Chapter 235: A Slightly Dirty Hem

In Zichen Palace, Han Yang meticulously stitched the wound on the Emperor’s palm.

Xiao Yang had caught an arrow with her bare hand, leaving a deep gash in her palm. The flesh was torn open, the wound so deep the bone was visible.

The injury was not light, but for a worldly and experienced physician like Han Yang, it wasn’t considered severe either. After all, no vital points had been struck.

And yet, Han Yang was drenched in sweat, as if facing a formidable enemy. He had to clench his jaw just to keep his hands from trembling.

The reason was the two rows of people standing behind him, their gazes as sharp as torches, boring into him and piling on pressure as heavy as a mountain.

The crowd was clearly oblivious to Han Yang’s anxiety; their only concern was for the Emperor.

This was especially true for Li Wei and Rong Yin. They were masters of martial arts and had been by the Emperor’s side, yet they had allowed a hidden arrow to nearly claim His Majesty’s life.

His Majesty had dodged the fatal blow thanks to their own skill, but had still suffered such a grievous injury. Every one of them was overwhelmed with self-reproach.

Xiao Yang’s hand throbbed, but thankfully, some anesthetic had been applied, keeping the pain within a tolerable range. She raised her eyes to see Xu Xingchen in front of her, staring wide-eyed at her wound as if facing his own great enemy.

She reached up and pinched his cheek, then extended her good hand toward him when he looked over.

Xu Xingchen obediently took her uninjured hand, squatted down beside her, and leaned right into her embrace, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Xiao Yang hadn’t cried out, but it was as if Xu Xingchen was feeling the pain for her.

Xiao Yang said, "I’m fine."

’Compared to what Xingchen endured before, this is just a scratch,’ she thought.

Mu Yunlian stood less than two steps away, watching helplessly as that boy, Xu Xingchen, acted with blatant intimacy toward His Majesty, completely oblivious to his surroundings.

’The Xu Family is a scholarly house of strict etiquette and rigid rules. How on earth did they raise such a shameless, cunning little schemer who knows nothing of propriety, justice, integrity, or honor?’

’Li Wei is a martial arts master, but he’s too bound by rules; he has no competitive edge before His Majesty. But this stinking scholar with a belly full of poems... Hmph. Utterly shameless.’

Han Yang, still under immense pressure, finally finished stitching the wound. He sprinkled medicinal powder over it, let it dry, and then gently wrapped it in gauze.

Only when the wound was completely covered did everyone finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Your Majesty..."

Rong Yin took the opportunity to approach, kneeling on one knee before Xiao Yang, his eyes filled with heartache.

Knowing what they wanted to say, Xiao Yang looked up and chuckled softly. "It is my honor to have met you all in this life. Today, I am truly happy."

Although she was rational, her actions had ultimately been a fit of madness, not even planned in advance.

Yet, they had instantly understood her intentions, not only arranging for the aftermath but also rushing to her side to protect her, no matter the cost.

That loyalty and protection surpassed all else.

At the time, everyone had been lost in a battle rage. They had swept through the Imperial Ancestral Temple, but no one could have imagined that the assassin was hiding on the altar, behind the ancestral tablets of the past emperors.

In their eyes, this was a failure, but Xiao Yang didn’t see it that way.

That was the final counterattack of Xiao Mo’s destiny.

That single move had been the final showdown between her imperial destiny and Xiao Mo’s. No one but she herself could have resolved it.

Besides, she had never believed an Emperor should just cower in a shell and let others offer complete protection. She was her own shield and her own sword.

Personal strength was the true foundation for securing the throne, not relying on Imperial Power to compel others’ support.

A sword is only truly reliable when held in your own hand.

A person is only invincible and fearless when they possess their own strength.

Therefore, there was no blame to be assigned, only merit and loyalty to be recognized.

Xiao Yang rose to her feet. "All of you may leave. Ziling, stay and help me change my clothes."

A group of courtiers was still waiting outside. Now was not the time for her to rest.

Yang Xiu was dead, and all the palace maids who had served the Emperor had been replaced. Now, not a single one of them could be trusted.

Xiao Jinsu and Song Qingyi arrived as well, joining Xiao Ziling to help Xiao Yang change into her Dragon Robe.

Song Qingyi took a handkerchief and gently wiped the bloodstains from Xiao Yang’s neck, her eyes welling with tears of distress.

