The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 68

Before the emperor passed away, he held my hand and urged me to protect this empire for him. King Chang and I share the same bloodline, but if I were to abandon the empire for that alone, how could I face the years of teachings from the emperor and empress?

It would be one thing if King Chang were a virtuous ruler, but his nature is brutal. The emperor once told me that our father had sent him to a vassal state precisely because he had seen through his character.

The way of a ruler must prioritize the people. How could a person like King Chang ever achieve that?

Xiao Qinya lowered her gaze, and when she raised it again, her eyes were filled with unprecedented resolve. The emperor had told her to protect the empire, but he never said the throne had to be occupied by their direct line. After all, they all shared the founding emperor’s bloodline, so the Xiao family’s empire wouldn’t be changing hands entirely.

“Tell me where this person is at once,” Xiao Qinya commanded.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review hesitated, his gaze falling on Song Yunzhou. After a moment, he said, “This person is none other than Song Xiang’s son-in-law, Xiao Yu.”

“What?”

“The prime minister’s son-in-law…”

“What’s going on?”

The officials buzzed with discussion.

Grand Tutor Li quietly moved closer to Grand Secretary Zhang and whispered, “Grand Secretary Zhang, were you aware of this?”

Grand Secretary Zhang glanced at him. How would he know? He hadn’t expected Prime Minister Song to keep the news so tightly under wraps. They had been friends for years, and not a single word had been mentioned. If his son-in-law became emperor, wouldn’t the Song family’s status rise even higher?

However, he immediately shook his head. Prime Minister Song’s character… aside from being concerned for the country and its people, he seemed to have no other ambitions.

Seeing that Grand Secretary Zhang remained silent, Grand Tutor Li felt a bit foolish and returned to his original spot.

Xiao Qinya’s gaze swept across the hall, not missing the expression of any official, finally settling on Song Yunzhou. Was this a coincidence, or was this old fox planning it all along?

Xiao Qinya’s eyes were filled with a mix of emotions. After a long silence, she said in a low voice, “Go and bring Xiao Yu here.”

“Wait, I will go myself. As for the rest of you… you may all withdraw.” His character needed to be verified. Even if he was the only heir, if his virtue wasn’t up to par, no one would be allowed to touch that position again.

After the officials left, Xiao Qinya slumped into a chair, closed her eyes, and massaged her temples.

How could things be so coincidental? Song Yunzhou wanted to depose the emperor, the royal heirs in the capital were all inexplicably murdered, and the only one left was Song Yunzhou’s son-in-law.

Could Song Yunzhou be the killer?

All these coincidences pointed to him.

If he wasn’t the killer, the other possibility was King Chang. Xiao Qinya’s fingertip unconsciously traced circles on the table. After a while, she summoned her trusted aide.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu was also very worried upon hearing about Xiao Chengze’s rebellion. The original plot had this very storyline, describing how Xiao Chengze persuaded King Chang to start an uprising in Qingzhou. With Song Luoning’s military genius, their forces were unstoppable, and they captured the capital in just half a month.

Xiao Chengze should have been in rebellion for five days by now. If they didn’t act soon, according to the plot, the city gates would fall, and none of them would escape.

She had transmigrated to ancient times and hadn’t enjoyed any of it yet. She really didn’t want to die like this.

Xiao Yu sighed and lay back dejectedly in the recliner.

Just then, Song Luoning came out of the room with Cui Zhu. As soon as Cui Zhu saw her, she smiled and said, “What’s wrong, young master? Sighing alone in the courtyard? Are you still thinking about Miss Yuan?”

Xiao Yu immediately sat up straight, her expression serious. “How can you speak such nonsense?” She couldn’t help but glance at her wife, cleared her throat, and continued, “If my wife hears you, she’ll think I have other ideas.”

With that, she glared at Cui Zhu, stood up, walked over to Song Luoning, took her hand, and said with a fawning expression, “Wife, you can’t listen to Cui Zhu’s nonsense. She’s slandering me.”

Song Luoning’s face flushed slightly. She pressed her hand on his and pulled it back, giving him a sideways glance. “Who knows?”

“How can you also slander me?” Xiao Yu put on a pained expression. He helped his young mistress sit in the recliner, then knelt down and held Song Luoning’s hand. Sweeping away his earlier gloom, he said softly, “Why didn’t you sleep more?”

Xiao Yu looked up, his fair cheeks tinged with a pink like the color of spring peach blossoms. Her forehead and the tip of her nose were covered in a fine layer of sweat. Song Luoning looked at her and reached out to smooth her disheveled hair.

“Something on your mind?”

“Thinking about that dream.”

“Have you figured anything out?”

Xiao Yu leaned her face onto Song Luoning’s lap, breathing in her faint, elegant scent. Her voice was listless, as if filled with an unspeakable sense of loss.

Cui Zhu looked at the two of them, smiled with satisfaction, and quietly retreated to the courtyard gate.

“Wife, in the dream, it only took Xiao Chengze half a month to break through the capital. I’m worried it might actually happen.”

Her dream was so bizarre. Song Luoning lowered her eyes and gently stroked her head, once, twice. Her eyes were filled with a soft tenderness. “How did he break through the city? Do you remember, husband?”

Xiao Yu was stunned. She raised her head and looked at Song Luoning.

She had almost overlooked one point. In the original plot, the reason Xiao Chengze was able to go from rebellion to breaking the city in just half a month was, firstly, because the female protagonist was a strategist by his side, and secondly, because of General Li’s cooperation. Now, without the female protagonist and without General Li’s support, did that mean the plot would change?

Joy surged in Xiao Yu’s eyes. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Song Luoning, and the two of them tumbled into the recliner together.

