The Vicious Female Supporting Character and The Sadistic Heroine Got Together [Through the Book] - Chapter 52

Tang Yi froze at Tang Suan’s words. After a moment of silence, she lifted her head and smiled. “Are you just bullying the weak and kowtowing to the strong?”

Tang Suan met her gaze without a word.

“If you’re so capable, why not focus on how to get revenge on Li Changsheng?” Tang Yi pressed.

Tang Suan smiled faintly. “Patience. She’s next. Does that satisfy you?”

“You…” Tang Yi hadn’t expected Tang Suan to see through her true intentions so quickly.

But if Tang Suan was saying this, did it mean she already had a plan? The thought filled Tang Yi with sudden anticipation for what was to come.

Just then, someone who appeared to be one of Tang Suan’s subordinates approached and whispered something in her ear. After listening, Tang Suan glanced at Tang Yi and turned to leave.

Hongyu reported that Li Changsheng had used Emperor Li’s illness and the need to secure the Imperial Palace as excuses to surround the palace with his own forces. No one could enter the palace without Li Changsheng’s express orders.

So, Li Changsheng is finally making his move, Tang Suan thought.

Soon enough, Li Changsheng sent his own men to summon her.

Tang Suan stood in the courtyard, her subordinates behind her, Li Changsheng’s men flanking her. The leader addressed her, “For the Empress Regnant’s safety, we must temporarily confine you here.”

They called it protection, but everyone knew it was imprisonment.

“You…” Tang Suan’s subordinates instantly grew agitated, drawing their swords to confront them.

Tang Suan raised a hand to stop them.

Now wasn’t the time for a direct confrontation. Li Changsheng still needed her help, so she was temporarily safe.

As for Shen Chou, Tang Suan had long noticed Li Changsheng’s affection for her. He wouldn’t harm her either.

But she couldn’t help wondering how Shen Chou was faring.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Shen Chou paced anxiously back and forth in her chambers.

She rushed to the door and pounded on it, shouting at the guards outside, “Let me out now!”

Hearing her cries, the two guards exchanged glances. One of them said apologetically, “Crown Princess, these are the Crown Prince’s orders. Please don’t make this difficult for us.”

“What orders?” Shen Chou retorted angrily. “This is imprisonment! I’ll sue you for illegal confinement, you hear me?”

The guard didn’t understand Shen Chou’s words, but recognizing her as the Crown Princess, he replied respectfully, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince said the situation outside might become chaotic. He can’t guarantee your safety, so he’s ordered you to remain here. You’re not allowed to leave this place. Please rest assured, Your Highness. You’ll be released as soon as the situation is resolved.”

“This is nothing but imprisonment!” Shen Chou exclaimed.

The guard remained silent. Frustrated, Shen Chou reluctantly took a seat, stewing in her anger.

She hadn’t expected things to escalate so quickly. Tang Suan had barely returned when Li Changsheng imprisoned Emperor Li, preparing to force his abdication.

Does this mean my mission is almost complete?

“Yes,” Yao Manman suddenly appeared beside her, answering her unspoken thought.

Shen Chou jumped in surprise, then relaxed when she saw it was Yao Manman.

“You nearly scared me to death,” she said, her voice tinged with resentment.

Yao Manman glanced at her and sat down. “You’re right,” she said. “It’s almost over. Once Li Changsheng becomes Emperor and Tang Suan annexes the Li Dynasty, your mission will be complete.”

“Is that so?” Shen Chou asked, her voice tinged with disappointment rather than the expected joy upon learning her mission was nearing completion.

Noticing her mood, Yao Manman asked, “You’re not thinking of staying here with her, are you? Don’t forget, this is just a fictional world.”

“I can’t,” Shen Chou murmured, her head bowed.

Yao Manman, who had been desperately striving to return to reality, found Shen Chou’s words utterly absurd.

She immediately stood up, even tugging at her hair in frustration. “Have you lost your mind?” she demanded, her voice incredulous. “This is a fictional world! You’re supposed to go back to reality. I’ve told you this before, haven’t I?”

“Yes,” Shen Chou replied, lifting her head to meet Yao Manman’s gaze with unwavering sincerity. “But you also said I could choose, even travel back and forth between reality and this world.”

Yao Manman fell silent, her next words shattering Shen Chou’s illusions.

“I checked with the Main System,” she said. “To maintain order, you can only choose one. That means you either return to the real world or stay here permanently.”

“Then can I bring A-Suan back to the real world with me?” Shen Chou asked.

Yao Manman shook her head. “Do you think she’d come with you?”

“I’m not sure.”

Both women understood that when Yao Manman said this, it meant even she wasn’t certain whether Tang Suan would give up everything she had here for her.

In truth, there was no need to test the waters. The answer was already clear. If they were in Tang Suan’s shoes, neither of them would abandon their current lives to follow a lover to a world they’d never known—a world utterly foreign to them.

