She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 293 - 292 Yan Wanqing, It’s Time to Hit the Road

Chapter 293: Chapter 292 Yan Wanqing, It’s Time to Hit the Road

"Empress, you are insane," the Emperor said without any hint of emotion, his tone extremely calm.

Zhang Lanyi wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes with the pad of her finger and continued to laugh, "Right, this palace has gone mad, and I was already mad before I became the Empress, isn’t Your Majesty most aware of that? How my father died and how I was reduced to being humiliated in the palace, Your Majesty had it all thoroughly investigated. Over the years, isn’t that what you have been using to threaten and control me? When it comes to the human heart, no one is more adept than the Emperor."

The relationship between Emperor and Empress irreparably shattered, open insults hurled in the grand hall and matters escalated to the point of drawing swords.

Everyone was on high alert.

It seemed the Empress might be staging a rebellion for Yan Wanqing.

"Empress, I once told you that you must always stand by my side, with a heart aligned with mine," the Emperor spoke slowly, not showing the slightest panic amidst the current situation, maintaining the cool composure that is the most basic requirement of an emperor.

Zhang Lanyi was frightened by his calmness at this moment, but she quickly retorted with scorn, "How can there be harmony when we started on different paths? Being the Empress in these years has been the most disgusting period of my life. Now that things have progressed to this point, I have no way out."

Without moving forward, retreating even a step would mean that she and all her people only had death awaiting them.

It was because Zhang Lanyi understood this that she resolutely stood up.

She would never allow the Emperor to lay a finger on Yan Wanqing!

"This entire realm belongs to me, did you really think I was unaware of the little schemes between you and others?" The Emperor sneered, waving his hand. The Imperial Secret Police, who were originally in a standoff, instantly dropped their long swords.

Zhang Lanyi’s face turned abruptly pale, "How could this be?"

"What I am willing to give you, is yours, and what I have not announced as yours, will never be yours." He was the one in control of life and death, and the Emperor’s gaze met with Yan Wanqing’s, who was silent and unyielding beneath the dais.

Those eyes, filled with defiance.

Just like four years ago.

It made him very uncomfortable.

"I always knew you had a rebellious streak but never thought you’d choose the Empress," the Emperor scoffed, "Such a foolish choice. Even if you had chosen the seventh in line, you would not have ended up in such a predicament today."

"Without knowing the end, how can Your Majesty be so sure I chose wrong?" Yan Wanqing finally spoke, first turning her gaze to Song Huaxu, then staring directly at the Emperor, "It must have been hard for Your Majesty to have the National Master personally deliver the Thousand Mechanisms Poison to my father, ruining my martial strength and leaving me a cripple for four or five years. Such ’kindness,’ Wanqing will never forget."

"It’s just that my father was foolishly loyal; even though Your Majesty had poisoned and destroyed his eldest legitimate daughter, he still chose to lead the men of the Yan and his family for Dawei, unyieldingly to Governor’s Office Pass. Which battle in Dawei took place without their presence? Could a mere Governor’s Office Pass lead to their annihilation? Heaven is watching what man does!" Yan Wanqing declared emphatically, "The cunning bird is gone, the good bow is hidden; the crafty rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked, Your Majesty, you can’t hide it!"

"Yan Wanqing, I know you have a silver tongue, and you can make the dead sound alive with your words, but even here in the grand hall, before the Emperor, you dare to argue and twist your words! The eyes of the officials are clear, truth and lies cannot be muddled by your words!" Lord Wang rebuked loudly.

Yan Wanqing had never regarded such lackeys, she conversed with only one person all along, "True or false, those who did it know it in their hearts. The snow at Governor’s Office Pass will one day melt, and when bodies are strewn everywhere, who can escape clean? Just like the distinguished officials present, do you think that after surviving today, you will have smooth sailing ahead?"

She looked at the gathered officials, her red lips slightly curving, "Dream on. Our Emperor has written the script for you long ago, detailing how you will die, how you will be exiled. It’s all just a matter of time, no one can escape!"

In the midst of the outraged crowd, she gazed at the Emperor on the high platform, "After all, it’s not new that our Emperor can’t tolerate others. My father, and I, including the Crown Prince who went on a northern campaign, are all living examples. In the future, this sword will also be placed on the necks of all of you."

