Ch. 1451..1460
Chapter 1451: Initial treatment in 1450
By the end, Tan Rou was exhausted, but Samiyi became more and more spirited as she talked; she started with the history of the kingdom and then the current international situation, from Laka’s biological mother to the current unreasonable laws in Country J—essentially, her topics were endless.
Laka did not stop Samiyi; he simply sat there listening quietly, occasionally nodding in agreement with Samiyi.
Tan Rou couldn’t take it anymore. She yawned and eventually dozed off on the dining table.
The next morning, when Tan Rou woke up, her head felt somewhat painful. After waking up a bit more, she remembered that she had drunk alcohol last night, but it seemed like she had gone to sleep without taking a shower.
Looking at her clothes, they were still the ones from yesterday, and there was a slight sour smell on her body.
Unable to bear it, Tan Rou immediately rushed into the bathroom, not caring whether the water was cold or hot, and showered directly under the faucet. Luckily, the water in the royal palace bathroom was temperature controlled and not too cold.
...
After showering, Tan Rou realized she had not brought clothes with her, but Samiyi had arranged everything for her; there was a closet on the bathroom wall filled with unopened bathrobes.
After changing into a bathrobe and drying her hair, Tan Rou then went out.
She surveyed the room she was now staying in; it was spacious and well-lit, and the air conditioning was set to a temperature suitable for sleep.
Tan Rou hadn’t completely unpacked the things she brought yesterday. She tidied up briefly, then changed her clothes and went outside the room.
Samiyi was not there; her maid told Tan Rou, “The princess has gone to the king, Miss Rou. After you have finished breakfast, you can also go there.”
Tan Rou checked her phone and said, “Okay, I will go there immediately.”
Zhuang Liu was also very efficient in handling matters; the thing she talked about yesterday afternoon, Zhuang Liu had managed to get it all arranged overnight. The person delivering the items was already about to arrive at the royal city airport, and Tan Rou needed to ask Samiyi to arrange someone for pickup.
As soon as she messaged Samiyi, Samiyi said, “I have already arranged someone at the airport. When your people arrive, they can go directly to meet them.”
Tan Rou admired Samiyi’s ability to anticipate events, having arranged the guards yesterday and today’s airport pickup ahead of time.
“Okay, I will send you his information right away,” Tan Rou replied.
The person coming to deliver the items was none other than Mr. Xiao Mo, the top-notch assistant. Xiao Mo brought not only what Tan Rou needed but also two large boxes of local products and even shipped one large box of chilled cherries.
Tan Rou was amused and said, “He really troubles you; he is coming himself, yet still had you bring stuff.”
Laughing, Xiao Mo said, “Things in Country J aren’t very tasty, and they don’t even have cherries. The head of the Zhuang family was worried Miss Rou wouldn’t be used to the food, so he had me send some over first.”
Tan Rou nodded and said, “Thank you.” Then she asked, “What about the things I requested?”
Xiao Mo patted the suitcase he was carrying, “Everything is here.”
Inside were the tools and medicinal herbs Tan Rou needed. The medicine was extremely precious; Tan Rou had cultivated it for many years and only managed to grow a small amount. Apart from using it for her grandparents, she had never given it to anyone else. Now, to save the king, she had Zhuang Liu bring half of it with her.
If Tan Rou hadn’t been quite fond of Princess Samiyi and wanted to be friends with the princess, she really would have been reluctant to use such valuable medicinal herbs on others.
The king had lost a lot of blood yesterday, but his complexion was a bit better today, and he had also woken up when he saw Tan Rou, he was somewhat surprised.
“Why are you here?” the king asked.
Samiyi replied, “Brother, have you forgotten? She is here to treat you.”
The king seemed to remember, “Ah yes, it seems that was the case.”
Tan Rou sat by the bed, then began treating the king. The condition of the king’s body was somewhat similar to Grandpa Tao’s, so the treatment was a bit easier for Tan Rou, but she was still worried that the king might not be used to the medicine she prescribed and might have an adverse reaction to the medication.
Fortunately, the king drank the medicinal soup. After finishing, he began to feel drowsy and then fell asleep.
Samiyi, visibly worried, asked, “Why has the king fallen asleep again?”
Tan Rou explained, “His Majesty the King is quite weak at the moment, so he needs more rest now. The medication I prescribed contains sedatives which will not harm his body but will help him rest better.”
Chapter 1452: 1451 Conversation in front of the window
Hearing Tan Rou say this, Samiyi felt much relieved. She said, “Then let’s allow my brother to rest for a while. He’s had a hard time these past few years, Laka and I have caused him a lot of trouble. If it weren’t for us, I guess he wouldn’t be so exhausted.”
