Chapter 271 - Retrace (1/2)
The seers swiftly arrived and as everyone anticipated, they said the Heavens were angry which was the reason for the change in the heavens and the intrusion of these foreign celestial bodies. They said that it did not speak well for the empire and even went as far as to say that only more trouble will come until ”our” - meaning the Emperor's steps, were retracted and atonement was made.
After the seers' enlightening revelation, the hall remained silent. It was clear what those words suggested, the ceremony today was the step that needed to be retracted. The Emperor was not saying anything and no one seemed to want to point out the obvious to him.
Prime minister Zhao finally stepped forward, bowed, and solemnly said, ”Your majesty, we cannot go against the will of the Heavens...Emperor, please make a wise choice...”
”Emperor, please make a wise choice...” The other ministers, save for Lei Yong and his father, bowed and echoed Prime minister Zhao's words.
The Emperor knew what had to be done but still, he remained silent. He clenched his fists and his frown deepened as he thought hard about how to avoid the obvious ”solution”.
But other than delaying what was presenting to be the inevitable, he truly could not see any other option and even that option could be even worse for them. If he chose to delay it today and anything more happened, the consequences will be dire for his rule and for Lei Xing.
Today deposing her might be enough...but tomorrow, the people might call her for life. He was not even certain that deposing her would be enough right now considering they still had to ”atone”.
If he had known this would happen, then he would have never insisted that she become his Empress. She was never interested but he had pushed her into it and now, she was the one who would have to face this ridicule.
He could not do this to her. If he did it, it would hurt her and she would come to hate him. And if he sent her out of the palace, he might never see her again. He truly felt like he was about to lose her.
”Your majesty...” Defense minister Lei finally spoke for the first time since this meeting began and the other ministers fell silent as their attention focused on him. The Emperor knit his brows and looked at Defense minister Lei. He expected some sort of accusation or reminder of the promise the Emperor had made to protect Lei Xing, but Defense minister Lei bowed and said, ”You have more than one important subject...”
The Emperor blinked and everyone else also blinked in surprise. They expected Defense minister Lei to speak out against this proposal or offer some alternative argument, but then he was supporting dethroning his own daughter? That felt wrong to everyone.
Lei Yong frowned and went, ”Fathe-”
”Be quiet. The Empire is more important than any one person...” Defense minister Lei interjected with a scowl. He was also not happy with the situation or Lei Xing facing punishment, but what else could be done in a situation like this? If the Emperor insisted on keeping Lei Xing, things would only get worse not just for her but for their entire family.
If they simply requested dethronement today, tomorrow they will request her death and possibly the death of the entire family. The risk was too great. He knew it and the Emperor knew it. Being stubborn was not an option here.
It was better for everyone for him to let go now. The Emperor inwardly sighed in irritation. The Voice that had reassured him of all this time of the validity of their union was absent now that this problem had surfaced. It was clear that there was no other choice here so the Emperor took a deep breath and was about to speak.
{...*Go find Xing Xing!...}
The Emperor froze and his face immediately lit up. The Voice had finally responded, he suddenly felt the dying embers of hope rekindle.
{...What's happening? Ca-...}
{...*I said go find Xing Xing!...}
{...But -...}
{...*Stop wasting time and go! It'll all be fine. Trust me~...}
The Emperor suddenly got to his feet and the ministers looked at him questioningly.
”Further deliberation on this issue will continue at a later time.” The Emperor dropped and then promptly made his way out of the hall ignoring the concerned ”Your majesty!” cries that followed him out. They had thought he had finally seen the light but it now seemed he chose to continue to be stubborn.
”Your majestyyyy!”
The Emperor frowned when he stepped outside to see the four celestial bodies in the sky. He did not understand but he would trust the Voice and delay his decision...It was all he could do for now and he hoped it would be enough.
He hoped it was not a mistake.
***
The head physician froze in surprise when the Empress dowager suddenly opened her eyes and then shrieked and shoved him away when she saw the acupuncture needle hovering above her face. She sat up and then looked about her surroundings in confusion.
”Your majesty, how are you feeling?” Song mama quickly asked.
The Empress dowager knit her brows and simply blinked and then asked, ”Where am I?” As she rubbed her aching head.
”You collapsed during the ceremony...” Eunuch Li supplied coming forward with a worried frown, ”How are you feeling?”
The Empress skeptically looked at him and then did a sweep of the others and tentatively went, ”Fine...I guess.”