“Her Majesty has arrived!” came the voice of a female official.
Dressed in a phoenix robe and wearing a crown symbolizing supreme authority, Ying Qingge walked to the front of the hall, surrounded by her entourage.
She took Su Chen’s hand, leading him step by step up the stairs, her cold gaze sweeping over the assembled ministers below.
“Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years and more!”
The ministers, lined up on both sides, bowed in unison.
Their voices echoed through the grand Golden Throne Hall, majestic and solemn.
After a brief moment with heads lowered, the ministers exchanged glances, unable to hide the shock and astonishment in their eyes.
Since when did a young man of such striking beauty appear by the Empress’s side?
Clad in a white robe, standing tall and elegant.
He was like an immortal descended to earth, his clear black eyes seemingly able to reflect everyone’s thoughts.
A singular existence, transcending the mundane!
Compared to him, their respective candidates for consort were already thoroughly outclassed in appearance alone.
And judging by the Empress’s attitude toward him—when had they ever seen her so close to a man?
Could it be that the Empress was a face-connoisseur?
For a moment, the ministers speculated silently, not daring to speak, only exchanging looks and pondering inwardly.
“My dear ministers, rise.”
Ying Qingge raised her hand slightly.
The officials lifted their heads, clutching their jade scepters, each scheming in their minds.
At this moment, the Right Chancellor stepped forward from the ranks of civil officials, bowing to Ying Qingge.
“Your Majesty, a state cannot be without an heir! The gravest of unfilial acts is to lack descendants. As the Empress of Great Qin, Your Majesty bears the responsibility of continuing the royal line and producing an heir to ensure Great Qin’s prosperity.”
“Well said.”
Ying Qingge smiled and nodded in agreement.
The ministers, who had braced themselves for rejection and were ready to kneel in protest, were stunned to realize—the Empress had agreed!
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Why did she agree so readily this time?
No, something’s off.
Could it be—
Following their shocked and uncertain expressions, Ying Qingge calmly took Su Chen’s hand and announced publicly,
“Since ascending the throne, I have been preoccupied with state affairs and had no mind for selecting consorts. But now, in deference to public sentiment, I declare Su Chen, my man, who holds my heart, to be named Imperial Consort immediately.”
“The people’s hardships weigh on me; how could I indulge in frivolity!”
“In this life, I shall select no other consorts—only my Imperial Consort. My heart is as clear as the sun and moon!”
With that, she turned to Su Chen, her face radiant with a smile, her gaze tender.
She led him to sit together on the dragon throne.
She nearly pulled him into her arms.
Thankfully, Su Chen maintained enough composure.
For Ying Qingge, only Su Chen was worthy of sitting beside her, sharing the realm!
The dragon throne was reserved solely for the emperor, and the Empress’s action was a clear statement of her stance.
Her words caused an uproar among the officials!
Everyone was stunned!
No matter how they had petitioned or pleaded for her to choose a consort, their efforts had always sunk like stones into the sea.
The Empress had never relented, and they had resolved to risk their lives today to persuade her to agree to a selection.
But now, she had agreed!
Yet her subsequent words caught them completely off guard.
The Empress had agreed, but instead of holding a selection, she directly named her Imperial Consort, catching them unprepared.
Not only that, she declared she would select no other consorts—cutting off their hopes entirely!
They had lifted a rock only to crush their own feet!
The ministers felt utterly stifled.
“How can this be? The imperial harem should have three palaces and six courts—how can there be only one Imperial Consort? How will the royal line continue?”
“This man’s identity is unknown. Who knows how he infiltrated the palace? He must be trying to seduce Your Majesty!”
“A vixen! A calamity that will ruin the nation!”
“Someone of unknown origins—how can he be the Imperial Consort?!”
The hall erupted in a cacophony of voices.
Some were impassioned, others sighed in despair.
Su Chen, seated beside Ying Qingge, was equally dumbfounded!
Had his senior sister just publicly confessed to him and forced a marriage?
“Don’t forget you promised to help me.”
“You have to help~!”
“…”
‘You call this helping!?’
At that moment, an elderly minister let out a long sigh.
“Since Your Majesty’s ascension, you’ve always avoided discussing marriage. We’ve urged and pleaded, even risking our lives, with countless eligible young men in the capital. Yet Your Majesty favors a man who has nothing but looks!”
“Beauty leads to the ruin of the state and its people!”
“We cannot stand by and watch Your Majesty make such a mistake!”
The Right Chancellor, known for his integrity and devotion to the state, could not tolerate the slightest flaw.
He immediately protested, “No! Your Majesty, please reconsider the matter of the Imperial Consort!”
“The Imperial Consort is the master of the harem and a model for the realm. This cannot be decided carelessly.”
“If chosen rashly, it will be hard to silence the world’s criticism.”
His words prompted many ministers to step forward and kneel in agreement.
“I second this!”
“I second this!”
“I second this!”
…
“Your Majesty, please reconsider!”
In an instant, most of the ministers knelt in opposition.
Only the Left Chancellor stood silently to the side, head lowered, as if noncommittal.
Ying Qingge scoffed at their reaction.
She casually read Su Chen’s palm, glancing indifferently at the ministers below.
“As the supreme ruler, I cannot even decide my own Imperial Consort and must follow your arrangements?”
“Am I the Empress, or are you?”
The Right Chancellor’s face paled.
Her words were tantamount to accusing them of treason.
“Your Majesty! We would never dare!”
Hmph!
Ying Qingge sneered coldly.
“Never dare? I think you’re quite bold!”
Her aura surged, exuding overwhelming authority.
The dragon’s might subdued the entire hall.
Apart from the Right Chancellor, the other ministers knelt trembling.
The anger of a commoner spills blood for three feet.
The anger of an emperor buries millions!
“My decision is final. My Imperial Consort will be Su Chen alone!”
Ying Qingge declared publicly.
“Anyone who dares disrespect my man disrespects me!”
“And disrespecting me means the extermination of your nine clans!”
Her words shocked every official!
No one expected the Empress to go to such lengths for a man, heedless of consequences.
It was the behavior of a tyrant.
Utterly despotic, rivaling the infamous beacon fires used to toy with vassals.
The court descended into noisy chaos.
Ying Qingge looked down at the crowd with absolute authority.
She left no room for negotiation.
Before, she couldn’t be bothered with them, but did they really think their chatter would sway her?
With her little junior brother by her side today, it was the perfect chance to use them to force—cough, to cement their relationship.
Seeing Ying Qingge’s resolute stance, the Right Chancellor cried out,
“Your Majesty, acting this way will only break the hearts of the people!”
“For my beloved, what does it matter if I’m a tyrant?”
Her words plunged the hall into dead silence.
Even the famously rigid elder was speechless.
‘What merit did this man have? Just a pretty face—what merit did he have to earn such favor?’
‘Forget the ministers.’
Witnessing this scene, even Su Chen himself felt unworthy.
A male vixen, a nation-destroying seductress!
Su Chen was numb, watching his senior sister stand against the ministers for him.
He inexplicably felt he’d been played.
This wasn’t what she said at the start.
‘Wasn’t I supposed to help? How did I end up with Senior Sister fighting the world for me?: