Chapter 247: So Angry, but Still Have to Smile

Less than half a day after Lu Pin was dismissed from his post, those he had long oppressed submitted evidence of his corruption to the Ministry of Justice.

Even a cursory investigation uncovered enough of Lu Pin’s crimes to fill entire scrolls: embezzling funds meant for the Palace’s maintenance, secretly bringing people into the Palace for pleasure and charging them exorbitant fees, selling off Palace property, his son torturing a farmer’s daughter to death, and his abuse of power to force the family to move away. His son also forcibly married the daughter of a minor official, and he even made her family provide a reverse dowry. He doted on Lu Yao so much that he even secretly let her play at being a princess in the main palace, a place reserved only for the Emperor and the Royal Family.

The list of crimes went on. Had they remained uninvestigated, it would have been one thing. But once exposed, there was enough to have his entire family executed several times over.

Xiao Yang’s response was the same as always: "Handle it according to the law."

Personal revenge?

Lu Yao’s petty schemes were a joke in her eyes. She wasn’t even worthy of the Emperor holding a grudge and seeking retribution against her.

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Xiao Yang had sentenced Li Wei to ten strokes of the rod, but Li Wei took twenty instead.

’This is the second time I’ve dragged Her Majesty into such a scandal,’ he thought. ’I deserve this punishment.’

When Xiao Yang heard he had added to his own punishment, she went to see him. "Why must you torture yourself like this?"

Li Wei didn’t argue or try to play the victim. He simply reached out to her, and only when Xiao Yang took his hand did his anxious heart finally settle.

"I have failed you, Your Majesty."

He, too, was an innocent victim in this, but for it to happen twice was simply humiliating.

He wasn’t afraid of the beating. He was only afraid that Your Majesty would cast him aside.

Xiao Yang sat on the edge of the bed and chuckled softly. "I’m not someone who can’t tell right from wrong. General Li, you are valiant, handsome, and famous throughout the land. It would be stranger if no young woman admired you."

"Her greed led her down the wrong path. That is her fault, not yours."

Hearing this, Li Wei tightened his grip on her hand slightly and declared as if making an oath, "I have no need for anyone else’s admiration. A sliver of Your Majesty’s favor is all I require."

’I wish I could tear out my heart and show it to Her Majesty, just so she could see it’s filled to the brim with my love for her.’

’Especially since Her Majesty even called me a candidate for Imperial Consort. Though I know she only said it to put a definitive end to the matter, in my heart, I took it as the truth.’

Xiao Yang looked at him with a hint of feigned distaste. "Get these wounds of yours treated first. As much as I like you, I can’t accept you when you’re this bloody."

At her words, Li Wei actually laughed. ’Her Majesty admitted she liked me! The pain was all worth it.’

"Yes. I will certainly recover as quickly as possible."

When Xiao Yang came out from Li Wei’s room, Mu Yunlian was standing at the door. He reached out to her with his usual gentleness, but his expression was a little strange.

’I’m so pissed, but I have to keep smiling!’

’Her Majesty acknowledged Li Wei as a candidate for Imperial Consort in front of so many people.’

’Me, jealous? Not angry? Not envious? AS IF!!!’

’I’m going crazy with jealousy!’

’I was the one who finally got Her Majesty to agree to the wedding, so why is Li Wei the first one to get a title?!’

’Just because he was framed? ON. WHAT. GROUNDS!?’

However, even though he was about to explode with anger, he held it in, determined not to mention it—as if the matter wouldn’t count if he never brought it up.

Xiao Yang offered no explanation. There was nothing to explain.

Whatever her reasons, the words had been spoken. Any attempt to explain them away now would just sound like a flimsy excuse.

She pulled him into the room and, without another word, kissed him.

Mu Yunlian was completely unable to resist, and he immediately kissed her back until they were both breathless.

Xiao Yang grabbed his waist, pushed him down onto a chair, and, leaning in, nibbled his ear. "That outfit from last time. Get another one ready."

’If words won’t persuade him, then my body will.’

Mu Yunlian’s pupils trembled. He closed his eyes and hugged her tightly. "Your Majesty is too cunning."

