The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 127 Dragon Chair
By evening, everything was arranged.

Wang Yan rushed over and said, "General, the Empress is making a scene demanding to see you. She says that if you don't go, she will burn down the Daning Palace."

"Let her burn it."

Xiao Yi was certain that An Yuanzhen wouldn't dare to act recklessly, but he still went there anyway.

Because of him, the Daning Palace has almost come to a standstill. There are no palace staff in the palace streets, the underground heating has not been turned on, and the Kunning Hall is as deserted as a cold palace.

Stepping inside, An Yuanzhen sat on a chair, turned to face him, wiping away tears.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Where is my phoenix crown?

"The imperial treasury must be returned. The Empress has moved to Taiping Palace and cannot take it with her."

"You...you're bullying me."

“This is a change of dynasty. If the Empress thinks I have not done a good job, let her replace me with another military man.”

"Me... Hmph, so petty? If I'm unhappy, I just say so, why are you being so mean?"

"Please have the Empress pack her bags as soon as possible and move to Taiping Palace in the next few days."

An Yuanzhen turned her face, tears still clinging to her cheeks, but the worry in her eyes turned into curiosity as she asked, "Didn't we agree that my father would be made the Prince of Nanyang and sent me back?"

“This matter is not under my jurisdiction,” Xiao Yi said. “But as long as your father is pragmatic, he will keep his promise after you ascend the throne.”

“But what am I going to do now? You’ve laid off the palace staff, and expenses have been cut back. I’m having a really tough time.”

"I'm afraid the Empress has never suffered hardship before."

“Why should I suffer if I can avoid it?” An Yuanzhen pouted and said, “Everyone, get out. I have something to say to him. Stay away.”

"Yes."

After everyone else had left, she beckoned to Xiao Yi and whispered, "Come closer. Take good care of me, and my grandfather will repay you."

"I have done my best; it is the Empress who does not know how blessed she is."

“Then let me tell you something else. Come a little closer.” An Yuanzhen’s voice was even lower and more mysterious as he said, “During the month you left the capital, Youniang often came to the palace to chat with me, and every time she asked about you.”

When Li Zhaoning was mentioned, Xiao Yi remained silent.

An Yuanzhen asked, "Why did you suddenly become cold towards her after you went to Yingling?"

"That's what she said to you?"

"I'm smart, I guessed it. I'm asking you a question, you answer first."

"That's not true. I just happened to be out of the capital on business."

"Tch, they left without saying goodbye, and returned without a word. Why is that?"

"None of your business."

"really."

An Yuanzhen paused, then asked a question seemingly casually, in a joking tone.

"Because you like me?"

"Ok?"

Xiao Yi was taken aback for a moment. He looked over and saw a mischievous smile on her lips, but her eyes were sparkling.

He found it amusing and asked, "What do I like about you?"

"Humph."

Xiao Yi didn't accuse her of being presumptuous, but simply widened the distance between them again.

An Yuanzhen asked somewhat displeased, "Then do you think I'm more beautiful, or is You Niang more beautiful?"

Xiao Yi did not answer.

But since she asked, he looked her over a few times.
An Yuanzhen's cheeks flushed slightly. She turned her head away and muttered, "What are you looking at?"

"Is the Empress a Shatuo person?"

"Huh?" An Yuanzhen immediately became nervous and said, "I clearly look more like my mother."

"Your eyes look like your grandfather's? Brown."

"Hmm, they don't look very much like the Shatuo people, do they?"

Xiao Yi shook his head and said, "Few women in Jiangnan have such fair skin as you."

"You've been to Jiangnan? I've never been there."

"Then you are ignorant."

"You...you're so annoying. Next time I'm going to tell You Niang, um, I'll say you seduced a palace maid."

Xiao Yi didn't take it seriously.

He could see through An Yuanzhen's thoughts. All the women in the palace were cunning, and An Yuanzhen was the most naive of them all. She was also trying to manipulate him.

"Your Majesty, please stay here in peace. This humble general will take his leave."

"Wait a minute," An Yuanzhen said. "Li Youniang really wants to know why you've been neglecting her. Can't you just tell me? If it's because..."

"It's not because of the Empress, it's just that I don't want to get married."

"Why?"

"Was the Empress happy and free after marrying into the palace?"

An Yuanzhen was taken aback and stared at him blankly.

Xiao Yi took his leave and left.

Outside the palace, Wang Yan was waiting. He whispered, "General, the Empress Dowager has been waiting all day."

The edict of succession has not yet been received.

Xiao Yi glanced at the sky; night was about to fall.

Although he now controls the palace and can come and go as he pleases, the more he does so, the more inexplicably uneasy he feels about seeing Li Hanmei.

He couldn't quite put his finger on where this vague feeling came from, but he simply didn't have the same ease and confidence he displayed when meeting female officials or the empress.

"I need to go to the front hall for inspection. Go to the Empress Dowager and get the edict of succession, then put it in my duty room."

"Yes."

Once you pass through the palace path and leave the inner palace, no more palace servants will follow you.

The front hall was vast and empty, and apart from the imperial guards standing guard at the distant palace walls, it was completely silent.

Xiao Yi stood on the high stone steps, gazing at the horizon. Night swallowed the last rays of light, and lights shone from every household in Kaifeng.

He thoroughly enjoyed this time, watching for a long time. Afterward, he ordered his men not to follow him and instead carried a lantern to inspect the palace alone.

He had already visited the largest Zichen Hall twice, but he had not yet visited the Jinxiang Hall inside.

The night was quiet, exuding a sense of grandeur and mystery.

Xiao Yi stood outside the Jinxiang Hall for a while, knowing that this was a palace converted from the inner hall of the Xuanwu Military Governor's Office, which was once the center of power in the chaotic times.

