Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: "Rong~ Yin~~ Are you asleep?~~~~

The Imperial Study Room was pitch-black in the dead of night. Although two rings of guards surrounded it, the room itself was empty.

A figure slowly emerged from under a desk. He took out a faintly glowing Luminous Pearl and, after his eyes adjusted to the light, walked unerringly toward the hidden compartment containing the Jade Seal.

Holding his breath, he opened it cautiously.

The sight of the box containing the Jade Seal made his breath turn ragged.

He could feel its weight as he lifted it. Overjoyed, he didn’t dare to linger and quickly left with the box, following a pre-planned route.

On the rooftop, Xiao Cheng nudged a dozing Xiao Lan. "Don’t sleep! Time to get to work!"

A figure in a eunuch’s uniform scurried along a palace path, a food container in hand, his steps hurried.

A guard stopped him. "Which palace are you from? Why are you still out so late?"

The little eunuch produced a Token. "This servant is from Shuyun Palace. This is the Consort’s medicinal meal. The first one was spilled, so it had to be re-brewed. That’s why it’s so late."

The guard opened it, saw that it was indeed a medicinal meal, and let him pass.

The little eunuch carried the container away, his whole body tense and on alert. Fortunately, he reached his destination without any further trouble.

"Shuyun Palace?"

Xiao Yang yawned lazily. "What’s so special about Shuyun Palace?"

Xiao Lan replied, "Your Majesty, Shuyun Palace is the residence of Consort Hui. Princess Suiyi lives there as well."

The late Emperor had been in poor health and thus had few children—only two in total.

Besides him, there was also a princess born to Consort Hui.

The mother and daughter both had quiet dispositions and kept a low profile. They had so little presence in the Imperial Palace that they were completely overlooked.

So much so that Xiao Yang hadn’t even remembered he had a sister.

"What was Consort Hui’s family name again?"

Xiao Lan: "The Chenzhou Xie Family."

Xiao Yang thought for a moment. ’Although there are quite a few officials with the surname Xie in the court, they don’t form a particularly powerful bloc. It’s unclear which faction they’re aligned with, though.’

Xiao Cheng said anxiously, "Your Majesty, hurry up and send people to search!"

He had only just learned that the thief had stolen the Jade Seal. The Jade Seal!

Xiao Yang said, "What are you so worried about? It’s not the real one."

Xiao Cheng: "Huh? Ah!!"

Xiao Yang felt he was making a mountain out of a molehill. ’Since I knew someone would try to steal the Jade Seal and had them stake it out, how could I have let them steal the real one?’

He didn’t care about his own imperial throne, but he cared a great deal about who would get it in the future.

It was a matter of his life and the quality of it for the rest of his days. It couldn’t be taken lightly.

Not wanting to be Emperor and being forced to give up being Emperor because someone kills you were two different things. ’Even though I often think death would be fine, it doesn’t stop me from cherishing my life while I’m still living.’

Xiao Yang analyzed the factions at court. For now, they could be divided into five categories: the Empress Dowager Faction (temporarily quiet), the Regent King Faction (quasi-allies), the Prime Minister Faction (intentions unclear, but definitely not the good guys), the Late Emperor Faction mentioned by Bi Fang (questionable), and the Prince Jing Faction... (negligible on its own, but now considered his people). These were the obvious, visible powers.

However, the ones who truly harbored rebellious intentions wouldn’t be shouting it from the rooftops; they were hiding in the shadows.

And now, someone connected to an Imperial Concubine had appeared to steal the Jade Seal.

’A stolen Jade Seal is meant to be used. Surely they’re not just going to sell it for cash.’

There were only two ways to use the Jade Seal: for legitimate succession or to seize power by force. No one had ever heard of someone becoming Emperor just by stealing the seal.

’This means their faction must have someone with a suitable identity to become the Emperor.’

’Otherwise, without the right bloodline and status, the court officials would never recognize them, even with the Jade Seal in hand.’

