Chapter 205: If You Don’t Submit, Then Die

"Long live the Empress! Long live, long live, long, long live Her Majesty!"

The Silver Armor Guards’ thunderous cheers were so shocking, their content so earth-shattering, that everyone present was left stunned.

"......."

The air froze for a brief moment, then instantly exploded like a drop of water hitting a sizzling wok, boiling over with chaos.

"A Princess declaring herself Empress? How can a Princess become the Empress?"

"Absurd! Absurd! Utterly absurd!!!"

"A woman on the throne... The heavens must want to destroy our Great Sheng..."

A woman ascending the throne to become Empress dealt a massive blow to millennia of patriarchal rule. It was simply too shocking, too outrageous. The courtiers were so aghast they forgot the terror of their near-death experience moments before, even temporarily ignoring their physical pain.

Their faces paled in horror, and the crowd seethed with outrage.

"A woman cannot be Empress!"

"A hen crowing at dawn—it defies the natural order!"

"Where are the ancestral rites? Where is heavenly principle!?"

"We do not submit! We do not submit!"

"Do not submit?" A gentle voice, tinged with a hint of amusement, spoke up. It wasn’t loud and was barely noticeable amidst the furious chorus of objections.

It wasn’t until a head went flying, splattering hot blood onto their faces, that some of them realized what had happened.

Turning to look, they saw a young man dressed in plain, moon-white robes. His face was like that of a banished Immortal carved from white jade, yet his hand held a blood-soaked longsword.

With his frail, scholar-like build, it was hard to imagine how he had managed to sever a head with a single stroke.

He had just killed a man, yet a smile touched his lips. "You don’t submit? Then die!"

With that, he strode forward, followed closely by several dozen young men also dressed in plain robes.

The murderous Silver Armor Army parted to clear a path for them, allowing them to walk straight to the front.

The young man in the lead handed his sword to a soldier of the Silver Armor Army, straightened his robes, and strode forward. Cupping his hands, he performed a salute. "We, your subjects, greet the Empress! Long live, long live, long, long live Your Majesty!"

These dozens of men were all scholars, their position equivalent to the civil servants of the court, while the Silver Armor Army served as the military generals.

With civil servants and military generals, and the Jade Seal in hand, who would dare say she was not the Emperor?

Moreover, this was an entirely new power base. Both the civil servants and military generals had no ties to the aristocratic families. Their loyalty was not to the Imperial Family, nor to the nation, but to Princess Xuanyang herself.

The three subdued princes were already shocked beyond words, staring in disbelief at the Xiao Li who stood before them.

They knew Xuanyang was formidable, knew they were likely no match for her, and now they had no choice but to accept their defeat. But never once had it crossed their minds... that Xuanyang would declare herself Empress.

She could have chosen to support one of them. She could have chosen Prince Wei, or another child of the Imperial Family. She could have propped up a puppet Emperor and ruled as regent, holding all the power.

How could she possibly dream of becoming Empress as a woman...

"Xuanyang..."

Prince Yanping was the first to recover, his voice filled with disbelief. "You are defying the entire world, punching a hole in the heavens! The scorn of the people will be enough to drown you. Why must you do this?"

The Nanqi King was even angrier than Prince Yanping. "This empire was forged by the ancestors of the Xiao Family! How can you act so wantonly?"

Xiao Li spared him a glance. "You were allowed to fight for this throne, but I am not? Well, I am acting wantonly now. You are a defeated foe. What can you do to me?"

Xiao Jingyu stared at her, his eyes cold and complex. "If a woman becomes Empress, the world will not recognize you, the Imperial Family will not recognize you, and the ancestors will never acknowledge you."

’The world? The Imperial Family? The ancestors? Do I look like I care about any of that?’

’I just want to destroy this world’s plot. What does it matter to me whether they acknowledge me or not?’

"The Imperial Family is here!"

A loud shout came from the distance, drawing everyone’s attention.

At the entrance, Prince Wei appeared with a group of people. Leading them were several princes and elders of the Imperial Family.

The courtiers immediately saw a glimmer of hope.

"Prince Wei, Prince Duan, Clan Elders... You’re finally here! Hurry and stop this treasonous Princess!"

"Excellent, Prince Wei is here! Prince Wei is benevolent and kind! We are willing to support Prince Wei as Emperor."

The shock of a woman becoming Empress was too great. At this point, they no longer cared about principles or alliances. As long as it was someone of imperial blood, as long as it was a man, anyone would do.

The Silver Armor Army blocked them at the entrance. Xiao Li watched Xiao Jingyi, Prince Wei, from afar. ’The most special and fortunate prince in the story... is he finally about to show his claws?’

"Let them through."

The three princes, trussed up like dumplings, looked up. Although they were resentful that their long struggle had ended with the fifth brother reaping the benefits, having him become Emperor was still acceptable.

The fifth brother was kind-hearted, and they had no conflicts with him. Even if they had to remain as Vassal Kings, it would be fine.

But if Xuanyang really became the Empress, it would be an absolute catastrophe.

Under the watchful eyes of all, with everyone’s rapt attention and fervent expectation, Prince Wei led the members of the Imperial Family forward with his head held high, passing through the ranks of the Silver Armor Army without obstruction.

Prince Wei was not old and was completely unarmed. The men following him were a group of middle-aged and elderly men who didn’t look particularly capable.

Yet, they exuded an aura of terrifying power, as if they were invincible and would undoubtedly defeat Princess Xuanyang.

This inexplicable confidence stemmed solely from the fact that they were men, that they were elders. It was as if their mere presence was enough to suppress a rebellious junior.

"Imperial Sister!" Xiao Jingyi shouted. Everyone assumed he was about to righteously condemn Princess Xuanyang for her treason and defiance of the natural order. They were even filled with fervent passion, ready to voice their agreement. But then...

Xiao Jingyi bounded over to Xiao Li. "Imperial Sister, I brought everyone you asked for."

An uproar swept through the crowd. What the hell?

"What does Prince Wei mean by this?"

"He’s not actually siding with Princess Xuanyang, is he?"

"A dignified prince, how can he be so spineless?"

Xiao Jingyi listened with a deadpan expression, his stance unwavering.

’I have no intention of listening to their clueless judgments.’

Before, his powerful and influential older brothers were all anyone could see. They had all looked down on him, Prince Wei, with disdain and contempt.

When he left the palace to establish his own residence, the reward from the Emperor was only enough to build the manor. His daily expenses had to be covered by his own meager stipend.

He tried to increase his income and cut costs by opening a shop to do business, but the major aristocratic families already controlled all the commercial properties, leaving no room for him to get involved.

Not only did he fail to make any money, but he also lost every last bit of the little Silver he had.

Those aristocratic families saw everything and secretly mocked him, calling him the "beggar prince."

He was nineteen this year, with no mother, no maternal clan, and no power.

The Emperor treated him like a servant with a special status. In the eyes of his other brothers, he was too weak to be a threat. The great aristocratic families paid him no mind.

Having struggled to survive until now, he had long since seen through the fickleness of human nature.

’The throne? So what if I got the throne?’

’I would only become a puppet for the aristocratic families, one even easier to control than my brothers.’

’I’m not about to risk my life for an empty title and the interests of the aristocratic families.’

’What’s so bad about my Imperial Sister becoming the Empress?’

’My Imperial Sister is stronger than all my brothers. She can crush all the aristocratic families. Most importantly, my Imperial Sister has money, and she actually shares it.’

Xiao Li: "..."

’I already knew this guy was a shameless opportunist who goes wherever the wind blows. What was I even expecting?’