Empress
When Xiao Diting stepped into the palace gate, his feet still wet with dew, the air was filled with the pungent and unpleasant smell of sandalwood and ambergris.
The officials stood on both sides, their expressions solemn and iron-like, their gazes all fixed on her, some with disdain, some with fear, and some with indifference as if they were watching a good show.
The old emperor leaned back on his dragon throne, his face even more somber than the ice outside the hall. The sound of his fingertips tapping on the armrests echoed through the silent hall, making everyone's hearts tighten. The Imperial Astronomical Advisor stood to the side, truly regarding her as some kind of demon.
"Kneel down." The emperor's voice came from the dragon throne, devoid of any warmth, like a knife chilled to the bone, sending shivers down one's spine.
Xiao Diting stood in the hall with his back straight, without bending his knees. Instead, he raised his eyes and looked directly at the emperor, his voice clear and bright: "Father, what crime have I committed?"
"What crime?" The emperor slammed his hand on the table, causing the memorials on it to fall to the ground. "You still have the nerve to ask! The fire in the West Market caused heavy casualties, and folk rhymes are spreading everywhere, saying that you are a jinx, bringing disaster wherever you go!"
“Father!” Xiao Diting stepped forward, his tone urgent. “The fire in the West Market was no accident. Someone deliberately set it on fire and spread rumors to slander me! I risked my life to save people last night. Do you think Father only saw the so-called ‘disaster’ and not the safety of the people?”
"Eloquent and flattering!" The Imperial Advisor suddenly stepped forward, his peach wood sword pointing directly at Xiao Diting. "Your Majesty, this woman has a strange destiny and an overwhelming aura of malevolence, which is detrimental to the fate of our Great Yin Kingdom! The fire in the West Market destroyed more than a hundred shops and killed or injured more than a hundred people. All of this is an ominous sign from this woman! If we keep her alive any longer, we fear that the country will perish!"
"Nonsense!" Xiao Diting roared. "As the Imperial Observatory Director, instead of praying for the people's well-being, you collude with treacherous people to spread rumors and slander the royal bloodline. Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"
"Enough with your insolence!" the emperor interrupted her sternly. "Every word the Imperial Advisor spoke was a sign from the heavens! The recent celestial phenomena are disordered, with Mars guarding the heart of the sky, a harbinger of national ruin, all because of you! Out of consideration for our father-daughter relationship, I intended to spare your life and let you recuperate in the palace, far from worldly affairs. But you have refused to restrain yourself, repeatedly causing trouble. Now even Heaven has given you a warning, and you still dare to argue!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the officials, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority: "I have summoned you all here today to ask you whether this woman should be killed?"
The officials looked at each other in bewilderment. After a moment, several senior ministers stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the Grand Preceptor is absolutely right. This woman is ominous and will cause harm if kept alive. We beg Your Majesty to prioritize the well-being of the nation and execute this woman to appease the people and in accordance with the will of Heaven!"
Immediately, more and more officials echoed this sentiment, and cries of "Execute the jinx!" rose and fell, reverberating in the empty Hall of Supreme Harmony, like heavy hammers striking Xiao Diting's heart.
She looked at the officials who had once greeted her with smiles and praised her achievements, but now all of them had hideous faces and seemed to want to devour her alive. She felt utterly absurd and chilled.
She recalled her own journey to Huaizhou, working tirelessly day and night to fight the epidemic and provide disaster relief; she recalled the raging fire in the West Market, and her resolute decision to rush into the thick smoke to save people; she recalled Pei Wenjin's protection, Yu Lanjiang's assistance, and all those who truly cared about her.
But all of these seem so pale and powerless in the face of imperial power and rumors.
"Father, do you really want to kill me?" Xiao Diting's voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from disappointment, utter disappointment.
The emperor looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by ruthlessness: "I had no choice! If I didn't kill you, the people would be in chaos, the country would be unstable, and how could I face my ancestors?"