Tan Rou furrowed her brows and thought for a moment, then said, “I fell asleep first last night and did not know what you and Prince Laka discussed afterwards. However, I heard part of your conversation, and I think Prince Laka was very right.”
“Hmm?” Samiyi asked, “What do you mean?”
“I mean the suggestion Prince Laka made last night…” Tan Rou hadn’t finished speaking when Samiyi interrupted her.
Samiyi told her to stop talking for a moment, “Hold on a second, Rou.”
Tan Rou clammed up, then Samiyi said, “Everyone, leave the room.”
...
At her command, all the doctors and maids in the room departed and even closed the door behind them.
After everyone had left, Samiyi slowly walked to the window. She looked at the scenery outside and said softly, “There has never been a queen in this country, so I can’t become the queen either.”
“There’s always a first time for everything,” Tan Rou walked up beside Samiyi, and they looked at the palace scenery together. “Airplanes and high-speed trains don’t exist in nature, but they were invented because they were needed for the times.”
Samiyi fell into deep thought, and after a long time, she said, “The throne belongs to Laka. I am his aunt, and I can’t compete with him for it. Besides, even if I became queen, I’m not sure I could make the country prosper.”
“To put it bluntly, the country should belong to everyone. When people are here, this is their country. If they leave, can it still be called a country?” Tan Rou asked.
Samiyi was startled. “What do you mean by that?”
Tan Rou was not afraid to offend Samiyi and said directly, “You keep fixating on who should be king, but have you ever thought about what the people think? More often than not, people don’t care who the king is; they only care if the king can provide them with food and shelter. If you can guarantee their welfare, then you are the best king, regardless of your gender.”
“I…” Samiyi hesitated.
“In your country, I’ve seen many unfair laws. You have children and a lover yourself, so you must see the problems with the laws, right?” Tan Rou continued, “Then why can’t you make a change?”
“I’ve never tried…” Samiyi sighed. “Although I really want to make a change, I don’t have the courage.”
Tan Rou smiled, “Yes, you’re just a frail little princess without all that much power. Haha, wasn’t it you who ordered the guards to open fire yesterday?”
Samiyi smiled too, “I got a bit carried away yesterday. Because of my brother’s situation, I lost control of my emotions. Then, seeing those power-abusing, parasitic nobles, I felt my anger surge. I wanted just to get rid of them all and make this country better.”
Tan Rou approved of Samiyi’s thoughts and said, “That’s a great way of thinking. There are too many people in your country’s laboratories who only eat and don’t work. If I were you, I would get rid of all of them.” She made a sweeping gesture, “Like sweeping away trash, clear them all out.”
Samiyi was moved. She too wanted to do something for her country, but her power was limited and she couldn’t do much. Yet, when power was laid out before her, she hesitated.
“Never mind.” Tan Rou waved her hand and then moved away from the window, “This is an internal affair of your country, and I shouldn’t interfere. I just need to focus on my own matters.” After speaking, Tan Rou found a chair to sit and rest.
Samiyi stood by the window. She could see the palace gardens, the tall walls of the palace, and looking up, she saw the cloudless sky.
The weather today was very clear, and the sky was a light shade of blue, very beautiful to behold.
Samiyi almost forgot when was the last time she looked at the sky outside, and almost forgot whether the sky outside was still blue.
Chapter 1453: 1452 troublemakers
After a long while, Samiyi finally spoke, “Tan Rou, have you ever faced criticism from others? You’re a woman, just like me. Do you get a lot of cold stares?”
“Yeah.” Tan Rou said indifferently, “I get not only cold stares but also jealousy, from both men and women. They all stand on their moral high ground to criticize me. A princess who always stays inside the palace wouldn’t know how malicious the outside world can be to women.”
“There’s no lack of malice in the palace either,” said Samiyi.
Tan Rou replied with ease, “But I don’t care about that malice.”
“Why not?” Samiyi asked, puzzled, “Don’t you resent those people?”
Tan Rou laughed, “Those who offend me never end up with a good fate.” She raised her right fist, saying, “If anyone offends me, I’ll make sure they pay for it. You must be quite clear about what happened to the man who harassed me in the elevator yesterday, Princess.”
...
Samiyi had also made inquiries, and it turned out that Xite’s wrist had been completely broken and required surgery to fix; otherwise, he’d be disabled for life.
And the others didn’t fare much better either, with one having a broken leg and another with fractured ribs. In short, they wouldn’t be hopping around any time soon.
“My strength is too weak…” Samiyi said with regret, “I can only quietly endure the negative judgments.”
Tan Rou burst into laughter, “Your Highness, the esteemed Princess, your royal guards are not just for show. Each one of them is a good gun; it’s all about how the Princess uses them.”
“They only follow the King’s orders…” Samiyi began.
