N-A-A Chapter 958 Lu Su, do you really want to be the boss?
Chapter 958 Lu Su, do you really want to be the boss?
Concubine Qi was perhaps the most receptive to this news. She had been in the palace the shortest, and her foundation was the weakest. While she had won Gao Yao's favor with her beauty and her ability to serve others, she knew full well that Gao Yao valued her body and the novelty she brought, not her true self. More importantly, compared to other concubines who already had children, her childlessness put her at a natural disadvantage in the competition for the throne. While her pregnancy might offer her only hope for a future comeback, she was currently too weak to pose a threat. Her greater concern was protecting the dragon fetus and consolidating her position.
In the courtyard, the lights were just beginning to come on, illuminating the room with warmth and tranquility. After a while of playful banter with the energetic Gao Yunna, Gao Yao finally coaxed her into agreeing to go out and play with Madam. Only he and Lu Su were left in the courtyard. An intimate and relaxed atmosphere permeated the air.
Gao Yao took a sip of the hot tea handed to him by Lu Su and said casually, "Lu Su, I plan to let Yun Na practice martial arts seriously with someone special. Don't be too pampering to her. Let her suffer a little, and maybe she will know to give up. I won't stop the child's hobbies, but it's not right for a girl to think about going into battle and killing enemies every day. Do you understand?" His tone was filled with the helplessness and pampering of a father.
Upon hearing this, Lu Su smiled, her eyes flickering with understanding. She softly replied, "Haha, I understand. Your Majesty is concerned about this child, fearing she might suffer in the future. I naturally understand your deeper meaning." She knew that Gao Yao's words, while superficially restrictive, were actually an indulgence and protection of Gao Yunna's unique vitality. He didn't truly want to stifle his daughter's nature; he was simply using this method to establish a safe boundary for her.
"Well, okay." Gao Yao put down his teacup, his expression gradually becoming more formal. His eyes fell on Lu Su's face, scrutinizing her, but also with a hint of subtle expectation. "Let's get down to business. Now that I've officially become king, the harem can't be without a master for a day. I want you to be the master of the harem. What do you think?"
"What? I...?!"
These words resonated like thunder in Lu Su's ears. She jerked her head up, her beautiful eyes wide, her face etched with disbelief. She wondered if she had misheard. The head of the harem? The position of princess? How could it possibly be hers? She had never dared to dream of such a thing. She figured the position was either already in Lu Zhi's bag, or Gao Yao had chosen someone else to balance the situation. In any case, it shouldn't have fallen to someone like her, who had long since withdrawn from the competition and sought only a stable life.
"Yeah, what? Don't you want to be one?" Gao Yao's tone was calm, but his eyes were as sharp as a knife. He stared at every subtle change in Lu Su's expression, as if he wanted to penetrate her skin and get to the truest thoughts in her heart.
Lu Su was flustered by this gaze, her heart churning violently. A tangle of overwhelming surprise, deep fear, doubt in her own abilities, and a dread of future responsibilities—all these emotions mingled, leaving her speechless. She instinctively lowered her head, avoiding Gao Yao's gaze, a complex, wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She nodded, then shook her head vigorously, her movements filled with conflict and struggle.
"What do you mean?" Gao Yao frowned slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "Do you want to or not? I want to hear the truth. There's no need to hide or pretend."
Lu Su took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart. Finally, she raised her eyes and met Gao Yao's gaze. Her eyes regained some clarity, and with a kind of reckless honesty, she answered softly but clearly:
"Your Majesty, if I say I have no desire at all, it would be a lie and a crime of deceiving the king. Holding the Phoenix Seal and being the mother of the harem is an honor that countless women in the world dream of. I am also a mortal, how can I not be tempted?"
She paused, a hint of self-mockery and clarity flashing across her eyes. "But... precisely because of this, I understand even more clearly that my abilities are truly insufficient for this position. I am of a dull disposition, dislike disputes, and lack the courage and skill to make important decisions. If I were to force myself into that position, not only would I fail to relieve the king's worries, I'm afraid... it would instead cause unrest in the harem and criticism from the court, ultimately betraying the king's trust and harming myself."
Every word she spoke seemed to come from her heart, carrying warmth and weight. This wasn't a retreat to advance, but rather the most honest conclusion she had drawn from her deep understanding of herself, the harem, and Gao Yao.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, stretching Lu Su's slender figure, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, reflecting her current state of anxiety and her struggle to maintain composure. She had just confessed her deepest desire for the harem's highest position, laying it all out before Gao Yao. There was no pretense, no false rejection, only a prudent judgment based on clear understanding.
Listening to Lü Su's measured, clear-eyed analysis, Gao Yao couldn't help but let a genuine, somewhat appreciative smile play across his lips. He was indeed somewhat surprised, but even more relieved. Lü Su had a clear understanding of herself, a rare quality in the turbulent, clamorous harem. Even more precious was the fact that she didn't completely deny the yearning for that position that had once welled up within her. This, Gao Yao found particularly valuable.
In Gao Yao's value system, having desires is not shameful; what is shameful is not daring to admit them, or resorting to schemes to conceal or seize them. He knows that even Xiaoyue, who usually appears to be the most obedient and contented, has a faint desire for the honor of being the mother of the country.
Knowing you're not qualified to compete and admitting you've had ambitions but knowing you're not up to the task are two very different states of mind. The former might be a matter of resignation, while the latter is a matter of calculated wisdom and restraint, requiring immense courage.
"Oh?" Gao Yao leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp, a trace of inquiry and guidance. "Why are you so self-deprecating? I still remember when I asked you to follow Lü Zhi to learn how to manage the Chamber of Commerce. Although you were clumsy at first, you eventually became competent and didn't make any major mistakes. You were competent then, so why do you seem to have lost confidence in leading the six palaces now?"
His words weren't entirely consoling; they also contained some genuine considerations. He wanted to know whether Lu Su's refusal was a genuine assessment of her abilities, or simply a retreat-to-advance strategy.