AEOGA CH20

When Lu Xuechao learned that Xie Chongjin had been publicizing their private romance everywhere, his initial reaction was a mixture of shame and annoyance. Yet beneath that annoyance lay a hint of sweetness, causing the corners of his lips to curl upward involuntarily. Concealing his slight blush behind the action of sipping his tea, a trace of bitterness soon surfaced in his mind. The smile slowly faded from his lips, and even his lowered eyes grew slightly rimmed with red.

Sometimes, being too intelligent was not a blessing. If Lu Xuechao were a bit simpler, he would only feel secretly ecstatic and sweet over Xie Chongjin’s childish display of affection.

But he possessed a heart of exquisite complexity, and he understood Xie Chongjin all too well. He could not help but delve deeper into the matter.

Xie Chongjin had never hidden his affection for Lu Xuechao, but he was not someone who loved to boast to just anyone. Too much of a good thing would only breed annoyance in others, a truth Xie Chongjin surely understood.

Yet, he chose to imprint the fact that “he loved Lu Xuechao” into everyone’s hearts time and time again, reinforcing it countless times so that no one could ever forget it.

Because he was terrified that the one who would eventually forget was himself.

Lu Xuechao knew that their world was bound by many “absolute truths.” These were the rules that constrained them, the unseen hands that controlled them.

For instance: once he ascended the throne, Xie Chongjin would inevitably lose control of his own actions.

For instance: once banished to the cold palace and ordered to commit suicide, Lu Xuechao would definitely be unable to resist.

For instance: if Lu Xuechao were targeted by witchcraft, he would surely die.

In the Heavenly Book, these “absolute truths” had another name—the programmed settings of a game. While the players could manipulate them, these programs were the true culprits.

Yet, Xie Chongjin held an absolute truth of his own within his heart—one that defied the rules of the world and subverted the game’s settings.

He loved Lu Xuechao. That was the sole truth he recognized.

He lived in terror that one day, the rules of the world would completely wipe out his consciousness, forcing him to forget this truth. This was no unfounded paranoia; he had already been controlled to such an extent. Who could guarantee that his consciousness wouldn’t vanish entirely one day, leaving behind nothing but a puppet manipulated by others?

Thus, he had to proclaim it to the whole world. When that day arrived, everyone else would be there to remind him, to tell him the truth.

By recounting it to others over and over again, he was speaking to his future self—the self that might no longer possess a conscious mind:

Even if your consciousness is stifled, even if you are entirely controlled by invisible rules, you must remember this absolute truth: you love Lu Xuechao.

Thinking of this, Lu Xuechao could no longer feel any happiness, only a profound, aching sorrow.

Beneath that seemingly childish display of affection lay such deep-seated terror. What kind of agonizing grief must Huaiyun have felt each time he told others, “I love him”?

It was like a blade wrapped in honey, violently gouging into Lu Xuechao’s heart.

Accustomed to concealing his emotions, by the time he set his teacup down, his expression had already returned to normal. No joy could be detected, nor any sorrow.

Hua Yan keenly sensed that the Empress’s spirits were low and instantly ceased his bantering.

For a moment, the room fell dead silent.

Seeing the shift in atmosphere, Liu Yansheng finally brought up the main business at hand, ordering the palace attendants to present the account books and the Luan Seal.

“Your Highness, His Majesty previously granted me the authority to assist in managing the six palaces and oversee imperial affairs. Now that the Empress has returned to the Central Palace, the governance of the six palaces naturally falls to you. I hereby request to step down and return the Luan Seal.”

Liu Yansheng felt no attachment to relinquishing this power; he only felt a sense of liberation.

