Chapter 486: Brother's Excessive Pampering Leads to Qingyue's Betrayal!

His eldest son has grown up to be ten years old, and he also has a daughter, a princess.

It seems the late emperor suddenly had a change of heart.

He couldn't accept that the Empress was dead.

He went berserk, first killing the two guards at the gate, and then purging half of the harem.

Finally, he knelt down under the big tree in the Cold Palace and used his bare hands to pry open the stones.

With his bloodied hands, he touched the empress's remains and bones, and then, filled with remorse, he vomited blood repeatedly.

Finally, the late emperor, with a heavy heart, discovered that the reason all news from the Cold Palace had been kept secret was because of the Empress's cousin.

Even the rumor that the Empress was a jinx to the country was actually orchestrated by her maternal family.

The Empress's biological parents had long since died in battle against the Western Regions.

Therefore, the empress was raised by her uncles and aunts.

She rarely experienced the pampered upbringing of a traditional noblewoman, and grew up exploring military strategy books on her own in her parents' former study.

Even when she knew perfectly well that it was her uncles and aunts from her maternal clan who wanted to remove her from the position of empress, she thought of the prosperity of her family, the kindness of her uncles and aunts in raising her, and her deceased parents. Without any evidence of her own, she swallowed all the bitter pills alone.

It was a pity for the two children.

However, he himself became depressed due to his disappointment with the emperor.

It wasn't until she became seriously ill and regretted her decision to raise her two children well that it was too late.

The Empress's cousin, Consort Xiao, was given a white silk ribbon.

Furthermore, they must not be buried in the imperial mausoleum.

The entire maternal family of the Empress was raided and their property confiscated.

The emperor held Zongzheng Langri and Zongzheng Qingyue in his arms, and his hair turned white overnight.

From then on, the emperor's health deteriorated day by day.

He made Zongzheng Langri the crown prince and personally taught him the ways of a monarch.

But in just six months, he fell seriously ill and never recovered.

Six months later, the emperor died.

Before his death, he left no other words except to pass the throne to the crown prince.

It seems he himself knew that the empress was unwilling to be buried with him in the imperial tomb.

As expected, Munemasa Ryūji did not do that.

He buried the late emperor and his mother far apart, so that even in death, his father would never see his mother again.

With the support of his senior ministers, the eleven-year-old Zongzheng Langri successfully ascended the throne and became the young emperor of the Great Chu.

He had a very hard time in the past few years.

The happiest moment of each day is probably seeing my younger sister, Munemasa Kiyotsuki.

Because Zongzheng Qingyue had never seen anyone other than her brother since she was a child, and was raised by Zongzheng Langri with great care, she refused to sleep alone even after she left the Cold Palace.

She clung to Zongzheng Langri as if she were her own parents.

She regarded her brother as her closest person, and at first, she had to hold his arm to fall asleep in the huge bedroom.

As she grew older, she gradually learned manners and etiquette under the guidance of her governesses.

I now know what the difference between men and women is.

I now understand the relationship between ruler and subject.

Now we know what an emperor is and what a princess is.

She began to distance herself from her brother and diligently studied court etiquette day by day.

She wanted to be a princess who wouldn't disappoint her brother, but the more she did so, the more Zongzheng Langri felt heartache and reluctance to part with her.

"Moon, it's alright if you're a little domineering and willful."

Zongzheng Qingyue shook her head seriously and said, "No, brother."

“I am your younger sister, and I grew up in the cold palace since I was a child. I don’t want my words and actions to be criticized or ridiculed, and I don’t want to give others something to talk about and make my brother feel ashamed.”

"Moreover, a princess of a country should have the demeanor and responsibility of a princess."

"I want to share my brother's burdens."

Zongzheng Qingyue's words deeply moved Zongzheng Langri. Watching his younger sister grow up day by day and become more and more beautiful than his mother had been, he felt that no one in the world could compare to his Yue'er.

Even after he married the Empress and four concubines, he remained indifferent to the women in the harem.

As Zongzheng Qingyue grew up, Zongzheng Langri focused his attention more on her.

He was happy to raise his closest sister into a goddess in the eyes of the world.

Therefore, we should create momentum for her.

To cherish her and hold her in the palm of one's hand.

Give her mountains of gold and silver.

Give her the world's greatest pearl, and all the world's rarest treasures.

He also made her deal with the Foreign Minister, allowed her to use her years of learning, had her share the burden of state affairs, and put her at the forefront of the court.

Even though the remonstrances from the Censorate almost overwhelmed the emperor's throne.

But Zongzheng Langri continued to do as he pleased, supporting Zongzheng Qingyue in his own way with an almost doting affection, making her happy.

Soon, Zongzheng Qingyue realized that she had become a princess and a vixen who brought disaster to the country.

The previous dynasty had many complaints about her.

There was much discussion about her among the public.

It is said that the king's doting on his younger sister far exceeded the usual ethical boundaries between siblings.

Even if her abilities were truly outstanding, even more appropriate and thorough than her mother's in the past.

However, the Great Chu court still would not accept the woman's merits.

Zongzheng Qingyue had a slight intention to back down.

Just then, Xie Huaiyuan appeared beside Zongzheng Qingyue.

In public, he judged her with the same etiquette and morality as everyone else.

In private, however, he knelt on the ground, tugging at the hem of her skirt, begging to win her favor at first glance.

Zongzheng Qingyue thought he was like a madman, always running away in a panic.

If it weren't for Zongzheng Zhiyuan's repeated attempts to frame him, and Xie Huaiyuan's repeated rescues, he wouldn't have gradually changed his attitude towards him.

Perhaps Xie Huaiyuan would be one of her choices?

However, when Zongzheng Langri learned of Xie Huaiyuan's existence, he went into a frenzy of opposition.

"Moon, you are not allowed to love him!"

"Did you hear me? You are not allowed to marry Xie Huaiyuan!"

Zongzheng Qingyue looked at her brother with fear in her eyes.

"Brother, but Yue'er will get married sooner or later."

Zongzheng Langri grabbed her arm with great force.

"Who said that?"

"My Yue'er will never marry!"

"Can't your brother support you?"

"I'm willing to stay with you forever. Wouldn't it be better if we just stayed together like before, with only each other?"

Zongzheng Qingyue was frightened by Zongzheng Langri.

She ran out of the palace to see Xie Huaiyuan.

She even hid away and spent several leisurely days with him at the mountain villa before she finally calmed down.

Xie Huaiyuan seems to be very busy.

People come and go every day.

Zongzheng Qingyue inquired and learned that the Xie family had been implicated in a corruption case involving millions of taels of silver.

Zongzheng Qingyue sent people to investigate, wanting to know if the Xie family was truly innocent.

However, Xie Huaiyuan came back first to beg her.

"Moon, only you can save my Xie family. Please, please save me!"

These days, although Zongzheng Qingyue doesn't have romantic feelings for Xie Huaiyuan, she is grateful for his help and companionship all along.

Therefore, she said, "Once I have investigated and found that your Xie family is truly innocent, I will not stand idly by."

“I will definitely beg my brother, the Emperor, to investigate this matter and clear the Xie family’s name.”

"But Young Master Xie, your Xie family is truly innocent. You're not lying to me, are you?"

Xie Huaiyuan's eyes darted away for a moment, then he gave a firm and resolute guarantee.

But when Qingyue woke up, she found herself back in the palace.

She even returned to her bed in that cold palace.

She saw that Zongzheng Langri was only wearing a thin black gauze dress.

With long, flowing hair and a dazed expression, she slowly walked towards me...