stonecrandall Chapter 967: This position is not easy to hold, let’s test each other!
Chapter 967: This position is not easy to hold, let’s test each other!
The incident with Lü Gong hung like a sword over her head, waking her up in the dead of night. Her impatience and overreach during the Chamber of Commerce turmoil left a scar deep in her heart. And then there were the times when she couldn't help but contradict her son Gao Lin out of concern for his future... She remembered every detail vividly. She had already mentally sentenced herself to death, convinced she had lost her qualifier for the throne, and even prepared herself for the possibility of being ignored and marginalized at any moment.
She placed all her hopes and emotions on her younger sister, Lü Su. As long as Su Su could become the princess, relying on their sisterly bond and her kindness, she and Gao Lin would still have a place in the palace. She had even rehearsed countless times in her mind how to better assist her and protect herself after Su Su ascended to the throne.
But now... the king personally pushed her to the position that she had always dreamed of but had long dared not hope for?
This huge impact made Lu Zhi completely lose the ability to think for a moment. She just stood there blankly, like an exquisite jade sculpture.
It was not until Lu Su, who was kneeling below, noticed her sister's loss of composure, quietly reached out, gently tugged at her skirt, and kept signaling her with anxious and warning eyes, that Lu Zhi seemed to wake up from an absurd dream.
She suddenly came to her senses, and her first reaction was not to thank him, but to kneel down again with a plop, touching her forehead to the ground, her voice trembling with uncontrollable fear:
"Your Majesty! I... I am of little virtue and talent, and I have made many mistakes in the past. I truly feel ashamed to take on this important responsibility! The position of the head of the harem is of great importance. Your Majesty, please... please choose someone more virtuous and capable. Sister Lu Su or Sister Yu Shu are both more suitable than me!"
Almost instinctively, she chose to decline. She understood all too well the truth that within the palace, words can bring disaster, and fortune and misfortune are intertwined. She feared this was another test from Gao Yao, a test to see if she still harbored undue ambitions for power. She had to appear humble, even fearful, to dispel any last vestiges of doubt in the king's heart.
Gao Yao looked at her fearful expression, eager to distance herself from the matter, and a subtle, complex expression flashed across his eyes. How could he not know the twists and turns in Lü Zhi's mind? He looked down at Lü Zhi, who was kneeling on the ground, and his tone was filled with a sense of understanding, a sense of unquestionableness, and even a hint of subtle fatigue:
"Alright, Lü Zhi, put away those little thoughts." His voice was low, but it carried a tremendous force. "Since I've spoken, I've already thought it through. I don't have the leisure to attend to all the trivial matters in the harem. Since you have the ability, you should shoulder this responsibility."
He paused, his tone softening, but still commanding: "Go and prepare. At the next grand court meeting, I will formally announce this decision in front of all the civil and military officials. Now, go and arrange dinner. Today, we will have a meal together as a family."
"Here..."
Listening to Gao Yao's words, half warning, half notice, yet tinged with a touch of family, Lü Zhi felt a mixture of astonishment, bewilderment, a hint of hidden ecstasy, and immense pressure. The king's will was final, and no one could argue with it. She could only suppress the turmoil surging in her heart and respectfully, with a hint of trance, agree.
Gao Yao's eyes swept over all the women present, who all had different expressions on their faces. Finally, his tone seemed a little more relaxed, he added, "Tonight's dinner is going to be lively. I have a request. Each of you should prepare a talent to liven up the atmosphere. Whether it's dancing, playing an instrument, or something else you're good at, show off your talents to each other and let me see your different styles. Come on."
"Yes!" the women responded in unison once more, their voices more lively than before, tinged with their own thoughts. Then, one by one, they rose, their steps light but their thoughts shifting as they slowly exited the study that had sealed their fate.
Almost instinctively, Lü Zhi followed the crowd out of the palace. It wasn't until the cool night air brushed against her face that she felt a sense of reality return. But her mind was still a blur, and her steps felt unsteady, as if she were treading on clouds.
Sister Lu Su quietly approached, took her arm, and whispered, "Sister..." Her tone was full of worry and inquiry.
Lü Zhi waved her hand, indicating she was fine, but she was speechless. She looked up at the gradually clearing moon above the palace eaves, a single thought swirling in her mind:
Is this... true? What exactly does the king want?
In the corridors outside the palace, palace lanterns were already lit, their dim light stretching the women's figures into varying lengths, just like their wavering and unpredictable emotions. Lü Zhi was still immersed in a state of shock and daze, Gao Yao's undeniable words still echoing in her ears, and the actual touch of the cold jade floor beneath her feet offered no reassurance.
This sudden position of queen was like a hot golden seal that branded her fate. While it brought supreme glory, it also brought unprecedented pressure and scrutiny from all sides.
Just when she was distracted and trying to sort out the confusion, a soft and gentle sound, like a needle hidden in velvet, broke the delicate silence.
"Congratulations, sister! Congratulations, sister!" Concubine Qi stepped forward gracefully, a smile as bright as a spring flower on her face. She bowed deeply to Lu Zhi, "Sister, your long-cherished wish has come true. I'm so happy for you! Looking at this harem, in terms of seniority and ability, I'm afraid... you are the only one who is most qualified to sit in this position!"
These words sounded congratulatory and flattering, but when they reached Lü Zhi's ears, they instantly alerted her. The phrase "long-cherished wish fulfilled" hinted at her long-held desire for this position; and the phrase "most qualified" cleverly tethered qualifications to seniority, seemingly flattering but actually offering a subtle jab at Lü Zhi's age and seniority. The subtext seemed to be: You're simply taking advantage of arriving early.
Lü Zhi's mind raced, and the slight panic she had felt was extinguished as if by cold water. Her phoenix eyes instantly regained their former clarity and sharpness. A polite, even gentle, smile appeared on her face, as if she hadn't heard any hidden meaning. She reached out and gave Concubine Qi a light support.
"Sister, please stand up quickly. Why should we be so polite to each other?" Her voice was steady, with a hint of the grace expected of a mistress of the harem. "From now on, the harem will need all the sisters to work together to avoid causing trouble to the king. Speaking of which, sister, I just reminded you that the king wants to see a performance tonight to entertain him. Singing and dancing have always been your forte, unrivaled in the harem. Tonight, I'll see you showcase your talents for the king and all the sisters to enjoy."