Chapter 12:

Zhuang Xian hurried to the Xuan Wang Mansion. The emperor’s favoritism was too obvious—this mansion was smaller than his prime minister’s residence and located in a remote area on the outskirts of the capital. Although Prince Xuan seldom stayed there, being stationed at the frontier, it still felt excessive.

Murong Xuan was in the courtyard throwing leaves. In just two months, his throwing technique had become impressive. The leaves flew swiftly, each one hitting the target dead center.

“Your Highness is so skilled,” Jian Yi praised, having tried a few times himself but not finding it as easy as it seemed.

“You haven’t seen the future princess consort; she’s even more impressive,” Murong Xuan replied, grinning.

Jian Yi couldn’t help but sneer, thinking to himself that such a refined and composed prince had been completely unnerved by the future princess consort. He even doubted whether this person was a figment of the prince’s imagination.

At that moment, the steward came in to announce, “Prime Minister Zhuang requests an audience.”

“Let him come to the study,” Murong Xuan said, waving to clear the leaves. He didn’t bother changing his clothes and went straight to the study.

His time in the capital was limited, and he didn’t have close ties with any officials. He didn’t need to win people over and wasn’t afraid of offending anyone. Standing alone in this world, the only thing he cared about was the remains of his mother, who didn’t want to be buried in the imperial tombs but wanted to rest in a grassy field where her happiest memories were. The imperial palace, where she had suffered so much, was the place that hurt her the most.

As a son, he tried his best to fulfill her wishes, but the emperor refused. Time and again, the emperor used his filial piety to deceive and manipulate him. If his mother knew that she was used by that man to control her son even after her death, she would probably be enraged and rise from the tomb.

Zhuang Xian hurried down the road and nearly collided with Murong Xuan.

“Why is the Prime Minister in such a hurry? Is there an urgent matter?” Murong Xuan asked.

Zhuang Xian bowed deeply, “My lord, I implore you to save my daughter.”

“Take your time and explain. What happened?”

“The Empress has issued an imperial decree for my eldest daughter to enter the palace. I know the purpose is not good, and I beg you to go to Renxi Palace. In the future, I will be at your service, and there will be nothing I won’t do for you.”

“Prime Minister Zhuang, Murong Ze can also save her. Why go so far and ask me?”

“My lord, among the few princes, only you are capable of great things. I hope you can stabilize the country of Dazhou and not let those jealous and incompetent men take control. I will support you with all my strength.”

“Prime Minister Zhuang, you really care for your daughter,” Murong Xuan said, looking at him with a hint of admiration.

“No, even without my daughter, I would have taken this step, though it might have been later.”

“I’m not interested in the throne, but since you care so deeply for your daughter, I, Xuan Wang, am willing to make this trip.”

Ministers couldn’t enter the palace without permission, but as a prince, he could go to see his mother and the Empress wouldn’t refuse him.

Zhuang Xian was eager for him to leave, nearly dragging him out the door.

The distance between the Xuan Wang Mansion and the imperial palace was so far. Would he even be able to save his daughter?

Meanwhile, Zhuang Xiaoyu was about to lose her mind. She hadn’t had this much fun in ages.

When the Empress couldn’t argue with her, she ordered a few burly women to slap Zhuang Xiaoyu in the face, and they were out of breath after trying. They couldn’t even touch her clothes.

“Zhuang Xiaoyu, are you trying to rebel?” the Empress shouted.

“If you want to hit me, go ahead. What does that have to do with rebellion? It just shows that the people in Renxi Palace are too incompetent,” Zhuang Xiaoyu retorted.

“Wait, you just wait! Go find some Imperial Guards. If I don’t peel your skin off today, I won’t rest easy!” the Empress commanded one of the women.

“Go ahead, go ahead, I’m waiting.”

“Are you tired from running? Would you like some tea?” The Empress, surprisingly considerate, seemed to know that Zhuang Xiaoyu might be thirsty. However, would she dare drink the Empress’s tea? The answer was no.

Zhuang Xiaoyu walked over to the table, picked up the tea cup, and was about to bring it to her mouth when she quickly glanced around the room at the others, who were all surprised, excited, and even a little eager. Ha, this is going to be fun…

In a flash, she poured the tea directly into the Empress’s mouth.

Chaos ensued. The Empress desperately gagged, and the women frantically pounded her back, hoping she would vomit. But, what idiots! Didn’t they know that the more they hit her back, the further the tea went down?

“Zhuang Xiaoyu, you… you won’t escape this!”

At that moment, a woman came in with two Imperial Guards.

