Chapter 840: Chapter 846, Chapter 847: Twice Declined and Twice Yielded
The night descended quietly.
Inside the Emperor’s bedroom, the lamps were ablaze, and the sound of zithers and lutes filled the air.
In the open space of the inner hall, there were beauties playing the zither and flute, and more beauties dressed in light gauzy skirts, their jade feet bare, dancing gracefully on the carpeted floor. Their legs moved elegantly, drawing beautiful curves with each step.
Behind the long table at the head, Emperor Yong’an, clad in a red Emperor’s Robe, his hair untied, and his robe slightly disheveled, sat languidly holding a cup of wine. His face was flushed, the breath he exhaled smelled strongly of alcohol, and his mesmerized eyes were fixed on the scene below.
The dancers and beauties below were all from the Music Bureau of the Ministry of Rites. These people were once wives, concubines, and family members of the court ministers. Their husbands or fathers were once subordinates of Xu Guozhong, Lu Sheng, and others, and were implicated and assigned to the Music Bureau.
Thus, besides their stunning beauty, these ladies carried a special grace that was extremely captivating, but Emperor Yong’an’s mind wasn’t on them; his heart was full of melancholy.
The Decree of Abdication had been issued, and it wouldn’t be long before he ceased to be the Emperor of the Great Song, and the legacy left by his ancestors would be completely ruined in his hands.
To say he wasn’t saddened would be a lie.
He could only numb himself with alcohol and think of comforting thoughts to console himself.
At least he wouldn’t be the emperor anymore, and he wouldn’t have to live in constant fear.
"Your Majesty, you are already drunk. You cannot drink anymore." A soft and gentle voice sounded by Emperor Yong’an’s ear.
He turned his head to look, and it was his Empress, Wu Xian, although officially, Wu Xian was still the Imperial Concubine.
Although Wu Xian was a woman of the Wu Family’s collateral branch, she had bright eyes and white teeth, quite charming, but Emperor Yong’an couldn’t make himself like her. Instead, he felt a dislike for her, as she wasn’t chosen by him, but rather forced upon him by others.
Yet Emperor Yong’an didn’t dare show his disdain, instead complying very obediently with Wu Xian’s words: "Thank you, beloved consort, for your concern."
With that, he set down the cup in his hand and waved the dancers below away, then held his forehead with one hand, saying, "I feel a bit dizzy."
"Should I massage Your Majesty? When my father got drunk at home, I used to massage him, and it was quite effective," Wu Xian said softly.
"Sorry to trouble you, beloved consort."
"It’s no trouble, Your Majesty is too polite."
Wu Xian supported Emperor Yong’an’s body, letting his head rest on her lap. She found the pressure points on his head and gently massaged them.
Compared to Emperor Yong’an’s inner aversion to Wu Xian,
Wu Xian actually harbored some fondness towards Emperor Yong’an.
Although he was a puppet emperor, he was still the emperor, an existence far above many others due to his status as the Son of Heaven.
Moreover, Emperor Yong’an had good genes, his appearance particularly handsome.
Lastly, his conversation skills and education, especially his excellent calligraphy, greatly attracted Wu Xian.
In contrast, Wu Xian, as a collateral member of the Wu Family, if not married to the emperor, would have been merely matrimonial leverage, married to a family scion or a rich merchant, which was clearly inferior to marrying Emperor Yong’an.
Therefore, Wu Xian was quite satisfied with Emperor Yong’an. She served him with utmost care and effort, without any perfunctory attitude.
Just then, a eunuch with a duster hurriedly walked in, respectfully saying, "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine, Chancellor Geng seeks audience."
"It’s already late, if Chancellor Geng has matters to report, let him come tomorrow morning." Before Emperor Yong’an could speak, Wu Xian frowned slightly and said crisply.
"Let him in quickly." But Emperor Yong’an suddenly sat up and said.
Wu Xian said, "Your Majesty, the ministers have bullied you too much, forcing you to issue the Decree of Abdication, and now they’re seeking an audience at night. In my opinion, you should leave him hanging."
Truth be told, Wu Xian was a good woman, speaking up for Emperor Yong’an and maintaining his interests now.
But at the moment, Emperor Yong’an certainly wouldn’t heed her words, insisting on seeing Geng Songfu.
Soon, the two saw Geng Songfu.
"Chancellor Geng coming to the palace so late, is he here to force Your Majesty out of the Imperial Palace?" Wu Xian stared at Geng Songfu, her voice cold.
After all, the Decree of Abdication had already been issued.
"Beloved Consort..." Emperor Yong’an glanced at Wu Xian, feigning anger, then asked softly, "Geng Qing, what important matters have brought you here at this hour?"
Geng Songfu bowed with cupped hands, then took out the Decree of Abdication written by Emperor Yong’an from his sleeve, saying, "In reply to Your Majesty, the Decree of Abdication that Your Majesty previously wrote was declined by King Wei."
"?"
Emperor Yong’an was taken aback, a hint of joy flashed in his heart, but soon he became uneasy again: "Geng Qing, what does King Wei mean by this?"
"King Wei did not say."
Geng Songfu stood straight, looking at Emperor Yong’an, saying, "However, in my opinion, Your Majesty’s Decree of Abdication lacks sincerity. I believe Your Majesty should publicly read the Decree of Abdication before the Civil and Military Ministers."
"How dare you." Wu Xian stood up and shouted angrily, forcing Your Majesty to write the Decree of Abdication was bad enough, but now you want Your Majesty to read it in court, isn’t this trampling Your Majesty’s dignity into the ground, she said coldly, "Is this your idea, or King Wei’s idea?"
Geng Songfu did not respond to Wu Xian, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Emperor Yong’an.
Emperor Yong’an showed no expression, but his hands tucked into his sleeves, clenching tightly into fists, feeling deeply humiliated, yet he dared not express it, instead forcing a smile, saying, "It should be so."
"Your Majesty..." Wu Xian could hardly bear to watch.
"Your Majesty is wise." Geng Songfu bowed again, then after saying one more sentence, left the Decree of Abdication and departed.
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