She was interrupted before she could finish by a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” Samiyi’s dejected mood shifted, and her tone became very firm, “Come in!”
Puli pushed the door open and entered. When he saw Tan Rou, he frowned, seemingly displeased with her presence there.
Tan Rou ignored him. After all, it was Samiyi who had invited her to stay. If Mr. Puli couldn’t stand her, then he could just wait outside to save himself the irritation of seeing her.
Fortunately, Puli said nothing; he walked straight to Samiyi’s side and reported, “Your Highness, Duke Mahri has arrived. I believe he’s here concerning the matter of young master Xite.”
Hearing the familiar name, Tan Rou quickly focused her attention on the conversation.
Samiyi asked, “What did he say?”
Puli glanced at Tan Rou again before answering, “He requests an audience with His Majesty the King and demands that the chief culprit who injured young master Xite be handed over.”
“Ha!” scoffed Samiyi, “Chief culprit? Is he talking about me, or about Tan Rou?”
Puli did not reply.
At that moment, Tan Rou said, “Your Highness, let me go out and meet them.”
“No need. We will handle this matter,” Samiyi stopped Tan Rou.
So Tan Rou left it to Samiyi to deal with. After all, she didn’t wish to go out and meet so many people; it would probably end in either an argument or a fight.
Samiyi inquired, “Where is Duke Mahri right now?”
Puli responded, “Duke Mahri and Mr. Kudu have gone to His Majesty the King’s study. Although I’ve informed them that His Majesty is not there, they insist on waiting in the study to see the King.”
“Who do they think His Majesty the King is?” Samiyi said angrily, “Do they think they can see whomever they want? Who is the real ruler of this country?”
Puli dared not make a sound, and Tan Rou had nothing to say, leaving Princess Samiyi alone in her fury.
“Puli, go and inform Laka. Tell him to meet with Duke Mahri in His Majesty the King’s study. We’ll let him handle this issue,” Samiyi commanded.
Puli was surprised, “Your Highness, are you really letting Prince Laka deal with this?”
Not pleased, Samiyi retorted, “Do you expect His Majesty the King to handle it personally?”
Puli meant no such thing, and he explained, “Your Highness, Duke Mahri is a rather unreasonable man. I’m concerned Prince Laka might not be able to argue with him.”
“If they can’t win an argument, they can resort to fists,” Samiyi said, “I refuse to believe that Mahri isn’t afraid of guns.”
Puli was shocked by Samiyi’s outburst, and he hastily said, “Your Highness, please calm down!”
In fact, Samiyi’s words were spoken in anger; she was just irritated with Puli’s attitude and had deliberately said that.
Chapter 1454: 1453 you can ignore
“Enough!” Samiyi had no patience for his nonsense, “Just follow my orders and spare me the verbosity. Go and notify Laka to visit His Majesty the King’s study in half an hour.”
Puli was about to say something more, but a glare from Samiyi sent him backing down. He nodded and replied, “Yes, Your Highness!”
After Puli left, Samiyi said to Tan Rou, “Rou, wait here for a moment. I need to take care of Xite’s matter first.”
Tan Rou stood up and suggested, “I’ll follow you. If you can’t out-argue that Duke, I can help you argue. If you want to give that Duke a beating, I’m also willing to do it for you. But you must ensure my safety; I don’t wish to be assassinated by nobles in the palace again.”
Samiyi was initially angry, but couldn’t help laughing after hearing Tan Rou’s words, “Rou, I will definitely ensure your safety.”
“Tell me your plan. I don’t believe you’re sending Laka over just to have him argue with the Duke,” Tan Rou said.
...
Samiyi smiled, “Rou, it would be great if you were from our country, then I could keep you by my side forever.”
Tan Rou quickly declined Samiyi’s sentiment, stressing, “Your Highness, I am married, and my husband is very formidable. It’s best you don’t mention this in front of him.”
Samiyi displayed a look of great regret, “Well then, I wish you and your husband happiness and joy.”
After the casual chat, Samiyi finally shared her intentions with Tan Rou.
It turned out that Samiyi wanted to take this opportunity to train Laka to see if he had the ability to handle the situation. Mahri was there to see the King, but His Majesty the King was sleeping. If they didn’t offer a reasonable explanation, Mahri would definitely become suspicious.
By having Laka make an appearance, Samiyi could not only train Laka but also explain well why the King had not shown up. Why? Because His Majesty the King also wanted to train the Prince in dealing with matters, so he sent the Prince instead.
And why the half-hour wait? It was purely because Samiyi wanted to dull Mahri’s sharpness, make him less arrogant, and stop him from thinking he could meet whoever he wanted to at any time; did he think the royal palace was a marketplace?
