CPS Chapter 7: Lingguang

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On his last day in the Zhaixing Pavilion, Xia Qing began trying to ascend the building to view the snow. Initially, it was painfully awkward; his limbs felt foreign and uncoordinated.

Luo Guanxue, standing by and observing, asked earnestly, “Are you planning to start by relearning how to walk?”

Xia Qing, both angry and embarrassed, barked, “Shut up!”

The area around the Pagoda was a restricted zone in the Kingdom of Chu, forbidden to commoners. Those coming and going were all performers or dancers. The only constant was the towering Pagoda across the way.

Having stared at it for so long, Xia Qing could now close his eyes and still perfectly sketch its shape: white walls, black eaves, nine levels, surrounded by ethereal purple mist and radiant with Buddha’s light.

One day, an old eunuch flattered him with a psycophantic smile. “Your Majesty, the merman you saved last time has mostly recovered. Shall I bring him here to offer his thanks?”

There was no need for thanks, but Xia Qing paused and couldn’t resist asking, “How are his legs?”

The eunuch beamed. “Just a small bite wound—nothing serious. To earn a word of concern from Your Majesty, the wretched creature would surely consider it a worthy death.”

Xia Qing twitched his lips slightly. He thought to himself, Luo Guanxue’s people really do have a way with words.

When the eunuch failed to get a response after a long wait, he cautiously looked up, only to find Xia Qing’s face cold as ice, his pupils filled with terror. The eunuch immediately dropped to his knees with a loud thud, panicking and kowtowing repeatedly. “Mercy, Your Majesty! Spare me! I have spoken out of turn and deserve to die a thousand deaths!”

“???”

Xia Qing was more confused than the eunuch.

What had he done?

Why was this person suddenly begging for his life?

Instinctively, Xia Qing looked to the culprit beside him.

Luo Guanxue gave a faint smile. “You’ll get used to it.”

Used to it, my foot! Xia Qing was too exasperated to argue and weakly waved his hand. “Y-you’re dismissed.”

The eunuch, overjoyed, wept tears of gratitude. “Thank you for sparing me, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty’s reign be eternal! This old servant will take his leave immediately!”

After the eunuch left, Xia Qing asked, “What’s his name?”

Luo Guanxue thought for a moment. “Zhang Shan.”

Xia Qing frowned. “How long has he served you? Could he notice anything unusual about me?”

Luo Guanxue replied, “No.”

Xia Qing: “Hmm?”

Luo Guanxue’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he said slowly, “There’s nothing unusual. Whatever I do is always correct.”

Xia Qing: “...” How capricious and unpredictable must you usually be to make such a claim with impunity?

Luo Guanxue’s spirit was indeed weak and exhausted. As soon as they entered the sleeping chambers, he fell asleep on the desk.

Xia Qing, wrapped in blankets, sat across from him reading.

Without the demonic energy from the Pagoda, he was spared the agony of feeling his bones torn apart. However, this body was far from comfortable—coldness seeped into his limbs, weighing him down as though bound by the depths of the sea.

Although the system had brought him here, that idiotic thing had hastily babbled some clichéd melodrama before abandoning him.

If Xia Qing wanted to understand the Kingdom of Chu’s circumstances, he’d have to read up on his own.

The Kingdom of Chu was the dominant nation of its time, occupying sixteen provinces in the Central Plains, ruling as the overlord of the world, and receiving tributes from all directions.

Its capital, Lingguang, was the largest city under heaven, bustling and thriving.

Three great clans dominated Lingguang: the Yan, Wei, and Wu families. Each was an aristocratic family with centuries of history, deeply rooted in the imperial city and intricately interconnected. Together, they rivaled the court in power.

Currently, the Yan family had produced an empress dowager and was growing restless. The Wei family’s stance was ambiguous, while the Wu family, loyal through generations, remained the most steadfast supporters of the throne.

Pressed for time, Xia Qing only briefly familiarized himself with three figures:

The Empress Dowager, Yan Lanyu, referred to by Luo Guanxue as the “madwoman.”

The Regent, her elder brother.

The Grand Priest.

He first turned to Yan Lanyu.

As the eldest daughter of the Yan family, Yan Lanyu’s status was unparalleled. She had been chosen as the Crown Princess from birth, a destiny of boundless glory.

The chronicler must have been an ardent fan of hers, as the record was brimming with praise.

It claimed she was renowned throughout the capital before her marriage, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and more. After marrying into the Eastern Palace, she became famous for her virtuous conduct and gentle nature.

Yan Lanyu had excellent lineage, personality, and appearance—she was said to be unparalleled in beauty and grace, neither contentious nor jealous. Her only regret was her lack of children.

She had miscarried once and was unable to conceive thereafter.

