Song Lian was silent for a while. Looking at Her Majesty with some confusion, he asked softly after a moment, "Your Majesty, what do you want me to talk about?"
Although the empress had said she wanted him to talk about everything, Song Lian was a martial artist and a military officer of the Great Liang Dynasty. In the beginning, he naturally spoke about matters concerning the imperial court. However, it was obvious that this was not what the empress wanted to hear. But after thinking carefully, he still did not know what the Empress wanted to hear.
What did she mean by "everything"?
The empress glanced at Song Lian and said, "Talk about that young man's character. Is he considered a good young man? Tell me in detail, don't be too general."
Song Lian was silent for a while and said softly, "In this subject's opinion, Commander Chen is naturally good. His character is straightforward and honest, and he is also quite..."
Remembering that young man's cunning, Song Lian was unsure whether he should mention it or not. After a moment of silence, he said, "This subject previously thought he cared too much about money, but upon further observation, this subject should have misjudged it."
If Chen Chao were here now, he would surely be rejoicing that Song Lian's opinion of him had changed due to the blood ginseng he had given him. Otherwise, things would not have been so simple if he had complained to the empress.
"He grew up in hardship, so it's not a problem if he cares more about material possessions now."
The empress spoke softly, her voice filled with endless heartache.
Feeling this emotion, Song Lian was not in a hurry to speak. Except, he wondered why the empress would have such emotions. This kind of emotion was obviously only for one's own children or nephews. But how old was Chen Chao? He could not possibly be the empress' nephew.
Back then, the Great General had a total of four children.
Two sons and two daughters.
The empress was the eldest daughter. The eldest son served that deposed emperor back then and had led troops to block the current emperor several times. In the end, the Divine Capital fell, but the current emperor did not kill him. Instead, he was confined to his mansion, and he died of depression two years ago.
The second son had been conveying messages for the current emperor and was found out by that deposed emperor and immediately executed.
As for the empress's younger sister, she had never married and had been living in her mansion, eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures.
Those people naturally had descendants too, but they were all officially registered.
How could Chen Chao be one of them?
"I remember that in the eleventh year of Tianjian, there was a flood in Wei Prefecture," said the empress, bringing Song Lian out of his thoughts.
Song Lian replied, "Your Majesty is right. Many things happened in that year throughout the world."
Tianjian Year 11 was a rare year for cultivators, but it was not an easy year for Great Liang. The demon race encroached on the Northern Frontier, which was the biggest war in recent years. Although the demon race was eventually repelled, the national treasury of the Great Liang Dynasty was almost empty due to this war. This also led to the imperial court being unable to provide enough money and grain for disaster relief in a timely manner when the Great Flood of Wei Province hit.
That year, Wei Prefecture had actually become a purgatory.
Bodies of those who starved to death lined both sides of the Wei River.
"That year, that child was in Wei Prefecture."
There was a hint of sadness in the empress' eyes as she spoke softly, "That child was only 12 or 13 years old at the time."
Could a 12 or 13-year-old boy survive in that sort of situation?
Song Lian fell silent for a moment before saying, "It was indeed very difficult."
The empress smiled and said, "I saw him at the banquet that day. He is such a good young man, willing to risk his life for the imperial court and the world. The imperial court is really lacking such a young man now." Later, he debated with those scholars on the bank of South Lake, and the things he did at the imperial banquet, as well as the fact that he saved the Saintess of the Myriad Heaven Palace a few days ago, it was all very well done. I really like him."
As Song Lian heard this, he suddenly realized that it was because of these things that Chen Chao had left a good impression on the Empress. That was why she cared so much. It was just that looking at the empress' previous demeanor, he sincerely felt that the empress' virtuous reputation was indeed true.
To care so much for a young man whom she had only met once, she must treat others well in her daily life as well.
Song Lian said softly, "Commander Chen has a bright future. This subject will definitely support him well."
The empress nodded and said with a smile, "Commander Song must also take care of yourself. There aren't many of my father's subordinates around anymore."
Hearing this, Song Lian felt a rush of warmth in his chest and was deeply moved.
The empress smiled and beckoned, "Li Heng, bring the Heavenly Leaf Grass from my palace and give it to Commander Song as a gift."
As she said, the empress turned to look at Song Lian and smiled, "I heard that Commander Song is only one step away from high-level Great Beyond Realm."
Song Lian became a little flustered and was about to kneel down, but the empress shook her head and said, "Why kneel down so easily?"
Although Song Lian did not kneel down, he still shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Heavenly Leaf Grass is meant to nourish your body. How can it be given to me?"
The Heavenly Leaf Grass was naturally a treasure for martial artists, but everyone knew that the empress' health was not good and she normally relied on these spirit medicines to nourish her body. After the Heavenly Leaf Grass was made into medicine, it was extremely important to the empress' body, and it was also extremely rare. It was likely that not too many could be found in the entire Great Liang Dynasty in a year. Song Lian naturally knew the value of this herb, especially its importance to the empress' health.