By the time Tan Rou and Samiyi arrived at the King’s study, Laka was already there, but he did not enter and was waiting outside instead.
“Aunt…” Laka sighed with relief when he saw Samiyi, “Thank goodness you’ve come.”
Samiyi was almost faint from exasperation, and she said sternly, “Don’t show me that pitiful look, understand?”
“Oh,” Laka forced a smile, “Is this better?”
After seeing it, Samiyi only felt more headache and waved her hand, “Just keep your original expression.”
“Oh,” Laka returned to his prior state.
Samiyi had Laka enter first, following behind, “You don’t need to worry, aunt will take care of everything; you just need to sit there.”
The moment Laka entered, the plump Duke Mahri rolled towards them. Why say rolled? Because he resembled a large sphere, and he moved at quite a pace, so it looked as if he had rolled over.
“Your Highness the Prince, you must stand up for my son!” Mahri wept in sobs and sniffles, “My Xite was just working when, out of nowhere, he offended that foreign woman, getting beaten so brutally! As his father, I can’t bear to look at him.”
Laka responded instinctively, “If you can’t bear to look at him, then don’t.”
Mahri’s expression froze, and he asked in astonishment, “Prince, are you serious with what you’re saying?”
Laka replied, “You’re the one who said you can’t bear to look at him, so don’t.” After finishing, he even turned to glance at his aunt, as if to ask whether he was correct.
If the timing had been different, Samiyi would have loved to laugh heartily; her nephew might not be clever, but he could be quite shrewd sometimes.
Chapter 1455: 1454 is quite imaginative
Mahri’s expression became extremely ugly, and he said angrily, “Your Highness the Prince, my son has been hit by a foreign woman, and not only do you not help me get justice, but you also mock me. I definitely cannot accept this. I want to see His Majesty the King to have him administer justice for me.”
Laka was dead nervous, as His Majesty the King was still in bed, so how could he possibly come and see him?
“Duke Mahri, His Majesty the King isn’t someone you can see just because you want to,” Samiyi spoke up, “Besides, His Majesty the King has said that he has very important matters to attend to. Leave the matter of you and your son to the Prince.”
With his aunt by his side lending support, Laka’s nervousness subsided a bit. He said, “Yes, His Majesty the King is dealing with other matters, and your issue isn’t important enough, so His Majesty the King let me handle it. State your business quickly because I have other things to do too. Once you finish speaking, I will be leaving.”
Mahri’s expression was ugly, and he was very dissatisfied with the King’s approach, as in his view, Prince Laka was a fool—letting a fool deal with Xite’s incident clearly showed that they had no regard for him and his son.
After much thought, Mahri decided to make things difficult for this foolish Prince.
...
“Your Highness the Prince, my son has sustained very serious injuries, and the doctor said his wrist might never recover in his lifetime. Therefore, I demand that you hand over the criminal who injured my son,” said Mahri. “I want to break her legs and feet, letting her feel the pain Xite suffered!”
“Duke Mahri, before you present your demands, I’d like to ask you a few questions,” said Samiyi. “Why would that foreign woman want to hurt your son? And your son is so tall and strong, how could that foreign woman beat him? Most importantly, your son lost to a foreign woman—don’t you feel ashamed?”
If Laka’s words made Mahri angry, then Samiyi’s questions left Mahri both angry and ashamed.
The kind of person Xite was couldn’t be clearer to Mahri—it was definitely Xite who provoked that foreign woman, which led her to strike him. But as Xite’s father, Mahri spoke up for his son.
“My son has always been obedient, he is very diligent at work, and he has never quarreled with colleagues. So, I don’t believe my son would have a conflict with a foreign woman.” Mahri told blatant lies with his eyes open.
“It must have been that the foreign woman fancied my son, but when my son didn’t reciprocate her feelings, she came to harass him, and when he still ignored her, she felt she couldn’t save face and then attacked him when my son was not paying attention.”
Tan Rou was instantly speechless. She had initially just found the Duke somewhat noisy, but after hearing his statement, she instantly felt that Duke Mahri’s imagination was truly rich.
Once back in her own country, she would remind Liang Lu to replace his screenwriters, for even all of Director Liang Lu’s screenwriters combined weren’t as good at making up stories as Duke Mahri.
After listening, Samiyi felt something churning in her stomach, she was so disgusted that she was about to vomit everything she had eaten in the morning.
Laka, speaking whatever came to his mind, immediately countered Mahri, “That’s impossible, Miss Rou has a fiancé in her own country, and he is very handsome, a hundred times better looking than your child, and he is also very rich, so it’s impossible for Miss Rou to like Xite.”
Princess Samiyi smiled and said, “Mr. Duke, I think what Laka said makes a lot of sense. If you had seen Miss Tan Rou, you would realize how ridiculous your ideas are.”
