Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: That Expression of Yours Is Dangerous, Prince

In the Regent Prince Mansion, Feng Xian was exasperated, frustrated, and felt utterly helpless after hearing the rumors swirling outside.

"Your Highness, aren’t you going to explain? If this continues to spread, your reputation will be completely ruined."

Rong Yin was just as helpless. "How do I even begin to explain?"

’Go around telling everyone that the Emperor and I have a platonic relationship?’

’That may be the truth, but who would believe it?’

’The Emperor personally announced that he likes men, and he personally named me his consort.’

’The lie has become the truth. It’s impossible to defend myself; the more I try to explain, the guiltier I’ll look.’

Feng Xian, of course, knew it wasn’t that simple. "But we can’t just let this continue, can we? This move by the Little Emperor is too vicious. It’s a Pyrrhic victory—what does he even hope to gain?"

Rong Yin chuckled softly at his words. "She was backed into a corner, so she made a desperate move."

Feng Xian saw the faint, indulgent smile on his face and then noticed the barely visible bite mark on his jaw—a mark left by the Little Emperor.

He hesitated, wanting to speak but holding his tongue, then wanting to speak again.

’That’s a dangerous expression, Your Highness.’

"I just received a letter. Miss Xie is on her way. Both the Xie family and the Prince Manor hope Your Highness will be wed by next year."

Miss Xie, Xie Liuzheng, was Rong Yin’s fiancée. Two years ago, when the families first raised the topic of marriage, Rong Yin paid it no mind, but it was the Xie family who ultimately rejected the proposal first.

That year, Rong Yin and the Empress Dowager were locked in a fierce struggle, and he seemed to be losing ground.

The Xie family did not want to be drawn into the conflict and at one point even considered calling off the engagement.

Now that the Empress Dowager’s power was waning, they must think Rong Yin has a greater chance of ascending the throne, so here they are, trying to lend their support.

Although Feng Xian found the Xie family’s actions rather distasteful, she was, at the very least, a proper fiancée—a cultured and well-bred young lady. This marriage had to happen.

"Your Highness has indeed reached the age for marriage. At a critical time like this, Miss Xie’s arrival is quite timely. As long as you are wed, you can surely put these rumors to rest and clear your name."

In contrast to Feng Xian’s optimism, Rong Yin showed no hint of joy. His gaze only grew colder.

"I was expelled from the Rong Family long ago. It was Emperor Taizhong who brought me to the Capital to be raised and educated. It was my elder brother who watched over me as I grew up. I recognize only my Imperial Family bloodline. The bonds of kinship with the Rong Family were severed long ago. Naturally, an engagement arranged by the Rong and Xie families has nothing to do with me."

Rong Yin was the second legitimate son of Prince Kang, but the circumstances of his birth became a source of lifelong pain.

After giving birth to his older brother, his mother’s health was damaged, rendering her unable to conceive again. Yet, when his brother was five, Prince Kang took two concubines, one of whom was especially favored and elevated to the status of a high-ranking concubine.

The Princess Consort, seeing she could not compete with the newcomer, tried to win back her husband’s affection by getting pregnant again. Thus, Rong Yin was conceived.

The Princess Consort was in poor health, and the pregnancy nearly killed her. Just as she was about to give birth, she was secretly poisoned by that concubine, resulting in the death of both mother and child.

Rong Yin should have died with his mother. However, the Princess Consort’s trusted attendant saw movement in her belly and, at the risk of being beaten to death, cut open the princess’s abdomen and pulled the child from her corpse.

Rong Yin survived, but because he had been pulled from a dead woman’s womb, everyone in the Rong Family considered him a bad omen.

Prince Kang paid him no mind, simply giving him a remote courtyard and allowing the attendant who had cut him out to raise him there.

Later, Prince Kang elevated his favorite concubine to the status of primary wife. When she became pregnant two years later but unfortunately miscarried, a fortune teller claimed it was because Rong Yin had stolen the fate of his stepmother’s child, which was why her baby could not be saved.

