Chapter 103: Now... You Still Chose Wrong
The winter snows had melted away, and the first warm rays of the spring sun fell. A breeze swept through the Imperial Palace, causing the hem of a bright yellow robe to flutter upon the curved eaves of Zichen Palace.
"Prince."
"Greetings, Prince."
The Palace Attendants bowed and made way, but the newcomer didn’t break his stride, walking straight to the entrance of Zichen Palace. Just as he was about to enter, he seemed to sense something. Looking up, his eyes fell upon the Little Emperor, who was leaning against the curved eaves.
She was dressed in a bright yellow Dragon Robe, yet she sat all alone on the high eaves. Her figure was slight and unsupported, but it didn’t make her look weak. Her back, though not broad, was held ramrod straight, exuding a tough resilience—the kind that stands tall and unyielding without relying on anyone.
And it was true. No matter how dire the circumstances, she was clever and cunning, single-handedly carving a bloody path out of her predicament.
Rong Yin gazed at the Little Emperor, a thought suddenly flashing through his mind: ’This vast Imperial Palace belongs to the Emperor alone, yet this Emperor has never seemed to belong to it.’
A wave of panic washed over him.
’The Little Emperor has always wanted to throw away the throne.’
’Is this current situation what she wanted?’
With a push of his toes, he vaulted onto the roof in a few bounds, landing softly before the Little Emperor.
His gaze locked on her as he crouched down, instinctively reaching for her hand. It was ice-cold, just as he’d feared, and his brow furrowed instantly. "The spring chill is still biting, Your Majesty. Please, take care of your health. You shouldn’t sit out here for too long."
Xiao Yang snatched her hand back and glanced up at him. "Did you come all this way just to say that?"
Today’s war dispatch had already arrived. Li Wei, dragging his severely injured body into battle, had barely managed to fight to a stalemate. The overall situation was not optimistic.
The courtiers were anxious, and the common people were anxious. Yet Xiao Yang, the Emperor, was the only one who seemed unconcerned.
The dispatches arrived one after another. She read them, but aside from arranging for more supplies, she did nothing more. There was no point.
As for the rumors circulating outside, she had long anticipated them. After all, it was the only weapon her enemies had left to attack her with.
’Imperial Power, conspiracies? How tiresome. And so utterly dull.’
Xiao Yang’s face was the only thing reflected in Rong Yin’s gaze. He saw her features clearly, and he also saw with painful clarity that her expression held not a trace of the affection he so desired. From the very beginning, his heart had been the only one in turmoil.
"The rumors outside are running rampant, and the court is in turmoil. We need Your Majesty to preside over the situation."
"Preside over the situation?" Xiao Yang chuckled wryly. "Are you sure they don’t mean ’denounce me’?"
She felt no panic about what was to come, only an unshakeable and indifferent calm.
Rong Yin said, "I am here. Your Majesty may do as you wish."
His clear declaration of allegiance didn’t surprise Xiao Yang. After all, the stage had been set for so long that anyone who wasn’t a complete fool could tell truth from falsehood.
’They just don’t want to upset the delicate balance, so they play dumb. The same old games clever people play.’
Xiao Yang rose unhurriedly. From her position on the roof’s edge, she leaned down to look at him, a cold, merciless smile playing on her lips. "Rong Yin, I gave you a choice once. A shame you chose wrong. And now... you’ve chosen wrong again."
Before, she would have given the throne to him or anyone else. But he had chosen to force her to remain upon it.
Now, when she was firmly on the throne and the whole world was about to stand against her, he chose to continue supporting her.
’And why? Affection?’
’Who would have guessed a man with such a cold, domineering face could be such a love-struck fool.’
She lifted her hand, her fingertips brushing against Rong Yin’s cheek. Her lips curved into a smile that seemed full of affection, but her eyes were a dark abyss, the smile never reaching them.
"Rong Yin, you will go down in history as a villain."
Rong Yin didn’t come back to his senses until after Xiao Yang had gone down and entered the room.
’A villain of history.’
’But that would mean being with her.’
’In the future, whenever people curse her name, they will curse mine as well. That doesn’t sound so bad.’
"You’re insane."
The more Feng Xian heard the rumors, the more he felt something was wrong. Seeing how people were speaking of the matter in such vivid, convincing detail, he realized the gravity of the situation and brought Meng Xuechen to find Rong Yin. Feng Xian was still skeptical about the Emperor being a woman, but the rumor was out there, and they needed a response.
If the Emperor really was a woman, they would need to prepare.
He never expected, however, to get confirmation from Rong Yin himself—or to learn of the Prince’s stance. Even knowing the Emperor was female, Rong Yin intended to continue supporting her.
"A woman on the throne? What kind of chaos will that plunge the realm into?"
’No, wait. The chaos has already started.’
Rong Yin seemed completely unaware of how utterly shocking his declaration was.
"I’m telling you this for two reasons. First, so you can be prepared. These rumors are escalating, and the situation will undoubtedly erupt at morning court tomorrow. Second, to make my own position clear. No matter what happens, my stance will not change. The Emperor is the Emperor."
Feng Xian had so much he wanted to say, he didn’t know where to start.
He turned to Meng Xuechen. "Junior Brother, at least say *something*."
Meng Xuechen toyed with a string of Jade Beads. "Once the Prince has made up his mind, persuasion is pointless."
’My relationship with Rong Yin isn’t that of a master and his strategist. It’s not my place to worry for him.’
Feng Xian pressed, "Then what about Her Majesty’s identity? If she’s really a woman, are you still going to serve her?"
Meng Xuechen countered with a question of his own. "Why do you serve the Emperor?"
Feng Xian replied, "To apply my knowledge, to fulfill my ambitions, and to serve the nation and its people."
Meng Xuechen raised his eyes slightly. "Then does the Emperor’s gender affect any of that?"
Feng Xian was struck speechless.
Meng Xuechen said, "Her Majesty ascended the throne as a child and spent years as a Puppet Emperor. She bided her time, endured, and finally seized power. She hasn’t indulged in luxury or lived a decadent life. She may be ruthless, but the ones she killed were corrupt officials and treacherous villains. What crime has she committed? Even if she is a woman, that was a ’crime’ decided at her birth. The Empress Dowager was wrong, the late Emperor was wrong, but she herself is blameless. In fact, her throne was bestowed upon her by the late Emperor himself. Her claim could not be more legitimate."
’She was raised as a boy from the moment she was born. How could a young child decide her own gender?’
’She was a pawn, forced into this game for Imperial Power.’
’Enthroned at ten years old, she became a puppet. With the Empress Dowager in control and powerful ministers running the court, when was she ever allowed to say ’no’?’
’She fought hard to seize power, and in less than half a year, she has already done an admirable job.’
’Covet the Imperial Power, attack her personally—fine. But to use her gender as the sole justification? That’s simply laughable.’
"You two..."
Feng Xian looked from one to the other, completely exasperated.
"So I’m the only shortsighted one here, is that it?"
Meng Xuechen said, "Many people share your line of thinking. But not many of them are able to think it through."
Feng Xian: "..."
’Leave it to him to have an answer for everything.’
"Fine, fine, fine. I can’t keep up with you two. I have a mountain of work to do at the Ministry of Personnel. I’ll take my leave."
After Feng Xian left, Meng Xuechen also stood to depart.
A young attendant helped Meng Xuechen into his carriage. "Master, where to now?"
Silence filled the carriage for a moment. Then, three quiet words drifted out: "To the palace."