Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: He Just Knew This Little Emperor Holds a Grudge

Just as Rong Yin had said, Li Wei arrived with his troops in less than half an hour.

Rong Yin was scolding the attendants serving Xiao Yang. His face was dark, and the grim, heavy pressure he exuded was terrifying. "Her Majesty might not know any better, but do you all not know any better either? You didn’t leave anyone on watch, not even a single person to look after her. If something happens to Her Majesty, how many lives do you have to be beheaded?"

Bi Fang and the others were disheveled and covered in grime. Some were even injured. They prostrated on the ground under the force of his reprimand, not daring to utter a single word in their own defense.

Beside them, Xiao Yang held a cup, a mouthful of water stuck in her throat for what felt like an eternity.

’Even though he’s yelling at them, it feels like I’m the one being lectured.’

"I have arrived late to rescue you, Your Majesty. Please grant me punishment."

Li Wei’s voice at that moment was like a sound from the heavens.

Xiao Yang quickly put down her teacup, hastily got up, and pulled him outside. "Come on. I have something very important to tell you."

Finally free from that strange atmosphere, Xiao Yang let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Li Wei also let out a heavy sigh of relief. "It is good that Your Majesty is unharmed."

"Next time Your Majesty wishes to go hunting, you can inform me or the Military Department first. We can have someone clear the forest beforehand to ensure there are no hidden assassins, so you can enjoy yourself to the fullest."

Xiao Yang rubbed the bridge of her nose, feeling a little helpless.

’I told you I couldn’t be the Emperor.’

’I’m just an ordinary person. With a few friends, where couldn’t I go in this vast and beautiful country? In an unfamiliar place, two guides and three or five bodyguards would be more than enough.’

This time, she had brought a grand entourage of over a hundred people. In her opinion, that was enough to send off to fight a war.

But they still thought it wasn’t enough, and still gave assassins the opportunity to nearly kill her twice.

’Back when I accidentally wandered into a warzone, the mercenaries who escorted me across the battlefield numbered only ten.’

’Now they think over a hundred people is too few.’

’I am the Emperor...’

「After daybreak, the procession began its return journey.」

They had arrived on horseback, a grand and cheerful procession.

On the way back, the mood was somber, and the entire journey was silent.

The procession arrived unimpeded before the Imperial Palace. Xiao Yang disembarked from her carriage to transfer to a sedan chair.

She didn’t get on it right away. Instead, she stood beneath the palace walls and looked up. The walls were towering, over thirty feet high. Standing below, a person seemed as tiny as an ant.

The heavy palace walls, the layers of palace gates.

This wasn’t the Emperor’s home, but the center of all Imperial Power in the world—a place everyone wanted to live in.

"Your Majesty, what is it?"

Li Wei walked over.

Xiao Yang muttered, asking him, "Li Wei, if I go in, can I ever come out again?"

Li Wei immediately replied, "Of course Your Majesty can come out. You will just need to bring more people. I and the others will guard Your Majesty’s side."

’How suffocating!’

「The Emperor returned to the palace.」

There were no concubines, so she didn’t get to enjoy the scene from TV dramas where various consorts would crowd around, fawning over her and asking about her well-being.

Only Nanny Yang came forward with a bowl of calming soup.

Han Yang came before Xiao Yang once again to take her pulse and check her health.

Xiao Yang was taken aback for a moment when she saw him and asked, "Doctor Han, what reward would you like?"

Han Yang’s heart skipped a beat. ’Good heavens, has the Emperor finally remembered to reward me?’

Then his heart leaped into his throat. ’Are you sure it’s a real reward?’

"Serving Your Majesty is my duty. I dare not ask for a reward."

’It’s better to be cautious. I just hope the Emperor isn’t planning to settle old scores.’

Xiao Yang was, in fact, planning to settle old scores.

Han Yang had technically saved her life, but she had been trying to die at the time.

Besides, she had finally found a way to alleviate the pain, but he had pulled out the needles to get his master out of a bind, forcing her to endure another half-day of torment worse than death.

