Making Yan Ruxue the Empress, what does Your Majesty think?

"Your Majesty."

Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Zhou Kingdom's imperial palace, Wei Xun called out.

Xiao Mo's consciousness withdrew from the Book of a Hundred Lives. He opened his eyes and let out a deep breath. "Come in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wei Xun responded, entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and bowed respectfully. "This servant greets Your Majesty."

"What is it?" Xiao Mo looked at Eunuch Wei and spoke slowly.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Wei Xun said with a smile, "The Empress Dowager has summoned you for a meal."

Xiao Mo frowned. "Did Mother say what it was about?"

"The Empress Dowager didn't say, but..." Wei Xun's eyes darted around. "This old servant guesses it's about selecting consorts."

"I understand. Prepare the Dragon Chariot."

Xiao Mo really didn't want to go out, but he had no choice. The Empress Dowager had invited him to dinner, and if he didn't go, he'd be accused of being unfilial.

Even though she wasn't his birth mother and he was adopted, it was still the same.

"This servant will prepare the Dragon Chariot for Your Majesty immediately."

"Wait." Xiao Mo stopped Wei Xun.

"Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"

"Clear a piece of open ground in the palace, somewhere secluded and quiet. Set up various Taoist ritual implements, including things like peach wood swords. I want to set up an altar to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth. No one is allowed to enter, do you understand?" Xiao Mo instructed.

"This servant will do it as quickly as possible."

"Go."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wei Xun had no suspicions about His Majesty's actions. He merely thought His Majesty was truly obsessed with cultivation, even wanting to set up a ritual altar.

Since ancient times, what emperor had ever set up a ritual altar within the imperial palace?

In reality, Xiao Mo wanted to practice the Grass Character Sword Art. Setting up the altar was just an excuse.

Although the Hall of Mental Cultivation was large, practicing the Grass Character Sword Art inside would definitely not work.

If sword energy were to smash into things and break them, the commotion would be too great and might attract Yan Shan'ao's attention.

However, under the guise of cultivating Taoism and setting up an altar, he could practice his sword daily without Yan Shan'ao suspecting anything.

In fact, Yan Shan'ao would only think His Majesty was absurd and become even more at ease.

Once his cultivation reached a certain level, he would summon Yan Shan'ao to the palace and find an opportunity to get rid of him.

Not long after, Xiao Mo arrived at Lingxin Palace in the Dragon Chariot.

"Your son greets Mother. Has Mother been well recently?"

Xiao Mo approached Empress Dowager Yan and bowed to her.

"Mother is very well."

Empress Dowager Yan nodded with a smile. She walked down, helped Xiao Mo to sit beside her, and patted his arm. "Mo'er, Mother heard you've been indulging in cultivation recently and are even dressed like a Taoist priest now. This won't do. You must focus on state affairs!"

"Mother worries too much. Prime Minister Yan is a capable minister for governing the world. He manages the court and all its affairs in perfect order. Everyone praises the Prime Minister's wisdom. I am not worried, so Mother need not worry either."

Xiao Mo praised Yan Shan'ao against his will.

In reality, the court was in chaos. Led by Yan Shan'ao, officials formed cliques, excluded rivals, and even sold official positions.

Currently, the Zhou Kingdom had the appearance of a rotten apple about to fall.

Why was Yan Shan'ao so eager to find the Myriad Sword Sect as a backer?

It was because the neighboring Yan Kingdom was coveting the Zhou Kingdom. Yan Shan'ao was not a fool; he knew Yan Kingdom intended to annex Zhou.

"You..." Empress Dowager Yan sighed, her tone sounding quite helpless.

However, Xiao Mo felt that Empress Dowager Yan was secretly pleased.

"Fine, fine. Although my younger brother is not very capable, he is somewhat competent. Let His Majesty cultivate." Empress Dowager Yan said earnestly, "However, while His Majesty cultivates, the foundation of the nation cannot be neglected."

"What does Mother mean?"

"Prime Minister Yan has already spoken to you. Your Majesty is not young anymore, and it's time to select consorts. The lists of eligible young ladies from various ministers have been submitted.

Mother has looked them over. Those young ladies from noble families are indeed good, but I don't feel they are quite suitable.

The most suitable is Yan Ruxue from the Yan clan.

Your Majesty must have heard of Ruxue's reputation."

"Naturally, I have," Xiao Mo nodded. "Yan Ruxue is the foremost talented woman of our Great Zhou. She has read extensively and is knowledgeable about ancient and modern times. Both court officials and commoners alike praise her highly."

As he spoke, Xiao Mo suddenly realized that he had named that little white snake "Ruxue," accidentally colliding with the name of that talented woman from the Yan clan.

Hearing Xiao Mo praise Yan Ruxue, Empress Dowager Yan's mood brightened, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

"According to etiquette, ten young ladies from prominent families were originally to be selected to enter the palace as consorts. After one year, Your Majesty would then choose from among them those with both talent and virtue to be Empress."

But I've thought about it.

Currently, Your Majesty is cultivating the Dao and doesn't have that much energy.

Recruiting so many consorts at once might also be bad for Your Majesty's health.

And the country cannot be without an Empress for a single day.

Rituals are set by humans.

Therefore, I propose that it would be better to first have Ruxue enter the palace to serve Your Majesty.

Given Ruxue's background and reputation, if she were to become our Great Zhou's Empress, she would surely win over the populace.

Afterward, Ruxue can help Your Majesty manage the harem and recruit other consorts for Your Majesty, to enrich the harem.

What are Your Majesty's thoughts?"

"."

Xiao Mo knew exactly what Empress Dowager Yan meant.

She probably initially intended to select consorts for him, then select her clanswoman Yan Ruxue, and a year later, maneuver her into the position of Empress.

But now, she felt it was too slow and risky.

What if other women gained his favor?

What if other consorts became pregnant first?

Furthermore, those other consorts also had considerable influence behind them.

What if he colluded with other noble families?

So, after much deliberation, Empress Dowager Yan decided to have Yan Ruxue enter the palace alone first, to secure her position as Empress, to avoid any unforeseen complications.

As for her mention of "recruiting other women to enrich the harem," that would have to wait until Yan Ruxue had given birth to a prince.

This wasn't about Xiao Mo being eager for "three thousand beautiful women in the harem."

It was the feeling of being controlled by them, completely reduced to their tool, that truly irked him.

He felt like a puppet on strings.

"Your son has no objections. If Ruxue enters the palace, I believe Your son will be able to worry less, and Ruxue can also catch up with Mother Empress," Xiao Mo said respectfully.

"Good, good."

The more sensible Xiao Mo acted, the more Empress Dowager Yan liked him.

"Currently, the elders of the Myriad Sword Sect have already arrived within our Zhou Kingdom's borders. The Myriad Sword Sect is the foremost sword sect in the world, and we must not be remiss; we must entertain them well.

When the elders of the Myriad Sword Sect arrive, Ruxue will also enter the palace and hold the ceremony to enthrone her as Empress.

This will be a perfect opportunity for the elders of the Myriad Sword Sect to witness the grand occasion and display our Great Zhou's hospitality."

Xiao Mo lowered his head and said:

"Everything is as Mother Empress commands."