"An explanation?" Xiao Diting suddenly laughed, a laugh both desolate and resolute. "If Father Emperor wants an explanation, then who will give an explanation to the people who died in Huaizhou? Who will give an explanation to the innocent people who were burned to death in the West Market? Who will give an explanation to your son who has been slandered and wronged?!"
She suddenly looked up, her gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over everyone in the hall: "You keep saying I'm a jinx, but the real jinxes are those treacherous officials who will stop at nothing for power and disregard human life! They are those petty people who distort the truth and confuse right and wrong! They are those incompetent officials who sit idly by while the people suffer and only know how to fight for power and profit!"
"Enough!" The emperor trembled with rage, pointing at her. "Guards! Seize this rebellious vixen! At noon, take her to the Meridian Gate and behead her as a warning to others!"
More than a dozen imperial guards rushed in from outside the hall, wielding long spears, and approached Xiao Diting step by step.
As Xiao Diting looked at the approaching imperial guards, at his indifferent father on the dragon throne, and at the officials on both sides eyeing him menacingly, the last trace of awe he had for imperial power was completely extinguished.
She didn't want to die, and she especially didn't want to die so unjustly, dying under these conspiracies and schemes.
"Want to kill me? Not so easy!" Xiao Diting's eyes flashed, and he suddenly dodged the first Imperial Guard's spear.
She sidestepped the sweeping spear, grabbed the shaft with her right hand, and yanked it sharply, causing the imperial guard to stumble. She then kicked him in the knee, sending him sprawling to his knees with a scream. Xiao Diting snatched the spear, flicked it back, and blocked another attack from an imperial guard.
Chaos erupted instantly inside the hall as the Imperial Guards swarmed forward, swords drawn. Xiao Diting, wielding a long spear, weaved through the crowd, the spear tip gleaming coldly, forcing the Imperial Guards to retreat repeatedly.
Her movements were swift and ruthless, each move aimed directly at the vital points, clearly indicating that she had been driven to a desperate situation and was leaving no room for maneuver.
"Stop her! Don't let her get away!" the emperor roared, his voice tinged with panic.
Xiao Diting fought her way through the enemy lines, her spear tip stained with blood, her clothes torn, and her arms slashed by swords, blood dripping from her fingertips. She paid no heed, her only thought was to break through the encirclement.
The Taihe Hall was too oppressive. She didn't know what the outside world was like, nor did she want to think about it. She only knew that she could not surrender.
Finally, she mustered all her strength, defeated the last few imperial guards blocking her way, kicked open the heavy doors of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and rushed out.
The sunlight was blinding, and she squinted instinctively, but the next second, she froze.
The square outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony was packed with people: Imperial Guards, Embroidered Uniform Guards, palace guards, and many masked men in black, armed with weapons, completely surrounding the square.
At the very front of the crowd stood not Pei Wenjin, whom she had been expecting, nor Yu Lanjiang, but her sickly and barely noticeable second brother—Xiao Yunheng.
Xiao Yunheng remained seated in his wheelchair, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe. His face was pale, but a strange smile played on his lips. His eyes held no trace of illness, only a sinister and mad cunning that suggested he was in control.
Behind him stood Eunuch Shouxi and several female officials who usually accompanied him, their expressions solemn.
Xiao Diting tightened his grip on the spear, his heart sinking: "Second Brother, did you bring so many people here to force the emperor to abdicate?"
Xiao Yunheng chuckled softly, his voice gentle yet carrying a chilling undertone: "Sister, you jest. How could I possibly force you to abdicate?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Diting's bloodstained and disheveled state, a morbid obsession flashing in his eyes: "Because, the one who wants to force the emperor to abdicate is you."
"Me?" Xiao Diting was taken aback, then realized something, and his face turned deathly pale. "You did all those things? You were the mastermind behind the grain case in Huaizhou, you killed Chunlan, you arranged the assassination at the post station in the suburbs of the capital, you set the fire in the West Market, you spread the folk rhymes... Everything was a scheme you set up?"