As for the Regent, the description was far simpler:

Yan Lanyu’s elder brother, a general by trade—stern, violent, and unyielding.

There was almost no record of the Grand Priest, only that he resided in the Jingshi Palace outside Lingguang, separated from the imperial city by a vast river. Apart from participating in the royal family’s annual ancestral rites, he rarely appeared.

When Luo Guanxue woke, Xia Qing hurriedly asked, “What kind of person is Yan Lanyu, really?”

Luo Guanxue, still drowsy and languid, smiled faintly at the question. His voice was husky as he replied, “Her? You’ll understand when you meet her.”

You’ll understand when you meet her.

The day Xia Qing left the Zhaixing Pavilion was warm and breezy, the skies clear and boundless.

Early that morning, he rose and was dressed by the maids in ceremonial attire.

The forbidden grounds didn’t allow palanquins, so he had to walk out of the Xiaoxiang Bamboo Grove. Outside the grove stood a young girl in a pink palace gown, graceful and elegant. She curtsied lightly, her smile radiant, her voice gentle.

 “Congratulations to Your Majesty on leaving seclusion. The Empress Dowager has been waiting for you in the Hall of Serenity for quite some time.”

She added, “During Your Majesty’s days in the Zhaixing Pavilion, the Empress Dowager has been so worried that she could barely eat or sleep.”

Xia Qing, unsure how to respond, stood there awkwardly.

Luo Guanxue, clad in snow-white robes, smiled faintly at his side. “You don’t need to reply to her. If you don’t want to deal with anyone, you don’t have to.”

Xia Qing: “...Oh.”

The palanquin traveled along the imperial pathways, passing through scenes of unparalleled grandeur.

The Jingxin Hall was located near the Imperial Garden.

Inside, fragrant incense curled upward, an aroma likely used for calming the mind.

Before entering, Xia Qing caught the soft voice of a woman chatting idly with a eunuch.

“Recently, the imperial kitchen mentioned inventing a new dish. What was it called again?”

“Your Majesty, it’s called ‘'Quanke Danggui', I believe.”

The palace maid raised her voice and said: "Queen Mother, your Majesty is here."

Hmm, is Guanxue here?"

The woman, who had been speaking with the eunuch while slightly tilting her head, immediately straightened up upon hearing this.

She was twenty years younger than the late Emperor and still in her prime. Perhaps feeling that she was too young to be fully dignified, the Empress Dowager dressed very simply.

She wore a long, green skirt with silver-threaded embroidery, and her black hair was styled in a simple bun adorned with a few pearls.

With light makeup, her appearance was gentle, virtuous, and dignified.

Xia Qing felt a bit flustered: "What should I say? How do I greet her?"

Lou Guanxue replied, "No need."

Xia Qing: "??? Wait, isn’t your royal family all about rituals and formalities?"

But, as expected, the Empress Dowager was not an ordinary person.

"Let’s skip the formalities between mother and son," she smiled like a blossoming young girl, lightly waving her hand. "Come, come, Guanxue, sit down. Let me take a good look at you."

The Empress Dowager examined him carefully, asking with concern, "It’s been a few days since we last met. How have you been getting along in the Zhaixing Tower? Hmm? You’ve lost quite a bit of weight. Was the food not to your liking?" She turned to the little eunuch standing beside her, "Has he really lost a lot of weight?"

The little eunuch answered obediently, "Yes."

Luo Guanxue sneered and casually sat down beside Xia Qing. He really seemed weak, with tired eyes and brows, his hand supporting his chin as if he were about to fall asleep.

Xia Qing, alone, was receiving the Empress Dowager’s gentle questioning, feeling completely confused—how can you still sleep?! You trust me that much?!

But the Empress Dowager didn’t give him a chance to feel stiff, still speaking gently, "Guanxue?"

Xia Qing quickly snapped out of it: "Hmm, I have no appetite." This was exactly what Luo Guanxue would say, so there was no mistake. He didn’t need to pretend; Luo Guanxue’s voice was always clear and cold, so he just had to speak calmly.

However, he still felt guilty. After speaking, Xia Qing added, "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager."

Right after he said that, he heard Luo Guanxue’s ambiguous laugh.

"..." Xia Qing clenched his fists.

You think you’re clever, huh?

The Empress Dowager’s eyes showed pity. "You’ve suffered, haven’t you?"

Xia Qing replied stiffly, "Not really."

She looked a bit saddened. "If it weren’t for the fact that the blood in my veins isn’t from the Lou family, I would want to bear your suffering for you." She tilted her head and asked the little eunuch, "Who came to the Zhaixing Tower before Guanxue?"

The little eunuch answered, "The late Third Prince."

