Chapter 1
Prologue:
Jiu Que always found it strange—why would anyone think that after framing and slandering her, she would go through all that trouble to prove her innocence? And why try to make her submit with some weird notion of filial piety?
Please, open your eyes and look properly. Behind me are hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers, capable of flattening a city in minutes. Understand? I can overturn the world with just a flick of my finger. Understand? At the very moment when supreme imperial power is within my grasp, you want to lecture me about benevolence and morality? Are you out of your mind? In this situation, you expect me to be supremely virtuous?
Do yourself a favor—dream more while you’re idle. In dreams, anything is possible.
Main Story:
“Long live His Majesty! May His Majesty enjoy immortal blessings and live for ten thousand years—”
After following the crowd through three bows and nine kowtows, Ying Jiuque, feeling her aching neck, legs, and arms, was at her limit of irritation.
She had been kneeling for nearly half an hour just to wish the old emperor a happy birthday! Heaven knows she had never even knelt for her own parents before. Of course, those patriarchal parents were hardly worth her obeisance. Kneeling solidly now, Ying Jiuque felt her noble socialist values wobbling.
Once seated, her expression darkened. Her half-sister, Lin Shuran, smiled gently, her delicate fingers stirring a fragrant breeze as she brought a cup of tea to Ying Jiuque, exuding tenderness and virtue.
“Sister, are you alright?”
Ying Jiuque quietly fixed her dark eyes on her famously gentle half-sister, curious what trick she might be planning this time.
Lin Shuran felt her heart race under Ying Jiuque’s black gaze. But glancing at the men’s side of the seating, she bit her lip and flicked her wrist. The warm tea spilled over Ying Jiuque, from her sleeve to her forearm, soaking her completely.
A gasp and whispers erupted around them. Many eyes turned toward the scene, most filled with ill intent. After all, this was the emperor’s fiftieth birthday banquet—what a spectacle!
Ying Jiuque twitched her fingers, noticing Lin Shuran cowering like a frightened deer next to her seemingly panicked mother, Lin Xushi. She smirked. Such tricks were nothing new—playing mind games wasn’t funny; it was just annoying.
[So annoying… I heard that assassinating the emperor is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans? I’m currently five hundred steps away from the emperor. If I sprint and attempt the assassination, what are the odds I won’t get skewered by the guards and can still recite my family lineage correctly?]
The Jingtai Emperor, seated on the dragon throne, stiffened. He looked around discreetly. Who? Who was speaking? Someone wanted to assassinate him?!
[Or maybe I don’t need to rush—just jumping out and shouting “I’ll assassinate the emperor!” or “Die, dog emperor!” would work? Ah, no, this little girl is tugging on my sleeve, and she’s pretty strong…]
“Tugging on my sleeve?”
The emperor’s gaze immediately fell on the female guest. From his elevated position, Ying Jiuque stood out, arm raised, among the orderly ladies. The iron-blooded emperor, seasoned in warfare for decades, immediately focused on her—but then realized something: she was five hundred steps away—how could her voice sound like it was in his ear?
And no sane person would dare say something punishable by the extermination of nine clans in front of so many officials.
As emperor, he was naturally suspicious. Now older, with grown sons, he had to wonder if his throne was truly secure. His first reaction: someone was up to no good!
But another discreet scan revealed no unusual behavior—eunuchs, palace maids, guards, all perfectly obedient.
The girl’s lips hadn’t moved—ventriloquism? The emperor’s gaze darkened, killing intent rising. Anyone playing tricks must die.
[Oh no! Concubine Zhang is trying to force abortion medicine into the little palace maid’s mouth! Impossible… the old emperor is still vigorous at fifty, capable of fathering a child?]
The emperor froze. One of his regrets in life was having too few children. Perhaps due to past killings, his offspring had always been scarce, and for ten years, the palace had not seen a single birth! Which palace maid was pregnant?!
No—regardless of truth, he had to save his child first!
Summoning Jiu Fu, the emperor learned something and immediately dashed toward the inner palace.
Though the banquet appeared lively, all eyes were on the emperor. When he stormed off, whispers filled the hall: something must have happened in the harem!
Inside the harem, silence fell like death. The emperor’s presence on the chair exuded overwhelming authority, pressing Zhang Pin into trembling submission.
The emperor was glad he arrived in time. The guards had controlled the situation, and the court physician analyzed the “abortion medicine.”
“…This medicine contains a potent amount of musk and borneol, all of the highest quality. If ingested by a pregnant woman, the fetus will certainly not survive…”
The emperor stopped listening further. He coldly eyed Zhang Pin, who trembled like a leaf.
“Zhang, for treachery and poisoning the heir, you are unforgivable! Stripped of all titles and sent to the cold palace! Your family, all imprisoned! Investigate this matter thoroughly!”
“Your Majesty—”
Zhang Pin’s mouth was quickly silenced and she was dragged away.
Reflecting on the incident, the emperor realized Zhang Pin had only discovered the maid’s condition before the banquet and acted on impulse. The little girl’s hand couldn’t have reached the harem, so was it deliberate—or was there something supernatural? Regardless, his child was safe, which was at least a relief. But life remained unpredictable…
Back at the banquet, the emperor had composed himself, smiling as he announced the pregnancy of his concubine. Amidst congratulations, he heard that lazy voice again.
[Really pregnant?! The old emperor is amazing.]
A smile crept uncontrollably across his face. Haha, there’s no stopping old me!
[Hmm… according to the plot, the good news should arrive now? Wow! Those ladies are fierce—three thousand women defeated tens of thousands of northern barbarians, without logistical support? Impressive!]
“Ladies’ army?”
The overjoyed emperor felt the title sounded familiar… he seemed to have heard it before.
Just then, a court eunuch, beaming, rushed forward with a report. The emperor’s heartbeat quickened. The northern barbarians had long been a thorn in his side, occupying vast grasslands and raising excellent cavalry, raiding repeatedly—history had bred decades of hatred.
Could the little girl have been speaking the truth?
Reading the report, the emperor laughed heartily, even slapping the table so that cups and plates clattered to the ground. The lively guests fell silent. Only a few ministers watched the emperor thoughtfully.
“Hahaha—Wonderful! The northern border women’s army launched a night raid on the northern barbarian camp, killing and capturing over ten thousand! The enemy’s provisions burned! Truly a great achievement!”
New story started! This time, experimenting with a different style, haha.
Friends passing by, don’t miss it!
