Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Can’t She Just Enjoy the Drama?

Xiao Yang waited at her seat for quite a while, downing several cups of wine, before she finally saw Xie Liuzheng walking back from the gardens with someone.

She felt a small thrill of excitement and was just about to test the waters with Xie Liuzheng when, without any warning, Xie Liuzheng collided with someone.

"Oh!"

A woman in white was sent stumbling, her head even knocking against a pillar. The scene instantly erupted into chaos.

"Miss Xie bumped into Miss Song! She’s bleeding!"

"Quick, get the Imperial Physician! The Imperial Physician!"

"Prime Minister Song is coming over. Miss Xie is done for."

"Miss Xie didn’t do it on purpose, it was an accident..."

Amid the clamor of the crowd, Xiao Yang had to frown in concentration to make out Xie Liuzheng’s trembling voice: "Oh, for crying out loud... is the power of the plot really this strong? Does it have to force me into a confrontation with the female lead?"

’Female lead?’

Xiao Yang looked at Song Qingyi, who was being helped to her feet. With a figure like that, there was no way she could be a man.

"Don’t you watch where you’re going? Look at what you’ve done to Qingyi!"

The young man supporting Song Qingyi had a heartbroken expression, yet after helping her up, he didn’t take her to an Imperial Physician. Instead, he berated Xie Liuzheng as if she had committed some heinous crime.

Xie Liuzheng apologized politely, "I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose. I just didn’t see you, and we happened to collide."

After all, the other party was the one who was injured, so Xie Liuzheng apologized. However, the young man didn’t back down, his eyes filled with hostility. "This matter won’t end here today."

"Then what more do you want?" Xie Liuzheng was exasperated. ’A disaster out of nowhere, and I still have to deal with this moron.’

She fumed internally, ’Simp, simp, simping gets you nothing in the end.’

System: "Host, stop fooling around. The second male lead is furious right now. Go find the Empress Dowager. As long as you have her backing, they won’t dare to bully you."

Xie Liuzheng took the advice. While everyone was focused on Song Qingyi, she started to move toward the Empress Dowager.

"Ah!! Wait! Consort Hui?"

The system suddenly shrieked, "Host, we have a huge problem!!"

Xie Liuzheng: "What is it?"

System: "The Empress Dowager is still just Consort Hui right now! We transmigrated too early! The male lead hasn’t seized the throne yet."

Xie Liuzheng: "Then how are we supposed to complete our mission?"

System: "That’s not an issue. The one you need to win over is the villain. As long as the great villain Rong Yin’s affection for you reaches the target level, the mission can be considered complete. The rest of the plot has nothing to do with you."

Xie Liuzheng: "That’s good, then."

The system added smugly, "The male lead hasn’t taken the throne, and the great villain hasn’t become twisted and gone dark yet. This makes him easier to win over. Even the heavens are helping you."

Xiao Yang listened to all of this, lost in thought.

Indeed. ’How could I possibly be the male lead?’

’Consort Hui is the future Empress Dowager, and her son is the male lead. But right now, she only has a daughter.’

A guess had already formed in Xiao Yang’s mind. She really wanted to learn the entire plot of this world from Xie Liuzheng, and even more, she wanted to know how to escape this book.

’Can’t be hasty, can’t be hasty!’

’Hope is just ahead,’ Xiao Yang told herself.

However, when she turned her head, she found several people standing behind her: Rong Yin, Li Wei, and Xiao Lv were all there.

Rong Yin frowned. "Is Your Majesty very concerned about Miss Xie?"

Rong Yin glanced over again, adding uncertainly, "Or is it Miss Song?"

Xiao Yang: "?"

’Can’t I just enjoy the drama in peace?’

Xiao Yang belatedly realized that as the Emperor, she couldn’t just wander around. Everyone’s attention was on her.

