Chapter 46: The Identity Exposed!

While Shangguan Liqian worried in silence, the object of her trepidation, Luo Wuyan, was answering respectfully.

“Your Majesty, I heard of the incident at the Minister of War’s manor this morning. I have come specifically to share your burdens.”

Hearing that she had indeed come for this matter, Luo Wushuang let out a cold sneer and teased, “Oh? And how does Prince An intend to share Our burdens?”

Perhaps she was secretly annoyed that Luo Wuyan had snatched her sister’s attention, but today, Luo Wushuang found everything about her imperial sister eyesore.

Of course, she hadn’t exactly found her pleasant to look at before, either.

Luo Wuyan, unaware that she had already been marked down in her sister’s mental ledger several times in just a few breaths, unhurriedly pulled a prepared memorial from her wide sleeve.

This was something she had stayed up late to write based on her memories from a previous life. She just hadn’t expected it to be useful so soon.

Luo Wushuang opened the memorial presented by Prince An. With a single glance, her expression shifted.

The document detailed the illegal dealings the Minister of War had engaged in over the years, complete with a full list of witnesses and testimonies.

Luo Wushuang’s face darkened, her eyes turning as cold as ice. She hadn’t expected Prince An to be able to gather so much evidence right under the noses of the Secret Guards without making a sound.

Forming factions for private gain, bribery and corruption, showing contempt for the monarch, colluding with bandits, falsifying military achievements…

These proofs were so detailed that they couldn’t have been gathered in a day; they were clearly the result of long-term preparation.

Previously, Prince An had remained patient and silent, even going so far as to ask for the hand of the Minister of War’s daughter. Now that Shen Zhengfeng had lost his power, she was kicking him while he was down with such clinical efficiency.

It seemed she had truly underestimated this imperial sister of hers. No wonder Liqian had repeatedly warned her to be careful of Prince An.

At the time, she had thought her sister was merely being overly anxious, but now it appeared that Prince An was indeed someone who could not be overlooked.

Just as these thoughts flashed through Luo Wushuang’s mind, Luo Wuyan spoke again with deference.

“Your Majesty, Shen Zhengfeng has flouted the law and deceived the monarch… His crimes are heinous. If he is not punished severely, I fear the public will not be appeased.”

Luo Wushuang’s heart stirred as she asked, “In Prince An’s opinion, how should Shen Zhengfeng be handled?”

Listening to the testing tone in her imperial sister’s voice, Luo Wuyan knew that given her current status, the most appropriate thing to do was to avoid suspicion.

But when she thought of Shen Youran being bullied and humiliated in the Minister’s manor, Luo Wuyan still couldn’t suppress the impulse in her heart. She spoke plainly:

“According to the law, the Minister’s household should have all assets confiscated. The primary culprit, Shen Zhengfeng, should be executed by a thousand cuts, and his kin should be exiled three thousand miles.”

Meeting the flicker of resentment in Luo Wuyan’s eyes, Luo Wushuang suppressed her confusion and asked, “And what of Shen Youran?”

Luo Wuyan’s expression stiffened. She immediately lifted her robes and knelt on the ground, touching her forehead to the floor. Lowering her posture, she pleaded, “I wish to take Shen Youran as my wife. I beg Your Majesty to grant this.”

A flash of surprise crossed Luo Wushuang’s eyes. She had thought Prince An was being so decisive today because she intended to abandon her previous schemes.

Had she underestimated the girl? Or were her ambitions even greater than she thought?

The thought flickered by, but Luo Wushuang did not agree immediately. Instead, she asked back airily, “And if We refuse?”

Perhaps not expecting a rejection, the kneeling Luo Wuyan looked up abruptly. Realizing her lapse in composure, she slammed her head back down against the floor, producing a dull thud.

“I beg Your Majesty to grant this!” Luo Wuyan repeated, her voice thick with earnestness.

Luo Wushuang glanced at the still-dazed Shangguan Liqian. Her heart, which had already plummeted to rock bottom, continued to sink. What is Sister thinking about right now?

