Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

After the assassination attempt, Mu Yunlian decided to stick to the main roads. He also increased their escort to forty or fifty guards. Disguised as a merchant caravan and carrying official travel permits, their journey was unimpeded.

Just when they thought their own journey was secure, they stumbled upon someone else’s fight.

In the only canyon for miles, two factions were locked in a brutal struggle.

These men weren’t dressed in black, but their outfits were so similar it was difficult to distinguish between the two sides.

Xiao Yang lay on a tree branch, watching the fight. When assassinations were a possibility, a high vantage point like this was the safest place to be.

Mu Yunlian observed for a moment before analyzing the situation. "Those are men from the Hulu and Wushan Tribes. The Hulu Tribe belongs to the Second Prince. The Wushan Tribe used to be on good terms with the Second Prince, but their chief married his daughter to the Eldest Prince a while ago, so they’ve switched their allegiance to him."

Xiao Yang asked, "What’s the situation with the Beimeng King?"

Mu Yunlian said, "He’s on the verge of death, but not quite gone. A few old ministers are in control for now, just waiting for him to breathe his last. But the Eldest Prince and Second Prince are already impatient; the fighting started long ago. The last envoy sent to Da Wei was the Second Prince’s own idea. He wanted to get involved in state affairs early, hoping to send you a gift and form a diplomatic alliance with Da Wei. Unfortunately for him, he chose the wrong envoy. His plan backfired, and he ended up giving the Eldest Prince an opportunity."

That was why Wu Muyuan had gone in the Eldest Prince’s name and agreed to so many conditions.

The Eldest Prince used that incident to successfully seize more political power. He’s effectively acting as regent now.

Xiao Yang said, "For you to come back at a time like this, you must have a hand in it. Who are you supporting?"

Mu Yunlian named an entirely different candidate. "The Third Prince."

The Beimeng King had four princes. The mothers of the Eldest and Second Princes were the noblest, so those two held the most power. The Third Prince was born to a servant, his mother’s identity unknown. The Fourth Prince’s mother was merely the daughter of a minister, and he himself was only eight or nine years old—too young to be a contender.

’Mu Yunlian chose the Third Prince? The one who’s even less of a contender than the Fourth Prince?’

Ahead, the fighting ended. The victorious side began to gather the bodies and clean up the battlefield. It looked like the Eldest Prince’s men had won.

Mu Yunlian continued, "I have some dealings with the Third Prince. He’s merely low-key, but he’s very ambitious and strategic. He isn’t married, but he’s already had a son and a daughter with the daughter of a powerful minister. He’s also betrothed to the younger daughter of the Bai Ma Tribe’s chief. And that chief’s elder daughter is married to the eldest son of the Great General who serves the Beimeng King."

"Thirty percent of my business in Beimeng is connected to the Third Prince. He has money, men, and status. All he lacks is an opportunity."

Xiao Yang understood. He had been preparing in the shadows, waiting for his moment. With the Eldest Prince and Second Prince locked in a mutually destructive conflict, the Third Prince intended to be the one who profited from their struggle.

Mu Yunlian added, "There’s another reason I support him. I suspect the Beimeng King might not be as sick as everyone thinks. And he might have been secretly supporting the Third Prince all along. The reason probably lies in the Third Prince’s parentage."

Xiao Yang asked, "You’ve found out who his birth mother is?"

Mu Yunlian took Xiao Yang’s hand. "I have my suspicions, but I can’t be certain. We might find out once we arrive this time."

They set off again. Bloodstains were still visible on the road, but the bodies had been pushed into a ravine.

Inside the carriage, Mu Yunlian meticulously peeled a grape and offered it to Xiao Yang. She reached out to take it, but he playfully pulled his hand back, insisting on placing it directly in her mouth.

’He’d seen Ling Ji feed her just like this. If Ling Ji was allowed to, why couldn’t he?’

Xiao Yang: "..."

「Chiyang City, the capital of Beimeng」

This was an important dividing city in Beimeng. To the south, one could see forests and mountains. To the north stretched a boundless prairie with barely a tree in sight, along with snow-capped mountains and deserts.

Chiyang City was the center of power in Beimeng and also its largest city. As a great nation on par with Da Wei, Chiyang City was also very prosperous, though each had its own unique character.

Beimeng clothing featured more vibrant and intense colors, and their architecture was rich with intricate patterns. It wasn’t the gilded splendor of some places, but a dazzling display of deep, bold colors.

Along the way, there were herds of cattle, sheep, and other livestock. Outside the city walls, yurts were scattered everywhere, and there were also many temples.

Mu Yunlian naturally had his own residence here—a two-story courtyard compound. It wasn’t large, but it was exquisite and featured local characteristics.

Mu Yunlian led Xiao Yang inside and went straight to the study, where he took out a pile of letters.

"Let’s read them together."

Xiao Yang looked at the wax seals. "These are secret letters for you."

’We don’t have to be *this* familiar.’

Mu Yunlian said, "This is all intelligence on the current situation in Beimeng. Are you sure you don’t want to take a look?"

Although he would tell her everything, what he said would never be as detailed as seeing it with her own eyes.

Xiao Yang was exasperated. "I just annexed Xirong."

’She had made preparations to attack Beimeng, but they were just that—preparations. At most, she wanted to gain some advantages, like a few mines. She hadn’t planned on swallowing the entire country whole.’

’Besides, even if she were to conquer them, it should be a decision born of her own ambition as the Emperor.’

’She hadn’t even decided to make a move yet, and here she was, being pushed into action. Being an Emperor was starting to feel like a performance review at work, constantly being pressured to deliver results.’

Mu Yunlian put down the letter, leaned over, and pulled Xiao Yang over, seating her on the desk while he remained in his chair, looking up at her.

"My commercial empire spans both Da Wei and Beimeng. If Your Majesty doesn’t want it, then once the Third Prince secures the throne, everything I have will become his."

"You may feel this world is an illusion, but to me, it is very, very real."

"To unite the world under one rule, with a single script and standardized roads—I want to see that day. I want to stand at the very pinnacle, where no one can ever humiliate me again. Your Majesty... won’t you just play this game with me?"

He pleaded, offering up everything he owned, asking the Emperor to unleash a bloody storm on his behalf—all to sate his pain and bitterness.

The suffering he had endured had left him with extreme pain and a deep-seated inferiority complex, making him desperate to rise above his past and trample everyone under his feet.

He wanted to stand above all others, where no one would dare to humiliate or look down on him again. Now, he had taken a step back. He wanted to stand behind the Emperor—second to one, and above all others.

Xiao Yang looked down at him, her expression a mixture of exasperation and indulgence.

’He must know. She could refuse anyone, but she couldn’t refuse him.’

’Their relationship was special. They had faced life and death together. And now he was handing her everything he owned on a silver platter. How could she possibly refuse?’

"Who bullied you? Do you want me to get even for you?"

Mu Yunlian gazed at her, his eyes steadfast and bright. "Everyone who used to bully me is already dead. The only one who can bully me now is Your Majesty."

He would only let her be the one to bully him.

’He called it "bullying," but his eyes were filled with anticipation. Was this "bullying" he was talking about the innocent kind?’

Xiao Yang reached out and pinched his cheek. "Senior, restrain yourself a little. At least try to act the part."

’All this talk about "cracking" or "losing control" was just an excuse.’

’She’d seen people with split personalities go crazy, but she’d never seen one go into heat.’

’It wasn’t even dark yet, and he was already transforming?’

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