TVAAMRF Chapter 43

Chapter 43 – Tyrant 15

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The coup d’état had ended in a most dramatic fashion.

Su Tang, acting alone, had executed the strategy of “capturing the king to subdue the bandits,” instantly neutralizing Prince Jin. Without their leader, the remaining rebels scattered like sand. Commander Zhao arrived with the Imperial Guards in time to surround and capture the entire rebel force.

The only oddity was the strange light in the rebels’ eyes when they saw the Imperial Guards, as if they were eagerly awaiting their capture.

As the rebels were being escorted away, Commander Zhao overheard a muttered voice. The man’s face was dazed, his body trembling with fear. “I’ve never seen anything so terrifying… The Noble Consort… he’s a monster…”

Commander Zhao frowned. How dare this prisoner slander Noble Consort! He was practically begging for death!

Just as Commander Zhao was about to discipline the speaker, his peripheral vision caught sight of a figure embedded in a pillar. He recoiled in shock, then squinted for a closer look. Only after a moment did he recognize the mangled form as Prince Jin, his condition utterly horrifying.

*So that’s where the mastermind of the coup was hiding!*

But how…?

A sudden realization flashed through Commander Zhao’s mind.

*Noble Consort possesses the divine strength to draw a Five-Stone Bow to its full draw. Launching a man through the air and embedding him in a pillar? That hardly seems impossible now.*

Commander Zhao couldn’t help but feel a complex mix of emotions. The image of Noble Consort—with his delicate arms and legs, resembling flawless white jade, beautiful yet fragile—possessing such monstrous strength created a stark and unsettling contrast.

With Prince Jin defeated, all that remained was the tedious work of cleaning up the aftermath: purging his remaining loyalists, uprooting them completely, and restoring order from the chaos.

The Prime Minister, brainwashed by Prince Jin’s Protagonist Halo, looked ashen and lifeless, as if his last spark of vitality had been extinguished. Dejected and despairing, he could only sit and await his inevitable demise.

In the original narrative, the Eldest Princess’s faction, initially neutral but leaning toward Prince Jin, had unexpectedly shifted their allegiance during this political struggle, siding with the Tyrant. The reason for this change lay with the Eldest Princess’s children.

When forced to choose a faction, the Eldest Princess worried about public opinion and speculated that Prince Jin might seize the Imperial Throne. To avoid being caught in the crossfire, they needed to distance themselves from the Emperor immediately.

But the Young Prince held a different view. He believed Prince Jin was doomed to fail, that the Emperor had anticipated every move, possessed absolute confidence, and maintained complete control of the situation. Prince Jin was nothing more than a clownish buffoon, destined to fall hard and suffer a gruesome end.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the Young Prince had inadvertently become a truth-teller.

Prince Jin had his skull smashed by Su Tang and was kicked so hard he became embedded in a pillar, impossible to dislodge. Wasn’t that a spectacularly miserable end?

During his analysis, the Young Prince spoke with such logical clarity that even the Eldest Princess nearly agreed with him. If the Emperor emerged victorious from this palace coup, avoiding taking sides would undoubtedly disappoint him, and life at the Princess Consort’s Manor would likely become unbearable.

The Eldest Princess carefully weighed her options, considering her son’s words and feeling a surge of relief that her usually unreliable son seemed to have finally matured and gained some sense.

But the moment she turned around, she overheard the Young Prince and the Princess whispering together, their heads pressed close.

“If Imperial Uncle falls, what will happen to the Noble Consort? Can he move into our manor?”

“Mother probably wouldn’t allow it.”

“Then Imperial Uncle must try harder to protect Noble Consort!”

“Exactly! Imperial Uncle is so lucky to have such a handsome Noble Consort—he must have accumulated eight lifetimes of good fortune!”

Just when she thought her children were finally showing some maturity, it turned out they were simply choosing sides based on looks!

The Eldest Princess nearly choked with anger at her foolish children.

However, after a night of secret deliberations between the Eldest Princess and the Imperial Consort, they ultimately heeded the Young Prince’s advice and decided to support the Emperor.

As it turned out, their decision was the right one.

However, the actual events unfolded quite differently from what they had anticipated.

In the palace coup they had heard about, the person who had turned the tide was none other than Noble Consort, who appeared so frail and delicate.

The Eldest Princess and Imperial Consort exchanged utterly bewildered, indescribable expressions.