He pushed open the vermilion-lacquered door, and the lanterns dispelled the darkness in the hall. The hall was not large, about ten meters wide and seven meters deep, supported by eight pillars, yet it inexplicably exuded an imperial aura.

There was no one in the hall.

Xiao Yi walked inside and saw the Empress's throne. It was covered with bright yellow brocade, embroidered with clouds, with dragon heads carved at both ends of the armrests, each holding a pearl in its mouth. The back of the chair was inlaid with seven gilded horizontal ridges, symbolizing the seven spheres of the emperor's administration.

They climbed the steps and hung the lantern on a nearby shelf.

The firelight fell on the dragon head on the armrest, and instantly, the dragon seemed to come to life, giving Xiao Yi a disdainful look.

In an instant, all sorts of recent thoughts, dreams, and words floated through my mind.

"She is indeed pure of heart."

"I'm not betting on Liu Chong, but on you."

"You have great ambitions, don't you?"

"Long live! Long live!"

Xiao Yi closed his eyes and shook his head.

He hadn't seriously considered these things before, as he had been busy trying to survive. It wasn't until last night, when Li Hanmei's words seemed to wake him up.

What are my plans for this life... Do I have lofty ambitions?

I do not know how long it has been.

Suddenly, the curtains behind the dragon throne lit up, and someone carrying a lantern walked over, their footsteps very light.

Xiao Yi knew that it was Li Hanmei who had come. Sure enough, the curtain was lifted, revealing her solemn and dignified face.

She still had that piece of cloth wrapped around her neck, like a collar.

"General Xiao, what brings you here?"

"Inspection."

"Instead of coming to ask Guo Que'er for the edict of succession, he's here inspecting the dragon throne. What a leisurely life."

As Li Hanmei spoke, she smiled slightly, stepped forward slowly, closed the palace door, and bolted it shut.

She turned around and said, "Since you're in charge of the palace tonight, why don't you sit on it and give it a try?"

Xiao Yi said, "It's just a chair, what difference does it make whether I sit on it or not?"

"Scared?"

Li Hanmei walked up to him and asked, "Are you afraid to look directly at your own ambitions, afraid that I will persuade you?"

Xiao Yi shook his head and said sincerely, "Today, with every arrangement I make, I think that nothing you do can affect the change of dynasties. You have completely failed."

"Everything I said to you last night came from the bottom of my heart."

"No matter how good the promises are, it's useless. Circumstances are beyond our control. Just accept your fate."

“Xiao Yi, I’ve told you before, I’m good at judging people. I understand you; you have great ambitions…”

Xiao Yi turned around and saw the determination in Li Hanmei's eyes.

A sense of pity welled up in his heart. He shook his head, climbed the steps, and sat on the dragon throne.

I sat down, and I can't quite describe how I felt.

I only felt that it was a chair with a good view, and as I stroked the dragon head on the armrest, I had a vague feeling of having great power in my hands.

He looked down at Li Hanmei, his eyes asking her, "Are you satisfied now?"

Li Hanmei stood below the imperial steps, looking at the scene, remaining silent for a long time.

Finally, for reasons unknown, she gave a deep bow and said softly, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Her voice wasn't seductive, but unlike her usual dignified tone, it was gentle enough to send shivers down one's spine.

Xiao Yi said in a deep voice, "Come forward."

Li Hanmei seemed taken aback, lowered her head and looked very submissive, and stepped forward.

Xiao Yi watched as she slightly lifted her skirt, her silk-soled shoes making no sound on the carpet, and watched as she silently hung the lantern and gracefully walked up to him.

"His Majesty."

"Is it fun?" Xiao Yi asked.

"Are you satisfied?"

Xiao Yi did not answer. To be honest, it was indeed easy to feel satisfied when the Empress Dowager was so obedient.

She wanted him to have the illusion that sitting on the dragon throne would give him everything.

A smile appeared in Li Hanmei's eyes.

Xiao Yi reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her to sit down beside him.

"What...are you doing?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to share the world with me? Are you scared now?"

Li Hanmei quickly concealed her panic, straightened up, and said, "You promised me?"

"Do not."

"Why?"

"I have lofty ambitions and can take the world for myself, so why should I cooperate with you?"

"You stubborn brat, you dragged me down to sit. Isn't that a sign that you want to conspire with me to rule the world?"

"I just want to tell you that playing with fire will only get you burned," Xiao Yi said. "If you continue to do pointless things, you'll be the one who suffers."

Li Hanmei was startled and moved to the side as if she had been burned, so as not to get too close to him.

Xiao Yi had already noticed the faint scent of plum blossoms on her.

She did not use incense during their previous meetings.

After sitting in silence for a while, I found that the dragon throne was actually quite comfortable.

"All right."

Xiao Yi sighed and said, "I've already sat down, you can't do anything to me, give up."

"Ah."

Li Hanmei sighed softly; it was clear that she had given up hope as well.

Xiao Yi could have ignored her, or even locked her up. In the end, he was grateful for her kindness and advised her not to hold a grudge anymore.

After all, since they met, she had bestowed official positions and gifts upon him, promised to release the craftsmen of Yingling, and granted his every request.

In any case, that's the end of it.

"Let's go."

The next moment, Xiao Yi turned his head and met Li Hanmei's eyes.

Two lanterns hung to the side, casting a dim light, but there was something else in her eyes.

He noticed that she had drawn her eyebrows tonight, and they looked quite nice.

The palace was silent, and sitting side by side on the dragon throne like this was quite dangerous for both of them.

They, however, seemed to tacitly agree to stay a little longer...

(End of this chapter)