Chapter 683 - 684: Trump Card (2)

Chapter 683: Chapter 684: Trump Card (2)

Li Qiong was filled with resentment. ’Why is the Grand Empress Dowager so heartless? She won’t even grant a single day’s extension!’

He pressed his lips together. "The Grand Empress Dowager is right. I will make the arrangements at once."

Her goal achieved, the Empress Dowager left, satisfied.

Li Qiong set aside his work and personally made a trip to Yufu Palace.

He looked at his plainly dressed mother and opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his throat felt as if it were blocked. A long time passed without him uttering a single word.

In the end, it was Princess Consort Zhen who spoke first.

"I know what you want to say. Going to the nunnery to live in seclusion was my own choice. You’ve already done your absolute best, so there’s no need to blame yourself."

The more she said this, the more ashamed Li Qiong felt.

He knelt and solemnly kowtowed.

"It is because of my incompetence that you have suffered this injustice today, Mother. I have been unfilial. When I have secured the throne in the future, I will bring you back at the first opportunity and let you live out your later years in peace as the Empress Dowager."

Princess Consort Zhen reached out and helped him up.

She bent down and personally brushed the dust from the hem of his robes.

Her movements were practiced, just as they had been countless times before.

She smiled gently. "No one knows what the future holds. I don’t ask for much, only that you promise me one thing."

Li Qiong said hurriedly, "Please, tell me. As long as it’s within my power, I will do everything I can to accomplish it for you!"

Princess Consort Zhen said, "That palace maid named Hongdou, she’s still in your custody, isn’t she? I hope you will release her."

Li Qiong froze.

He never imagined his mother would make such a request.

But thinking about the truth—that Hongdou was Hua Manman—Li Qiong quickly understood his mother’s intentions.

He couldn’t help but ask, "Mother, you’ve known all along that Hongdou is the Regent Queen, haven’t you?"

Princess Consort Zhen’s expression was very calm.

Back when Li Qiong had come to her asking if Hua Manman had come back from the dead, she had already guessed that he might know Hongdou’s true identity.

What Li Qiong said now merely confirmed her suspicions.

Princess Consort Zhen said unhurriedly, "Who she is doesn’t matter."

Li Qiong retorted, "How can it not matter? She is Li Ji’s wife! Li Ji has already raised an army in rebellion. If I let her go, it would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountains!"

Princess Consort Zhen asked, "Then what do you plan to do? Use Hua Manman as a hostage to force Li Ji to surrender?"

Li Qiong turned his head away and said nothing.

Princess Consort Zhen softened her tone, persuading him gently. "Manman is Li Ji’s reverse scale—touch her and you die. If Li Ji finds out you’ve detained Manman, not only will he not surrender, but he will also attack Tianjing with reckless abandon."

Li Qiong said through gritted teeth, "If he dares attack Tianjing, I’ll kill his wife!"

Princess Consort Zhen replied, "If Li Ji is a mad dog, Manman is the chain holding him back. Once you break that chain, the mad dog will be completely out of control. He will drag everyone in the Celestial Capital down to be buried with Manman."

Li Qiong said angrily, "He’d dare?!"

Princess Consort Zhen looked at him calmly.

Meeting his mother’s gaze, Li Qiong’s anger quickly subsided, and he regained his composure.

He thought of Li Ji’s methods. The man was always unpredictable, doing whatever he pleased for his own amusement, never caring about anyone else’s feelings. His arrogance and tyranny were unbearable.

Massacring an entire city was something most people would find difficult to do, but with Li Ji, it wasn’t out of the question.

He was born to be a harbinger of calamity, his hands stained with the blood of countless people.

To him, killing was as common as eating a meal.

Li Qiong said slowly, "Thank you for the reminder, Mother. Unless it’s a last resort, I won’t touch Hua Manman."

Princess Consort Zhen said, "You should release her."

Li Qiong wanted to say it was impossible.

Hua Manman was his trump card, an important weapon to use against Li Ji.

Unless Li Ji was dead, he would never release Hua Manman.

But reason told him he couldn’t say this to his mother, or she would surely try to find a way to help Hua Manman escape.

So, Li Qiong put on an obedient act and replied meekly.

"Yes. She is your younger sister, Mother, which makes her my aunt. I would never harm her. I’ll have a good talk with her later. If she agrees to help persuade Li Ji to withdraw his troops, I’ll let her go."

He spoke with such sincerity and reason that Princess Consort Zhen believed him, smiling in relief.

"In that case, I can rest assured."

That afternoon, Princess Consort Zhen was sent out of the Imperial Palace in a carriage to the nunnery outside the city.

When the Empress Dowager learned of this, a great weight was lifted from her heart, and her mood improved considerably.

’So what if Princess Consort Zhen’s son became the Emperor? Wasn’t she still shamefully driven out of the Imperial Palace in the end?’

’In this Imperial Palace, she would always be the most noble woman of all.’

’No one could ever surpass her!’

Five days later was the auspicious date selected by the Honglu Temple.

On this day, Li Qiong donned the magnificent crown robe of an emperor. Under the watchful eyes of the civil and military officials, he slowly ascended the steps and sat upon the supreme imperial throne.

The assembled officials knelt, kowtowed, and hailed him with cries of "Long live the Emperor!"

A heavy crown rested on his head, its beaded curtain hanging down. As he lowered his gaze, his vision was filled with the sight of his subjects kneeling on the ground.

This was the first time he had ever been in such a high place, the first time he had ever looked down upon the masses from this vantage point.

In that instant, he was suddenly overcome by a sense of unreality.

It was as if he were standing on the highest mountain peak, and all living things were merely ants prostrating themselves at his feet.

’No wonder everyone wants to be the emperor. No wonder so many people will stop at nothing to obtain power.’

’The feeling of holding such immense power truly was intoxicating.’

Li Qiong spoke slowly.

"My beloved ministers, you may rise."

After a rustle of fabric, the civil and military officials rose to their feet.

Following the enthronement ceremony came the bestowment of titles upon the court and the imperial harem.

This was a part of the ceremony everyone was eager to witness, and the great hall was filled with a joyous atmosphere.

However, at that very moment.

An urgent report was brought in and handed to Li Qiong.