The Young Prince and Princess, on the other hand, wore looks of utter disdain.

“Imperial Uncle the Emperor is so useless!”

The Eldest Princess and Imperial Consort immediately clamped their hands over the children’s mouths.

*How reckless!* they thought. *How could they say such things so carelessly? What if the Tyrant himself heard them?!*

To their horror, when they turned around, they found the Tyrant himself standing there, his face dark as thunder as he glared at them.

The Eldest Princess and Imperial Consort felt as if venomous snakes were crawling down their backs. They trembled violently, breaking out in cold sweats.

Just when they braced themselves for disaster, the Tyrant merely sneered coldly, turned away, and refused to give them another glance, his contempt palpable.

Meanwhile, Noble Consort, who had arrived alongside the Tyrant, smiled warmly and asked curiously, “What are you all discussing?”

The Eldest Princess tried to brush off the topic with some trivial remark, but the two brats, utterly lacking in caution, blurted out the truth to their beloved Noble Consort.

Noble Consort’s expression immediately became uneasy. He murmured, “You’ve heard about that incident too…”

Then Su Tang sighed, “It was truly terrifying at the time.”

Seeing his distress, the Young Prince and Princess immediately looked sympathetic. They gently comforted Noble Consort and vehemently cursed Prince Jin as inhuman.

The Eldest Princess and Imperial Consort exchanged complicated glances.

*Wait, if we remember correctly, Noble Consort effortlessly annihilated Prince Jin in an instant. How could he possibly be weak, pitiful, and helpless? This isn’t just an eight-hundredfold filter—you’re practically blind!*

However, soon he would no longer be the Noble Consort but the Empress.

After the conclusion of Prince Jin’s coup attempt and the subsequent cleanup, Xiao Chengyan formally proposed elevating the Noble Consort to Empress during court.

The announcement sent shockwaves through the court.

The position of Noble Consort could be arbitrarily determined based solely on the Emperor’s favor. But the Empress’s position was entirely different—she was the mother of the nation, and her family lineage, moral character, talent, and reputation were all paramount considerations. Su Tang, however, was merely the An Yuan Marquis’s insignificant illegitimate son. Later, the An Yuan Marquis was exposed for numerous crimes, suffered a tragic downfall, and was demoted to commoner status. In truth, making Su Tang Empress would be akin to appointing a commoner Empress, a move that would be exceedingly difficult to persuade the court officials to accept.

Some officials submitted memorials, earnestly urging the Emperor to select an Empress from among the noble ladies of the Capital.

But Xiao Chengyan simply ignored them. He had merely come to announce his decision, not to consult with them. If he didn’t act arbitrarily and recklessly, could he truly be called a Tyrant?

As preparations for the Empress’s investiture ceremony proceeded, the court officials still fretted over how to prevent the Emperor’s rash decision. Yet, before long, they unexpectedly switched sides.

The turning point came on Su Tang’s birthday.

To properly celebrate his Beloved Consort’s birthday, Xiao Chengyan hosted a grand palace banquet. Naturally, all the prominent and influential figures of the Capital were invited.

On this day, not only did Xiao Chengyan intend to celebrate Su Tang lavishly, but the System was also delighted to present its dear Host with a special gift—a truly magnificent one.

And so, a hundred flowers bloomed in unison, a hundred birds sang in homage, and a seven-colored rainbow even appeared above Chaoyang Palace.

Everyone was stunned.

What an auspicious omen!

Moreover, it was clearly all for Noble Consort, as if the Immortals themselves were celebrating His Highness’s birthday.

In that moment, the hearts of the kings, nobles, and officials were utterly shaken.

When Su Tang appeared in his elaborate palace robes, the courtiers saw him as if enveloped in a halo of sacred light, their eyes unconsciously filling with reverence.

Su Tang, however, was utterly bewildered.

He had been genuinely delighted to receive the System’s gift, but he hadn’t interpreted it as an auspicious omen. At most, he thought, “Wow, this is so cool and edgy!”

Who hadn’t dreamed of having superpowers as a child—flying, teleporting, communicating with animals, birds landing willingly on their palm at a mere gesture, a powerful force sealed within their body, waiting for the day they would save the world?

*I am unique, different from everyone else, the brightest star in the night sky!*

But alas, as he grew older, he realized he was utterly ordinary, nothing special at all.