"My sister is so clever." Xiao Yunheng's smile grew even gentler. "That's right, I did it all."
"Why?" Xiao Diting's voice trembled slightly. "We are siblings, why did you do this to me? Why did you do this to Father? Why did you stir up all this?"
"Brother and sister?" Xiao Yunheng laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, coughing until his face turned red, but his eyes flashed with a crazy light. "You, Xiao Yiyu, and that high and mighty father emperor have never been brother and sister!"
"Back then, Xiao Yan killed my mother for the throne, causing me to be weak and sickly from a young age, and I could only be confined to the cage of Xiuchun Palace, barely surviving! He never treated me as a son, but only as a dispensable decoration!"
"And Xiao Yiyu, why is he allowed to be the Crown Prince? Why does he deserve Father Emperor's favor? Just because he's the legitimate son? I refuse to accept this!" Xiao Yunheng's voice suddenly rose, filled with overwhelming hatred. "I've endured for so many years, feigned illness and weakness, all for this day! I will make Xiao Yan pay the price, I will make him lose everything he cares about most!"
"And you, my dear sister." Xiao Yunheng's gaze fell on Xiao Diting, filled with an almost obsessive possessiveness. "You are his proudest daughter, a pawn he uses to showcase his brilliance and might. I will make him destroy you with his own hands, make him taste the pain of losing a loved one! I will make you hate him, hate this corrupt court, hate this cold palace!"
"So, you orchestrated all of this, making Father Emperor mistakenly believe I was a jinx, wanting to kill me, and then forcing me to rebel and stage a coup?" Xiao Diting finally understood the whole truth and felt a chill run down his spine.
“That’s right.” Xiao Yunheng nodded. “Why do you think Pei Wenjin and Yu Lanjiang were able to exonerate you so easily in the Hall of Supreme Harmony? It was because I deliberately let them off the hook, just to give you hope and make you feel that you still have the power to resist! I wanted you to get to this point, to force you to rebel!”
He raised his hand, gesturing for the people behind him to step forward: "Now, Father Emperor has lost all support and influence. The officials have either been bribed by me or are under my control. The Imperial Guards, the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and the forces I've secretly cultivated are all waiting for you here. With just your order, we'll storm into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, kill Xiao Yan, and enthrone you as Emperor!"
"You're insane!" Xiao Diting roared. "I don't want to be emperor at all! I just want to live a peaceful life!"
"A peaceful life?" Xiao Yunheng scoffed. "There is no peaceful life in this palace, in this court! Do you think you can get away with it just by not fighting or grabbing? Do you think Xiao Yan will tolerate you? Do you think those who covet power will tolerate you?"
His voice carried a seductive power: "Sister, look at yourself now, covered in wounds, abandoned by everyone, all thanks to Xiao Yan! Don't you want revenge? Don't you want him to pay the price for everything he did? Once you become emperor, you will have supreme power. You can set rules, punish treacherous officials, and protect those you want to protect. No one will be able to hurt you anymore!"
Xiao Diting's heart trembled violently.
She remembered her father's indifference and ruthlessness, the officials' betrayal in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the grievances and hurts she had suffered along the way, Pei Wenjin's willingness to defy the emperor's orders for her sake, Yu Lanjiang's willingness to challenge the emperor to find out the truth, and those innocent people who died in the power struggle.
Yes, in this cannibalistic palace, in this corrupt court, to protect oneself, to protect those around you, to uncover the truth, and to restore justice to the world, one must possess power, supreme power!
Seeing the struggle and wavering in her eyes, Xiao Yunheng knew he was about to achieve his goal. His smile grew even gentler: "Sister, don't hesitate any longer. Xiao Yan is old and senile; he is no longer fit to be emperor. Only you, only you, have the ability to change all of this, the ability to bring this empire back to life!"
He raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the Hall of Supreme Harmony: "Look, Xiao Yan is still inside waiting for you to go back and face your death. Are you going to go back and surrender, letting him succeed?"
