Help! The Villainess Trapped in the Beast World's Drama!

Chapter 473: Chapter 456: Pain for a Moment Is Better Than Pain for a Lifetime

Ji Lin’s voice was weak, yet still carried its usual authority, ”The greatest threat to the Royal Family today is not only the Regent King. The five Nine-tailed Fox families are also on the move, posing a bigger hidden danger.”

”Yuan Ke wants to control the young Emperor through regency; we can use him to maintain the balance.”

Qiu Yang seemed to understand partly, uncertainly, ”Your Majesty’s meaning is...”

Ji Lin explained, ”Currently, in the Inner Court, Prime Minister Yuan Ke has many followers and a strong influence, but unfortunately, he has a fatal flaw—he is not from the Nine-tailed Fox Clan.”

”The Yiyuan Empire was founded by the Ji family and the Nine-tailed Fox Clan, with a heritage spanning thousands of years. The entire Empire adheres to ancient laws. If Yuan Ke wants to ascend to the throne, he certainly won’t win the people’s heart and cannot defy the ancient system; the safest way is regency.”

”Li’er is still young and incapable of confronting him. Regency is his best option. I suspect that when Li’er ascends the throne, Yuan Ke will likely orchestrate a palace coup and take the opportunity to support the young Emperor, garnering gratitude from both inside and outside, thus legitimately establishing the regency.”

Ji Lin coughed twice, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes. Although his body was weak, after many years in a high position, he could understand the machinations of the court reasonably well.

He continued, ”...Thus, before the young Emperor comes of age, within ten years, Yuan Ke will have enough reason to control the government and can cultivate the Emperor into a compliant puppet. If the Emperor defies him, he will have enough power to secretly resolve the Emperor and support a new one, though he can never legitimately ascend to the throne.”

Ji Lin looked out the window, a deep worry flashing in his eyes, ”But the Nine-tailed Fox Clan is different. If the Emperor dies and the young child also ’dies unexpectedly,’ they have the capability to change dynasties, select a new heir within their group, and elevate them as the new Emperor.”

Ji Lin noted Qiu Yang’s realization with solemnity, ”After I abdicate, if there isn’t a powerful court minister to protect Li’er, the first thing the five Nine-tailed Fox families will solve is Li’er.”

”Yuan Ke is a double-edged sword that can be used externally and internally. I can’t move against the five Nine-tailed Fox families, so I can only help Li’er choose a way to preserve himself; this is the only thing I can do for him now.”

Qiu Yang understood completely, ”Your Majesty truly is far-sighted!”

Keep the Regent King to suppress the Nine-tailed Fox family’s power, let them consume themselves through internal strife, making the little prince the stabilizing sea god who neither dare to move, becoming the safest existence!

Ji Lin gave a bitter smile, ”It’s an unavoidable choice; Xiao Li is the only child of Xiao Jiu and me. I wish him peace and prosperity, but unfortunately, I can’t do much for him... cough cough cough...”

Qiu Yang quickly got up to support him, concerned, ”Your Majesty, please lie down and rest. I will go make medicine for you!”

”No need.” Ji Lin feebly waved his hand, ”Listen well, there is one last thing I need to entrust to you.”

”Your Majesty is too kind. My life was saved by you, and I will spare no effort to carry out any orders from Your Majesty! I will protect Your Majesty for life!”

Ji Lin gazed deeply at him, his eyes expressing pain and helplessness, shaking his head, ”Qiu Yang, there’s no need to deceive yourself any longer; I know my condition.”

”...” Qiu Yang lowered his head, not daring to look at him.

The air was silent for a long time.

Ji Lin closed his eyes and spoke his heart,

”My life is nearing its end; I won’t live much longer. You will formally be entrusted with Li’er in the future.”

”Bang!”

Qiu Yang suddenly fell to his knees, heavily bowing his head.

His eyes were red, and with a hoarse voice, he said, ”I will exhaust every effort, raising the little prince, and will never let anyone threaten Your Majesty’s and the Empire’s safety!”

Meanwhile.

Outside the door came a crisp ”crash,” as if something broke.

Qiu Yang hurriedly got up and checked, finding the entrance empty without people, but there was a broken bowl of medicinal soup at the door, with the black liquid flowing down the steps.

Qiu Yang returned and spoke complexly, ”It should be, the little prince came.”

He heard their conversation.

Ji Lin, ”Let it be. He’ll have to know sooner or later and learn to accept all of this.”

Qiu Yang spoke with bitterness, ”The little Emperor is still young; he lost his mother at three and didn’t even have the chance to remember her, now he has to...”

Even a grown male like Qiu Yang could no longer speak.

To outsiders, one thing seemed strange.

The identity of the Empress has always been shrouded in mystery.

None knew where the Empress came from, and since marrying His Majesty, she always stayed in the Imperial Palace, never venturing out, hardly attending regular meetings or events, and didn’t have dedicated personal servants; even palace Beastmen rarely saw her.

There were no media reports about her, and only Qiu Yang, being close to the Emperor, knew the secret: it was His Majesty who secretly withdrew all information about the Empress, destroying it completely.

Qiu Yang didn’t understand why before, but after the palace coup six years ago, he seemed to comprehend something.

His Majesty has always shielded the Empress from being discovered.

But alas.

Papers can never conceal fire.

Those mysterious figures eventually pursued the Empress.

What exactly is the Empress’s origin?

Qiu Yang harbored many doubts but knew it wasn’t his place to ask. After so many years, secrets ought to be buried in unknown places.

Ji Lin pressed a switch on the bed and opened a hidden compartment to retrieve a portrait.

He still held a portrait of the Empress.

It depicted a strikingly beautiful female.

With emaciated, pale fingers, Ji Lin softly caressed the figure’s brows and eyes, eyes filled with deep affection and remembrance.

But ultimately, he let a corner of the painting be consumed by dying candle flames.

Flames instantly devoured it.

In mere moments, the meticulously painted portrait turned into ashes.

Ji Lin looked out into the distance outside the window, a touch of relief crossing his face,

”No pain surpasses time; momentary pain is preferable to lifelong sorrow.”

...

Three months later, the Emperor passed away.

The night following the interment of the late Emperor’s coffin in the Imperial Mausoleum, a palace coup erupted within the Empire, causing chaos in the court.

Prime Minister Yuan Ke and several ministers heroically quelled the sudden coup and supported the young Emperor’s successful ascension.

However, due to the young Emperor’s age, a prominent minister was required for assistance. Given Prime Minister Yuan Ke’s crucial role in protecting the ruler, he was recommended to become the Regent King.

From then on, Yuan Ke held sway over the affairs of the court, and the young Emperor became a puppet ruler without real power.

What people didn’t know was that the late Emperor Ji Lin had long dispatched individuals to secretly escort the real Ji Jiuli out of the Imperial Palace, leaving a stand-in as a political puppet.

Even before his death, he executed a strategic escape.