Chapter 109: Prince Jing: Become Emperor? Me?
The moment the battle ended, Prince Jing immediately went to inspect Xiao Sheng, sword still in hand.
He patted his face, felt behind his ears, and then, as if remembering something, turned the body over in public and began pulling off its clothes.
The officials nearby couldn’t bear to watch. "What is the Prince doing?"
’The man’s already dead. Is there really a need to strip him naked? With so many people watching, it’s highly improper.’
But Prince Jing paid them no mind. After feeling around to his satisfaction, he patted his chest in lingering fear. "It’s real. He’s really dead this time."
He had affection for his brother, but having a dead brother come back to life to find him was a bit... presumptuous. Especially when said brother was such a vicious creature.
It was better if he was thoroughly dead.
The corpse was dragged out, and Palace Attendants immediately rushed over to wipe the blood from the floor, carrying out bucket after bucket of blood-tinged water.
A short while later, the bloodstains were gone, but the thick, metallic scent of blood still filled Jinluan Palace.
The Imperial Guards retreated outside, but many people still remained inside Jinluan Palace.
There was the Emperor and his companions, the Civil and Military Ministers, the bound hostages, and the Empress Dowager’s trio.
Xiao Yang calmly sat back down on the throne. Her gaze swept over the Empress Dowager, who was slumped on the floor. No one had killed her, and Xiao Yang wasn’t ordering her death now, either. But the look in Xiao Yang’s eyes treated her as if she were already a dead woman.
Nanny Yang understood the cue. She immediately went forward to grab the Empress Dowager, clapping a hand over her mouth the instant she got ahold of her.
She wasn’t given the chance to say another word.
The tide had turned. Chen Qian and Liu Shixu didn’t resist, their faces ashen as they were dragged away.
The Empress Dowager and Xiao Sheng were no longer important. The most crucial matter now was the throne.
It seemed there was now only one option for the throne. Prince Jing wasn’t particularly powerful, but his character was sound. Moreover, he had just personally struck down the rebel, a great merit. There would be no issue with him taking the throne.
Song Qinghe exchanged a look with several other ministers. They all silently acknowledged this outcome. As Prime Minister, he was the first to speak, "Prince Jing is benevolent and highly respected. Today, he personally executed the traitor, pacified the chaos, and rendered a great service to the state. We are willing to support Prince Jing as Emperor to stabilize the court and reassure the people."
The crowd chorused, "We are willing to support Prince Jing as Emperor to stabilize the court and reassure the people."
They shouted with such genuine feeling that Prince Jing’s head began to spin. He stared at the golden Dragon Throne, his vision filled with dizzying circles.
’Me, the Emperor?’
Prince Jing was ushered before the Dragon Throne. Xiao Yang, who had been sitting on it, stood up.
"Your Majesty~~" Prince Jing’s legs trembled. He looked imploringly at Xiao Yang. "Can I... not sit?"
He truly had no ambition to be emperor. Although the Little Emperor was always exploiting him, he thought his life was pretty good.
The Little Emperor supported his research into the Mo Family, and she was the only one who genuinely praised and admired him.
He didn’t have the slightest desire to seize the throne.
Besides, he might be a bit slow, but he wasn’t an idiot.
These people were supporting him for emperor half because the current Emperor was a woman, and half because he looked like a pushover.
’Benevolent? That just sounds like "easy to manipulate."’
Xiao Yang didn’t seem to mind. She reached out, pressed him down, and sat him firmly on the Dragon Throne.
"It’s a rare opportunity. See how it feels."
Witnessing this, the crowd grew ecstatic. They quickly straightened their sleeves and knelt. "We subjects greet our Emperor! Long live Your Majesty, for ten thousand years!"
Her hand rested lightly on Prince Jing’s shoulder. "How does it feel?"
Prince Jing was tense all over, but seeing Xiao Yang’s smiling expression, he gradually relaxed.
"It’s... all right..."
The view from the Dragon Throne was indeed different from the one below. This feeling of having everything at your feet was truly electrifying.
Xiao Yang reminded him, "You should tell them to rise."
Prince Jing cleared his throat. "Then... rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Everyone slowly stood up. In that instant, Prince Jing, who had almost been lost in the moment, was jolted back to his senses.
’Are these people subjects? Wrong! They’re all bloodsuckers!’
Prince Jing had reviewed countless corruption cases recently; he knew very well how greedy officials could be.
Many corrupt officials had been executed, but that didn’t mean everyone standing here was innocent.
He had personally overseen the replenishing of the National Treasury, and these people would probably just embezzle it all in the end.
