ASTRP -Chapter 229 That Damn Emperor Really Is a Dog

Yuwang pinched her cheek. “So that’s how you see me?”

“Then why do you still dare to marry me?”

“Because I like you, Your Highness!”

“Mm, I like you too.”

The next day, Yuwang and Xi Liyue went to the palace to pay respects to the emperor and Fang Dijiun.

What was different today was that the Crown Prince was also present.

As usual, Yuwang did not kneel.

But as a daughter, Xi Liyue had to kneel—and even then, it was a bit difficult for her.

“Long live the Emperor… long live, long long live…”

“Rise.”

The emperor waved his hand.

He wore a smiling expression, but to Xi Liyue now, it looked nothing but hypocritical.

There was no longer any kindness or warmth.

“Liyue… you are married now. You are an adult.”

“From now on, you must stand on the same side as Yuwang.”

Hearing this tone, Xi Liyue felt the emperor was up to something sinister.

She lowered her head and chose to respond cautiously.

“As Your Majesty commands.”

The emperor then looked at the Crown Prince.

“Yu’er, you are no longer young either. It is time you take responsibility for me.”

The Crown Prince lowered his head slightly. “Father, what are you saying?”

“Your health is excellent, you are blessed with longevity. There is no need for your son to take full responsibility.”

The emperor rested his chin on one hand.

“There are signs of rebellion in the Aroro Kingdom recently. I want you to go and suppress the unrest.”

Then he turned his “kind” gaze toward Xi Liyue.

“Liyue, didn’t the Princess Consort of the Regent say you have been to the border before?”

“You have some experience, so go with Yu’er and help your brother.”

“If Yuwang is worried, he may come as well.”

Fang Dijiun froze upon hearing this.

Clearly, even she had not known about this plan.

Though she was a woman, she understood war was no trivial matter.

So she said, “Your Majesty, Liyue is a girl. How can she go to such a place?”

“She has been to the border already. What place can she not go to?”

“Besides, what’s wrong with being a woman?”

“Are women not allowed to take responsibility?”

“Consort Fang, aren’t you a woman yourself? Why look down on your own kind?”

“….”

The words sounded righteous, but Fang Dijiun was close to cursing.

“Your Majesty, this concubine does not mean that.”

“But even so, she is still a woman.”

“And she is a princess. She has no experience in war.”

“It would be better to send experienced generals.”

The emperor also said he would send generals to accompany them.

“When Liyue returns, no one will say that women can only stay in the inner chambers.”

“Other countries will also see that women of the Western Qing can be capable.”

Xi Liyue felt things were becoming even more suspicious.

If she left, the emperor’s chosen generals would surely end up in trouble.

Framed—or eliminated.

Then, far from the capital, Fang Dijiun’s influence would be out of reach, and even she herself could be in danger.

Yuwang would also be threatened.

Even her royal brother.

It seemed the emperor had already made up his mind—he just wanted them to leave the capital.

So he could continue sitting securely on the throne.

At this moment, Yuwang spoke.

“Your Majesty, Liyue and I have just married. Is it appropriate to send us to such a dangerous place?”

“Moreover, Liyue is a princess. Sending a princess to the battlefield—does Your Majesty not fear ridicule that Western Qing has no men left?”

His words were already restrained.

Since ancient times, when had a princess ever been sent to war?

Even without princes, it would not come to that.

This emperor was truly something else.

The emperor’s face darkened.

“I did not send her alone. The Crown Prince will also go.”

“And I have already said, if you are worried, you may go as well.”

“Liyue is my daughter. Would I truly let her take risks?”

“Besides, can’t you protect her?”

“Liyue should have told you—my younger brother was already leading troops at fourteen.”

“With you and Yu’er by her side, what is there to fear?”

“And I will also send troops with you!”

Yuwang was about to argue further when Xi Liyue quickly intervened, afraid of dragging him into it.

“Father… if you wish your daughter to go, I will go.”

“However, I fear I may embarrass you…”

“Moreover, I do not see any signs of rebellion in the Aroro Kingdom.”

“Perhaps we should first send generals to investigate?”

Fang Dijiun also quickly added, “Liyue is right…”

“If there is no rebellion, then fine. But if there is, what if Liyue and the Crown Prince are trapped there?”

“And if anything happens to Yuwang, and the Jing Kingdom holds us accountable, what then?”

Fang Dijiun’s maternal instincts flared—she would not allow her daughter to go.

Xi Liyue felt she was pushing too hard, but indeed she had cornered the emperor.

If he insisted, it would be unreasonable, and the ministers would also object.

At that moment, the emperor subtly curled his little finger.

Xi Liyue’s heart sank instantly.

Others might not know what this gesture meant.

But she did.

It meant the emperor was displeased—and someone would bleed.

With his temperament and past cruelty, he might truly intend to kill.

When he was young and wanted to appoint the Third Prince as Crown Prince, he had made that exact gesture.

Not long after, the Third Prince died.

Once, after his face was scratched by a dog, he made that gesture again.

Later, when he wanted to appoint the Fourth Prince as Crown Prince, he had done the same.

It was an unconscious habit—one even he did not notice.

But whenever his emotions became unstable, he would curl his little finger.

Xi Liyue had long discovered this.

The emperor still smiled.

“You are right. I have not thought this through.”

“Sigh… I am getting old. My mind is not as sharp anymore.”

“Father speaks too humbly,” someone quickly replied.

“You have devoted your life to the nation. We, as your children, are not even worthy of a fraction of you.”

Xi Liyue had no choice but to flatter him to calm his anger.

Fortunately, the emperor smiled—though whether it was sincere, no one knew.

Afterward, he dismissed her and rewarded her with jewels.

In the end, only the Crown Prince was sent.

Back at the residence, Yuwang complained to Xiao Jinghan.

“That damn emperor—who knows what he’s thinking, actually wanting to send a princess to the battlefield?”

“He’s not afraid of being laughed at by his ministers?”

“Calm down,” Feng Jingge said, patting his shoulder. “Didn’t he end up not sending Liyue?”

Xiao Jinghan spoke slowly.

“His real goal was probably never to send you to the battlefield.”

“He was testing your limits.”

His words struck like thunder, and Yuwang suddenly understood.

“If we had agreed…”

“…we might have died on that battlefield.”