Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Those Who Follow Her Live, Those Who Oppose Her Die

Rong Yin remained silent for a long time, and Sun Yi grew anxious. "Prince, she won’t tolerate my existence, much less yours. She won’t spare anyone who knows her identity."

He took a deep breath, resorting to moral blackmail. "Prince, you received the grace of my father, the late Emperor, and my grandfather. Are you truly going to stand by and watch as the Xiao Family’s empire is brought to ruin?"

Rong Yin finally turned his gaze back to him. "You claim to be the late Emperor’s son, but no one can prove your identity. And Consort Hui’s word doesn’t count."

’Could the identity of a Prince really be claimed with just a token or a jade pendant?’

’If I believed him based on his word alone and helped him stage a rebellion, that would be truly absurd.’

"The late Emperor personally passed the throne to Xiao Jin, making her the rightful Emperor. The one I am charged with assisting is her. If I were to help you overthrow Her Majesty, then I would truly become a treacherous official."

Sun Yi never imagined that after he had said so much, Rong Yin would still be unwilling to help him.

"But she’s suppressing you at every turn! She even wants to strip you of your title as Regent King, and you’re still going to be so blindly loyal?"

Sun Yi was agitated and furious, finding this unacceptable, but Rong Yin remained unconcerned. "My duty is to guide and assist Her Majesty. If Her Majesty becomes a true Emperor, then the title of Regent King should naturally be revoked."

Sun Yi was so angry he could have spat blood. "That’s because my father, the Emperor, was deceived! You, the esteemed Regent King! You received the grace of my grandfather and my father—is this how you repay them?"

Burning with rage, Sun Yi had completely forgotten his position as a supplicant and was now interrogating him in a harsh voice.

From Rong Yin’s perspective, it was as if some feral child had suddenly appeared, claimed to be his older brother’s son, and after failing to coerce him into seizing the family inheritance, was now just cursing him out.

’How utterly unreasonable!’

’And that’s not even getting into whether his baseless claim about the Little Emperor being a woman is true or not.’

’Even if it is true, he likely didn’t just find out today.’

’Why didn’t he say anything for all these years?’

’Wasn’t it because he feared me, the Regent King, and was afraid I’d have him secretly killed?’

’Now that I am being suppressed by the Little Emperor, and he himself has been backed into a corner, he assumes we are on the same side. That’s why he sought me out.’

’He doesn’t just want my help; he expects me to share his hatred for our common foe.’

’The moment there’s a disagreement, he uses the grace of his elders to pressure me. The ridiculous part is, the two elders he mentioned likely have no idea they even have such a grandson and son.’

’I, Rong Yin, remember debts of gratitude, but I am not a fool.’

Qing Yu came in. "Prince, General Li has brought troops and surrounded the Prince Mansion."

Rong Yin pushed open the main gates of the Regent Prince Mansion. The arrow in Li Wei’s hand was aimed between his eyes. With the bow drawn taut and the muscles in his arm bulging, no one could doubt Li Wei’s killing intent.

If the Regent King made a single wrong choice today, he would undoubtedly lose his life on the spot.

Feng Xian had been right about one thing: the Little Emperor had factored him into her scheme as well.

Obey her and live; defy her and die!

Li Wei: the only person who would obey the Emperor’s order to kill him, and also the only one with the skill to do so.

"The assassin has been apprehended. I was just about to bring him into the palace to face Her Majesty."

Sun Yi was brought out under guard, his face filled with resentment and hatred. He never thought the Regent King would be so useless. To be bullied by the Little Emperor to this degree and still refuse to rebel—and now, to betray him.

"Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!"

Sun Yi was cursing vilely, but with his Mute Acupoint sealed, not a single word could escape.

He knew he was being taken to see the Emperor, and he had already made up his mind. ’The moment I can speak again, I’ll expose the Little Emperor’s identity in front of everyone and force her off the throne.’

However, he had just taken a single step out of the Regent Prince Mansion.

A sharp crack split the air. His foot was still poised mid-step, his eyes wide. The last thing he saw was the quivering fletching of an arrow.

A long arrow had pierced through his forehead, killing him instantly.

Rong Yin raised a handkerchief to wipe the blood that had splattered onto his cheek, cursing inwardly. ’Brute!’

No one could have survived that arrow, but Li Wei still had his men drag the corpse over. "Treacherous official. Behead him and throw the body in the mass grave."

