Live-in Son-in-law-Chapter 1248: A Mere Woman

On hearing these words, Yun Susu fell silent. She knew there was no turning back; her mother was determined to wage war against Qin Yi.

But she absolutely could not let this happen.

Her mother had unmatched wisdom, flawless strategy, indeed powerful.

However, Qin Yi was no pushover; his intelligence was on par with her mother's. Moreover, his cultivation was extraordinary, vengeful and relentless. If war broke out, the outcome was unpredictable. But regardless of who lost, it was not something she wished to see.

"Qiu Tang, heed my command."

Qiu Tang was taken aback, looking incredulously at Yun Susu.

Yun Susu gritted her teeth, "Mother, you are the Empress Dowager, and I am the Emperor. The inner palace must not interfere in state affairs. As Emperor, I order you to immediately stop dealing with Qin Yi. This shall be resolved by me, the Emperor. You should return to the palace and rest."

Qiu Tang's face was full of disbelief.

Yun Susu's face was stern, and she said sharply, "Summon the guards."

Immediately, soldiers rushed over.

"Escort the Empress Dowager back to the palace. Without my command, no one is allowed to approach."

The soldiers were dumbfounded.

Yun Susu said sharply, "What? Do you dare defy my orders?"

These soldiers bowed and knelt, but there was no movement.

"You...," Yun Susu was furious, "Do you dare defy orders and not fear that I, the Emperor, will kill you?"

The soldiers bowed, silent.

Qiu Tang gently waved her hand, and these soldiers quickly retreated.

Yun Susu clenched her fists, then forced a bitter smile.

Qiu Tang smiled at her, "You finally have a semblance of an Emperor. But Susu, right now you cannot command these people. Once this matter is resolved, Mother will hand over power to you."

"Mother, trust me. I can definitely persuade Qin Yi."

Qiu Tang laughed, "But Mother does not want to make peace with him."

"Why?"

"Because Mother cannot always be with you. So, I will never allow anyone to threaten the Empire. Qin Yi's abilities are too frightening. I don't want the Empire to be ruled by you in name, but controlled by him."

Yun Susu was stunned.

"Susu, many people's success comes at the cost of countless lives. I know you have a kind heart, but Mother cannot let you be just a nominal Emperor. Qin Yi has favored us, Mother will not forget. But he must die. Let Mother be the villain."

Qiu Tang paused, and then said, "If Qin Yi were content to stay by your side, Mother would only cripple his cultivation but spare his life. But we both know that's impossible. His capabilities are indeed terrifying and can sway an Empire. I don't want people to say your throne was gifted by Qin Yi. If someone surpasses an Emperor, what's the point of being Emperor?"

"But Mother, I don't want to see you both turn against each other, and kill each other?"

"Some things, are not up to your wishes. Mother will help you clear all obstacles. Mother's life has been consumed by the pursuit of the throne; she has never made decisions for herself in anything else. As a child, under the orders of my parents, I entered the Royal Family, and every day after, my thoughts were centered on that man. His every move affected my joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness because he was the only one for me in this vast, cold Royal Family."

Qiu Tang suddenly laughed, somewhat maniacally, "But one day, I realized, he did not belong to me, he belonged to no one, and I was merely one among many of his women. So I don't want you to be like me, manipulated all your life, living for others. Only by grasping power, standing at the pinnacle, can you control everything, can you do what you want to do. Without any constraints."

Yun Susu looked at Qiu Tang with a heartache; the hardships her mother endured were evident to her. What Mother did was all for her. If that moment really came, it was time for her to do something for her mother.

Afterward, Qiu Tang said nothing more, just quietly watched the distant.

...

...

The sunset slanted west, coloring the sky and earth gold.

A carriage rocked as it headed toward the Imperial City; the carriage blocked the sunset, casting a long shadow on the ground.

The carriage drew nearer and eventually came to a halt.

Standing atop the carriage, Qin Yi slowly looked up at Qiu Tang and Yun Susu on the city wall.

Qiu Tang's expression was calm, then she smiled slightly.

Yun Susu's gaze was complicated, filled with apology and remorse.

"You've returned?"

Qin Yi looked at Qiu Tang, nodded slightly.

"Actually, I had hoped you would choose differently, where you would be greeted with an open city gate, surrounded by courtiers, rather than now where you and I look distantly through this cold city wall."

Qin Yi replied indifferently, "Everything stems from your choice, doesn't it?"

Qiu Tang pursed her lips, smiled, "I gave you a choice, but you never gave me one."

Qin Yi replied indifferently, "I gave you a choice; it was you who chose betrayal."

Qiu Tang smiled faintly, and the next moment, she directly stepped off the city wall, walking through the air towards Qin Yi.

"Mother." Yun Susu was shocked.

On the city wall, tension was palpable.

But Qiu Tang slowly waved her hand, and then step by step walked to ten meters in front of Qin Yi and stopped.

Qin Yi looked at her, "Aren't you afraid I will kill you?"

"Afraid! But I know that's not your stature. You would rather let me watch what I've created be reduced to nothing, and then kill me. To kill someone and break their spirit is the only way to vent your inner resentment; otherwise, you won't feel content."

Qin Yi gazed at her calmly, and replied indifferently, "You are wrong."

"Oh? Wrong in what way?"

"I have no resentment towards you, only admiration."

Qiu Tang was stunned.

Qin Yi paused for a moment, then said slowly, "I'm serious. There are few people I, Qin Yi, admire, and you are one. A mere woman who can calculate the world, making men everywhere perspire. Ultimately, it was my overconfidence as Qin Yi, never expected to see things wrong, and be calculated one day."

Qiu Tang was stunned for a while, then slightly bowed, "Thank you! Actually, I've never understood you, for instance now. I assumed with your disposition, meeting would lead to massacre, yet you didn't. In fact, I admire you too, to say such words at this time, is beyond ordinary people."

"How did you accomplish this?"

Qiu Tang paused, then realized, laughed, "I've plotted for decades."

"To overturn an empire, and pull an Emperor down, saying so seems too simplistic."

"Want to hear the complex version?"

Qin Yi nodded, "Yes. Success should be shared with others; otherwise, it's like wearing fine clothes at night."

Qiu Tang laughed, "Alright, I'll tell you. The Emperor's reliance is nothing more than a thousand Black Armor Warriors, a hundred Golden Warriors."

"A hundred Golden Armor Warriors?" Qin Yi was surprised.

"This matter, besides the Emperor, no one knows. Golden Warriors never show themselves, each is a Mahayana Realm expert, and this is the Empire's most terrifying force. But I knew it all along, and I knew from a young age because the first leader of the Golden Armor Warriors was my father; each one of them, more or less, has been helped by my father."

Qin Yi nodded slightly, said slowly, "But that is not enough."

"Correct, indeed not enough! However, the current leader of the Golden Armor Warriors is a direct disciple of my father."

"Still not enough." Qin Yi said slowly.