Call of the Heroes of Chaos in Another World

Chapter 2370 Consort De pleads for mercy, Ziya comes out of the mountains

After digesting the memories of this summoning and balancing implantation, at that moment, the eunuch Zhao Gao entered quietly and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Consort De is outside requesting an audience."

Wang Yu put down his vermilion brush, slightly surprised. Consort Cai Wenji was always quiet and polite, and rarely bothered him unless she had something to say.

If it weren't for giving birth to twins, a boy and a girl, which earned her the title of Consort De, and her responsibility for the Yuanshi Grand Ceremony, she probably wouldn't have had much of a presence in the palace.

Before the war against Yan, Cai Wenji had already discovered that she was pregnant.

Following Helian Mingzhu's birth of the sixth prince Wang Jun and Xiao Yunyao's birth of the fifth princess Wang Han, Cai Wenji gave birth to the seventh prince Wang Han and the sixth princess Wang Xi in the fourth year of the Yuan Shi era.

Upon receiving the news, Wang Yu, who was still at the front lines, issued an imperial edict to confer upon her the title of Consort De.

Even Xiao Yunyao, who was originally unwilling to enter the palace to receive a title, was granted the title of Shunyi by imperial decree by Wang Yu, ranking among the Six Yi, and above Yelü Zhaoyang and Yelü Qingya, who were both Jieyu.

"Xuan."

A moment later, Consort Cai Yan, dressed in elegant palace attire, gracefully entered.

She moved gracefully to the imperial desk, and following palace etiquette, bowed gently: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Wang Yu put down the memorial in his hand, looked up and saw that she had lowered her eyes and was respectful in her posture, yet she still had that unique scholarly air about her. He couldn't help but show a gentle smile and beckoned to her: "Yan'er, come here."

Cai Yan got up as instructed and walked lightly to his side.

Before she could speak again, Wang Yu reached out and put his arm around her slender waist, gently pulling her into his embrace and sitting her on his lap.

The familiar scent of ambergris mixed with a faint fragrance of ink lingered around her nose. Cai Yan's cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not struggle. Instead, she leaned her head against his firm chest, feeling the reassuring heartbeat.

"Your Majesty has worked hard in battle and looks a little thinner," said Lady Cai, gently stroking his chin with her slender fingers.

Wang Yu held her hand and chuckled softly, "With my beloved consort thinking of me, I don't feel tired at all."

He looked down at her beautiful face so close to his own and asked, "You came here today not just to visit me, did you? Is it because you've encountered difficulties in compiling the 'Yuanshi Dadian'?"

Cai Yan tilted her face up in his arms, her eyes like water, with a hint of pleading and coquettishness, and said, "Your Majesty is wise, nothing can be hidden from you."

"Compiling a grand encyclopedia is a massive undertaking, especially the section on poetry, lyrics, and prose, which requires exceptional talent to write and review. I recently heard that Your Majesty has acquired a talented woman from the Song Dynasty named Li Qingzhao?"

"Oh?" Upon hearing this name, Wang Yu paused for a moment, then looked at Zhao Gao not far away.

He really didn't know about these things; as the emperor, he couldn't possibly pay attention to every little thing.

Zhao Gao, who was standing to the side, immediately understood. He bowed slightly and replied clearly in a high-pitched voice, "Your Majesty, the person Consort De mentioned is indeed at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace."

"This woman was the wife of Zhao Mingcheng, a member of the Zhao Song imperial family. Her husband, Zhao Mingcheng, had served as the prefect of Guanzhong. After the Song army was defeated, he was killed by our soldiers."

"His family members, along with the families of other captured Song officials, were temporarily placed in the Bronze Sparrow Terrace to await His Majesty's decision."

Upon hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Wang Yu's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He looked down at Cai Yan in his arms, his fingers gently caressing her slender fingertips, his tone tinged with amusement, "My dear consort, you're quite well-informed. What, have you taken a fancy to this woman's talent and want her to help you compile a book?"

Seeing that Wang Yu was not angry, Cai Yan felt relieved and her voice became even softer, with a clear hint of coquetry, "Your Majesty is wise, I have indeed heard that this woman is a master of both poetry and prose, and is a famous talented woman."

