Chapter 670 - 673: The Second Imperial Edict

Chapter 670: Chapter 673: The Second Imperial Edict

As if having made up her mind, Hua Manman headed toward the palace gates.

The system cried out, "Didn’t you say there’s probably an ambush near the palace gates? If you go now, you’ll be walking right into a trap."

Hua Manman said, "This is all just our speculation. Maybe we’re overthinking it. The Main God might not have descended at all, and there’s no ambush over at the palace gates. We’re just scaring ourselves."

The system was frantic. "But what if it’s true? What if our guess is right? Won’t you be playing right into the enemy’s hands?!"

Hua Manman said, "If there really is an ambush near the palace gates, that means our guess is correct. And in that case, I’ll have a chance to get close to the Main God."

The system grew even more uneasy.

"What are you going to do to the Main God?"

Hua Manman expressionlessly uttered two words.

"Kill it."

The system was startled. "Don’t be reckless! The Main God is no ordinary person. It will be very difficult for you to kill it!"

Hua Manman replied, "How will I know it’s impossible if I don’t even try?"

The system was frantic. "Calm down! Don’t be impulsive!"

Hua Manman said, "I’m perfectly calm. I’ve already thought this through. The Main God only descended to this world because the two of us completely broke free from its control. It had no other choice but to resort to this desperate measure. From this, we can deduce that the Main God must be under severe restrictions after descending. It was precisely because of these restrictions that it chose to have you and me come to this world to carry out its mission in the first place. Otherwise, it could have changed this world’s history with the flick of a finger. Why bother with all these flashy and complicated maneuvers?"

The system stared at her in a daze.

’She’d thought of so much in such a short amount of time.’

’This woman’s mind works way too fast!’

Hua Manman continued, "A restricted Main God’s power will surely be greatly diminished. This is the perfect opportunity for us. We can’t miss it."

In the Main God’s eyes, she and Li Ji were both prey.

But in turn, in Hua Manman’s eyes, the Main God was also prey.

In the end, who would be the victor would depend on who was more capable!

The system said hastily, "Although your analysis makes a lot of sense, you still can’t go kill the Main God."

Hua Manman replied, "If it doesn’t die, Li Ji and I will never have a moment’s peace."

The system shouted, its voice bordering on a desperate tantrum.

"I don’t care! You just can’t go kill the Main God! The Main God can’t die!"

Its reaction was rather strange.

Hua Manman asked suspiciously, "You’ve already betrayed the Main God, so why are you still protecting it? Are you hiding something from me?"

The system dodged the question.

"This is a huge deal. I think you shouldn’t act rashly. Besides, the Emperor is already dead. Why not wait for Li Ji to arrive? You can discuss it with him before making a decision."

Hua Manman said, "The Main God would love nothing more than for Ji to walk into its trap. I can’t endanger him."

The system said, "Then find a way to get out of here. Don’t go head-to-head with the Main God."

Hua Manman replied, "I can hide for a while, but not forever. Even if I can avoid it this time, what about the future?

As long as the Main God remains in this world, Ji and I will never know a single day of peace.

It will be like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, always ready to deal us a fatal blow.

Instead of sitting here waiting to die, it’s better to strike first."

Of course, the system understood this reasoning, but it had other worries.

"I’m worried something will happen to you."

Hua Manman said, "Don’t worry, I’ve left myself a way out."

She took a small pouch from her robes and held it out to the system.

"If I walk into the ambush, you are to take this pouch, leave the palace, and go to the secret chamber in the Regent Prince Mansion. Place it in the ice coffin."

The system was confused. "What good will that do?"

Hua Manman explained, "Inside is a drawing I made myself as a child. Like me, it originally didn’t belong to this world, yet it was able to travel through time and space to get here. Maybe this is the sliver of hope that heaven has left me."

The system asked skeptically, "Are you sure it will actually work?"

Of course, Hua Manman wasn’t sure. She could only give it a try.

Besides, it wasn’t as if she had any better options.

’It was a desperate remedy for a desperate situation, but it was all she had.’

The little bee reverted to its form as a Three-colored Cat.

Hua Manman hung the pouch around its neck and gave its fluffy head a gentle stroke.

"I’m counting on you."

...

「Inside Hanzhang Hall.」

After announcing the imperial edict concerning the Crown Prince’s succession, the Hanlin Academy Scholar produced another one.

He held the edict up with both hands and said respectfully.

"When the Saint was critically ill, he had a premonition that his days were numbered. He specifically left this imperial edict, stating that after his passing, I was to proclaim it to the world."

The Empress Dowager’s eyes were red and swollen from crying.

Hearing this, she sat up a little straighter and asked in a choked voice.

"What does the edict say?"

Princess Consort Zhen, Crown Prince Li Qiong, Lady Shu, Fifth Prince Li Yi, as well as the Left and Right Ministers, were all still in the hall.

At this moment, all eyes were on the Hanlin Academy Scholar.

He was so nervous that his palms were sweating, and his voice trembled slightly.

"This imperial edict is specifically for Princess Consort Zhen."

Li Qiong immediately turned to look at Princess Consort Zhen, who was standing beside him.

Princess Consort Zhen felt an ominous premonition.

’That Dog Emperor couldn’t have set a final trap for me before he died, could he?’

As it turned out, her premonition was correct.

The Hanlin Academy Scholar unfurled the edict and began to read its contents, word for word.

The first half of the edict was filled with the Emperor’s affection for Princess Consort Zhen.

The language was so sappy that anyone who didn’t know better would have thought the Emperor was a rare, devoted lover, hopelessly in love with Princess Consort Zhen.

But in the second half, the tone shifted to describe the Emperor’s sorrow over his own impending death.

He claimed he wasn’t afraid of death, but he was afraid of leaving Princess Consort Zhen alone in this world with no one to care for her. He worried she would be bullied, and even more so that she would be heartbroken by his death.

Therefore, the Emperor had decided that Princess Consort Zhen was to be buried with him.

He even went so far as to posthumously name Princess Consort Zhen the Holy Sage Empress in the edict, decreeing that they would be buried in the same tomb.

One could say he had arranged everything perfectly.

For Princess Consort Zhen to be elevated from a mere concubine to an Empress was an unparalleled honor.

However, she would have to pay for it with her life.

Princess Consort Zhen stood silently in place, not uttering a sound for a long time.

’Just look at him. This was the man she married. He wouldn’t even let her go at death’s door!’

The Hanlin Academy Scholar closed the edict and presented it to Princess Consort Zhen.

"Noble Consort, please accept the edict."

Princess Consort Zhen took a deep breath and slowly raised her hands.

Li Qiong quickly grabbed her wrist, pleading, "Mother, don’t!"

The Empress Dowager wiped away a tear and asked coolly, "This is a grace bestowed upon the Imperial Concubine by the Emperor. Does the Crown Prince have some objection?"