Now, the System had unexpectedly fulfilled his childhood fantasy, bringing him immense joy.

As the hundred birds paid homage, he stood at the center and reflexively struck a pretentious pose: “I am the King of Beasts!”

Immediately afterward, his face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly composed himself, pretending nothing had happened, and glanced around furtively. *Thank goodness, no one saw that ridiculous display.*

Because of this incident, the court officials’ opposition to establishing an Empress waned, and their fervent remonstrances ceased. The ancients deeply believed in gods and spirits, revering the heavens. Su Tang’s birth had drawn so many auspicious omens that people couldn’t help but see him as a lucky star, believing that his presence would bring enduring blessings.

Thus, a grand and solemn ceremony was held to officially establish Su Tang as Empress.

Su Tang became the Empress of the nation, standing rightfully by Xiao Chengyan’s side, walking shoulder to shoulder with him.

After this, the court officials noticed that the Emperor’s tyrannical and volatile temperament had significantly mellowed. He no longer indulged in wanton killings and began to handle state affairs with greater diligence. It was said that this transformation was entirely due to the Empress’s influence. Moreover, the Empress had offered remarkably effective advice on certain political matters.

Some had initially worried that he might seek to control the court and had even taken precautions against such a possibility. However, the Empress showed no such ambition. He would merely offer a few pointers, never interfering directly, nor claiming credit for himself—as demonstrated during the recent epidemic and war.

Su Tang had no intention of meddling. He had simply heard about the issues and shared some insights from his future knowledge. That was all he knew; he lacked the expertise to tailor solutions to the specific circumstances. The officials understood the situation far better than he did. His only wish was for the disasters to be contained swiftly, minimizing harm to the people.

As for military matters, he had only shared his knowledge of military strategy and examples of famous battles with Commander Zhao. He never imagined that his father and elder brother would actually apply these principles on the battlefield with such remarkable success. While Commander Zhao expressed gratitude and admiration, Su Tang dared not take credit. Knowing a theory and applying it to achieve results were two entirely different things. The victory was ultimately due to General Zhao’s bravery, strategic acumen, and extensive combat experience.

Still, Su Tang felt a quiet satisfaction at having contributed in some small way, fulfilling a modest purpose as a transmigrator.

The Lantern Festival arrived.

*Fire trees bloom with silver blossoms, iron chains unlock the star bridge.*

The Capital was steeped in festive cheer, its streets teeming with crowds and bustling with lively chatter.

Su Tang and Xiao Chengyan disguised themselves in commoners’ attire and ventured out of the palace to celebrate the festival.

The streets were lined with vendors selling lanterns, their craftsmanship simple but their painted designs uniquely charming.

Wearing masks to conceal their true identities, Su Tang and Xiao Chengyan amused themselves by guessing lantern riddles.

Unexpectedly, they encountered a petty thief.

As Su Tang reached for his waist pouch to pay, his hand met only empty space. He froze, stunned. “My pouch…”

The lantern vendor immediately felt sympathy. “During festivals, thieves often take advantage of the chaos. Young Master, please be more careful.”

With a sigh, the vendor reluctantly withdrew the lantern, realizing the sale was likely lost.

Upon hearing Su Tang’s words, Xiao Chengyan’s expression darkened. He turned to scan the crowd, his gaze settling on a small, agile figure darting through the throng.

As Xiao Chengyan’s gaze swept across the crowd, the Imperial Guard, who had been secretly protecting him, noticed the Emperor’s displeasure. They swiftly rushed forward and instinctively knelt. “Your Majesty, what are your commands?”

His voice instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby.

“Your Majesty? Has the Emperor come?”

“Where? Where? I want to see the Emperor too!”

“Is that the Emperor? And isn’t that the Empress beside him?!”

The auspicious omens surrounding Su Tang’s birth anniversary had spread far beyond the palace walls, reaching every corner of the Capital. The common folk had witnessed the radiant glow that illuminated the palace skies and were even more astonished to see that despite the chill of autumn, all the flowers in the Capital had bloomed simultaneously, creating a vibrant tapestry of blossoms as if it were warm spring.

Everyone knew the Empress was the Celestial Dynasty’s harbinger of fortune.

Now, hearing that the Emperor and Empress had come to celebrate the Lantern Festival among the people, the crowd erupted in excitement, eager to catch a glimpse of the Empress’s true face and bask in her auspicious aura.