"The 'Yuanshi Grand Canon' aims to synthesize the best of ancient and modern times, and it cannot do without drawing on the strengths of many. With her assistance, the poetry collection will surely shine even brighter. This would also be a grand event showcasing the cultural achievements of our Great Han Dynasty and benefiting the talents of the world." She gently tugged at Wang Yu's sleeve, her eyes sparkling. "Your Majesty, please grant my request and let her come out to lend me a hand, okay?"

Wang Yu looked at her unusually girlish demeanor and pondered for a moment.

As a time traveler, he certainly couldn't be unaware of Li Qingzhao's name. It seemed a waste to keep such a talented woman in the Bronze Sparrow Terrace and treat her the same as ordinary officials' wives.

Wang Yu had already made up his mind, but his face remained calm. He deliberately put on a stern face and said, "It is not impossible to let her leave the Bronze Sparrow Terrace and participate in the compilation of the Grand Ceremony. However, she is, after all, a captured official and widow. Her status is sensitive. Without a proper title, it will be inconvenient for her to move around outside, and she will easily attract criticism."

Cai Yan, being intelligent, immediately understood the implied meaning. A thought struck her, and she tentatively asked, "Then what does Your Majesty mean?"

Wang Yu smiled slightly and said calmly, "Since my beloved consort appreciates her talent and she needs a suitable identity, then let's grant her a title."

"By imperial decree, Li Qingzhao is hereby conferred the title of... well, let's call her Imperial Concubine. She will temporarily reside in a side hall of your palace. In this way, she can legitimately assist my beloved concubine in compiling the Great Compendium. I will have truly honored her talent."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yan was taken aback at first, but then realized that this was the best arrangement Wang Yuneng could offer, and also an approval of her request.

She immediately smiled and snuggled closer: "On behalf of Li Qingzhao, I thank Your Majesty for your grace! Your Majesty is wise!"

Seeing her delighted expression, Wang Yu couldn't help but smile. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "I have granted my request, my beloved consort. How will you thank me?"

Cai Yan's cheeks flushed crimson, her voice barely audible: "But Your Majesty..."

Looking at her shy and bashful appearance, Wang Yu's love for her grew even stronger. He chuckled softly, said nothing more, and with a slight effort, lifted the warm and soft beauty in his arms.

Caught off guard, Cai Yan let out a short gasp and instinctively reached out her jade-like arms to wrap around his neck, burying her burning cheeks in his broad shoulders, letting him hold her as they walked around the huge imperial desk and toward the inner room on one side of the study, which was reserved for the emperor to rest in.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the gently swaying curtains beside the couch, blurring the intertwined figures.

Cai Yan closed her starry eyes slightly, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, feeling those hands with calloused skin gently untying the intricate ties of her palace dress.

Soft sobs and suppressed gasps echoed intermittently in the quiet interior, seemingly resonating with the snowflakes falling silently outside the window.

After an unknown amount of time, the wind stopped and the rain ceased.

Cai Yan lay limply in Wang Yu's arms, her black hair disheveled, her face flushed, and her eyes and brows tinged with the languid desire of a satisfied spring.

Wang Yu gently stroked her smooth back, feeling the slight throbbing beneath her delicate skin.

"Your Majesty..." her voice was hoarse, tinged with the softness of aftermath, "I will make arrangements tomorrow to bring Consort Li over?"

Wang Yu closed his eyes and gave a seemingly lazy "hmm" and said, "You may arrange this matter yourself, my beloved consort."

Just as Wang Yu returned to the capital in triumph, the Qian region was also experiencing its most turbulent period.

As early as the beginning of this year, Jiang Ziya, the youngest of the second-generation disciples of the Chan Sect and a member of the Daqian clan, finally returned to the Jiangqian clan.

Like many disciples of various schools, they do not deliberately report their true identity and origin upon entering the sect; in fact, they may even deliberately conceal or forge a false identity.

Therefore, Yuqing is also unaware of his lineage as a member of the Great Qian imperial family. Of course, he cannot be unaware of it either.

(End of this chapter)