Chapter 21: A Corpse Lies at the Tyrant’s Seat, So Miserable

Ah Bao’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise.

[Why is scumbag dad in the carriage too? Is he planning to come back to the Su residence with us?]

[Is scumbag dad really this free today? Didn’t they say the plague in Lingnan was giving him a headache?]

[Or maybe the concubine who served him last night didn’t satisfy him, so he’s here with my mother looking for validation?]

“Ahem.” The tyrant’s handsome face turned cold as he glanced at Concubine De and the little one in her arms. What was this little girl saying?

Since when did he have a concubine serve him last night?

“I left the court early today. I heard Concubine De is going back to the Su residence, so I’ll go with you.”

Concubine De boarded the carriage, sitting across from the tyrant.

Since he said he was coming along, she couldn’t really say much.

But her mind was racing.

The emperor had never gone back to the Su residence with her before. After being sent to the Cold Palace, she hadn’t seen him for a year.

Now, all of a sudden, the emperor was being so attentive, and Concubine De felt a little uneasy.

She had come to terms with things. Once there’s a rift or long-term separation, it’s only natural that feelings fade.

Especially love—it simply can’t withstand the erosion of time.

The tyrant watched as Concubine De kept fussing with Ah Bao in her arms and finally spoke, “Concubine De, come sit over here.”

Concubine De looked up, smiling slightly. “No, Your Majesty, I’m quite comfortable where I am.”

The rejected tyrant: ?

[Haha, didn’t you just get your warm face slapped with cold indifference?]

[Scumbag dad, turns out you’re not just coming back to the Su residence—you’re here to court my mother.]

[Remember back then, when you tossed her into the Cold Palace without a second thought? And now you expect her to treat you the same as before?]

[Scumbag dad, wake up! Do you really think there are that many selfless women who give without expecting anything in return?]

[My mother is a woman with principles.]

[Mom, don’t worry, just be yourself. Even if you leave scumbag dad in the future, you’ll still flourish on your own.]

The tyrant glanced at Ah Bao.

Little girl, do you think your mother should find you a stepfather or something?

Over my dead body! I won’t allow it!

At this moment, the carriage jolted, and Concubine De stumbled, falling into the tyrant’s arms with Ah Bao.

With quick reflexes, the tyrant caught both of them.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I just lost my balance…” Concubine De quickly stood up, trying to return to her seat.

The tyrant held her hand, pulling her to sit beside him.

[Scumbag dad, seriously? There’s a child here! Don’t do anything inappropriate!]

The corner of the tyrant’s mouth twitched. What was this little girl thinking?

“It’s safer here,” the tyrant said, looking at Concubine De.

Concubine De kept her head down. After all, this was the man she once held dear to her heart. She steadied her emotions. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“No need to thank me. We shouldn’t be so formal with each other.”

Concubine De thought: No, we should be.

Soon, they arrived at the Su residence.

General Su and Madam Xiao came out to greet them.

Concubine De, carrying Ah Bao, was the first to step out of the carriage.

“Lianyi, you’re back.” Madam Xiao rushed forward, her eyes reddening.

This was the first time they had seen their daughter since she left the Cold Palace.

The last time they saw her was over a year ago.

“Father, Mother,” Concubine De greeted them.

Madam Xiao wiped her tears and took Ah Bao from her arms. “So this is my precious granddaughter. How adorable! She looks just like you when you were little, Lianyi.”

As Madam Xiao spoke, General Su tugged at her sleeve.

It was only then that they noticed the tyrant.

“Your Majesty?”

“This old subject greets Your Majesty~”

“This humble wife greets Your Majesty~”

The tyrant stepped forward and helped General Su and Madam Xiao up. “No need for formalities, Father- and Mother-in-law. Today, I’m just a son-in-law returning home with Concubine De, so let’s skip the ceremony.”

The group entered the main hall.

General Su and Madam Xiao, uneasy with the tyrant’s presence, were visibly uncomfortable.

Madam Xiao focused all her attention on playing with little Ah Bao to ease the awkward tension.

