Quick Transmigration: The Pregnant Little Fairy is Pampered by the Heirless Boss

Chapter 357 Princess Chang's Rebellion 18

Ji Xuanye was dragged out of the main hall by two Xinxia soldiers, his dragon robe disheveled and his crown askew.

He struggled to turn around, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Ji Xiaosong, his voice hoarse like a demon's: "Ji Xiaosong! You think you've won? Hahaha..."

He suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, "You're nothing but a despicable wretch who helped me become emperor, a piece of trash abandoned by my husband and despised by my only daughter!"

The generals in the hall paled in shock, and Tie Zhenshan immediately drew his sword: "I'll cut out this mad dog's tongue!"

Ji Xiaosong raised her hand to stop her.

She walked slowly to Ji Xuanye, her gaze eerily calm.

"Are you done talking?" she asked.

Ji Xuanye, panting heavily, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood: "What are you pretending to be so noble for! You rebelled and murdered the emperor; you will be condemned for eternity in history!"

"King regicide?" Ji Xiaosong chuckled, then suddenly grabbed his collar. "Open your dog eyes and take a look."

She dragged Ji Xuanye to the high platform outside the palace.

As the downpour subsided, sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the city's devastation.

Kneeling beneath the palace walls were countless former officials of the Ying Kingdom, while further away, commoners peered out.

"These are the people you should kneel down and apologize to." Ji Xiaosong's voice was not loud, but every word was like thunder. "For your extortion, for letting wolves into your home, for treating their children like pigs and dogs!"

Ji Xuanye's pupils suddenly contracted.

He saw a one-legged veteran staring at him with his one eye, a woman holding a baby spitting at him, and even his wet nurse wiping away tears in the crowd.

"They...who are they..." His voice began to tremble, "I am the Emperor..."

"Not anymore."

Ji Xiaosong released his grip and gestured to the guards: "Take him to the water dungeon and let him sober up."

*

Three days later, the Xinxia army took full control of Yingjing. Ji Xiaosong stood in front of the stele forest of the former Ying Kingdom imperial mausoleum, with Ji Xuanye chained behind him.

After being soaked in the water dungeon, the madness in his eyes faded considerably, and he was now watching with astonishment and uncertainty as the craftsmen chipped away at the "Emperor Yongchang's Merit Stele".

"Do you know why I brought you here?" Ji Xiaosong stroked a blank stele.

Ji Xuanye stared at the shattered stone fragments on the ground, then suddenly sneered: "If you want to kill, then kill. Why humiliate me?"

"Kill you?" Ji Xiaosong shook his head. "That's too easy."

She suddenly kicked open a floor tile, revealing a dark hole underneath: "This is a secret escape passage left by the craftsmen who built the mausoleum back then, leading directly to the trade route to Southeast Asia."

Ji Xuanye suddenly looked up.

"I'll give you two choices." Ji Xiaosong tossed him a burden. "One, kill yourself now on the late emperor's monument, and I'll bury you with the honors due to a princess."

The bundle was unpacked, revealing coarse cloth clothes and a rusty machete.

"Second, crawl out from here. There's a deserted island in Southeast Asia; I'll give you ten acres of barren land." She kicked the bundle. "The tools and seeds are all inside. Whether you survive or not depends on yourself."

Ji Xuanye stared at the cleaver for a long time, so long that the sunlight shifted and illuminated his trembling fingers.

"...Why?" His voice was hoarse.

Ji Xiaosong turned and walked into the depths of the stele forest, her voice carried by the wind: "Because my mother said before she died, no matter what... I will spare your life."

That night, several fishermen on the beach at the exit of the secret passage found a disheveled man kneeling in the shallows vomiting.

Someone wanted to help, but was stopped by his companion: "Judging from the material of that undergarment... he must be a nobleman in distress."

The man stood up unsteadily, clutching a bundle tightly in his arms.

The moonlight illuminated his face, revealing no ferocity, no madness, only primal fear.

He glanced back at the dark secret passage, then suddenly let out a howl that didn't sound like a human voice, and staggered into the dense forest.

A hard steamed bun fell out of the bundle and was immediately swept away by the waves.

*

In the first year of the new Xia dynasty, the autumn governor Ji Xiaosong announced the abolition of the imperial system and the establishment of a constitutional government.

The original territory of Yingguo was divided into nine provinces, and each province elected representatives to the parliament.

