Chapter 226: She Lost

Su Wan’s expression changed drastically in an instant. Bright yellow had always been reserved for the Emperor and the Empress. Even the Crown Prince and Crown Princess wore ceremonial robes of crimson.

What was Xiliang trying to pull?

Were they directly handing over the throne to her?

What kind of joke was this?

Su Wan’s face turned cold. “You brought the wrong clothes. Wearing a bright yellow robe is a breach of protocol. Are you trying to pin the crime of treason on me?”

Suppressing her anger, she shoved the tray away.

With a loud clang, the tray toppled over, and the robe scattered on the ground.

The palace maid, terrified, turned ashen and dropped to her knees with a thud. “Young Lady Su, this is the Empress’s command. I am merely following orders. If you refuse to wear it, the Empress will surely punish and hold me accountable!”

“Have I been too mild-tempered lately, letting you all act so recklessly toward me? Keeping me in the dark about such a major matter, do you take me for a puppet to be manipulated, or are you so sure I won’t refuse this easily handed-over throne and empire?”

Su Wan’s expression darkened with anger as she sneered coldly, “Today’s a grand occasion for the Crown Princess’s investiture. A bit of bloodshed might even add to the celebration!”

Whether it was the Empress Dowager or the reigning Empress behind this idea, they had completely crossed Su Wan’s bottom line.

If she didn’t stand her ground and express her attitude now, would they simply bypass her on any major decisions in the future, making unilateral choices for her and forcing her to comply?

Fuming with anger, Su Wan strode to the cabinet, pulled out a plain long dress, and put it on. She then donned a light purple feathered cape with white fox fur lining and slipped on a pair of deerskin boots. Without hesitation, she headed straight to find Ji Xuan.

The palace maid’s face was as pale as a sheet. Trembling, she carefully folded the robe, held it in her arms, and went to report to the Empress.

The Empress was in the Mingxin Hall, where Fan Yuheng, Wei Liuyin, and Wei Liujin were also present.

The Empress was discussing the next steps with Fan Yuheng, her expression filled with concern. She sighed, “The Empress Dowager is decisive and strong-willed, never considering the feelings of others. What was supposed to be a ceremony for investing the Crown Princess has suddenly turned into an abdication ceremony. Not only will the court officials raise objections, but Wanwan will also find it hard to accept, won’t she?”

Although her time spent with Su Wan had not been long, the Empress could tell that Su Wan was someone indifferent to fame and fortune. Her temper seemed mild on the surface, but only because no one had crossed her bottom line. If that line were ever crossed, Su Wan likely wouldn’t be so agreeable. She was a formidable person to deal with.

If Su Wan were an ambitious person, today’s events would have been a joyous occasion for everyone.

“If Wanwan is willing to take over Xiliang, then the matter of handling the men in the imperial harem can be resolved smoothly.” 

Fan Yuheng remarked, clearly in favor of the idea. He reached out to pat Wei Liuyin’s head and asked, “What does Yinyin think?”

“The ancestor always said ‘survival of the fittest.’ I’m not as capable as Big Sister, so it’s only natural for Xiliang to be entrusted to her. Besides, the throne originally belonged to my aunt. To fulfill Mother Empress and you, it’s now occupied by Mother Empress,” Wei Liuyin replied calmly.

From the moment Wei Liuyin became aware of the world, everyone regarded her as the Crown Princess, as the Empress had only one daughter.

She believed this as well, holding herself to the standards of a future Empress, studying diligently and never daring to slack off.

Su Wan’s arrival, however, introduced a sense of unease, a threat to her position. This feeling intensified when the Empress began handing memorials to Su Wan for review, sending an unmistakable message: the Empress intended to return the throne to its “rightful owner.”

Resentment brewed in her heart. No matter how capable Su Wan was, in Wei Liuyin’s eyes, Su Wan was merely someone raised in an ordinary marquis household. She had never studied the art of ruling; how could she possibly govern a nation effectively?

It wasn’t until the ancestor summoned her, showing her the memorials that Su Wan had handled, that Wei Liuyin realized she had no choice but to admit defeat.