Chapter 362: It Would Be Strange Not to Struggle

Chapter 362: It Would Be Strange Not to Struggle

Tang Shuyi turned her back without saying goodbye, without bowing, striding proudly; her silhouette exuded an extraordinary dominance.

The Empress's face was livid, her hands clenched so tightly that her sharp nails dug into her flesh, almost without feeling.

Having been the Empress for so many years, except for the Emperor, no one had ever dared to be so presumptuous in her presence. Yet, all she could do was watch Tang Shuyi leave, helpless.

"Crash!" The teacup was smashed to the ground with a piercing noise.

At the door, Tang Shuyi paused for a moment, then continued her stride. A mocking smile played on her lips – the Empress still hadn't grasped the situation, or perhaps she didn't understand what she and Xiao Huai really wanted.

They had never aspired for supreme power. From the beginning, all they wanted was to protect themselves. If the Emperor hadn’t been so relentless, if the Prince of Xiaoyao hadn’t been killed by the Emperor, they would never have bothered to engage in such dangerous games.

With wealth and power, isn't it better to just enjoy life?

Returning to the imperial study, Xiao Huai was waiting at the door for her. Seeing her return, he approached and asked, "Everything alright?"

Tang Shuyi smiled at him: "Do I ever come off worse?"

Xiao Huai also smiled, pulling her into the study. They sat side by side on the couch, and he held her hand without letting go, "You and Yu Zhu go back first; I'll come home later."

"Is it alright for you to leave with him still unconscious?" Tang Shuyi asked.

"Whether he wakes up or not doesn't matter much now," said Xiao Huai. "The Empress and the Third Prince, they are no threat."

Tang Shuyi nodded, the entire capital was within his control. Unless someone could take the capital right now, they really couldn't do anything to him.

But who in the entire Dagan Empire has both the capability and willingness to take action? None.

After conversing for a while longer, Tang Shuyi escorted Xiao Yuzhu back to the residence. Xiao Huai rose to go to the Emperor's bedchamber, where the imperial physicians, upon seeing him, hastened to bow in greeting.

Xiao Huai gestured for them to leave, and the physicians quickly withdrew. Approaching the Emperor's bedside, he glanced at Jiao Kangsheng, who stood vigilantly, and said, "You may go as well."

Jiao Kangsheng looked at the Emperor lying on the bed and then at Xiao Huai, and finally, with a clenched jaw, he turned and left.

Xiao Huai stood beside the bed observing the Emperor for a moment, then sat down in a nearby chair and said, "Whether you are truly unconscious or merely feigning, it would be best if you awaken sooner rather than later. There are things from which you cannot hide; when it's time to face them, you must."

The Emperor on the bed remained still, prompting a laugh from Xiao Huai, who added, "My patience with you is limited. It's for you to decide whether to wake up sooner or later. Think it through."

Having said this, he stood and left. The Emperor on the bed twitched his eyelashes; he hadn't anticipated Xiao Huai seeing right through him.

He had indeed fainted earlier but had awakened not long after. Now, unsure of how to handle the current situation, he pondered: Should Li Jingyi, who had been made his heir, become the Crown Prince?

But that person was no longer his son, and it was clear that Li Jingyi sided with Xiao Huai. If Li Jingyi became Emperor, what would he do?

Would he find a way to depose him, the reigning Emperor?

Such things had happened before; they could enumerate all his faults and then strip him of his title, leaving him a deposed Emperor after death. Or they could be more ruthless, deposing him while he was still alive.

What should he do then?

He had never felt such regret as he did now, regretting his past attempts to kill Xiao Huai, regretting the death of the Carefree King. If the Carefree King were still alive, his intelligence would surely find a solution.

But what to do now? With Xiao Huai in control of the entire palace, the capital city itself, how could he change the current circumstances?

Hearing Jiao Kangsheng return, he moved his fingers slightly. Jiao Kangsheng was startled and immediately went over, whispering, "Your Majesty?"

The Emperor opened his eyes, and Jiao Kangsheng's tears flowed with joy, "Your Majesty, you've given your servant quite the fright."

The Emperor gestured, and Jiao Kangsheng leaned in to listen as he said, "At tomorrow's court session, find a way to reach out to Xiang Tianhe and tell him that if he kills Xiao Huai, I will grant him a royal title."

After hearing this, Jiao Kangsheng looked troubled and said, "Your Majesty, General Xiang has a personal friendship with the Duke of Dingguo."

"I am aware," replied the Emperor. "That's even better, as it will make it easier for Xiang Tianhe to act."

Jiao Kangsheng looked troubled, but the Emperor fixed his gaze upon him and said, "What is it? Have you also betrayed me?"

"No," Jiao Kangsheng hastened to say, "I would never betray His Majesty."

The Emperor grunted in acknowledgment and closed his eyes, continuing to feign death, while Jiao Kangsheng stood by, head bowed.

Although he had served the Emperor for decades, Jiao Kangsheng still found him incomprehensible. The seventh prince was clearly more capable than the third prince and his son—why couldn't the Emperor pass the throne to him?

Even though the seventh prince was now the son of the carefree king, he was still of the royal bloodline! Bestowing the throne upon the deserving seventh prince would surely be better than leaving it to the weak third prince or his offspring.

Alas!

Jiao Kangsheng sighed deeply in his heart.

On the other hand, Xiao Huai returned to the Imperial Study, delegated some matters to Li Jingyi, and then left the palace. As for the Emperor's last struggles, although Xiao Huai did not know exactly what the Emperor planned to do, he could roughly guess.

It would be odd indeed if the Emperor and Empress did not struggle.

After leaving the palace, Xiao Huai did not immediately return home but rode to the residence of Duke Tang. He did not return home until nightfall. He went directly to Shi'an Garden, where Tang Shuyi was leaning on the bed in her chamber, engrossed in a book. Hearing his return, she put down her book and came out to greet him.

Xiao Huai wrapped his arms around her shoulders and they returned to the chamber. Tang Shuyi took out his nightclothes from the wardrobe and asked, "Is Jingyi still in the palace?"

As Xiao Huai changed, he replied, "Yes, the earlier he confronts the matters at hand, the sooner he will grow."

He had never considered manipulating Li Jingyi to take control of state affairs.

"I just think he's still too young," said Tang Shuyi.

Xiao Huai took the nightclothes from her, putting them on, "Whether in modern times or ancient times, children of the upper classes confront reality at a very early age. History is replete with emperors who began ruling in their teens or even younger. In modern times..."

He paused before continuing, "In modern times, my father was also called to shoulder heavy responsibilities at the age of fifteen or sixteen."

"Well, I suppose I'm just poorly informed," Tang Shuyi said.

Xiao Huai, holding her, walked toward the bathroom, saying, "Madam, your concern leads to chaos."

Tang Shuyi snorted, and Xiao Huai laughed heartily as he pulled her into the bathroom, while Cui Zhu and Cui Yun quickly made themselves scarce.

Tang Shuyi was carried back out and laid on the bed. Leaning into Xiao Huai's embrace, she said, "Once Jingyi takes his place, and Yuchen and Yuming are married off, let's take Yuzhu and travel around."

Xiao Huai looked at her and asked, "Worried about Yuzhu?"

"Yes," Tang Shuyi sighed, "While Jingyi seems promising now, who can predict if he will change once he ascends to that position? Time alone will tell. Yuzhu is still young, only to be thirteen in a couple of years. We could take her on a journey for three or four years, and if Jingyi's affections remain unchanged, then we can proceed with their marriage."

Xiao Huai patted her back, "Agreed."