Chapter 132: No Wonder She’s the Empress!

From that day forward, Atomu began to practice the martial arts with grueling intensity.

Years later, he finally emerged victorious in the Western Regions’ grand warrior selection, catching the eye of the Seventh Prince, Lou Yanshi.

At that time, the Seventh Prince was only twelve years old, an age defined by boundless curiosity. As his personal bodyguard, Atomu frequently—and “accidentally”—exposed the young prince to deviant social circles and unsavory locales.

His persistence eventually bore fruit; the heavens did not fail those who tried. Under Atomu’s subtle influence, Lou Yanshi’s personality and aesthetic tastes underwent a radical, jarring transformation. Not only did his behavior become eccentric and bizarre, but he also began to look quite different from what anyone would consider a normal person.

Watching from the shadows as the old King of the Western Regions grew increasingly disappointed in his once-favorite son, Atomu felt a secret, dark thrill of pleasure.

He had planned it all. He would destroy the Seventh Prince’s standing in the King’s heart step by step. Once the King thoroughly loathed his son, the Prince’s followers would scatter. That would be the perfect moment to strike and avenge his sister.

However, life rarely goes according to plan. Just as he finally reached the moment where the King had completely cast Lou Yanshi aside, and before Atomu could make his move…

The King sent the Seventh Prince away to Great Luo for a political marriage.

At the time, Atomu had been sick with worry. What if the Empress Regnant of Great Luo actually liked that weird type? If Lou Yanshi ended up living a life of luxury in the Imperial Capital, it would be a fate worse than death for Atomu.

But now, hearing that Lou Yanshi was miserable, his heart finally found peace. As long as he’s suffering, all is well!

His parents were elderly now and needed him. As much as he burned with the desire to hack Lou Yanshi into a thousand pieces, he had to endure and wait.

Just a little longer, he told himself. Wait until my parents have passed on and their affairs are settled. Then, I will go to the Imperial Capital myself to torture the Seventh Prince and settle the debt for my sister!

Seeing the flash of hatred in Atomu’s eyes, Lou Yanhui felt a flicker of confusion. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke. “If you truly have a grudge against him, I’m afraid you might never get the chance to settle it personally.”

Atomu grew agitated, his voice rising instinctively. “Why?”

Realizing his rudeness immediately after the word left his mouth, he opened his mouth to apologize, but Lou Yanhui waved him off.

“I told you—he offended the Empress Regnant of Great Luo.”

Thinking of Luo Wushuang’s temperament, Lou Yanhui added, “Her Majesty can be quite petty. When it comes to her enemies, she doesn’t care for a quick kill. She much prefers the pleasure of a cat-and-mouse game.”

Lou Yanhui was never one for many words; she had said enough out of respect for their past acquaintance. Having finished, she turned and boarded the carriage leaving the Western Regions.

“Thank you for the warning, Your Highness!” Atomu watched the Princess’s retreating figure and dropped to one knee, performing the highest salute of a Western warrior.

He stood only after the carriage vanished from sight. Hesitation flickered across his face, but his gaze eventually hardened into resolve. He still wanted to see the Seventh Prince’s end with his own eyes—and ideally, deliver the final blow himself.

However, with his parents still alive, he couldn’t simply act on impulse. He would have to ask for their blessing first.

***

While Luo Wushuang was triumphantly expanding the borders of Great Luo, the situation on the front lines between the Kingdoms of Qi and Liang grew increasingly dire.

Within a few days, the scouts sent to retrieve General Liu Yun returned with news. The battle between Qi and Liang was at its peak, and Liu Yun refused to leave her post.

Luo Wushuang was somewhat annoyed by this, but considering the substantial “benefits” she had already received from the Liang Empress, she dispatched a second group to bring the General back.

However, before her messengers could even reach the battlefield, fresh intelligence arrived from the front.

The Kingdoms of Liang and Qi had engaged in a decisive battle at Qilin Mountain. The Empress of Liang and the Commander of the Qi army had both vanished. As for General Liu Yun—the woman Luo Wushuang intended to rescue—she had fallen in battle while protecting the Empress of Liang.

