Chaotic World Book

When Zhao Changhe embraced Tang Wanzhuang and entered the hot spring bath, Xia Chichi and Huangfu Qing were having a stare down.

Huangfu Qing felt as if green flames were spewing from her head.

She had been in a particularly good mood that day! After all, as a rebel leader who had planned for many years, she had finally achieved victory, and her faction had clinched the largest slice of victory among the allied forces. Anyone would have been elated by such a feeling.

Moreover, her arch-enemy Tang Wanzhuang had even knelt before her apprentice and declared loyalty... Well, though it was clear that she was willing to kneel to Zhao Changhe, it did not matter, as he was the Room Fire Pig of their Sect, and also her man. Kneeling to him was akin to kneeling to her, right? Now, I am the Empress Dowager and you are the Minister, so I have won, haven't I?

Her good mood was slightly spoiled in court by a saucy girl blatantly seeking a husband, but at least she didn't succeed, and the cheeky girl didn't rashly decide on an Emperor Consort there and then, which was perfect. Huangfu Qing was still in a good mood, but thinking of the identity of Vermilion Bird, which was not suitable for squabbling, she actively ran back to switch her lesser-known identity.

Switching identities was also for serious matters; she couldn't just rush back to fight. Preparing dragon robes and such were minor issues, she could simply order someone to handle them, but as the new Empress Dowager, there were many responsibilities to manage within the Inner Palace, including a full reassessment and replacement of staff with her own people, control over the inner treasury, and various other functionalities.

As a former Imperial Concubine, she had cultivated many of her own supporters and had even placed true members of the Four Symbols Sect in important positions within the palace, including many within the Imperial Guard. However, the Sect had no eunuchs, at most just bribing and winning over a few, as most could not be trusted. As a lady long present in the capital, Huangfu Qing knew very well how many of these eunuchs were entangled with external ministers, some even covertly feeding on her Huangfu Family... If the Huangfu Family had them, how about the Wang and Cui Families?

The importance of controlling the inner palace was no less critical than stabilizing the Imperial Court.

Busy with these affairs, she didn't leave for a while, and when she turned around after making some arrangements, the dragon robe was ready.

Huangfu Qing enthusiastically picked up the dragon robe, wanting to see how her astute apprentice Emperor would look in it, but ended up finding the man frolicking in the water with Tang Wanzhuang, and her good mood evaporated.

What made her even angrier was that, no matter what, she could not interfere with that situation... The Tang family's girl was extremely important now; whether this new court could stabilize depended almost entirely on her stance. It was evident to anyone what the difference between her resolute non-recognition and her devoted assistance would mean for the situation.

Thus, she could only sacrifice the male charm of the Room Fire Pig, tying her to her chariot...

Seeing her apprentice holding his knees and squatting on the Dragon Chair in a sullen manner, Huangfu Qing didn't know where to begin venting her frustrations; now, if she were Vermilion Bird, she could discipline her apprentice to be more spirited, but after switching identities, how could she discipline, what a waste of a switch.

"You…" Huangfu Qing brewed her emotions for a long while before she could put herself in the shoes of Huangfu Qing, slowly saying, "Your Majesty, what does this pitiful appearance signify? You should know that today, the head of the Demon Suppression Department has declared loyalty to us, and was tormented by the members of the Four Symbols Sect."

Xia Chichi twitched her lips. Wasn't this a victory? Should we not celebrate with a jar of wine and a large white flag?

Huangfu Qing said, "Tang Wanzhuang is a very useful Minister, and even more crucial given the current situation. It's unfortunate that she was previously gravely ill... It's just about rallying support... Yes, just as Dong Zhuo should have bestowed Diao Chan on Lv Bu, who would hold back a woman at the expense of the world? Right, it's the same now, Your Majesty aims for the world, can you afford to lose the heart of a key Minister over a romantic entanglement? You should bestow Zhao Changhe to... uh... pfft…"

Despite being dead serious, even having a theoretically sound point, why did it seem so funny when the genders were switched? By the end, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Xia Chichi couldn't hold it in either, laughing so hard she bent forward and backward. "Mother, how did I never realize you were quite humorous before…"

Huangfu Qing was taken aback before she realized that 'Mother' indeed referred to her, clearing her throat twice. "What, you're not contesting the position of the Holy Daughter with me anymore?"

