Shi Lang handed the brocade box to Xue Xingyue. Xue Xingyue opened it, and inside sat the Phoenix Imperial Seal.
She cupped the Phoenix Imperial Seal in both hands and raised it above her head.
"Long live Your Majesty, long, long live!" Wen Yuxi was the first to kneel and kowtow, followed closely by Shen Yunxuan.
Shi Lang followed suit, and the rest of the ministers knelt on the ground one by one.
Xue Xingyue held the Phoenix Imperial Seal and walked towards the Imperial Guards at the door. The ministers made way for her in unison.
"Imperial Guards, heed my command as Princess," Xue Xingyue ordered.
"This subordinate obeys," the Imperial Guards responded, kneeling on one knee.
"Withdraw," Xue Xingyue said.
The Imperial Guards exchanged glances. Xue Xingyue said coldly, "Withdraw, return to your respective positions."
"Are you truly willing to obey the orders of a mere girl?" Sun Zhiyuan shouted.
"And are you willing to be beheaded for an unrealistic condition?" Xue Xingyue asked, tilting her head.
"Don't listen to her nonsense. What does a little girl like her know? We've reached this point; winners take all, losers are punished." Sun Zhiyuan said coldly.
Seeing that no one spoke, Sun Zhiyuan continued, "Having come this far, even if you retreat, you'll be in the same boat as this official. Do you think the Empress will let you off?"
Xue Xingyue saw that the Imperial Guards, who had been wavering, returned to their positions. She frowned, about to say something more, when someone picked her up. "Xingyue, the matters below are for us adults to handle. You just be your carefree child."
Xue Xingyue was startled and looked up at the person holding her. "Uncle Wen."
Wen Yuxi stroked her head. "Do what is appropriate for your age. You shouldn't have to bear this."
"Alright, I'll listen to Uncle Wen," Xue Xingyue replied.
"Have you all made up your minds? Rebellion is punishable by death," Wen Yuxi said slowly.
Sun Zhiyuan sneered, "There is no turning back from this point."
"Your Majesty, it is time for you to appear," Wen Yuxi suddenly bowed towards the person behind the curtain.
Sun Zhiyuan sneered at this. "Just a fake Empress. Wen Yuxi, who are you trying to scare?"
"Sun Zhiyuan." A voice emerged from behind the curtain.
Sun Zhiyuan was initially indifferent, but upon hearing those three words, his body trembled. That voice... why did it sound so much like the Empress's?
The curtain was pulled aside, and a woman sat on the dragon throne. The bright yellow dragon robe dazzled everyone's eyes. Sun Zhiyuan's heart sank, and his legs went weak without knowing why, for this person was the Empress.
"Your Majesty..." Seeing the woman behind the curtain was the Empress, all the officials were greatly surprised.
Some even worried if the Empress had seen them all standing behind Sun Zhiyuan. If so, wouldn't they be considered accomplices?
Xue Zining stood up from the dragon throne and walked down, naturally taking Xue Xingyue from Wen Yuxi's arms.
"Mother Emperor," Xue Xingyue exclaimed excitedly. It really was her mother.
Xue Zining stroked her head and approached Sun Zhiyuan, saying coldly, "Sun Zhiyuan, do you know your crime?"
Sun Zhiyuan immediately knelt on the ground. "This subject knows his crime."
Lin Feng and Feng Yu, behind him, knew that the situation was lost and knelt down.
"Seize Sun Zhiyuan and the others. This Empress will personally interrogate them in three days," Xue Zining ordered coldly.
Sun Zhiyuan was dragged away like a puddle of mud.
"Feng Jiu," Xue Zining said.
Feng Jiu appeared before Xue Zining out of thin air.
"Your Majesty, Feng Jiu is here."
"From now on, you will command the Imperial Guards," Xue Zining said indifferently.
Feng Jiu was stunned and looked up at Xue Zining. "Your Majesty, your subordinate is a Feng Guard. The duty of the Feng Guards is to remain by Your Majesty's side."
"This is my command, because I trust you."
Feng Jiu trembled and lowered his head. "Your subordinate obeys!"
"We conclude here for today. All of you may withdraw!" Xue Zining said.
"Let's go!" Shi Lang pulled Xiao Minshi away.
Xiao Minshi looked at the little one in the Empress's arms with reluctance, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Madam Shi, please wait," Xue Zining suddenly said.
Xiao Minshi was taken aback. Xue Zining led her to the inner chamber and put down Xue Xingyue. Xue Xingyue walked to Xiao Minshi. "Madam Shi, thank you."
Xiao Minshi trembled and looked at Xue Xingyue. "Your Highness Princess..."
"Without you, Madam, I don't know where I would be right now," Xue Xingyue bowed her thanks.
Xiao Minshi quickly rose and returned the bow.
"Madam Shi, if you desire any reward, this Empress will grant it," Xue Zining said.
Xiao Minshi shook her head. "Your subject thanks Your Majesty, but your subject desires nothing. We only wish for the little princess to be safe and happy." That was enough.
As they walked out of the Empress's sleeping quarters, Xiao Minshi's legs went weak. Shi Lang quickly supported her. Seeing her pale face, he said with concern, "Madam, shall we raise another child?"
Xiao Minshi shook her head. "There will never be another child as obedient and lovely as Xingyue."
Shi Lang sighed in his heart. He had thought this girl resembled someone before, and now he realized she was indeed Princess Xingyue.
"Then let us have one!" Shi Lang said in a low voice.
Xiao Minshi trembled. Shi Lang smiled. "Let's have a child that belongs only to you and me."
"Okay," Xiao Minshi replied.
"Wen Yuxi, Shen Yunxuan, you have worked hard." Xue Zining put the little one to sleep before going to the study.
Wen Yuxi breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Majesty, you're finally back. Do you know how we've managed these past few days?"
"Such things will not happen again," Xue Zining said.
"Have you found Emperor Yunhuang?" Wen Yuxi asked.
Xue Zining nodded. "Yes."
"Why hasn't he returned?" Wen Yuxi asked again.
"He probably won't return," Xue Zining said with a light smile, but to Wen Yuxi, it sounded forced.
"Your Majesty..."
"Alright, go back. You and Yunxuan have worked hard these past few days," Xue Zining interrupted Wen Yuxi.
Wen Yuxi knew that the Empress did not wish to discuss Xue Jingyun, so he let it be.
Wen Yuxi and Shen Yunxuan walked out of the Imperial Study. Wen Yuxi saw Madam Zhou and Old Madam Shen waiting outside. "Go on!"
Shen Yunxuan cupped his hands in a salute and walked forward. He helped Old Madam Shen up. "Grandmother, I apologize for troubling you."
Old Madam Shen shook her head. "This old woman is afraid she has caused you trouble."
"Grandmother, you worry too much. It is your grandson who has caused you much trouble," Shen Yunxuan said bitterly. It was filial of him to have made his grandmother, at her age, travel so tirelessly.
"Li'er told me everything. She is a good child. What her Zhou family did has nothing to do with her. Do not take your anger out on her," Old Madam Shen said.
"Grandmother, do you think your grandson is someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong?"
Old Madam Shen smiled. "Indeed. Hurry and help Grandmother back; these past few days have really worn out this old body of mine."