Blood-Sucking Empress - Chapter 17

“I, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have touched you, but you are my benefactor, I must repay you. Just let me follow you and serve you, don’t drive me away!” Seeing Qianhe Liyou’s ugly expression, Feng Xue quickly let go and knelt on the ground, his face contorting with various emotions such as panic and desperation.

He wanted to follow this woman, whether it was to repay the favor, or something else, anyway, he wanted to stay with this woman.

Qianhe Liyou became angry, did this man not understand human words?

“You’d better get of the way, don’t make me angry.” Qiange Liyou had already said that she no longer planned to give this little fox demon a chance to repay her. A black mist appeared from her fingers, the mysterious mist wrapping around Feng Xue’s body. Feng Xue wanted to say something but found that he couldn’t move his whole body, let alone making a sound.

Qianhe Liyou left without looking back and directly went to find Long Xizhao. After finding her, she dragged Long Xizhao, who had not yet woken up, out of Zhaixing Pavilion. 

On that day, the Empress canceled morning court and directly headed back to her quarters after returning from outside the palace. Then, she dismissed and drove everyone out, staying in her quarters alone for an entire day. It wasn’t until that evening that the palace attendants brought some food in.

On that day, Qianhe Liyou hadn’t moved an inch, merely lying on the bed with her eyes closed, dozing on and off. She let the irritable poison wracking her body slowly get suppressed by her powerful constitution and cultivation prowess. 

The Imperial Court was currently very turbulent, but under the joint reforms and policies implemented by Long Xizhao, Li You and Mu Qingwan, this turmoil quickly transformed into a positive driving force. Soon, the people within the entire empire and the four neighboring countries were also affected by these reforms. Attracted by the empire’s new policies and reforms, many talented and intelligent individuals came to investigate the matter, and as a result, civil servants, generals, and officials at all levels were affected by these reforms and influx of talents. However, there were some complications. Some officials wanted to resist these reforms because their interests had been harshly affected by these newly implemented policies. Under Qianhe Liyou and the powerful force of a threat of the Imperial army, these protests were quickly subdued.

About ten days later, Long Xizhao submitted the list of candidates for lower-level civil officials, administrators, and generals to Qianhe Liyou, together with a list of candidates for senior, high-ranking officials.

Qianhe Liyou didn’t immediately look at the two lists, but instead playfully gazed at the three people in front of her.

“Do you have your own names listed on these lists?” Qianhe Liyou asked the three in front of her, her voice dyed with an indistinguishable and blunt tone.

The three of them stood up almost all at the same time, their expression simultaneously becoming cautious and apprehensive.

“In response to the Empress’ inquiries, this minister did not include her name on the list. The minister thought that while it’s easy to judge outsiders, it is difficult to judge ourselves. Although this minister has given it some thought, I do not dare jump to the conclusion that I am suitable for any position. Empress, this minister’s position, as well as the rest of the appointments should be decided by Your Majesty. Moreover, through this selection process, this minister has something to inform the Empress of. Each individual on the list has passed through this minister’s and the other two’s criteria and tests, one after the other. These candidates were selected through careful investigation and rigorous assessments. While these ministers believe they are suitable, they might not be really suitable, as people can change over time. The fair and wise today will not necessarily be the clean and upright official tomorrow. Empress, Your Majesty trusts the ministers and has delegated such a big task to the three of us. This minister is responsible and will do my best to complete the task to the best of my ability. This minister does not dare to have any personal affairs. As for the selection of these candidates, as well as what this minister’s official position should be, we urge the Empress to personally decide on this matter.”

These words indicated that Long Xizhao could not make the final decisions as she had no authority on the matter. Her words also insinuated that she didn’t know how burdensome power was since she was not in such a position. No, no, that wasn’t quite right. She used to be an important minister of influence in court, one of the Empress’ favored officials. How could she say that she had no power? But this time around, it was truly different. Selecting officials and handling the assessments for all officials at all levels, it could be said that the three of them had the power to accordingly give our life or death sentences to these official’s careers. This new power made everyone jealous until their eyes had become bloodshot. Her own doorstep had been overflooded by people from different noble, official and military families sending gifts and asking for personal visits. For a few days, she didn’t dare to use the main entrance of her residence when she returned home from court. She surmised that Li Yao and Mu Qingwan were in the same situation as her.

