Chapter 330 - 331: Make Way for You

Chapter 330: Chapter 331: Make Way for You

Zhou Shixiong clutched his chest, the scar there the best proof. "A few years ago, in the Qingshan of Dao City, if it weren’t for two saviors, I’d likely be a pile of white bones by now."

He had thought that mountain would be his final resting place, but he unexpectedly met benefactors. They not only treated his wounds but also gave him excellent medicine, narrowly snatching his life back from the hands of King Yama.

He had spent all these years trying to find news of his benefactors. Now that he had finally met them, he was determined to repay this debt, no matter the cost.

Empress Zhou, of course, knew about the incident. At the time, her brother was trying to deliver intelligence and had been ambushed and pursued along his route.

A few loyal servants had fought to the death to open a path, giving her brother a chance to escape. Even so, he had been severely injured. If he hadn’t happened to run into someone on the mountain, she would likely be all alone in this world now.

"I’ll have someone investigate immediately. Since they are your saviors, brother, they are my saviors too. Leave the matter of repaying this debt to me."

Zhou Shixiong gazed at her solemnly. "This is my debt, and I will repay it myself. You should stay away from court affairs for now. I don’t want you getting dragged into them."

"Brother," Empress Zhou said, shaking her head with a smile. "From the moment I stepped through the palace gates, I’ve had no path of retreat.

However, they are all mistaken. They think that as a descendant of military generals, I have no foundation in the harem. What they don’t know is that the Holy Emperor is my greatest support here. I am doing very well, so you don’t need to worry, brother."

Zhou Shixiong had heard the rumors. He’d even received countless secret suggestions that he should write a letter reprimanding Empress Zhou, telling her not to lord over the harem with an iron fist.

He had refuted them on the spot. How was his sister lording over anything? As the one true Empress, wasn’t it perfectly normal for her to manage the harem?

As long as she could ease the Emperor’s burdens and manage the harem well, she was a good Empress.

Even though he had only just arrived in the capital yesterday, someone had cornered him at his door early this morning and talked his ear off. He’d shut them down right then and there.

When the man tried to argue that it was different, Zhou Shixiong had just smiled and asked, "How is it different? Otherwise, there would be no need to distinguish between an Empress and concubines."

Seeing the man rendered speechless had brought him a moment of satisfaction, but deep down, he was even more worried.

’My little sister was never taught about such intrigue and backstabbing growing up,’ he thought. ’If someone schemes against her, can she really handle it?’

"Has anyone here schemed against you?" Zhou Shixiong asked, his face dark. "I can’t do anything to them within this palace, but I can go after their families. I’ll make them pay it back a hundred times over."

Empress Zhou glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs nearby. They were all her trusted confidants. Only then did she smile and say, "Anyone who dared to scheme against me... well, you don’t need to lift a finger, brother. I’ve already taken care of them."

She preferred to settle a score on the spot. Letting a grudge fester overnight was not her style.

Zhou Shixiong replied, "As long as you have things under control, that’s good. If you ever run into trouble, just tell me. Even if it means... I will protect you with my life."

"Brother," Empress Zhou quickly cut in, "as it happens, I do have a difficult matter right now. Will you help me take care of it?"

"Name it," Zhou Shixiong said through gritted teeth. ’Whatever is troubling my sister, I’ll fix it for her.’

"I want the Zhou Family to have a matriarch. I want your bloodline to continue."

Zhou Shixiong was speechless. ’I take it all back.’

"Things are fine as they are, aren’t they?" Zhou Shixiong said, making a last-ditch effort. "Let’s just wait another two years, until the border is pacifi—"

"That same old excuse," Empress Zhou cut him off. "I’ve been hearing that one since Mother and Father were still alive. It’s time you thought about the family, brother."

Of their direct family line, only the two of them remained. She didn’t want to see the day her brother had to adopt an heir from a collateral branch.

"Have the clan elders been meddling again?"

Empress Zhou said, "They’re after your title. They say that since you’ve been childless for so many years, they’re willing to let you adopt their most intelligent child."

Only then did Zhou Shixiong recall that because his sister had been made Empress, and on account of the Zhou Family’s years of meritorious service, the Holy Emperor had ennobled him as Marquis Cheng’en.

He had been on the border for so many years, and his men only ever called him General Zhou. He had almost forgotten all about it.

Thinking of this, Zhou Shixiong sneered, "They can keep their children! If it truly comes to the point where I have no heir, I’ll just return the title to the court."

But Empress Zhou was not so carefree. "Absolutely not. Generations of our family fought and died for that title. We can’t let it go just like that.

Brother, just listen to me. Settle your marriage soon, and all their scheming will come to nothing..."

Zhou Shixiong never expected his sister to be so tenacious. In the end, she even managed to persuade the Emperor, Hua Shunming, himself. If he didn’t choose a bride, one would simply be chosen for him by imperial decree.

"..."

「While they were still busy weighing their options, the day of Bai Jinglie’s grand wedding arrived.」

Jin Qianqian asked, "Is a pair of Jade Pendants really enough?"

Ancient Wen Heng toyed with the matching pendants he had picked up from a shop for several hundred taels. "These are already quite remarkable. If I could have found something cheaper, I would have bought that instead."

Jin Qianqian replied, "But he’s helped you earn so many Silver Taels over the years and shielded you from so much trouble. Isn’t this gift a little too modest?"

Ancient Wen Heng placed the Jade Pendants back in their box. "This is just right. No one knows about our private connection, and they certainly don’t know I have a share in the glass workshop. This way, we keep a low profile and won’t arouse any suspicion."

If he were to suddenly present a lavish gift, it would attract the wrong kind of attention from the old foxes at court. Those not in the know would just assume he was an opportunist trying to curry favor.

"Besides," he added, "Bai Jinglie isn’t the one running the Marquis Wu’an’s estate right now. All these wedding gifts will likely end up in the main storehouse anyway, so why go to all the trouble?"

Jin Qianqian relented. "...Alright then, let’s get going. Prince Bai has probably already left to escort the bride by now."

Ancient Wen Heng helped Jin Qianqian into the carriage before climbing in himself.

"The Holy Emperor certainly holds Prince Bai in high regard, setting the wedding date on a court holiday. The reception is sure to be packed with guests today."

Jin Qianqian felt the carriage lurch to a stop again. She knew they were caught in traffic. They had already been held up several times on the way, always to make way for a higher-ranking Shangguan.

Ancient Wen Heng squeezed Jin Qianqian’s hand and whispered in her ear, "Trust me. Sooner or later, I will make all these carriages clear a path for you."

Jin Qianqian squeezed his hand in return. "I know that day will come. Look at us. In just a few short years, we’ve gone from being refugees to where we are now. But you don’t need to be so impatient. What is meant to be ours will be ours in due time."