Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-One: The Determination of a Silly Girl
At this moment, looking at the squabbling siblings who were at each other’s throats, the most panicked of them all was Young Master Sang.
Strictly speaking, the breakup of the little couple was Huo Ningxue’s idea; he was just an accomplice.
But to some extent, Young Master Sang still felt like he was the spark that ignited the conflict between these two.
It made him feel rather guilty.
Especially when he thought of the polite and gentle little prince Huo Ming, who had first met him with such charm, now seemingly entering a rebellious phase, arguing back at his sister.
What to do?
The Empress isn’t going to think it’s my fault for teaching her brother badly, right?
Although, to be honest, he hadn’t really taught him much.
Young Master Sang wanted to try and mediate, but before he could even speak, the spat escalated to physical blows.
Huo Ningxue slapped him solidly.
Young Master Sang could see her chest rising and falling dramatically, the indifference in her eyes mixed with pity and heartache.
Huo Ming stood there dazed, covering his face for a long time.
Since he could remember, his sister had always spoken to him softly and gently.
This was the first time in his life he had been hit.
After a brief stupor, the young prince gradually came back to himself, becoming more aggrieved, tears welling in his eyes as he covered his face and ran off crying.
Young Master Sang felt a bit awkward, unsure whether to chase after the young prince to console him, or stay and talk to Huo Ningxue.
Um.
But matters of the imperial family…
Maybe it’s best if I just don’t interfere at all?
While he was still caught between a rock and a hard place, he suddenly heard a voice from behind him.
A muffled, somewhat bitter sob.
Huo Ningxue was sitting at the tea table looking a bit dejected, covering her face with her hands.
The regal aura she usually exuded had vanished, replaced by the loneliness of a girl who was at her wit’s end.
“Um, Your Majesty—”
Young Master Sang was about to speak when he suddenly heard a barely audible murmur:
“National Master.”
“I… I’m not a good sister, am I?”
Young Master Sang fell silent.
Huo Ningxue took off her dragon crown, her long, thick hair cascading over the dragon-patterned gown. She lowered her gaze, leaning slightly on the table, revealing a pair of delicate golden eyes that seemed weak and helpless.
At that moment, Young Master Sang couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for this woman at the pinnacle of the Holy Kingdom.
“Your Majesty, the young prince is still a child after all.”
Young Master Sang gathered his words, trying to comfort her: “It’s normal for children to be rebellious sometimes. You don’t need to blame yourself for this.”
“He’ll understand your good intentions as his sister when he grows a bit older—”
“No, that’s not it.”
Huo Ningxue suddenly interrupted him.
“The National Master has known for a long time.”
“To outsiders, a ruler, an Empress above all, is merely a foolish, silly girl.”
“I know, I’ve never been a smart child.”
Huo Ningxue no longer referred to herself as “I,” her tone turning more like that of a friend sharing troubles.
“When my mother gave birth to me, the eunuchs in the palace said I’d grow up to be just like her—dim-witted and incapable, wandering aimlessly through the palace for a lifetime.”
“But I know, it was only me who was foolish. My mother wasn’t foolish at all.”
“She just didn’t like scheming for favors or getting into battles with those concubines.”
“Even when she was ostracized in the harem, facing ridicule from others every day, she always bore it silently, appearing cheerful to everyone.”
“My mother never thought I was stupid, not only teaching me to read and write carefully but also always loving to tell me stories. Even when other princes and princesses spoke ill of me, she always shielded me from all the gossip.”
“At that time, I made a firm resolution to myself.”
She murmured, her beautiful eyes glistening: “Huo Ningxue, no matter how foolish you are, never forget.”
“You must take good care of your mother in the future, and never let her suffer again.”
“But…”
Huo Ningxue suddenly buried her head in her arms.
Young Master Sang could hear the sob in her voice.
“Later, after Father passed away, all the concubines were busy fighting for their children for a shot at the throne.”
“Only my mother, after knowing this news, shed tears for herself and fell sick.”
“At that time, she was still carrying my brother, who hadn’t been born yet.”
Even now, Huo Ningxue could often recall that rainy night.
Cradling her newborn brother, she sat beside her mother’s bed, tears streaming down her face as she watched her mother gently caress her brother’s swaddling.
It was then that she first hated herself for being so foolish and incapable, unable to do anything but watch her mother grow weaker by the day.
But in the end, her mother left her with one sentence.
…Take care of your brother.
…For your mother, look after the kingdom your father protected.
When her mother said those words, she seemed to come alive again, her face glowing, beautiful and radiant.
Huo Ningxue etched that scene deep in her mind.
She knew she was foolish.
She had to remember that phrase with all her might, and never let herself forget.
But the situation was far more dangerous than her mother imagined.
The eldest prince secretly hunted down other princes without support to eliminate potential rivals.
Huo Ming was naturally among the targets.
At that time, Huo Ningxue was just a naïve girl, unable to protect herself in the turbulent Tianlang City.
She could only hug her brother and flee the palace, hiding in a stable overnight in the chilly autumn night.
Back then, all Huo Ningxue could think about was “how to survive tomorrow.”
Until one day, a kind old man with white hair appeared before her, looking at her approvingly.
“Foolish and obedient… I’ll choose you.”
That old man told her he could help her and her brother survive, even make her the new Empress of the Holy Kingdom.
All she had to do was follow his plan.
Huo Ningxue might be foolish, but she knew she had no other choice.
Only by relying on herself could she protect her brother.
So after that night, Huo Ningxue transformed from a downtrodden, wandering princess into the strongest contender for the throne overnight.
With Li Shanyan’s schemes, she wiped out almost all her brothers in a cruel manner to seize the crown.
Even those concubines who once humiliated her mother were all brought to heel, sold into oblivion.
“Actually, Mingming was right. Sometimes, ascending the throne isn’t really your choice.”
Huo Ningxue whispered: “I don’t care at all about being the Empress.”
“I just want to fulfill my childhood vow. To take care of my brother.”
“And in place of my mother.”
“To protect the kingdom my father guarded.”
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
