From cute to empress

Eunuch Zheng ultimately remained silent. He was like a stone, and no matter how hard Zhen Youcai tried, he couldn't pry his mouth open. I wasn't surprised. Someone who had spent years in the palace was bound to have secrets to hold onto.

A few days later, the escort of the Third Prince and Grand Tutor Li arrived in the capital. Citizens lined the streets to watch. The sight of the once revered prince and the powerful Grand Tutor, now imprisoned and bound for execution, was truly heartbreaking.

The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was solemn. The eldest prince, clad in a dragon robe, sat upon the throne, his usually gentle face now filled with majesty. Zhen Youcai and I stood on either side, quietly observing the trial.

"I, the guilty minister Li Mao, have instigated the prince to rebel. My crime is unforgivable. Please, Your Majesty, punish me!" Grand Tutor Li burst into tears, and his former high spirits were gone.

The Third Prince knelt lifelessly on the ground like a defeated rooster, confessing his crimes. Perhaps he had anticipated this fate when he chose this path.

The eldest prince was silent for a long time, and finally spoke slowly: "Grand Tutor Li has instigated the prince. His crime is unforgivable. I consider your many years of service as an official. Your merits and demerits will be offset. I will demote you to a commoner and exile you to the frontier. You will never be allowed to return to the capital!"

"Third Prince Xiao Jing, you are obsessed with greed and have disregarded human ethics. You are guilty of heinous crimes. Considering our brotherly love, I cannot bear to kill you. Instead, I will demote you to a commoner and imprison you in the clan residence, where you will not be allowed to leave for life!"

When the dust settled, the eldest prince looked at Zhen Youcai and me, his eyes filled with gratitude. "This time, thanks to the Empress and Commander Zhen's strategic planning, we were able to keep our kingdom stable. I am deeply relieved."

Zhen Youcai and I exchanged glances and said in unison, "This is our duty."

"I've ordered a banquet to celebrate your success." The eldest prince said this, his gaze lingering on Zhen Youcai and me for a moment, and he said meaningfully, "I still have matters to discuss with the Queen and Commander Zhen. I'll adjourn the court!"

My heart shuddered, a sense of foreboding washed over me. Could it be that the eldest prince had noticed something? After the court session, Zhen Youcai and I followed the eldest prince to the imperial study. The entire way, I could feel the eldest prince's scrutinizing gaze, a look that made me feel uneasy, yet I couldn't fathom his thoughts.

"Royal brother, do you have anything to say to us?" I simply asked directly, breaking the suffocating silence.

The eldest prince stopped and turned around, a meaningful smile on his face: "My brother was able to successfully quell the rebellion this time, thanks to you two. I am deeply grateful."

Zhen Youcai bowed and said, "We are just doing our duty."

"Rest assured, I will not treat meritorious officials unfairly," the eldest prince said, picking up two imperial edicts from the dragon table. "Minister Wang is loyal and dedicated, and has made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion. I have decided to promote him to Minister of Revenue. General Zhou is brave and skilled in battle, and has made many military achievements. I have specially appointed him the General of Zhenbei."

I received the imperial edict with mixed feelings. The promotion of Minister Wang and General Zhou represented the First Prince's trust and importance in them, and also meant that the First Prince's power would be further consolidated.

"The Queen doesn't look well?" The eldest prince noticed my expression and asked with concern.

I quickly concealed my uneasiness and said with a smile, "I'm just worried that Minister Wang and General Zhou hold important positions, and I'm afraid they will attract criticism from the court officials."

"Hahaha, Queen, you worry too much. They are both my loyal ministers. I believe they can do the job." The eldest prince laughed heartily, but for some reason, I always felt that there was a deeper meaning in his smile.

"Okay, you are tired too, go back and rest early." The eldest prince waved his hand, signaling us to leave.

Zhen Youcai and I walked out of the imperial study, each in silence. The setting sun cast our shadows into an unusually long shadow.

"Talented, I always feel..." I hesitated to speak, the uneasy feeling in my heart becoming stronger and stronger.

"What's wrong?" Zhen Youcai held my hand, and the warmth of his palm made me feel a little relieved.

"I always feel that the eldest prince has changed." I looked up at him, my eyes full of worry. "He is no longer the gentle and kind emperor brother he used to be."

Zhen Youcai was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, "Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. Now that he is the emperor, some changes are inevitable."

"But..." I wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Zhen Youcai.

"Don't worry, I will always be by your side." He held me in his arms, his tone firm, "No matter what happens, we will face it together."

I nodded and buried my head in his chest, trying to draw strength from his warm embrace. However, the uneasiness in my heart never went away, as if it foreshadowed the coming of a bigger storm...

