Chapter 107: The Late Emperor’s Coffin Lid Is About to Fly Off
With no one to disturb her, Xiao Li shut herself in, engrossed in developing her weapons.
But after just two or three days, someone was at her door again, trying to drag her out.
"..."
’Do I look like some sort of pushover?’
When she asked what was going on, she learned that the Emperor was up to his usual idiocy.
For whatever reason, he’d taken it upon himself to summon the Nanqi King and Prince Yanping back to the Capital City for the New Year.
The late Emperor had seven sons and four daughters.
The eldest son, Xiao Jingrong, is the current Nanqi King. The second son, Xiao Jingzhao, is Prince Yanping. The current Emperor is the third son, Prince Chen is the fourth, and Xiao Jingyi is the fifth. The Sixth Prince died at the age of five, and the Seventh Prince drowned three years ago.
So, in reality, only five of the princes were still alive.
This was why Xiao Li always said the late Emperor had truly doted on Xiao Jingyun.
Knowing his death was near, the late Emperor had issued an edict early on, passing the throne to Crown Prince Xiao Jingyun. Meanwhile, he dispatched his eldest and second sons to the border with a separate decree for each.
They were granted titles as princes, given fiefdoms, and tasked with guarding the nation’s borders.
As for Prince Chen and Prince Wei, they were young and their maternal families lacked influence, so the late Emperor had kept them in the Capital City to support Xiao Jingyun.
The Nanqi King and Prince Yanping versus Prince Chen and Prince Wei—one could see the factions just from their titles alone.
The late Emperor had truly exhausted every scheme to ensure the Crown Prince could secure his throne.
As long as Xiao Jingyun secured his position, he would have the power to suppress the Nanqi King and Prince Yanping, even if they harbored dissent. Not to mention, he had Prince Chen and Prince Wei by his side to help.
But in Xiao Li’s memory, these two princes had never appeared before Prince Chen’s eventual usurpation. If things had gone as they should, they would have emerged as enemies of Prince Chen, Xiao Jingyu, only after their own plans were complete.
But now, the Emperor had gone and summoned them both back with a single decree.
Xiao Li: "..." ’He’s really digging his own grave.’
’Can’t Xiao Jingyun just sit quietly on his Dragon Throne? Does he have to go looking for trouble?’
If Xiao Jingyun were overthrown, Xiao Li, the sister intrinsically tied to him, would certainly meet a grim fate.
’And while she despised Xiao Jingyun, he was, at the very least, someone she could control. He was also quite tolerant of her. So... did that mean she had to keep helping him protect his throne?’
’Hilarious.’
’She was here to shatter the plot, not to fight in some war to defend the throne.’
’If he could keep the throne, fine. If not, too bad!’
Even though the Emperor sent his men to summon her several times, and the two returning princes also sent envoys to her door, Xiao Li refused to see anyone.
’A pack of wolves with malicious intent. She couldn’t be bothered to put on a false front for them. Right now, the most important thing was weapons—weapons!’
If it weren’t for the cold weather and heavy snow, she would have left the Capital City long ago.
She could manage to create small weapons like firearms in her mansion, but if she wanted something with real destructive power, the commotion would be impossible to hide.
She had already ordered people to start preparing what she needed. As soon as everything was ready, she would move there immediately.
When the Emperor realized he couldn’t get Xiao Li to come, he dispatched Prince Wei.
"If you can’t bring her here today, I will hold you solely responsible."
Prince Wei: "..." ’Isn’t this just bullying?’
’He can’t summon his own Imperial Sister, so what kind of man bullies me instead?’
However, an emperor’s command could not be defied. Xiao Jingyi trudged over to the Princess Mansion, asked for someone to announce his arrival, and then waited obediently at the gate.
It was a strange thing. Xiao Jingyun was his older brother and the Emperor, yet Xiao Jingyi didn’t find him fearsome. Instead, it was Xiao Li, his Imperial Sister who was only a few days his senior, who inspired a growing sense of awe in him, making him afraid to act rashly.
Everyone who had come to summon her before was turned away at the gate, so Xiao Jingyi had little confidence. His brother, the Emperor, might think their Imperial Sister treated him well, but only he knew how little weight he actually carried in her eyes.
’If he hadn’t proactively demonstrated his own value, his Imperial Sister wouldn’t have even bothered to give him a second glance.’
But people were strange like that. His Imperial Sister’s indifference was plain to see, and she didn’t even try to hide her dangerous nature, yet he couldn’t help but feel she was good and found himself wanting to be closer to her.
Xiao Jingyi couldn’t believe it when the main gate of the Princess Mansion swung open.
