Forced to Become the Female Lead's Beloved Wife [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 22

This time, not only Li Wancheng was stunned, but all the ministers present froze in place as well.

Everyone knew that this sword had been bestowed upon His Majesty by the Late Emperor. The Emperor usually treasured it dearly, fearing even the slightest scratch. Yet today, he was giving it away so casually?

And he was giving it away after watching Duan Wu’s dance performance.

Li Wancheng raised her eyes to look at the figure on the throne. Xiao Wanyue’s expression was cold, but when their gazes met, Li Wancheng could detect a faint smile hidden beneath her impassive facade.

For a ruler, a word spoken is like a team of horses unleashed, impossible to retract.

Though doubts lingered in her heart, Li Wancheng had no choice but to accept the reward. With a graceful gesture, she lifted her robe and knelt.

“This humble subject thanks Your Majesty for this generous gift.”

The Nanyu Kingdom’s hierarchical system was rigid. Only officials of the second class or higher were entitled to ride sedan chairs to court.

Although the General’s Mansion was located in the capital, it was still some distance from the Imperial Palace. Apart from the daily morning court sessions, Li Wancheng had few opportunities to remain in the palace, let alone meet with Xiao Wanyue.

How can I earn the Female Lead’s trust if I can’t even see her?

Her thoughts in disarray, Li Wancheng lifted the sedan chair’s curtain to let in some air. Her gaze fell upon the Imperial Guard patrolling the streets, and an idea immediately struck her.

The following day, after the morning court session, Li Wancheng didn’t rush to leave. Instead, she avoided the crowds and followed the Empress to Taihe Hall, where the Empress handled state affairs.

Outside of court sessions, ministers could only meet the Empress through two methods: waiting for a summons or submitting a formal request, which had to be relayed through multiple layers of bureaucracy.

The second procedure was cumbersome, and Li Wancheng couldn’t afford to wait that long. She turned to Eunuch Su, the Head Eunuch, and slipped him some silver. “I have urgent matters to report,” she said. “Please inform Her Majesty on my behalf.”

Money makes the world go round, a saying that held true in any era.

Eunuch Su weighed the silver in his palm, a smile spreading across his face as he entered the hall to deliver the message.

Moments later, the hall doors reopened. Eunuch Su waved his whisk in a gesture of invitation. “Your Majesty is waiting inside,” he announced. “General, please enter.”

Xiao Wanyue had already changed out of her court robes into a saffron-yellow round-collared robe. She had removed the elaborate beaded crown, making her appear even more radiant and captivating.

The Empress’s dark hair was pulled up in a high bun, secured with a gilded phoenix-patterned hairpin. The phoenix’s intricate carvings gleamed brilliantly under the light, while a jade hairpin, diagonally inserted into her hair, shimmered with a translucent, watery luster—undoubtedly crafted from the finest jade.

A woman of ordinary bearing would have been overwhelmed by the profusion of pearl hairpins, appearing vulgar. But Xiao Wanyue possessed the innate dignity of an Empress, rendering these jewels mere embellishments that couldn’t diminish her radiant splendor.

Meeting Xiao Wanyue at such close quarters for the first time, Li Wancheng was struck by her breathtaking beauty. Yet she also noticed the Empress’s exposed skin, which possessed an almost sickly pallor.

The Empress didn’t look up as her slender hand guided the brush across the Xuan paper. “My dear official, what matter do you wish to report?”

Li Wancheng knelt and performed a formal bow before speaking. “Now that the borderlands are stable and conflicts are rare, my position will likely become a largely ceremonial one.”

Xiao Wanyue’s brush paused, and she glanced up slightly.

Though kneeling in a subordinate position, the female general’s tone remained composed and dignified. “Therefore, I wish to relinquish my title as Great General Supporting the State and join the Golden Armor Guard.”

The Nanyu Kingdom’s Imperial Guard was divided into two main divisions: the Thousand-Rider Guard, responsible for the Capital’s security, and the Golden Armor Guard, tasked with protecting the Imperial Palace—in essence, the Sovereign’s personal bodyguards, directly under the Sovereign’s command.

A moment of silence hung in the air. Li Wancheng kept her head bowed, unable to see the Empress’s expression.

The soft rustling of the brush against the Xuan paper was almost jarring in the stillness.

“Why?” Xiao Wanyue finally asked.

To willingly abandon a high-ranking official position and lower oneself to serve in the palace, one must have ulterior motives. Why else would anyone choose to sacrifice such a promising career?