The imperial harem was supposed to be managed by the Empress. In the past, because the Central Palace was vacant and the vast harem could not be left unattended, the responsibility had fallen onto him, the Noble Consort. Heaven knew he had entered the palace only to better protect Hezhou. Yet, he had inadvertently climbed too high and gained the authority to manage the inner palace. The time he could spend alone with Hezhou became practically nonexistent, and his entire day was consumed by trivial matters like rewards, punishments, banquets, and bookkeeping. He had to mediate whenever two concubines bickered, and investigate whenever a poisoning or framing occurred. Not to mention, with the national treasury depleted, the expenditures far exceeded the income. Yet, His Majesty had insisted on throwing away thousands of gold pieces for favored concubines, ordering lavish palace constructions and carelessly handing out treasury items as rewards. Liu Yansheng’s persuasions had been useless, leaving him practically ready to wash his hands of the whole mess.

He had come to the palace to find his lover, not to be a laborer!

Now that the Empress could take over this disastrous ledger, Liu Yansheng internally hailed him as a savior.

Lu Xuechao looked at the items presented by the attendants. He accepted the account books but left the Luan Seal untouched.

The Empress utilized the Phoenix Seal, which had already been delivered to his palace the previous day. The Noble Consort used the Luan Seal to assist the Empress in governing the harem. Liu Yansheng returning the Luan Seal was nothing more than an attempt to completely exempt himself from any work.

Beneath Lu Xuechao’s pristine, flawless exterior lay a deeply calculating mind. How could he possibly pass up an opportunity to exploit Liu Yansheng?

The only person he was willing to wholeheartedly plan and scheme for was Xie Chongjin; everyone else in Lu Xuechao’s eyes was merely a resource to be utilized. Besides, it wasn’t as if he was plotting against their lives…

Putting everything else aside, Liu Yansheng’s capability was undeniably formidable. No matter how reluctant he had been internally, he had managed the inner palace flawlessly over the past three years. Had it been someone of mediocre ability, there was no telling if they could have straightened out such a disastrous mess.

Now was precisely the time when capable people were needed. Since Lu Xuechao had to look after both the court and the harem, there was absolutely no way he would let such an efficient assistant wash his hands of the work.

“The Noble Consort has rendered meritorious service in assisting with the harem, so please keep the Luan Seal,” Lu Xuechao said softly. “The palace affairs are numerous and complicated. I will have to trouble the Noble Consort in the future as well.”

Liu Yansheng declined, “I was merely managing it on Your Highness’s behalf. Now that Your Highness is rightfully in charge of the six palaces, please take back the Luan Seal.”

“With the Noble Consort’s assistance, I am sure I will be spared a great deal of trouble,” Lu Xuechao countered, pushing the responsibility back with a gentle but firm tone.

Liu Yansheng wanted to decline further, but Lu Xuechao suddenly covered his mouth and coughed twice, his brow furrowing slightly. His pale complexion made him appear all the more frail and pitiful.

That peerless elegance, paired with a fragility like delicate glass, would make even the most cold-hearted person feel a pang of pity.

The entire harem knew that Lu Xuechao was in poor health. After all, the stories of how His Majesty personally administered medicine to the frequently ailing Empress were well known to everyone.

With such a delicate constitution, how could he possibly handle the tedious and overwhelming palace affairs?

In an instant, the accusatory gazes of all the concubines fell squarely upon Liu Yansheng.

Hua Yan thought: How could anyone tire out such a grand beauty? Didn’t you see him coughing just now!

Qin Yulong thought: Brother Xuechao needs rest. I stand with Brother Xuechao unconditionally.

Helian Xi thought: He is so sick himself, yet he still worried about me being unaccustomed to the local climate and told me to summon the imperial physician. He is such a good person, I must speak up for him.

Fu Xinian thought: He is a role model for us scholars. I will naturally side with him.

Wang Yiming and Lin Zhanzhi thought: He is beautiful, so whatever he says is right.

Even Shen Hezhou cast a disapproving glance: His Highness is so frail. What is wrong with you sharing his burdens?

Liu Yansheng: “…”

Could he voluntarily request a demotion? Was it an option to stop being the Noble Consort?

