The Birth Of A Villainess

"What do you mean by that?!" Emperor Yun was extremely shocked at his arrogance, but Qu Xing Xu only unsmilingly looked at him and opened his mouth again,

"Your Majesty, don't raise your voice too high. We don't want to cause a scene, do we now?"

The young Duke standing before the Emperor looked evil in his black robes and even crueler than most men the Emperor had met in this lifetime. Who would actually dare to demand the royal seal from the Emperor? This could only be done by Qu Xing Xu.

Emperor Yun's eyes hardened by Qu Xing xu's words, and he gritted his lips but didn't speak a word. He looked like a tame rabid dog who would jump at anything whenever it could get out of its restraint.

"This is treason. You could be punished by the imperial law and have the Qu family's nine generations to die with you." The Emperor reminded him.

Instead of getting scared by the Emperor's words, Qu Xing Xu smiled at him, "Treason? I am merely trying to save the Empire from the oncoming enemies from the northern region of our borders."

The northern region was where the Chu Empire was located. Separated by a gushing river and spanned by a bridge, the two empires were connected for both trade exchange and tourist visits. This bridge was built a hundred years ago when two emperors decided to make peace with each other by getting what they wanted from the other.

But at this point, the relationship between the Chu and Zheng Empire has been lukewarm. It was totally not like before where one could drink wine side by side because of the unknown whereabouts of Prince Ziyin, who went missing suddenly and hadn't returned after a week already.

With this unfortunate news where an empire's imperial prince has gone missing on foreign soil and Empire, this could mean many things. One, the prince wanted time for himself and decided to get away from his royal duties. However, Prince Ziyin was not the crown prince of the Chu Empire. Thus, he didn't have that many royal duties on his plate. Moreover, if he wanted to go and stay somewhere secluded without others disturbing him, he would have to inform his aides first to resolve any misunderstandings.

Second, Prince Ziyin met an unfortunate accident on another empire's soil, and since the other Empire didn't want to take the blame, they hid the truth. Or perhaps, they assassinated him.

And lastly, the prince fell foolishly in love with a young woman from the Zheng Empire, and since it wasn't ideal of him to marry a foreigner, someone who came from outside their kingdom, he decided not to tell anyone and eloped with her.

But the first and third were slightly unbelievable and impossible to happen since Prince Ziyin wouldn't just inform his aides and servants that he would go outside; he also has to carry his things if he eloped with someone.

However, the prince's temporary residence outside the imperial palace was not ransacked, and the prince didn't take anything with him.

Thus, most of the Chu envoys quickly invalidated the first and third reason why the prince disappeared. That only leaves the second reason…

"This time, the Chu Empire has decided to start preparing for a war with the Zheng Empire because of their missing prince. If this were when I was too lazy to come to the court discussions and battlefields, I would just sit back and watch your beloved Zheng Empire fall to the hands of the enemies." Qu Xing Xu said these words that made the emperor look at him with a complicated look in his eyes.

"What made you change your mind then?"

"I'll answer your question if you give me the royal seal first." Qu Xing Xu said that had the Emperor shut his mouth.

Qu Xing Xu looked at his outstretched palm and shrugged before pulling them down. He turned around and sat on the chair near the bed. He crossed his long legs and put his elbow on the table beside the chair. He then settled his chin on top of the back of his hand.

The Emperor didn't believe that Qu Xing Xu was the kind of man who could easily change his mind when he wants to do or say something. It doesn't matter what other people may think of him nor do after what he had done, but he would definitely rush past through any defensive fortress just to achieve what he wanted.

However, not only did Qu Xing Xu change his mind from not interfering with the Empire's state, but he also stepped forward to battle it out with the Chu Empire. What was he exactly thinking by saying this to him?

Seeing the changes in the Emperor's eyes, Qu Xing Xu chuckled and took a sip from the teacup that was already on the table before he came in. It was already cold since it was brought in sometime earlier, but he still took a few sips to wet his lips.

Then, Qu Xing Xu set his cup down with a disgusted frown.

"I recommend you a new tea to brew next time, Your Majesty. This one I just drank tastes like canal water, not like I actually drank one before." Qu Xing Xu dabbed the corners of his lips with a handkerchief he took out from his sleeve and continued to say, "Let's just say… I have some plans for the future."

"What plans?" Emperor Yun didn't feel good at this. Qu Xing Xu planning something was definitely not a good thing.

Qu Xing Xu knocked his finger on the table and said, "It's a secret, actually. But since his majesty looks like he's curious to death, I will only tell you."

Who's curious to death! This bastard! Emperor Yun cursed inwardly but kept silent and waited for him to speak. If the Duke says that he plans to rebel and commit treason after winning the war with the Chu Empire, the Emperor didn't know what he would do. And if Qu Xing Xu mentions the letter he sent last time and uses it against him, Emperor Yun will have no choice but to plan something against the young Duke.

But contrary to what the Emperor was thinking, Qu Xing Xu dropped an unexpected bunt, "I plan to take on a vacation break with my wife in the mountains. I think I can treat this hunt (war) as a way to announce my permanent break from war or court discussions."