Chapter 299: She Loves Work, She Loves the Morning Court (The End)

Xiao Yang had Gu Sheng lock down the Southern Domain, so news that she was still alive never got out.

Xiao Cheng and Xiao Ziling had already revealed themselves, but their actions—leading troops, killing people, and consolidating power—were completely misinterpreted. People thought the Emperor was dead and that they were desperately trying to atone. It was seen as an attempt to both avenge the Emperor and absolve themselves of the crime of failing to protect her.

No matter how vehemently Prince Jing and his faction insisted the Emperor was fine, no one believed them.

A group of them were running rampant, making moves everywhere.

What’s that saying? If you won’t do it, someone else will.

Prince Jing and Xiao Lv didn’t want the throne, but plenty of others did.

This was especially true after the Emperor established the Bian Bureau. The Xiao Imperial Family had gathered in unprecedented numbers. They had all been trained, and every one of them had some skill.

Now that Prince Jing and his group held power but refused the throne, others started to get ideas.

They banded together, sidelined Prince Jing as the head of the family, and began holding their own private meetings.

“A nation cannot be without a sovereign for a single day,” they argued. As members of the Xiao Royal Family, they had a duty to take responsibility for the Xiao Family’s empire.

When Prince Jing heard they were actually planning to hold an internal vote to elect a successor, he was so angry he had to laugh.

‘Have they forgotten that the Emperor is the reason they have what they have today?’

‘That damn rascal of an Emperor has played tricks on people more than once.’

‘She loves setting traps, luring people in, and ruining them without a second thought.’

‘This bunch never learns their lesson.’

‘No, wait. The Emperor was the one who propped them up, so they haven’t actually experienced her methods firsthand.’

‘But even if they haven’t felt her wrath themselves, they’ve certainly seen it inflicted on others.’

‘Of all the families and all the people who tried to rebel before, who ever came out on top against the Emperor?’

‘If something had really happened to the Emperor, would we be this calm?’

‘With the throne right there for the taking, would we just hand it over?’

‘A bunch of fools!’

It wasn’t just Prince Jing. Xiao Lan and his son, as well as Xiao Cheng’s own father, were also ostracized.

Xiao Cheng’s father was ostracized because the conspirators blamed his son for failing to protect the Emperor. They were preparing to condemn the man and even hold him accountable for his son’s supposed failure.

As for Xiao Lan, he had been by the Emperor’s side the longest. His martial arts were superb and his capabilities were exceptional.

He was arguably the most suitable candidate for the throne after Xiao Lv, and the only one who could truly challenge him.

They went to persuade Xiao Lan, offering to elect him as the new emperor if he would join their faction.

Xiao Lan: “…”

‘If they want to die, that’s their business. But they’re not dragging me down with them.’

After he and his son refused the offer, they were naturally met with vicious criticism and exclusion from the group.

But no matter how much of a scene they made, they were stuck on the sidelines.

The Bian Bureau had the authority to investigate officials, but it was an independent agency. It was backed by the Emperor’s power and stood in opposition to all other officials.

This meant they had offended most of the officials below the third rank.

As for the officials of third-rank and above, they were either fiercely loyal to the Emperor or were cunning old foxes who would never get involved in such reckless schemes.

They could throw their weight around as members of the Imperial Family, but in reality, they had no power to interfere in the affairs of the court.

This was the fruit of the Emperor’s years of “laziness.” She had put everyone in the perfect position, creating a complete, self-sustaining system where they all kept each other in check. The resulting structure was so strong that it could operate independently, even without an emperor.

Rong Yin and Xiao Lv managed the government’s affairs. Prince Jing stood firm in his refusal of the throne, blocking the conspirators’ path. Mu Yunlian controlled the treasury. And though Li Wei was absent, he was so powerful he had become a legend. No one believed he was truly dead. Until his body was found, the military generals would never take orders from anyone else.

The court appeared leaderless, but it was actually impregnable.

Those who wanted to elect a new emperor were destined to be nothing more than buffoons.

Some tossed and turned, sleepless with swelling ambition.

Others traveled nonstop, day and night, pushing themselves so hard they wanted to just dig a hole and bury themselves on the spot.

‘This whole Emperor business really isn’t worth it.’

‘I feel like I’m going to die of exhaustion out here.’

Rong Yin and Mu Yunlian received word and were waiting in a corner of the Imperial Palace. They both had so much they wanted to say, planning to pour out all their longing and worry to the Emperor the moment they saw her.

But when the procession finally arrived, the Emperor dismounted, her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed right then and there.

She was still conscious, but her soul had already left her body.

The two of them: “…”

Li Wei caught her and carried her all the way to Zichen Palace. A group of palace maids immediately rushed forward to serve her, giving her a thorough, scented bath.

Xiao Yang, now in her night robes, drifted out from behind a screen like a phantom. She saw Rong Yin and Mu Yunlian still waiting, staring at her with wide, expectant eyes, clearly full of things to say.

Xiao Yang’s lips twitched into a faint smile. She grabbed both of them by the hand and pulled them straight toward the Dragon Bed.