"Yes, Your Majesty."
Everyone slowly rose, no one daring to say more. The matter of selecting consorts was indeed an affair of the inner palace, and the Empress Dowager was not overstepping her authority, so they had no grounds to object.
Mu Qingyao retreated to the side, to the most cornered position. She couldn't be bothered with these deep palace feuds and observed the royal family with cold eyes.
Rumor had it that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were not on good terms, and the Empress Dowager was not the Emperor's biological mother. However, on the surface, they appeared peaceful. Perhaps they hadn't reached the point of outright conflict.
As for the Noble Consort by the Empress Dowager's side, she was of exquisite beauty, adorned in a pleated skirt of pale violet brocade, radiant and graceful.
It was said that she was the Empress Dowager's own niece, and upon entering the palace, she immediately became a Noble Consort. It was believed that before long, she would become the Empress of the Crescent Moon Kingdom.
However, the Emperor seemed to think otherwise. If he did, he wouldn't be searching for an Empress with a crystal ball. His purpose in doing so...
Mu Qingyao's eyes flashed with brilliance. This man's schemes ran so deep...
But his true target, she surmised, was the elder one, not the younger. The younger one was hardly worth fearing!
This position of Empress was not something just anyone could fill; one might lose their head trying.
Having dealt with those below, the Empress Dowager turned her gaze back to the Emperor and reached out to take his hand.
"My son, tell me what kind of woman you like, and I shall immediately select candidates for the harem. All officials of second rank and above in the court whose households have daughters of marriageable age are to submit their portrait albums. What do you think, Emperor?"
As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Mu Qingyao, hidden in the corner, rolled her eyes.
This man was becoming a stud; how many women would be harmed? Moreover, the Empress Dowager was truly formidable, completely ignoring her own niece.
Had she not seen Noble Consort's face turn pale and her teeth begin to chatter?
This old woman was too cunning.
However, the Emperor might not listen to her. Mu Qingyao's thoughts settled, and indeed, the Emperor spoke, his voice cold and deep.
"Mother, you worry too much. My selection of consorts is temporarily halted. However, since my ascension, Prime Minister Mu has labored diligently and rendered great service to the Crescent Moon Kingdom. I have decided to bestow the title of Empress upon a daughter of the Mu family, to grant them honor."
"Empress?"
Two sharp, changed voices sounded simultaneously, and two faces turned pale.
One was the Empress Dowager. Her eyes widened, filled with unwillingness. The position of Empress belonged to the Chu family. Why should a daughter of the Mu family occupy it?
The other pale face belonged to the Noble Consort, who had always believed the Empress position was hers.
Although the Emperor didn't favor her much, she had been with him for half a year. Coupled with the Chu family's status as Prime Minister, the Empress position was sooner or later destined to be hers.
Who knew that an unexpected contender would appear? The Emperor, in order to reward and honor the Mu Manor, actually intended for a daughter of the Mu family to become Empress.
"Your Majesty, what about Yu Yan? She has been with you for so long!"
The Empress Dowager, indignant on behalf of her niece, cast aside her previous慈爱 (ci'ai - loving kindness) and sternly questioned the Emperor.
Murong Liuzun smiled and replied coldly, "Is she not still a Noble Consort?"
"You?" The Empress Dowager's gaze suddenly turned sharp, and she was about to erupt.
The Noble Consort, standing beside the Empress Dowager, immediately stepped forward and spoke gently.
"Mother, this concubine is fine. I understand your affection for me, but please, Mother, do not trouble His Majesty."
Everyone in the study was stunned. The Noble Consort was truly understanding and virtuous. Beautiful, yet gentle in disposition, how could she not inspire pity?
However, Mu Qingyao did not think so. This woman was acting out of necessity.
Who among women would be willing to watch their husband bring other women into the harem, especially when she deeply loved her husband?
But she knew that emperors had always had their harems, and taking consorts was only a matter of time. Since the Emperor had made his decision, he would not change it.
It was better to go with the flow and gain favor. The Emperor would not make things difficult for her, and he would remember her goodwill.
This woman was also quite formidable. Just as Mu Qingyao was lost in thought, she suddenly heard an extremely chilling shout: "Mu Qingyao, receive the imperial decree!"
Mu Qingyao instinctively knelt and spoke in a clear, cold voice, "This humble one receives the decree."
As soon as she finished, she felt something was amiss. Receive what decree? She wanted to stand up, but how many pairs of eyes were watching her in the study?
If she truly stood up, she would be offending imperial majesty. The Empress Dowager and Noble Consort would undoubtedly wish for her to be executed.
So, she remained kneeling steadily, her scalp tingling. Would this Emperor Xian really use her against the Empress Dowager? She absolutely refused to be a pawn. Her gaze turned exceptionally cold.
When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, dam it. She absolutely refused to suffer such a silent loss.
"Prime Minister Mu serves as an incorruptible official of upright character and earns the Emperor's favor. Mu Qingyao is gentle, elegant, dignified, and proper. She is hereby bestowed the title of Empress, and the wedding shall be held on a chosen date."
A layer of frost covered Mu Qingyao's pretty face. Her pupils were dark and deep, her lips twitched, and she glared coldly at the ground.
This man was clearly speaking falsehoods. The world knew Mu Qingyao, the third daughter of the Prime Minister's manor, as a foolish and ill-behaved woman. How could she be described as gentle, elegant, dignified, and proper in his mouth?
This was truly ironic. But don't think she would obediently comply. Mu Qingyao puffed out her chest and spoke in a clear, cold voice.
"Your Majesty, please retract your command. This humble one is unworthy of your grace. As everyone knows, the third daughter of the Prime Minister's manor is a foolish girl. If this humble one were to enter the palace as Empress, it would surely disgrace Your Majesty's imperial presence."
In the midst of this exchange, everyone in the study was dumbfounded. First, it was the Emperor's bestowal of marriage, and even more bizarre was that the third Miss Mu actually refused the marriage.
The Emperor was young and handsome, possessing both power and beauty, a man of every woman's dreams. Yet this third Miss Mu dared to refuse.
Prime Minister Mu was utterly petrified. First, the Emperor directly bestowed the title of Empress upon Qingyao, and then his own daughter refused the marriage.
Prime Minister Mu's chest tightened, his breathing grew rapid. He felt as though he were about to have a stroke. The events of this day far exceeded what he could accept. He looked up at the Emperor and Empress Dowager on the dais with trepidation.
The Emperor's face was dark and stern, his handsome features shrouded in gloom. His deep pupils were filled with a murderous aura.
He clenched his fist, veins bulging, knuckles white, enveloped in anger.
The study instantly felt like it had plunged into an ice cellar. Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Only the Empress Dowager, as if seizing an opportunity, her eyes flashing with malice, suddenly slammed her dragon table and roared.
"Bold Mu Qingyao! How dare you refuse the marriage to my face! Guards, drag her away and punish her severely!"
As the Empress Dowager finished speaking, the Mu family members' faces turned pale. Mu Hen fell to his knees with a thud.
"Please, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, spare Qingyao this once. She is young and ignorant, speaking without restraint."
Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang, the two sisters, although inwardly resenting Mu Qingyao for stealing their spotlight...