Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

The emperor glanced at her with a stern face, but before he could say anything, a eunuch outside came to report: "Your Majesty, the Empress is requesting an audience."

When the emperor summoned her, Yin Yin coughed lightly, moved closer to the emperor, and stared at him without saying a word, her big eyes unblinking.

The emperor chuckled and slightly curled the corners of his lips before finally speaking: "Go sit properly in the back. We don't need you."

After hearing that, Yin Yin obediently went to hide behind the screen.

The Empress, supported by others, entered the room frailly. She glanced around and, seeing no one else, knelt directly before the Emperor.

The emperor, as if he knew nothing, asked, "What does the Empress mean by this? Why is she performing such a grand ceremony?"

"Your Majesty, I have committed a grave error and have come to beg for forgiveness," the Empress said, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and coughing incessantly. Soon, the snow-white handkerchief was stained with red blood.

The Empress was kneeling below, and unless she deliberately looked up, she couldn't see the Emperor's expression clearly. Yin Yin was right next to the Emperor, and through a small gap in the screen, she could see the Empress clearly. By turning her head, she could meet the Emperor's gaze.

The Empress's performance was intended to evoke the Emperor's pity, but unexpectedly, the Emperor's gaze gradually turned cold.

"What are you still standing there for?" The emperor glared at Eunuch Wu. "Don't you know how to help the empress up?"

Upon receiving the emperor's order, Eunuch Wu stepped forward quickly and helped the empress to her feet.

The Empress was kneeling on purpose, and of course she refused to get up. When Eunuch Wu came to help her up, she didn't exert any effort herself.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be unreasonable for Eunuch Wu to lend her a hand.

But by now, Eunuch Wu already knew why the Empress had pleaded guilty, and with the Emperor's orders, he certainly wouldn't go along with her.

With great effort, Eunuch Wu helped her up, then gave a wink to a young eunuch beside him. Together, the two of them pulled her up from the ground and placed her on a chair that had been brought over.

The emperor sat on the steps, while the empress could only sit below. The couple, who could have walked side by side, were like their relationship: they could see each other when they looked up, yet they seemed to be separated by a great distance.

The Empress finally saw the Emperor's indifferent face, and her heart skipped a beat.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Eunuch Wu ordered the young eunuchs and the palace maids who served the Empress to go outside together.

Now, besides the Emperor and Empress, only Yin Yin remains in the room.

The room was too quiet, so Yinyin simply sat down on the spot, which would reduce the chances of being discovered and make her feel more relaxed.

As soon as Yinyin sat down, she saw the emperor glance at her.

She quickly sat up straight to please the emperor.

The emperor said, “Empress, I remember you are not such an impatient person.”

The Empress forced a bitter smile: "Then what kind of person am I in Your Majesty's heart?"

"You really want to hear it?" The emperor looked at the empress and said with certainty, "You don't want to hear it."

The Empress turned her face away somewhat awkwardly: "His Majesty probably didn't have any kind words for me."

The emperor remained silent.

The Empress remained silent for a moment, setting aside all her previous assumptions, and said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty must know all this and understand my feelings. I wonder if I may ask for such a favor?"

"Empress," the Emperor said, twirling the jade thumb ring on his hand, "there are many eligible noble ladies in the court, and many who suit the Crown Prince's taste. Why have you only taken a liking to Yin Yin?"

The Empress's eyes flickered, and her voice softened: "I am just getting through the days. The people I can't let go of the most, besides Your Majesty, are the Crown Prince."

"The Crown Princess I admire must not only be outstanding herself, but also be able to assist the Crown Prince and fulfill his filial duties."

"After much thought, I believe that apart from Yin Yin, no one else can perfectly meet these requirements."

"Just because you want it, does it have to work out?"

The emperor truly had no intention of saving face for the empress: "Empress, don't even try to say you don't trust me. Do you even believe that yourself?"

Behind the screen, Yin Yin desperately wanted to squeeze through the gap so she wouldn't miss a single expression on the Empress's face.

The Empress sat in her chair, but looked as if she was about to faint at any moment: "Your Majesty, after all these years, you still resent me."

"Your Majesty has devoted yourself to managing the harem and raising children for you all these years, yet you haven't even noticed it for a moment?"

The emperor sneered, "Empress, I am not a fool."

"I have given you the honor of being an empress and the position of the fifth prince. What have you given me in return? You should know better than I do what you have given me."

This time, the Empress dared not speak. She had the Crown Prince as a weakness, and she did not want the Emperor to make his point too clear.

The emperor felt a bit annoyed and said to her, "If the empress is interested in choosing a crown princess for the crown prince, I will not stop you."

Before the Empress could fully show her joy, the Emperor said, "I have already ordered someone to draft an edict to adopt Yin Yin as my goddaughter and bestow upon her the title of County Princess."

"Your Majesty, didn't you say before that you liked Yin Yin and hoped that she could become part of your family? Now your dream has come true, and she can call you godmother in the future."

The Empress left in a daze, and Yin Yin knew that this matter had to end there.

Although the emperor disliked the empress, this matter involved the empress and the crown prince's reputation, and he could not allow it to escalate. After all, the emperor was a person who cared about his image and paid great attention to appearances and etiquette.

Yin Yin knew this, which is why she didn't say anything after arriving and let the emperor investigate on his own.

"Is everything behind the screen so wonderful that you don't want to come out?"

The emperor's voice startled Yin Yin from her thoughts.

Yinyin quickly stood up: "Your Majesty, you just said you wanted to take me as your goddaughter, is that true?"

"A golden word is law, how could it be false?" the emperor said. "I have chosen Shou Kang County as your fief, from now on you will be the Lady of Shou Kang County, is that alright?"

"Shou Kang?" Yin Yin thought for a moment. "It sounds really auspicious."

The emperor couldn't help but pat her head, his eyes filled with a hint of melancholy: "Isn't it all I hoped for that you would live a long and healthy life?"

Yin Yin smiled sweetly and immediately took the opportunity to say, "Thank you, godfather."

The emperor then asked, "Is there anything else you want?"

Yinyin thought for a moment and said, "My godfather wants to make me a county princess. Why don't we talk to my aunt and ask her to reward me with the two palace maids who served me today? I think they are quite loyal, which is really rare."

The emperor gently pinched her cheek: "You don't trust me that much?"

Yin Yin said guiltily, "How could that be? If I don't trust my godfather, who else can I trust?"

"But I've already made my promise that once I reach the Xuan Shi Hall, I will guarantee their safety. Father, you wouldn't want me to be a person who breaks his word, would you?"