The setting sun cast its afterglow over the magnificent palace, draping the ancient structure in a golden veil. Inside, the palace was filled with singing and dancing, and the music of stringed instruments filled the air, a festive atmosphere permeating the air. Zhen Youcai and I, dressed in gorgeous attire, accepted congratulations from all sides.

This was the banquet the First Prince had hosted for us, celebrating our victory in suppressing the rebellion and restoring order to the court. After three rounds of wine, the First Prince raised his glass and declared, "Today, I offer a toast to you two! Thanks to the Empress and Commander Zhen, my throne has been preserved, and the people have been spared the suffering of war!"

"I dare not take credit for it. This is what I should do." Zhen Youcai bowed and I also bowed slightly to express my gratitude.

The eldest prince laughed heartily and said, "I am in high spirits today. How about this? I will make the decision and reward all the heroes who have contributed to the suppression of the rebellion generously!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall cheered, and the atmosphere became even more heated. I looked at everything before me, feeling a mixture of emotions. Although this rebellion ended in victory for us, I knew it was only the beginning. The eldest prince's ambitions went far beyond this, and Zhen Youcai and I were destined to be drawn into this vortex of power.

"Sister-in-law, Commander Zhen, congratulations." The Fourth Prince walked up to us, holding a wine glass with a sincere smile on his face. "I toast you."

Zhen Youcai and I exchanged glances, raised our glasses, and drank them all. "Your Highness, you're too polite," I said calmly, putting down my glass.

"You're welcome, my dear sister-in-law. I know that you two have made invaluable contributions to my brother's smooth ascension to the throne," the Fourth Prince said, a complex look flashing in his eyes. "From now on, I will wholeheartedly assist my brother. I also hope that my sister-in-law and Commander Zhen will continue to serve the Daxin Dynasty."

"Of course," Zhen Youcai said in a deep voice, but I could hear a hidden meaning in the Fourth Prince's words. Was he truly willing to put aside his grudges and wholeheartedly assist the First Prince?

After the banquet, night fell, and the stars twinkled. Zhen Youcai and I strolled hand in hand through the palace gardens, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility. The moonlight fell on us, as if draping us with a silver veil.

"Talented, you said, the Fourth Prince..." I spoke hesitantly, my heart full of doubts.

Zhen Youcai stopped and turned to look at me, his eyes gleaming with wisdom: "Do you think what he said today is a bit strange?"

I nodded, my uneasiness growing stronger. The moonlight tonight seemed to be shrouded in a shadow, foreshadowing that the road ahead would not be peaceful...

"Indeed, he seemed overly deliberate today." I sighed softly, my thoughts still lingering on the Fourth Prince's meaningful smile at the banquet. "Perhaps we're overthinking it. After all, he played a significant role in this rebellion."

Zhen Youcai put his arm around my shoulders, letting me lean on his arm. He said softly, "Mengmeng, you and I have come a long way and have been through so many ups and downs. Now that the clouds have finally cleared and the sun is shining, you should relax."

I looked up at him. His eyes, shone in the moonlight, were deep and gentle, as if they could dispel all the haze in my heart. "With you here, I feel at ease." I gently leaned my head against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and a warm feeling welled up in my heart.

We strolled along the cobblestone path, the moonlight elongating our figures. Passing the lotus pond in the Imperial Garden, I paused. The lotus flowers had already withered, leaving only a few withered leaves floating on the surface, shivering in the night breeze.

"After the prosperity, peace finally comes." I sighed softly, but I felt a little uneasy in my heart.

Zhen Youcai followed my gaze, pondered for a moment, and said, "Flowers bloom and fade in their own time. Why dwell on what's in front of you? This palace is like the imperial garden. It may appear calm, but undercurrents surge. Only by remaining vigilant at all times can we remain invincible."

His words were like a revelation, instantly waking me up. Yes, how could I let my guard down just because I felt comfortable for a moment? In this harem, every step is carefully planned. The slightest misstep could lead to ruin.

"Thank you, Youcai, I know what to do." I raised my head, with a determination glittering in my eyes.

Zhen Youcai reached out and gently stroked my cheek, saying softly, "I'm glad you understand. Tomorrow, I'll go to the military camp. The defense of the capital cannot be relaxed."

"Well, go ahead and be careful." I nodded and watched his figure disappear into the night.

Late at night, I returned to my chambers alone, but I couldn't sleep. The Fourth Prince's words, Zhen Youcai's reminder, and the lingering uneasiness in my heart all filled me with an inexplicable pressure.

I walked to the window, opened it, and gazed at the dark night sky in the distance. I secretly decided that tomorrow, I would go to see Minister Wang and ask his opinion on the situation in the court. Perhaps I could get some useful information from him.

Although this storm has passed, I know that the real test has just begun.