Xia Chichi jumped off the chair and hugged Huangfu Qing's waist with a giggly smile, "Seeing how earnest you are, advising me on how to be a good Emperor, you're really cute. You're obviously jealous inside... Mother, your relationship with Changhe, others might not know, but how can I not? Wasn't he openly snatched right in front of me? You seduced him in his bath, shared his bed; speaking of which, I was even the mediator between you two…"

Huangfu Qing: "Uh..."

You really know how to give...

Then, Xia Chichi whispered, "With your current identity, getting married is definitely out of the question, and you've already sacrificed a lot for the Holy Sect's cause, I empathize with you... But whether you marry or not doesn't seem to make a difference, as long as everyone is the same... It's not appropriate for me to publicly say I want to marry him right now, Tang Wanzhuang also can't speak out, we're even. As long as I don't interfere, the Empress Dowager can find her companions however she wants, right?"

Huangfu Qing gave her a sidelong glance, "So?"

"We could cooperate, couldn't we? Times have changed, now we are the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and the Venerable can no longer control us as before... When the Empress Dowager and the Emperor join hands to do the same thing, the Venerable can't stop it… I won't hinder the Empress Dowager from finding men, and you shouldn't snitch to the Venerable about me, shall we live in peace?"

This girl is trying to cooperate with me to isolate the Venerable's oversight...

Huangfu Qing came to this conclusion and almost burst out laughing, then seriously said, "Your Majesty is right. But the Venerable has more than just me for eyes and ears..."

"She mainly relies on the Empress Dowager here to manage everything, as long as the Empress Dowager is willing to conceal, the Venerable won't see..." Xia Chichi said enchantingly, "As an exchange, I'll appoint Changhe to a nominal position as Chief of the Imperial Guard, so it's perfectly normal for him to be seen near the Empress Dowager's chambers. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Huangfu Qing eyed her for a long moment, then suddenly asked, "Have you already done something with him?"

Xia Chichi didn't dare reveal such secrets to anyone, merely shaking her head, "Of course, it's only in preparation. As long as the Empress Dowager is willing to help…"

Huangfu Qing found it both exasperating and amusing, making a deal with me to oppose myself, you little stinker, have you thought about how you're going to die after this?

Actually, Huangfu Qing wasn't as adamant about hindering her as before, considering Xia Chichi really was the Emperor, and no sect could expect the Emperor to stay unmarried, that would be ridiculous.

With her identity and the multiclass skills she had demonstrated before, she could directly become the Sect Hierarch, and once she became the Hierarch, she would have the greatest interpretative authority over the sect doctrines. Her performance in court today was not simple at all, aside from her thought process not catching up and not recognizing herself yet... It would be easy for her to play around with the sect doctrines.

The only issue was, she didn't know how she would wrap up her own situation in the future... Once this girl became the Sect Hierarch and I had to follow her orders, the very thought sent shivers down my spine.

While hesitating, a lazy transmission from San Niang came to her ears: "I'm here. It's too easy to expose you if we talk in front of Chichi, better you come out and we talk privately."

Huangfu Qing nodded, right now the Four Symbols Sect needed to reach some internal consensus first and make ecclesiastical reforms, adapt to the current position of National Religion, and the unity of Sect Hierarch and Emperor. It's better to firstly achieve consensus with San Niang, as for Chichi's matters... After all, Changhe is now with Tang Wanzhuang, Chichi wouldn't join the crowd right now, she's the Emperor, not Bao Qin.

Thinking this, Huangfu Qing patted Xia Chichi's shoulder, "Let's talk about these matters later, change into the Dragon Robe and see if it looks good, I still have many things to handle."

Saying so, she slipped away.

Xia Chichi also heard San Niang's transmission, "How could she openly agree to your plan to deceive the Venerable? With me here, I can make her acquiesce, you just do your thing."

Xia Chichi clenched her fist; having Venerable Xuanwu's help really made things easier. As long as the Empress Dowager doesn't interfere, isn't this Imperial Palace just a paradise for me and Zhao Changhe to love each other? Tang Wanzhuang? How many times can she enter the palace, a mere outer official, trifling at best!

