Chapter 35: The Splendid Country Part 2

Everyone was stunned. Only then did they remember: Xia Lingyu was not just the Empress; she was also a War Goddess who had gone to the battlefield, clashed against vast armies, and returned victorious.

So how could such a brilliant woman be forced to abdicate so easily? They had underestimated her, thought things too simple.

“Quick, men! Kill her!” Chancellor Li recovered his wits and immediately shouted for the guards inside to attack Xia Lingyu, completely disregarding Xia Wuheng’s life.

But even facing so many, Xia Lingyu dodged them all with ease. It was only when the forces outside completely surrounded the Imperial Study and stormed in, subduing all of Chancellor Li’s men, that the fight ended.

The tide had completely turned. Seeing the situation, Xia Wuheng immediately grabbed the Empress Dowager by the neck and shouted, “Xia Lingyu, stop right now, or I’ll kill your mother!”

The Empress Dowager’s face was a mask of panic. “My child, my child, save me!”

Xia Lingyu paused. A flicker of light passed through the Empress Dowager’s eyes. “Mother knows she was wrong. My child, quickly order these soldiers to stand down!”

At that moment, someone emerged from among the soldiers. A teasing voice rang out: “How can Her Highness the Empress Dowager be so thick-skinned? You yourself said you wanted no ties with Her Majesty. How then is Her Majesty your child?”

Everyone looked. It was none other than Xiao Luo, whose body had been “neither seen nor found.” She was dressed in the low-key robes of a palace maid, her smile exceptionally dazzling.

“Xiao Luo! You’re still alive?” Xia Wuheng’s eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

Xiao Luo replied, “Of course. Even if you died, I wouldn’t be dead.”

So saying, she walked gracefully before Xia Lingyu. Seeing Xia Lingyu’s pale complexion and malnourished appearance, she felt a pang in her heart and embraced her tightly. “Your Majesty, you have suffered.”

The ice and snow in Xia Lingyu’s eyes melted away. She released the sword in her hand, opened her arms, and hugged Xiao Luo in return, murmuring softly, “You are safe. That is all that matters.”

Seeing the two of them embracing so openly, Xia Wuheng and his two co-conspirators wore expressions as unpleasant as if they had eaten excrement.

Damn it. So all of this had been planned by these two women all along, hadn’t it?

Since there were still outsiders present, Xia Lingyu held Xiao Luo for a moment before letting go. She turned and cast a cold glance over the three. “Arrest all of these insubordinate rebels and throw them into the Imperial Prison!”

Thus, the rebellious faction led by Chancellor Li, Xia Wuheng, and the Empress Dowager was completely taken down.

As Xia Wuheng was being dragged away, he still yelled, “Xia Lingyu, you already wrote the abdication decree! Zhen is the Emperor now! Let go of Zhen!”

“Is that so? Did you get a clear look at which seal was stamped on it?” Xia Lingyu smiled.

Xia Wuheng froze for a moment, then understood. Xia Lingyu must have used a fake imperial seal to stamp it. He had never truly been Emperor, not even for a single moment. Upon this realization, he wilted instantly, like an eggplant hit by frost.

After clearing the scene, a great general, clad in armor and radiating an intimidating aura, strode in. He knelt and performed a salute to Xia Lingyu. “Your Majesty, your general has arrived late.”

“General Mingwu, please rise.” A trace of a smile flickered in Xia Lingyu’s eyes. “It was thanks to you, General Mingwu, that we could capture these disloyal ministers and traitors.”

The forces outside all belonged to General Mingwu. Without him, dealing with the old fox Chancellor Li would have required far more scheming.

A grin spread across General Mingwu’s face. “To protect Your Majesty—that is an official’s duty. It was also thanks to Her Highness the Empress contacting your subject in time. Otherwise, your subject might not have been able to rush here so quickly.”

“Mm.” Xia Lingyu nodded, her gaze toward Xiao Luo growing softer still. “Luo’er is indeed Zhen’s savior.”