When news spread that someone had dared to steal the Empress’s coin purse, the crowd erupted in fury. With remarkable unity, they cornered the thief and dragged him before the Emperor and Empress.

Throughout the entire ordeal, the Imperial Guard had only managed to shout out the thief’s description. The common folk had stolen their thunder, leaving them both amused and exasperated.

With their identities exposed, there was no point in hiding any longer. Xiao Chengyan and Su Tang removed their masks.

Even with their faces partially concealed, the people had already been captivated by the Empress’s beautiful eyes and extraordinary aura. But when her true face was revealed, they were utterly stunned by her breathtaking beauty, as if a radiant halo surrounded her.

The crowd gasped, froze for a moment, and then spontaneously knelt in reverence.

Suddenly, they were being worshipped like Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Su Tang startled, instinctively trying to hide behind Xiao Chengyan.

Xiao Chengyan chuckled softly, reassuring him, “No need to hide. The people adore you.”

All eyes were fixed on Su Tang, who had become the center of attention.

Unnoticed in a corner at the edge of the crowd, a man in plain clothes glared at Su Tang with venomous envy.

This was none other than Su Anjing, the former Young Master of the An Yuan Marquis. He had schemed relentlessly to frame Su Tang, seize everything, and climb to power, only to end up in such a wretched state.

Su Tang, revered and adored by millions, stood at the center of it all, cradling the lanterns and gifts the people had eagerly offered. Meanwhile, Su Anjing could only lurk in a dark alley, despised like a rat scurrying across the street.

Unable to endure the torment any longer, Su Anjing turned and fled in disgrace.

In this world, Su Tang stayed until the very end.

The mission completion rate increased at a glacial pace, barely rising a fraction each day. It only reached one hundred percent the moment Xiao Chengyan died.

As a Medicinal Human, Su Tang had once consumed countless medicinal soups. But after drinking restorative tonics and gradually recuperating, his body hadn’t suffered any lasting damage, except for a slower recovery from illnesses. Xiao Chengyan had always been meticulous about Su Tang’s health, striving to prevent him from falling ill.

Xiao Chengyan, poisoned in the womb, suffered from chronic headaches and died even earlier than Su Tang.

Having long groomed the Crown Prince and prepared for every eventuality, Xiao Chengyan’s only regret was leaving Su Tang behind.

On his deathbed, Xiao Chengyan clutched Su Tang’s hand tightly, his face gaunt and haggard, yet his eyes burned with obsessive madness. “When I die,” he rasped, “you must be buried with me. Even in hell, you will die with me!”

But at the very last moment, he recanted. “I’m going first,” he whispered. “Live well.”

Su Tang gripped his gradually cooling hand, tears streaming down his face like rain.

Once, during a hunting competition, they had agreed that the winner could demand anything of the loser.

Xiao Chengyan had won, but when Su Tang asked about his prize, Xiao Chengyan had said he would tell him when the time came.

After the palace coup, the grand ceremony to formally establish the Empress was held.

Xiao Chengyan finally revealed his request: “I demand that you stay by my side for the rest of your life. You must never leave me.”

Since their feelings had deepened, Xiao Chengyan had stopped referring to himself as “Gu” when they were alone together, instead using “I.” It seemed that in Su Tang’s presence, he saw himself not as the Emperor, but simply as himself—Su Tang’s husband.

Su Tang paused, then chuckled. “Why are you asking for something so simple? Even if you hadn’t said anything, I would never leave you.”

Xiao Chengyan’s gaze was intense and possessive as he tightened his arms around Su Tang’s waist, trapping him in his embrace. “Answer quickly. Once you agree, there’s no turning back.”

Su Tang sighed inwardly. Apart from the time he had been kidnapped, he had always stayed by Xiao Chengyan’s side. Why was he still so insecure, acting like a child?

Su Tang pinched Xiao Chengyan’s cheek, teasing, “And if I refuse? What will you do?”

Xiao Chengyan’s expression immediately darkened, as if a storm had gathered. Realizing he had gone too far, Su Tang quickly leaned in for a quick kiss, soothing the Tyrannical Tsundere Dragon’s ruffled feathers. He murmured softly, “What’s a lifetime? You should have asked for eternity. Are you stupid?”