Mahri didn’t believe it, and insisted, “It must be that the foreign woman fancied my son’s appearance and status; otherwise, she wouldn’t have attacked my son.”
“Could it not be that your own son is the scoundrel?” Tan Rou, who had been on the sidelines watching the drama unfold, finally couldn’t help but speak up, “Really, this is too funny. Both father and son are quite the characters—one’s son harassing others, and the father blindly narcissistic, truly like father, like son!”
Chapter 1456: 1455 what do you think you are?
Mahri heard the voice and turned his gaze towards Tan Rou. He glanced at her, and then couldn’t look away.
Such a beautiful woman, with long black hair, tender skin, delicate features, and a tall stature. Who was this woman? What was her name? Where did she come from?
Tan Rou did not like the way Mahri was looking at her. Frowning, she said, “Have you had enough?”
Mahri snapped out of it, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and asked with a smile, “What is your name, beautiful young lady?”
“I’m your mother!” Tan Rou said icily.
Mahri got a bit angry, “Do you know who I am? I am a Duke, and you will be in trouble if you offend me.”
...
Tan Rou almost laughed out loud at him. She turned to Samiyi and said, “Initially, I was worried that these two weren’t related since one is so tall and the other so short. But judging by their behavior and the way they speak, they are definitely father and son because they speak the same language.”
As soon as Tan Rou spoke, Mahri immediately understood who this beautiful foreign woman was, “Are you the one who injured my son?”
“Yes,” Tan Rou admitted readily, “Aren’t you here to avenge your son? Come on then! If you can defeat me, I will apologize to your son.”
Mahri hesitated for three seconds, then said with a smile, “Ah, how could I let you apologize to that boy? It must have been that rotten kid who offended you and made you hit him, right? How about this, come with me and I will have him apologize to you in person. What do you say?”
“No need,” Tan Rou shook her head, “I just want to stay in the palace. If you want your son to apologize to me, then have him come to the palace and find me.”
Mahri disagreed, “It’s not convenient to talk in the palace, let’s go somewhere else.”
Tan Rou raised an eyebrow, then said to Samiyi, “Your Highness, this duke wants to talk to me elsewhere. Do you think I should go?”
“Hmph!” Samiyi mocked, “Like father, like son. Your son was slapped and it’s totally deserved; he was just asking for trouble!”
Mahri was displeased, “Your Highness, I was not speaking to you, so please don’t interject.”
“Smack—”
A loud slap resounded in the study, making everyone, including Tan Rou, widen their eyes.
“Smack—”
Another slap followed.
“What do you think you are!” Samiyi said, “Who gave you the permission to speak to me like that?”
Mahri was stunned. He covered his face and didn’t manage to say a word for a long time.
Samiyi ignored him and took a seat beside the desk, then said proudly, “This is the palace, and everything here is decided by His Majesty the King. Since His Majesty is not here, all matters are decided by the Prince and me. And you…” She glanced at Mahri, “unless I allow you to speak, keep your mouth shut!”
Mahri regained his composure and shouted at Samiyi, “You dare to slap me! I’m going to complain to His Majesty the King!”
Samiyi raised her hand, and immediately two guards came over and subdued Mahri on the ground. These guards were very skilled, and Mahri, who only knew how to eat and drink, had no strength to resist.
“Duke Mahri is disrespecting the Prince and the princess, from today, he is punished with house arrest for a month, without permission, no going out!” Samiyi announced.
Mahri resisted, “You dare do this to me! Aren’t you afraid I’ll complain to the King?”
“Do whatever you want! Drag him out!” Samiyi retorted.
Laka was stunned. He knew his aunt was brave, but he never expected her to slap Mahri. Duke Mahri controlled the sale of their country’s agricultural products; offending Mahri could bring trouble to their country.
“Aunt, if you hit him and he tampers with the agricultural products…” Laka didn’t finish his sentence before Samiyi interrupted him.
“Our country is not lacking in capable people. If someone is not fit for the job, then he better get out early!” Samiyi declared, “Did you hear that, Laka?”
Chapter 1457: It’s not your turn to speak in the 1456th round.
Laka suddenly felt he could hardly breathe, the intense pressure forcing him to lower his head, “I understand, aunt.”
But Mahri would not lower his head. It was the first time in his life that he had been hit, and by a woman at that! If word got out, how could he face anyone in the future?
“Samiyi!” Mahri struggled forcefully, gritting his teeth as he said, “If you lay a hand on me, I will make you regret it!”
Samiyi sneered, “I advise you to stay put. If you dare to make another move, my guards will not be so polite.”
