Chapter 226

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

"Consort Hua, I wonder what matter brings this official here?"

Wei Zheng bowed deeply, saluting Hua profoundly with a respectful expression, yet secretly vigilant in his heart.

He truly could not understand why Hua would suddenly summon him; he always felt it boded no good.

"Wei Zheng, of the Yu Que Wei Clan, family numbering one thousand three hundred fifty persons, primarily engaged in commerce, also managing matters related to the Di Heng Si."

Hearing these words, Wei Zheng broke into a cold sweat instantly, his back instantly soaking through his robes.

Yuan Shuai Hua's formidable nature in no way fell short of Xuan Huang's; after all, she had sat in the Marshal's seat for a very long time.

Moreover, accompanying the Monarch is like accompanying a tiger; the one before him was even famously a "tigress," not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.

"What Consort Hua says is absolutely correct."

Wei Zheng dared not show the slightest slackness, only able to probe cautiously.

Hua looked at Wei Zheng's honest and submissive appearance, a trace of playful interest flashing in her eyes.

This obsequious person before her, no matter how she looked, did not resemble that Wei Zheng who dared to publicly retort to Xuan Ge until he could not step down from the stage.

She then smiled, her tone easing a few degrees, yet still carrying pressure: "Wei Zheng, now is an era of great contention; does my dear minister have any thoughts?"

Wei Zheng was so frightened his legs went soft, immediately kneeling on the ground, cupping his fists in salute, his voice carrying a tremor:

"Consort Hua, the Xian Zhou clans will certainly continue to strive, for Xuan Huang, for Xian Zhou, to maintain this meager order."

"That is a decent excuse."

Hua extended a finger, lightly tapping the tabletop; the crisp sound was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

That invisible pressure kept Wei Zheng's heart pounding wildly.

Seeing the moment was about right, Hua immediately switched attitudes, revealing a sincere smile, her tone becoming much gentler:

"Wei Zheng, Xuan Huang thinks highly of you."

Wei Zheng stiffened all over, his face full of surprise, yet still dared not raise his head, gaze fixed tightly on the ground, not daring to look at Hua clad in red-gold phoenix robes.

How could he not know Xuan Huang thought highly of him?

He only remembered that he had publicly contradicted Xuan Huang, causing Xuan Huang to lose face; at that time Xuan Huang nearly made an example of him.

Fortunately, his true intention was merely to prevent Xuan Ge from bearing the reputation of a tyrant.

These days, Xuan Huang indeed had not sought trouble with him, instead seeming to treat him as a transparent person.

But he still lived in fear and trepidation, returning to Yu Que early, not even daring to leave his own gate.

Yet Consort Hua now brought up this matter again; what exactly did it mean?

Wei Zheng's heart was full of doubt, yet he dared not ask further, only able to quietly wait for Hua's next words.

"I intend to assign you to Shen Wu, to serve as Xuan Huang's Chief Strategist; how about it?"

Hua's gentle voice entered Wei Zheng's ears, but to Wei Zheng it sounded like a thunderclap, shaking him dizzy and dazed.

He even felt his Wei Clan Nine Lineages' names flickering on the genealogy register.

"Consort Hua, this official... th-this official... this official is merely a petty Di Heng Si clerk, absolutely cannot accept such a post!"

Wei Zheng was so frightened he stammered, face full of terror, "This official cannot compare to Consort Ling by one hundred millionth; the Chief Strategist post, this official truly cannot handle it..."

In his heart he suffered unspeakably; Xuan Huang's Chief Strategist? That was the position closest to Xuan Huang.

If he truly went, it would be like putting a chicken drumstick beside a starving tiger's mouth...

Seeing Wei Zheng still impervious to persuasion, neither soft nor hard tactics working, a flash of anger appeared in Hua's eyes.

"Wei Zheng, the matter of you contradicting Xuan Huang has not yet been let go."

Wei Zheng stiffened all over, not daring to say a single word, only lowering his head deeply, performing a standard subject's salute, his expression full of resignation.

Seeing he had finally resigned himself, the corner of Hua's mouth hooked an imperceptible smile, then she threw out a lethal question: "How does the Huan Yu genius compare to me?"

'What kind of joke is this! Right off the bat giving me a death sentence question!?'

Wei Zheng suffered bitterly in his heart; how could he not understand that the "Huan Yu genius" Hua spoke of referred to Hei Ta and Ruan Mei?

But all three were Xuan Huang's consorts; making him judge the three's relative standing — was this something he could say?

Wei Zheng sensed Hua seemed to be waiting; his scalp tightened, he simply went all out, raised his head, and spoke with a serious expression:

"Consort Hua, there are three merits — knowing Xuan, protecting Wu, governing the Six Harmonies."

"Mhm~" Hearing this, a trace of approval flashed in Hua's eyes; she inwardly admired Wei Zheng's adaptability.

These words "Know Xuan, Protect Wu, Govern Six Harmonies" seem simple, yet summarize eight hundred years of history across Xian Zhou.

