A Family of Hopeless Romantics, Except for the Evil Little Junior Brother-Chapter 246: Mother Is Doing This for Your Own Good

"Reporting to the Empress, these are today’s memorials."

The vermilion palace walls soared into the clouds, and the glazed tiles atop the wall shimmered golden under the sunlight.

At this moment, a woman dressed in a phoenix robe was casually reclining on a wind couch.

Her posture was extremely languid, and her long, jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall across the couch, adding a touch of lazy charm.

She leaned against the cushion of the wind couch, one hand resting loosely on its edge.

Upon hearing the report, she only fluttered her eyelashes slightly but didn’t immediately open her eyes.

Her slow and unhurried demeanor made it seem as though all the splendor and bustle of the palace were just a play that had nothing to do with her.

The eunuch serving her was none other than the head eunuch of the palace.

He was Wei Wuyuan, said to be the strongest below the Tribulation Stage.

"The Grand Chancellor hasn’t arrived yet?" the Empress asked.

Wei Wuyuan replied calmly, "The Chancellor claims to be ill and is resting at home. He won’t be attending court."

"He’s throwing a tantrum at me." The Empress frowned slightly.

Wei Wuyuan handed her a peeled orange. "He’s not throwing a tantrum. It’s just that on one hand, he doesn’t want to go against the late Emperor’s will, and on the other hand, he thinks it’s inappropriate for a girl to become Emperor. Stuck in the middle, unsure of what to do, he’s chosen to feign illness."

The Empress nodded. "Staying neutral is indeed the safest bet. Old fox."

"Your Highness, this servant actually thinks it’s better for the Princess to take the throne.

Her Highness has always listened to you, and besides, she spends most of her time on Mount Shushan, not knowing much about court affairs."

The Empress shook her head. "Luer may seem weak on the outside, but deep down she’s incredibly strong-willed.

Someone like the fourth prince, who looks tough but is hollow inside, is actually easier to control."

Wei Wuyuan nodded. "Your Highness is wise."

The Empress let out a sigh. "Our family already chose the wrong person once. We can’t afford another mistake."

In the last power struggle for the throne among the princes—

Her family had chosen the old Emperor.

Back then, no one believed the old Emperor had a chance.

But the Empress’s family held considerable sway over the court.

Every prince tried to win their favor.

And they picked the old Emperor.

As it turned out, they had chosen right.

After he ascended the throne, her family thought their rise to the peak was imminent.

Who could’ve known the old Emperor wouldn’t be easy to control?

As he gradually tightened his grip over the court, her family realized how formidable he truly was—completely beyond their influence and even turning against them.

Since the founding of Daxia, the Empress’s family had always been one of the court’s most powerful factions.

But toward the end of the old Emperor’s reign, they were purged several times.

Fortunately, he was dead now.

"What about the Princess?" Wei Wuyuan asked.

"I’ll find her a place where she can live out her life in peace," the Empress replied.

"The Princess has been wanting to see you."

The Empress hesitated for a moment. "Then let her see me."

"..........."

"The Empress has arrived!"

The eunuch’s shrill voice, trailing with a long note, was like a blade to Zhao Lu’s ears.

Zhao Lu had her head lowered, lost in her complicated thoughts.

Hearing the announcement, she was startled at first.

Then she slowly stood up, turning slightly, her eyes filled with a bit of surprise as she looked through the swirling incense and flickering candlelight of the mourning hall.

Her own mother stepped inside, her luxurious palace robes swaying gently with each step.

With every step, the pearls and jade on her robes clinked softly.

Zhao Lu looked at the person who was supposed to be closest to her.

But right now, she felt like a stranger.

"........."

The Empress caressed the golden dragon patterns on the throne. "Luer, the throne isn’t so easy to sit on. What mother wouldn’t feel pain for her child?"

Zhao Lu had been looking down, but now she suddenly lifted her head and stared at her mother.

"Mother, I will be a good Emperor. I won’t let you and Father down."

"Sigh, there’s a lot of opposition in court."

"I’m not afraid. I’ll prove everything with my actions. Mother... you’ll support me too, won’t you?"

Facing Zhao Lu’s question, the Empress avoided her gaze.

"What if Mother doesn’t want you to become Emperor either? You’ve always listened to me."

Zhao Lu was silent for a moment, her small hands clenched into fists.

"Then I won’t be Emperor. I want to return to Mount Shushan."

"You can’t go back there either. You were named Crown Princess by your father. How can you return to Mount Shushan? I’ve arranged a good place for you—Jiangnan.

Your residence is being built there. It’s grand and spacious.

Compared to facing the treacherous court every day, I’d rather you live a safe, peaceful life." freewebnøvel_com

Even the Empress herself couldn’t tell how much of that was genuine.

"In ten days, during the enthronement ceremony, you’ll declare in front of the entire court that as a woman, you are unfit to rule, and the decision shall be left to me."

With that, the Empress walked over and affectionately grabbed Zhao Lu’s hand.

"Mother is doing this for your own good. One day, you’ll understand my painstaking intentions."

Zhao Lu remained silent for a moment, wanting to speak.

Just then, the door swung open and Head Eunuch Wei Wuyuan stepped inside.

"Your Highness, the Grand Chancellor is waiting for you."

"Hmm. I know."

The Empress rose again, patting Zhao Lu’s hand.

Zhao Lu had spent years by her senior brother’s side. How could she not understand the weight of Wei Wuyuan’s words?

This meant that both the palace and the court were siding with her mother.

".........."

"Your Highness, I’ve detected another aura on the Princess."

Wei Wuyuan said to the Empress.

The Empress raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yesterday I was monitoring the Princess. The person in question is her senior brother, Li Xuanxiao, a disciple from Silver Sword Peak of Mount Shushan. He snuck into the palace and, based on what he said, intends to support the Princess’s rise to the throne."

"Li Xuanxiao? My daughter does mention this senior brother of hers quite often."

The Empress suddenly let out a chuckle.

"I heard from her that he just entered the Golden Core Stage recently. A disciple like that doesn’t even make the ranks in Mount Shushan.

And he dares speak such big words—shameless."

"Then... what should we do about him?"

The Empress replied nonchalantly, "He’s just a Mount Shushan disciple. Let him be.

I’m sure he’s dreaming of Zhao Lu taking the throne, so he can sweet-talk her into marriage and ride her coattails to glory. Such a man is not worth our attention."

"Yes!"

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