Chapter 10: Dowry

Is it the 688 Foot Bath?

“Hehe, Your Majesty, as long as you love me, that’s enough. Money is just a worldly possession. Why don’t you take a look first?” Consort Hua said playfully, her manner as lively as a young girl.

Qin Xiao opened the wooden chest with some doubt. How much dowry could there be? Could it really be so astonishing that it would leave him speechless?

The moment the chest was opened, a brilliant light burst forth, illuminating the once-dim pavilion in an instant.

“Holy—!” Qin Xiao couldn’t help but utter a curse, utterly stunned.

“A whole string of luminous pearls—eighteen in all! Deeds to houses and land, silver notes worth hundreds of thousands… Consort Hua, did your family bring every last bit of their wealth into the palace for you?” Qin Xiao was truly taken aback.

“It’s not like that, Your Majesty. Have you forgotten how my ancestors made their fortune?” Consort Hua smiled mischievously.

A sudden realization flashed through Qin Xiao’s mind. The Hua family had never sought officialdom; they were one of the great financial powers of Jiangnan, investing heavily at the dawn of the Great Qian Dynasty before turning towards politics.

It seemed that his former self had brought Consort Hua into the harem precisely for her family’s financial strength.

“My little heiress, how could I have forgotten this?” Qin Xiao fondly ruffled Consort Hua’s hair. Under the glow of the luminous pearls, her stunning face was clearer than ever.

Now, he noticed that her complexion was even fairer, more tender, and more translucent than before. If she had once been like a crystal grape, now she was a flawless crystal grape.

Delicate as a petal!

“Your Majesty, why do you keep staring at my face?” Sensing his gaze, Consort Hua asked softly.

Qin Xiao said nothing, simply scooped her up and returned to the bedchamber, carrying the wooden chest along.

Before the bronze mirror, Consort Hua’s mouth dropped open in speechless shock. Eighteen—the skin of an eighteen-year-old!

“Ah—” Suddenly, she let out a startled cry at her reflection.

Qin Xiao turned at the sound, his posture displaying a mix of pride and satisfaction.

“My dear, it seems I’ll have to look into the laundry—why is the quality of my clothes so poor?” he said with a wicked grin.

Consort Hua blushed deeply. It was about to begin again.

Let the storm rage wilder!

Outside, thunder rumbled, lightning struck, torrential rain poured, and the banana leaves were battered by the downpour.

Inside, moans filled the air, passion ablaze, fragrant sweat beaded, and bodies entwined in tender abandon.

That night, Consort Hua was utterly uninhibited, her cries and sobs unrestrained.

The violent rain masked her voice; had it not, the palace guards might have rushed in, thinking an assassin had struck.

Not even the most vivid spring dream could compare to reality.

At dawn, Qin Xiao, full of energy, lay on the bed with his beautiful beloved in his arms.

Her fair skin glowed, a deep and alluring ravine traced down her chest.

“Your Majesty, how is it that, even after a whole night, I feel so invigorated? In fact, I feel better than ever,” Consort Hua said shyly, burying her face in his chest, fearful he might see her expression.

“I feel the same. It’s because I have cultivated the ancient art of the Dragon-Serpent, which harmonizes yin and yang.”

“So there’s no need to worry about overindulgence harming our health. The more, the better!” Qin Xiao teased.

“Your Majesty, the treasury is empty. Should I send word to my family for funds?” Consort Hua whispered, cherishing her current life and unwilling to see the Great Qian decline.

“No need. That would only treat the symptoms, not the cause. The root of the problem must be addressed,” Qin Xiao replied, gently stroking her smooth back.

“I understand, but the situation at Shanhai Pass can’t be delayed. My father dotes on me—there won’t be any problem.”

“This money should come from those who ought to pay. No one can take from me without answering for it. Whatever has been taken from me, I’ll have it repaid tenfold!” Qin Xiao declared, his voice full of force.

His gaze grew profound. Suddenly, a playful smile appeared. “My dear, since even I, the Son of Heaven, must tighten my belt, shouldn’t my ministers do the same?”

Consort Hua’s beautiful eyes sparkled. Her Majesty was truly wise, a god among men.

“Ah, about the chest—it’s coming with me. As for your family, don’t mention it. I have plenty of ways!”

After Qin Xiao left, Consort Hua pondered for a long while, hoping to help her emperor.

At that moment, Little Peach walked over, pouting silently.

“What’s wrong, Little Peach? Who upset you?” Consort Hua asked gently.

“Waaah, Your Ladyship, has His Majesty turned bad? Did he hit you last night? They all said you were crying terribly—you must have been beaten!” Little Peach sobbed. She’d heard the talk from the servants at dawn and was terribly worried. If His Majesty had turned cruel, how could Her Ladyship survive?

Consort Hua suddenly burst into laughter. So that’s what it was—last night had truly been wild and uninhibited, and now everyone misunderstood.

“Nothing of the sort—don’t say such things. His Majesty treats me with the utmost love,” she said, her face radiating happiness.

“Then why were you crying so pitifully?”

“Silly girl, it’s because His Majesty loves me so much. He’s just wonderful. One day, you’ll understand,” Consort Hua said, thinking ahead to her plans for pregnancy.

In front of the Golden Throne, the sun pierced through the clouds, shining down upon the earth.

A night of rain had washed away all the dust!

Qin Xiao strode forward with the force of a dragon or tiger, radiating power. Behind him followed Hai Dabao and a retinue of eunuchs and maids, surging into the hall with imposing momentum.

Gold and jade pillars soared, the air thick with authority.

Qin Xiao stood before the Dragon Throne, surveying the assembled civil and military officials, as lofty as a god gazing down upon mortals.

“Long live the Emperor! Long live!”

“Be at ease, all of you!”

As his words fell, only a dozen or so officials, including Hua Yuntian and Bu Qingyi, rose to their feet.

Qin Xiao was not surprised in the least; he had anticipated this very scene the moment he made his decision.

Yet the events that followed were completely beyond his expectations.

“Your Majesty, Consort Hua has interfered in state affairs. Since ancient times, it has been a capital crime for the harem to meddle in politics! I beg Your Majesty to pass judgment!” Gu Liuyun, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, called out.

Qin Xiao’s pupils narrowed, anger brewing within him.

His beloved had helped share his burdens with boundless virtue, only to be so slandered by traitors!

“You son of a—! It’s your mother who’s meddling in state affairs!”

Hua Yuntian erupted in fury, utterly disregarding the dignity of the court, his usual composure cast aside.

If the charge of harem interference stuck, his sister would have no way out.

He strode forward, seized Gu Liuyun by the collar, and lifted him off the ground as if he were a chick.

“Scoundrel! I’ll kill you! You spew filth with every breath—do you think the Hua family is powerless? To fling such slander, your heart is truly wicked!”

Gu Liuyun, steadfast and unafraid, craned his neck and shouted, “Hua Yuntian, you must have lost your mind! To utter such wild words and lay hands on another in court—do you think the law of Great Qian is for show?”

Immediately, others echoed his cry.

“Your Majesty, please have Hua Yuntian executed, to set an example for all!”