Chapter 248: Your Majesty Forced Me to Write This

In the study, Xiao Yang had a map brought in. She summoned the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the Minister of War, Li Wei, Rong Yin, and others to discuss dispatching provisions and supplies.

The matter wasn’t difficult to resolve. The court had set up supply depots in various locations, fully stocked with grain, weapons, and clothing. They just needed to dispatch them from the nearest location for a quick replenishment.

But the most critical supply now wasn’t just provisions—it was gunpowder.

The Beimeng iron cavalry was formidable. No matter how valiant Xiao Kun and his men were, the environmental factors would inevitably affect their physical condition.

If they wanted to defend the border, the most important weapon was gunpowder.

Li Wei was valiant, but it was thanks to gunpowder that his advance had been so unstoppable.

After all, not everyone was as valiant as Li Wei, and the strength of the Beimeng people’s iron cavalry was no empty boast.

If they wanted Xiao Kun to hold the border at Mo Chuan for the long term, they had to reduce his casualties.

Whether to provide gunpowder, and if so, how much—this was the real issue they needed to discuss.

If they didn’t provide it, an attack would be a problem. But if they did, and Xiao Kun rebelled, that would be an even bigger problem.

No one dared to guarantee that Xiao Kun wouldn’t rebel, so no one dared to make a final decision.

"Your Majesty, Xiao Qing requests an audience."

The guard’s report interrupted the discussion in the room. After a moment of silence, the Emperor’s voice sounded, "Let him in."

The door was pushed open, and Xiao Qing saw a room full of impeccably dressed, high-ranking court officials. The atmosphere was so oppressive that his knees went weak on the spot.

But thinking of his father and mother, he forced himself to walk inside.

"Xiao Qing greets Your Majesty. I heard that a letter arrived from Mo Chuan, so... I wanted to ask..."

Two rows of ministers sat at the sides, with a map spread across a long table in the middle. Looking up from the map of the vast empire, one’s gaze fell upon the Emperor, seated upright in a black Dragon Robe.

Though a woman, she had a thoroughly boyish air. Her features were bright and held a hint of a smile, yet she exuded an indescribable, imposing authority.

Xiao Qing felt he never should have come in. At this moment, he was like meat on a chopping block, to be carved up at will, with no escape.

The next moment, he heard Xiao Yang’s devilish voice. "Xiao Qing, do you miss your father and mother?"

Before Xiao Qing could answer, Xiao Yang slowly rose, cracked her knuckles, and walked toward him step by step with a malicious smile.

"I am very magnanimous. I never restrict freedom of speech. You must be sure to tell your father all about the abuse you’ve suffered here in the Capital City. Describe in detail how I’ve tortured, brutalized, and humiliated you."

"If you’ve forgotten those days of humiliation, how about I help you remember?"

Xiao Qing: "..."

He’d been in the Capital City for a year. The only hardship he’d suffered was being forced to study and practice martial arts, enduring the mental anguish of the ancient sages’ philosophies and the physical torment of General Li’s training.

In terms of food, clothing, and housing, his life couldn’t be called luxurious, but he was certainly not mistreated.

He already lived with a heart full of guilt, feeling he had failed his father and mother, who were suffering in a bitter, cold land. And the Emperor actually wanted him to write a letter to them complaining? How could he bring himself to do it?

However, judging by the Emperor’s stance, if he didn’t write it, she would make him truly experience everything she had just described.

Get beaten and then obediently write, or betray his conscience and lie to his parents—he wanted to choose neither.

"I can write the family letter, but may Your Majesty tell me what has happened at Mo Chuan?"

Xiao Yang thought for a moment. She didn’t think there was any reason he couldn’t know. It wasn’t as if he could do anything about it anyway.

When he learned that his father and his men were fighting the Beimeng people, Xiao Qing’s heart leaped into his throat. He breathed a huge sigh of relief upon hearing the Emperor had sent supplies. But then he heard the Emperor was agonizing over the issue of gunpowder, wanting to send it, but not too much, afraid his father hadn’t yet given up his rebellious ambitions.

Xiao Qing’s heart was in turmoil.

If the Emperor hadn’t told him, he would have been worried.

But now that she had, his heart ached with anxiety.

He wanted to persuade the Emperor to send a little more, to give his father and uncle more of a fighting chance and reduce casualties, but he was afraid Her Majesty would suspect him of having ulterior motives.