A historian recorded in the *New Records of the Xia Dynasty*: "The deposed Emperor Xuan Ye was exiled to the South Seas. Later, it was heard that he had fallen off a cliff and died while reclaiming wasteland. Upon hearing the news, the governor ordered three catties of rice seeds to be scattered at the foot of the cliff, saying: 'This is the grain to atone for your sins. If it ripens next year, it can help the starving people.'"

A more widely circulated version of the story is that someone once saw a lame farmer in Southeast Asia who was always muttering to himself while looking north.

When asked his name, he waved his hand in terror and ran away, as if avoiding a name etched into his very bones.

*

With the world at peace, Ji Xiaosong remained alone.

She was nearly forty at this time.

Rongrong seemed a little worried.

"Ah Song, you haven't chosen a male concubine yet, and you haven't completed the task of bearing children."

"Ah, I almost forgot. What are the requirements of the immortal who descended to the mortal realm this time, or who does he want to choose?"

"This time, the one who descended to the mortal realm is Emperor Star. He hopes you can choose a good-looking father for him. As for anything else, he doesn't think it's important. You will definitely ensure that he is born safe and healthy."

"Alright then, I'll have my people arrange it right away."

*

Inside the council chamber of the new ruling council, Su Yan was writing and reviewing memorials.

The spring sunshine outside the window was just right, and a gentle breeze rustled the mountain of documents piled up on his desk. He rubbed his temples and caught a glimpse of Ji Xiaosong leaning against the window, lost in thought.

The consul has become increasingly taciturn lately.

"Governing the country," Su Yan put down his pen, seemingly casually, "recently, various prefectures have submitted their household registration reports, showing that the population of Xinxia has exceeded ten million, but..."

Ji Xiaosong turned around: "But what?"

Su Yan coughed lightly: "But there is much discussion among the people that although the new Xia is well-governed and the people are harmonious, there is no crown prince to stabilize the people's hearts."

The moment the words were spoken, the council chamber fell silent.

Several officials who were organizing documents paused and quietly pricked up their ears.

Ji Xiaosong raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Who was talking about it?"

"Uh..." Su Yan forced a lie, "The Prefect of Nanling reported last month that the people are worried about the future..."

"Bullshit!" Tie Zhenshan's loud voice suddenly boomed from outside the door. "Those old pedants from Nanling don't know anything!"

The old general stormed in, his armor still covered in dust from the drill ground. "If you ask me," he said, "a ruler should learn from the steppe queen and keep ten or eight handsome young men around!"

Zhao Wushang was drinking tea when he heard this and his face turned red from choking.

Ji Xiaosong smiled faintly, "General Tie is quite enthusiastic."

"Of course!" Tie Zhenshan slapped his thigh. "I've even thought of the candidates: that pretty boy from the Ministry of Rites who can play the piano, that tall, thin guy from the Ministry of Works who draws blueprints, and..."

“And there’s also the newly promoted deputy commander of the Imperial Guards,” Su Yan suddenly interjected, “who is said to be an exceptional archer and handsome as well.”

Zhao Wushang suddenly looked up, and the teacup in his hand cracked with a "crack".

"In that case, I'll go with you to take a look."

Ji Xiaosong didn't object, and the group instantly became excited.

*

Three days later, at the Imperial Guards' drill ground.

What was originally a routine quarterly martial arts competition was now surrounded by important officials of the court.

Ji Xiaosong sat on the high platform, casually twirling her jade thumb ring.

"Have you heard? The ruling party is here to choose a son-in-law..."

"Really? Then I'll have to do my best!"

The young generals in the arena were all in high spirits, working ten times harder than usual.

The target was riddled with arrows, the stone locks used in the martial arts demonstration were swung with great force, and even the equestrian competition turned into a dazzling display of skill.

"Seventh match, mounted archery!"

As the command flag was waved, a black steed charged out like lightning.

The young man on horseback was not wearing armor, only an indigo-blue outfit. His posture of drawing a bow and nocking an arrow was fluid and graceful. He was Xie Lin, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards.

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!

Three arrows flew in quick succession, each piercing a willow branch swaying in the wind a hundred paces away.

"Good!" Tie Zhenshan roared, frantically winking at Ji Xiaosong.

Ji Xiaosong looked to the other side, where Zhao Wushang stood in the shadows with his sword in his arms, expressionless, but three blue bricks had already been crushed under his feet.