Chapter 262: Tsk, Sore Loser

When Xiao Li found herself sitting on the Dragon Throne with a sword in hand, she knew she was dreaming again.

After all, in her current situation, there was no need for her to draw her sword.

Lou Yan and Song Junzhan stood before her. Even Song Junzhan, a civil servant, was clad in armor. With longswords drawn, they stood at the ready, their expressions so grim they didn’t dare glance back.

Suddenly, with a BANG, the doors of Jinluan Hall were kicked open.

Rebel soldiers swarmed in, followed closely by Xu Nianqing, who charged in carrying Rong Qing’s head in his hand.

Xiao Li knew it was a dream. She didn’t care about the rebellion or about Xu Nianqing, but her gaze was brutally seared by the sight of Rong Qing’s dripping head.

’Rong Qing... my loyal General... beheaded by that vile spawn.’

Song Junzhan raised his sword and furiously denounced Xu Nianqing, cursing him as a treacherous official committing treason.

Xu Nianqing pointed his sword at Xiao Li, reviling her as a cruel, tyrannical, bloodthirsty ruler who slaughtered the innocent.

Knowing it was a dream, Xiao Li couldn’t even be bothered to argue. She watched the farce as if they were nothing more than clowns.

She didn’t need to say a word. The plot continued, and the two sides began to fight.

For Xu Nianqing to have made it this far meant that Xiao Li’s forces had been all but wiped out.

The only ones left were the two men standing before her.

Finally, Lou Yan was cut down. Song Junzhan shielded her, only to have his throat slit by a single strike.

Even though it was a dream, the scene made Xiao Li’s eyes burn red as her killing intent boiled over.

At last, a sword was pressed against her neck.

Xu Nianqing’s eyes were filled with heartache and hatred. He seemed to be questioning her about something, but she couldn’t hear him, nor did she want to answer. And so, he thrust his sword into Xiao Li’s heart.

"Ngh!"

’Even for a dream, this pain is too real.’

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Li slowly leaned back, enduring the searing pain as she pulled the sword from her own chest. At the same time, she withdrew the longsword that had pierced Xu Nianqing’s body and instantly plunged it back into him.

Blood splattered across her face. She didn’t blink, letting the blood slide past her eyes.

Xiao Li didn’t try to cover her gushing wound. She merely leaned against the golden dragon armrest for support.

She remained seated on the Dragon Throne, not even having stood up, while Xu Nianqing collapsed to his knees in agony. His life was draining away, yet he could only glare at her, his eyes filled with resentment and hate.

Her face covered in blood, her eyes tinged with its crimson light, Xiao Li simply watched Xu Nianqing. A strange smile slowly blossomed on her lips, growing brighter and more unhinged.

She spoke, enunciating every word, "Xu Nianqing, that face of yours... every glimpse, every inch of it, makes me utterly, utterly, utterly sick."

"But, you know, I’m actually very happy to see you."

"It said that all that suffering was a premonition, a future I had unintentionally glimpsed. It said that none of it had ever happened."

"It tried to use that to convince me not to go mad, not to hold a grudge."

"When I grew tired of all the killing, I couldn’t help but wonder... could it be true that none of it ever happened? In that case, they had indeed died innocently."

"But they are dead. And to regain control, It actually brought you here."

"Hahaha... Since you exist, what premonition could there be? Even if it was fake, it’s real now. You all deserve to die!"

"I’m so grateful to you," she said, her eyes smiling, her voice dripping with gentleness. "If you hadn’t come before me, how could I... how could I possibly kill you with my own hands?"

Xiao Li abruptly yanked the sword free and swung it down viciously.

Xu Nianqing’s eyes widened in terror. The moment blood flew, the world faded into endless darkness.

Xiao Li: "Tsk, what a spoilsport. I didn’t even get to see his head hit the floor."

The darkness was dead silent, but Xiao Li wasn’t flustered.

But you know, when a person is bored, they tend to look for something pointless to do.

