After Entering The Abusive Novel, I Became The Empress - Chapter 39

“Sixth Princess, how dare you.”

The Emperor flung the teacup from his hand, porcelain shattering into pieces across the floor.

His gaze was deep, impossible to read: “Colluding with court officials, scheming to throw the realm into chaos.” His voice was lower than usual, heavy with anger. “Sixth Princess Qin Yuqing, you’ve done well indeed. Do you not fear that I will punish you?”

Qin Yuqing was no fool. On her way here, she had already anticipated this possibility. But she recalled the scene not long ago, when the Emperor had come to her in the rain. She wanted to gamble.

Not on her father’s affection, nor on the Emperor’s love for Concubine Chen. She was gambling on a ruler’s responsibility toward his people.

“I fear punishment. But this daughter also understands the burden she carries. As the Sixth Princess of Great Yin, and as a court official, I must keep the people in my heart. Was this not the very subject of one of Father’s examination essays? Now there are villains in the capital who seek to use Heaven’s name to frame me. If they succeed, what’s to stop them from doing the same to other ministers?”

As she spoke, Qin Yuqing knelt. After all she had witnessed in recent days—so many shedding bl00d for the throne, even giving their lives—she no longer wished to sit and wait for death. The road ahead might still be shrouded in mist, but she would seize back control with her own hands.

“Once the matters in the capital are settled, this daughter requests to be dispatched to the South, to resolve the disasters there once and for all.”

Her gaze was resolute. The mastermind must be someone she knew, but until now she could not put her finger on who.

Still, she suspected it was the Second Prince and the original novel’s male lead working together—the style of these recent events suited them too well, especially the male lead.

“But Father may rest assured, I will not depart with Lu Jingchuan.” Qin Yuqing carefully observed the Emperor’s face; seeing his expression ease slightly, she continued, “Lu Jingchuan will remain in the capital. I know Father’s concerns and misgivings. With him here, he can communicate directly with you and respond to emergencies.”

She had not forgotten the Emperor’s wariness and murderous intent toward the Lu clan during her birthday banquet when she first transmigrated. If not for Lu Jingchuan’s unwavering loyalty and restraint all these years, the Lu family would not have survived.

Now, she intended to leverage the Emperor’s guilt toward her, to make him recognize the Lu clan’s importance once more, and to show him that she and Lu Jingchuan’s loyalty to the throne could be trusted.

“The South is fraught with danger. Without aid, Ah Ruan, will you still go?” The Emperor’s words revealed his true thoughts: he did intend to keep Lu Jingchuan in the capital, and openly, he would not give Qin Yuqing any support.

“All is for Great Yin, for the people. Qin Yuqing volunteers to go.”

She did not blame the Emperor. If she were in his place and had not known Lu Jingchuan personally, she too would harbor suspicions about the Lu family.

“Tomorrow is the National Preceptor’s selection. Ah Ruan, I’ve heard that the candidates are all extraordinary talents. Once the new Preceptor is chosen, even I may not be able to protect you.” The Emperor’s gaze turned cold as it lifted toward the heavens.

Qin Yuqing nodded. She glanced at Lu Jingchuan; when he returned her nod, she steadied herself and said, “This daughter understands. Precisely for that reason, I ask Father to allow me to be presented as a criminal at the center of the altar during tomorrow’s selection.”

“Absurd! Do you know what the altar is?” The Emperor barked, not even thinking before he scolded, “You are my little Sixth. No matter what, I will never let you suffer another indignity!”

Warmth filled her heart, but some things, once decided, could not be changed. Besides, if she did not ascend the altar, the performance would lack its drama.

“Father, I have my own plan. Tonight is destined to be restless. Tomorrow, a reason is needed to silence the doubters—and I happen to be the perfect reason. You have already done much for me. Let this be the one thing I do for you.”

She explained tomorrow’s plan, omitting only the true identity of the Alhan twins, describing them instead as poor orphans.

The Emperor’s eyes flashed with surprise, then softened with pride. Compared to when he had first met Qin Yuqing, she had grown immensely.

“As for the Lu family, I agree to your request. If you can resolve the disasters in the South, I will grant the Lus an imperial token of immunity from death.”

He did not fully believe her yet, choosing instead to watch further. The stability of the dynasty was at stake; he could not rely on mere words.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Lu Jingchuan was the first to kneel, trembling as his hands clasped. He could hear the Emperor’s lingering suspicion, but this outcome was already the best they could hope for.

He did not believe that a few of Qin Yuqing’s words tonight had swayed the Emperor. Since ancient times, emperors were defined by suspicion—he had never forgotten this truth.

Qin Yuqing placed a hand on his back in comfort. The Emperor was a wise ruler—that much she was certain. Otherwise, her entire plan would need to change, and she would not be standing here negotiating tonight.