’No, the more I think about it, the more wrong it feels. I shouldn’t reward him. I should get my revenge on him.’

Han Yang felt the pulse beneath his fingers throb angrily a few times. As expected, he sensed the Emperor’s gaze change, and he instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

’Oh, heavens! I knew this Little Emperor holds a grudge.’

He didn’t dare to ask, didn’t dare to bring it up. Trembling with fear, he finished taking her pulse.

"Your Majesty’s health is sound. A bowl of calming soup will be sufficient."

"I shall take my leave."

Han Yang forced himself through the procedure and left Zichen Palace. Once outside, he found he was drenched in a cold sweat.

’It’s a good thing for the Emperor to remember you, but for the Emperor to hold a grudge against you... that’s terrifying.’

-----

After returning to the palace, the Emperor stayed in Zichen Palace. She barely touched her food. It wasn’t until evening that she went to the Imperial Study Room, staying inside by herself.

Sun Yi brought in the calming soup and saw the Emperor sitting at the dragon throne’s desk, staring blankly at the object before her. She didn’t even notice him come in.

"Your Maj—"

He had just started to call out when he got a clear look at the object in front of the Emperor. His pupils contracted in shock, and he nearly dropped the soup in his hands.

It was a piece of jade. The base was a perfect square with characters carved on its four sides. On top was a coiled dragon, its head facing forward with wide, furious eyes, exuding an aura of intimidation.

Even someone who had never seen it before could accurately state its name the moment they laid eyes on it.

The Imperial Jade Seal!

The symbol of supreme Imperial Power that everyone in the world coveted.

Sun Yi used all his strength to tear his gaze away from the Jade Seal. He lowered his head and presented the calming soup.

"Your Majesty, please have your calming soup."

His hoarse voice was strained and unnatural.

Xiao Yang was preoccupied with her troubles and didn’t have the mind to look at him. "Just put it there."

Sun Yi set the soup down and took two steps back to wait.

Xiao Yang glanced at him, then went back to staring at the Jade Seal before her.

’What’s that saying again? Don’t ask people if they want it, just give it to them.’

’I think I was too subtle before.’

’If I just ask if he wants it, of course he won’t dare to say yes.’

’I finally managed to say I would pass the throne to Xiao Lv, but then I ended up surviving.’

’So this time, I’m not asking. I’m just giving it to him.’

Xiao Lv was summoned by Xiao Yang. "Your Majesty."

The Little Emperor beckoned to him mysteriously. "Come here, come here."

Xiao Lv walked over. Xiao Yang subconsciously reached out to pull him closer, but then she remembered his arm was injured.

"How’s your injury?"

Xiao Lv: "It’s a flesh wound. Nothing serious."

Xiao Yang took another look, then had him come over to see a map—a map of the Capital City.

Xiao Yang pointed to a residence. "I like this one."

Xiao Lv: "???"

"Does Your Majesty want to go out and play again?"

Xiao Yang: "Correction. It’s not that I want to go out and play, I just want to go out."

Xiao Yang directly took out the Jade Seal and shoved it into his arms. "First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll announce my abdication and pass the throne to you. You’ll name me the Leisurely King, and this will be my mansion. It’s close to the Prince Jing Mansion, so it’ll be convenient for me to go visit my great-uncle."

"Remember to grant me plenty of money and servants, and preferably some manors and shops, too."

Xiao Lv was speechless. "Your Majesty, do you think I’m some kind of wish-granting turtle in a pond?"

He picked up the Jade Seal and glanced at it. ’Yep, I see it. Don’t want it.’

Then he gently patted Xiao Yang’s head. "The matter of the throne is not a child’s game. If Your Majesty wishes to abdicate to me, the entire court, both civil and military officials, will not agree. The assassination attempt happened because I was not fully prepared. It will not happen again. If Your Majesty is feeling uneasy, please drink another bowl or two of calming soup."

In short, he was telling her: ’Just go to bed.’

Xiao Yang was absolutely fuming. ’Can’t he understand plain language?’