Luo Wushuang felt a pang of helplessness upon hearing of Liu Yun’s death. She considered sending people to Qilin Mountain to find the body; a proper burial would be a decent way to honor her “cousin” Feng Liuli, wherever that woman had disappeared to.

But before she could act, the final report arrived:

Feng Liuli, the Empress of Liang, was cornered and killed at the Imperial Tomb by Mu Lingshuang, the Commander of the Qi army. The Kingdom of Liang has fallen!

Luo Wushuang was stunned. With the Kingdom of Liang gone, how was she supposed to find anyone?

Forget it, she thought. Considering the dozens of chests of jewelry Feng Liuli sent, and the “gifts” she provided time and again, I should at least send an envoy to the Kingdom of Qi to see what’s what…

Time seemed to hit the fast-forward button after that.

First, Ling Yun returned to report that she had successfully invited Master Yujing. However, the monk claimed the “time was not yet right” and refused to enter the palace, so she had temporarily settled him in a lodge within the capital.

Then, news arrived from both Baiyue and the Western Regions: everything was proceeding smoothly. Once the new Commandery Governors took office, Baili Xuan and Lou Yanhui would return to the capital.

Luo Wushuang wasn’t worried. It was best if they kept their side of the agreement; if they didn’t, she had plenty of ways to deal with them.

Finally, there was the Empress Dowager in the Palace of Benevolent Peace…

Having learned her lesson from the last time she summoned Shangguan Liqian alone—which had ended in a bitter argument with her daughter—the Empress Dowager directly ordered both Luo Wushuang and Shangguan Liqian to appear before her.

Luo Wushuang was the picture of reluctance on the way there.

If Mother is that bored, she should go find Father’s spirit to play with. Why bother me and Sister? Do we look like we have nothing better to do?

Shangguan Liqian looked at Luo Wushuang’s sour expression and knew the Empress was still nursing a grudge over what the Empress Dowager had said during their last meeting.

Hiding the gesture beneath her wide, flowing sleeves, Shangguan Liqian gently squeezed the hand she had been holding since they left their quarters. “Still unhappy?” she asked softly.

Luo Wushuang nodded gloomily. “I don’t want you going to the Palace of Benevolent Peace, Sister.”

Knowing her concerns, Shangguan Liqian smiled and coaxed her, “Aren’t I going with you this time? You won’t let anyone bully me while you’re there, will you?”

Hearing this, Luo Wushuang instinctively straightened her back.

“Of course not! No one dares bully you in my presence. If they push me, I’ll take their heads off!”

Her mood lightened slightly as she leaned closer to Shangguan Liqian, whispering an anxious warning: “No matter what that old witch says later, don’t let her manipulate you. You have to stay on my side.”

With their wedding only half a month away, she was genuinely afraid the Empress Dowager would try to trip them up at the finish line.

Meeting the worry in Luo Wushuang’s eyes, Shangguan Liqian nodded obediently. “I know. Wushuang and I are one family. Everyone else is an outsider.”

Luo Wushuang was so happy she felt like she could fly. She tried to suppress the grin tugging at her lips, maintaining a haughty tone. “As long as you know that!”

Seeing how a single sentence could make her so radiant, Shangguan Liqian’s eyes filled with tender affection. She tilted her head slightly, teasing, “Happy now?”

“Mm-hmm!” Luo Wushuang nodded vigorously.

Happy! Beyond happy! Sister finally realizes we are the only real family.

In high spirits, Luo Wushuang led Shangguan Liqian by the hand, strutting toward the Palace of Benevolent Peace as if she owned the world.

A group of palace attendants followed at a respectful distance. Watching their Empress Regnant—who was currently smiling like a blooming flower at Lady Shangguan—they felt a profound sense of admiration for the future Empress.

To be able to flip the Empress’s mood with just a few words… no one else could pull that off.

No wonder she was the one chosen to be the Empress!