Xiao Diting took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, her gaze becoming incredibly resolute. Gripping her spear, she turned to look at the gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a place she once held in utmost reverence, now a cage she had to overthrow.
"Fine," she said, enunciating each word clearly and resolutely, "I rebel!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the crowd in the square erupted in cheers. The Imperial Guards, the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and the masked men in black all raised their weapons and shouted in unison, "Support the Third Princess to the throne! Kill the tyrannical emperor!"
The sound was deafening, echoing in the air above the palace for a long time.
Holding a long spear, Xiao Diting took the lead and walked towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Xiao Yunheng sat in a wheelchair, pushed by attendants, following closely behind. Countless people followed behind her, like an unstoppable torrent, rushing towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Upon hearing the shouts outside, the officials inside the hall were thrown into chaos, their faces ashen and utterly bewildered. The emperor also stood up, his face deathly pale, and his body trembled uncontrollably as he looked at the crowd rushing in.
"You rebellious daughter! How dare you!" the emperor roared, his voice tinged with despair.
Xiao Diting ignored him and walked straight towards the dragon throne. The imperial guards quickly made way for her, and no one dared to stop her.
She walked step by step up the steps of the imperial palace, stood in front of the dragon throne, and looked at her father, who was once high and mighty but was now in a sorry state. There was no hatred in her heart, only a sense of complete relief.
"Father, you have lost," she said calmly.
The emperor looked at her, his lips trembling, wanting to say something, but unable to utter a single word.
Xiao Yunheng was pushed down the steps of the imperial palace. Looking at Xiao Diting on the dragon throne, he laughed wildly and with satisfaction: "Sister, sit on it, and you will be the emperor of this Great Jing!"
Xiao Diting did not immediately sit on the dragon throne. Instead, he turned around, looked at the officials in the hall, and at the crowd in the square. His voice resounded in every corner: "From this day forward, I, Xiao Diting, ascend the throne as Emperor!"
"I hereby swear that I will restore order to the country, punish the wicked and corrupt, and restore peace and order to the world; I will reduce taxes and levies, allow the people to rest and recuperate, and restore stability to the people; I will appoint virtuous ministers, broaden the channels for advice, and restore justice to the court!"
"All those who follow me in this uprising today will be rewarded according to their merits! Those who have committed past offenses and are willing to submit to me will be retained in service! Those who are stubborn and rebellious will be killed without mercy!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the crowd inside and outside the hall erupted in cheers again, shouting in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The sound reverberated through the sky, announcing the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one.
Looking at everything before him, the emperor finally couldn't hold on any longer. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Xiao Diting looked at his unconscious father without any pity, and simply ordered, "Throw him into the cold palace and imprison him for life."
Then, she turned around and her gaze fell on Xiao Yunheng. Xiao Yunheng was looking at her with a smile, a hint of expectation in his eyes.
"Second Brother," Xiao Diting said, his voice calm and even.
“Sister, now that you are the emperor, shouldn’t you fulfill your promise?” Xiao Yunheng said, “Xiao Yan has been eliminated, and my long-cherished wish has finally been fulfilled. You…”
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Diting interrupted him.
"Second brother, there's nothing left to say between us... You should leave."
Xiao Yunheng's eyes widened in disbelief: "Are you going to discard me after I've served my purpose, sister?"
"Yes, I want to discard the donkey after it has served its purpose."
The guards immediately stepped forward, dragged Xiao Yunheng from the wheelchair, and put him in handcuffs and shackles. Xiao Yunheng struggled and roared frantically, but to no avail, and was eventually taken away.
After dealing with Xiao Yunheng, Xiao Diting finally turned around and sat on the dragon throne that symbolized supreme power.
Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, bathing her in golden light and making her appear exceptionally dignified and sacred.
The crowds inside and outside the hall shouted again: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Xiao Diting closed his eyes and sensed it.
End of article
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