The Choice Queen's

TCQ 21: The Queen Mother Galak

Nangong Zirui looked at Li Fengran intensely. His eunuch's good deeds managed to distract him and everyone. Li Fengran had the right to speak here as an official in particular, as well as Nangong Zirui wanting to know the woman's opinion.

“Um... that, I guess there is no need to rush to lift a new queen,” Li Fengran said nervously. It felt like a huge rock had hit his head.

“Oh? Reason?”

“There should be a reason?”

“Of course.”

Li Fengran thought for a moment. There must be a reasonable reason to strengthen his argument.

“Although the late queen is dead, but she is a good queen and her kindness flows throughout Donghao. Shouldn't we honor her and reward her with a pause in the appointment of a new queen? Although the queen candidate was chosen by her, but we still have to respect her and the Ling Family first.”

Nangong Zirui silently smiled satisfiedly at Li Fengran's reply. It was just an excuse in the presence of his minister, the woman was hiding her real reason.

The ministers were silent, some agreed some were not. In the end, the decision to inaugurate the new queen was suspended and the court dissolved.

“Tell me honestly, what is the reason behind your refusal?” nangong Zirui asked after they returned to Qihua Palace.

Li Fengran knew he could not escape this question. Nangong Zirui quickly realized the reason for his cliche and asked him to explain the original reason.

Great king too, he thought. He began to compose the words in his brain, then mentally prepare before finally speaking honestly:

“Didn't Her Majesty want to rush to inaugurate Shen Lihua as the new Queen of Donghao? Her Majesty and the late Queen Ling were married a long time ago. Although there was no taste, it at least left an impression. It would be inhumane to replace him when he had just died. In addition, the relations of the Four Regions of the State are straining. Your Majesty can use the pretext of the appointment of the queen to suppress their power and show the royal authority.”

“You know?” asked Nangong Zirui. Really, he had not expected Li Fengran to speak that honestly.

“The late queen once told me. Appointing a concubine in such an unprecedented manner, is one of the ways you suppress the power of Mochuan and Jinchuan, right?”

Nangong Zirui smiled. That smile made Li Fengran startled as well as goosebumps. He usually only saw the man sneering cunningly, never smiling like this. It was quite charming considering his face was very handsome and he was very dignified.

“Again, the urgent problem that must be handled is not the queen's. I saw that a few days ago His Majesty continued to pay attention to the documents related to the flood disaster in Jinchuan. Although His Majesty had already ordered the Ministry of Social Affairs to send help, the matter was delayed due to the funeral of the late queen. I think that's what should be prioritized,” continued Li Fengran.

Nangong Zirui leaned his body at Li Fengran, staring at his clear face and eyes. Looking closely, this woman was indeed very beautiful and attractive. “I never choose people wrong.”

Li Fengran sighed. Suddenly, Wang Bi shouted from the front in a voice that was deliberately hardened, “Mother Suri arrived!”

“Mother Suri?”

“Abunda?”

Li Fengran re-imagined what he thought of the Queen Mother yesterday while discussing with Xiang Wan. The old woman must have come home from the temple because of the problems in the palace.

In addition to the topic of the queen, another thing that was very likely to attract her attention was the matter of the Sword Stakeholder. Wouldn't it be if he saw her here, Li Fengran was his first easy target?

“Your Highness, quickly hide me!”

“Why?”

“Your Majesty still asks? I don't want to be your mother's easy target!”

Li Fengran was wailing and panicking. He suddenly ran towards Nangong Zirui and was about to enter under the table.

Seeing that, Nangong Zirui directly prevented him and forbade him from hiding. It was also inappropriate for him to hide under his feet.

The Queen Mother seemed very impatient. Since the palace door was not opened immediately, he immediately told his servant to open it himself.

It was then that his gaze was fixed on his son and a woman who was arguing under the table. The look on the Queen Mother's face was unsightly.

“Abunda?” asked Nangong Zirui subconsciously.

“If I don't go in by myself, won't you open the door for me?” The Queen Mother asked back.

Li Fengran unwillingly looked up and hurriedly stood up. As she looked at the Suri Mother's expression, she shuddered.

This mother of Nangong Zirui was around forty-five years old. His facial features are firm and beautiful even though wrinkles begin to appear.

His skin was jade-like, white and soft. Her hair was bunned and decorated with simple golden hairpins. Li Fengran concluded that this woman used to be fierce.

“I'm discussing Jinchuan flood affairs with the Sword Stakeholder. Why did you come back early?” asked Nangong Zirui.

“Why are you delaying the appointment of a new queen?”

As Li Fengran had guessed, this Queen Mother would definitely directly ask that. Nangong Zirui had earlier also shown signs that he might have trouble confronting his mother.

Turns right. This Queen Mother, had a sharp mouth and her thoughts were very clear.

“Shen Lihua of Zichuan is the Queen chosen by Ling Sui. Why don't you lift it up immediately? The man is lifeless, while the living must live. Rui’er, have you forgotten how difficult it is to unify the powers of the Four State Regions?”

Look, he didn't even show his empathy for the death of his own son-in-law! Gosh, this Queen Mother was more terrifying than what Li Fengran had drawn!

“Mother, Ling Sui has just been buried. Wait a few more days, then I will consider it.”

