Her Majesty Chose Violence, They Chose Her

"Your Majesty, I’d like to propose a toast to you."

Xiao Yang watched Xu Xingchen approach to toast her, a rare silence falling over her.

’This kid seems to be a one-cup-down lightweight,’ she thought. ’He can’t possibly drink, can he? Is he going to pass out right here?’

But he had already come all this way. It wouldn’t be right for her to deny him this small courtesy.

Just as Xiao Yang was about to pick up her own cup, Xu Xingchen suddenly proffered his, even gesturing with his eyes for fear she wouldn’t understand.

Xiao Yang: "..."

When Yu Li had proposed a toast, he had filled Xiao Yang’s own cup—a classic case of "presenting Buddha with borrowed flowers." It was a seductive tactic. But who on earth toasts the Emperor by handing over their own cup?

Xiao Yang took the cup, drank from it, and casually tossed it back to him, chiding with a laugh, "Go on, back to your seat."

Xu Xingchen had only offered his cup because he hadn’t drunk from it yet. He never expected the Empress to toss it back to him after she was finished. He walked back to his seat clutching the cup as if it were some priceless treasure.

The singing and dancing had paused because of Yu Li, so now everyone had witnessed the interaction between Xu Xingchen and the Empress.

Though the Empress was young, she was cunning and handled every situation with ease. Xu Xingchen, on the other hand, didn’t just look naive—he truly was.

Who vies for favor so impatiently, rushing up in front of everyone like that?

But Xu Xingchen was so naive he was completely oblivious to the onlookers’ gazes. Finding him a dull subject, they turned their attention to Grand Tutor Xu instead.

Their eyes clearly said it all: ’Grand Tutor, aren’t you going to do something about your grandson?’

Grand Tutor Xu drank calmly. ’When a child grows up, you can’t hold them back. Whatever will be, will be.’

He was already seventy. What was there to get worked up about? So-called "face" was just an empty title; what you could grasp in your own hands was what truly mattered.

That boy, Xu Xingchen, was already a bit odd. The fact that he knew how to vie for favor—and with the Empress, no less—wasn’t exactly a disgrace to the Xu Family’s name.

(Grand Tutor Xu’s inner thoughts: ’Those two major headaches have ended up together. Excellent.’)

When the banquet was winding down, Xiao Yang rose and left first. She hadn’t gone far before she heard footsteps behind her.

As the Empress, she was always followed by an entourage, so footsteps were hardly strange. But this footfall was clearly different from the synchronized steps of her retinue.

Xiao Yang turned her head and couldn’t help but smile.

It seemed Xu Xingchen had had a drink after all. His face was flushed, and his steps were unsteady as he stumbled along behind her.

For a lightweight, he looked quite drunk, but he stubbornly managed to stay on his feet.

Xiao Yang didn’t stop, but she slowed her pace, waiting for him to keep stumbling after her like a puppy just learning to walk.

Xie Liuzheng had wanted to talk to Xiao Yang about something, but when she came over and saw this scene, she quickly ducked into a corner, so excited she started chewing on her sleeve.

’Ah... The Empress and her little milk dog! I’m shipping it! I’m shipping it so hard!’

Xiao Lv, who had been yanked along, grabbed a railing to steady himself, barely avoiding smashing his head.

He stared speechlessly at the uncontrollably excited Xie Liuzheng. "You’re into that?"

Xie Liuzheng giggled, looking utterly devious. "You just don’t understand the joy of shipping."

Xiao Lv: "..."

He didn’t understand the joy of shipping, but he did understand the pain of falling for a fool.

He put a hand on her head. "Let’s go. If you keep staring like that, they might mistake you for an assassin and cut you down."

Xie Liuzheng: "No, they won’t! They all know me."

Xiao Lv took a deep breath, bent down, and scooped her up, carrying her away over his shoulder.

Xie Liuzheng: "Fuck... Xiao Lv, you bastard! Put me down! Put me down..."

Xiao Lv carried her for a short distance before putting her down—it was rather improper, after all. In the end, he led her out of the palace by the hand, the back of his own hand getting pinched the entire way.

He gritted his teeth and stubbornly refused to let go.

They ran into Grand Tutor Xu, who was slowly making his way out of the palace. Xiao Lv bowed his head in greeting and informed him, "Mr. Xu is with Her Majesty."

Grand Tutor Xu’s eyes were perfectly clear, but he feigned drunkenness, waving his hand with a smiling sigh. "Children will make their own way in life. This old man is getting old."

