mistress of this manor, she had become much more composed. She had devoted herself entirely to this manor.

Le Mei wiped away her tears. "Master's illness has been recurring for many years. It's a ailment he developed on the battlefield, but he never paid attention to it, always charging forward with his life on the line, never complaining of pain. This time, he rested at home for more than half a year, thinking that taking medicine and resting would help. But as soon as he relaxed, all the illness and pain came back. Yet he still insisted on attending court and handling state affairs, working until dawn every night, completely disregarding how many lives he might have..."

"Your Majesty, please don't listen to her nonsense. I...I know my own body well, it's not that easy for me to collapse." Xiao Yi's voice came intermittently from inside the screen.

I walked around from outside the screen to his bedside. I waved away the maids who were serving him. Lu Xiu also returned to the palace to handle state affairs.

"You've never been one to speak with tact, and you're even less so in your actions. You're the head of this household, yet I've never seen you take any responsibility."

He chuckled softly. He pulled me to sit down. His hand trembled as he raised it, his fingertips tracing my cheek. "My sister is a mother of several children. Yet she doesn't look it at all. I wonder if I'll have the fortune to see her with her hair all white."

"How disrespectful!" I pouted, feigning displeasure. "He's a father of two. Still spouting nonsense."

The smile on his face gradually faded. He sighed softly, "Brother said the same thing. He said it would be a blessing to watch my sister grow old and gray. But our Xiao family isn't exactly blessed." He then coughed violently, coughing until drops of blood dripped onto his handkerchief. I helped him lie down and sat beside him, holding his hand.

“Sister.” He looked up. “So many years have passed. Sometimes, I feel that it was so easy and carefree for you to leave like that. Life is not easy. Over the years, there have been so many ups and downs, and so few peaceful days. Sister, I am tired. You are tired. We are all tired. One day in the future, I will not be able to serve the young lord and share his burdens. Sister, please do it for me.”

"Yi'er, keep this loyalty and righteousness, and give it your all slowly. My son... he's waiting for you."

“Sister—I’ve been dreaming about the late Emperor a lot these days. I know you’ll be upset if I tell you. He absolutely refused to take me with him or let me go. He said if I left, you would truly be all alone. Now that I think about it, his habit of worrying about you is something he’d never change even in the afterlife! Over the years, I’ve hated you for following the Emperor, hated him for taking away my brother’s place in your heart, but I also truly admire him—his unwavering devotion to you.”

"I think you've been sleeping too much, you're having all sorts of weird dreams!" I turned my head away so he wouldn't see the sadness in my eyes.

"It's really quite strange. I often dream of a little girl running up to me and calling me 'father.' When I looked closely, it wasn't Nuannuan. But she kept calling me that, and she seemed quite affectionate towards me."