[Grandfather, Grandmother, hello~]

Madam Xiao’s arm shook, almost dropping Ah Bao.

The emperor was here!

Madam Xiao tried her best to maintain her composure.

Where had that voice come from?

Madam Xiao’s entire body tensed. Aside from Ah Bao, there were no other children in the room.

Ah Bao?!

Madam Xiao immediately looked down. Ah Bao was giggling, waving her little hands, as if greeting her.

Madam Xiao suddenly understood.

She could hear Ah Bao’s inner thoughts!

[Grandmother, you’re just as beautiful as my mother. You don’t look like a woman in her fifties at all—you look like you’re in your thirties.]

Madam Xiao: “…”

It really was little Ah Bao’s inner voice.

Madam Xiao decided not to think too much of it. After all, this was her granddaughter, and no matter what her granddaughter did, she loved her.

At this moment, General Su, who was drinking tea with the emperor, was equally baffled.

He couldn’t even drink a sip of the tea that was raised to his lips.

Heaven knows how, but he too could hear his granddaughter’s thoughts.

It was simply too unbelievable!

[The Su family isn’t just known for its loyalty and sacrifice, it’s also full of handsome men and beautiful women. But unfortunately, each one meets a tragic end.]

[Grandfather and Grandmother were ultimately poisoned to death right here.]

[Yes, Grandfather died exactly where the tyrant is sitting now—so tragic.] Ah Bao pouted her little lips, sighing.

The tyrant, sitting comfortably: ?

Suddenly, it felt like there were needles under his seat.

He wanted to stand up, but had no reason to.

“Like sitting on pins and needles” perfectly described how he felt at this moment.

Madam Xiao frowned, too terrified to even breathe.

Ah Bao had said they would be poisoned?

By whom?

Could it be… the emperor?

Madam Xiao looked at General Su.

Ever since they returned to the capital after guarding the borders for several years, they hadn’t handed over their military power.

A year ago, when Lianyi was sent to the Cold Palace, Madam Xiao discussed it with General Su. They suspected that the emperor’s harsh treatment of Lianyi might have been a warning, reminding them not to hold onto their military authority for too long.

They hesitated for a year, but after seeing Su Lianyi safe and sound, the couple decided to voluntarily relinquish their military power.

Now, hearing Ah Bao’s prophetic thoughts, Madam Xiao felt she needed to find a way to discreetly warn her husband, and bring this matter up while the emperor was still at the Su residence.

But how should she say it?

Concubine De was also uneasy. Little Ah Bao had laid it all out—how could she prevent this tragedy from unfolding?

As Madam Xiao hesitated, General Su stood up, knelt before the tyrant, and said, “Your Majesty, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss something with you. I am growing old, and I can no longer manage the military power I hold. I wish to surrender it.”

Given the circumstances, if he couldn’t see what was going on, he’d be unworthy of the title of general.

[Scumbag dad, surely you aren’t really after Grandfather’s military power, are you?]

[Sigh, throughout history, emperors have always been wary of powerful ministers overshadowing the throne, but none of those stories ever ended well. A vast empire can’t be shaken by just one general.]

[If the Su family really were treacherous, then fine, reclaim the military power. But the Su family has always been loyal and righteous. Who in the entire Tiansheng dynasty is more qualified and capable to hold the military power than Grandfather?]

[If you really take back the military command, it will be a disaster! Not only will you break the hearts of loyal ministers, but you’ll also fall into the traps of treacherous ones.]

[It was because you took back the military power that the Su family gradually declined, and when the male lead came to attack, there wasn’t even a single person left to protect them.]

[The male lead never wanted Grandfather’s military power. What he desired was Grandfather’s strategic mind in leading troops to war.]

[Grandfather was loyal and brave, and refused to yield, which is why both he and Grandmother were ultimately forced to their deaths by the male and female leads.]

The elderly couple had always lived a frugal life with integrity, to the point that when they died, their bodies weren’t discovered until wild dogs had gnawed their faces beyond recognition several days later.