Chapter 144 She Wants Freedom, She Doesn't Care About Her Life

The Fifth Prince remained silent, snorting coldly as he cursed the dog emperor in his heart for hiding his Third Sister's biological son from them for so long.

Eight whole years!

If it weren't for that Crown Prince's sudden outburst of madness today, exposing this matter, would the dog emperor have continued to deceive him for the rest of his life?!

The Fifth Prince truly hated himself for not being strong enough. He couldn't protect his own sister before, and now he was being played with by the dog emperor.

He was so angry he gritted his teeth, vowing to conquer the Great Zhou and rescue his little nephew.

Suddenly, the hem of his robe was tugged down a few times. The Fifth Prince looked down and saw that it was that clueless child.

Seeing that no one was paying attention, he bared his teeth, making the fiercest and most ferocious expression, trying to intimidate her.

To everyone's surprise, instead of the expected cries, Xie Mianmian's lips curled into a gleeful smile as she clapped her hands and cheered, uttering nothing but unpleasant words.

"Wow, the Fifth Prince's teeth are snow-white!"

"Could you do that expression again? It looks just like a little wolf."

The fifth prince walked away silently; that child was just as sharp-tongued as the crown prince.

Xie Mianmian followed the tinkling noise around the garden like a little shadow.

She thought happily, "The Fifth Prince is such a nice person. He even played a game of cat and mouse with Mianmian."

In the inner room of the side hall, the emperor struggled to get up, wanting to lean against the bed.

The seventh prince reached out his hands to help, but the emperor politely declined, saying, "I can manage on my own."

Seeing his father sitting weakly on the bed, the seventh prince was filled with guilt and knelt down with a thud.

"Xiao Qi, what are you doing? Get up quickly."

The Seventh Prince's dark eyes were filled with grief and self-blame. Under the Emperor's puzzled gaze, he told the Emperor, word by word, everything he and Xie Mianmian had done together.

From seeking information about his birth mother from Shanzhanlou to sneaking into the Crown Prince's study to steal books, every detail was explained clearly.

Finally, the seventh prince slammed his forehead against the cold, hard floor and remained there for a long time, his voice muffled.

"Your son is unfilial; please punish me, Father."

It's all my fault. I insisted on getting to the bottom of things and even gave the Crown Prince the Truth Powder to drink, causing him to say those disgusting things in public, which made everything irreversible.

It's all my fault; I made my father faint from anger.

It's all my fault, everything is my fault...

"Xiao Qi, I don't think you did anything wrong. The one who is wrong is that rebellious son. I know your intentions were good. You are just as heartbroken as I am about how things have developed to this point. Get up."

Seeing that Xiao Qi was still kneeling motionless on the ground, the emperor sighed deeply, "If it weren't for you all, I wouldn't know how many other wrongdoings that rebellious son would have committed, acting recklessly, stirring up trouble in the court, and even sending people to assassinate Mianmian. I really made a mistake in giving birth to him, cough cough..."

He got so angry that he choked. The seventh prince quickly stood up and patted his father's back to help him catch his breath.

The emperor, trying to steady his breathing, looked at his beloved son and said, "Let's not talk about him anymore. Little Seven, is there anything you want to ask me about your birth mother?"

The Seventh Prince clenched his fist and found it damp. After a long while, he found his voice, which choked with emotion, "Your subject... wants to know... whether she really died in childbirth?"

The emperor fell silent, recalling the events of that year.

At that time, he unexpectedly learned that Xiao Yao was actually the mascot of his harem—the Third Princess of the Western Barbarians.

So one night he summoned her to his bedchamber, wanting to give her a surprise.

To everyone's surprise, beneath the sedan chair that arrived was a face streaked with tears.

The moment the emperor saw himself, he clearly saw a look of disbelief flash across Xiao Yao's face, followed by understanding, but the next moment, she burst into tears again.

The emperor raised his hand and tenderly wiped away her tears. "Why are you crying?"

Xiao Yao cried until her eyes were red and swollen, "Why are you the emperor?"

What I want is a lifelong, monogamous relationship. Why would I fall in love with an emperor who has three palaces and six courtyards?

The emperor embraced her, uttering sweet words he had never spoken to his other concubines, thus appeasing the silly girl, Xiao Yao.

From that day on, Xiao Yao became the most favored concubine in the harem.

The emperor favored her, showering her with countless riches and honors, and even commissioned a painter to create a portrait of her in the same style as his own, hoping that they would be remembered for generations to come.

Soon after, Xiao Yao became pregnant. During that time, she visibly became thinner, looked listless, and stopped talking.

No matter how the emperor tried to coax her, she could hardly show a smile.

Finally, the day of Xiao Yao's delivery arrived. With the help of the most experienced midwife in the palace, she gave birth to a baby boy without any major complications.

The emperor rushed into the room with joy, grasped her pale and weak hand, and said, "We have a son."

Once Xiao Yao was settled in bed and there was no one around, she said, "Let me go. I don't want to stay in the palace anymore."

The emperor stared at her in astonishment. "What... what are you saying? Haven't we always been on good terms?"

She shook her head. "You are very good, but I don't want to always stay in the palace waiting for you to come back, doing nothing, just waiting for your favor, feeling anxious and insecure. That's not me."

"Then come to the Imperial Study to see me. I will never get tired of you."

Xiao Yao smiled bitterly and said, "Don't you understand? You have to stay overnight in the Empress's palace on the first and fifteenth of the month. There are countless women between us. I'm tired. This is not the life I want."

The emperor held her hand tightly, "But I only love you."

"If you really love me, then let me go."

Later, the emperor paced back and forth in the palace like a madman, pleading and even resorting to threats and inducements, but nothing could change Xiao Yao's mind.

She's gone mad. She only wants freedom; she doesn't care about her life or her son.

Also, I don't want him.

The emperor hated her selfishness, but he also loved her selfishness.

Live life to the fullest, live for yourself.

In the end, the emperor could only release the butterfly that had only briefly graced his life.

She left decisively, hoping that nothing about her, including her children, would remain in the palace.

"Could we let him live under a different identity? If the Westerners find out about him, he will not have a peaceful life."

The emperor said in a deep voice, "Then take him away."

"You are a good father."

You raised your first six children very well.

Not long after, on an ordinary afternoon, an ordinary carriage drove out of the palace.

She was still young, and she escaped from this cannibalistic capital city.

The Three Princesses of the Western Barbarians will never return to this world.

Having thought this through, the emperor selected some points that could be explained and conveyed them to the seventh prince.

"Xiao Qi, don't hate her."

The Seventh Prince shook his head. "I know. I just hope she can live a free and happy life."

Fortunately, she was able to leave decisively. The Seventh Prince did not want anyone to sacrifice for him, especially his own birth mother.