Xiao Yang thought of the person who had strangled his predecessor—the one who had bypassed the Empress Dowager’s people to kill the original emperor without alerting anyone.

’I wonder if the people who stole the Jade Seal this time are connected to them.’

Hiss... ’No, I can’t keep thinking about this. My brain is starting to hurt!’

The relationships at court were a tangled mess, and he was a commander without an army. Trying to seize control was as hard as climbing to the heavens. Everyone was just maintaining a superficial peace, getting by one day at a time.

But he couldn’t just "get by." The Regent King and Grand Tutor Xu were forcing him to attend lessons, the court was pressuring him to marry and produce an heir, and a whole bunch of people were plotting to kill him.

Heh...

’So, I either grip the Imperial Power tightly, or... the only way out is death.’

’Everyone’s bullying me, everyone’s pushing me!’

’This is too much!!!’

Xiao Yang stewed in impotent rage, had a silent fit, and then, the gates of the Regent Prince Mansion were pounded upon once again in the dead of night.

"Rong~~~ Yin~~~~~! Are you asleep~~~~?"

"Rong~~~~ Yin~~~~~! I can’t sleep~~~~~~!"

The gatekeeper of the Regent Prince Mansion: "..."

’The Emperor, playing ghost in the middle of the night... I can’t believe I’m witnessing such a bizarre spectacle. I’m speechless!’

"Your Majesty..." The gatekeeper didn’t dare to keep the gate closed. He bowed and explained, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Prince has already retired for the night."

Xiao Yang, acting like an unreasonable tyrant, retorted, "I’m not asleep, so how can he be? Wake him up and have him go to sleep again."

The gatekeeper: "..."

The page on night duty ran frantically to Rong Yin’s chambers to inform the guard on duty. Rong Yin was quickly woken up.

Rong Yin, upon learning of the Little Emperor’s arrival: "..."

’This little menace!’

Not even waiting for Rong Yin to get dressed and come out, Xiao Yang found his room as if following a familiar path.

SLAM!

He kicked the door open with the force of a home invader.

Rong Yin calmly fastened his sash, then lifted his eyes to the furious Little Emperor at the door. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this late-night visit, Your Majesty?"

Xiao Yang dropped an earth-shattering bombshell: "The Jade Seal is gone."

Rong Yin’s expression instantly grew grave, but it relaxed a moment later. "Your Majesty is so clever. You must know who stole the Jade Seal?"

Xiao Yang crossed his arms. "I don’t. The person went into Consort Hui’s palace and disappeared. I didn’t think it was important, so I didn’t want to disturb her rest."

Rong Yin, whose rest had just been disturbed: "..."

"This Prince understands. I will immediately order people to investigate."

Rong Yin gave a slight lift of his hand. He gave no verbal command, but Xiao Yang saw someone depart, clearly to carry out the order.

’In the Imperial Palace, I, the Emperor, have my hands tied, yet he, the Regent King, moves about as if it were his own backyard. He has it all under control.’

"Does Your Majesty have any other business? Or perhaps you wish to play chess again?"

Xiao Yang had no desire for that kind of abuse. The last time, all the nonsense and cheating had utterly exhausted him.

’But since I’m already here, I have to stir up some trouble. Otherwise, sneaking out of the palace so late would have been for nothing.’

"The moonlight is lovely tonight. My dear minister, accompany me to admire it."

Rong Yin raised his hand. "Someone, prepare tea."

Tea was set up in the middle of the Regent Prince Mansion’s garden. Lanterns and incense were lit all around. As the two of them walked over, dark clouds obscured the moon.

...

Xiao Yang remarked with feeling, "Tonight’s moon... is a bit shy..."

Rong Yin agreed without batting an eye. "Your Majesty has a point."

Xiao Yang took a sip of tea and smacked his lips. "You didn’t poison this, did you?"

Rong Yin: "I did. It’s a gut-rotting poison."

Xiao Yang took another sip. "No wonder it tastes so good."

Hearing this, the corner of Rong Yin’s mouth twitched.