Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: From Lust to Killing Intent

By the time she finished with all those tasks, Xiao Yang’s entire body was stiff.

She stood up to move around, forcing herself not to let her expression twist in discomfort. When she looked up—yikes, everyone else looked about the same.

Xiao Yang was truly exhausted today. When she got back, she washed up, had no appetite for dinner, and just collapsed into bed.

She was sleeping soundly when someone woke her with a shout. "Your Majesty, the Regent King was attacked by assassins!"

"Ngh."

Xiao Yang mumbled a response, not having actually heard a word.

It wasn’t until she was shaken awake again that she clearly heard what had happened.

’Rong Yin was attacked by assassins?’

"Is the Regent King dead?"

Nanny Yang said, "...Not exactly. It seems he’s severely injured. Doctor Han has already left the Imperial Palace with his team."

Xiao Yang closed her eyes and went right back to her deep sleep. "Then there’s nothing to worry about."

’Rong Yin is the type of menace who’s destined to live for a thousand years. He won’t die that easily.’

Xiao Yang slept through the night, only recalling when she woke up the next morning, ’Oh, right, the Regent King was apparently attacked by assassins last night.’

She went to the morning court session, where the ministers were also discussing the matter.

"That these brazen ruffians would dare assassinate the Regent King of our dynasty is an utter contempt for royal authority! It is lawlessness of the highest degree! I implore Your Majesty to order a strict investigation to find the culprits and avenge the Regent King."

Xiao Yang: "..."

’When I was attacked by assassins, this crowd certainly wasn’t this vocal.’

’So the Regent King’s life is precious, but mine isn’t?’

"Hand this matter over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation. After this, I will go and ask the Regent King if he has any clues about the culprits."

After the court session ended, Xiao Yang did indeed head to the Regent Prince Mansion. She swore she was definitely just concerned about the Regent King and was absolutely not trying to get out of handling state affairs.

At the Regent Prince Mansion, Xiao Yang navigated with practiced ease, finding her way to Rong Yin’s residence without needing anyone to guide her.

However, the consequence of the Prince Mansion’s staff being too trusting of the Emperor was... Xiao Yang pushed the door open without any obstruction and walked right in on Han Yang changing the Regent King’s bandages.

It was cold, so they were by a charcoal brazier, and most of his upper body was bare.

The wound was fresh and bloody, but his excellent physique was also on full display.

Rong Yin’s skin was on the fairer side, but his muscle definition was incredibly clear.

Xiao Yang got a clear view of his pectoral and abdominal muscles. The wound was on his side and not particularly deep; viewed this way, it had a certain ’battle-damaged’ aesthetic.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yang couldn’t get a longer look. The Regent King shot a glare her way, and she was forced to compose herself.

"What brings Your Majesty here?"

Xiao Yang gave a light cough, pretending she had only just walked in.

"I heard the Regent King was attacked by assassins, so I came to have a look."

"Tsk, tsk. These assassins are outrageous, daring to lay such a vicious hand on the Regent King. When I catch them, I’ll have them drawn and quartered... no, flayed alive!"

She delivered those last two words with resounding force, though who knew what she was trying to cover up.

Rong Yin’s lips couldn’t help but twitch. Only now did he realize: this creature was a lecher! And one who lusted after men!

He discreetly tugged his lapels together, attempting to cover up a bit more skin.

But Han Yang yanked them open again. "My Prince, don’t let it touch the wound."

Rong Yin closed his eyes in resignation, unwilling to face reality.

Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow. ’Heehee, the Regent King is getting shy~~~’

Once Han Yang had finished bandaging the wound and he was fully dressed, Rong Yin finally recovered his usual ice-cold composure.

"As Your Majesty can see, this subject is not in any serious danger."

"As for tracking the culprits, this Prince has my own men for the task. Your Majesty should return to handling the affairs of the court."

’He’s trying to send me back to work.’

"No matter how busy things are at court, I still have a few moments to spare for you."

Rong Yin silently picked up a book from nearby. "Since that’s the case, this Prince will accompany Your Majesty in reviewing the lesson you failed to complete last time."

Xiao Yang: "..."

’From lust to murderous intent—it can all change in an instant.’

"I’ve just remembered I have something urgent to take care of! Regent King, please rest and recover well! I’ll come see you again next time~~~~"

By the time the last trailing syllable faded, she had already bolted far away.

Rong Yin was left somewhere between anger and amusement.

"That little scoundrel!"

It’s just a bit of studying. Is she afraid it will kill her?

-----

Having finally escaped the Imperial Palace, would Xiao Yang actually go back to work of her own volition?

Impossible! Absolutely not!

She changed into a set of simple brocade clothes in her carriage, touched up her hair and eyebrows, and darkened her skin a little.

Since the weather was cold, she also put on a thick cloak and a hat.

After confirming there were no glaring issues with her disguise, she appeared on the main street, swaggering along.

Time to find a theater, listen to an opera, and slack off.

Despite the cold, business at the teahouse was excellent. Most of the tables were full and all the good seats had been taken, so she could only find a table off to the side.

A pot of hot tea and three plates of snacks were enough to while away a few hours.

The storyteller was already halfway through his tale, and Xiao Yang was completely lost.

She lifted her teacup to absorb its warmth and let her gaze drift around the room. Suddenly, a figure in white entered her line of sight, and it instantly stole her breath away.

In a person’s life, whether long or short, there are always one or two regrets that are seared into your memory.

Though she was holding a warm teacup, Xiao Yang felt chilled to the bone.

The chill wasn’t her own; it was the icy cold of his body, seemingly transferring itself to her even now.

When Xiao Yang was fifteen, she was studying abroad. It was there that she met someone special.

He was a senior, one year her elder. He was a loner who kept to himself and rarely spoke, but he had the face of a transcendent Immortal. No matter how low-profile he tried to be, he was always the center of attention wherever he went.

Xiao Yang ran into him often at the library. He had explained difficult concepts to her and picked up a bracelet she had dropped, and slowly, the two became familiar with each other.

He was a senior who seemed cold on the outside but was actually gentle and easy to get along with. Once they got to know each other, they would occasionally go out shopping together.

The tragedy occurred during one of those outings.

A gunfight suddenly erupted on the bustling street.

The two of them scrambled for cover, but he was hit by a spray of bullets.

They fled into a shop that was already crammed with people. They were pushed into a corner, unable to move.

But even then, the attackers showed no mercy, storming into the shop and opening fire indiscriminately.

He threw himself over her, tackling her to the ground as bullets rained down. Xiao Yang was hit, too.

She didn’t die, but she didn’t dare move, let alone scream.

But he died. His body had shielded her from most of the bullets. Without a single last word, he died on top of her, in the very position he’d used to protect her. As his blood drained away, his body rapidly grew cold.

It was a deep, bone-seeping cold.

It wasn’t her first time facing death, but it was the first time someone had died to save her.

And that day had been her birthday. He had taken her out specifically to celebrate it...

From age fifteen to twenty-six—for eleven years—she had never forgotten.

But how could there be someone who looked so much like him? It was as if he had come back to life.

His facial features were identical, and even his aura was uncannily similar.

Xiao Yang was so shocked she froze on the spot. By the time she finally snapped out of it, the figure was nowhere to be seen. It was as if the whole thing had been a hallucination.

Xiao Yang rose to her feet unconsciously, but once she was standing, she felt lost. ’What am I doing? Am I going to chase after him?’

’But that man isn’t him. What’s the point in chasing after him?’

’I’ll just pretend it was a hallucination...’