The Fearless Empress - Chapter 22.1

The long night had passed its midpoint, and a biting cold wind swept through the air. Two groups of guards stood facing each other at the entrance of the hall, neither willing to yield an inch.

The Empress Dowager stared at the tall, graceful woman standing inside the hall. Her voluminous dark hair was styled into a cloud-like bun, and the corners of her eyes and brows carried a wintry chill. Standing there alone, she exuded such an imposing aura that the Empress Dowager found herself unable to speak.

Cheng Sangyi had grown into a cold, ruthless empress, completely overshadowing her.

Like the new moon rising slowly into the night sky, Cheng Sangyi outshone the brightest pearls, rendering them dull.

The Empress Dowager had no choice but to face this daughter whose wings had hardened, nearly losing her composure. She slowly sat down and said indifferently, “If Your Majesty wishes to leave, then leave. I have only been thinking of your well-being, yet you assume I have ulterior motives. It seems that now that you are the emperor, you no longer see me as your mother.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Sangyi’s eyelids twitched. She had grown weary of such words in her previous life. Every time a conflict arose, the Empress Dowager would “earnestly” advise her, speaking of mother-daughter affection and expressing her concern as a mother.

But in the end, that concern had turned into a cup of poisoned wine.

Cheng Sangyi lowered her head, her long lashes concealing the disgust in her eyes. She let out a light laugh. “Is that so? Your concern truly overwhelms me with gratitude. In that case, allow me to return. I am no coward, nor am I driven by greed. Ah, I almost forgot, the Prince of Guangling is now useless. You will never live to see a grandson in this lifetime.”

“You!” The Empress Dowager was enraged but found herself at a loss for words.

Cheng Sangyi held the snow-white fox in her arms, her smile tinged with coldness. She was as stunning as a plum blossom in the snow, as aloof as the moon veiled by clouds.

She resembled a goddess from an ancient painting ethereal and untouchable, a figure to be admired from afar but never approached.

“The hour is late, and I shall not delay you any further,” she said. “You should understand that the Prince of Guangling will never have an heir in this lifetime. If you anger me for the sake of that worthless man.” She paused abruptly. “You will regret it. I can ensure he never has children, and I can also make him disappear from your life without a trace.”

“Was it you?”

In that instant, the Empress Dowager held her breath. The hatred in her eyes could no longer be concealed, as if she wished she could tear Cheng Sangyi apart.

It was the first confrontation between mother and daughter, and neither was willing to back down. Cheng Sangyi smiled faintly, her gaze dropping to the white fox in her arms. “Your fur is so soft to the touch,” she murmured.

The little fox: “…”

Cheng Sangyi hugged the fox tightly, turned, and stepped over the threshold. Behind her, the Empress Dowager burst into tears. “Cheng Sangyi, you will pay for this!”

This time, Cheng Sangyi couldn’t even be bothered to offer a perfunctory reply. Clutching the fox, she strode out of the courtyard. The guards, without orders from the Empress Dowager, dared not move.

After hastily leaving the Empress Dowager’s chambers, Cheng Sangyi mounted her carriage, still holding the little fox in one hand.

As she settled onto the carriage seat, the mischievous fox leaped down and dashed away. “After it!” she commanded urgently.

The night was pitch black, and the white fox vanished into the darkness almost instantly. There was no way to pursue it, let alone determine which direction it had gone.

The wind stung her eyes, and the sky was overcast with thick, low-hanging clouds. A desolate chill carried a biting edge.

With threats lurking behind her, Cheng Sangyi recalled the guards sent to pursue the fox. The empress was still unconscious with a high fever, and she had no time to search for a fox.

Cheng Sangyi returned to the encampment with her retinue.

Surprisingly, the empress’s fever had broken, though she remained unconscious. Lying beneath thick brocade quilts, her face was deathly pale.

Cheng Sangyi, exhausted both physically and mentally, sat down beside her. Despite her fatigue, she dared not rest. She lifted the brocade quilt to examine the wound.

The bleeding had stopped, but the injury remained gruesome and frightening, a sight that pained her deeply.

She recalled the Heart-Protecting Pill prepared by the imperial physician and sent a palace attendant to fetch it. Meanwhile, she poured a cup of hot water, gently blowing on it until it was cool enough to drink before returning to the bedside.

Cheng Sangyi placed the Heart-Protecting Pill into Gu Yunchu’s mouth and attempted to pinch her nose to make her swallow. When Gu Yunchu failed to swallow, Cheng Sangyi frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, then leaned down and pressed her lips against the corner of Gu Yunchu’s mouth.

Using her tongue, she gently pushed the pill forward.

Gu Yunchu’s throat moved as she swallowed the pill.

Sweat drenched Cheng Sangyi’s forehead. She wiped it away and cast a sidelong glance at the injured woman. “You’re not a child, yet you have such audacity. Once you recover, you’ll kneel for a full day and night, you reckless little fool.”

Even after administering the pill, Cheng Sangyi dared not sleep. She diligently changed the compresses and took care to cleanse Gu Yunchu’s body.

She busied herself until dawn, but Gu Yunchu showed no signs of waking. All the accompanying imperial physicians had been assigned to the Empress Dowager.

Seeing that Gu Yunchu remained unconscious, Cheng Sangyi discreetly sent for a physician, instructing him to disguise himself before entering.

Cheng Sangyi waited with forced patience, her heart restless and uneasy.

Before the physician returned, the guards investigating the assassins came back.

“The Empress Dowager is being strict and refuses to let us approach. We investigated and found that the old Taoist priest and his disciples are all dead. Strangely, there were no other casualties. If the target was the Empress Dowager, it doesn’t add up. It seems more like they were targeting the old Taoist priest.”