At the banquet earlier, she had used subtle words to convince him that the court required a solitary minister, narrowing the candidates until only Lu Jingchuan and Shen Yanqing remained for him to choose between.

The Emperor, seated high above, had seen through her maneuvering, understood her intent, but could not give the promises of an ordinary father.

Shen Yanqing, the sole daughter of the Shen family, had long guarded the South, earning countless merits. She was untouchable, indispensable.

By contrast, Lu Jingchuan had been thrust into the palace from childhood, watched and controlled. He was like a sharp blade: dangerous if mishandled, but a superb weapon if wielded well.

The Lu estate was the hilt, and Qin Yuqing the sheath. As long as she was there, the blade would never turn wild.

That night, icy rain poured down suddenly, turning into a storm. The torrential downpour flooded low-lying areas of the capital, filling the air with the cries of children and the curses of the drowned.

The next morning, Qin Yuqing was dressed in plain robes, her hands shackled behind her, hair pinned up with a simple wooden stick. Four soldiers escorted her to the altar as she looked coldly at the rain-soaked crowd in their straw raincoats.

“She’s here, the demoness!”

“The demoness! If not for her, Heaven would never have been angered!”

“What will we do? The floods in the South have already claimed so many lives!”

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted: “For Great Yin! Kill the demoness, appease Heaven’s wrath!”

The mob echoed as if awoken, raising fists high, eyes gleaming with murderous intent, chanting as though she were guilty of the vilest sins.

“For Great Yin, kill the demoness! Appease Heaven’s wrath!”

Qin Yuqing spotted the instigator immediately. Her lips curved faintly as she endured the people’s curses. Her icy, unyielding gaze only stoked their anger further.

Dragged onto the altar, she stood where the Preceptor’s successor was to be chosen. Two purposes overlapped here today: to execute the demoness, and to let Heaven select the new Preceptor.

“Sixth Princess, best rein yourself in,” a soldier muttered as he tied her to the wooden pillar.

“Oh?” Qin Yuqing arched a brow, watching rain drip down his armor. “I’m a demoness. Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“No.” The soldier shook his head, deliberately leaving the ropes looser. “We remember what you did. If not for you, my son would never have passed the exams this year. The officials never favored sons of soldiers like us.”

Without another word, he left the altar.

Qin Yuqing watched his retreating back thoughtfully, then suddenly burst into laughter. Being bound to the altar was part of her plan, but hearing his words, she realized—perhaps things were not as bleak as they seemed.

The crowd muttered in confusion: what was the demoness laughing at? Had she gone mad?

Bound to the pillar, drenched by the storm, Qin Yuqing raised her gaze to the crowd. Listening to their malice, she noticed the wind and rain beginning to ease. The time was nearly right.

“Demoness Qin Yuqing, do you confess to your crimes?” a young priest from the Preceptor’s tower demanded.

The Emperor and Crown Prince sat high on the platform, their expressions varied—some sorrowful, some pitying, others gloating.

Qin Yuqing sneered, eyes mocking as she lifted her fox-like gaze. Her tone rose as she countered: “Tell me, Daoist, what crime have I committed?”

“Even now you show no remorse! You are bloodthirsty, cruel, and you dared to disrupt order by sitting the examinations as a woman. The deaths of the ministers and the Preceptor lie at your feet. Do you still deny your guilt?”

“And that’s all it takes to condemn me? That’s not enough.” Qin Yuqing scoffed, unimpressed. “I didn’t kill anyone. Why aren’t you asking the Court of Justice or the Ministry of Punishments for the truth? Instead, you swallow rumors whole and shove the blame on me?”

“Young Daoist, your cultivation is lacking. Perhaps you should practice harder—otherwise, how will you tell false oracles from real ones?”

The young priest roared with rage. “How dare you slander the National Preceptor!”

Qin Yuqing looked down toward Lu Jingchuan; when he gave her a small nod, she smiled and said, “What other meaning could there be? Of course I feel wronged. If you were suddenly branded a demoness who ruins nations, would you not feel wronged?”

“You witch! If not for you, how would the capital be struck by disaster? The drowned in the southern wards are proof enough! Today, I will avenge the Preceptor and the fallen ministers, and act on Heaven’s behalf!”

“Act on Heaven’s behalf? How laughable.” Qin Yuqing’s voice dripped with scorn.

She swept her gaze around the altar, catching sight of the hidden ropes in the high towers, concealed by storm clouds. Now was the moment!

“Heaven above, I—Qin Yuqing—may not claim pure righteousness, but I have never committed an evil deed. To call me a demoness who brings ruin is false! From start to finish, everything I have done was for Great Yin!” she declared loudly.

“If Heaven truly manifests, and I have spoken a single false word, may I be struck by lightning and never die a good death!”