When Chuyi and Shishi turned eighteen, Emperor Xiaojing announced his abdication.
This came as a complete surprise to everyone. Emperor Xiaojing was in the prime of his life, healthy and vigorous—it was the perfect time to rule. How could he just step down like this?
But over the years, Emperor Xiaojing and Empress Shen had truly lived up to the word "willful." Throughout history, there had never been such a carefree imperial couple—no harem of three thousand beauties, only the Empress alone. The court officials had certainly tried to intervene, but in the end, aside from making fools of themselves, they could never shake Empress Shen's position.
Moreover, Empress Shen had a powerful maternal family backing her. After repeated attempts, the officials eventually gave up. After all, Empress Shen had borne two sons, ensuring Great Coolness had heirs.
But even with heirs in place, there was no reason to pass the throne so early.
Chuyi and Shishi's given names were Xie Shu and Xie Wu, respectively. Shortly after the children's first birthdays, when it was time to name them, the Red Flame Taoist Priest appeared out of nowhere, claiming that their births had been difficult and that they needed feminine names to ensure they grew up safely. Thus, Xie Jingxing gave them these names.
As Xie Shu and Xie Wu grew older and more aware, they frequently quarreled with Xie Jingxing over their names. Even the usually reasonable Shen Miao refused to change them. Eventually, they grew accustomed to it.
Xie Shu took after Shen Miao's temperament—steady, sensible, and mature beyond his years. Xie Wu, on the other hand, was a carbon copy of Xie Jingxing, roaming the streets daily like a carefree young nobleman. But those who knew him well understood that Xie Wu's cunning surpassed even Xie Jingxing's.
Still, the brothers were extremely close. Now, Xie Shu was the Crown Prince, soon to ascend the throne, while Xie Wu was the Prince of Dian.
The court officials wept and wailed in their memorials, all criticizing Xie Jingxing for stepping down too soon. They argued that Xie Shu was still too young to command authority and that his handling of state affairs was immature, likely leading to instability.
But since when did Xie Jingxing listen to the officials? His domineering nature made their words worthless in his eyes. Besides, his decision to abdicate was unshakable—no force could pull him back, let alone a few memorials.
Shen Miao remained utterly composed. After so many years as Empress, countless people had tried to find fault with her, yet she had remained unshaken. Strangely enough, it was as if she had been Empress for many lifetimes—handling everything flawlessly, leaving no room for criticism, and inadvertently earning a reputation for virtue that even the most stubborn critics couldn't undermine.
At this moment, Xie Jingxing was speaking to his two sons.
Time had been kind to him. Even as his sons had grown into handsome young men, he remained as dashing and striking as ever. But compared to the arrogance of his youth, the present Xie Jingxing exuded a more restrained dominance, making him even more formidable than before.
He casually admonished his sons, "Eldest, second, you two hold the fort in the palace. Your father is handing this kingdom over to you. Do well—don’t make me come back to clean up your mess."In private, he never referred to himself as "Zhen" (the royal "We") in front of his two sons, which outsiders would consider a breach of hierarchy and a grave taboo. But Xie Jingxing had never cared for rituals or societal norms, nor did he want any barriers between him and his sons because of such ranks. Perhaps it was due to the misfortunes he had experienced within his family that made him more cautious and sensitive about such matters.
Xie Shu responded calmly, while Xie Wu lazily added, "Don’t worry, the two of us aren’t that foolish."
"Easier said than done," Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "Don’t underestimate the people in this palace. When your father ascended the throne, it wasn’t a simple or easy affair. Now that there’s a change, they’ll naturally look for trouble. You two are still too green—they’re all old foxes. Don’t speak too confidently."
"Father, rest assured," Xie Shu remained unfazed by his father’s intimidation. "Your son can handle it."
"Old foxes are still just foxes, but Eldest Brother is a tiger," Xie Wu scoffed. "And if Eldest Brother really can’t manage, there’s still me, isn’t there?"
"You really dare to say that," Xie Jingxing narrowed his eyes. "Eldest, keep an eye on this brat for me!"
Xie Shu had never been one to cause worry since childhood, composed beyond his years. Xie Wu, on the other hand, was a constant headache. From a young age, he had stirred up endless trouble in Longye, a spitting image of Xie Jingxing in his youth. The only difference was that Xie Jingxing back then had Lin'an Hou, just as unruly as him, to shield him. Now, Xie Wu’s father was the Emperor, and any misstep could invite censure from the imperial censors.
Fortunately, Xie Shu had always been there to clean up Xie Wu’s messes, handling countless disasters for him. But as Xie Shu grew older and his actions as Crown Prince came under scrutiny, it became harder to help Xie Wu as freely as before. Xie Wu simply took matters into his own hands, his daily routine revolving around causing trouble, making amends, and repeating the cycle.
It could be said that none of the younger generation among Longye’s officials had escaped Xie Wu’s mischief. His knack for trouble had surpassed even his father’s.
Now that Xie Shu was taking the throne and Xie Jingxing was about to set off on travels with Shen Miao, Xie Jingxing could easily guess Xie Wu’s intentions with his eyes closed. No doubt Xie Wu was thinking, "Great, I’ve dealt with the younger generation—time to torment the old-timers of Longye’s officialdom."
Xie Wu feigned innocence. "Father, how can you distrust me so? Am I really that kind of person? If Eldest Brother becomes Emperor and someone causes trouble, there’ll be many things he can’t handle openly. Won’t we need some... special methods? Right, Eldest Brother?" He winked at Xie Shu.
Xie Shu turned his head away expressionlessly, ignoring Xie Wu’s hint.