Startled by his sudden action, Song Luoning gave a little gasp. She placed her hands on his shoulders, then gave him a playful glare. “What are you messing around for?”

Xiao Yu blinked. “Your words just now reminded me, wife. The dream is different from reality. Maybe the ending can be changed.”

Song Luoning was pinned underneath and couldn’t move. When she tried to push him away, he just held her tighter. Having no other choice, she let him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as the air around them grew warmer.

“Miss, young master…” The courtyard gate was pushed open, and a little maid ran in. She was stunned by the sight and immediately covered her eyes, turning her back. “I didn’t see anything…”

How could the young mistress and master be so careless? And in broad daylight! How pitiful for a little maid like her.

Song Luoning and Xiao Yu were also taken aback, not expecting the little maid to suddenly enter. Song Luoning was both shy and annoyed. Her fair skin instantly flushed, becoming as vibrant and beautiful as a blooming rose. She said crossly, “Don’t you dare get up.”

Even with Xiao Yu’s thick skin, being caught in such a situation made her cheeks redden. She pushed herself up from the recliner, cleared her throat, and said, “What’s all the fuss about?”

How had she never noticed that this maid was so tactless?

The little maid said anxiously, “Someone is looking for you outside, young master.” With that, she ran out of the courtyard, still covering her eyes.

Xiao Yu was speechless.

“Wife, I… I’ll go take a look.”

“Mm.” Song Luoning responded faintly.

Having been caught, both of them felt a bit awkward for the moment.

Xiao Yu hesitated, then subconsciously repeated, “Wife, I’ll be back soon.”

“Mm.”

Xiao Yu took a deep, lingering look at Song Luoning, her eyes filled with reluctance. “Then I’m going.”

Only after Song Luoning nodded did Xiao Yu finally walk toward the front hall.

The person who had come was none other than Grand Princess Xiao Qinya. Xiao Yu’s expression froze when she saw her.

A bad feeling instinctively rose in her heart. She steadied herself and bowed in a salute. “Greetings, Grand Princess.”

Xiao Qinya waved a hand. She had known that he was the prime minister’s son-in-law back at the mountain temple. She had also questioned her secret guards about the events of that day, and it was indeed as this person had said. As for his connection to the prime minister’s family, she had also had it investigated. The two families had indeed been engaged eighteen years ago. No matter how cunning that old fox Song Yunzhou was, he couldn’t have calculated that Xiao Yu might become emperor eighteen years later.

It seemed she had been overthinking.

“Sit,” she said.

“Yes.” Xiao Yu walked to a chair and sat down, her eyes on the woman in the main seat.

She felt uncertain. She had stumbled upon her secret, and Xiao Chengze’s fate was a warning. Several days had passed, and she thought the grand princess had forgotten about her, but today she had come looking for her.

Xiao Qinya gave a signal, and the great hall was instantly empty except for the two of them.

“I have no ill intentions today. What is your opinion of Xiao Chengze?”

Her opinion of Xiao Chengze?

The Grand Princess had made a special trip just to ask her opinion of Xiao Chengze? She found that hard to believe.

However, she couldn’t show it. Xiao Yu took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and replied cautiously, “This person is deep, and he has ambition.”

“Oh?” Xiao Qinya tapped the small table. “Tell me, what kind of ambition does he have?”

Having already learned about his methods, Xiao Yu dared not conceal anything. She recounted every detail of the events she had encountered during this time.

Xiao Qinya’s face darkened as she listened. It seemed that this person had concealed a lot from her back at the mountain temple.

If what the person in front of her was saying was true, then the real killer of the royal heirs was probably this Prince Xiao Chengze. What a vicious method. If a person couldn’t be kind to his own family, how could he be kind to the people of the world?

If the empire of Boisheng fell into the hands of such a person, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Just thinking about it made Xiao Qinya feel a chill down her spine. “What are your views on the way of a ruler?”

Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment. “To be concerned about what the people are concerned about, and to relieve the people of their suffering.”

Xiao Qinya nodded. Although it wasn’t a long-winded speech or a brilliant essay on the spot, those two short sentences summarized the essence of a ruler. Only when the people live in peace and contentment can a prosperous era be achieved, isn’t that right?

Why did so many people fail to understand such a simple truth?

Xiao Qinya’s gaze fell on the young man below, a hint of admiration in her eyes. She smiled and asked, “How do you think the predicament of the capital should be resolved?”

She must be referring to Xiao Chengze’s rebellion.

Xiao Yu pursed her lips and said, “There are one hundred thousand Imperial Guards outside the city. Furthermore, the rebels came from Qingzhou. The fact that they were able to get here in such a short time means they are lightly armed and must not have brought much food and supplies. As long as we can hold out, their supplies will be exhausted, and their morale will collapse. At that time, the Imperial Guards can take the opportunity to defeat the rebels, which would greatly reduce the casualties.”

“The Imperial Guards have always only obeyed the emperor. I will not hide it from you—the emperor wanted to open the city gates to welcome the rebels in today, and I have already apprehended him,” Xiao Qinya said.

Hearing this, Xiao Yu was stunned.

Good heavens, she even dared to arrest the emperor. Xiao Chengan wanted to welcome the rebels into the city? Wasn’t that a surefire way to court death?

They were born of the same father, so why were they so different? Xiao Chengze was ruthless, while this emperor was a fool.

Xiao Yu cleared her throat. “How can the court’s army serve only one person? What is the duty of a soldier?”

Xiao Qinya’s eyebrows furrowed, and a sudden realization dawned on her. That’s right, how could a hundred thousand elite soldiers be used for the benefit of only one person? The army of Boisheng should naturally be used to defend this nation and its people.

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