Why is she always focusing her attention on insignificant people? Prince An… even her breathing is an eyesore!

I really want to…

Dark thoughts flashed repeatedly through Luo Wushuang’s mind. When her narrow phoenix eyes drifted toward the person kneeling on the floor, they were filled with malice.

“It seems my Imperial Sister has come to the palace today with her mind firmly made up.”

Her true identity being exposed so suddenly caught Luo Wuyan completely off guard.

Her hands pressed against the floor tightened involuntarily. In a place where Luo Wushuang couldn’t see, cold sweat trickled down from her temples.

When… when did Her Majesty find out she was a woman?

In her past life, she had managed to hide it perfectly until the day the Empress passed away.

After a moment of confusion, unease rushed in like a tide.

Although she didn’t know when her cover had been blown, if she insisted on marrying Sister Youran now, she feared she wouldn’t be saving her from suffering, but rather dragging her down.

However, the fall of the Minister’s manor was now a certainty. This was when Sister Youran would be at her weakest. If she chose to do nothing, Sister Youran would surely suffer immensely.

Perhaps she would even…

As she lay prostrate on the ground, a swirl of emotions flooded Luo Wuyan’s eyes, leaving her momentarily at a loss.

Since her rebirth, she had relied on her experiences from her previous life. Many difficult problems had been easy for her to handle, which had inevitably caused her to relax her guard and become careless.

In her previous life, the fall of the Minister’s manor had happened several years later. At that time, the household’s arrogance was far greater than it was now, and their crimes were even more severe.

Their homes were seized, the patriarch executed by a thousand cuts, all the men of the clan were beheaded, and the women were sent to the Imperial Music Bureau to serve as prostitutes.

Fortunately, before that happened, she had asked the Empress to marry Sister Youran. Thus, as the Princess Consort, Shen Youran had been spared from the family’s downfall.

However, as the daughter of a criminal official, Sister Youran remained the subject of gossip for the noble ladies of the capital.

It wasn’t until Luo Wuyan ascended the throne that those annoying rumors finally subsided.

To prevent the tragedies of her past life from repeating, she had reached out to her nominal imperial sister early in this life.

First, she wanted to rescue Shen Youran from the beasts of the Minister’s manor sooner. Second…

She wanted to change her destiny of being forced into the court’s power struggles.

This time, she wanted to actively demonstrate her capabilities to the Empress and enter the game herself.

Whether she became the blade in her sister’s hand or a mere pawn, she had to stand at a position unreachable by others to protect Sister Youran.

As for rebellion, Luo Wuyan hadn’t even thought about it since her rebirth.

It wasn’t because she was particularly loyal to this heartless Empress, but rather…

She had been terrified by a warning from Master Yujing: “The Empress Consort’s true form is that of a demon; she will naturally be harmed by Your Majesty’s Dragon Qi.”

Having been given a second chance, she naturally didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes.

Furthermore, Master Yujing had also instructed her that after turning back time, she had to make contact with Sister Youran as quickly as possible—ideally staying by her side every day.

Because even though she hadn’t ascended the throne, she still carried a Kingly Aura. For a demon with an unstable soul like her sister, that aura was the greatest form of nourishment.

Luo Wuyan didn’t care what happened to herself.

She only knew that she loved Shen Youran, regardless of whether she was human or demon.

Sister Youran must love her too, otherwise…

In their previous life, she wouldn’t have risked her very existence to stay with her in the palace until the end.

But when she remembered how the once bright and moving Sister Youran had eventually vanished from the palace without a trace—fading away from the world entirely—Luo Wuyan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.

Her Sister Youran was the best woman in the world, the best demon!

No matter the price, she would never let go!

Having reached a decision, Luo Wuyan raised her head, her eyes filled with determination. She was just about to speak…

But she was interrupted by Luo Wushuang, who had seen enough of her panic and unease.

“Since my Imperial Sister is so sincere in her request, how could We not agree?”

Luo Wuyan met Luo Wushuang’s dark gaze, which was laced with a mix of playfulness and pure malice.

Luo Wuyan: “…”