Volume 1, Chapter 18: The Wrath of Prince Liang

Xiao Aoyu and her group were completely bewildered, their minds in a state of chaotic confusion. Lin Wangzhi, in particular, suffered a delusion, mistakenly believing that these officials were kneeling before him.

Ignoring them entirely, Lin Che spoke, "That is enough. Everyone, rise."

The ministers dared not move until Lin Che cast a sharp, piercing glare at them. Startled, they scrambled to their feet. Xiao Aoyu looked at Lin Che in utter disbelief, and he, in turn, met her gaze.

"You... how could you..." Xiao Aoyu’s voice trembled, unable to form a coherent sentence.

It was impossible; she must be dreaming! How could Lin Che, a mere good-for-nothing, possibly be the Emperor? Was he really the long-lost prince? Was he the one who had snatched the throne from Wangzhi?

Lin Che sighed as he looked at her. "In truth, I deceived you."

Even the dullest mind would have grasped the reality by now. Xiao Aoyu staggered back two steps, her composure crumbling. "No, it’s impossible. It can’t be... how could you be..."

Xiao Chen let out a sharp cry, suddenly realizing that Lin Che shared the imperial surname. They had overlooked this detail all along, never imagining that Lin Che would be a member of the royal bloodline. They now realized that the prince rumored to have returned to court recently was none other than him.

Xiao Boqing finally understood why he had been relieved of his post, and why Xiao Aoyu had been dismissed as well. It was not because Lin Che had framed them—he had no need to! They had assumed the Prince of Liang would ascend the throne, yet it was the Lin Che they had discarded who had become the Emperor. This realization filled him with fury; it was clear that Lin Che had stolen the throne from the Prince of Liang. Why, the wretch, did he always stand in their way?

Lin Wangzhi gnashed his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. So that was it! It was this dog who had stolen his throne! He did not fear Lin Che’s status, knowing full well that the current Emperor was merely a puppet, with the true power of the state resting in the hands of the ministers. A murderous rage surged within him. He had never once looked at Lin Che properly, dismissing him as nothing more than Xiao Aoyu’s ex-husband. To think he was actually the sovereign! Damn it, why had no one warned him?

Sensing he was no longer welcome, Lin Che turned to leave. "Let us return."

"Prepare the carriage!" the eunuch attendant, Cao, shouted in a shrill voice.

"Wait!" Xiao Aoyu suddenly found the courage to call out to him.

Lin Che looked back. "Rest assured, I will not punish you. As I said before, we are even."

Xiao Aoyu struggled with herself, but found no words to retort. As Lin Che departed, the other ministers, seeing him leave, dared not linger.

"Your Highness, Prince of Liang, we shall take our leave!" They hurriedly bid him farewell and dispersed.

"No, no..." Xiao Boqing muttered, his jaw clenched, before suddenly collapsing to the ground.

"Father!" Xiao Aoyu cried, her face pale with shock. Xiao Chen stood there, ashen-faced, staring at his unconscious father as if he were invisible.

"What are you standing there for? Help him into the room and call a physician!" Xiao Aoyu commanded the servants, clinging to a shred of composure. She had never before raised her voice to the staff. Terrified, the servants immediately carried Xiao Boqing into the house.

Xiao Aoyu felt as if every ounce of strength had been drained from her. "Wangzhi..." she murmured, looking toward him.

Lin Wangzhi’s eyes were bloodshot, his palms bleeding from his own nails. "Damn him! Damn him!!!" The knowledge that the throne had been given to a useless wretch filled him with bitter resentment. That throne was meant to be his!

"...Wangzhi!" Xiao Aoyu bit her lip and took a step toward him. Lin Wangzhi looked at her, his expression so fierce it frightened her.

"What? Are you afraid?" he asked, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "He is nothing but a puppet Emperor; what is there to fear?"

His gaze fell upon a scroll held by a servant, inscribed with the words "A Harmonious Union for a Hundred Years." He snatched it away and tore it to shreds, throwing the pieces to the ground.

Xiao Aoyu, aware of Lin Wangzhi’s influence at court, felt her fear replaced by defiance. They already hated Lin Che, and now, that animosity was laid bare.

"Wangzhi, I am not afraid. I have served in the court; I know the situation!"

Lin Wangzhi sneered, gritting his teeth. "Exactly. More than half of the ministers support me. The Empress Dowager is my grandmother; that useless Emperor is nothing but a puppet! He dares to steal my throne—I will kill him!"

With no outsiders present, he no longer felt the need to hide his intentions. He did not fear being overheard; after all, even if he insulted the Emperor to his face, the man could not punish him. If he tried, the court would revolt, and the Emperor would be powerless to stop it.

"Wangzhi, you are right. He deserves to die for stealing your throne!" Xiao Aoyu agreed. In her eyes, Lin Che’s actions were calculated; he had hidden his identity, waited until she was with Lin Wangzhi, and then seized the throne and stripped her of her position—all to make her regret leaving him. What a petty, vile man.

"Wangzhi, this throne belongs to you!" she declared firmly. She felt that Lin Che was unworthy. Lin Wangzhi was talented in both civil and military affairs; he was the one destined to rule.

Lin Wangzhi suppressed his rage. "Do not worry, Yuer. I will not let him get away with this. Between the throne and the way he has treated you, I will make him regret everything."

Xiao Aoyu nodded. The pity she once felt for Lin Che had vanished, replaced by the belief that he was getting what he deserved. How could a good-for-nothing ever hope to challenge Wangzhi? With the ministers behind him, it was clear that Lin Wangzhi was the superior candidate. Surely, Lin Che would not sit on the throne for long.

"Wangzhi, what shall we do now?" she asked.

Lin Wangzhi smiled coldly, his expression sinister. "I have already devised a plan with the ministers. The banditry in Yanzhou is severe, and most of my military power is stationed in the Northern Frontier. If I go to suppress the bandits, I can bolster my forces. With an army at my command, who will dare challenge me? Upon my return, I will control the Emperor himself! I will make him kneel and abdicate!"

Xiao Aoyu found the plan exhilarating. "And what of me, Wangzhi?"

Lin Wangzhi, intending to use her influence to strengthen his own, comforted her. "Rest assured, I will speak to the Empress Dowager. You shall accompany me on the campaign, and we will use the opportunity to restore your position. Then, you will see just how weak the current Emperor is, and how he will be forced to obey our every command."