Alas, thinking to this point, Long Xizhao felt an urge to cry. They had to work efficiently and cautiously, fearing to do even one part of their task wrong. They had worked tirelessly for court matters and for the Empress from morning till night, but this Empress, unexpectedly, didn’t handle anything. It really made people jealous of her easy going lifestyle ah!

“As you said, no one is immutable or unchanging, so you will have to create a supervisory agency to supervise the newly appointed officials. Beloved Official Long, this task will be handled by you.” This sentence was a classic, used by previous Empress’ since ancient times. If you suggested it, you would pay for it.

“Empress, is this fitting? This minister is already in charge of selecting suitable candidates, and Your Majesty still wants this minister to select the candidates for the supervisory agency. This isn’t suitable, is it?” Long Xizhao felt her head throbbing. In the past, important ministers were always afraid of receiving the Empress’ suspicion. It should be surmised that she was probably the only official who felt a headache because the Empress was too trusting.

“Xizhao, are you resisting zhen’s decree?” The more Long Xizhao refused, the more Qianhe Liyou wanted to give this matter to her. This was considered one of her little pleasures in daily life. The reason why she had ordered these three people to carry out her tasks weren’t entirely out of trust. Li Yao was upright and judicious, Long Xizhao was slick and sly, and finally, Mu Wanqing was straightforward and blunt, but clear-headed. These three people had very different personalities, and while they weren’t completely heartfelt and loyal to her, the Empress, they were very competent officials and the results proved their capabilities.

Besides, she had her Anbu Black Ops and Yin Long, a titan in commercial trade, supplying her with information. As for the candidates listed here, she had already learned of each individual’s detailed information earlier.

“This minister dares not, this minister did not mean that!”

“Then you are to complete this task then.” Qianhe Liyou took a sip of fragrant tea that An guifei had steeped and casually threw this important task into Long Xizhao’s lap.

Guifei: Imperial Consort of the highest rank and is below the Empress

Long Xizhao had no choice but to suffer in silence, having unspeakable bitter suffering she was unable to vent about. She could only bow her head to thank the Empress and accept the task which made others envious. 

having unspeakable bitter suffering she was unable to vent about: idiom basically stating that someone had been stuffed with bitter-tasting herbs, but had no choice to suffer in silence; that despite being thrust or put into a difficult situation, one has no choice but to keep their mouth shut

“Empress, will Your Majesty be overseeing the selection of these officials of rank three and higher? Although there are some old officials on the list, there are other candidates selected from various locations and countries, and there are even…ahem, people Your Majesty didn’t like before. These ministers must be determined by Your Majesty in the end. Additionally, there are three other ministers that need to have their positions personally arranged. This minister requests that the Empress arrange for this and please take some time to bestow these officials with the proper titles and positions.” Li Yao was an upright and straightforward person, so when she decided to make a joke, it would really be ridiculous looking at that clashing stiff face and her bold words.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Long Xizhao held back a smile and couldn’t help but to violently cough to stifle her laughter.

Mu Qingwan’s eyes widened slightly, and she just stood there with a blank expression.

Qianhe Liyou’s thin and shapely eyebrows twitched frivolously and then she faintly said: “Official Li, zhen does not remember doing anything towards you. You ask zhen for a title, which makes me feel very embarrassed…”

“Hahahaha…” Long Xizhao and Mu Qingwan couldn’t help but finally burst into laughter, slapping their knees. The Empress was really different, the previous Empress they knew didn’t have such a sense of humor.

Suddenly, there was a commotion from outside the Imperial Study and Feng Ying hurriedly rushed in.

“Empress, a strange person suddenly appeared in the palace. They have white hair and are kneeling outside the main hall entrance. The Imperial guards went to catch him, but they couldn’t capture him. He kept saying he wanted an audience with Your Majesty. What should be done?”

Feng Xue! Hearing Feng Ying’s report, Qianhe Liyou felt that it was definitely him. She hadn’t expected that this little fox demon would relentlessly chase her all the way here. He really was tenacious…

TN: Early release today! I love the switch-up in scenes and you truly start to see the burden that comes with higher authority and how the Imperial courts ran back then in ancient China. Hope you guys enjoy and stay safe!