The Empress did not mind and just said calmly, "My body cannot be restored anymore. It's just a matter of waiting for death. Whether it's next year or tomorrow, it's a decision that the heavens will make. What else can I do?"
Song Lian furrowed his brows and said, "Your Majesty is so benevolent, you'll surely accompany His Majesty for many years to come."
But the empress did not speak. She just looked at Li Heng who was coming over from a distance with a wooden tray. She then smiled and said, "I'm going to dine with His Majesty now, so I won't send Commandant Song off. Keep the gift, it's my decree."
As she spoke, she walked away towards the distance by herself. Soon after, palace maids and eunuchs appeared and followed the empress toward the front.
Song Lian stood in place and sent her off with a salute.
When Li Heng came to him, Song Lian looked at the Heavenly Leaf Grass in the specially-made glass bottle on the wooden tray. But Song Lian hesitated to reach for it.
Seeing this, Li Heng smiled and said, "Commander Song, please take it. Since it is the empress' will, it wouldn't be appropriate to refuse it any further."
Song Lian sighed and said, "I'm worried about Her Majesty's health. This plant is what Her Majesty uses to nourish her body."
Li Heng shook his head and said, "The Empress is an extraordinary person with great virtue that rivals the heavens. A trivial matter like life and death is really nothing to her. Commander Song, you need not worry so much."
As he spoke, Li Heng also felt a little sad. He had followed His Majesty the Emperor since he was Prince Fan and he had also served the empress for many years, so naturally, he had deep feelings for her.
Song Lian nodded and picked up the bottle tremblingly.
Suddenly, Li Heng reminded him, "Whatever the empress says or requests, Commander Song, you should take it to heart. Even if it's not for the decree, it may be the empress' final worries."
……
……
The empress walked all the way to the Imperial Study, her complexion turning deathly pale. It was difficult to see any hint of blood on her face, which was why she stood outside the Imperial Study for a long time.
The palace servants did not dare to speak and could only silently accompany her. After a long while, she slowly walked into the Imperial Study.
The emperor always had his lunch in the Imperial Study.
After the morning court session, the Great Liang emperor had to review the reports sent from various places in the Imperial Study. Although the Cabinet had already filtered out many reports that were not important enough to be sent to the Imperial Study, there were still many left.
Seeing the empress enter, the Great Liang emperor quickly put down his brush-pen dipped in red ink and stood up to help her to the table which was already full of dishes.
The two sat down and the Great Liang emperor personally served the empress a bowl of soup before saying, "You summoned Song Lian to the palace again. That guy doesn't want to come here lately."
Although he was seated in the Imperial Study, the emperor was well aware of what was happening in the palace.
The empress sighed when she heard this and lamented, "That's right. Your Majesty clearly doesn't really care in your heart, must you pretend to care so much that those people below are so scared that they jump at the rustling of leaves? Is Your Majesty happy to scare them like that?"
The Great Liang emperor laughed and said, "If We don't show my attitude, how can someone be willing to let matters go? We're just scaring them, it's not like We really want their heads."
The empress sighed again but did not say anything. She usually did not interfere in court affairs.
"Your Majesty should consider how the people below think when doing things. You have to pay more attention to some things. The sages say that ruling the world is like cooking small fresh fish. It's not that simple. One's temperament should also be restrained."
The empress smiled and nagged a little, but the emperor just felt a little aggrieved and said, "Have We not been careful enough these few years? Based on Our temperament back then, these people would have long been banished to the Northern Frontier one by one by Us. They should be grateful. When We decided to increase military spending a few years ago, they said that the general populace can't take the suffering anymore? If We hadn't made the Northern Frontier so impenetrable, would these people still be able to curse Us here?"
Being the emperor had never been an easy task. The Great Liang emperor hardly showed his emotions in front of others, except for his empress. Only then, would he show more emotion. After all, in his view, the empress in front of him had always just been his wife; a member of his family in the true sense.
"Your Majesty, you can start choosing a new consort."
When he heard this, the Great Liang emperor's hands trembled a little.
He lifted his head to look at the empress with complicated emotions in his eyes. The sadness could not be concealed anymore.
"There are so many things in the imperial harem that need to be managed. The world also needs a new empress."
The empress looked at the Great Liang emperor and said softly, "Your Majesty, don't be stubborn. There are people in the imperial harem who can share some of Your Majesty's burden too. This is an important matter that needs to be done."
The Great Liang emperor was silent for a moment and said calmly, "We will do it."
The empress nodded in satisfaction and then said, "I already have some ideas about the identity of that child, but I still have to trouble Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly. If it's indeed as I think, I would like to get closer to him."
The Great Liang emperor nodded and said, "We will."
Seeing that the empress was about to say something more, the Great Liang emperor shook his head and said, "Let's eat, alright?"
The empress nodded and stopped talking. She just lowered her head and started eating. It was just that she ate very slowly. In reality, she had lost her appetite these days.
The Great Liang emperor said, "We still have a lot of work to do."
The empress chuckled softly and said, "I can't accompany Your Majesty anymore."
This time, without waiting for the Great Liang emperor to speak, the empress smiled as she laid it bare, "I don't have much time left."
