Chapter 73

After neglecting the morning court sessions for nearly a month, Xiao Changyuan finally, mercifully, held court today.
The civil and military officials, overjoyed to finally see the emperor's face, eagerly vied to impress him. During this period, Xiao Changyuan had uprooted and exterminated the Rui Prince's faction from the court, leaving behind mostly seasoned sycophants. On the surface, the officials were reporting on their duties, but in reality, they were singing praises, exaggerating Xiao Changyuan's achievements to the skies. The other ministers chimed in one after another.
The court gradually grew noisy.
The young, cold, faced emperor sat arrogantly on the golden dragon, carved throne, his icy eyes cold, occasionally pinching his brow as if growing impatient.
“All of you, silence.” The emperor's voice was icy and gloomy.
The officials paled in fear, lowering their heads and holding their breath, not daring to make another sound. Though they longed for promotions and wealth, they feared death even more. This tyrant was unpredictable and difficult to please; one misstep could cost them their lives. None dared to take that risk again.
The hall fell into dead silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Xiao Changyuan lifted his sinister, cold eyes, looking down at the ministers in the hall. His voice was frigid as he said, “If none of you can bring up a matter of importance, I will abolish the grand court assembly.”
The officials broke out in cold sweat.
The Minister of Justice stepped forward, head bowed. “Your Majesty, I have something to report.”
“Speak.”
“I have uncovered evidence that Wang Yaohui, the Prefect of Kuizhou, has been embezzling, perverting the law, and oppressing the people. I present it for Your Majesty's review.”
A eunuch took the account book from the Minister of Justice and handed it to Xiao Changyuan. After flipping through it, Xiao Changyuan raised his icy eyes and slowly looked at the Minister of Justice.
“In your opinion, what punishment does this treacherous official deserve?”
The Minister of Justice bowed deeply. “Wang Yaohui has embezzled over two hundred thousand taels, far exceeding the amount stipulated by law. He should be executed along with three generations of his family by hanging. Nine people in total. However, his son Wang Ce has already been executed in Sishan County, so this execution should involve eight people.”
Xiao Changyuan said sinisterly, “Carry out the execution immediately. Hang their heads on the city walls as a warning to others.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After the court session ended, the officials whispered among themselves: “Why did His Majesty suddenly investigate the Prefect of Kuizhou?”
Half a month ago, Xiao Changyuan had abruptly ordered the investigation and confiscation of the Prefect of Kuizhou's properties, imprisoning all his family members in the dungeons.
“I heard it was because the Prefect of Kuizhou's son, Wang Ce, offended the Empress in Sishan County.”
“So that's how it is. No wonder His Majesty was so angry, given how much he values the Empress.”
“One must never offend the Empress.”
At noon that day, the imperial guards ascended the city tower and hung eight bloody heads above the city gate. The scene was extremely gruesome, and the area in front of the city wall was crowded with onlookers.
“What crime did they commit?”
“I heard it was embezzlement.”
“They embezzled over three hundred thousand taels.”
“I have a nephew who works at the Dali Temple. He said these people were executed because they offended the Empress.”
“So, was the prefect really corrupt or not?”
“Who knows.”
“Ah, the Emperor is so cruel and bloodthirsty. No wonder our Empress wants to flee.”
After Xiao Changyuan went to court, Yun Pianpian grew a bit bored staying in the bedchamber and decided to take a stroll in the imperial garden.
Liu Shun followed behind her. As the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, Xiao Changyuan had assigned him to serve Yun Pianpian before leaving for court.
Since the palace maids and eunuchs dared not look up at Yun Pianpian, she had only memorized Liu Shun's face during this time. She was somewhat curious about this eunuch.
Mainly, she was curious about Liu Shun's relationship with Xiao Changyuan.
In history, every tyrant had a favored eunuch by their side. Although Liu Shun served Xiao Changyuan, Yun Pianpian felt that Xiao Changyuan did not seem particularly close to him. In other words, aside from being close to her, Xiao Changyuan did not seem to be close to anyone else.
Yun Pianpian sat in the waterside pavilion, picked up a white porcelain teacup, took a sip of tea, and asked Liu Shun, “How long have you been serving His Majesty, Eunuch Liu?”
Liu Shun replied respectfully, “This humble servant met His Majesty a few times when I was young. After His Majesty ascended the throne, I have been by his side ever since. It has been two years now.”
Yun Pianpian was somewhat surprised.
She hadn’t expected Liu Shun to have only followed Xiao Changyuan for two years.
Yun Pianpian was very curious about Xiao Changyuan's childhood: “How did you two meet?”
Liu Shun said in a low voice, “His Majesty had a very miserable childhood. At that time, he was locked in a tiger cage by the late emperor, often going hungry and wearing tattered clothes. I felt sorry for His Majesty, so under the cover of night, I secretly brought him steamed buns a few times. Later, my master found out about this and punished me by sending me to the Laundry Bureau. After that, I never saw His Majesty again until he ascended the throne. By chance, he saw me sweeping and seemed to remember me. He directly promoted me from a sweeping eunuch to the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department.”
Hearing Liu Shun's words, Yun Pianpian felt slightly dazed. She knew Xiao Changyuan had a miserable childhood, but she never imagined it was to the extent of going hungry and wearing tattered clothes.
Liu Shun lowered his head and continued, “Everyone says His Majesty is cruel and bloodthirsty, but I don’t think he is as bad as they say. If someone treats him badly, he will repay them tenfold. But if someone treats him well, he will repay them a hundredfold. If it weren’t for His Majesty, I would still be just a sweeping eunuch for the rest of my life.”
