Chapter 20: The Empress Dowager and Her Substitute Young Lover 20

General Xiao finished speaking and cast a cautious glance at Hua Yue’s expression.

To his surprise, Hua Yue looked at him with sparkling eyes: "Father, you are right!"

[Character OOC Warning: 90%.]

A red warning flashed. Hua Yue chose to ignore it.

General Xiao’s eyes lit up as well: "My darling, you’ve finally seen the light. So, do you still like that Wei He?"

"I do." Hua Yue nodded.

[Character OOC Warning: 95%.]

General Xiao: "Huh?"

Just behind the wall, Qin Ziyan echoed: "Huh?"

*Snap.*

The smug, self-satisfied smile that had been on Wei Yan’s face vanished instantly. The teacup in his hand shattered, and his complexion turned pitch black.

Qin Ziyan found it hilarious.

"Finally given up hope, haven't you? I told you she couldn't be sincere. You know what that’s called in those storybooks? A 'substitute'—a term I just learned from my little sister, it suits you perfectly! Hahahaha!"

"But, looking closely, where do you even resemble Wei He? I don't see it." Qin Ziyan leaned in, nearly pressing his face against Wei Yan’s.

Wei He looked more like the late Emperor. As for Wei Yan… he looked like no one in particular—just a combination of his parents. An ordinary face, albeit a handsome one.

"Could it be… elsewhere?"

Seeing Qin Ziyan becoming increasingly outrageous, Wei Yan gritted his teeth: "Qin Ziyan! That’s enough."

Yet, he could not deny that the words had struck a chord. Wei Yan touched his face, his mind replaying every encounter he had with her—memories he had deliberately avoided analyzing. Why had Xiao Su suddenly agreed to be with him? After all, the reports he had gathered indicated that Xiao Su’s feelings for Wei He could only be described as an obsession.

"You're torturing yourself now. Let go, let go, you're bleeding!"

The teacup in Wei Yan’s grip had been pulverized, mixed with his own blood. Qin Ziyan slapped his hand hard. Wei Yan released his grip, letting the dust scatter across the floor.

Qin Ziyan sighed, just about to console him, when he suddenly looked toward the adjacent room: "Hey? Why can’t we hear them anymore?"

Wei Yan glanced sideways, his phoenix eyes deep and dark—a stark contrast to the relaxed, unrestrained demeanor he wore in front of Hua Yue.

"It seems they have left." Qin Ziyan concluded.

Wei Yan stood up. "I’m heading back."

Qin Ziyan called out, frowning: "Yan, how long are you going to keep up this act? We’ve gathered most of the information we need from within the palace, and our men are already in position. Everything is ready, just waiting for the right moment."

"Staying there even one more day adds to the risk."

"News from home says Wei He has already sent people to investigate you. He is a very suspicious man." Qin Ziyan’s expression was uncharacteristically grave.

Wei Yan paused briefly: "I know."

He turned and left. Qin Ziyan shook his head. Everything was going so well; how did an anomaly like Xiao Su end up in the mix? It was maddening.

...

Hua Yue glanced back toward the adjacent room, a slight curve appearing at the corner of her lips. In a space invisible to the naked eye, a semi-circular shield enveloped her and General Xiao.

*Little trickster.* Trying to eavesdrop on her.

"My darling, he has bullied you so much, why do you still like him?" General Xiao looked so angry his beard seemed to be growing.

"Father, I just like him."

General Xiao: "..."

"Then why did you say I was right just now?"

Hua Yue smiled slyly, leaning closer to General Xiao: "Father, I have an idea. I feel like the path I took before was wrong. I need to change my approach to finally win him over."

General Xiao’s brow furrowed deeper. Over the past two years, Xiao Su had gone through so much trouble for Wei He. To General Xiao, Hua Yue’s words sounded like she was reverting to her old self. But he could never say no to his daughter.

He sighed: "Fine, tell me what you need me to do."

Hua Yue blinked: "Father, let’s stage a coup!"

General Xiao stood up with a start. "What!!? This—this is impossible! My Xiao family has been loyal to the throne for generations; we cannot do this. Darling, this is out of the question."

Hua Yue was not surprised by his reaction. The Xiao family had supported the Wei dynasty for generations and never harbored treasonous thoughts. She stood up and pulled General Xiao back down.

"Father, listen to me carefully."

"Go on then."

"Father, you said yourself that Wei He is unfit to be Emperor. So, why don't we just change the Emperor?"

General Xiao’s brow furrowed even tighter: "Are you talking about the Fifth Prince? If he weren't disabled, perhaps, but now? That won't work." He sounded regretful.

Hua Yue smiled: "Father, there is still the First Prince."

General Xiao shook his head even faster: "The First Prince is too soft-hearted." He sighed. In that case, Wei He was indeed the most suitable candidate.

"Su, you are now the Empress Dowager. You can have whatever you want. Why not keep a few men who please you? If you can't find any, I can help you find them."

Hua Yue: "..." She hadn't realized General Xiao was so open-minded.

"Father and I truly share a heart." She was just about to bring up Wei Yan when she saw her old father, who had just been acting as a matchmaker for his daughter, widen his eyes in shock.

"You’ve already found someone?"

Hua Yue smiled without answering.

General Xiao: "..." Look at that, just look at what a mess Wei He, that scoundrel, had made of his precious daughter.

Consequently, Hua Yue watched helplessly as General Xiao’s eyes slowly reddened; he looked as if he were about to cry.

"..."

"Father, guess who I found?"

"Who?"

"Wei Yan." Hua Yue whispered the two characters, her lips curling slightly.

General Xiao was slightly stunned. "The son of the First Prince?"

General Xiao instinctively replied: "Isn't he an idiot?"

"He’s actually very clever," Hua Yue said. "He’s been pretending."

"Huh?" As a military man, General Xiao only felt that the royals were truly full of schemes. It was fortunate that he only needed to focus on fighting wars.

Hua Yue smiled, her eyes fixed on General Xiao: "Father, if Wei He stays as Emperor, I can no longer control him. It is better to replace him. When that time comes, I will still be the Empress Dowager, and Wei He will never be able to escape my grasp." Her expression was stubborn and obsessive.

As soon as Hua Yue finished speaking, the red warning before her eyes vanished.

General Xiao had seen this look countless times over the past two years. He thought to himself: *Replacing the Emperor, but keeping the name Wei... it doesn't count as treason. I should be able to face the ancestors of the Xiao family.*

He comforted himself, sighed, and looked earnestly at Hua Yue: "Very well, I will do as you ask."

Hua Yue pursed her lips, her heart filled with complex emotions. "Thank you, Father."

"What do you need me to do?"

Hua Yue leaned in and whispered a few words into General Xiao’s ear. The General’s expression shifted repeatedly. He truly realized his daughter had gone mad.

...

Since she had finally come out, she might as well enjoy herself. However, she noticed a gaze constantly following her. Hua Yue knew it was Wei Yan. She didn't mind; in fact, she found it amusing.

How long did he intend to skulk around in the shadows? Would he never say a word for the rest of his life? According to the original plot, he should already be on the path to rebellion.

Just as she was thinking this, Qingli suddenly tugged at her sleeve: "My Lady, look, is that not His Majesty and Lord Wan?"

Hua Yue looked. By the riverbank, the two stood close together. Wan Jinyu shook off Wei He’s hand, her expression flustered, saying something inaudible. She looked completely drenched.