"My Imperial Sister is willing to see me?"
When the guard nodded, Xiao Jingyi was overjoyed. His steps were impossibly light as he walked inside.
"Imperial Sister! Imperial Sister!"
At that moment, he was like a young man not yet nineteen, his emotions on full display, brimming with youthful energy.
He made his way to Xiao Li’s study and, upon entering, rushed over to the brazier to warm himself. "Imperial Sister," he complained, "it’s freezing out there! I nearly turned into an icicle. Going out in this weather is just asking for a death wish."
Xiao Li, toying with a pile of bottles and jars, spared him a glance. "Then what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re trying to get me to go out."
Not the least bit embarrassed at being called out, Xiao Jingyi casually picked up the scalding kettle, poured himself some tea, and sat down beside Xiao Li, cup in hand.
"My brother insisted I come. I couldn’t refuse, so I had to at least run over and make an appearance. It’ll be easier to report back to him this way."
He was just going through the motions; he never had any real intention of getting Xiao Li to leave.
"Of course, I also haven’t seen you in a few days, Imperial Sister, so I wanted to stop by and check on you."
With that said, he glanced at the pile of jars in front of Xiao Li, his curiosity piqued. "Imperial Sister, what are you making? It smells like medicine."
Xiao Li replied, "It’s golden sore medicine. I’m having people test out which formulas are most effective so I can stock up for the guards."
Everyone knew that Xiao Li had recently survived an assassination attempt and that her guards had suffered heavy casualties, so it wasn’t strange for her to be preparing medicine.
Xiao Jingyi frowned. "Those incompetents at the Ministry of Justice still haven’t caught Po Feng. It would be one thing if he was scared off, but I’m afraid he’s still lurking somewhere in the Capital City, plotting who knows what."
Xiao Li scoffed, "What can he do? Just try to assassinate me. My only fear is that he *won’t* show up."
Po Feng wasn’t her primary target, but that wouldn’t stop her from eliminating him if the opportunity arose. After all, the feeling of a snake lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike, was an unpleasant one.
Xiao Jingyi didn’t doubt his Imperial Sister’s lethality in the slightest. Most of the recent deaths in the Capital City were, in one way or another, connected to her.
Plenty of people wanted to kill her, but as of yet, no one had been found who was capable of the deed.
Setting those thoughts aside, Xiao Jingyi brought up the two recently returned brothers.
"The twenty-fifth of the twelfth lunar month is Consort Qin’s fiftieth birthday. The Nanqi King had been petitioning to return since the beginning of the year, but His Majesty never approved it. It wasn’t until last month that he finally agreed, citing that the Nanqi King and the Consort, mother and son, had been separated for many years and should be allowed to reunite. Everyone in the court is praising His Majesty for his benevolence."
Xiao Li remained silent. She had no desire to comment on an Emperor with a hole in his head. ’A few words of praise for his "benevolence" and he’s already lost all sense of direction. At this rate, he’s going to lose the throne sooner or later.’
Xiao Jingyi continued, "Then someone proposed that since His Majesty allowed the Nanqi King to return, why not let Prince Yanping come back as well to reunite with Princess Consort Hui? Besides, next spring is the anniversary of the late Emperor’s death. They said the late Emperor would surely want to see his children living in harmony, respecting their elders and loving their siblings, and that it would allow him to rest in peace."
"So, with a wave of his hand, my brother the Emperor summoned both Prince Yanping and Princess Jia Ruo back."
’As expected. An idiot is either an idiot or an even bigger idiot.’
’It’s like the Emperor is afraid there *won’t* be chaos. The late Emperor resting in peace? The late Emperor is probably about to claw his way out of his coffin!’
Prince Yanping and Princess Jia Ruo were full-blooded siblings.
Princess Jia Ruo was six months younger than Xiao Li. A few years ago, she had followed her brother to his fiefdom and, it seemed, remained unmarried.
In her memories, this Jia Ruo seemed to have had some run-ins with the body’s original owner—mostly, Jia Ruo had bullied her. Xiao Li couldn’t care less. She didn’t consider herself the original owner, nor did she have the time or inclination to get revenge for her.
Seeing he couldn’t sway her, Xiao Jingyi leaned in conspiratorially. "Imperial Sister, Prince Yanping didn’t bring his family back, but he did bring a young woman with him. She wears a veil and is very mysterious. I’ve seen her twice now, and I can’t shake the feeling that she looks familiar... a bit like our fourth Imperial Sister-in-law..."
Xiao Li’s half-lidded eyes slowly opened, and the light that glinted in their corners was like a statue stirring to life.
A small smile touched her lips. "Next time... lead with the important part."