Chapter 210: A Heart of Metal and Stone, Unshakeable

"Your Majesty, employing the two princes is a very risky move."

Song Junzhan did not approve of Xiao Li’s decision, but he didn’t stop her. Even after the princes had left, he remained worried.

Those were two princes in the prime of their lives. Perhaps they only had a little power before, but now that the Empress had ascended the throne, countless people wanted to overthrow her. Those two princes would gain innumerable supporters.

Once they left the Capital City, it would be like fish returning to the sea or birds to the forest—the risk was enormous.

Even if the Empress held their families hostage, Song Junzhan didn’t believe they would choose to bow their heads in submission for their families’ sake once they had the confidence to become Emperor again.

Never underestimate a man’s ambition.

Enough power and the support of the masses could absolutely make a person lose all conscience.

Wives could be replaced, children could be sired again, but there was only one throne.

Xiao Li didn’t think his worries were unfounded, as she had also considered this problem. However, she didn’t argue, merely glancing at him. "Haven’t you already arranged for people to follow them?"

Xiao Li had dispatched one hundred Silver Armor Guards to escort the cannon shells and had also assigned four Silver Armor Guards to "protect" each of the two princes.

Fearing that wasn’t enough, Song Junzhan secretly sent two more of his own men. Their objective was to kill the princes immediately should they get out of control.

He thought he had done it in secret.

"How did Your Majesty know?"

Xiao Li: "A guess, but an accurate one."

Song Junzhan was speechless. "Your Majesty is truly..."

Xiao Li rubbed her wrists. "I dare to use them, which means I’m already prepared for them to rebel. But..."

She suddenly smiled. "Why don’t we make a bet? I bet they won’t dare to rebel."

Song Junzhan’s eyebrows rose slightly. It wasn’t because she was so certain the two princes wouldn’t rebel, but because of her tone and attitude. It was just like back when she hadn’t yet revealed her identity. She had been an esteemed guest, and he the Young Master. They had met by chance, admired each other, and spoken like friends, teasing and joking.

Ever since he had bowed and acknowledged her as his sovereign, she had rarely spoken to him in this tone. ’He was different from Cen An. From the moment I knelt, I no longer dared to consider myself the Princess’s friend. Just like now, I am surely the most devout and loyal of all her subjects. I revere her as my Emperor and respect her as a deity, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling a secret thrill at her occasional moments of closeness.’

He gave a faint smile, his eyes shimmering. "What would Your Majesty like to bet with your humble servant?"

That question stumped her.

Xiao Li wanted for nothing and wasn’t interested in anything at the moment, so there really wasn’t a good prize to be won.

She looked Song Junzhan up and down a few times, then suddenly smiled. "If you lose, you’ll have to wear a set of pink official robes from now on."

’Song Junzhan has an ethereal air about him, and he’s been wearing white clothes more and more often. Combined with his dignity as the head of the civil servants, he appears increasingly stern and aloof.’

’What was that phrase again? An untouchable flower on a high, snowy mountain. Yes, that’s him.’

’The sight of him appearing in the Golden Hall wearing pink official robes... just thinking about it makes me want to laugh.’

Xiao Li’s eyes were full of amusement, her wicked smile purely mischievous, without a hint of any other ambiguity. Her gaze was so clear and proper that it was impossible to feel any displeasure, yet he felt a sliver of disappointment.

’Even though we’ve kissed, Her Majesty’s gaze has never held a trace of anything different when she looks at me, as if I’m no different from anyone else.’

’A heart of stone, unshakeable.’

"As Your Majesty wishes."

Xiao Li: "And you?"

Song Junzhan thought for a moment. "Then, may I ask for a promise? I ask that Your Majesty allow me to make one request. You may not grant it, but please do not hold it against me."

Xiao Li stared at him for a moment. "Granted."

Lou Yan approached. "Your Majesty, Prince Wei has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Li immediately walked off in another direction.

Song Junzhan bowed to see her off. As he lifted his eyes, his gaze shifted from Xiao Li to the tall figure.

Lou Yan, the Chief Eunuch.

He had once clawed his way to Xiao Jingyun’s side to become the Chief Eunuch, yet after Xiao Jingyun’s death, he decisively threw his lot in with the new Emperor.

It was normal for a servant to abandon an old master for a new one. What wasn’t normal was that Her Majesty trusted him so much, even keeping him on as the Chief Eunuch. The two of them were also always inseparable.

Lou Yan’s features were androgynous, fitting for a eunuch, but his aura, and the way he looked at Her Majesty, were not so simple.

Especially whenever Lou Yan spoke alone with Her Majesty for any length of time, he could feel a sense of threat, like thorns at his back.

At this thought, he couldn’t help but clutch his sleeves tightly.

’Her Majesty is too outstanding and dazzling; she has no shortage of followers. And besides her status and abilities, Her Majesty is also an incredibly beautiful woman. The loyalty of these followers is always mixed with romantic notions, just like my own...’

-----

"Imperial Sister, are you serious?"

Xiao Jingyi stared at the Token in his hand, unable to believe what he was hearing.

Xiao Li looked up. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Xiao Jingyi swallowed hard. "Your Majesty, you’re truly sending this younger brother to his death."

On the day she seized the throne, Xiao Jingyi had stood firmly on Xiao Li’s side. Although he avoided the fate of being locked in a cage with his Brother, he wasn’t even allowed to leave his house for more than ten days after returning home.

He couldn’t even attend the morning court sessions, and he could feel his Imperial Sister’s wariness toward him.

But now, his Imperial Sister had suddenly sought him out, handed him a Token, and made him an Imperial Envoy, tasked with inspecting the cities on behalf of the Heavenly Emperor.

His task was to follow a map, visit every city, and deliver the Empress’s handwritten edicts to the officials.

It would be just like before: refuse and you die; accept and you kneel.

Xiao Jingyi felt he wasn’t up to the task, but his Imperial Sister was forcing him into it and wouldn’t let him refuse.

Right now, holding the freshly minted Empress’s golden order felt like holding a hot potato—he couldn’t hold on, but he didn’t dare drop it.

Xiao Li waved her hand dismissively. "All right, you may leave."

Xiao Jingyi clutched the Token, his expression one of grim determination. "This younger brother will absolutely not disappoint Imperial Sister."

Watching Xiao Jingyi leave, a flicker of light crossed Xiao Li’s eyes.

’Using the Nanqi King and Prince Yanping to lead the troops was a necessary evil. I don’t need them for their military prowess, but for the prestige of their princely titles.’

’Letting the world know that these two princes had chosen to submit to me, an Empress, and lead my armies would go a long way in quelling the rebellious spirit of the soldiers and officials. Only then would there be a chance to win this war.’

’However, this also gave me an idea: no one gets to be idle.’

’Xiao Jingyi, that opportunist, is an expert at being lazy and slick. Since he chose to submit to me, he can get out here and work for me.’

’If someone else delivered the Empress’s decrees, people would surely resist first, cursing the idea of a woman emperor, of "a hen crowing at dawn." But with a Prince like Xiao Jingyi delivering them, it would signify that the princes of the Imperial Family themselves personally endorse this Empress.’

’If a group of princes had no objections, their own resistance and outrage would seem ridiculous.’

’By the same token, some people will surely try to incite Xiao Jingyi to rebel and become emperor.’

Xiao Li wanted to see just how long he could endure.

From the very beginning, Xiao Li had never believed that Xiao Jingyi was a simple man with no ambition.