Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

Xu Xingchen was alive. He had survived past the three days the system predicted, and on the fifth day, he was even able to get out of bed and stand with support.

His injuries were concentrated on his upper body. The wounds to his chest and arms had nearly claimed his life and had almost disfigured him, but his legs were fine, with nothing more than superficial scrapes.

Han Yang came to change Xu Xingchen’s dressings, his eyes filled with admiration. "This peerless medicine is truly worthy of its reputation. Your wounds are healing remarkably fast, Young Master."

Xu Xingchen had also noticed that his wounds were healing unnaturally fast.

"Doctor Han, what medicine did you use on me?"

Han Yang replied, "The Nine Gods Soul Transformation Frost. It’s a formula left behind by Divine Doctor Liao three hundred years ago. It requires nine primary ingredients—three each from snowy lands, scorched earth, and the deep sea—supplemented by another seventy-two medicinal herbs. They coalesce into what is now the world’s finest salve for injuries. It can prevent the wounded from developing a high fever. No matter how severe the injury, it is said to stop bleeding within three breaths, form a scab in one day, and regenerate flesh in three. The most fantastic legends claim it can revive the dead and grow flesh on bare bones."

Though he hadn’t witnessed the miracles of legend, it had only been five days, and the scabs from his life-threatening wounds were already beginning to dry out. It wouldn’t be long before they fell off, a clear testament to the medicine’s incredible efficacy.

"The previous dynasty expended immense manpower and resources developing this medicine. It exhausted the people and drained the treasury, even sowing the seeds of its own downfall. That is why after Emperor Gaozu took the throne, he sealed the formula and forbade any further production. The vials in the palace are all that remain from the previous dynasty, preserved in a perpetually frozen icehouse. Only two were left, and Her Majesty used them all on you."

Xu Xingchen’s eyes lit up. He felt no guilt for having used up the last of the peerless medicine, only joy at being so deeply cared for by the Emperor.

"Will it leave scars?"

He looked at the scars on his body. ’They’re so ugly. I don’t want to see her looking like this.’

Han Yang replied, "This is my first time using it, but I can assure you it will leave almost no scarring. It will just depend on how well your deepest wounds recover."

Seeing that Xu Xingchen’s condition had improved considerably, Xu Yunzhou and his wife announced their decision.

"We’ve decided to take you traveling with us, far away from the intrigue of the Capital City. Your mother loves the sea, so I’ll find an official post in a coastal city. From now on, our family of three will never be separated again."

Su Rong’s eyes filled with affectionate pity. "Chen’er, Mother will take good care of you from now on. I will make up for all the years I’ve wronged you."

Xu Xingchen looked at them, his gaze utterly flat. He showed no sign of joy at the prospect of his parents taking him with them.

"Father and Mother share a deep affection, so you travel the world together. Even the decision to settle by the sea is simply because Mother likes it."

"I, your son, was never an obstacle to your love in the past, and I won’t become one in the future."

Su Rong felt a pang of guilt. She had neglected her son for so long that he had become distant. Yet at the same time, she couldn’t stop her mind from racing, and her heart ached.

"Do you really not want to be an obstacle to us, or is this because of the Emperor?"

"She made you the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, turning you into a weapon in her hand to carry out her dirty, cruel deeds. She is simply using you!"

"When you were little, your father and I worried it wouldn’t be safe to bring you along, so we left you at home. Then you grew older and had your studies, so you couldn’t leave. Now that your education is complete, it’s time for you to go out and see the world."

Su Rong stepped forward to grasp Xu Xingchen’s arm, her eyes full of adoration. "Chen’er, your parents love you more than anything. You’re still young; there are many things you can’t yet discern. We would never harm you."

’Not harm him?’

Xu Xingchen truly didn’t believe his parents would harm him. But that was the extent of it.

"Mother, if you truly understood me, you would know I am the most exacting person in the world. No one can distinguish right from wrong, black from white, more clearly than I."

His tone was level and cold. Instead of arguing further with his mother, he turned to Xu Yunzhou.

"Father, to each their own. You enjoy traveling the world; I enjoy investigating cases. We all have our own pursuits. I will not meddle in your travels, and you have no authority over my work."

