Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

That the Empress Dowager would die was something everyone had anticipated.

The Empress Dowager had opposed the Emperor several times, and no one doubted the Emperor’s desire to kill her. But everyone knew that, constrained by filial piety, the Emperor could not kill the Empress Dowager directly.

House arrest followed by a death from illness—that was the best possible outcome.

But now, the Empress Dowager had died too suddenly. Dressed in a palace maid’s clothes and killed on the palace wall... Even if one suspected the Emperor, it seemed unlikely.

First, for the Empress Dowager to die in such a ridiculous manner was a disgrace to the Emperor. Second, her health was already poor; a quiet death from illness would have been the best way, making such a complicated method unnecessary.

Of course, regardless of their suspicions, no one actually dared to accuse the Emperor.

Those tasked with finding the killer searched for the killer, and those meant to mourn at the wake, mourned.

Xiao Yang had the Ministry of Rites invite eminent monks to perform rites for the Empress Dowager. A date was chosen, and the funeral procession was scheduled for three days later.

In the Imperial Study Room, Xiao Lv followed Xiao Yang inside. He dismissed everyone else, then knelt ramrod straight before Xiao Yang.

He said nothing, and Xiao Yang did not speak either.

Xiao Lv couldn’t have changed the Empress Dowager’s clothes and moved her body by himself. He had sought out Nanny Yang.

Nanny Yang’s loyalty was to the Emperor, but Xiao Lv had convinced her with a single argument: The Empress Dowager could die, but absolutely not at the hands of the Emperor.

For her failure in vigilance, Nanny Yang, after tending to the Empress Dowager’s body, had accepted a punishment of ten strokes of the cane. She was now bedridden and unable to get up.

Now, it was Xiao Lv’s turn to beg for forgiveness.

Xiao Yang sat in her chair, silent for a long time.

Even if that system said she had been reincarnated as Xiao Jin and the Empress Dowager was her birth mother, Xiao Yang could not bring herself to see the Empress Dowager as her own mother.

She had little attachment to family ties and had long since become numb to such emotions, not to mention the Empress Dowager had abused her and repeatedly helped outsiders go against her.

She felt not a shred of guilt for sending the Empress Dowager to her death.

’If karmic retribution truly exists, it’s not as if I can’t bear it. Why did they need to do all these unnecessary things?’

’They act with my best interests at heart, but after it’s done, they fear I’ll blame them because of our blood ties.’

’This must be difficult for them, too.’

"Did Xie Liuzheng come to you?"

Xiao Lv froze for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Xiao Yang understood. "I knew it was her."

She rose and went to him, bending down to help him up. "Let’s act as if this never happened."

Xiao Lv stared at Xiao Yang, but he could not discern any other emotions from her calm expression. "Your subject understands."

This time, he had indeed acted rashly. Xie Liuzheng’s words were one reason; the other was that he had genuinely wanted to kill the Empress Dowager for a long time.

He didn’t know if the Emperor would blame him, but he was certain something like this could never happen a second time.

Xiao Lv left, and Rong Yin entered.

His purpose was similar to Xiao Lv’s. He too had a hand in the Empress Dowager’s death—otherwise, how could the imperial guard have failed to find a single clue by now?

Xiao Lv had done the killing, and Rong Yin had cleaned up the few remaining loose ends.

After observing Xiao Yang for a few moments, Rong Yin chose to remain silent on the matter and switched to a different topic.

"The Xirong are suing for peace. Their National Letter is already on its way."

Li Wei had recaptured Changlu Pass, but the battle resulted in heavy casualties. Even though Xiao Yang provided funds to cover army pay and provisions, a traitor in the ranks had given the battle plans to the Xirong. Spies had ruthlessly assassinated our generals, and even Li Wei himself had almost fallen there.

Multiple factors led to as many as fifty thousand casualties among the soldiers. It was only because Li Wei was in command, fighting his way back despite grave injuries, that the battle was won.

Had it been any other general, the battle would have been lost.