And cleverly attribute all merit to her head.

Knowing Xuan Ge's ambition, preserving Shen Wu Xian Zhou's foundation, assisting Xuan Huang in unifying the Six Great Xian Zhou.

"Hei... er..." Wei Zheng saw Hua's expression ease, seeming very happy, so wanted to take the opportunity to mention Hei Ta, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

Xuan Huang had not yet settled Hei Ta and Ruan Mei's formal titles; he dared not address them on his own.

"Hui and Zhi."

Hua spoke blandly, simply settling the two's titles:

"Hei Ta as Consort Hui, symbolizing her genius reputation; Ruan Mei as Consort Zhi, symbolizing her status in the life domain; Zhi is the root of life."

Wei Zheng hurriedly bowed in salute again, saying solemnly: "Consort Hui and Consort Zhi likewise have three merits — sealing the deficiency, genius, devoting their lives."

"Aren't you afraid the two of them will give you a hard time?" Hua heard this and nearly burst out laughing.

The Heavenly Deficiency Syndrome matter — Ruan Mei and Hei Ta are meritorious officials, but the true executors are Yu Fei and Dan Shu;

The two words "genius" were their joint offering to the Xuan Emperor;

As for pledging their lives, mentioning it or not made no difference — once aboard the Xuan Emperor's pirate ship, there was no way to get off.

Wei Zheng's words were a nakedly veiled implication that the merits of Consort Hui and Consort Zhi fell short of his own.

"Justice resides in the hearts of men."

Wei Zheng's tone was firm, wearing the look of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, as if saying "You forced me to say this," without the slightest retreat in his expression.

Hua watched his appearance and couldn't help laughing, waving her hand: "Rise."

"Thank you, Consort Hua." Wei Zheng slowly stood up, still keeping his head lowered.

"Since you say the two geniuses are inferior to me, then why did Xuan Ge neglect government affairs for two days because of the two geniuses?"

Hua finally spoke the true reason she had summoned Wei Zheng.

She simply couldn't stomach that Xuan Ge had spent an entire day with those two women.

Clearly she and he had been intimate for three days and three nights, using every position, even being worn through, yet she had kept striving to respond.

However you looked at it, she was stronger than anyone in his harem.

'Does he really have to drive me to a dead end today?' Wei Zheng's heart sank to the bottom of a valley.

Discussing the Emperor's family affairs is a cardinal taboo for a subject.

"Consort Hua, this subject... this subject can try."

Wei Zheng finally compromised, accepting the post of Divine Martial Strategist-in-Chief — a position that seemed glorious but was in fact fraught with peril.

"Very good."

Hua nodded with satisfaction, a trace of triumphant amusement flashing in her eyes.

This had been her purpose all along.

Since Xuan Ge could be driven off the stage by Wei Zheng, she would send Wei Zheng to Xuan Ge's side.

Although there was a petty thought of getting back at Xuan Ge, more importantly, Wei Zheng truly could persuade the Xuan Emperor above.

Though Wei Zheng had some courage, Hua still couldn't help reminding him: "The Xuan Emperor is no mortal emperor; you must remember your place."

"This subject understands." Wei Zheng bowed with clasped fists, his tone respectful.

Xuan Ge is not a mortal Son of Heaven bound by the interests of all parties.

He is the Xuan Emperor of the Xian Zhou, wielding absolute power.

Whoever defies him, he can kill directly, not fearing the Xian Zhou's collapse in the slightest.

Moreover, Xuan Ge commands the people's hearts on the Xian Zhou, his prestige extremely high.

Even if he slaughtered all the clans, it would only stall the Xian Zhou for a few days; soon someone would fill the vacancies.

So Consort Hua's reminder could not be clearer.

He is merely the Xuan Emperor's Strategist-in-Chief; he can only admonish within the bounds where the Xuan Emperor is willing to listen to reason, and must not touch Xuan Ge's bottom line.

After all, the Xuan Emperor observes rules, but Xuan Ge himself never plays by common sense.

To this day he still remembers, Xuan Ge once said those heaven-defying words before all the ministers and heavenly generals of the Xian Zhou:

"I never kill women, nor do I kill children, but your wife is not a child; and your son is even less a woman."

"Go on, do well, Wei Clan — eventually you will have a seat in the Divine Martial."

Hua rose, her phoenix robe swaying slightly; as her words fell, her figure vanished from the hall in an instant, leaving only a faint phoenix fragrance.

Wei Zheng faced the direction Hua had disappeared, bowed deeply, and only straightened after a long while; his legs went soft and he accidentally fell back onto the ground.

He raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his face, a complex smile surfacing, muttering to himself:

"The Xuan Emperor's Strategist-in-Chief..... hehe~"

This seemingly sky-reaching post is in truth treading above a ten-thousand-zhang abyss.

He must deeply remember Consort Hua's reminder and hold to his bounds.

He is merely the Xuan Emperor's Strategist-in-Chief, and absolutely must not presume to interfere with Xuan Ge's decisions.

PS: I'm being serious this once.