To ensure the stepmother could bear a child, Rong Yin was struck from the family registry. At that time, his name was Rong Shang.

After being disowned, Rong Yin lived a life worse than that of the Rong Family’s servants. This continued until he was seven, when Emperor Taizhong passed through Yanqiu City. The Emperor decided to stay with the Rong Family to pay respects to his late aunt and happened upon a child in a courtyard, diligently practicing his calligraphy.

When Emperor Taizhong learned of his origins, he showed no disdain. Instead, he summoned the boy and asked him a few simple questions about his life over the years. It was not a profound conversation.

At the time, Rong Yin was not one for conversation and didn’t know what to say. His life had been so wretched that there was nothing worth mentioning.

But Emperor Taizhong declared him to be very bright. When the Emperor left, he took the boy with him and bestowed upon him the name Yin.

From then on, Rong Yin was raised in the Imperial Palace, taught by Emperor Taizhong and cared for by his older cousin. To this day, he has never returned to Yan Hill. In fact, it was only after he became the Regent King that the Rong Family began sending letters, apparently hoping to mend their relationship, but he never once paid them any heed.

As for the engagement between the Rong and Xie families, it was originally arranged for Rong Yin’s older brother and the eldest Miss Xie. However, his brother died at sixteen after falling from a horse and breaking his neck. The eldest Miss Xie married someone else the following year.

Later, seeing how deeply favored Rong Yin was by the Emperor, the engagement was conveniently transferred to him.

But he had never agreed to this marriage, nor had Emperor Taizhong ever given his approval. Therefore, he would not acknowledge it.

Feng Xian had only been with him for five years and did not know much about his past.

Rong Yin did not wish to recount his painful history to others, but he also didn’t want Feng Xian to bring it up again. He said only, "Do not mention this marriage again. Even if she arrives, pay her no mind."

’His issues with the Rong Family had nothing to do with the Xie family, but he didn’t know this Miss Xie and certainly wouldn’t marry a stranger just to quell a rumor.’

-----

"Ahem! Your Majesty, this is Xu Wen. He is my second-in-command and a family retainer. His skills are no less than my own. From now on, he will be Your Majesty’s sparring partner."

Xiao Yang looked at the ramrod-straight Xu Wen, whose eyes were fixed forward, then at Li Wei, who for once was avoiding her gaze and looked thoroughly uncomfortable. She raised an eyebrow. "What wild thoughts are running through your head?"

Li Wei was not letting his imagination run wild. He motioned for Xu Wen to step aside before looking directly at Xiao Yang. "The rumors outside cannot be stopped. I do not wish for people to misunderstand Your Majesty."

"Is it me they’ll misunderstand, or you?"

Just as Li Wei was about to explain, Xiao Yang waved a dismissive hand. "You can go. I never needed such a skilled sparring partner anyway."

"You cursed me out the other day, and I ruined your reputation in return. I’d say that makes us even. As for everything else... others may not know the truth, but you do, don’t you?"

’It’s not like she’d actually slept with Li Wei. They hadn’t even held hands, for crying out loud.’

Li Wei stared at Xiao Yang for a long moment, hesitating, but he couldn’t stop himself from trying to reason with her. "Your Majesty, even if you don’t wish to choose consorts for now, why must you ruin your own reputation like this?"

’Most importantly, how was he supposed to face his King after this?’

’His Majesty was exquisitely handsome, almost androgynous, and stunning to behold. And now he knew His Majesty liked men.’

’Even knowing it was a lie, he found it impossible to remain indifferent.’

’He was certain he’d never had any strange thoughts about another man, but His Majesty’s face was simply too deceptive.’

’However, he was certain His Majesty was only spouting nonsense to avoid the court forcing him to choose consorts. He firmly believed this.’

However, Xiao Yang gave him no opportunity for self-deception, grinning like a little devil. "Who says I’m only doing this to ruin my reputation? Is it not possible that I genuinely like men?"

Li Wei: "..."