They feigned compliance while secretly defying orders, their greed was insatiable, they deceived those above and below, and they formed factions for their own selfish interests!
The more Prince Jing thought about it, the angrier he became. ’There’s no way I can be emperor.’
"Um... you’ll all listen to me now, right?"
Song Qinghe replied, "Naturally."
Prince Jing slapped the armrest of the Dragon Throne. "Then I have a few serious words to say."
He stood up from the Dragon Throne and faced the crowd. "Emperor Taizhong passed the throne to the late Emperor, and the late Emperor, on his deathbed, personally passed the throne to Xiao Jin."
"My nephew... niece, this niece of mine was held in Emperor Taizhong’s arms and was personally taught by the late Emperor. Aside from being a woman, she has no faults. And even that one ’fault’ was caused by that venomous woman from the Chen Family."
"I have no desire for the throne, so you needn’t force it. I know that today’s events must have a resolution. Since the throne belongs to the Xiao Family, the decision of who it is passed to must be made by the Xiao Family."
"Today, as a member of the Xiao Family, I will lead you all to open the Imperial Ancestral Temple and petition the revered ancestors of the Xiao Family to see if they approve of Xiao Jin as Empress."
Everyone: "..."
’You can do that?’
After speaking, Prince Jing immediately strode toward the door, his pace so fast it was as if he were afraid someone might grab him and hold him back.
The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.
The throne belonged to the Xiao Family, so who sat on it was for the Xiao Family to decide—and they even had to consult the ancestors.
It did make a certain kind of sense.
It was just... no matter how you put it, those were dead people. How could a group of dead people decide the matter of the throne?
’Prince Jing... as unreliable as ever.’
But Prince Jing had already bolted, so they had no choice but to follow.
Xiao Yang followed calmly. "Let’s go."
She led her remaining supporters out as well.
"Your Majesty."
At the entrance of Jinluan Palace, Xie Liuzheng was staring at her with burning eyes. The moment Xiao Yang looked over, Xie Liuzheng suddenly lunged into her arms, giving her a tight hug.
’Mmm, Your Majesty really is so soft and smells so good~~~~’
"Your Majesty, I have a big gift for you. A super, super big gift!"
Xie Liuzheng tilted her head up, planted a kiss directly on Xiao Yang’s cheek, and then pulled back.
Rong Yin, who was two steps behind, shot a look at Xie Liuzheng that could have been two arrows piercing right through her.
He glanced back at Xiao Yang. Not only was she not angry about being "assaulted," she even raised an eyebrow, looking quite pleased.
Rong Yin clenched his fists. ’Your Majesty is a woman! A woman!!’
’Xie Liuzheng really is infuriating.’
Meng Xuechen, his wounds now bandaged, walked to Xiao Yang’s side. "Your Majesty, who is she?"
His eyes held a meaning only the two of them could understand.
Xiao Yang nodded. "Mhm."
Meng Xuechen said, "No wonder."
As a soul with a modern education, Meng Xuechen was relatively accepting of intimacy between women. But then a thought occurred to him, and he couldn’t help but frown slightly.
"Your Majesty should still be a little careful. What if she really does like women..."
At this thought, Meng Xuechen’s expression stiffened.
But Xiao Yang just thought for a moment and said, "It should be fine. She’s quite cute."
Although Xiao Yang was attracted to men, in her normal life, she was actually more popular with women.
Abroad, more women had pursued her than men. After returning to her country, the young women at her company would often gaze at her with sparkling eyes, taking every opportunity at gatherings to get a little close.
Xiao Yang found those young women quite adorable and had always spoiled them, often paying out of her own pocket to give them perks, which led them to declare daily that they wanted to marry her.
Of course, Xiao Yang couldn’t possibly get married, nor could she enter into a more intimate relationship with a woman.
But that wasn’t the topic at hand. Meng Xuechen had changed into a new outer robe, but the bloodstains on the lapels of his inner garment were still visible.
The sight of him falling after being injured had given Xiao Yang quite a scare. Fortunately, it wasn’t fatal.
"How are your injuries?"
Meng Xuechen’s lips curved slightly under her concerned gaze. "I was wearing the golden silk armor. It’s just a minor injury."
That person’s martial arts skills were truly high. The golden silk armor hadn’t completely protected him; the attack had not only pierced the armor but also given him some internal injuries.
He still felt unwell, but he had taken the best wound medicine, and there were no major problems.
No matter what, he wanted to stay with her until the very end today.
Standing on the other side, Rong Yin nearly ground his teeth to dust. Those two were acting as if no one else was around. Did they think he was blind?