Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Mei Shuang poured tea for Xiao Luo and placed it in front of him, not daring to sit down. She felt anxious, uncertain about how the emperor would view the situation.
After tasting the tea, Xiao Luo said, "Regarding your matter with Lin Tian'er, I have no comments..."
Mei Shuang was somewhat incredulous. She widened her eyes and stared at Xiao Luo for a moment before suddenly exclaiming in delight, "Your Majesty is wise."
"However, I will be collecting taxes," Xiao Luo added leisurely.
"......"
This meant her income would decrease again, but it was better than nothing; a little was still something.
Feeling pleased, Mei Shuang quickly poured more tea for Xiao Luo to express her gratitude for his support.
Xiao Luo set down his cup, his gaze deepening. "I came today to discuss something with you."
Mei Shuang's hand trembled slightly as she poured the tea. Damn it, he used the word "discuss." Generally speaking, when someone of higher status uses that term with you, it carries strong implications: first, it indicates that the matter is related to you; second, it suggests that the issue is exceptionally tricky.
Mei Shuang's actions did not escape Xiao Luo's notice. Although he felt a pang of sympathy, time was pressing. After three days of consideration, he decided to explain as soon as possible.
"Do you remember the Secret Edict I asked you to look at last time?" Xiao Luo inquired.
"Secret Edict?" Mei Shuang's heart skipped a beat; it truly was a troublesome matter. "I remember."
Xiao Luo nodded and reached for the teapot in Mei Shuang's hand, signaling her to sit down.
"That Secret Edict was left behind by your father, Chancellor Mei," Xiao Luo said gravely. "On that day, Left Chancellor Li Tang and Mei Ru used secret drugs to turn Chancellor Mei into a pupa, intending to extract information about the Secret Edict from Mei Xiang. However, they underestimated Chancellor Mei's resilience. At the last moment, he revealed this secret to you so that it could continue and one day be known and utilized by the royal family of the Great Qin Empire..."
Mei Shuang listened quietly.
"Li Tang and Mei Ru never anticipated that Chancellor Mei would tell you this secret. They tortured him in various ways but achieved nothing. Fortunately, they never suspected you. Until one day when you discovered Li Tang and Mei Ru's illicit affair and inadvertently stumbled upon Mei Ru making Poison. To cover up their sordid dealings, Mei Ru forced you to drink the Poison. This Poison not only gradually caused you to lose your memory but ultimately led to your death from poisoning—no one would suspect anything during that process. Of course, if they had known you were aware of the Secret Edict's secret, your fate would not have been any better."
A chill ran down Mei Shuang's spine as she listened to the words. She raised her eyes and forced a smile, "To be honest, I really don't know the secret of the Secret Edict. That day when you showed it to me, I was just curious and accidentally caught a glimpse of something. As for the content of the Secret Edict, I have no knowledge of it."
Xiao Luo nodded. "I know you wouldn't lie, but since you have regained your memory, why are you still unclear?"
Mei Shuang was at a loss for words, feeling as if she could never clear her name. "Your Majesty, it's true that I have regained my memory, but you should know that I am not the same Mei Shuang as before. I am completely different from her; not everything that happened to her is stored in my mind. So..."
This was the first time Mei Shuang openly admitted that she was distinct from the previous Mei Shuang. Xiao Luo was not overly surprised; he gazed deeply at her and said, "Regardless of whether you are the previous Mei Shuang or not, I believe you might be more suited for this task than she was."
"Task?" Mei Shuang asked in confusion. "What task?"
Xiao Luo answered vaguely, "You have already been to the location indicated by the Secret Edict; it shouldn't be unfamiliar to you..."
"What place?" Mei Shuang was completely bewildered.
As the candlelight flickered, the shadows on Xiao Luo's face danced erratically. Against the light, his expression was solemn, seemingly lost in thought.
Mei Shuang sensed that Xiao Luo was behaving unusually at this moment; she felt an urgent need to understand what he wanted to say.
After a while, Xiao Luo came back to his senses and fixed his gaze on Mei Shuang, speaking slowly, "At the beginning of the Great Qin Empire, various southwestern nations repeatedly invaded our borders. The Founding Ancestor personally led an expedition to the southwest and successfully reclaimed the territories occupied by those nations while also incorporating their lands into the Great Qin Empire, along with a treasure trove."
Xiao Luo's expression grew serious as he continued in a low tone, "Upon returning triumphantly, when this treasure was secretly transported back to the Great Qin Empire, it encountered various strange occurrences. It is said that these treasures were cursed. The Founding Ancestor did not believe it and suspected that someone intended to seize this treasure. Thus, he ordered his trusted aides to hide it along the way. However, unexpectedly, communication with this treasure was suddenly lost; both the cavalry escorting it and the treasure itself vanished without a trace. The Founding Ancestor felt deeply regretful and dispatched thousands of troops to search along the route for three years but found nothing; it was as if this treasure had vanished from existence. Because transporting this treasure was extremely secretive and took routes with few people around, they thought it would be foolproof; yet it ultimately became an unsolved case. Even when the Founding Ancestor passed away, he firmly believed that a curse caused the treasure's disappearance. However, the Former Emperor did not give up but still had no leads. Until one day Chancellor Mei went on an inspection tour and inadvertently obtained this Secret Edict. This indicates that the previous treasure was not entirely fictitious. After decades, this Secret Edict suddenly resurfaced and piqued some people's interest, yet no one could decipher it. Chancellor Mei only managed to solve part of it before it brought about his demise... As for what happened afterward, you already know..."