Xiao Chengyan, far from being offended by being called foolish, realized his oversight and immediately revised his request: “We must be together for all eternity.”

Su Tang’s lips curved into a radiant smile, as bright and warm as a little sun.

He nodded and kissed Xiao Chengyan again, who embraced him tightly, returning the kiss with fierce intensity, as if pouring all his emotions into it.

Their intertwined shadows fell upon the window lattice, so intimately entwined they seemed to merge into a single entity.

As Xiao Chengyan closed his eyes in his final moment, the System’s voice echoed in Su Tang’s mind:

<i>”Mission completion rate: 100%. Preparing to transfer to the next world.”</i>

Su Tang’s soul detached from his body, his vision went black, and he was swept into an endless vortex.

After his departure, the Palace Attendants, noticing the prolonged silence, whispered the Empress’s name, but received no response. When they entered the room, they found the Emperor and Empress embracing on the Dragon Bed, their eyes closed, their faces serene as if they were merely asleep.

The Palace Attendant’s voice trembled as he cried out, “…Your Majesty, the Emperor and Empress have passed away!”

The funeral bells tolled, their mournful peals echoing across the land, plunging the nation into grief.

The Emperor and Empress had been deeply beloved, having brought prosperity and glory to the realm. Their sudden loss was unbearable, as if the people had lost their own parents. Even without official decrees, the populace spontaneously mourned the imperial couple, suspending all entertainment and immersing themselves in sorrow.

When Su Tang opened his eyes again, he had already transmigrated to another world.

Logically, he should have received the plot and started his mission. But in the previous world, Xiao Chengyan had died young due to a headache, and they had only spent twenty years together. Su Tang’s emotions hadn’t yet settled; the image of Xiao Chengyan closing his eyes weakly as he passed away still lingered in his mind.

Su Tang curled into a ball, listlessly lying prone.

The System sensed his low mood but understood it was a necessary process and didn’t disturb him.

As a person experiences successive worlds, retaining their memories, the emotions in their heart naturally become increasingly intense and profound. This places a burden on both the heart and the brain, requiring periods of rest and proper digestion.

Su Tang remained quietly curled up for an entire day. Only when his stomach growled insistently, demanding attention, did he slowly emerge from his heavy emotions.

It was then that he noticed he was inside a cardboard box.

He blinked in confusion, instinctively trying to climb out. But when he reached for the edge of the box, he saw not his hand, but two furry little paws.

Shocked, Su Tang tried to speak, but only a soft, trembling “Meow~” escaped his lips.

Su Tang: “…!!!”

*He’d turned into a cat?!*

Su Tang didn’t know if his emotions were being affected by his feline transformation, but suddenly realizing he was so tiny, with everything around him seeming enormous, he felt an inexplicable surge of panic.

His round, catlike eyes were wet and glistening, his small ears twitched slightly, and he clutched his tiny paws, looking around with wary, aggrieved eyes. The towering trees, lush grass, and even the flowers seemed gigantic.

He was in a cardboard box by the roadside, likely abandoned.

Now a defenseless kitten, Su Tang knew he was vulnerable. If he encountered kind-hearted people, he might be safe, but if he ran into a brat or a cat-abusing psychopath, he’d be in serious trouble.

His first instinct was to climb out of the box and find a temporary hiding place.

He gripped the edge of the box with his front paws, his hind legs pushing upward like a climber scaling a wall. But perhaps because he hadn’t yet adjusted to his kitten body, or because kittens were simply clumsy, it took him considerable effort to wriggle half his body out of the box. He stretched forward, trying to touch the ground with his front paws, aiming for a steady landing.

Unexpectedly, his tiny body was too short, and he got stuck on the cardboard box. His two little paws dangled in mid-air, unable to reach the bottom of the box, while his front paws couldn’t touch the ground either. It was a truly pitiful situation.

Su Tang: ……qaq

With a miserable expression, Su Tang tried to save himself. He began rocking his body forward with all his might, his dangling paws kicking frantically at the air. After a while, he finally managed to inch forward, and his entire body tumbled out of the box. Carried by momentum, he rolled forward several times like a fluffy little ball.

Dizzy from the rolling, Su Tang wobbled to his feet. His head and body were covered in grass and leaves, and his fur stood on end. Combined with his dazed expression, he looked utterly adorable.

System: ……I want to pet him!

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