Su Rong’s anger flared. "You call that investigating cases? That’s soulless, wicked work! Your hands are stained with blood. You’ve offended countless noble families and made endless enemies. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?"

"Silence!"

Grand Tutor Xu strode in, his face an icy mask. He shot a look at Su Rong before his gaze landed on Xu Yunzhou. "You’ve ignored the boy for all these years. It’s too late to start managing him now."

"I was the one who sent Xingchen before Her Majesty. He has his own destiny. You two wander about amusing yourselves until you’ve addled your brains. He defends the sanctity of the law, investigating and executing utterly depraved beasts and human scum. He acts for the people, punishing evil. These are meritorious deeds. How could there be any retribution?"

Xu Yunzhou opened his mouth to speak but then hesitated, looking from his wife to his father, clearly torn.

Grand Tutor Xu, however, didn’t leave him in his dilemma. He simply locked the courtyard gate, shutting them out.

After chasing them off, Grand Tutor Xu looked at Xu Xingchen, his expression not quite as resolute as it had been moments before.

"At the time, an idea just came to me... I don’t know if it was to your benefit or your detriment... But you were always wise beyond your years and have your own way of doing things. Grandfather won’t be with you for much longer, but as long as I am here, the Xu Family will always have your back."

Xu Xingchen said, "Thank you, Grandfather."

On the third day after Xu Xingchen was able to walk again, the Emperor sent a congratulatory gift.

An imperial edict ordering a death sentence.

The edict ordered the execution of Liu Yumian and over thirty of her captured co-conspirators, and it specifically appointed Xu Xingchen to carry it out himself.

As Xu Xingchen read on, a smile spread across his face.

’In all this world, only Her Majesty truly understands me!’

She was the only one who didn’t find him bloodthirsty, the only one who understood his reasoning and supported his actions.

She didn’t need to ask if he wanted to take revenge himself, because she knew he would love it.

He touched the scars on his face. ’Her Majesty loves my face more than anything, yet Liu Yumian ruined it.’

A darkness gathered in his clear eyes, swirling into a mad crimson. He had never feared death, nor had he feared retaliation when he carried out a sentence. ’But they should not have ruined my face, making me ugly in Her Majesty’s eyes!’

’They deserve to die!’

Xiao Yang was very busy—busy with the war effort and busy with the spring planting.

Agriculture was the foundation of the nation, and the Agricultural God had already done all the homework. She wasn’t so inept that she couldn’t at least copy the answers.

’She wasn’t an expert, but that’s what Xie Liuzheng and the System were for, right?’

When Xiao Yang went out to offer sacrifices to the Agricultural God, she chose a plot of land, had it fenced off, and announced the establishment of the "Agricultural Research Institute."

Agriculture had always been the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture, but their responsibilities lay in managing the cultivation of existing crops, land allocation, taxation, and grain storage. They were primarily in charge of the process from planting to the collection of taxes for the Emperor.

The Agricultural Research Institute, however, was different. It would be responsible for researching and developing new, high-yield crops.

Xiao Yang announced the founding of the institute. The position of its Director was only of the Secondary Fourth Rank, and she gave the post directly to Xie Liuzheng.

The rank was neither high nor low, but giving it to Xie Liuzheng was still a difficult pill for many to swallow. Nevertheless, Xiao Yang overruled all objections and appointed her to the post.

She also allocated a considerable amount of funding to Xie Liuzheng to repair the grounds, recruit talented agriculturalists, and offer bounties for new crops.

Traveling merchants were encouraged to bring in different types of crops; as long as it was a species the Research Institute did not already possess, they would receive a handsome reward.

As soon as this edict was announced, the fact that the institute’s Director was a woman was largely overlooked. Everyone became preoccupied with figuring out how to make money from it.

Xiao Yang knew research was expensive, so even with a war going on, she did everything she could to allocate more funds to Xie Liuzheng.

She wasn’t worried about Xie Liuzheng embezzling the money; it would be a miracle if that girl didn’t end up sinking her own funds into the project.

As for everyone else, the System would be watching. It would never give anyone the chance to deceive Xie Liuzheng, and it could even sound an alarm if danger arose.

System: "..." ’I don’t recall this being my original function.’

’I’m starting to forget why I even came to this world.’

’I’m a System, not the Emperor’s beast of burden!!!’