From cute to empress

Chapter 312: Eternal Style

Prince A took the glass and drank it all, but the corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably. I took in every subtle expression on his face and sneered inwardly.

"Brother Emperor," I asked casually, "I heard that your fiefdom has been in turmoil lately."

Prince A's eyes flickered. "Your Majesty, they are just some bandits. I have already sent troops to wipe them out."

"Oh? Really?" I feigned surprise. "Why did I hear that those bandits seem to have some... connection with my brother?"

Prince A's face changed, but he quickly recovered and said with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, you are joking. How could I possibly have anything to do with those bandits?"

"Whether you're joking or not, my Royal Brother knows it clearly." I placed the wine glass heavily on the table, and my tone became sharper. "I advise my Royal Brother not to make mistakes!"

After that, I ignored him and turned to the other ministers, leaving Prince A standing there, his face livid and his eyes filled with resentment.

I know that what I said just now has planted a seed of doubt in his heart. Now, as long as the time is right, this seed will take root and sprout, and eventually devour him completely.

After returning to the palace, I immediately summoned Zhen Youcai.

"How is it?" I asked anxiously, "Did you find anything?"

Zhen Youcai nodded solemnly, "I have already found out that those so-called bandits are all desperate criminals secretly recruited by Prince A. They have been operating near your fiefdom with the sole purpose of..."

"for what?"

"To create chaos, then put the blame on you, and ultimately depose you."

I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging deep into my flesh, but I didn't feel any pain.

"What a cruel heart!" I said, gritting my teeth. "I treated him well, and he treated me like this!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down," Zhen Youcai said soothingly. "Don't worry, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and bring those traitors involved to justice!"

"You're talented," I shook his hand, my eyes full of trust and gratitude, "thank you for your hard work."

"For you, I will die!"

In the next few days, Zhen Youcai and I worked closely together, secretly collecting evidence, deploying manpower, and waiting for the moment to be ripe.

Finally, the opportunity came.

The annual Royal Hunting Festival is about to begin, and according to custom, all members of the royal family and noble ministers must attend. I have decided to use this opportunity to expose Prince A and Marquis B's conspiracy to the public!

On the day of the hunting competition, I was dressed in tight clothes, appeared in front of everyone with a heroic look and a confident smile on my face.

My gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on Prince A and Marquis B. They were also looking at me, with a sinister glint in their eyes.

The show begins... I raise my glass and raise it towards them, a cold smile playing at the corner of my mouth. Golden sunlight shimmers across the hunting grounds, radiating a dazzling brilliance, yet it pales in comparison to the sharpness of my inner feelings. I raise my glass and down the entire glass in a seemingly generous gulp, my gaze fixed on Prince A and Marquis B, standing nearby. They feign calm, yet their eyes are filled with panic.

"Enjoy the hunting today!" I announced loudly, my voice filled with unquestionable authority.

At my command, the atmosphere in the hunting grounds instantly ignited, and the nobles, accompanied by their followers, headed deeper into the grounds. I mounted my horse and, escorted by Zhen Youcai, followed the group at a leisurely pace.

"Your Majesty, everything is ready." Zhen Youcai rode his horse to my side and said in a low voice.

I nodded slightly, a sneer curling up at the corner of my mouth. Prince A, Marquis B, your doom has come!

As planned, I brought Prince A, Marquis B, and some trusted ministers to a valley that offered beautiful scenery but harbored a hidden danger.

"Your Majesty, look what that is?" Suddenly, Marquis B pointed to the depths of the valley and exclaimed.

I looked in the direction of his finger and saw a snow-white tiger lying on a huge rock, staring at us with its bright eyes.

"It's a white tiger! This is an auspicious sign!" Prince A also pretended to be surprised.

I sneered in my heart. This white tiger was arranged in advance by Zhen Youcai in order to lure Prince A and Marquis B into the trap.

"Since it is an auspicious sign, I will personally hunt down this white tiger to celebrate!" I said, then bent my bow and aimed at the white tiger.

"Your Majesty, you can't do that!" Upon seeing this, Prince A and Marquis B hurriedly tried to stop him, a barely perceptible flash of panic in their eyes.

"Oh? Why not?" I asked pretending to be confused.

"This white tiger was gifted by Heaven. How can we easily kill it?" Prince A suppressed his fear and said, "In my opinion, it would be better to capture it alive and present it to Your Majesty."

I sneered in my heart, you finally showed your true colors!

