Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

As Xiao Yang stood up, Xie Liuzheng, who had been leaning against her, slumped down.

She’d been pretending to sleep for so long that she’d actually fallen asleep.

Xiao Yang caught her. Just as she was wondering what to do, she noticed a change in Xie Liuzheng’s breathing and poked her on the head, exasperated. "If you’re awake, get up. Time to go."

Busted. Xie Liuzheng gave a sheepish laugh. "Your Majesty~ where are we off to now?"

Xiao Yang said, "I’ve had Huarong Palace prepared for you. I’ll have someone take you there to rest."

Xie Liuzheng blinked. "Your Majesty, could I sleep in one of the side halls of Zichen Palace?"

Xiao Yang raised a hand and poked her forehead. "No."

Xie Liuzheng protested, "Why not?"

’Xu Xingchen, Rong Yin, Meng Xuechen, and even that scoundrel Xiao Lv have all slept in the side halls of Zichen Palace. Why can’t I?’

Xiao Yang said, "You’re up to no good."

Xie Liuzheng’s face was the very picture of innocence. "Your Majesty," she said earnestly, "look at this adorable face. How could I possibly be up to no good?"

’She just wanted to get cozy with Her Majesty, that’s all.’

Her Majesty was cool and unmoved, refusing to yield. "Don’t even think about it."

Xie Liuzheng’s face scrunched up. "Hmph."

’She could throw a little tantrum too.’

But Xiao Yang was actually willing to indulge her. She raised a hand to stroke her hair. "Alright, when I have some free time, I’ll take you to the hot springs."

Xie Liuzheng was instantly placated.

Taking this as her cue, she pushed her luck and took Xiao Yang’s hand as they walked.

Xiao Yang didn’t refuse this small intimacy. A cool night breeze swept by, chasing away her fatigue and clearing her head.

Now that her mind was clear, she had the space to think about other matters.

"The system says you’re to remain in this world. Have you thought about what you’ll do in the future?"

Xie Liuzheng thought for a moment. "The system wants me to capture Your Majesty, marry you, and have children. Personally, I’d be quite happy just to coast."

When the Emperor didn’t answer for a long moment, she grew anxious. "Does Your Majesty think I lack ambition?"

’I mean, I’m willing to work for Her Majesty, but if I can get away with slacking off, of course I’m going to. It’s just my nature.’

"Not at all."

Xiao Yang said, "I was just debating whether I should say what I’m about to say."

She paused. "Your life is your own. Whether you choose to coast, get married, and have children—that is your right."

’After all, she herself had once wanted to just give up too.’

"I just think it would be a shame for you, with all the knowledge you have from beyond this era, to end up simply raising a family."

Xiao Yang stopped and turned to face Xie Liuzheng, her gaze intense. "I am the Emperor now. I can protect you. I want you to put your knowledge to use for me, to shine brightly in this era and build your own legend."

’Why would the system want Xie Liuzheng to capture the main villain or the male lead?’

’Because the main villain and the male lead are the bearers of this world’s great Destiny. By capturing them, she could share a piece of it. That Destiny would become her shield, allowing her soul to remain safely in this world.’

’But why must she grovel to share in someone else’s Destiny, becoming a dependant who survives on their scraps?’

’She, Xiao Yang, could turn the tables and become the protagonist, so why couldn’t Xie Liuzheng live in this world by her own Destiny?’

Xiao Yang held out her hand. "I’ll only ask this once. Ms. Xie Liuzheng, will you be my friend? Will you join hands with me and walk a brilliant, spectacular path together?"

Xie Liuzheng’s eyes grew wider and wider. The moment Xiao Yang finished speaking, tears streamed down her face.

She seized Xiao Yang’s hand and threw herself into her arms, giving her a huge hug.

"I am willing, Your Majesty... I am willing."

’People only coast because they haven’t found their direction or joy in life, and they lack friends who share their aspirations.’

’Her Majesty was willing to be her guiding light, her patron. Why wouldn’t she accept?’

"From now on, we are sovereign and subject, but we are also friends. As long as you do not forsake me, I will follow you for all my life."

Xie Liuzheng: ’SOB... System, I’m done for. I’m falling in love with Her Majesty.’

The system, having just witnessed the ’protagonist’ and its host making plans, was at a loss for words. They no longer had to coast, but now *it* was being forced to. It was starting to forget it was a Capture and Rescue System. ’Haven’t you been in love with her for a while now?’

Xie Liuzheng: ’You don’t get it. Before, it was just lust. Now, it’s true love.’

The system was speechless. ’Maybe you should ask that Doctor Han for some traditional medicine.’

’This isn’t true love. The girl is clearly sick in the head.’

Xiao Yang: "..."

’Sometimes, hearing other people’s thoughts really wasn’t a good thing.’

The two held their embrace for a long moment before separating. Xiao Yang began to walk on at a slow pace, and Xie Liuzheng followed with a skip in her step, holding her hand tightly and refusing to let go.

Meanwhile, a certain Regent King who had received the news was so furious he was on the verge of turning into a villain.

’When the Emperor was a man, that girl insisted she only liked men. Now the Emperor has revealed she’s a woman, so why does it seem Her Majesty has started liking women?’

’He was certain the Emperor was a woman. After all, he had seen it with his own eyes, and Her Majesty had taken the matter all the way to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. She wouldn’t toy with the entire world over something like this.’

’But Her Majesty’s preferences... were truly alarming.’

Nothing in the palace could be hidden from Prince Jing, and even less could be hidden from him at home.

He stroked his short beard, looking the picture of profound wisdom. "Between a ruler and a subject, you can yield on almost anything. But never on your wife."

Xiao Lv asked, "Her Majesty is a woman. What could she possibly steal?"

Prince Jing looked mysterious. "Hah. You underestimate the allure of power."

Xiao Lv shot him a sidelong glance. "Father, if you’re that bored, you could help me find a competent matchmaker and put together a larger betrothal gift. Would you feel honored if your son’s wife gets stolen by the Empress?"

Prince Jing choked, then said irritably, "You’ve picked up bad habits from Her Majesty."

’His son used to be so obedient. Now he’s learned how to put pressure on his own father.’

Xiao Lv said, "I heard you praising Her Majesty at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. So now she’s a bad influence?"

"Shut up!"

Prince Jing sputtered in angry disgust, "Of all the women to fall for, you had to pick the daughter of that Xie Wei! The man’s been a dimwit since he was a boy, and he used to drool over your mother when they were young! The very thought of becoming in-laws with him sets my blood boiling!"

’That happened?’

He gave his father a suspicious look. "I remember you got drunk once and said Mother had a childhood sweetheart. They were about to be formally betrothed, but she had to marry you because Emperor Taizhong decreed it. You were crying into your wine jar back then... That man couldn’t possibly be..."

"Xiao Lv!"

Prince Jing’s face was beet red as he slammed his hand on the table. "Do you really think I wouldn’t dare to beat you? Utter nonsense! Your mother loves me most! She only loves me!"

The corner of Xiao Lv’s eye twitched. "Right. Of course Mother loves you most. She loves no one but you."

’So old, yet such a short fuse.’

’Childish!’

’Having a father like this was such a headache.’

’Besides, when it came to this business, shouldn’t Xie Wei be the one who was angry?’

’Prince Jing stole his beloved girl back then, and now Prince Jing’s son wanted to marry his daughter.’