Xie Jingxing smirked. "Hearing you say that makes me think I should have Tie Yi and Mo Qing keep an eye on you."
"Father, you can’t do that!" Xie Wu protested, but after a moment’s thought, he shrugged. "Well, do as you please. It’s not like Tie Yi and Mo Qing together could take me down anyway."
Xie Jingxing slammed the table. "You little brat, are you trying to rebel?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a voice came from outside: "Who’s rebelling?"
Shen Miao walked in through the door.
She hardly looked like the mother of two children. Over the years, she had only grown more refined, like polished jade—graceful, dignified, and quietly commanding, impossible to look away from.Xie Shu and Xie Wu quickly called out, "Mother."
Shen Miao walked over, shooting Xie Jingxing a glare, and said, "What nonsense are you spouting again?"
Xie Jingxing retorted, "Nonsense? So you believe this little brat instead?" Then he turned to Xie Wu and scolded, "Ungrateful wretch! All those times I changed your diapers and fed you—might as well have fed a dog."
Xie Shu, Xie Wu, Shen Miao: "..."
To be fair, during the time Shen Miao was in deep slumber, Xie Jingxing had indeed been very good to Xie Shu and Xie Wu. He personally attended to their every need—changing diapers, feeding them, even holding them to sleep at night—meticulous in every detail. Others often remarked how unbelievable it was that someone of Xie Jingxing's temperament could be so gentle with children. Yet, he had done just that.
During that period, Xie Jingxing had truly embodied the image of a tender and caring father.
However, ever since Shen Miao woke up, he began to find the two boys increasingly irritating. He often insisted on toughening them up early to become men, subjecting them to trials that even outsiders found heartbreaking to witness.
Fortunately, Xie Shu and Xie Wu possessed strong wills. Despite their young age, they grew up without any flaws, excelling in both talent and character, ranking among the finest in Great Coolness. Their appearances also inherited the best traits of their parents—handsome and naturally poised. Xie Shu was stern and composed, while Xie Wu was charming and charismatic, earning the secret admiration of countless noble daughters in Longye. Yet, the two brothers had once declared in public that they would follow their parents' example, vowing to marry only one woman in their lifetime and remain devoted to her till old age.
As a result, noble families found this ideal too lofty, while noble ladies and common maidens grew even more infatuated with the brothers. Such outstanding men who were also deeply loyal were truly rare in the world. The emperor and empress, Xie Jingxing and Shen Miao, had long enjoyed a reputation of virtue in Great Coolness, not only for their exceptional governance but also because Xie Shu and Xie Wu were so well-loved.
Naturally, Xie Shu and Xie Wu were not as affectionate toward their strict father as they were toward their gentle mother, which often left Xie Jingxing grumbling that the two little brats were less appreciative than his beloved "Jiaojiao."
Shen Miao said, "A-Shu, A-Wu, in the beginning, many court officials will likely oppose you. It’s not that they are bad, but this is just how things are at the start. Don’t take it to heart. A-Shu, just focus on doing what you ought to do. If there are truly those who remain obstinate, A-Wu, you’ve always been clever—you’ll know the best way to handle it."
She was practically encouraging Xie Wu to employ some "special methods."
Xie Wu immediately perked up. "As expected, no one understands me like Mother!"
"Madam!" Xie Jingxing interjected. "Are you going to indulge their mischief too?"
"A-Wu’s methods are far gentler than yours back in the day. Besides, rigidity isn’t always the best approach—a little flexibility can go a long way. A-Shu, I have no worries about your capabilities, and there’s little I need to advise you on. But if there’s one thing… if you meet a girl you like, don’t hesitate."
Xie Shu: "..."
Xie Wu chimed in, "Exactly! Big brother should’ve found me a sister-in-law long ago!""And you." Shen Miao glared at him. "You better rein it in. Don’t think I don’t know how many girls in Longye you’ve charmed. If you don’t like them, don’t lead them on—don’t ruin their lives for nothing." Just thinking about it made her furious, and she shot Xie Jingxing another glare. Like father, like son—utterly shameless!
Xie Jingxing rubbed his nose innocently.
Seeing the conversation shift to himself, Xie Wu quickly changed the subject. "Mother, don’t say that. By the way, how long do you plan to travel this time?"
"We’ll come back once your mother gives you a little sister," Xie Jingxing interjected.
"Seriously?" Xie Wu exaggeratedly exclaimed. "You two are already so old—" The rest of his words died under Shen Miao’s stern gaze.
"Once we’ve seen enough beautiful sights and visited enough wonderful places, we’ll naturally return home," Shen Miao said.
It was a dream from their youth, one they had to set aside in the past due to various circumstances. Fortunately, they now had another chance. Life was long, and theirs had been so fulfilling and satisfying.
Xie Shu smiled gently. "Father and Mother need not worry. Your son will not disappoint you."
"And I’ll find a wife!" Xie Wu added.
－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－
Xie Shu: The aloof boy. Xie Wu: The goofy boy.
With this, The Poisonous Empress officially concludes, both the main story and the extras! A whole year has passed in the blink of an eye—thank you all for accompanying me on this journey! When I started this project, it was on a whim, but I managed to see it through to the end. Unlike the characters in Disaster Consort , Empress Shen is a gentler and kinder person. With warm parents and an elder brother, her nature isn’t bad at all. As for Xie Jingxing, he’s a character I wanted to create—someone with the chivalry and righteousness of a martial artist, a complex background but a genuine personality.
In short, it’s the story of a noble lady and a domineering marquis!
I hope you’ve enjoyed it!
And happy early New Year to everyone! May all your wishes come true!
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