“Mother doesn't want to know. You must decide immediately or Zichuan will doubt us.” The Queen Mother then turned to look at Li Fengran. “She's the Sword Starter you pointed at?”

Li Fengran who had been silent since then noticed instantly made himself aware. The woman lowered her head in respect, “Salam, Queen Mother.”

His greeting was not answered. The Queen Mother was not happy for her son to raise the Sword Stakeholder, because for her the woman should be a concubine only so that her standing was equal to the girl from Mochuan and Jinchuan.

 Knowing the Queen Mother disliked him and ignored his greetings, Li Fengran was annoyed but unable to fight back, so she kept it in her heart.

He wouldn't beg someone to like him. As long as there was Nangong Zirui, although the man was also quite scary, but he felt safer standing by his side.

“Mother, if there is nothing to talk about again, it is better that Mother immediately rest,” said Nangong Zirui.

The middle-aged woman was still not satisfied to speak. When he was about to say something, Nangong Zirui ignored him and his son was engrossed in reading the documents.

Out of annoyance, the Queen Mother turned around and left Qihua Palace. It was only then that Li Fengran felt his throat become relieved.

“You're afraid of my mother?” asked Nangong Zirui. “You instantly want to hide as soon as you see it.”

“Your mother is so fierce. I can fight him.”

“But, he's already starting to antagonize you. Li Fengran, just so you know, once I raise you to be the Sword Starter, then I will often contradict my mother.”

“Did the Queen Mother disagree with someone being appointed as a Sword Starter?” asked Li Fengran.

“My book is not like Ling Sui. His thoughts on the role of women, still the same as most people.”

“Your Majesty risked your relationship with the Queen Mother to defend me, is it worth it?”

“If it's not worth it, I've long since sent you back to Danchuan. Aren't I very good? So, are you still thinking of escaping?”

“Hm. Let me think again.”

Actually, Li Fengran did not want to go back to Danchuan. He planned to disappear halfway through when he was repatriated. Neither the capital nor Danchuan, both were foreign places to him.

If he were to return home, it would be tantamount to returning to the tiger cage because even if he were to detach from Nangong Zirui, he would enter into the life vortex of Great Lord Danchuan.

That afternoon when the sun was about to set, Li Fengran had only come out of Qihua Palace after helping Nangong Zirui handle some state reports.

The steps are as light as cotton, walking the rocky path that directly leads to Changsun Palace. Early spring was indeed good, he might have to have Xiang Wan make him some new spring clothes.

But then, his steps came to a halt halfway through. Someone is blocking his way. His posture is high and firm, his muscles are tight.

Other than his appreciable face, that fellow did not seem to have good emotional intelligence. He looked at Li Fengran from head to toe and was extremely annoyed.

“What did Your Majesty see of you until he raised you to be the Sword Stakeholder?”

Mo Wei who was still upset that his king raised a new Sword Stakeholder was able to meet Li Fengran today. After the announcement of the decree that day, Mo Wei protested at Nangong Zirui.

As a result, she was banished by Nangong Zirui to the temple under the pretext of picking up the Queen Mother. Now that he had returned, he wanted to do some calculations with Li Fengran.

“Service Mo, I'm tired. You can vent your frustration on me next time,” Li Fengran said.

“Your Majesty please! I am obviously very good and skilled! Why does he need you?”

“You ask Your Majesty yourself. I'm really tired!”

“Huh, if I ask, Your Majesty will dump me again. Let's prove who deserves to be next to His Majesty!”

Without warning, Mo Wei directly invited Li Fengran to fight. In the middle of the road at dusk that day, Li Fengran lazily attended to him.

He defended himself and had no intention of attacking. This time, when there was no one else, he had just brought out his true abilities in martial arts.

Mo Wei was very strong and well trained. Li Fengran was overwhelmed because his current body was still not perfect for his maturity, while Mo Wei was mature and experienced.

Mo Wei was a personal bodyguard as well as an accomplice of King Nangong, hence it was very natural that he was very great.

If this continued, Li Fengran could be battered. He then used some tricks to trick Mo Wei and it worked.

Mo Wei fell on the ground and groaned in pain. Apparently, Li Fengran kicked the man's shin and hit his stomach without using any inner strength. It was enough to make Mo Wei in pain for two days.

“Quite-enough! Miss Li, I'm not upset with you anymore. Don't kick my collarbone again,” beg Mo Wei.

“I told you, I'm tired. Guards Mo, you better not ask me to fight again! I'm so tired and want to sleep!”

“Alright, alright. You can go.”

However, Li Fengran's head was suddenly dizzy. He forgot that when he came here, he vomited blood. It must be some kind of poison.

Why should I relapse today? Jesus, he still hasn't reached Changsun Palace!

His head grew even more painful, not long after which he regurgitated a mouthful of fresh blood.

“Swordsmanship! Holy hooch! I didn't hit you hard, why are you bleeding?”

“Hurry help me get back to Changsun Palace,” shriek Li Fengran.

Just then, Xiang Wan happened to come and was about to pick up Li Fengran. Seeing her master spewing blood again, she panicked and cried again out of fear.

Xiang Wan carried Li Fengran's body up to the palace gate, but then Li Fengran instantly fainted.

“Service Mo! Please get the palace healer here!” pinta Xiang Wan's.

“Sure! Can't! I must also call His Majesty! He would be furious if he knew the Bloody Sword Stakeman!”