In truth, when Liu Shun had given Xiao Changyuan steamed buns back then, it wasn’t entirely out of kindness. He had ulterior motives. At the time, Xiao Changyuan was imprisoned, and Liu Shun was gambling on his future. He wanted to use those few buns as a wager to secure a prosperous path for himself. As it turned out, Liu Shun’s choice wasn’t wrong. Just like now, when he spoke these words to Yun Pianpian, he appeared to be defending Xiao Changyuan, but in reality, he was pledging his loyalty to her.
Only when the emperor and empress were harmonious could his position remain secure.
Yun Pianpian suddenly understood why Xiao Changyuan hadn’t held any hatred for her after learning the truth.
Because he had suffered his entire life, only she had given him sweetness.
Yun Pianpian’s eyes grew slightly moist.
She glanced up at Liu Shun and asked, “Do you know what happened with the Twelve Meritorious Officials?”
“Why doesn’t Pianpian ask me directly?”
Xiao Changyuan’s cool, deep voice sounded.
Yun Pianpian turned and saw the pavilion outside filled with kneeling palace attendants. Xiao Changyuan strode toward her, his jade, like, handsome face seeming somewhat displeased.
“Why didn’t you wait for me in the bedchamber?”
Yun Pianpian replied, “I was bored alone.”
“Then I won’t hold court anymore.”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
You’re far too capricious for a tyrant.
Xiao Changyuan dismissed the attendants. Liu Shun respectfully withdrew, and all the palace servants departed, leaving only the two of them in the waterside pavilion.
Yun Pianpian led him to sit at the white jade table, poured him a cup of tea. Xiao Changyuan lifted the teacup, took a few sips, then raised his dark, long lashes to look at Yun Pianpian.
“Is Pianpian interested in the Twelve Meritorious Officials?”
Yun Pianpian said, “Historically, you were branded a tyrant for executing the Twelve Meritorious Officials.”
Xiao Changyuan let out a low, cold laugh. “I am already a tyrant renowned throughout the world. Why would I need these twelve ants to cement my infamy?”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
Why does your tone sound so arrogant?
Are you actually proud of being a tyrant?
“Husband, why did you kill them?”
“Because they rebelled.”
Yun Pianpian was stunned. “They really rebelled?”
In the original story, the common people had bitterly discussed this matter. The Twelve Meritorious Officials were implicated in a conspiracy and were executed by Xiao Changyuan, their heads displayed on the city walls. Everyone said it was a case of “killing the hounds after the hares are caught”, that their achievements had overshadowed the ruler, arousing Xiao Changyuan’s suspicion and leading to their deaths.
At the time, Yun Pianpian found this strange.
No matter how great their achievements, they couldn’t possibly surpass Xiao Changyuan, who had unified five kingdoms.
Seeing the hesitation in Yun Pianpian’s eyes, Xiao Changyuan said unhappily, “Back then, the Xu clan didn’t rebel, yet everyone claimed they did. Now, the Twelve Meritorious Officials truly rebelled, yet no one believes it. Does Pianpian not believe me either?”
“I believe you.”
Yun Pianpian looked seriously at Xiao Changyuan.
Xiao Changyuan’s expression softened slightly.
Yun Pianpian said, “No matter what my husband says, I will believe him. I will always believe only my husband.”
From the very beginning, Xiao Changyuan seemed intent on being a solitary ruler. He didn’t grow close to Liu Shun or anyone else. He stood alone, without companions or friends, the loneliest and coldest emperor in the world.
She didn’t want Xiao Changyuan to remain a solitary ruler.
She would always stand by his side, stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
Defend him forever, just as she would defend herself.
Night fell, and the sudden rain had just ceased.
Yun Pianpian nestled in Xiao Changyuan's embrace, waiting until he slowly fell asleep. Only after confirming he was completely still did she dare silently summon the system in her mind.
[Ding! Does the host wish to submit the task?]
[I want to know the time flow rates between the novel world and the real world.]
[For every year that passes in the novel world, one minute passes in the real world. The host's body is currently in a dormant state. After submitting the task, you can return to your body.]
[What happens if I never submit the task?]
[Does the host wish to remain in this world?]
[Yes.]
[The host must think carefully, a white moonlight cannot remain a white moonlight forever. Over time, the white moonlight is highly likely to turn into plain white rice. No affection can withstand the erosion of time. Remaining in this world is not a wise choice for the host.]
[But I want to stay in this world.]
The system fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly.
[Originally, I cannot disclose information about other taskers, but the previous tasker has a significant connection to the host, she was Xiao Changyuan’s mother, Lady Xu.]
Yun Pianpian was stunned.
Lady Xu was actually a transmigrator?
[Lady Xu bound the Tyrant’s White Moonlight System and came to this world to conquer Emperor Zhaoyan. But she was unlucky, she had never read this book, so she had no idea of the future developments. Later, she completed her task but fell in love with Emperor Zhaoyan. For his sake, she chose to stay in this world and bore him two princes. The outcome was evident: the white moonlight gradually turned into plain white rice. Emperor Zhaoyan personally killed her and executed the entire Xu clan. If Lady Xu had returned to the modern era immediately after completing her task, the Xu clan might not have been annihilated, and Xiao Changyuan would not have suffered such a tragic fate. The host should not be blinded by the love before her eyes. Xiao Changyuan’s blood carries the cruelty of Emperor Zhaoyan, he is highly likely to become the next Emperor Zhaoyan.]
[He will never become Emperor Zhaoyan.]
Without a second thought, Yun Pianpian refuted the system.
[Precisely because his background is tragic and his fate is full of hardships, he will not become the next Emperor Zhaoyan. He has endured too much suffering, I want to become his only sweetness.]