Chapter 234 -

Chapter 234: Chapter

BACK TO THE PRESENT

Wenzhe leaned forward and pulled his mother into a tight, warm hug. Duchess Xi buried her face into her son’s broad shoulder, her fragile body shaking violently as twelve years of heavy, painful tears finally spilled out.

"It is all the Empress’s fault... every single thing!" she wept, her voice breaking into frantic gasps between her sobs. "Your father is innocent, Wenzhe! He is just a pawn in her bloody hands! You have to save him... please, save your father! I know he is planning something right now. I can feel it in my heart! He wants to end all of this suffering, but the way he wants to do it will only leave him a dead man! Save him, Wenzhe... bring your father back home to us!"

Wenzhe held her firmly, his strong hands patting her back as his dark eyes burned with dangerous, unyielding determination.

"I will, Mother," Wenzhe spoke softly, his voice deep, calm, and solid as a mountain. "I give you my word. I will make sure Father comes back to his senses before he does something stupid. And as for the Empress... she will pay dearly for every single life she has ruined."

Hearing his steady promises, Duchess Xi slowly pulled away from his chest. She grabbed a silk handkerchief, wiped the hot tears from her eyes, and took a deep, steadying breath.

She turned around and faced him directly, her sad expression instantly hardening into pure, terrifying seriousness.

"Wenzhe, you must listen to me carefully," she warned, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. "The Empress is far more powerful and dangerous than you realize. Everyone in the court gossips that she gets away with her horrific crimes because the Emperor loves her and knows nothing of what she does. But those people are complete fools. The Emperor is not blind. He simply pretends not to see."

Wenzhe listened closely, his sharp brow pulling into a thoughtful frown.

Duchess Xi continued, her eyes fixed on her son. "Decades ago, the Emperor was just a weak, powerless Seventh Prince. Nobody cared about him, and he had zero chance of ever reaching the throne. It was only because of the Empress’s powerful clan and their vast army that he was able to crush all his brothers and claim the imperial crown. He owes his entire life and title to her family. That is why, for all these years, he has acted like a helpless, obedient fool before her."

She paused, taking a slow step toward Wenzhe.

"But even a quiet, pretend fool gets tired of being controlled," Duchess Xi said, her eyes flashing with a cold light. "The Emperor knows how twisted and cruel the Empress really is. He knows that if her son, the Crown Prince, becomes the next ruler, the entire kingdom will burn in blood under her control. The Emperor refuses to leave his empire in her hands."

"So what is his plan?" Wenzhe asked, his mind already piecing the political board together.

"The Emperor is quietly preparing to make the Third Prince his heir instead of the Crown Prince," Duchess Xi revealed, her voice chilling and clear. "He is secretly gathering his own forces to strip the Crown Prince of his title."

A heavy, dangerous silence filled the quiet bedchamber.

Duchess Xi looked straight into Wenzhe’s dark eyes, delivering the ultimate, terrifying truth. "The Empress is not stupid. The very moment she realizes she is losing her grip on the throne, she will not sit back and accept defeat. She will start an all-out, bloody rebellion to take the empire by force... and she will force your father and his army to stand on the front lines for her."

Wenzhe’s hands clenched into tight fists at his sides, his jaw tightening as the full scope of the coming war settled in his mind.

"Let her try," Wenzhe whispered, his tone sharp enough to cut through steel. "I will be waiting for her."

....

One week later, a grand carriage bearing the Xi family crest pulled up to the gates of the Su family estate.

Yueqing stepped out, her fine silk dress sweeping against the stone ground as she walked through the familiar courtyards. Maids and guards bowed respectfully on both sides, whispering in excitement as they welcomed their young miss home.

She made her way straight toward her father’s study. Just as she approached the heavy wooden doors, they opened wide. The Grand Chancellor had just finished an important meeting with several high-ranking court officials.

As the officials stepped out into the hallway, they paused and bowed low toward her.

"Greetings, Young Madame Xi," they spoke in unison with deep respect.

Yueqing offered them a polite, elegant nod in return. "Greetings, Ministers."

Once the officials bowed again and walked away down the corridor, Yueqing stepped into the study and closed the door behind her.

Minister Su was standing behind his mahogany desk, tidying up several official scrolls. When he looked up and saw his daughter standing there, his eyes widened in complete shock.

"Yueqing!" Minister Su gasped, quickly dropping the scrolls onto his desk. "You didn’t tell me you were visiting today! Is everything alright?"

Yueqing immediately dropped her solemn expression and pouted, running over to hook her arm around the Grand Chancellor’s like a spoiled child.

Even though he was not her real father in her original world, this man had pampered the original body owner so completely that Yueqing couldn’t help but feel like a protected little princess whenever she was around him.

"Father, can’t I just come home to see you?" she whined playfully, resting her head against his shoulder for a quick second before her face turned serious. She leaned in close and whispered, "Actually... I need your help, Father."

The Grand Chancellor raised an eyebrow, amused by her antics. "Oh? And what does my little princess need help with this time?"

"Wenzhe and I are planning to stop the Empress’s rebellion," Yueqing said softly, her eyes dead serious.

The warm, cheerful mood in the room vanished in an instant.

The Grand Chancellor’s eyes widened slightly. He slowly clapped his hands together twice. Outside the study, his personal elite guard immediately understood the signal. The guard pulled the heavy wooden doors shut, locking them from the outside and sternly ordering every lingering maid, servant, and guard to clear the entire corridor.

Within seconds, total silence fell outside the room, leaving only father and daughter inside.

The Grand Chancellor walked over to the tea table, his expression turning cold, grave, and terrifyingly sharp. The playful father was gone, replaced by the feared head of the government.

"Sit down, Yueqing," he ordered, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Yueqing sat down quietly, watching her father pour two cups of tea with a steady hand.

He set a cup in front of her, looking her straight in the eye with severe seriousness. "Yueqing, I do not know where you heard such foolish nonsense, but do not ever say those words again. Not even in a whisper."

"Father, I—"

"You are a young lady, and you are now a married woman of the Xi family," the Grand Chancellor interrupted, his voice stern and unwavering. "Your only duty is to focus on your family, take care of your household, and live a peaceful, quiet life. Whatever storm uncovers itself in the imperial court is none of your concern."

Yueqing shook her head gently. "Father, I understand your concern, but I cannot just sit by and let the Empress win. You already know about the rebellion, don’t you? What are you planning to do?"

According to the original plot of the novel, the Grand Chancellor had never been on good terms with the Empress. He hated her corrupt methods, and he never bowed to her demands.

The Grand Chancellor let out a long, heavy sigh. He set his teacup down and looked at his daughter with weary eyes. "Whether the Empress succeeds or fails, that is her own destiny. As for me, I will simply continue my work peacefully for the empire, just as I have always done."

Yueqing reached across the small table and grabbed his hand tightly, her eyes filled with desperate worry.

"Father, think about it!" Yueqing urged, her voice low but sharp. "If the Empress wins and the Crown Prince takes the throne, do you really think she will just let you continue your work peacefully? You have spent years trying your absolute best to stay neutral, refusing to join either side. But once she takes total power, she will force you to bow to the Crown Prince. And if you refuse... she will ruin the Su family completely!"

"Either way you must make a choice now.. either you stand by and not do anything and watch as this empire slowly goes to it ruins or you do something.. and help us make things right. I know I have no power and I’m nothing to the world except for a spoilt young miss.. but I refuse to keep quiet and watch the empress have her way. I refuse!"