Liu Yansheng looked toward the delicate, pitiful beauty resting on the daybed. From an angle only he could see, Lu Xuechao flashed him a trace of a lazy, warm smile—the unmistakable look of a successful schemer.

Yet, it did not provoke aversion.

It was the kind of feeling where, even though you knew clearly you were being played, you could only willingly walk into the trap.

Liu Yansheng closed his eyes briefly. “…I accept the command.”

When it came to captivating the hearts of men, if Lu Xuechao claimed to be second, no one would dare claim to be first.

The Empress’s dark-bellied calculations, along with his peculiar, irresistible charisma… he had certainly gotten a taste of it today.

After the morning greetings and the transfer of harem governance were completed, a palace attendant suddenly rushed into the room.

Seeing the room filled with consort ranks, the attendant paused, walked up to Lu Xuechao, and whispered in his ear, “Your Highness, His Majesty is on his way to the Chongxue Palace. Word has it that His Majesty flew into a towering rage during the morning court session today…”

Before the words could fully leave the attendant’s mouth, a dark purple figure strode into the Chongxue Palace. Xie Chongjin’s handsome face was clouded with gloom, radiating an irrepressible fury.

The concubines hurriedly stood up to pay their respects: “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Xie Chongjin had not expected so many people to still be present. His expression froze for a moment before he suppressed his anger and uttered a stiff, “At ease.”

Just as Lu Xuechao was about to rise, Xie Chongjin stopped him. “Qingshu, you need not rise. In the future, you do not need to bow to me either.”

These words were spoken right in front of everyone, and his tone instantly softened, losing every shred of anger.

He changed his countenance faster than turning the pages of a book.

The concubines: “…”

They had been thoroughly flexed on again.

As it turned out, even though he said “at ease” to everyone, it was merely a formality for them, but a genuine exemption for the Empress.

He wouldn’t even use the imperial pronoun “Zhen” when speaking to the Empress. Is he completely dropping the act now?

Truly, hearing ten thousand imperial love stories could not compare to the shock of witnessing it with one’s own eyes.

Lu Xuechao remained seated calmly. “Did Your Majesty get angry during the court session?”

“I wasn’t just angry; I was being provoked.” Xie Chongjin sat down on the other side of the upper seat. Disregarding the fact that the teacup on the table had already been used by Lu Xuechao, he picked it up and drained the remaining half-cup of tea. Only when the crisp, cool tea traveled down his throat did his anger finally subside a little.

“They thought that because I hadn’t attended court for three years and my mind had been drained by the Gu insects, every single one of them could fool me,” Xie Chongjin sneered. “I have no idea how many parasites the Six Ministries have bred. Now that they see I intend to settle the accounts line by line, they have started covering for one another in hopes of pulling the wool over my eyes. They truly take me for a fool.”

Liu Yansheng spoke up at the appropriate moment, “Since Your Majesty wishes to discuss state matters with the Empress, we shall take our leave.”

Nominally, they were still the Emperor’s consorts, and the harem was forbidden from interfering in politics; only the Empress possessed the right to assist in state affairs.

“You all stay and listen too,” Xie Chongjin said, making no attempt to hide it. Every individual in the harem was a person of talent; it was better for them to be aware of these court matters.

Lu Xuechao listened for a moment and soon grasped the situation.

The root cause was that during the period of the player’s control, money had been spent like water. The Ministry of Works had been ordered to carry out massive constructions, squandering all the funds on building luxurious palaces, while not a single matter of actual importance had been taken care of. The defensive city walls had fallen into disrepair, which was why they had been easily breached by the enemy nation. The water conservancy and agricultural engineering projects required by the common people were nonexistent, leading to annual disasters—either floods or droughts—and a severe shortage in grain production.

Xie Chongjin’s very first order was to halt the construction of the imperial villa and redirect the funds toward repairing water conservancy projects and city walls to avert both internal instability and external threats.

