Volume 1, Chapter 4: Promotion to the Imperial Presence, the Empress's Scheming

No! Is this true?!

Inside the residence of the Three Elders, Su Luojin’s father, the Third Elder, clenched his fist tightly upon receiving the news from the palace, his heart filled with bitter resentment.

“That emperor brat!”

“On his wedding night, he doesn’t even show the slightest care for Jin’er!”

Yet, after seeing this message, the Third Elder’s long-held anxiety finally eased.

The emperor had successfully consummated his marriage with Jin’er. After this event, there was no longer any doubt about the emperor’s male identity.

Thus, the rumors that the emperor was actually female could finally be put to rest!

...

At the General’s Mansion.

Upon receiving the palace news, the burly, rough-faced general, brimming with martial aura, scoffed disdainfully, “With that pretty boy’s looks, can he really be so formidable?”

Thinking of the Empress, renowned as the capital’s most beautiful woman—so stunning she could make fish sink and birds fall from the sky—who had been so freely bestowed upon this immature little emperor, the general’s heart burned with bitterness.

To wield the world’s power when awake,

And to lie drunk by a beauty’s side when asleep—

Such temptation is irresistible to any man!

Yet this immature little emperor, what merit or virtue does he have to possess such a glorious realm?

...

At the Grand Princess’s Mansion.

Reclining languidly on a lavishly adorned couch was a woman of extraordinary beauty and radiant youth, her long, fair legs crossed, forming a captivating sight.

Her jade-like fingers plucked a grape, slowly raising it to her full, crimson lips.

At that moment, a maid hurried before her, bowing respectfully: “Your Highness, news from the palace!”

The woman’s red lips parted slightly as she crushed the grape between them, the juice trickling at the corner of her mouth. Her languid eyes lowered to meet the maid’s gaze.

“Speak,” she said slowly.

“Your Highness—” the maid replied in a low voice, “His Majesty has consummated the marriage with the Empress. The entire process lasted over an hour. Afterwards, our people personally confirmed His Majesty’s male identity, for which they received twenty lashes as punishment.”

Hmm?

Upon hearing this, the jade-like visage of the Grand Princess shifted, her brows knitting tightly.

The little emperor had actually consummated his marriage with the Empress.

How was that possible?!

Others were unaware that all the late emperor’s children were daughters, with only the current emperor as a son.

But she knew the truth.

Her brother had once offended an immortal of eternal life, who, refusing to spare his own cultivation fruit, cast a curse on the royal family to end their male lineage.

Yet now,

The little emperor had successfully consummated his marriage.

It seemed that the immortal’s curse was no more than empty threats.

Still,

She had been plotting for so long—how could it all be for nothing?

Once ambition stirs, it is difficult to calm again. The status of Grand Princess was already noble enough, but what if she could rise even further, to become an empress in her own right?

With this thought, her expression calmed.

Even if the emperor was not truly male, controlling the current court would not be so simple.

In time,

Would she not have to step forward as his aunt?

...

At the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Unlike the Qianqing Palace,

This was the place where the emperor rested briefly during the day.

It was also, aside from the study, the primary location for imperial governance.

The dragon carriage stopped, and Cao Mo was the first to enter the hall. The woman in white glanced back, her gaze settling on the female emperor still dressed in the small eunuch’s attire.

“Cao Mo, enter. His Majesty summons you.”

The female emperor did not respond but followed the two into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

“Everyone else, disperse!”

The woman in white then instructed the other eunuchs and servants.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The eunuchs quickly obeyed, but before leaving, they all looked at Cao Mo with envy.

It seemed their earlier assumptions were correct—Cao Mo had indeed caught the emperor’s favor and was destined for great advancement. Soon, they might have to address him as Lord Eunuch Cao!

Jealous!

So jealous!

Once inside the hall, with no one else present, Cao Mo dared not continue pretending. He hurriedly removed the bright yellow dragon robe and handed it to the beautiful female emperor who had followed him in.

The female emperor accepted it with a cold brow, discarding the small eunuch’s outfit onto Cao Mo.

Moments later,

They had swapped identities.