“Moreover, the Empress Dowager adamantly refuses to let us examine the bodies, insisting they were assassins. She even wants to search the camp.”

Cheng Sangyi’s striking features, illuminated by the flickering light in the tent, took on an unprecedented cold severity.

“The Empress Dowager is deliberately trying to escalate the situation.”

What should have been a minor incident involving the killing of a Taoist priest was now being twisted to implicate her. The implication was clear: as soon as the Emperor and Empress arrived, the Empress Dowager faced an assassination attempt. How would the people perceive the Emperor and Empress?

Such treacherous ambition.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Sangyi felt momentarily dazed but quickly dismissed unnecessary emotions. “Continue the investigation. Also, has the Empress Dowager provided any leads on the assassins?”

“No. She shows no urgency in pursuing the assassins but insists on searching the camp, claiming the assassin must be injured and hiding among us.”

Cheng Sangyi laughed coldly.

The so-called hunt for the assassin was merely a pretext; her true intention was to test the waters. The identity of the assassin no longer mattered, what mattered was the false accusation.

If they were allowed to search the camp and found any guard injured, wouldn’t that make them the ‘assassin’? Once the charge was levied, the Emperor would be accused of matricide. The censors and officials would drown her in a flood of condemnation.

A sharp glint flashed in Cheng Sangyi’s eyes. “Do not allow them to enter the camp. Anyone who disobeys my decree will be executed without mercy. Additionally, we depart for the capital this afternoon. Let the Empress Dowager travel with the Prince of Guangling. If she refuses, the Prince of Guangling need never return to the capital again.”

On the surface, she was the Emperor, holding imperial authority, while the Prince of Guangling was merely a feudal lord.

The guards withdrew.

Cheng Sangyi’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and her heart gradually calmed.

A soft moan came from the bed. Cheng Sangyi immediately rose and hurried over.

The Empress had awakened, her clear eyes fixed on the ceiling, unusually bright and alert.

Cheng Sangyi paused, a smile unconsciously curving her lips. The little empress on the bed met her gaze, a grin playing on her own lips, carrying a sincerity rarely seen in ordinary people.

Perhaps the Heart-Protecting Elixir had taken effect, as the empress’s high fever had subsided.

“You’re quite bold. Even if you were going, you should have taken more people with you,” Cheng Sangyi feigned sternness.

The empress blinked, her gaze lingering on Cheng Sangyi’s face. “If you’re happy, just be happy. Don’t pretend, I know you’re pleased.”

Emperors were masters of disguise, and Cheng Sangyi was no exception. She never let her emotions show, keeping joy and anger hidden beneath the surface.

But faced with that pale face, Cheng Sangyi couldn’t bring herself to remain harsh. She stepped forward and touched the empress’s forehead, saying, “I never knew the daughter of Marquis Gu was this formidable.”

Unexpectedly praised, the empress couldn’t contain her delight and burst into laughter. “Of course! There are many ways I’m impressive. By the way, have you investigated those soldiers?”

At the mention of this, the smile faded from Cheng Sangyi’s face. “We mustn’t alert the enemy.”

“I have an idea. How about I take you to see for yourself?” the empress suggested, unable to suppress her excitement.

“We’re leaving this afternoon,” Cheng Sangyi withdrew her hand, smoothing her sleeve with a soft sigh. “There’s no rush. This trip is to bring the Empress Dowager back. We can discuss other matters upon returning to the capital.”

The empress frowned slightly but didn’t press further. Instead, she said, “You should bring Rong Han back.”

Cheng Sangyi’s eyelids trembled faintly, and her hand, which had been adjusting her sleeve, stilled. She turned to gaze intently at the empress. “Are you jealous?”

“Jealous?” The empress was taken aback, puzzled as she looked at the female emperor. Beneath her wide sleeves, her wrists were as pale as jade, her fingers bony as they lightly pressed against the fabric.

With a quick glance, she noticed Cheng Sangyi’s tension. “Do you really like her?”

“Who told you I like her?” Cheng Sangyi asked calmly, her eyes fixed on the empress. It had been so long since anyone dared mention Rong Han’s name in her presence, only Gu Yunchu had the audacity.

“The Noble Consort said so. Don’t you know they talk about Rong Han every day? They say she’s the love of your heart, that among all these women, you only think of her. Is it true?” The empress pressed on eagerly, her wounds seemingly forgotten.

To destroy a white moonlight, one must place that white moonlight right before her eyes.

That was the most straightforward method!

“I do not love her!” Cheng Sangyi’s eyes turned cold as she sat on the edge of the bed, her back straight, her gaze drifting into emptiness as she answered Gu Yunchu seriously.

The empress let out a derisive laugh. “I suppose not. With a temperament like yours, could you even love anyone?”

Cold-hearted and devoid of sentiment, she seemed born for the throne, incapable of understanding emotions.

Struck where it hurt, Cheng Sangyi turned back to look at her. “Does your wound not hurt anymore?”

“It did hurt, but seeing you made it stop.”

Cheng Sangyi: “…”

Cheng Sangyi lifted the brocade quilt and gently poked the wound with her jade-like hand. “Does it hurt now?”

“It hurts.” The empress’s expression changed instantly. “You, how could you poke my wound? Have you no shame?”

“When I’m with the empress, I can afford to lose face,” Cheng Sangyi replied with a mischievous smirk, then reached out toward the empress’s collar.

“What are you doing?” The little empress was stunned, watching as the other woman opened her collar, revealing a patch of snow-white skin beneath her clothes.

Halfway through, Cheng Sangyi paused. For some reason, while the person involved showed no embarrassment, she was the first to blush.

Her attempt to tease the injured empress had backfired, leaving her flushed and ears burning with heat.

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