The two men cupped their fists and saluted, “What is your command, Empress?”

“Grab Zhuang Xiaoyu and bring her to the palace. She’s going to die today!” the Empress cried out in a distorted voice, her words full of fury.

“You think you can defeat me with these two? They’re not even worth my little finger!” Zhuang Xiaoyu mocked.

As the two guards moved to grab her, Zhuang Xiaoyu casually waved her sleeve, and they were both sent flying like leaves in the wind, drifting out of the hall and disappearing.

“Oh no, I overdid it. What now?”

The hall fell silent. The Empress opened her mouth, and it was wide enough to fit an egg.

“Still playing?”

“Uh… uh… uh…”

The Empress shook her head in fear, unable to utter a word.

“Really not playing anymore? If you’re not, then I’ll stop.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Quickly, quickly, stop—this woman was too terrifying; they couldn’t afford to provoke her.

“Hehe, judging by the Empress’s appearance, it seems she needs a man. Miss Zhuang has a kind heart, so I’ll help you out.”

“No need, you stop, you stop, hurry up and leave.”

The Empress was gasping for breath, her face flushed. Zhuang Xiaoyu understood the situation—this was clearly an attempt to drug her and make her lose her clarity. What a dirty trick! Let her reap what she had sown.

“You, hurry up and find the man you’ve prepared for the Empress. If you’re late, the Empress may die from a fit of rage!”

“Ah? This… Your Majesty…”

The maids were terrified. They didn’t know whether the drug could kill, but they knew it could turn a virtuous and chaste woman into a shameless, lustful one.

“Ah, if you don’t want her to die, hurry up! If she dies, it won’t be fun. Better to live miserably than die, right? As long as there’s life, there’s hope.”

This was exactly what the Empress was thinking. She didn’t want to die, she couldn’t die. What about Xiao’er if she died? Zhuang Xiaoyu was right…

“Help me… to the side hall.”

Two maids helped the Empress to the side hall, and not long after, sounds that would make anyone blush and their heart race came from within. Oh my, it sounded pretty intense. It was unclear which unlucky man had the “privilege.”

Although the Empress was over forty, her well-maintained figure and beauty were the reasons the Emperor had made her his empress.

Zhuang Xiaoyu didn’t bother to watch. It was too much of an eyesore. Now, no one cared about her anymore, and she swaggered out of the main hall, only to bump into Murong Xuan standing at the door looking disheveled.

“When did you arrive?”

“Your father was worried about your safety, so he sent Xuan Wang to the palace to save you. Here I am.”

“Oh, you’re late. The main event is already over, but there’s one last part. If you want to watch…”

“I don’t want to watch.”

“Oh, you don’t want to watch? Then let’s go home.”

Zhuang Xiaoyu strode ahead, with Murong Xuan following closely behind, observing her. He had never seen such a bold woman. There was no other woman like her in the world—her domineering confidence was as grand and fierce as a chisel and axe, with a disregard for all relations… That back looked strangely familiar.

He hurried into the palace. Without waiting for the little eunuch to announce him, he tried to charge inside, only to have two guards fly out of the hall with elegant movements. Then he heard Zhuang Xiaoyu’s voice. She didn’t need saving; the one who needed saving was the Empress.

“Thanks, although you didn’t really help much.”

“No need to thank me.” It wasn’t his fault he didn’t help.

“My father, that loyal old fool, if I told him I handled the Empress, he’d definitely try to stop me. It would be a breach of etiquette. Anyway, let’s just pretend you got here in time and saved me. Don’t mention anything about today to him.”

“Looks like I gained something from this.”

“Gained something? Today, it’s the Empress who gained something. The old Emperor visits her every fifteenth day. She must have been desperate by now. Wait and see, she’ll get hooked and continue the relationship with that man.”

“Do you know who that man is?”

“No idea, didn’t see. It was an eyesore.”

“It’s her nephew.”

“…”

What? What? Zhuang Xiaoyu was shocked and looked at him, not believing it.

“Is your information network reliable?”

“Absolutely, Xuan Wang had someone check it out. Today, her nephew was the only man who entered the palace, and it was all for you.”

“That’s even more of a gain for her, and she got a young one.”

Murong Xuan chuckled. This girl was interesting.

“Well, he’s not really young. Her nephew is only a few years younger than her. He’s a man with a harem, and if he really touched Zhuang Xiaoyu, your ending will be quite tragic.”

“If he dares to touch me, I’ll make sure every woman in his family becomes a widow.”

Murong Xuan laughed more, clearly amused by her fiery personality.