She knew exactly what was on his mind and had him wrapped around her little finger.

Xiao Yang was not one to be consumed by romance, and Mu Yunlian and the other three men all had their own duties. In public, they maintained a proper ruler-and-subject relationship. Only in their free time did they vie for a chance to attend to her in her chambers.

Having enjoyed a few days of her exclusive favor, a satisfied Mu Yunlian returned to the Capital City. He had to first calculate an auspicious date and then prepare the palace—there was still much to be done for the Emperor’s grand wedding.

Li Wei had a strong constitution. He was bedridden for only a day before he could get up on the second. But with his body still covered in wounds, he couldn’t very well pester Her Majesty, so he focused on recuperating with medicine prescribed by the Imperial Physician.

For the next two days, only Xu Xingchen remained by Xiao Yang’s side.

Xu Xingchen took the rare opportunity to demonstrate his martial prowess to Xiao Yang. He was a skilled archer and his kung fu wasn’t bad, but these were just the basics. Compared to the other men, his abilities were nothing special.

However, Xu Xingchen had his own unique talent.

He could perfectly dissect a deer, or debone a fish while leaving its skeleton completely intact.

It wasn’t a matter of simply scraping the meat from the bones; instead, on one side lay the complete fish, and on the other, its flawless, complete skeleton.

With a knife in one hand and the other stained with blood, Xu Xingchen didn’t even bother to wash up as he stared eagerly at Xiao Yang, watching her expression intently.

’Her Majesty knows about the things I do, and I know she accepts me. But this is the first time she’s seen me dismember a living thing with my hands covered in blood.’

’What kind of expression will she make? I’m so looking forward to it.’

Seeing the unsettlingly bright look in his eyes, Xiao Yang knew the boy was having one of his episodes.

This time, she didn’t just humor him. Instead, she expressed genuine astonishment. "This skill of yours is incredible."

Pointing at the fish, she ordered, "Someone, take this and have it steamed for me."

’A boneless fish is the perfect fish.’

Only then did she gesture for an attendant to bring a basin of water. "Hurry up and wash. You’ll start to stink soon."

’I can accept his rather perverse hobby, but I will not tolerate a smelly man, no matter how handsome he is.’

Xu Xingchen obediently washed his hands. Not content with just that, he also ran off to change his clothes before burrowing into Xiao Yang’s arms.

Xiao Yang was playfully teasing Xu Xingchen when, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Rong Yin standing in the shadows by the doorway.

Xiao Yang patted Xu Xingchen, who immediately sat up properly.

Only after their roughhousing ceased did Rong Yin step inside. He bowed and reported, "News from the border. Beimeng and Xiao Kun have started fighting. Xiao Kun is desperately holding his ground. Current reports say he has managed to defend his position, but his supplies are scarce. It has already begun to snow, so I fear he won’t be able to hold out for long."

’I made Xiao Kun the Beimeng King and sent him to the border for the express purpose of fighting the Beimeng people. It’s no surprise they’re fighting, and it’s normal for him to face difficulties.’

’If he has the ability to conquer the rest of Beimeng’s territory, I’ll grant it to him as his fiefdom.’

Xiao Yang said, "Xiao Kun has capable generals under his command. It would be a pity to let them fall just like that. We must send supplies, but not too much."

’If I send nothing, they’ll die, and I’ll just have to find someone else to guard the border against the Beimeng people. But if I send too much, they might just turn around and attack me instead.’

’Xiao Kun is ambitious. He would never be content being stationed in that bitter, cold land.’

Rong Yin asked, "There is one thing I have never understood, Your Majesty. Why did you not break up Xiao Kun’s forces, but instead allowed him to take a full ten thousand men to the border?"

Although Xiao Yang’s attitude was one of caution toward Xiao Kun, it was also strange. She was on guard against him, yet she allowed him to build up his strength.

Xiao Yang gave a half-truthful answer. "The men he took with him are all his trusted confidants. I couldn’t kill them, nor could I use them, so it was better to let him take them. Besides, if he had no troops, how could he possibly defend the border?"