The day before Xia Wuheng and his allies staged their coup, Xiao Luo had already warned her of these potential events. This allowed her to make preparations in advance and counter their schemes. Not only did she capture Xia Wuheng and Chancellor Li in one fell swoop, but she could also use this chance to see the true faces of the court officials, allowing her to clean house.

Two birds, one stone.

General Mingwu chuckled good-naturedly. “Your Majesty, your subject has a request.”

Xia Lingyu said, “General, speak freely.”

As long as it was within her power, she would certainly grant his request.

General Mingwu said, “Your subject’s daughter, Liu Qingying, keeps insisting on going to the battlefield and serving her country. Your subject is simply at his wits’ end with her. Might Your Majesty consider amending the laws to allow women to join the military? Your Majesty once spoke of establishing a Women’s Army…”

Hearing this, Xiao Luo found it rather unbelievable.

She could scarcely imagine Liu Qingying, who carried herself with an inherent aura of a white lotus flower and who was destined to be the second female lead, joining the army. Yet, she also looked forward to it very much.

Xia Lingyu nodded. “Mm. Zhen has already considered it. This law will be amended soon, allowing women to join the military.”

General Mingwu clasped his fist in gratitude. “Your subject thanks Your Majesty! Your subject takes his leave.”

Xia Lingyu nodded in acknowledgment. “General, take care.”

With all urgent matters dealt with, Xia Lingyu and Xiao Luo returned together to Frostfall Hall.

“Your Majesty, did you suffer in prison? They didn’t do anything to you, did they?” Xiao Luo’s eyes brimmed with worry. Unable to resist, she ran her hands up and down Xia Lingyu’s body, checking her over thoroughly.

Xia Lingyu’s gaze was gentle. “I’m fine. They didn’t have time to lay a hand on me.”

Xiao Luo’s touch, however, had made her breathing unsteady. She caught Xiao Luo’s restless hands, leaned in, and captured her lips in a kiss. “I simply missed you to the bone.”

Every moment, she had been thinking of her, aching with longing.

Only Xiao Luo could ever affect her this way.

Xiao Luo was kissed until she felt somewhat breathless. She gently pushed Xia Lingyu away and whispered, “Your Majesty, perhaps you should go take a bath first.”

Xia Lingyu paused. Only then did she realize: after three days in the Imperial Prison, she likely carried an odor about her. She was being disliked.

“You actually dare to dislike me?” Xia Lingyu reached out and pinched Xiao Luo’s cheek.

Xiao Luo looked away, denying it. “Of course not. But it would be better if Your Majesty washed up first.”

Seeing her stubborn denial, Xia Lingyu found it amusing. “You say that, and yet…”

The expression on her face practically spelled out the word ‘dislike.’

Under Xiao Luo’s insistence, Xia Lingyu resigned herself to her fate and ordered the palace servants to prepare hot water.

While bathing, Xiao Luo even came over to help her undress. “Your Majesty has worked hard these past few days. Tonight, let your subject serve you during the bath?”

Xia Lingyu was more than willing and readily agreed.

So, both shed their clothes and entered the bath. Xiao Luo stationed herself behind Xia Lingyu, gently massaging her shoulders. “Is this comfortable?”

Xia Lingyu replied, “Quite nice.”

Xiao Luo leaned close beside her ear and said, “Your Majesty, even if everyone else betrays you, I will never betray you.”

Xia Lingyu paused for a moment, understanding the meaning behind Xiao Luo’s words. During those brief three days, Xia Wuheng and Chancellor Li had rebelled. Most of her ministers had betrayed her. Even the Empress Dowager, her own birth mother, had been capable of trying to kill her.

Xiao Luo thought she might be disillusioned with everyone. But in truth, she had been prepared long ago.

Trending toward benefit and avoiding harm was human nature. Everyone acted this way. Even the Empress Dowager’s actions, she accepted calmly and equitably.

