"When I was fighting for my life, where were you, Li Si Nian? You were likely still indulging in the comforts of pleasure, while I, before my maiden years, had to face matters beyond my age. Of course, I do not expect you to empathize with me, for I was born into royalty; this is what I must endure.
If my character were flawed, if I favored wicked ministers over loyal ones, then you would stand here today, and I would abdicate without a word. But you are asking me to step down merely because I am a woman, because a woman cannot be emperor. I cannot agree with this reasoning."
Li Si Nian’s entire body trembled. He felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, making it impossible to meet her gaze.
"Lord Li…" Lin Feng whispered from behind him.
Li Si Nian raised his head and saw the exceptionally clear yet frost-like cold eyes in the face of the Empress. "Your Majesty, having come this far, I have no turning back. I implore Your Majesty to abdicate."
Xue Zi Ning looked at the other three Ministers of State behind Li Si Nian and coldly asked, "Are you all also forcing me to abdicate?"
Lin Feng, the Minister of Rites, Sun Zhi Yuan, the Minister of Works, and Feng Yu, the Minister of Revenue, exchanged glances. It seemed they had no choice but to proceed. Lin Feng, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, the realm is now at peace. You may retire to the inner palace with peace of mind."
"The realm is at peace, so I should abdicate? Minister Lin, where have your studies of etiquette taken you?" Xue Zi Ning said coldly, taking a step forward.
Minister Lin Feng trembled and subconsciously stepped back. "Your subject... Your subject..."
Xue Zi Ning did not wait for the Minister of Rites’ explanation. Instead, she turned to the Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue, "Lord Sun and Lord Feng, do you also think this way?"
Minister Sun Zhi Yuan and Minister Feng Yu exchanged glances. Having reached this point, there was no retreat. "Your subject thinks the same as Lord Li."
"Good, good… Of the six ministries, four ministers have turned against me. I…" Xue Zi Ning’s already pale face became even more bloodless.
Hua Yun Jin stepped forward to support her. "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. Leave the rest to this subject."
Xue Zi Ning pushed him away and said coldly, "My affairs, I will handle myself."
Hua Yun Jin froze.
Xue Zi Ning walked forward, stopping less than a step away from Li Si Nian. "If I refuse to abdicate, Lord Li, what will you do? Will you assassinate me?"
Li Si Nian took a step back. Under the immense pressure, he looked up at the Empress before him, her eyes terrifyingly cold, like the frost of midwinter, capable of freezing a person solid.
"Your subject has come this far and has no other path. I beg Your Majesty not to force my hand," Li Si Nian said, enunciating each word.
"So you don't even care about your family? The crime of exterminating the nine generations of kin if you fail, do you want me to die with you?" Li Yao Qin suddenly shouted as if driven mad.
Li Si Nian heard this and said coldly, "You enjoyed the affluent life I provided. You must also consider the day when you have nothing."
Li Yao Qin trembled. She could no longer cry. She could only dig her nails into the ground, using all her strength, and ask word by word, "So, in your heart, I was merely a chess piece, wasn't I? One that you would destroy without hesitation."
Li Si Nian turned his face away. "You enjoyed over ten years of life; now it is time to repay it."
"Hahaha…" Li Yao Qin laughed, her madness a result of extreme grief.
"Act," Li Si Nian suddenly commanded.
Those outside the door surged in. Hua Yun Jin stepped forward first, shielding those behind him. "Your Majesty, please retreat. Wait a little longer."
Hua Li had gone to find reinforcements.
Han Xi Xia walked step by step towards Hua Yun Jin. "This King will accompany you."
Hua Yun Jin smiled, not looking back. "The rest of you, protect His Majesty."
"Yes, Your Highness." Hua Yun and Hua Hai moved to stand before Xue Zi Ning.
"Your Majesty, you..."
Xue Yan felt that something was wrong with Xue Zi Ning.
"It’s really happening now," Xue Zi Ning gasped, clutching her stomach.
Xue Yan supported her and retreated, preparing to fire arrows. She said coldly to Hua Yun and Hua Hai, who were about to enter, "You guard the door. Allow no one to enter."
Hua Yun and Hua Hai nodded. They knew of His Highness’s feelings for the Empress, and if anything happened to the Empress, they would likely not survive.
"Miss Li, can you lend a hand?"
Li Yao Qin trembled. She looked up at the person before her and was stunned. "Qing… Lord Qing Yi."
Qing Yi nodded and whispered, "Your Majesty is the most soft-hearted. If you help Your Majesty give birth to these two children, Your Majesty will remember it."
Li Yao Qin got up from the ground and walked towards the room. As she reached the threshold, she turned back to Qing Yi and said, "I am helping Your Majesty not out of fear for my life, wanting to use this kindness to be set free. Instead, I want my father to know that his ideology is wrong. Why can a woman not be emperor? Why can a woman not do what men do? Why can a woman not be an official?"
With that, she stepped inside, determined to show her father that his views were mistaken.
At this moment, she no longer felt so much pain. It did not matter if her father did not approve; she would not disapprove of herself.
"Xue Yan, I will help you," Li Yao Qin said.
Xue Yan nodded. "Good."
"Your Majesty, you must persevere, and show everyone that a woman as emperor is the trend of the times," Li Yao Qin said, word by word.
Suddenly, her hand was grasped by a pair of cold hands. She saw the Empress on the bed slowly open her eyes. She smiled. "Your Majesty, you can do this. You represent all the women in the world; you are fighting for our dignity. When we face danger, we can go to battle; in times of peace, we can govern the country and bring peace to the people."
"Good."
"Your Majesty, push harder. Now you must give birth to the royal prince," Li Yao Qin said.
"Good."
"You bear not only yourself, but all the women in the world who strive to resist injustice."
"Good," Xue Zi Ning said, looking at her.
Outside, Hua Yun Jin looked at the endless stream of attackers with a wry smile. Han Xi Xia sneered, "What? Not doing so well now?"
"How could that be? I am merely filled with emotion that we stand side by side here for the same woman."
Upon hearing this, Han Xi Xia sighed. "Who made us willing?"
"My lord, if this continues, I fear reinforcements may arrive from the palace, and we may truly be defeated," said Minister Lin Feng of the Ministry of Rites.
Sun Zhi Yuan, the Minister of Works, also said, "Lord Lin speaks the truth."
"Minister Feng, you and I will enter the room from the rear. As soon as we capture the Empress, all this will be over," Li Si Nian said.
Feng Yu nodded. "Having come this far, we have no choice but to fight with our backs to the wall." Otherwise, they would all face the punishment of having their nine generations of kin exterminated.
"They might attack from the rear. Han Xi Xia, you guard this side; I will go to the rear," Hua Yun Jin said.