"Your Majesty, what you said makes sense. Then let's do as you say and capture the White Tiger alive!" I pretended to agree, then turned to the guards behind me and said, "Pass the order down, everyone, wait, and capture the White Tiger together!"

The guards took the order and left. Soon, the entire valley was surrounded.

"Your Majesty, this..." Prince A and Marquis B were immediately panicked upon seeing this. They had originally thought that I would only send a few people to capture Baihu, so that they could take the opportunity to escape. Unexpectedly, I actually ordered everyone to round him up together. Now they can't escape even if they have wings!

"Why? Why do you two look so grim?" I looked at them with a half-smile, my eyes full of mockery. "Could it be that you two are afraid of something?"

"I dare not!" Prince A and Marquis B knelt down hurriedly, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads.

"Don't dare? I think you're guilty!" I snorted coldly, then slammed the table and pointed at them, shouting, "Come here, take these two traitors down!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers who had been lying in ambush nearby rushed out and surrounded Prince A and Marquis B.

"Your Majesty, please spare us! Your Majesty, please spare us!" Prince A and Marquis B were so frightened that they knelt on the ground and begged bitterly.

"Have mercy? You are plotting rebellion and your crime is unforgivable. How dare you beg for mercy?" I looked at them coldly, without a trace of pity in my eyes.

"Your Majesty, it's unfair! I am loyal to Your Majesty and have no second thoughts!" Prince A was still making his last struggle.

"At this point, you still dare to quibble!" I shouted angrily, then threw pieces of evidence in front of them. "This is all irrefutable evidence that you are colluding with foreign enemies and intending to rebel! What else do you have to say?"

When Prince A and Marquis B saw these evidences, they turned pale and knew that they had no way to escape.

I looked around and saw that the noble ministers who had been deceived by Prince A and Marquis B were now lowering their heads and did not dare to look me in the eye.

"I know that some of you have been deceived. I can forgive you for what you did." My tone softened, but still filled with authority. "However, from now on, if anyone dares to harbor dissenting thoughts, I will not show mercy!"

Upon hearing this, everyone knelt down and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty is wise!"

I nodded with satisfaction, then turned my gaze to a silent figure in the crowd...

My eyes locked on the silent figure in the crowd—Hunter C. He wore coarse linen, yet his righteousness was undeniable. Had he not discovered Prince A and Marquis B's plot in time and risked passing on the news, the consequences would have been disastrous.

"Hunter C, come forward and listen to the order." I said loudly.

Upon hearing this, Hunter C looked up with a touch of flattery, looked at the nobles around him who were dressed in gorgeous clothes, then looked at his own coarse linen clothes, and hesitated to step forward.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" There was an unquestionable majesty in my tone.

"Your humble servant...Your humble servant obeys your order." Hunter C finally came to his senses, knelt down on the ground, and said in fear and trepidation.

"Hunter C, you are loyal to the emperor and patriotic, resourceful and brave. This time, you have performed a great deed. I have decided to make you an honorary royal hunter and grant you one hundred acres of fertile land and one thousand taels of gold as a reward."

"I thank the Lord for His great grace. Long live the Emperor!" Hunter C kowtowed excitedly to express his gratitude, his voice choked with sobs.

I looked at Orion C, feeling gratified. I wanted to make everyone understand that no matter their social status, as long as they have talent, they will eventually rise to prominence.

"Although there were some unexpected events during this hunt, it was successfully concluded. Pass the order down, a grand celebration will be held in the imperial palace three days later, and the whole world will celebrate together!" I announced loudly.

"Long live our emperor!" Upon hearing this, everyone cheered and the roar was like a tsunami that resounded through the sky.

That night, Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, looking at the brightly lit palace in the distance, with a myriad of emotions in our hearts.

"Youcai, do you think that by doing this, we can really enable the people to live and work in peace and contentment and ensure long-term stability in the country?" I turned to look at Zhen Youcai beside me and asked softly.

Zhen Youcai shook my hand and said firmly, "Your Majesty is kind-hearted and has great talent and strategy. You will surely create a peaceful and prosperous era."

I smiled slightly, held his hand with my backhand, and my heart was filled with warmth and strength.

"Your Majesty, it's late, you should go to bed early." Zhen Youcai said softly.

I nodded and was about to turn around and go back to the bedroom when suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing past behind the rockery not far away.

"Wait." I pulled Zhen Youcai's sleeve and said in a low voice, "There seems to be someone here."

Zhen Youcai's expression turned serious upon hearing this. He gestured for me to remain calm, then quietly walked towards the direction where the shadow had disappeared...