After Grand Tutor Xu left, Xie Liuzheng peeked her head out from under Xiao Lv’s arm. "Hey, that old man is pretty open-minded."

Xiao Lv looked down at her and chuckled. "It’s not that he’s open-minded. It’s that he sees things clearly."

The Empress is in power; that’s the way the wind is blowing. Those who refuse to bow their heads... well, they don’t have to die anymore. Her Majesty doesn’t execute people these days. She just sends them all to Beimeng to develop the wilderness and work in the mines.

’Why seek King Yama in the underworld when there’s already a hell on earth?’

After speaking, he took her hand. "Let’s go. My father is back, so we can pay a visit to the Xie Mansion tomorrow."

Xie Liuzheng was not happy. "I’m not marrying you."

Xiao Lv replied smoothly, "I’ll marry you."

Xie Liuzheng screamed internally. ’Aaaah! Why couldn’t I control myself back then?’

Meanwhile, Xu Xingchen followed Xiao Yang all the way to Zichen Palace. He was just about to enter when he tripped on the threshold and fell forward.

Xiao Yang had been watching him the whole time. With lightning-fast reflexes, she turned and caught him, pulling him right into her arms.

Don’t be fooled by his ’little milk dog’ appearance—this little deviant had the height and frame to match. His full weight falling on her was no small matter, and Xiao Yang had to brace herself against the doorframe to keep from being knocked to the ground.

Xiao Yang tried to help him stand up, but the little rascal decided to push his luck.

"Your Majesty..."

He draped himself all over her, leaned in dazedly, and sloppily planted a kiss on her cheek.

His face was scarlet and his eyes were hazy, but he was very determined to take advantage of her.

He struggled to lift his head, aiming for her lips, clearly wanting a real kiss.

Xiao Yang watched him with unhurried amusement as he lowered his head bit by bit, drawing closer and closer. Their breaths mingled, and just as their lips were about to meet, his head drooped, thudded against her shoulder, and he passed out drunk in her arms.

"Pfft... Hahaha!"

Xiao Yang burst into unrestrained laughter. Once she had laughed her fill, she handed the man over to Lin Yi and the others. "Take him to a side hall. See that he’s well taken care of."

Lin Yi quickly had two strong little eunuchs support Xu Xingchen, bowing with a smile. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant understands."

’Seeing how much Her Majesty dotes on him, how could we dare to serve him poorly?’

Xu Xingchen had the rare fortune of spending another night in Zichen Palace. He wasn’t a heavy drinker, but he hadn’t blacked out, either. He remembered everything from the previous night with perfect clarity.

Lying in bed, Xu Xingchen was torn between shame and regret. He was ashamed of having done something so outrageous, and he regretted that even after being so bold, he still... well...

When he got up and washed, he asked about the Empress’s whereabouts, only for a Palace Attendant to tell him that she had left the palace.

Seeing Xu Xingchen’s spirits fall, a quick-witted little eunuch immediately said, "Her Majesty is truly good to you, Mr. Xu. Last night, she ordered us servants to take good care of you, and this morning, when she heard you weren’t awake yet, she couldn’t bear to have you woken."

As he spoke, he presented a fresh set of clothes. "Her Majesty had these prepared for you, sir."

Xu Xingchen was indeed placated, but he still felt a bit embarrassed.

’So many people must have seen me last night...’

’That’s right...’

He suddenly remembered something and began searching frantically.

The little eunuch was confused. "What are you looking for, sir?"

Xu Xingchen unfolded his outer robe, found a hidden inner pocket, and fumbled for a moment before pulling out a wine cup. He quickly put it away as if it were a priceless treasure he had just recovered.

The little eunuch’s eyelid twitched. ’...’ ’Was all that really necessary?’

Xiao Yang left the palace and went to a small residence. It was an ordinary house, but inside, thirty guards were working in shifts to watch over two prisoners.

Xie Liuzheng asked, "He’s in there?" Xiao Yang nodded. "Mhm. Go on in."

Xie Liuzheng rubbed her hands together. ’With a heart full of excitement and hands that tremble, fellow transmigrator, here I come!’

Su Wu was awake, and Yan’er was serving him breakfast.

Xie Liuzheng pushed the door open and went in. "If the function is odd, the sign will change, but for even, it stays the same? Palace Jade Nectar Wine? Which school has the best excavator skills?"

Su Wu’s head snapped up.

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