Xiao Yang chuckled teasingly. "If Ye Shao saw you like this, I can’t imagine how sour he’d get."

Song Qingyi huffed with feigned disdain. "It wouldn’t matter if he got jealous. He could never compare to Your Majesty anyway."

Xiao Yang pinched her cheek. "I’m fine. This was just a minor skirmish."

’To have drawn out so many hidden threats and completely eliminated Xiao Mo, only to receive a minor injury in the end... All things considered,’ she could confidently say, ’my clothes are barely even soiled.’

Song Qingyi pressed a hand to her pounding heart, feeling that she was acting very strange.

She knew His Majesty was a woman—she had personally helped His Majesty dress many times—but she couldn’t help but feel that His Majesty was so handsome, so charismatic.

An exquisite, magnificent Dragon Robe was just a piece of clothing on a rack, but the moment His Majesty put it on, it seemed to come to life.

Awe-inspiring and commanding, looking down upon the world with peerless, handsome beauty.

Even when standing next to handsome men like the Regent King or Minister Mu, His Majesty didn’t lose in the slightest. In fact, she was even more dazzling and eye-catching.

Xie Liuzheng used to say it was called: ’Handsome is a feeling, not a gender.’

Now, she understood that feeling deeply. In any case, she just felt that His Majesty was the most handsome, and even though His Majesty was a woman, she wanted to marry her.

Especially that calm composure after her decisive, bloody, and frenzied battles; her masterful strategies and her aura of a sovereign ruling the world.

It was simply irresistible.

’SOB SOB SOB,’ she thought, ’I want to steal a kiss from His Majesty! I want to have His Majesty’s babies!’

Song Qingyi snatched the sash from Xiao Jinsu’s hands and wrapped her arms around Xiao Yang to tie it. ’Hehe,’ she thought, ’by rounding up, I can say I got to hug His Majesty today.’

Xiao Jinsu was speechless. ’This girl is a little unhinged,’ he thought.

He glanced at His Majesty, who took in everything with eyes full of indulgence.

"..." ’Sigh. She’s a lost cause.’

Still, one thing had to be admitted: His Majesty was, without a doubt, the most handsome of their generation, regardless of gender.

Xiao Ziling watched everything in silence. She said nothing, merely continuing to meticulously adjust the Emperor’s clothes and smooth her hair. Once everything was in place, she picked up her weapon and stood behind His Majesty, ready to exit with her.

"Long live Your Majesty! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand, thousand years!"

Today was not a designated day for an imperial court session, but everyone had gathered in Jinluan Palace nonetheless.

Xiao Yang, clad in the Dragon Robe and wearing a golden, tassled crown, sat majestically upon the Dragon Throne. As her gaze swept across the hall, she noted that the assembled officials were not arranged as they usually were.

Though they were still ordered by official rank, the left side was filled with Prince Jing and those who had sworn to defend the Emperor to the death. The right side was comprised of those who had rushed over today to "admonish" her, only to be stopped.

"Xiao Mo gathered treacherous ministers and vile traitors in an attempt to rebel and usurp the throne. I have seen that he submitted to the law within the Imperial Ancestral Temple, with our imperial ancestors as witnesses."

"Does anyone here have an objection? Do you wish to question the late emperors yourselves?"

The moment the Emperor spoke, a death threat hung in the air. The crowd was like a flock of chickens with their necks wrung. Just moments ago at the Imperial Palace gates, they had been making impassioned speeches and arguing their points vehemently, but now they couldn’t utter a single word.

First: Xiao Mo was dead.

Second: The Emperor was injured, which made the assassination attempt by Xiao Mo an open-and-shut case.

Third: Xiao Mo had died in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, meaning the imperial ancestors had "personally witnessed" his demise and had not saved him.

Fourth: The Emperor was currently in power and their momentum was unstoppable.

Anyone who spoke out of turn now would be sent to go ask the late Emperor themselves.

This wasn’t an empty threat—they would truly be sent. The body of the last person to die wasn’t even cold yet.

The crowd fell as silent as cicadas in winter. After a moment, they dropped to their knees once more. "Your Majesty is wise and divinely martial, a brilliant ruler come to cleanse the world! May you protect Da Wei’s territory for all time and live a long and boundless life!"

Faced with life and death, their capitulation was remarkably smooth. This was what it meant to be a person of fine judgment who adapts to the times.