Chapter 97 You’re the Only One I Care About

Chapter 97: You Are the Only One I Care About

Emperor Yuanjing's end was near, and this occasion was not suitable for a smile.

Though Luo Yunchen remained expressionless, when Su Zheng glanced at him, he looked unusually docile, innocently blinking his eyes.

Su Zheng was secretly amused by his antics, and Su Zheng's gaze softened with tenderness as he looked at Luo Yunchen.

The little wolf acting good was adorable; if not for the occasion, Su Zheng might have leaned in to kiss his eyes.

Whether or not he sensed some emotion, Luo Yunchen's brows raised ever so slightly.

Everyone's attention was still on Empress Shen and the severed heads outside the hall. Luo Yunchen subtly shifted his position, moving to stand behind Su Zheng, almost pressing against him.

Luo Yunchen touched Su Zheng's spine bone by bone, each finger sliding down along the bone.

Involuntarily, Su Zheng tensed his back, standing even straighter with his chest out.

Feeling Su Zheng's physical reaction, Luo Yunchen lowered his head to hide his smile, but did not withdraw his hand. Instead, he spread his fingers and threaded them through Su Zheng's long, ink-black hair, slowly stroking down his smooth hair before finally stopping at Su Zheng's lower back.

Even through layers of fabric, Su Zheng could feel the palm pressed against his waist, the heat was scorching.

Both mentally and physically, Su Zheng was tense. When Luo Yunchen's hand rested on his back, Su Zheng couldn't reach that troublesome hand and feared that any large movement would draw attention, so he remained still and let him be.

Now that the offending hand had finally dropped, Su Zheng immediately reached behind, grasped Luo Yunchen's wrist, and pulled it away, giving it a warning squeeze to signal the little wolf to stop his antics.

Luo Yunchen did not struggle but obediently allowed Su Zheng to restrain him, a barely perceptible smile on his lips as he leaned close to Su Zheng's ear and murmured, "Your Highness, aren't you going to say something?"

Su Zheng squeezed Luo Yunchen again, signaling him to stand properly, and coughed lightly into his hand.

Once he drew everyone's attention, Su Zheng waved to those outside the hall and said, "Take them away and deal with them, and reward accordingly."

With the severed heads out of sight, the ministers felt they could finally breathe more easily.

Su Zheng's gaze swept over several elderly ministers and asked the imperial physician who had just taken their pulses, "How are the ministers? Are they alright?"

"Just a momentary fright, nothing serious."

Su Zheng nodded and then looked at the disheveled Empress Shen, addressing the crowd, "His Majesty has decreed the removal of Empress Shen, to be confined to the cold palace, never to leave for the rest of her life. Does anyone object?"

"We obey Your Majesty's decree!"

Su Zheng nodded and ordered, "Gag her and take her away."

The Shen woman was roughly gagged and dragged away.

No one spoke a word in defense of this once-proud woman.

If the Shen woman had been the Crown Prince's birth mother, the ministers might have gone to great lengths to argue for her, for the sake of the Crown Prince's reputation and filial piety.

But now everyone knew she had switched the babies, and she was neither the Crown Prince's biological mother nor his legal mother. For the Emperor and the Crown Prince to spare her life was already an act of immense imperial grace.

Su Zheng announced that the morning court would be held three days later, then dismissed the ministers.

Within those three days, Luo Yunchen, with lightning speed, eradicated the power of the Shen family within the palace and the military camps that were loyal to them.

Such actions could not help but cause upheaval. Within the palace, it was manageable—none of the masters, high or low, had significant backing, so even if they wanted to rebel, they lacked the means. The palace servants were terrified and cautious, only focusing on their own duties.

The military camp, however, experienced great turmoil. Officials from top to bottom were investigated, leading to a near-complete overhaul.

Some high-ranking individuals tried to incite their subordinates to resist, hoping to make Luo Yunchen cautious and hesitant by threatening to destabilize the military, preventing him from taking action against them.

Luo Yunchen showed them with concrete actions what wishful thinking meant. Without a single unnecessary word, he uprooted them completely, then had the Tianyuan Army sweep through like a storm. Those who refused to submit could rise and fight—but if they fought and lost, they would die!

The morning court three days later did not happen as scheduled because, in the early hours of the third day, Emperor Yuanjing breathed his last.

Upon hearing the news, the ministers arrived in mourning attire to prepare the body and pay respects to Emperor Yuanjing.

After Emperor Yuanjing was placed in the coffin, the Grand Tutor and the Ministry of Rites stepped forward and stated that the country cannot be without a ruler for even a day, and requested the Crown Prince to ascend the throne.

Naturally, Su Zheng had no reason to refuse. The ministers exchanged their mourning robes for ceremonial garments, waiting for Su Zheng to don the imperial yellow robe and ascend the throne before the spirit tablet.

Luo Yunchen entered the hall. Su Zheng was facing away from him, the bright yellow robe falling gracefully, accentuating Su Zheng's tall and upright figure, adding a touch of majesty to his usual coldness.

Sensing something, Su Zheng turned and saw Luo Yunchen standing there, motionless, staring at him.

After dismissing the attendants, Su Zheng looked at Luo Yunchen, flicked the hem of his robe, raised an eyebrow, and smiled slightly and asked, "How do I look?"

Luo Yunchen stared straight at Su Zheng, stepped forward, and said softly, "So beautiful."

So beautiful that he could barely restrain the impulse to pounce and tear it off him!

Su Zheng was completely unaware that his bright, form-fitting yellow robe emphasized his nobility, his coldness mixed with authority, ascetic yet seductive—provocative without knowing it.

Luo Yunchen's Adam's apple bobbed. He walked to within two steps of Su Zheng, knelt on one knee, looked up at Su Zheng, and saluted, "Your subject pays homage to Your Majesty."

"You changed your address quickly." Su Zheng chuckled lightly, reached out, and grasped Luo Yunchen's forearm to pull him up. "Didn't I tell you? When there are no outsiders, there's no need to observe these formalities of rank."

Luo Yunchen did not rise with Su Zheng's pull but remained kneeling on one knee. With Su Zheng's strength alone, he could not pull him up.

Su Zheng relaxed his grip and looked at Luo Yunchen with confusion. "Hmm? What is it?"

Luo Yunchen's eyes dropped, and his voice turned somber. "From now on, Your Majesty will be the supreme ruler, holding the realm in your hands, able to obtain anything you desire. A mere heir like myself—will it even be difficult to catch a glimpse of Your Majesty's face? Will Your Majesty gradually forget me..."

Su Zheng was nearly half-amused, half-annoyed. The little wolf was playing pitiful again!

Yet, after the flash of