The Empress Dowager sighed lightly, her brows furrowing. "How tragic for the royal heirs of the Chu Kingdom, so many dying young, either by illness or untimely death. The late Emperor’s sudden passing left no brothers or blood relatives for you. You’ve always had a frail constitution, sensitive to cold and pain. And with the demons in the Tower becoming more vicious year after year, I really don’t know what to do next year."

Xia Qing pressed his lips together, remaining silent.

The Empress Dowager’s expression grew slightly sorrowful. "But recently, I received good news from the High Priest. After three years of searching in the Jingshi Hall and consulting ancient texts, we finally found a way to completely eliminate the demons. The High Priest is currently in Dongzhou looking for clues. If we can destroy the Pagoda, you won’t have to endure this torment year after year."

...What’s he supposed to say to this suddenly warm and loving mother-son scenario?

Xia Qing thought for a moment and still responded stiffly, "Thank you for your efforts, Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager shook her head, and the pearls in her hair shimmered with cold light. "But this matter of exterminating the demons is still uncertain. If you really care about me, and how hard I’ve been working, then be obedient for once and put the matter of choosing a concubine on the agenda."

Concubine selection?! Xia Qing used all his self-control to keep from turning his head to look at Luo Guanxue.

The Empress Dowager’s eyes reddened slightly, and she spoke softly. "Our Lóu family’s heirs are few, and now you are the only one left. Every day, I live in constant fear, worried something might happen to you. If I can’t even protect you and the royal bloodline is cut off in this generation, I won’t have the face to meet the late Emperor in the afterlife."

Xia Qing: "..."

His mind began to wander.

In truth, Xia Qing wasn’t afraid of the Empress Dowager, but he was worried that his behavior might inadvertently implicate Luo Guanxue.

However, since his earlier stiff response hadn’t aroused the Empress Dowager’s suspicions, he decided to just let it go and stay silent.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager didn’t require a response from him.

She and her little eunuch seemed to be able to speak sweetly and softly, saying everything they needed.

Leaning back, she gently asked, "Has His Majesty turned fifteen?"

The little eunuch replied respectfully, "Yes, he just turned fifteen last month."

The woman on the phoenix throne nodded, her brow furrowed like the soft waves of autumn. She sighed, "Guanxue, now that you’re over fifteen, how can the harem still be empty?"

"Tomorrow, I’ll have someone bring up the list of eligible candidates. After selecting, I’ll present the list to you. At next month’s Spring Feast, you can take a good look at them."

She suddenly seemed to remember something and casually added, "It seems like many of our Chu Kingdom’s Emperors and Empresses have fallen in love at the Spring Feast, haven’t they?"

The little eunuch responded, "Yes."

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, satisfied, then tenderly asked, "Guanxue, what do you think?"

Xia Qing: "..."

Before coming here, he had imagined many scenarios about this top palace boss. He thought she might be someone born noble, perhaps arrogant and flamboyant, or someone with impeccable manners, strict and serious, or maybe a gentle and virtuous lotus flower?

But as they say, seeing is believing. The woman who Luo Guanxue described as "crazy" was truly beyond ordinary understanding.

While silently analyzing the Empress Dowager in his mind, Luo Guanxue’s cold voice suddenly echoed, "Agree to her."

Xia Qing froze for a moment.

Just as he was about to respond, the Empress Dowager’s gaze landed on him.

Xia Qing quickly snapped back to reality, curling his fingers slightly, lowering his gaze, and in a hoarse voice said, "I’ll leave it up to Mother Empress."

The Empress Dowager smiled, letting out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart.

Her face shone like that of a young girl, and her eyes sparkled like bright light.

"Wonderful. Now that you’ve agreed, I can rest easy."

She sat upright, speaking softly, "Guanxue, you’ve just come from the Zhaixing Tower. You must be exhausted. Go to the bathhouse, rid yourself of the evil energy, and sleep well."

Xia Qing could hardly wait to leave, standing up. "I take my leave, Mother Empress."

As he left, through the screen, he saw the Empress Dowager, having settled her worries, now in a good mood, lazily reclining on the phoenix couch. Her lips were so beautiful it seemed as though they could bleed. In the subtle, quiet fragrance of sandalwood, she spoke to the little eunuch, "Tell the Imperial Kitchen to change the name. 'Quanke Danggui' sounds unpleasant. I don’t like it."

Her voice was actually gentle, but when she said this, it was scattered with a coldness, like the sharp light of a blade in the afternoon.

"Understood."

After leaving, Xia Qing was very curious. "What kind of dish is 'Quanke Danggui'?"

Luo Guanxue rubbed his temple with his fingers, laughing softly. "Guess what 'Quan Ke' means."

Xia Qing asked, "What does it mean?"

Luo Guanxue grinned, "Quan Ke is another name for mermen."

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