Seated upright on the dragon throne, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, she still bore the posture of a woman, but her gaze fixed on Cao Mo revealed no sign of emotion.

“Cao Mo?”

“Your Majesty, I am here,” Cao Mo said quickly, bowing low.

“You don’t look like a eunuch, you’re quite fierce,” the female emperor said with a faint smile, her eyes scanning a certain part of Cao Mo’s body.

An entire hour had passed—it had truly kept her waiting!

“Your Majesty, tonight I represented you. Naturally, I would not fail to uphold your vigor!”

Cao Mo bowed deeply, loyalty evident in his expression.

The female emperor: “...”

Such a claim to not fail her vigor!

“Enough—”

“You did well tonight.”

She was too lazy to argue further, turning her gaze back to the desk to write an imperial edict of appointment.

At the same time, her voice lowered: “However, you must know how to keep what you saw tonight a secret, yes?”

“Rest assured, Your Majesty, I understand!” Cao Mo nodded eagerly, fearing the beautiful emperor might discard him after use, saying that only the dead could keep a secret.

He bowed deeply again: “My loyalty to Your Majesty is as vast as heaven and earth, as bright as sun and moon. I will keep my mouth sealed and never reveal a word!”

“No need to be so nervous.”

The female emperor smiled: “I won’t kill you to keep your mouth shut. Didn’t you say you have to see the Empress tomorrow?”

“Your Majesty, wasn’t that your command?” Cao Mo whispered. “You said, according to ancestral customs, you must spend several nights with the Empress to ensure she conceives the imperial heir...”

The female emperor cast him a sidelong glance. “What, do you think I was speaking ironically just now?”

Cao Mo shook his head: “I wouldn’t dare!”

“Fear not. A sovereign does not speak in jest. If I say I won’t kill you, then I won’t. Besides the consummation with the Empress, I will still have use for you.”

...

At that moment,

The female emperor finished writing the appointment edict and tossed it in front of Cao Mo.

“Take this. Go to the Internal Affairs Department to collect your reward!”

Cao Mo cupped the imperial edict with both hands.

There it read: "Eunuch Cao Mo, your service in the bathhouse tonight has pleased me greatly. You are hereby promoted to Imperial Eunuch, awarded one hundred taels of silver!"

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Seeing the edict, Cao Mo finally exhaled in relief.

To serve the sovereign is to serve a tiger.

Moreover, a she-tiger!

Fortunately, judging by the female emperor’s demeanor, his life was at least safe for now.

As for the emperor’s words that he would still need him in the future?

Indeed.

The emperor had three palaces and six harems.

How could there be only one woman besides the Empress?

And since the emperor was actually female, such a heavy responsibility naturally fell on Cao Mo.

“I take my leave!”

Gathering his thoughts,

Cao Mo dared not linger and bowed before exiting the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Inside the hall,

After Cao Mo’s departure,

Xiao Rulong began sifting through the intelligence reports from various spies.

Though she had reigned for two and a half years, she had yet to govern personally, and thus had no urgent state affairs to handle.

“The Elders’ Residence, the General’s Mansion, and my dear aunt’s place...”

Xiao Rulong’s expression was inscrutable.

These people had planted numerous eyes within the palace.

Yet, she had also placed many spies around these very individuals.

“Your Majesty, are you sure we need not silence this man?” asked a white-clad woman with a bewitching fox-like face, named Nangong Li, stepping forward as she watched Cao Mo leave.

“No need.”

Xiao Rulong shook her head calmly. “I said a sovereign does not speak in jest.”

A fake eunuch like Cao Mo had no survival path in the inner palace except by clinging to her.

Moreover,

She truly still needed Cao Mo.

Aside from the ancestral requirement to spend several nights with the Empress,

She also needed Cao Mo to help the Empress conceive the imperial heir quickly, to stabilize the court.

As for what came after,

A cold glint flickered in Xiao Rulong’s eyes.

There was no way she would truly allow the Empress’s offspring by Cao Mo to be recognized as the prince.

But seeing today’s situation, the rumors about her being female should finally be put to rest.

And what she sought was only temporary stability.

As long as she had enough time to seize control of the court,

Then,

Even if her true female identity were exposed, it would no longer matter!