She had simply never imagined what she would become if Xiao Luo ever betrayed her. And fortunately, Xiao Luo was whispering this promise in her ear, vowing never to betray her. She naturally trusted Xiao Luo.

Amid the dense, steamy mist, Xia Lingyu slowly turned around and embraced Xiao Luo. Their bodies pressed together, fitting with seamless intimacy.

“Luo’er, thank you. Having you in this life is enough for me.”

…

In the dank, gloomy Imperial Prison, Xia Wuheng, Chancellor Li, and the Empress Dowager were crammed into the foulest cell.

Not only did it contain the excrement of the previous occupant, but also dead rats. The air was putrid and stinging. After three days inside, their eyes had grown numb.

Then, steady footsteps sounded outside the iron gate. They thought it was a jailer—until Xia Lingyu appeared.

Xia Lingyu had regained her former glory. Her phoenix eyes swept over them, slightly up-tilted and carrying a hint of mocking amusement.

Seeing her, the Empress Dowager’s expression changed drastically. She scrambled desperately to the iron gate and cried out, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, let Aijia out! Aijia knows she was wrong! She will never dare do it again!”

She stretched out her hand to grab at Xia Lingyu’s Dragon Robe, but Xia Lingyu stepped back with distaste.

“Her Highness the Empress Dowager has no regard for past affection. Zhen will have none either.”

The Empress Dowager wept. “Your Majesty, Aijia is your birth mother! Even if Aijia did something wrong, you shouldn’t treat Aijia this way!”

Xia Lingyu smiled. “Birth mother? Zhen recalls that just a few days ago, you severed all mother-daughter ties with Zhen. And now you claim to be Zhen’s birth mother? Isn’t that far too laughable?”

The Empress Dowager had now completely abandoned any semblance of dignity. She wailed like a madwoman. “Your Majesty, I was wrong! Let me out! I am willing to stay in the Palace of Pure Tranquility for the rest of my life!”

She was filled with regret. If she had known this earlier, she would have strangled this wretched daughter at birth.

Xia Lingyu looked down at her without a shred of sympathy. “Zhen will not trust you any longer. I came today merely to gaze upon your miserable state. And I am also here to tell you: from now on, all of you will remain in this cell for the rest of your lives. Until death.”

Xia Wuheng could hold back no longer. “Xia Lingyu, when I locked you up, I didn’t stick you in a place this foul! At least give me a different cell!”

He simply could not tolerate this environment any longer!

The gash Xia Lingyu had carved on his face days ago was still festering. He felt his face was completely ruined.

Xia Lingyu said, “I was originally going to move you. But your attitude is so wretched, I’ve changed my mind. Stay here and live out the rest of your lives.”

With that, she too found the environment utterly unbearable. Covering her nose in disgust, she walked out.

The Empress Dowager let out a hysterical shriek and then lunged at Xia Wuheng, slapping his face left and right. “What nonsense are you spouting, you wretch?! Who told you to speak to Her Majesty like that?!”

If it weren’t for Xia Wuheng, they would have been moved long ago.

Chancellor Li had also reached his limit. He rose and began punching and kicking Xia Wuheng furiously. “You useless piece of trash! I must have been blind to choose you!”

After this brutal beating, Xia Wuheng was battered beyond recognition. His once-presentable clothes were now torn and tattered. He felt his life had become utterly wretched.

Suddenly, a low, eerie laugh sounded from the cell across the way.

“Who are you?!” Filled with impotent rage, Xia Wuheng grabbed the iron bars and glared venomously at the figure cowering in the shadows of the opposite cell.

That person spoke in a crazed, rambling tone: “Ah? Me? Let me think… I’m a divine doctor. The world’s greatest divine doctor.”

“No… why am I still here? Qing’er is waiting for me. I have to find that last woman… Heart’s blood! I need her heart’s blood!”

Seeing this, the three felt despair consume their hearts. Staying in this place, even if they didn’t go mad, they would eventually.

…

At that moment, a System Notification chimed: [Mission Completed. Mission Progress: 90%!]