"Xiao Hei, I know it’s you."

"Xiao Hei, why are you here again? Did you lose a fight?"

"Xiao Hei, let’s not get discouraged, alright? That’s just life. You lose once, there’s always a next time. It’s not important, just look on the bright side..."

And then she was kicked out again.

Sitting bolt upright in bed, Xiao Li couldn’t help but laugh out loud. ’What kind of world consciousness is this? So petty.’

"Your Majesty."

Hong Yue parted the curtains and entered. "Your Majesty is awake. Would you like some water?"

Lou Yan had once again been sent to stand guard at the door, leaving only Hong Yue to keep watch inside the room.

Xiao Li was in a rather good mood. "I’m fine," she said with a smile.

After lying in bed for a while, she only felt more and more awake. So, she threw off the covers and got up.

"Hong Yue, go and summon the Prime Minister to the palace."

Even in the dead of night, no one would question the Emperor’s command.

The Empress wanted to leave the palace to find Prince Wei, and Song Junzhan did everything in his power to stop her.

"Your Majesty, you are the Emperor! How can you put yourself in danger? I have already sent people to find Prince Wei. If that’s not enough, we can simply dispatch more men."

Xiao Li’s mind was made up. "You don’t understand. I must go personally for this matter."

’Dreaming is so boring. I’m going to go and deal with that Xu Nianqing myself.’

Song Junzhan was unable to stop her. Lou Yan didn’t try to, believing he could protect the Empress no matter where she went.

But Xiao Li didn’t take him with her. Instead, she assigned him to Longxi Gully.

"Your Majesty!"

Lou Yan was in disbelief. He was the Empress’s personal guard; how could she not take him?

Xiao Li’s reason was simple: "Longxi Gully is my lifeline. I don’t trust it in anyone else’s hands. You will guard it well for me."

Lou Yan was left speechless, unable to utter a single word of refusal.

The Empress departed that very night, taking Rong Qing, Yang Jun, and Hong Yue, as well as Ziyue, whom Song Junzhan had insisted on including.

The Empress didn’t need his guard, but he wouldn’t be at ease without one of his own men by her side.

Xiao Li found it strange. "Aren’t you usually so protective of Ziyue? I thought you didn’t want him exposed to danger."

Song Junzhan replied, "He’s grown up. He can be responsible for the life he chooses. Besides, he’s acquired a great many skills; he needs a place to put them to use."

Ziyue excelled at martial arts but not civil matters, meaning he was destined for the path of a military officer. Serving by the Empress’s side and protecting her was a ladder to success few could ever hope to reach.

Xiao Li said, "I’m not babysitting. This journey will inevitably involve bloodshed. Aren’t you afraid he’ll be in danger?"

Song Junzhan said, "Gaining experience is naturally dangerous, but you can’t keep him locked away just because there’s a risk."

After speaking, he couldn’t help but add with a smile, "Why does Your Majesty seem even more reluctant to part with him than I am?"

Xiao Li retorted, "I just don’t want to use child labor."

Ziyue’s Qinggong was outstanding and his martial arts were formidable. It was impossible for Xiao Li not to appreciate such a subordinate.

But he was young and clearly special to Song Junzhan. Not only was he "child labor," he was also the relative of a friend. He was a hot potato.

She wanted invincible, fearless soldiers, not a subordinate she would have to worry about.

’Who uses a blade to kill people while worrying about it getting chipped?’

However, Song Junzhan insisted, and Ziyue was also very eager. Xiao Li reluctantly agreed, deciding to give him a chance to prove himself.

After hasty preparations, Xiao Li was gone in less than an hour.

Lou Yan and Song Junzhan stood at the palace gates, watching the Empress’s procession disappear into the distance. After a long while, they turned back and met each other’s gaze, much of the animosity between them gone.

Two castaways at the ends of the earth, sharing the same desolate fate.

In the struggle for the Empress’s favor, there were still no winners.