As Xiao Luo finished speaking slowly, he noticed that Mei Shuang remained composed while listening intently.
"What Your Majesty means is that actually Li Tang and Mei Ru's intentions go beyond merely wanting to assassinate you and seize power? Their ultimate goal is that treasure?"
"Exactly," Xiao Luo nodded in approval. "So from the day you entered the palace as my consort, I have been working with Zhao Prince to set this trap..."
Hearing Xiao Luo mention for the first time the humiliation she suffered on their wedding day left Mei Shuang stunned as she looked up at him. "Your Majesty means that Mei Ru entering the palace in my place was actually your way of inviting me into a trap?"
"Perhaps so. Mei Ru is cunning and unpredictable. At that time, I wasn't entirely clear about her background, so I resorted to this method. Of course, your situation with Zhao Prince, along with those letters, was merely a prelude to what was to come..."
As he spoke, Xiao Luo's gaze deepened, revealing a hint of regret and comfort. "However, that day truly did put you in a difficult position..."
When he mentioned "that day," it was undoubtedly referring to the moment she had received a merciless slap from Xiao Luo.
Damn it!
Mei Shuang thought it would be a lie to say she wasn't shocked. Damn it, the truth turned out to be like this! After all the fuss, her so-called "scandal" with Nangong Nuo was completely unfounded; it was all fabricated by this emperor as a smokescreen to confuse his enemies.
Was this a joke? Had she really come here just to play along with their "game"? She felt like the biggest fool.
Recalling Xiao Luo from that day, he had been like a thousand-year-old ice, cold and ruthless. Especially in Heavenly Prison, his disdain for her was portrayed with such artistry that it truly instilled fear. Damn it, the way he had acted that day showed no intention of deceiving anyone; it was beyond acting—it was an embodiment of perfection.
This emperor had undoubtedly reached the realm of "life is but a play, and play is but life."
Deep down, Mei Shuang could only feel infinite admiration. No wonder he disregarded her virgin blood; it was because he already knew how things would unfold. She and Nangong Nuo were as innocent as could be.
As for that slap, to be honest, it would be a lie to say she didn't hold a grudge.
However, who could have imagined that one day she would sit face-to-face with this emperor and calmly recount the events of that day? To hear this lofty ruler utter words akin to an apology for having wronged her was beyond her expectations.
While feeling unfortunate, the image of this usually cold-hearted emperor loomed before her like an insurmountable giant, inspiring genuine awe.
How could an emperor be just an ordinary person? In just a few sentences, he encapsulated the bloody struggles of palace intrigue; with a single word—"game"—he grasped the state of affairs in the world. Countless destinies had been altered because of him. It truly echoed the saying, "I stand at the edge of the storm, firmly holding onto the rotation of sun and moon." The grand scheme of things was as clear as day; everything was under his control.
This was no mere man; he was clearly a god!
Common folk said she had been punished for offending the emperor's beloved and cast into Cold Palace. After all this commotion, she was merely a pawn in someone else's brilliant game. In reality, not just herself but everyone else had been placed on this sovereign's chessboard, subject to his whims.
Feeling a mix of emotions, she sighed softly, "I always thought the Emperor was narrow-minded, seeking revenge for a woman and putting me in a situation from which I could never escape. It turns out I was wrong; the Emperor has actually been protecting me all along..."
Xiao Luo, upon hearing this, had a flicker of complex emotions in his eyes.
This woman is too clever; her words may carry hidden meanings, and she likely still harbors resentment about being used.
Of course, such "utilization" was something he had never cared about before. For the sake of the nation, what was a little sacrifice? Moreover, no one had ever dared to openly criticize the Emperor in front of him. Others would not have the courage to do so, but he understood this woman’s character; perhaps she was simply stating the facts.
After a moment of silence, Mei Shuang did not forget the Emperor's purpose for coming. He was busy with state affairs yet took the time to share secrets that she didn’t even need to know. It might be some sort of preliminary setup for a "scheme." She gently asked, "Is there something you want me to do, Your Majesty?"
Xiao Luo sighed inwardly; dealing with intelligent people is like this—no need for unnecessary chatter. He nodded, "Yes."
Mei Shuang replied calmly, "Your Majesty, I am just a weak woman who knows nothing. What task can I possibly accomplish?"
Xiao Luo did not respond directly but gazed at Mei Shuang, his eyes growing deeper. "The fact that you can uncover the location of the treasure is already a significant contribution..."
After Xiao Luo finished speaking, Mei Shuang's eyelid twitched slightly. Damn it, he really wants her to seek out the treasure? The danger involved is too great.
Comment 0 Comment Count