Li Wancheng had anticipated the Empress’s question and had already prepared her response: “The court is entangled in complex power struggles, and Your Majesty lacks a harem to counterbalance the influence of the previous dynasty. Therefore, I wish to remain by Your Majesty’s side, ensuring your safety.”

Her words rang true.

As a woman ruling an empire, Xiao Wanyue faced inherent challenges. Many ministers harbored resentment toward her, but they dared not voice their discontent due to her ruthless methods.

The Empress seemed to ponder this, the vast hall so silent that a pin drop could be heard.

After a long moment, soft footsteps broke the stillness.

Xiao Wanyue set down her brush and approached Li Wancheng. “Have you made up your mind?” she asked. “Are you truly willing to abandon your rank of the second class to become a mere Imperial Guard Commander in the palace?”

There’s a chance! Li Wancheng thought, her heart leaping with joy.

She raised her head, meeting Xiao Wanyue’s gaze with unwavering resolve. “A gentleman’s word carries the weight of mountains.”

Stripped of her armor, the female general seemed to shed her battlefield sharpness, revealing a softer, more feminine side.

Xiao Wanyue studied her for a moment, then chuckled softly. “Granted.”

She immediately dipped her brush in ink and wrote an imperial edict, handing it to Eunuch Su, who stood nearby. As if remembering something, she added, “Have Fenghua Palace prepared as General Li’s residence.”

Fenghua Palace, separated from Empress Xiao Wanyue’s Jingming Palace by only a wall, was originally intended as the Prince Consort’s residence. However, Xiao Wanyue had never shown any interest in marriage, leaving the palace vacant.

The System was utterly bewildered by Li Wancheng’s self-demotion. After all its painstaking efforts to secure her a high-ranking position, she had casually turned around and picked a fourth-rank post for herself.

Li Wancheng, however, cared little for official rank. Her immediate priority was to gain Xiao Wanyue’s trust as quickly as possible.

In the previous timeline, the Prime Minister had rallied court officials, allied with the Thousand-Rider Army Commander, and coordinated with spies planted within the Golden Armor Guard to successfully stage a rebellion.

Thus, her entry into the Golden Armor Guard served two purposes: to purge the traitors and to forge closer ties with Xiao Wanyue.

Yet… she had anticipated considerable difficulty in transferring her official position, never imagining the process would proceed so smoothly.

With the Empress’s imperial decree, the matter was expedited with remarkable speed. The General’s Mansion contained few possessions, so Li Wancheng brought only essential items, clothing, and her two personal maids. All the male servants from her former residence were dismissed.

As she stepped through the palace gates that afternoon, Li Wancheng noticed a crabapple tree standing in the center of the courtyard. Several young eunuchs were digging around its base, and the lead eunuch hurried forward to greet her with a bow and congratulations.

General Li had become a favorite of His Majesty, first receiving the Imperial Sword and then being granted special permission to reside in Fenghua Palace. Those who served the Sovereign couldn’t help but try to curry favor with such a prominent figure.

Li Wancheng glanced up at the tree. It stood nearly six meters tall, its branches already laden with flower buds, as if it had just been uprooted from the ground.

“What’s this?” she asked.

The eunuch smiled obsequiously. “Your Majesty ordered this crabapple tree planted in the courtyard to celebrate General Li’s move to Fenghua Palace,” he explained. “It symbolizes wealth and good fortune.”

Fenghua Palace had been vacant for a long time, its courtyard desolate. The crabapple tree added a vibrant splash of color to the otherwise barren space.

Li Wancheng hadn’t expected Xiao Wanyue to be so thoughtful.

It was spring, and the newly planted crabapple tree was already bursting with flower buds. Clusters of pale pink blossoms bloomed in dense profusion, their delicate petals unfurling like silken fans.

After finishing her breakfast, Li Wancheng stepped outside and was greeted by this scene. She raised her hand, her fingertips gently brushing against the pale pink petals, and the woman’s face suddenly flashed through her mind.

At that time, the woman had sat in her wheelchair, quietly gazing at the coastline stretching to the horizon. In that hazy moment, even the setting sun seemed fragilely beautiful.

If she were here… these flowers would suit her perfectly.

After a moment, Li Wancheng sighed and smiled, a hint of regret and wistfulness in her expression. Only the gentle breeze stirred by her departing sleeve caused the delicate petals to tremble.

In recent days, Li Wancheng had been busy with military handover procedures and familiarizing herself with the imperial city’s defenses.

She had also asked the System to find her some sword techniques, which she practiced in the courtyard during her spare time. In this ancient world, having an extra means of self-preservation could only be beneficial.

