Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Liu Su was stunned.

He stared at Xiahou Che in disbelief, his neck veins bulging with anger. Forgetting all about politeness, his finger trembled as he pointed at Xiahou Che: "Absurd! Utterly absurd! Your Majesty, you have greatly disappointed this old minister!"

"If I had known you were this kind of person, I would never have succumbed to your threats and helped you ascend the throne! This Great Jin dynasty would have been destroyed in your hands sooner or later!"

Xiahou Che's face was gloomy: "The Empress said a few days ago that she wanted to build a dam in Jincheng to control the floods. Everything she did was for the people. She never sought personal gain for herself or the Xiao family. How did it become in your mouth that the Empress and I wanted to destroy the Great Jin?"

"It's all an illusion! It's all an illusion! She's trying to lull you into a false sense of security!"

Xiahou Che's words only made things worse, reminding Liu Su of the old folk tales about Xiao Lingyi being a "heavenly maiden who saved the world," and the more he thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.

"She has been laying the groundwork for the Xiao family to seize the throne for a long time. Over the years, she has built up her prestige among the people and made them remember her contributions. Even if the Xiao family rebels and usurps the throne in the future, the people will not oppose her too much. This woman and the Xiao family are nothing but wolves in sheep's clothing!"

"Shut up!" Xiahou Che finally lost his temper. "I will not allow you to slander the Empress like this!"

Liu Su: "..."

He clenched his fists tightly, his chest heaving with blood and qi.

Although he was unwilling to take a stand when Xiahou Che forced him to, he thought that Xiahou Che was of royal blood after all, and that making him emperor would be a way to uphold the orthodox lineage.

Liu Su never expected that Xiahou Che would say something like, "What harm is there in handing over the throne?" for the sake of a woman.

In an instant, Liu Su felt nothing but regret, overwhelming anger, and murderous intent.

He swallowed the blood in his mouth and stared intently at Xiahou Che, his eyes sharp as knives: "If Your Majesty insists on going your own way, then don't blame this old minister for being disloyal and unjust."

Xiahou Che narrowed his eyes: "Liu Su, what are you going to do?"

"I have made a mistake. The late emperor entrusted you to me, but I failed to teach you properly. That is the first point. Later, during the palace coup, I made a mistake and led troops to help you ascend the throne, which has led to the Great Jin being controlled by a woman. That is the second point."

Your Majesty, I am ashamed before the late Emperor. What has already happened cannot be undone, but I absolutely cannot watch you make one mistake after another, until the throne changes hands and it is too late for anything to happen.

Your Majesty, I implore you to immediately issue an edict to depose the Empress. If you do not heed this, news of Empress Xiao's interference in politics will spread throughout the court and the country tomorrow. My 300,000 troops will fight to the death for the sake of the Great Jin dynasty!

Liu Su's words were forceful and clear, and Xiahou Che was taken aback.

Countless images flashed through his mind in an instant: the earth cracking in Sichuan and Chongqing, Xiao Lingyi not sleeping for several days, falling off his horse, his back covered in blood.

During the flood in Qingzhou, she wore rough clothes and distributed porridge in the disaster relief area. Her fair hands were wrinkled from being soaked in water for a long time.

During the plague outbreak in Jingzhou, she disregarded the danger and resolutely carried medicinal herbs into the sealed-off epidemic area.

She was not a member of the royal family, but she regarded the Great Jin Dynasty as her home.

If Liu Su is allowed to escalate the situation, neither Xiao Dingfang nor he will stand idly by. At that time, Liu Su's 300,000 troops will face Xiao Dingfang's 600,000 soldiers, and the entire Great Jin Dynasty will be plunged into a war-torn internal conflict.

He didn't care whether these people lived or died, but this was definitely not the scene Xiao Lingyi wanted to see.

He had to stop Liu Su.

Thinking of this, Xiahou Che adjusted his expression and spoke again in a much gentler tone: "Minister Liu, you are impulsive. You have 300,000 troops, and Xiao Dingfang has 600,000 troops. If the two sides fight, it will be the common people who suffer, and foreign vassals may take advantage of the situation. Do you want the Great Jin to fall into a state of internal and external troubles?"

Liu Su sneered: "Your Majesty need not threaten me with these matters. I am guarding the Xiahou family's empire. If this empire is going to fall into the hands of the Xiao family sooner or later, then there is no need for me to guard it anymore. I might as well risk everything. I will risk my old life to prevent Xiao Dingfang from succeeding!"

Xiahou Che looked helpless: "Have you thought about this? I have only been on the throne for a short time, and the power in the court is still unstable. If I issue an edict to depose the empress at this time, it will anger Xiao Dingfang. If he brings his troops back, how can I possibly defend myself? Once the war starts, not only will I lose my throne, but the entire Great Jin will be plunged into chaos."

Liu Su sensed the compromise in his words and frowned, saying, "As long as Your Majesty is willing to depose the Empress, I am willing to lend Your Majesty a hand!"

Xiahou Che gritted his teeth, inwardly cursing Liu Su as a scoundrel, but his face remained impassive as he asked, "What's your idea?"

Liu Su glanced around cautiously and whispered, "I can arrange for assassins to kill Xiao Lingyi."

Xiahou Che's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Liu Su, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes.

"No!" Xiahou Che said, "The Empress's death is suspicious, and Xiao Dingfang will definitely investigate. I need to reduce some of the Xiao family's military strength first to prevent Xiao Dingfang from turning around and biting us in a fit of rage."

Upon hearing this, Liu Su looked him up and down suspiciously: "Is Your Majesty truly telling the truth?"

Xiahou Che knew that his attitude had changed too quickly and Liu Su did not believe him at all. He paused and pretended to hesitate: "I can listen to you on these matters: reduce military power, suppress the Xiao family, and even depose the Empress. But I have one condition."

Liu Su immediately said, "Your Majesty, please speak."

"Spare Xiao Lingyi's life, do not harm her." Xiahou Che revealed his lustful expression at the right moment, "The Xiao family girl is truly beautiful and charming, it would be a pity to kill her like this."

Liu Su: "..."

“If you agree to this condition, I will listen to you from now on.” Xiahou Che bargained with him. “After everything is settled, I will imprison the Xiao family girl in the palace and keep her as a plaything. I will not give her any rank. If she is still not obedient, it will not be too late to kill her.”

Looking at the seventeen-year-old emperor before him, Liu Su knew that the emperor was currently infatuated with the Xiao family's daughter. If he pushed too hard, it would only provoke the emperor's rebellious nature.

So he compromised and said, "Okay."

After dismissing Liu Su, Xiahou Che went to Zhaoyang Palace, seething with anger.

When he entered, Yan Zhen was reviewing memorials, with Yang Pei and Hongyu serving him. At first glance, the person sitting behind the desk with a vermilion brush in hand really did have the air of a strategist empress.

"Your Majesty is back." Yan Zhen looked up at him and saw that his expression was not good. "I heard that General Liu gave you a fine steed. What's wrong? You don't like the steed?"

"What a thoroughbred! It's some lame horse they found somewhere, bad and disobedient!" Xiahou Che vented his dissatisfaction, implying something. "That Liu Su, he deserves to die!"

Yan Zhen observed his expression and recalled what Hong Yu had mentioned this morning—Liu Su had been inquiring about her and Xiahou Che's relationship in various ways these past few days.

He probably suspects her of interfering in politics.

Thinking of this, Yan Zhen put down his pen and beckoned to Xiahou Che: "Come here."