"Yan Wanqing, stop your bewitching lies!" Lord Wang, realizing he could no longer let this woman continue, moved forward several steps, facing the Emperor, "Your Majesty, your humble servant begs you to immediately execute this enchantress!"

"If this woman is not removed, the nation will fall into chaos!"

"Your Majesty, please make a decision quickly!" Lord Wang pleaded desperately.

The Emperor, as if relishing the last struggle of a dying prey, scrutinized Yan Wanqing, trying in vain to detect a trace of fear in her pupils.

But there was none.

She was as if born without fear.

"Yan Wanqing, you’re not afraid of death, but your actions have implicated all of the Yan Family. Even now, you still refuse to kneel and confess your guilt?"

She had confessed in her past life.

Kneeling on the ground, begging desperately.

But the imperial edict to execute her entire family still came.

No one knew better than Yan Wanqing how her family members of the Yan Family were driven to death and humiliated.

Those images had been playing in her mind on a loop, day and night, since the day of her rebirth.

It was the agony she could never forget, even in death!

The hatred in her eyes grew more intense, and her entire being seemed to be soaked in malevolence. Yet, the smile on her lips widened, "What about His Majesty, then? Does he admit his guilt?"

"You killed the men of the Yan Family, and for this, you did not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of the entire city at Governor’s Office Pass, disregarding the lives of thousands. Do you or do you not admit your guilt for these crimes, Your Majesty?!" Yan Wanqing’s words bled with sorrow, "Or are you going to tell me I have no evidence again? What a pity..."

Her eyes were full of scorn, "You were so clever with your plans and calculations, yet you never expected that my elder brother Yan Li’an would come back alive from the battlefield!"

The Emperor was the last to know that Yan Li’an was alive and had returned.

He had been sick all along, drifting in and out of consciousness, not in control.

When he heard Yan Wanqing’s words, his eyes visibly darkened.

"They are all people from the Yan Family; what does that prove?" Master Wang spoke in a mocking tone.

"There’s a well within Master Wang’s residence that has been filled in, right?" Yan Wanqing suddenly turned to look at Master Wang.

Master Wang was taken aback, as Yan Wanqing had always ignored him. Why was she suddenly speaking to him? "So, what if there is?" he questioned.

"At the bottom of the well lies the corpse of a woman, your first wife from many years ago. After you went to the capital to take the exams, you were introduced by Cao Man and took your current wife. Fearing your humble first wife would ruin your future, you invited her to the capital under the pretext of living a better life, and then, you killed her and threw her body into the well. Do you think what I’m saying is correct or not?" Yan Wanqing narrated steadily.

Master Wang’s eyes widened in disbelief, "You, how could you possibly..."

"Know about these closely guarded secrets?" Yan Wanqing continued where he left off.

Master Wang immediately knelt before the throne, "Your Majesty, she’s talking nonsense! Your Majesty, you must not believe this enchantress’s words!"

Yan Wanqing looked at him with pity in her eyes, as if she was watching a joke.

"How do you think these secrets came into my possession?" She looked around at the court officials, "Do you all remember that little courtyard that you often visit?"

The faces of the civil and military officials of the full court had turned at least a shade whiter.

Master Wang collapsed to the ground: "It was you!"

"It wasn’t me, Fireworks Lane is mine," Yan Wanqing admitted frankly, "It belongs to the one you pledged your undying loyalty to, our exalted Emperor!"

After her words, the remaining half of the officials’ faces turned white too.

The Emperor’s face could no longer be described with mere ink.

Outside the grand hall, the rain finally poured down in torrents.

The sound of the rain, washing into the grand hall with the humid air, silenced everyone present. Not a single person dared to make a sound, all frightened by Yan Wanqing’s statement.

In this world, there could be nothing more absurd.

The Emperor spied on his officials, using such despicable means to extract their secrets and holding them in his grasp, venting his frustrations on them whenever he pleased. What was the point of their striving for official ranks and honors? Were they merely animals bred by the Emperor, the kind that could be slaughtered at will?

The eyes of all those present were filled with complexity and uncontrolled indignation surging amongst them.

"We have allowed you to speak too much," the Emperor said coldly. "Yan Wanqing, it is time for you to depart." He signaled the soldiers that they could proceed.

Zhang Lanyi’s face tensed up as she hurried down from above, "Don’t—"