Chapter 10

The author has a message:

Chapter 7 had a missing plotline, which has now been added. For those who don’t want to go back and read, here’s a summary: Before the two characters returned to the palace, the Empress Dowager arranged for the marriage of the Crown Prince of Yue, choosing the sister of General Xie Chaoyun. Xie Chaoyun is a confidant of the Regent, and the Empress Dowager’s intention was to sow discord.

Chu Zhaoyou casually found a reason: “As soon as I saw the Regent, I realized that my reign is still in its early stages, and my governance is far from the Regent’s strategic planning. The mobilization of the Imperial Dragon  Guard is a major issue, so I will leave it to the Regent to discuss, and the matter will be dropped.”

Chu Zhaoyou took the opportunity to praise the Regent, saying that Xiao Hei was excellent. He had cured the Regent.

Thinking about how Xiao Hei had been deceived several times, Chu Zhaoyou felt a sense of unreality. If they hadn’t spent two days together, he would have thought that the Regent had a foolish younger brother.

After speaking, Chu Zhaoyou glanced at Xiao Heng, with an undertone of self-congratulation that even he didn’t notice.

Xiao Heng’s eyebrows twitched slightly, showing no extra expression. His gaze toward Chu Zhaoyou was the same as toward everyone else, with a hint of imperceptible resentment and malice.

On his way there, his subordinates had roughly explained the situation in the court. The Empress Dowager had obtained half of the seal of authority. The young emperor’s trip outside might have been a clever move, knowing that he couldn’t hand over the entire seal to the Empress Dowager. He would rather leave it in the hands of the enemy than let the Empress Dowager have it.

Chu Zhaoyou’s face turned pale, and his eyes flickered a few times. He truly hoped that Xiao Hei wouldn’t remember certain things, but judging by the situation, it seemed that he would either be ungrateful or completely forget everything.

He silently lowered his head, shielding himself from the Empress Dowager’s angry gaze. The Regent showed no intention of speaking to him, and apart from this sentence, there was no more mention of the emperor at the morning court.

Qian Shicheng’s surprise was evident on his face. Just a moment ago, the young emperor had been eloquently debating with the scholars, playing the victim and stirring emotions. How could he switched to the Regent side  so quickly?

Indeed, everyone feared the Regent.

Xiao Heng adjusted his belt buckle. Three days ago, the poison had taken effect faster than he had anticipated. He had blacked out and found himself in an alley, with no recollection of what had happened until he woke up in the Regent’s residence.

He was covered in dirt, and his attendants didn’t dare change his clothes without permission. Xiao Heng washed and changed his clothes with a cold expression, still feeling a lingering fear. He vaguely remembered the unbearable pain he had experienced and that someone had been taking care of him… but nothing more.

Xiao Heng discovered several wounds on his back, but unable to see them clearly, he assumed they were just scratches. After all, his clothes had several tears, and there was a lump on the back of his head.

All of this was within the realm of tolerance. The Regent had weathered many storms, and a few minor injuries were no longer worth his concern.

Upon further inspection, he realized that the seal of authority was missing.

Xiao Heng stared at the bite mark on his hand, lost in thought. Someone had bitten him, forcing him to hand over the seal of authority?

It seemed unlikely. If that were the case, wouldn’t it have been more effective to just take his life? Xiao Heng was reluctant to admit it, but he had to accept the fact that during those three days, he might have been a fool.

Learning that he had been poisoned for seven years, with no cure or remedy in sight, and facing the prospect of slowly losing his mind, was something no one could accept. For seven years, Xiao Heng had forced himself to confront this reality, but… he couldn’t.

Xiao Heng suppressed the anger surging in his chest, pushing the matter down. Otherwise, the morning court might not end, and he couldn’t help but want to strangle the person responsible for this.

He concealed the complex emotions and, when he looked up, his expression revealed nothing, as if the Regent was still the same as he had been at the previous morning court.

He only had half of the seal of authority, and now it was missing. The Imperial Dragon Guards  was of little importance to him; what he valued was the Garrison Army in the west.

With this in mind, Xiao Heng’s expression darkened. He had been away for less than three days, and this group of people had arranged for Xie Chaoyun’s sister to be married off to an enemy country as a hostage.

Xie Chaoyun had led the Garrison Army in the west for five years, earning a formidable reputation. He had driven the Chiru out beyond the Yanshan Mountains, safeguarding the western region of Great Chu for a century. (will be Using Great Chu instead of Da Chu)

With the capital of Great Chu at its center, the Garrison Army was stationed in the northwest, under the control of the Regent. The only exception was the Qi Prefecture in the east, where Wei Taihou’s own brother, Wei Shi, served as the governor. If Wei Wangong gained control of the Imperial Dragon Guards , it would provide a breakthrough in the heartland of Great Chu, allowing her to form an alliance with Wei Shi and the Yuexu, and giving her the strength to challenge the Regent.

The Empress Dowager’s collusion with the Yuexue, both internally and externally, was an attempt to restrain the Garrison Army and sow discord between the Regent and Xie Chaoyun.

The Empress Dowager had let the wolf into the house, and with the emperor following her every command, Great Chu was truly on the brink of ruin!

Xiao Heng’s eyes turned slightly cold. Sometimes, he didn’t even know why he was still holding onto this world, destined to become a fool. Until today, what was he still doing, guarding this realm? Was he just waiting to be buried with it?

Wei Wanhong had made a good move, but Chu Zhaoyou’s words had disrupted her plans. She dug her manicured nails into her palm, the sharp pain helping her maintain a composed expression. Undoubtedly, if it weren’t for the morning court, she would have already slapped the emperor across the face.

She smiled and said, “Since the emperor has made up his mind, I have no further business here.”

Her attendants helped the Empress Dowager to her feet, preparing to leave the Hall of Governmental Affairs.

“Wait,” Xiao Heng’s lips curled. “There is one more matter. The Empress Dowager previously arranged a marriage for Xie’s daughter with Zhang Huiji, but I refused on behalf of General Xie.”

The Empress Dowager sneered, “The ruler of the Yuexu is gravely ill and hopes the Crown Prince will marry soon to secure the succession. The marriage between the two countries is no trifling matter. Are you trying to provoke conflict between the two nations by retracting your agreement without cause? I do not agree.”

The Empress Dowager had hoped to gain control of the Imperial Dragon guards and have General Lu Huai oversee the marriage. Even if Xie Chaoyun personally led the army to intercept, it would be too late. Unless the Xie family wanted to rebel, it would play right into the Empress Dowager’s hands.