Lou Zigui had a limited number of soldiers on hand, while the Grand Preceptor controlled the capital city, its surrounding environs, and the troops associated with both. Lou Zigui was clear in his heart that they couldn't corner the Xie father and daughter like dogs to a wall until they jumped. There was no guarantee that they'd claim victory then. Ning Xiaoyao felt hurt. Leaving aside all her work and being lectured like a mutt, she'd even thrown away the Dragon Throne. Now she had to make good with the Xie father and mother and continue to act like family with them? Was there no end to this?!
"Your Majesty," Lou Zigui said to Ning Xiaoyao. "How about you adjourn this court session?"
Ning Xiaoyao was filled with reluctance but managed to mutter, "Adjourned."
"....." said the people in the hall. Adjourned just like that? First there were quarrels, then people had died, then the great hall itself had been torn apart. Were things just going to end here?
Lou Zigui didn't even spare the ministers a glance as he told Ning Xiaoyao, "Let's go."
"Lou Zigui," Empress Dowager Xie saw them turning away and hastened to cry out, "Give Prince Cheng back to This Dowager."
Lou Zigui jostled the baby in his arms a couple of times and replied, "Prince Cheng is His Majesty's biological little brother. His Majesty is taking Prince Cheng to the imperial palace for a short rest, so Esteemed Empress Dowager can send someone to pick him up there."
"You," For the sake of protecting her son, Empress Dowager Xie was still willing to risk her life and defy Lou Zigui.
Grand Preceptor Xie half knelt down and patted Empress Dowager Xie's hand. In a small voice, he said, "Nothing will happen to the prince. Empress Dowager need not worry, let them leave."
Empress Dowager Xie stared at Ning Xiaoyao and said wretchedly, "He's your own little brother!"
"Heheh," Ning Xiaoyao replied. As if being of the same blood ever stopped anyone from killing each other. By now, Song Jin had found the eunuch in charge of announcements behind a pillar and brought him to the foot of the stairs leading to the throne.
"Didn't you hear His Majesty say to adjourn the court?" he asked.
This eunuch was shaking with fear as he opened his mouth and shouted, "Adjourned!"
Only after His Majesty left with Lou Zigui did the other members of the imperial clan speak up. "So the empress dowager won't hold court from behind a screen?"
The puffy Prince Fu, Ning Guangshun, swayed his body as he tottered out of the palace and replied, "The Grand Preceptor's even knelt to recognize his wrongs and said he misunderstood. How could Esteemed Empress Dowager hold court from behind any screen now?"
"Then, then His Majesty won?" another relative asked.
Prince Fu smiled coldly. It was nothing more than a dog biting another dog. Who cared about the losers or victors?
--
"Aye," Ning Xiaoyao carried a branch in her hand on the trip to the Imperial Palace, scratching it against the ground as she sighed. Right now, His Majesty Ning's head was dizzy, and all she could think about was how nobody respected her position as emperor.
When Lou Zigui heard Ning Xiaoyao's sighs, he asked, "Your Majesty is unhappy?"
Ning Xiaoyao wore a bitter expression. "Is there anything worth being happy about?"
Lou Zigui arched an eyebrow. "The empress dowager couldn't hold court from behind a screen. Isn't Your Majesty happy about that?"
Hmm?
YOU ARE READING
Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao
Ficción histórica****for offline purposes only **All the credits go to the author and translator *The image is also not mine. Synopsis: The fat cat Black Tubby said, "Supreme Commander is a good person, meow!" The bird Grandfather Sparrow said, "Supreme Commander is...