The Xirong had practically massacred the city. The soldiers and common people alike could not swallow this insult. How could simply driving them out be enough? Everyone wanted revenge.

How could Xiao Yang not want revenge as well? But with internal turmoil and external threats, her control over the nation was insufficient. It was not a good time for expansion.

For the Xirong to sue for peace was, given the current situation, beneficial for both sides.

But still, they just couldn’t swallow this insult.

Rong Yin accompanied Xiao Yang to the Empress Dowager’s mourning hall. Xiao Yang hated the Empress Dowager, but she was not careless with the funeral arrangements.

She unhesitatingly performed all the duties that required a son, and she did so flawlessly.

At a time like this, no one dared say that the ’Emperor is a woman’ and thus could not perform the duties of a son.

The Emperor stood there, and she herself was the rules and the principles.

Because of the matter with the Xirong, Xiao Yang wore a grim expression. Her cold, icy demeanor made it look as though she was genuinely grieving the loss of her mother.

Those who didn’t know the truth couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. ’They were mother and child, after all. Although the Empress Dowager wronged the Emperor, she was still his birth mother. The Emperor is still heartbroken by her death.’

Xiao Yang: "..." ’If you don’t need your eyes, you can donate them to someone who does.’

Xiao Yang went to the hall for one or two hours each day, leaving the remaining matters to Prince Jing.

That afternoon, she dealt with court memorials. Although her reforms had streamlined the memorials, the sheer number was still there.

Because of the Empress Dowager’s death, all the officials had written eulogies, nearly doubling the number of memorials.

Xiao Yang had no desire to work herself to death, so she bundled that entire portion and passed it directly to Rong Yin.

Besides that, there were matters of the border war and personnel transfers.

Xiao Yang was busy until midnight before she returned to the Imperial Study Room. After washing up, she was just about to go to bed.

"Your Majesty, Vice Minister Meng requests an audience."

Xiao Yang: ’An audience at this hour?’

After a moment’s thought, she allowed him to enter.

Soon, Meng Xuechen came in, holding a long box in his hands.

"Your Majesty."

Meng Xuechen walked forward with a faint smile. "I have something to show you."

He walked up to Xiao Yang, placed the box on the table beside her, and opened it to face her.

When she saw clearly what was inside, Xiao Yang’s gaze flickered.

’Meng Xuechen has lived in this world for so many years, and he certainly hasn’t been idle.’

’She had just given the blueprints to Prince Jing, and work hadn’t even begun, yet Meng Xuechen already had a finished product in his hands.’

Inside the box was, unmistakably, a rifle.

Xiao Yang reached out and picked it up. There were even bullets with it. With a CLICK, she loaded a round.

She tested its feel, then unloaded it without firing.

Meng Xuechen said, "The Xirong massacred a city, committing an inhuman atrocity. If you agree to their peace treaty, it will inevitably damage Your Majesty’s prestige. Your subject hopes Your Majesty will dispatch the troops."

Meng Xuechen handed over a portfolio. "This is the result of research I’ve commissioned over the years. The technology is mature; it only lacks mass production."

Xiao Yang opened it and looked at the designs for rifles, pistols, cannons, and hand grenades...

It was, without a doubt, a weapons catalog.

Xiao Yang closed the portfolio and took a deep breath. "With all this, you could be the Emperor yourself."

It was all modern weaponry. And Meng Xuechen was also wealthy. It was an overwhelming advantage against this world; seizing power would only be a matter of time.

To assist her was a waste of his talents.

Meng Xuechen raised his eyes. "Is... Your Majesty afraid of me?"

Xiao Yang looked at him. "Isn’t your goal to become the Emperor?"

Meng Xuechen’s gaze was frank. "The throne of a feudal king is indeed this world’s greatest temptation. Making money and wielding power were my greatest interests before. Perhaps one day in the future, I really would make a move for this position and sit in that coveted seat."

He paused, his eyes seeming to hold a thousand words. "But then you came."