She returned to her seat. Xie Liuzheng had also sat down beside Consort Hui. The Empress Dowager had sent for an Imperial Physician to take a look and had also dispatched a matron to appease the situation. The Song Family didn’t cause a scene, but the looks they gave Xie Liuzheng were anything but friendly.

Consort Hui spoke softly, "Is Miss Song alright? It’s so crowded today; I can’t believe they bumped into each other so carelessly. I have a bottle of Ningzhi Cream here. I’ll have someone send it over later. A young lady’s appearance is so important; we can’t have any scars."

Ningzhi Cream was worth a fortune, renowned for removing scars and marks, and incredibly difficult to obtain.

They were naturally furious that their daughter’s face might be scarred, but since Consort Hui had spoken, Prime Minister Song and his wife could not continue to press the matter.

"Thank you, Consort."

Having placated that side, Consort Hui took a slow sip of her tea, her gaze naturally falling upon Rong Yin. "I live a simple and secluded life, so it has been a long time since I last saw the Prince."

"Seeing Liu Zheng today, I was suddenly reminded that there is still an engagement between you two. It feels like only yesterday you were both still children, and now you have both reached a marriageable age."

Matters like marriage should not typically be brought up by the woman’s side, as it might seem immodest. But if they didn’t bring it up, the Regent King would certainly never mention the engagement himself.

The Empress Dowager shot a look over. ’The Xie family wanting to marry their daughter to the Regent King... that’s a threat even under normal circumstances. Now that the Emperor has told me Consort Hui might have given birth to a Prince, this is just blatant ambition. Using the Xie family’s daughter to win over the Regent King... is the next step a rebellion? No matter how unfilial Xiao Jin is, he’s still my son. No one is taking this throne from him.’

"The girl’s parents haven’t even said anything. Why is Consort Hui in such a hurry? Anyone who didn’t know better would think that Xie girl was desperate to get married."

As an Imperial Concubine who had managed to give birth and survive to this day under the Empress Dowager’s oppression, Consort Hui’s forbearance was nothing short of astonishing.

Faced with the Empress Dowager’s sharp words, her expression remained completely unchanged.

"Marriage between a man and a woman is the natural way of things. Besides, it is a fact that they have an engagement. As elders, we naturally hope to see our children start their own families and continue their lineage."

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly and looked at Rong Yin. "Then when does the Regent King plan to marry? This grieving one would like to prepare a gift in advance."

’I’d like to see just how they plan to conspire together.’

"A matter as important as marriage must naturally be discussed thoroughly. Once a decision is made, the Empress Dowager will of course be invited."

Consort Hui knew Rong Yin was unwilling. Her intention today wasn’t to force him, but to bring up the marriage so everyone would understand that the Regent King had ties to the Xie family.

With this engagement, it would also prove that the absurd rumors about the Regent King and the Little Emperor were false. It was a win-win situation, and she believed the Regent King knew how to choose.

If Rong Yin were to simply go along with her wishes, he wouldn’t be Rong Yin.

He set down his cup and said coolly, "The engagement was between Rong Ze and the eldest daughter of the Xie family. Rong Ze is dead, and the eldest Miss Xie has already married another. Therefore, the engagement is naturally void. The Consort has lived deep within the palace and is out of touch with worldly affairs, but she should not spout such nonsense and tarnish Miss Xie’s reputation for no reason."

Rong Yin’s words were a clear rejection, yet he maintained the bearing of a gentleman, having even shown consideration for Xie Liuzheng’s reputation.

A ripple finally disturbed Consort Hui’s placid expression. She truly hadn’t expected Rong Yin to refuse so completely.

But such matters could not be rushed.

Consort Hui didn’t address Rong Yin’s words directly. Instead, she took Xie Liuzheng’s hand and patted it. "I get so lonely in the palace. Liu Zheng, would you be willing to stay and keep me company for a few days?"

’I really don’t want any contact with the male lead,’ Xie Liuzheng thought to herself.

But she couldn’t refuse Consort Hui now; she would need her and the male lead’s help in the future.

"Alright."