To prove Samiyi’s point, one of the guards immediately forced Mahri’s face onto the floor, compressing it to the point of deformation, making him look utterly humiliated.
Because the pressure was so great, Mahri could no longer speak. His eyes rolled back, filled with flames of pain and fury.
...
Samiyi showed no mercy; she slightly raised her hand and said, “Gag him and drag him out. Arrange for two people to supervise Mr. Duke and after his confinement is over, let him out.”
Tan Rou admired Samiyi once again for her decisiveness and ruthlessness in handling matters.
Others might hesitate to act out of fear due to Mahri’s status, but Samiyi was different. She always used straightforward and brute force to solve problems; she had no need to reason with those who defied reason, but simply suppressed them directly.
Mahri was dragged away by the guards with his mouth covered, his eyes brimming with anger, but he was helpless to resist—this was the royal palace, not his estate, and no one here would aid him.
Oh, but not necessarily. Someone who had come with him saw him being dragged away and spoke up to plead for him.
“Your Highness, isn’t this a bit too violent?” Kudu asked with a smile, “Duke Mahri has made significant contributions to the nation, you shouldn’t insult him like this!”
“Is it your place to speak?” Samiyi asked, “What is your status? Who allowed you to come inside the palace?”
These questions made Kudu blush and go pale, his mouth opening and closing without producing a single word.
Samiyi didn’t like Kudu. If it weren’t for her brother enjoying this man’s company, she wouldn’t even bother to give Kudu a pleasant look.
Now that she was in charge of the palace, there was no need to feign smiles at these people. She could act and speak as she judged fitting.
Kudu was quick to notice Samiyi’s distaste for him, though he couldn’t understand why she would show signs of disgust towards him. Had he offended her in any way?
“Your Highness, have I done something wrong?” Kudu asked with a smile, “Since you dislike me, could you give me a reason why?”
“Heh,” Samiyi chuckled, “When did I ever say I disliked you? And given our respective statuses, why should I need to explain to you why I dislike you?”
Though Samiyi spoke with a laugh, Kudu still felt a chilling air from her expression. She had changed.
In Kudu’s memory, Princess Samiyi was gentle and dignified. But the current Princess Samiyi was not only ungentle but had also become very cold. Could this be what Princess Samiyi was truly like?
“I want to see His Majesty the King,” Kudu suddenly demanded, “His Majesty said I could freely enter and leave the palace and see him anytime. Yesterday when I came to the palace, His Majesty was resting, but surely he can’t still be resting today?”
Samiyi responded calmly, “His Majesty is indeed not resting, but he will not come to see you. He has already told me to keep those close to Prince Busodi away from him; he would find it annoying.”
Kudu stressed, “My relationship with Prince Busodi is only that of friends…”
“And what does that prove?” Samiyi interrupted, “Who His Majesty wants to see or doesn’t want to see—is it your place to dictate?”
Kudu was not a fool like Mahri. Seeing that Samiyi would not allow him to see the King, he no longer insisted, lest he end up like Mahri.
“Alright, if Your Highness does not want me to see the King, then I will not.” Kudu said with a smile.
Chapter 1458: What happened to the King 1457?
“Do you have anything else to discuss, Mr. Kudu?” Samiyi asked, “If you have finished, then please return. The Prince and I have other matters to attend to and can’t stay here to chat with you.”
“Wait, I indeed have something to say,” Kudu said, “I would like to ask the princess a question. Of course, you are also free not to answer me; that is your right.”
Samiyi made a “please” gesture, “Go ahead.”
With a smile that was not quite a smile, Kudu asked, “May I ask the princess, what exactly is happening to our esteemed His Majesty the King? Is he ill?”
As soon as Kudu finished speaking, Laka’s expression changed, but since Laka was behind Kudu, he did not see his face. Samiyi used her eyes to signal Laka, telling him not to worry; everything was backed by their aunt.
So when Kudu noticed Samiyi glancing backwards, Laka had already regained his composure.
...
After taking another look, Kudu then redirected his gaze and asked, “Princess, is our esteemed His Majesty the King ill?”
“You have quite the nerve,” Samiyi said very calmly, “To curse the King right in front of His Royal Highness and me—do you truly have a death wish?”
In an instant, Kudu felt a murderous intent; he immediately apologized, “I’m sorry, Princess, it was a slip of the tongue. I was just a bit worried about His Majesty the King’s health, especially since Prince Busodi said that the King was sick…”
“You believe whatever he tells you?” Samiyi asked, “You really do trust His Royal Highness!”
Kudu’s palms were pressed against his clothes, drenched with sweat. This visit to the palace had been a mistake. He had thought only the King was difficult to deal with, but now he realized that the King’s dear sister was even more challenging.
No wonder Busodi was wary of this woman; it turned out she was indeed difficult to handle.
