Chapter 675: Female Sovereign’s Consort Selection 32

Lan Xintong’s body was still warm, his breathing uneven, when Tang Wan’s words finally reached him.

For a moment, he froze.

Then, as if something inside him broke free, his eyes reddened. He suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding on as though afraid she might disappear.

“My wife… I—I don’t want you to accept other men into the palace!”

The words came out in a rush, raw and unguarded.

He knew he shouldn’t have said it.

He knew what was expected of him.

But in front of her—

Faced with the warmth and certainty she had given him—

He couldn’t hold it back anymore.

Tang Wan chuckled softly.

Her hand came up, gently patting his back in a soothing rhythm.

“Isn’t that better?” she murmured. “All I want is to spend this life with you, Tongtong. Just the two of us. So don’t ever think about pushing me toward someone else again. Understand?”

Lan Xintong’s eyes widened, disbelief flickering across his face.

“My wife… are you serious?” he asked, his voice trembling. “I’m not dreaming, am I?”

Tang Wan shot him a mock glare.

“What do you mean by that?” she said, then added teasingly, “In this entire world, how many men could ever compare to my Tongtong?”

“Wife—!” Lan Xintong’s face flushed instantly.

The next moment, unable to contain himself, he pulled her close again—this time with a quiet urgency.

No more words were needed.

He simply wanted her to understand—

Just how much her promise meant to him.

—

That night, the last of his lingering doubts finally disappeared.

With her words alone, his heart settled completely.

Even if it were just him—

Even if there were no one else—

He would be content to remain by her side, serving her with all his devotion.

—

The next morning, after bathing, Tang Wan leaned lazily against the edge of the tub, her lips curling in amusement.

“Tongtong,” she said casually, “if this keeps up, you’ll go down in history as the first consort to exhaust his empress before she can even attend court.”

Lan Xintong blinked, then—rare for him—rolled his eyes slightly.

“My wife,” he replied with unexpected boldness, “if that really happened, the ministers wouldn’t need to say anything. My mother would be the first to march into the palace with a sword and deal with me herself.”

Tang Wan burst into laughter.

“Fair point!”

—

The next morning at court, once routine matters had been addressed, Tang Wan cleared her throat lightly.

“Regarding the matter discussed yesterday—about selecting consorts for the harem,” she began.

At once, the ministers straightened, their expressions expectant.

“After returning, I discussed it in detail with my consort.”

A ripple of anticipation spread through the hall.

“Initially, he agreed that it would be appropriate to begin the selection.”

Several ministers nodded subtly.

“But—” Tang Wan’s tone shifted, her expression turning solemn, “last night, the late empress appeared to me in a dream.”

The court fell silent.

“She sternly reprimanded me,” Tang Wan continued gravely. “The affairs of the state are not yet fully stabilized, and yet I was already considering indulging in personal matters. Even the Empress Consort stood beside her, reminding me not to be led astray by such distractions.”

She shook her head faintly.

“Therefore, this morning, I have already informed my consort—the matter of the draft is to be postponed.”

A pause.

“Until I have proven myself a capable ruler, worthy of the people’s trust, I will not consider expanding the harem.”

Her voice carried quiet authority.

“My decision is final. No further discussion is necessary.”

—

The ministers exchanged glances.

Then, almost instinctively, their gazes turned toward General Lan.

General Lan lowered her head slightly, hiding the corners of her lips that threatened to lift.

Composing herself, she stepped forward.

“Since this is the will of the late empress,” she said solemnly, “this minister would not dare oppose it. When Your Majesty deems the time appropriate, it will not be too late.”

“The ministers agree!”

Voices echoed in unison.

—

Tang Wan nodded, her expression calm.

Then, without lingering on the matter, she shifted the focus.

“Reports from the frontier indicate enemy movements in the northwest,” she said. “Although the late empress removed many corrupt officials, remnants still remain. At present, our empire faces both internal instability and external threats.”

Her gaze swept across the hall.

“With so many pressing matters unresolved—how could I prioritize personal affairs?”

The court fell silent once more.

This time—

Not out of expectation.

But out of recognition.