Consequently, the officials from the Ministry of Works claimed there were no surplus funds. When ordered to provide a detailed breakdown, each of them stammered, completely ignorant of the specifics.

How could Xie Chongjin not know? The funds had been pocketed through corruption.

Where there was one instance, there were bound to be more. Xie Chongjin had gone on to conduct spot checks on the other five ministries, and the results had left him laughing from sheer rage. The official transfers in the Ministry of Personnel, the imperial examinations in the Ministry of Rites, the financial revenues and expenditures in the Ministry of Revenue, the distribution of military funds in the Ministry of War, and the judicial trials in the Ministry of Justice—every single one harbored shady dealings.

Selling official titles, engaging in nepotism and fraud, withholding tax revenues, embezzling military funds, practicing corruption and perverting the law… it was truly a chaotic dance of demons. Xie Chongjin had not even launched a thorough investigation yet, but he could already foresee what a staggering sum it would be, and what a devastating blow it dealt to Changli.

The fact that the national treasury was so depleted appeared to be due to the player’s lavish spending on the surface, but the root cause lay within these parasites devouring the state from the inside out.

The group of people Xie Chongjin had dismissed from the palace the previous night included no shortage of fathers and brothers of those former concubines. Furthermore, they had all been recommended by those consorts and personally approved by “Xie Chongjin.”

The current Changli imperial family could be described as utterly destitute.

Wang Yiming listened, his mind completely in a fog. As the son of an uneducated merchant, how did he end up sitting here listening to major affairs of the state court?

He quietly asked Lin Zhanzhi beside him, “Do you understand?”

Lin Zhanzhi shook his head, “I don’t understand.”

Wang Yiming felt relieved. He wasn’t the only fool around.

Hua Yan didn’t understand either, but that did not prevent him from knowing that the situation was severe. He silently lowered his head to look at his nails, which were dyed a pale pink.

Helian Xi wished desperately that he were deaf. He understood perfectly well, but wished he didn’t. Discussing the internal politics of his country so flagrantly in front of him—would he really not be silenced after hearing all this?

Fu Xinian, Liu Yansheng, Shen Hezhou, and Qin Yulong listened with rapt attention, their expressions solemn. The former was a scholar, while the others were sons of noble families; they naturally paid attention to court affairs.

After listening, Fu Xinian spoke up to corroborate, “When I was preparing for the imperial examination, I did indeed hear rumors that the chief examiner was secretly selling the exam questions, and candidates were purchasing them with heavy sums of gold…”

That was exactly how this year’s top scholar had come about. In truth, even with the questions leaked beforehand, that man’s essay had still been inferior to Fu Xinian’s.

Fu Xinian naturally disdained such underhanded methods and had thought of reporting it, but on second thought, reporting it back then would have been akin to throwing an egg against a stone. He might have even lost his eligibility to take the exam. A true cure would be to attain a high position after entering officialdom and thoroughly purge this corrupt atmosphere.

He was by no means an inflexible person.

Xie Chongjin raised his eyes. “Was that chief examiner named Sun Liangxian?”

Fu Xinian was startled for a moment before nodding, “Precisely.”

He had initially thought His Majesty knew nothing, but now it appeared… His Majesty knew absolutely everything.

“The Eastern Depot discovered some evidence previously. He acted with such lack of concealment because he knew full well what he was doing behind the scenes. It was just that back then, while afflicted by the Gu, I lacked the strength to deal with him even if I wanted to. Today in court, when I demanded a thorough investigation, a crowd of them passed the buck and spoke evasively. Yet he was the one who obstructed the most fiercely, making it glaringly obvious that he was guilty—a total fool.” Xie Chongjin’s face remained expressionless. “He ruined my mood, so he was dealt with on the spot, which can also serve as a warning to the rest.”

Lu Xuechao looked at him sideways. “Did Your Majesty remove his official hat?”

Xie Chongjin lowered his eyes, devoid of any superfluous emotion. “I removed his head.”