Unlike the King, who would take the feelings of the nobility into consideration and turn a blind eye to their misdeeds, Samiyi was different. Her recent actions in removing Mahri showed that Samiyi acted without regard for consequences; she simply didn’t care what the nobles might think.
What did Samiyi want to do? Hadn’t she said that she was going to let Laka handle this? Why had it become her show then?
“Why are you not speaking?” Samiyi asked again, “Are you cursing me in your heart?”
“I wouldn’t dare!” Kudu said, bowing his head, “The question you asked is too difficult for me to answer.”
“I don’t care about your answer,” Samiyi said, “Whichever side you choose to stand on, it doesn’t affect me. His Majesty the King and Prince Busodi may enjoy your nonsense, but I don’t, so your tricks are useless with me.”
Kudu suddenly began to worry about his future. If given a choice, he would definitely prefer Prince Busodi to succeed the throne, and he always believed Busodi could become King.
But now, his opinion was shaking. Although this country had never seen a queen, he couldn’t be too absolute. Considering today’s circumstances, Samiyi might have already been designated the next King. Otherwise, she wouldn’t dare to speak so defiantly.
“If the Princess dislikes listening to me, then I shall keep quiet!” Kudu said.
“Do you have any more questions to ask?” Samiyi said, “If not, then please leave. If you stay too long in the palace, His Royal Highness Busodi might become suspicious.”
With the talk reaching this point, it would be impolite for Kudu not to leave. He collected his emotions, then said goodbye to Samiyi and the rest with a smile, “Your esteemed Highness, Prince, I shall take my leave. I will come again when His Majesty the King wishes to see me.”
“If His Majesty the King wants to see you, I will send for you,” Samiyi said with a smile reappearing on her face.
Kudu performed a bow, then under the guard of the sentries, he left the study. Not only were these guards diligent in escorting him out of the study, but they even went all the way to the gates of the palace with him. Only after he had walked far from the doors did the guards return inside.
Did she loathe him that much? Kudu really couldn’t understand what he had done wrong.
Chapter 1459: 1458 troops
Kudu, although he hadn’t gleaned useful information from Samiyi, nevertheless reaped some benefit from the encounter. At the minimum, he deduced that the princess harbored significant ambitions of her own. Busodi aspired to be King, but it was by no means certain that Samiyi would cede this opportunity to Busodi.
With this in mind, Kudu quickened his pace; he needed to relay this crucial information to Prince Busodi. He must alert him to prepare sooner rather than later and not to expend too much effort on contending with Prince Laka but rather to focus on confronting Princess Samiyi.
Within the palace, Laka was still enveloped in anxious thoughts. “Mr. Kudu is very smart. Has he already sensed something amiss?”
“He’s bound to realize that there’s an issue,” Samiyi calmly stated. “Even without assigning someone to watch him, I know where he has gone now.”
Laka asked, “Where has he gone?”
Samiyi laughed, “Of course, to report to his master.”
...
As for who his master was, Samiyi didn’t need to elaborate; Laka was certain of who stood behind Kudu.
“So what should we do now?” Laka asked. “Should we start to guard against Busodi?”
“There’s no need,” Samiyi replied. “Go back and have lunch. I have some matters to discuss with Miss Tan Rou.”
Laka obeyed his aunt implicitly. “Oh, and don’t forget to have lunch yourself.”
It was only after everyone had left that Samiyi turned to Tan Rou. “Rou, take a seat for a moment; I need to find something.”
Tan Rou didn’t stand on ceremony with Samiyi and promptly sat down on the King’s exclusive sofa, leaning back comfortably. It must be said, J nation had some talent in crafting sofas, as every one she sat on was quite comfortable.
After a short while, Samiyi called Tan Rou over. “Rou, come take a look at this document.”
Tan Rou hesitated. “Samiyi, this is your country’s secret. If you let me see it, wouldn’t that be somewhat inappropriate?”
“Don’t worry, you are my friend and my partner, so you can look at this document,” Samiyi said with a smile.
Tan Rou was perplexed. “Partner?”
Samiyi explained, “You encouraged me to be Queen; hence we are partners. Now that I’ve decided to vie for the throne, I can no longer be an ignorant princess. I need to prepare for certain things in advance to avoid being outpaced by others later.”
Tan Rou didn’t know quite what to say. She was pleased to hear about Samiyi’s bid for the throne, but she also harbored some concerns. After all, Samiyi had spent many years in the palace with little power at her fingertips. Could she truly triumph over Busodi?
Regardless, she had resolved to help Samiyi, so she could not afford to hesitate or regret.
Not long ago, Tan Rou had only desired to advance her own career and had little interest in others’ affairs. However, everything had taken an uncontrollable turn since she brought Agila back.