Now he understood why the Emperor wanted him to write a family letter about being abused. It was a warning to his father.

"I will write the family letter at once."

An Imperial Attendant ground ink for him. Under the watchful eyes of all the senior officials, he took a deep breath and slowly put brush to paper.

After a few simple lines of greeting, he began to describe in detail the Emperor’s atrocities against him: beatings, abuse, torture, being denied food and sleep, endless torment, and utter devastation. He made it sound as miserable as he possibly could.

However, just as he was about to finish, the tone of his letter abruptly shifted: *Father, Her Majesty forced me to write everything above. Your son is well. Her Majesty is magnanimous and benevolent. She has granted me a residence, permitted me to study under Grand Tutor Xu as an Imperial Tutor, and to learn martial arts from General Li Wei. Your son studies diligently and has never slacked. I only feel restless with guilt over how peaceful my life is. Today, Her Majesty granted me this brush to write to you and Mother, and I dare not deceive you with falsehoods. Your son has been unfilial. Please, Father and Mother, take good care of yourselves.*

Xu Ling had watched him write, not missing a single word. When he was finished, Xu Ling gave him a deep look before presenting the completed letter to the Emperor.

Xiao Qing bowed. "Your Majesty, forgive me. I cannot deceive my parents, nor can I slander Your Majesty."

But sending this letter would have the same effect.

His uncle, father, and mother would surely understand. No matter how pleasant the second half of the letter was, the first half was a naked threat.

The day they rebelled would be the day Xiao Qing entered hell.

After finishing the letter, Xiao Yang looked up at Xiao Qing, her smile a little more genuine. "It seems sparing your life wasn’t a waste after all."

The boy was indeed perceptive.

Xiao Qing already knew that the Emperor had originally spared his life because his name contained the character "Qing."

The Emperor’s power was absolute. Life and death rested on a single thought.

He was deeply grateful to his parents for giving him this name, which had unexpectedly won a sliver of hope for his entire clan.

"Your Majesty is magnanimous. My parents and I are grateful for Your Majesty’s benevolence."

’Benevolence?’

Xiao Yang didn’t care for such a stuffy, old-fashioned adjective.

"I will send the gunpowder. But no amount of praise will help you. If even one ounce of that gunpowder is used against our own people, I will not show you any mercy."

The matter of the previous rebellion had been glossed over when Xiao Kun knelt to accept the imperial decree, but now that he had, there was no turning back for him.

An Emperor would not spare a rebellious minister, much less the son of a traitor.

Xiao Yang was easygoing most of the time, but when she wasn’t, a lot of people died.

Xiao Qing said, "I understand."

He was a hostage. Whether he lived a life of ease or a life of pain depended entirely on the Emperor’s whim.

Xiao Yang ordered them to begin the arrangements, stressing the need for the swiftest possible delivery to ensure the stability of Mo Chuan.

After everyone had departed, Xiao Yang sat back down behind her desk to handle the submitted memorials.

There weren’t many memorials that required her attention these days, but there were always a few.

In less than an hour, she had finished her reviews. Putting down the Imperial Brush, she reached for her teacup, and her eyes lifted to see Rong Yin sitting beside her.

There were memorials stacked in front of him as well, which he read carefully before diligently writing his comments.

His handsome features and the decorum drilled into him by a strict upbringing made his every movement look elegant, composed, and pleasing to the eye.

As always, he favored a black Python Robe, his hair held up by a golden crown. His features were deep-set, and his straight-faced expression naturally gave off a somber, oppressive air.

The Regent King, whose power eclipsed the entire court—the mere sight of him was enough to inspire awe.

Xiao Yang couldn’t remember the last time she had seen such a cold and aloof Rong Yin.

He was so devastatingly handsome he seemed like a stranger, reminding her of when she had first transmigrated into this world and laid eyes on him.

For the past few days, Mu Yunlian and Xu Xingchen had been pestering her, but Rong Yin had not.

He remained by her side, handling matters large and small, yet he kept a precise distance—not too close, not too far. He maintained the posture of a minister before his sovereign, never crossing the line by even a single step.

She didn’t know what he was being so difficult about, but this cold, untouchable air of his was actually rather nostalgic to see.

Rong Yin finished reviewing a memorial and looked up, a ripple disturbing the depths of his inky eyes. "Has Your Majesty seen enough?"