The treacherous official Sun Yi was beheaded and his body thrown into a mass grave. Meanwhile, in the palace, Princess Suiyi was dragging her ailing body to kneel and plead with Her Majesty.

Her heart softening with pity for her only sister, the Emperor pardoned Consort Hui’s crimes, demoting her to Hu Shuren and ordering her moved to Shuanghua Palace.

「Shuyun Palace」Xie Liuzheng was completely stunned.

"System, what do you mean the male lead is dead?"

System: "He was killed. The male lead is now Xiao Jin, and the Regent King is still the villain. Hmm, anyway, it doesn’t affect your mission."

Xie Liuzheng was at a loss for words. It had only been a few days, and the male lead was already dead.

"Are you sure you erased her memories? How is she so powerful?"

System: "Mandatory missions don’t have errors. Her memories have definitely been erased. She’s powerful because that’s just how she is."

Xie Liuzheng: "Then is she going to kill the main villain, too?"

’The main villain was supposed to lose to the male lead, but this one just killed the male lead directly.’

’Talk about taking things to the next level!’

For once, the system was silent. "I don’t have the clearance to view her future in the Book of Reincarnation."

"Ha... haha..."

All Xie Liuzheng could manage was a strained laugh. ’It’s over, it’s all over... The system can’t be counted on, so what’s the point of any of this?!’

A frail figure entered timidly. "Sister... Xie, what do we do now?"

Xie Liuzheng looked at the frail young girl.

She was the illegitimate daughter of a palace maid. But after Consort Hui discovered her, she had the girl’s birth mother killed and took the child to serve as a stand-in for her own son.

To deceive the Empress Dowager, this substitute was kept genuinely frail and raised to be so timid and cowering that no one would be inspired to look into her any further.

’But now that the male lead is dead, has this fake princess become a real one?!’

Just then, an imperial decree arrived from the Emperor.

Xie Liuzheng’s guess came true. The fake princess had become a real princess.

While the fake princess was still trying to make sense of the situation, Xie Liuzheng grabbed her and pulled her outside. "Quick, quick! We have to go give our thanks!"

’If the Emperor isn’t killing the fake princess, then she probably won’t kill me. So what am I waiting for? Time to go curry some favor!’

’In my past life, the Little Emperor was my compatriot and my ultimate boss. I was lucky to meet her here, and she’d even been so good to me.’

’If I don’t curry favor now, when will I get another chance?!’

"Suiyi thanks you for your magnanimity, Brother. I will always remember your mercy. If you ever have need of me in the future, please do not hesitate to command me."

Xiao Suixi repeated the words Xie Liuzheng had taught her, not missing a single one, and prostrated herself on the floor to show her sincerity.

Xiao Yang smiled gently, personally bending down to help her up. "Our father only had the two of us. As your older brother, how could I not grant you this?"

"Though your constitution is weak, you cannot stay in your chambers all the time. From now on, you should get out more and broaden your horizons."

There had never been a Prince. From start to finish, there had only ever been the frail and sickly Princess Suiyi.

Xiao Suixi: "Thank you, Brother."

Xiao Yang’s gaze swept over to Xie Liuzheng, who stood to the side. The cold, indifferent look sent a shiver through Xie Liuzheng’s heart.

’It’s all the system’s fault. Why did it have to go and erase the Emperor’s memory? Now it’s great. The bond we had from our old home is gone, and all that’s left is this cold, terrifying Emperor.’

"Your Majesty, this subject is also willing to pledge her loyalty to Your Majesty! No—that’s not right... I mean, I beg Your Majesty to give this subject a chance to prove her loyalty! Whether it’s arguing, cursing people out, or even committing robbery—as long as Your Majesty gives the word, this subject will charge forward without hesitation and fight for you!"

Xie Liuzheng did her utmost to profess her loyalty, stopping just short of swearing an oath to the heavens to prove it.

Xiao Yang hadn’t planned on letting her go anyway, but was still rendered a bit speechless by this bootlicking display. "Just stay and serve as the Princess’s study companion."

The thought had crossed her mind to simply take Xie Liuzheng as a concubine. That way, both she and the system would be firmly in her grasp forever.

But on second thought, she dismissed the idea.

’I have no interest in being cuckolded, and there’s no need to ruin a woman’s life over it.’