Having been drawn into this war, she had to give her all to succeed, lest she be the only one to suffer in the end.
“All right, let me take a look.” Tan Rou walked over to Samiyi’s side. “What document have you got there?”
Upon seeing the document in Samiyi’s hands, Tan Rou’s eyes widened. “This is… this is… you’re planning to use mercenaries?”
Samiyi calmly responded, “This was an advisory report I once made for my brother, but he didn’t adopt it. Nonetheless, he kept the report.”
Tan Rou felt Samiyi was somewhat mad. “Mercenaries are extremely bloody. Once they get involved, it can lead to significant casualties.”
“I know,” Samiyi said. “My brother said the same thing, but he was also considering its feasibility, as the nobles’ power is simply too formidable. Now that I intend to be Queen, I must have my own army.”
Tan Rou queried, “Why not have your brother give you his troops?”
“That’s only the first line of defense. I cannot rely solely on that, understand?” Samiyi stated. “Also, the army is filled with men whose traditional beliefs won’t easily change. If they won’t support me becoming Queen, then that army is useless.”
Chapter 1460: 1459 Happy and Free
“`
Tan Rou had almost forgotten the current state of J-country, where women had virtually no say. If the army knew they were to take orders from a woman in the future, there would definitely be dissatisfaction within the ranks. Should the army turn to support Samiyi’s enemies, then Samiyi would be in danger.
However, the danger involved in employing mercenaries was very high. They worked for money, and if their interests weren’t satisfied, they might very well tear up their contracts.
Moreover, the tasks Samiyi had to undertake were far from simple street fights; she was vying for the throne, an undertaking fraught with peril, so the mercenaries would certainly not come cheap.
But could Samiyi afford to pay them now? And where would those hired mercenaries be stationed?
“Samiyi, are you sure you don’t want to think this over?” Tan Rou expressed her worries for Samiyi’s safety, “I think mercenaries are dangerous. If they break the contract with you, your situation will become very difficult.”
...
Samiyi was not afraid at all, “Rou, I have been considering this issue for a long time. Even if I don’t vie for the throne, I would still hire mercenaries, not just for my own safety but also to protect Laka’s. Because in my original plan, he is the future King of this country.”
“What about you?” Tan Rou had a bad premonition.
Samiyi smiled faintly, “Rou, this war is inevitable, and so are sacrifices. As the future King of this country, Laka cannot be the one to make that sacrifice.”
Tan Rou made a bold guess, “Your original intention was to sacrifice yourself and let Laka become King?”
“That was my thought when I was younger,” Samiyi said, “but as my child grew up, I suddenly didn’t want to sacrifice myself anymore. Agira is still so young; I don’t want him to grow up without a mother like Laka.”
Tan Rou sighed with relief, “Yes, you shouldn’t do something so extreme. Agira is still a child; you need to think more about him.”
“Agira won’t always be in the palace,” Samiyi suddenly said, “regardless of who becomes the King, Agira won’t be the next Crown Prince. He is an ordinary child and should go to school, study the major he likes, then travel the world, living the life he desires.”
If Samiyi’s earlier decisions had shocked Tan Rou, her current thoughts now confused her. If it were Tan Rou, she would definitely leave the best things for her own child.
Tan Rou’s parents were no different; they chose to leave the family business to her older brother, otherwise they wouldn’t have stopped Tao Zhi from learning music.
If Samiyi became King, then surely her child would be the next Crown Prince, regardless of whether she had more children later on. At any rate, Agira had the qualifications to inherit the throne. Yet, Samiyi was making him an ordinary person, and that meant Agira would never have the chance to return to the palace.
Seeing Tan Rou speechless, Samiyi guessed what she might be thinking, “Do you think I’m out of my mind? Why would I not allow my child to be the heir?”
Tan Rou answered honestly, “Yes, that is indeed what I’m pondering over.”
Samiyi replied, “I’ve spent half my life in the palace. If I became King, then the rest of his life would have to be spent here too. The palace is only so big, and living inside it day after day, one would get sick of it within a year. That’s why I don’t want Agira to be trapped here.”
Tan Rou agreed with Samiyi’s sentiments wholeheartedly. She had gone to the lab at age four and spent over a decade there, faced with cold walls and experimental equipment daily and had grown to detest it. If she was made to live in such a place again, she’d rather die.
“I’m selfish—I don’t want my child to be trapped here, which is why I initially supported Laka becoming the King so strongly,” Samiyi said with some difficulty, “But Laka is my nephew, my kin, and as you saw in today’s test, he cannot be King.”
Tan Rou remarked, “Let me put it bluntly, if Prince Laka becomes King, he might ascend the throne one day and lose it the next.”