That’s what they thought, but someone else felt differently. The world offered countless choices, and even if the vast majority chose one path, there would always be a few who dared to take the road less traveled.

That person was Tang Zhuxin.

Yao Manman, using Shen Chou’s body to meet Tang Suan, pretended to be inquiring about Tang Suan’s future plans. In reality, she wanted one last glimpse of Tang Zhuxin before leaving.

The Main System had informed her that the mission was nearly complete. She could choose to depart immediately or wait until everything had settled.

Yao Manman, who had always yearned to leave, decisively chose to depart now.

She had just told Shen Chou about her decision. Perhaps realizing that further discussion would be pointless, Shen Chou simply wished her well, hoping for her happiness and success in the real world.

Yao Manman accepted Shen Chou’s blessings and gave her a warm hug.

As she approached Tang Suan’s residence, Yao Manman hesitated again.

She stood outside the door, conflicted for a long time. Originally, she hadn’t planned to say goodbye to Tang Zhuxin, feeling deeply indebted to her and burdened by guilt and self-reproach. She felt unworthy to face Tang Zhuxin.

Finally, Yao Manman steeled her resolve and stepped inside.

The moment she entered, she saw Tang Suan sitting at the table, pouring tea. Hearing the sound, he looked up at her.

Yao Manman jumped in fright, nearly screaming. But she reminded herself that this was Tang Suan, not Tang Zhuxin, so there was nothing to fear.

However, she never expected that the person who appeared before her this time was Tang Zhuxin.

Tang Zhuxin stared at her, her eyes icy. “What do you want?”

“I…” Yao Manman stammered, too nervous to speak.

Mistaking Tang Zhuxin for Tang Suan, she mimicked Shen Chou’s tone: “I was worried about you, so I came to check on you.”

Tang Zhuxin, unaware the words were meant for Tang Suan, instinctively lowered her head and replied, “What’s there to see?”

Yao Manman gazed at Tang Suan’s face—identical to Tang Zhuxin’s—and whispered, “Because I’m leaving soon.”

“What did you say?” In an instant, Tang Zhuxin’s figure blurred, and she stood before Yao Manman, her fingers clamped tightly around Yao Manman’s throat.

Yao Manman gasped for air, her eyes rolling back repeatedly. Staring at Tang Zhuxin’s furious expression, she couldn’t help but chuckle. “You still love choking people, huh?”

The moment the words left her lips, Tang Zhuxin released her grip.

Watching Yao Manman catch her breath, Tang Zhuxin asked, “Where are you going?”

Yao Manman smiled. “Back to where I belong, of course. I told you before—the moment my mission is complete, I’m returning to my own world.”

“Your world? You mean that ‘real world’ you told me about?” Tang Zhuxin asked.

Yao Manman hadn’t expected Tang Zhuxin to remember. She nodded. “Yes, of course. Where else would I go?”

After receiving Yao Manman’s answer, Tang Zhuxin asked, “Can I go with you?”

Yao Manman stared at her in disbelief. “What… what did you just say?”

“I said, I want to go to your world with you. Is that possible?” Tang Zhuxin repeated.

“But… yes, it’s possible.”

In the Empress’s chambers, Li Changsheng was discussing their next move with her.

“You are the Emperor’s appointed Crown Prince,” the Empress said to Li Changsheng. “Even with the turmoil in the palace the other day, if the Emperor were to pass away now and you were to ascend the Throne, no one would dare question it.”

“Then what does Mother suggest?” Li Changsheng asked.

“The Emperor passes away, and he bequeaths the Throne to you,” the Empress replied.

Li Changsheng exchanged a knowing smile with her. “As you say, Mother. That is precisely what I had in mind as well.”

Soon after, Emperor Li succumbed to a sudden illness, passing away despite all medical efforts. On his deathbed, he publicly declared Li Changsheng as his successor, reading out the imperial edict of succession before the assembled court.

Though many harbored reservations, none dared voice their dissent. Overwhelmed by the Emperor’s authority, they swallowed their resentment.

Upon ascending the Throne, Li Changsheng immediately named Shen Chou as Empress. He then held a grand imperial selection, filling the Imperial Palace with countless beauties.

As for Tang Yi, Li Changsheng repeatedly sent envoys to demand her return, but Tang Suan steadfastly refused. Both Tang Suan and Tang Yi understood that returning would mean certain death; Li Changsheng would never let her live.

Tang Suan gazed at Tang Yi and remarked, “I thought you loved him so deeply? Yet you fear him so much.”

Tang Yi scoffed, “Aren’t you the same? Li Changsheng once promised to make you Empress after ascending the Throne. But the moment you were demoted, he turned around and married Shen Chou, now crowning her Empress.”

“Still, if you agree to cooperate with me, we might find a way to pull Li Changsheng down from that seat.”

“What’s the plan?” Tang Suan asked.

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