As the crabapple blossoms swayed and fell, swirling in the wind created by her sword strikes, she turned and suddenly caught sight of a vivid yellow figure standing just inches away.

The sword’s edge nearly grazed Xiao Wanyue. Li Wancheng hastily stopped, sheathed her blade, and bowed respectfully.

“Your Majesty.”

Xiao Wanyue’s gaze swept over the iron sword in her hand, her brow furrowing slightly. “Why aren’t you using the sword I gifted you?”

Caught off guard by the Empress’s sudden visit, Li Wancheng felt a momentary unease. “How dare I misuse a gift bestowed by the Imperial Court?”

“A sword, as a tool, is meant to be used,” Xiao Wanyue said, brushing past her with a gust of cool wind carrying the faint, refreshing scent of dragon’s brain incense. “General, retrieve Flowing Light. I have some free time and would enjoy watching you practice your swordsmanship.”

Though puzzled by the Empress’s request, Li Wancheng knew she couldn’t defy the Imperial Will. Lowering her gaze in acknowledgment, she turned and entered the house to retrieve her sword.

The moment Li Wancheng grasped the hilt, her eyes sharpened with a fierce intensity. Her movements were swift and decisive, like bamboo splitting under pressure.

Her graceful physique made even her swordplay a captivating sight.

A flicker of admiration crossed the Empress’s eyes, and a slow smile curved her lips.

After completing her routine, Li Wancheng exhaled deeply and sheathed Flowing Light.

“My dear official, what do you think of this sword?” Xiao Wanyue asked, her hands clasped behind her back. Though her words referred to the blade, her gaze remained fixed intently on Li Wancheng.

“A perfect balance of strength and grace. A fine sword.”

Though a smile lingered on the Empress’s lips, her eyes remained calm and fathomless, like a still pond whose depths could not be measured.

After a moment, her crimson lips parted slightly. “Even the finest sword depends on the wielder. In skilled hands, it can slice through iron like mud. In unskilled hands, it becomes a dangerous, useless object.”

Li Wancheng couldn’t possibly misunderstand the Empress’s veiled meaning.

Xiao Wanyue was warning her that the imperial favor she now enjoyed—whether fame or power, rested entirely on the Empress’s whim.

This sword was both a sweet taste of reward and a deadly poison that could claim her life with the slightest misstep.

Serving the ruler is like serving a tiger. Li Wancheng lowered her gaze. “Your Majesty, I understand.”

The Empress’s expression shifted, reverting to her usual inscrutable demeanor.

A gust of wind rustled through the crabapple tree, its branches swaying wildly and petals fluttering down like snow. Against the backdrop of the red walls, it created a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Suddenly, cool fingertips brushed against Li Wancheng’s neck, rubbing firmly. She instinctively flinched, taking a half-step back.

Her neck was sensitive, and the sudden touch naturally elicited a strong reaction.

Xiao Wanyue seemed momentarily startled by her abrupt retreat. Pinching a fallen petal between her fingers, she explained with a smile, “A petal had landed on your shoulder.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Li Wancheng replied, her expression unreadable.

The spot where Xiao Wanyue’s fingers had brushed her neck still felt warm, and Li Wancheng couldn’t shake the feeling that the Empress had done it deliberately…

Before she could dwell on it further, Xiao Wanyue suddenly began coughing violently. A nearby maid immediately offered her a cloak.

“The weather is cold outside, Your Majesty. Please come inside.”

Li Wancheng followed behind her, her eyes darkening slightly. Though it was already the third month of spring and no longer particularly cold, Xiao Wanyue still seemed to fear the chill.

Once inside, the Empress’s complexion regained some color. Li Wancheng gestured for a servant to prepare tea.

“Why are there so few attendants here?” she asked.

She hadn’t noticed earlier, but now that she was inside, she realized the number of servants was remarkably small—only six, including those responsible for cleaning.

“I dislike crowds,” Li Wancheng replied, taking the teapot and pouring a cup for the Empress. “These are sufficient.”

Xiao Wanyue sipped the hot tea, her narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes occasionally glancing at Li Wancheng. “Though I have many attendants at my side, the vast palace can still feel lonely at times.”

Feeling unnerved by the Empress’s gaze, Li Wancheng’s hand trembled slightly as she held her teacup. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the Empress’s true meaning lay in the latter half of her statement.

Sure enough, the next moment came.

“Since we are both lonely souls, why not join me for dinner at my palace tonight, My dear official?”

Support