She could even collaborate with the Empress Dowager...

The demoness Emperor blushed as she donned the dragon robe and examined herself in the bronze mirror, feeling somewhat astonished.

No longer did she resemble the fierce demoness known for her icy blade in the Worldly Society, the grandeur she now possessed made her hardly recognize herself... Indeed, the clothes make the woman.

Xia Chichi sighed. As the day had progressed to evening, and she feeling particularly exhausted, decided to leave the council chamber and head back to the inner palace for some rest.

She didn't even know where her own chambers were located. A group of Four Symbols Sect Palace Attendants hurriedly led the way, "Your... uh, Your Majesty, this way..."

On this frigid winter's night, with no snow, Xia Chichi followed behind, strolling under the night sky of the Imperial Palace. At first glance, it was beautiful, but as she walked, a taste of solitude began to spread.

The atmosphere in the Imperial Palace was quite dull.

Despite being surrounded by members of her Sect, including trusted subordinates from her Azure Dragon and White Tiger halls, the change of place and shift in identity rendered everyone silent, barely daring to breathe. No one spoke along the way, and when she asked a question, they answered with fawning smiles like servile dogs.

The power of the Imperial authority on this land far surpassed that of any Sect... Even in the hearts of the most devout followers, the Emperor's significance was still far greater than that of a Holy Daughter or even the Sect Hierarch.

Truth be told, she wasn't ready to be an Emperor, neither mentally nor otherwise.

She suddenly stopped.

The nearby Palace Attendant became very anxious, "Your Majesty..."

Xia Chichi asked, "Where is the bathhouse King Zhao frequents?"

"Uh, it's not far from Your Majesty's sleeping quarters, do you wish to go?"

"Why, can't I go take a bath first?"

"Of course, you can, there's more than one pool... this way, Your Majesty."

Why can't I want just one pool? Xia Chichi curled her lip but did not argue and followed the attendant to the bathhouse.

The largest and nicest pool was currently in use by Zhao Changhe and Tang Wanju, so the Emperor had to use a smaller one next to it. The attendants cautiously watched her expression, which was indeed not very pleased.

"Leave us."

"This humble servant can assist Your Majesty in changing..."

"Go, go, go! When I was the Holy Daughter, you didn't crowd around to help me change; what's so different now that I'm the Emperor?"

The maids: "..."

"Alright, leave. I can rest by myself."

"Yes."

As the attendants withdrew, the hall gradually grew quiet.

The flickering candlelight, obscured by the steam of the bath, blurred and dimmed, making the space feel even more like a vast, empty prison.

Xia Chichi circled the pool a few times, then suddenly slipped out through the window into the courtyard.

Bathed in moonlight, the courtyard was serene and lovely, the air fresher than before.

Xia Chichi nodded in satisfaction, leaned forward, and peered into the opposite bath. If the palace attendants saw her employing her sneaky ways of the Worldly Society, who knows what they would think... But Xia Chichi found this quite delightful; it's not like it would cause styes!

Wondering if Tang Wanjuang was flustered and weak from the bath?

She peeked through a tear in the window paper, and just one glance met Zhao Changhe's wary eyes.

Zhao Changhe, startled awake in the dead of night, was quickly aware that someone was spying!

He immediately looked around alertly; the large eyes outside the window blinked rapidly then retreated just as quickly.

Zhao Changhe couldn't let the person escape, swiftly breaking through the window, "Who goes there... uh..."

Xia Chichi, clad in a dragon robe, stood with her hands behind her back in the middle of the courtyard, irately inquired, "Is King Zhao at ease?"

Zhao Changhe, with a puzzled expression, looked at her; this Chichi in a dragon robe... was quite the sight...

Seeing his gaze of amazement, Xia Chichi felt somewhat proud, subtly tilting up her chin, "Do I look nice?"

"Beautiful."

"Better than your sect's leader?"

"Uh..."

"Where is she? Has she fainted? Did the Tang family's spring water fill one pool?"

"..."

Xia Chichi's eyes gleamed more mischievously as she slowly moved closer, grabbed his hand, and placed it on her chest, "Since there's nothing amiss... my beloved subject... shouldn't you be attending to my bathing and dressing?"