Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

「Reality. The Zhou Royal Palace.」

Xiao Mo lay on his bed, seemingly asleep, but he was actually experiencing a life within the Hundred Generations Book.

”Your Majesty... Your Majesty...”

Soon after, Wei Xun’s voice came from outside the door.

”Come in.”

Xiao Mo’s consciousness pulled away from the Hundred Generations Book. He slowly opened his eyes and sat up in bed.

Wei Xun hurried before Xiao Mo and knelt on the ground in terror. ”This old servant deserves death for disturbing Your Majesty’s rest. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”

”Alright, alright, stop putting on an act for me, you old fellow.” Xiao Mo rubbed the corner of his eye, sat down in a chair, and poured himself a cup of tea. ”Speak. What is it, so early in the morning?”

Xiao Mo’s tone was indeed a bit impatient.

Although his experience in the fifth life was separate from reality, and Xiao Mo forgot everything from the Hundred Generations Book upon returning, he still had a feeling. He felt that this current life experience was about to end and that he still had very important things to do inside the Hundred Generations Book...

”Reporting to Your Majesty...”

Wei Xun organized his thoughts before speaking.

”The Minister of the Ministry of Rites wished to see you after the morning court session to discuss the upcoming wedding ceremony and the matter of titles for the two Imperial Consorts.

The morning session has now ended, and Minister Yan of the Ministry of Rites is already waiting for you in the Imperial Study.

Furthermore, the two consorts’ palaces have been prepared. It might be best for Your Majesty to take a look and see if any adjustments are needed to prevent any issues.

Finally, it is almost time for the quadrennial selection of Palace Maids. The Empress Dowager has invited you over, wishing to speak with you about this matter...”

”I understand.” Xiao Mo nodded. ”Help me dress.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

Wei Xun rose quickly and called for the Maids waiting outside the door to come in and help His Majesty dress.

After changing his clothes and washing up, Xiao Mo walked out of the room and stretched lazily.

A gust of winter wind blew past. The bone-chilling cold slipped into his collar, waking Xiao Mo up instantly.

”Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep my future father-in-law waiting too long.”

Xiao Mo patted the hem of his robes and strode forward.

Wei Xun kept his head down, trailing two paces behind Xiao Mo, following him closely.

Wei Xun wondered if it was just his imagination.

’Lately, His Majesty seems to have the air of a Military General. Even a single glance from him makes my heart tremble.’

’His Majesty is like a battle-hardened General who has crawled out from a pile of corpses.’

’Then again, ever since His Majesty began his cultivation, his aura first resembled that of a swordsman.’

’Later, he was like a refined scholar.’

’After that, he seemed like a blade fiend who could kill without batting an eye.’

’And now, he’s like a Martial Cultivator General.’

’In any case, he’s nothing like a Daoist...’

’It’s truly strange.’

But Wei Xun dared not ask and dared not say a word.

About fifteen minutes later, when Xiao Mo arrived at the entrance to the Imperial Study, he saw a man standing ramrod straight inside.

”I’ve kept you waiting, Lord Yan. I hope you don’t take offense.”

Xiao Mo said with a smile as he walked into the study, his tone laced with jest and intimacy.

”Yan Zhen of the Ministry of Rites pays his respects to Your Majesty.” Hearing Xiao Mo’s voice, Yan Zhen quickly turned and bowed. ”Your Majesty must not say such things. It is this humble minister who has disturbed Your Majesty’s rest. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”

”Hahaha, we’re all family, there’s no need for such formalities. Your beloved daughter will soon enter the Imperial Palace, and we will all be one family then.” Xiao Mo sat down on the soft couch, then immediately chided Wei Xun. ”You old fool, have you no sense? Why haven’t you brought a chair for Minister Yan?”

”Yes, yes, yes.” Wei Xun nodded hurriedly and slapped his own face twice. ”This old servant truly has no sense at all. This old servant will go fetch a chair for the Minister right away.”

Soon, Wei Xun brought a chair from behind a screen and placed it behind Yan Zhen.

”Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting me a seat.”

Yan Zhen bowed in gratitude, then brushed the hem of his robes and sat down.

Looking at Xiao Mo, Yan Zhen felt that His Majesty’s aura seemed different than before.

”What matter brings Minister Yan to see me today?” Xiao Mo asked, getting straight to the point.

”Reporting to Your Majesty, in two months, the Eldest Princess of Qin, Qin Mujiu, and my humble daughter, Yan Ruxue, will enter the Imperial Palace. However, since the founding of our Great Zhou, there has been no precedent for bringing two women into the palace at once without first naming an Empress. Thus, we were unsure how to establish the proper rites.

This minister and my colleagues in the Ministry of Rites have discussed this at length. By referencing the ceremonial laws of various nations, both ancient and modern, we have designed a wedding ceremony that is second only to the enthronement of an Empress, yet grander than that for an Imperial Consort.

It also pertains to the titles for the two Imperial Consorts. I hope Your Majesty will review our proposal.”

As he finished speaking, Yan Zhen took a memorial from his sleeve.

Wei Xun quickly took the memorial and handed it to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo read through the memorial carefully.

It was indeed a rare occurrence for an emperor like Xiao Mo to take consorts without having first established an Empress, let alone two at the same time.

Therefore, the Ministry of Rites had to establish new ceremonial laws.

These new rites had to be based on ancient traditions and supported by recent precedents.

Thus, Yan Zhen had clearly put a great deal of thought into it.

The new rites he ultimately formulated were quite good.

As for the titles for the two women,

Most dynasties in the World of Ten Thousand Laws currently followed a system of four primary consorts and nine concubines. Among them, the rank of Imperial Consort was the highest of the four, second only to the Empress.

However, it was inappropriate to elevate either Yan Ruxue or Qin Mujiu to the rank of Imperial Consort above the other.

Therefore, the Ministry of Rites simply proposed to grant both of them the rank of Imperial Consort. To distinguish between them, in accordance with the ceremonial laws of the Zhou Kingdom, a character would be taken from each of their names: Yan Ruxue would be Consort Xue, and Qin Mujiu would be Consort Mu.

”Let’s proceed with this plan. When an Empress is chosen in the future, we can hold a proper enthronement ceremony then.” After finishing, Xiao Mo set the memorial aside. ”Minister Yan, you’ve worked hard during this time.”