The system was speechless for a long time before finally saying quietly, "What if the emperor later discovers that Consort Yan's mistake was minor, or even nonexistent?"
Consort Yan has been with him for so many years, and the Crown Prince and Princess Jingning have also behaved well in the past. He should feel somewhat guilty, right...?
Ling Xiao glanced at it strangely, then affectionately patted the little ball of light:
"Silly boy, haven't I emphasized this many times? He's the emperor. So what if he wronged someone for a moment?"
As long as the person is still alive, he can make amends completely. The crown prince can be deposed and then reinstated; the princess's fiefdom and Consort Yan's title—which one isn't decided according to his own will?
In conclusion, Ling Xiao said:
"The emperor is the most ruthless creature because he has countless ways to start over, so don't even think about going against him, or you'll always lose."
As she spoke, she became smug again, thinking that her current identity was a game-changer for the emperor!
"Do Yan Cai Ren and the others understand?" the system asked, still confused.
………………
When the former crown prince, now the second prince, was pushed down, everyone heard a shrill scream, a sound so terrifying and painful that it sent shivers down their spines.
The emperor seemed not to have heard the sound, not even raising an eyebrow.
Only Consort Yan and Princess Jingning, who had suffered a heavy blow, remained in the arena. Their faces were filled with sorrow, and tears streamed down their faces. They no longer possessed the imposing presence of imperial concubines and beloved daughters of the emperor.
Some onlookers sighed with pity for them, such as the people in the Duke of Yan's mansion, whose hearts were filled with bitterness that could fill an ocean.
Yan Xun found his previous naiveté laughable, even though he had long known that the emperor was cold-hearted and callous by nature.
No matter how much I tried to guess before, I could never have predicted that it would be so ruthless!
That's the crown prince!
He is not only His Majesty's biological son, but also the world-renowned heir to the dynasty.
The Crown Prince had just married into a powerful family in the court. Since the establishment of the Eastern Palace, he had colluded with countless forces, but none of them could withstand a single word from the Emperor.
Yan Cairen's previous behavior was not due to luck, but rather because she thought that she and her son at least held some status in the emperor's heart.
Who would have thought that one wrong move would lead to total defeat!
Yan Cai Ren could only bite down hard on the soft flesh in her mouth to keep from fainting. She comforted herself that she had not yet reached the end of the road and that she could not fall down.
"This humble concubine has failed Your Majesty's profound kindness, and was presumptuous in offending Empress Zhangde. I deserve to die a thousand deaths. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your guidance."
He was so docile that he took all the blame upon himself.
Seeing her daughter kneeling blankly to the side, Yan Cai felt a pain in her heart, turned her face away and kowtowed repeatedly.
The emperor remained noncommittal, waving his hand to dismiss the crowd, his expression enigmatic.
"Very well, the Empress didn't like seeing you when she was alive, and I will not go against her wishes." A hint of tenderness flashed across the Emperor's old face.
"Fortunately, Heaven took pity on me and allowed me to find the legitimate princess who had been living among the common people. Otherwise, if I had relied on these unfilial beasts, the Empress would have suffered terribly."
Unfilial beasts—the princes with their necks hunched over like quails, and the timid and evasive princesses.
But what are you saying, Your Majesty?
What does it mean to be a legitimate princess who has fallen into obscurity? If you count on your fingers, there's no record of the Empress having any children while she was alive.
How did it end up in the hands of ordinary people?
Some clever people quickly bypassed this section, and after connecting the clues, they realized, "Good heavens, His Majesty held such a grand event just for this 'princess'!"
Ling Xiao straightened up slightly, a smile playing on her lips, and said to the system:
"After watching the show for so long, it's finally my turn to appear."
The emperor looked at a pavilion with great joy, and everyone followed his gaze. Suddenly, some palace servants came out from all directions, silently spreading out red silk on the ground.
A discerning noblewoman could immediately recognize that they were all top-quality, priceless imperial silks.
Even noble families would only use such silk to make overcoats for receiving guests, which shows how precious it was.
But now it's used for paving?
The emperor chuckled and said to his trusted confidant, Duke Cheng, "Young ladies always have such whimsical ideas. She wanted something like the mortal world, and I can only grant her wish."
His tone was gentle with a hint of helplessness, as if he were just an ordinary father who doted on his daughter.
Duke Cheng replied with a smile:
"Being a parent always brings worries. My son is quite unruly, and I often want to discipline him but can't bring myself to do it. The princess, on the other hand, is much more well-behaved."
The emperor laughed heartily, pointing at him without saying a word.
The red silk was finally laid out, and Ling Xiao slowly stepped onto the red silk road. She raised her head slightly. Although she was still wearing ordinary folk clothes, she shocked and lost her composure when she got closer.
This face... looks so much like Empress Zhangde.
Duke Cheng was initially startled, but then he thought that if they weren't so similar, His Majesty wouldn't love this daughter so much.
As Ling Xiao drew closer, the expressions of those who had initially marveled at her resemblance to Empress Zhangde gradually turned strange.
This seemingly calm demeanor actually concealed a deep disdain in his eyes and brows, a sizing-up and intimidating air about him—
Isn't this just like the emperor, a complete lunatic?!
The Duke of Cheng was also quite surprised. He secretly looked up at the emperor, his smile disappeared, and he frowned slightly, seemingly a little awkward, yet also happy, and a little embarrassed.
Ling Xiao approached, his demeanor elegant, ignoring the gazes, both overt and covert, as he casually bowed in greeting.
"Greetings, Father Emperor"
"Quickly..." The emperor was about to wake her, but found that she had already straightened up. Instead of being angry, he said:
"You should be sixteen years old now. I remember when I first met your mother, she was this age."
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