QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots-Chapter 317 - 10.18

Five days later, Xiao Jinan officially held his coronation ceremony and was about to ascend the throne.

In this two-month-long struggle for power, he finally stood atop the supreme imperial throne under the watchful gaze of the masses.

"I plan to make you Empress on the day of my coronation. What do you think?"

Xiao Jinan asked this on the very day of the ceremony. In his view, Jiang Jiamian had always been his queen. Once he became Emperor, Jiang Jiamian naturally would become his Empress. This was only right.

That was why he hadn’t asked for Jiang Jiamian’s opinion beforehand. He had already instructed those preparing the coronation to make arrangements for the Empress’s ceremony as well.

Even asking now was merely symbolic.

He never truly believed Jiang Jiamian would refuse.

"To be made Empress?"

Jiang Jiamian was genuinely startled. Then, before he could even refuse, he burst out laughing. "Do I look like someone suited to be Empress? Or is it my temperament that screams ’virtuous empress’? Xiao Jinan, what exactly are you thinking?"

As for the earlier title of Queen Consort, wasn’t that nothing more than a pretext? Something both of them knew had only been used to bring him from the capital to the Huainan King’s residence.

Jiang Jiamian had never truly placed himself in that strange position.

So why did Xiao Jinan seem intent on making him play the role of a ’proper wife’ all the way to the end?

No, no, no. The dignified Empress, the harmonious imperial couple, that was clearly Yu Miaomiao’s rebirth script. It had nothing to do with him, General Jiang.

"You are the only one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me and rule this world."

Xiao Jinan looked at him steadily, reached out, and gently pulled Jiang Jiamian’s hand into his own, gripping it tightly. "Jiamian, let me make you my Empress. Alright?"

Jiang Jiamian felt his teeth ache. He instinctively wanted to avoid that gaze. "This..."

That look was far too intense. And that position was too damned troublesome.

What kind of Empress was he, a grown man?

Besides, there were countless ways to rule the world. Why did it have to be this one?

More importantly, Jiang Qingshan was still alive. Forget Jiang Jiamian himself, even Jiang Qingshan, raised in the pride of a military family, would never want his son to become an Empress under the world’s scrutiny and endless gossip.

As for the earlier betrothal to the King of Huainan, that could at least be explained as a necessity, a forced political arrangement by the old Emperor.

Only because of that had Jiang Qingshan reluctantly accepted it.

Up until now, in Jiang Qingshan’s eyes, everything had merely been a scheme, a cooperation. He had never truly believed his son had become husband and wife with another man, especially one whose status invited endless trouble.

"My father won’t agree."

Jiang Jiamian decisively invoked Jiang Qingshan’s name.

Xiao Jinan’s eyes narrowed. "I am the Emperor."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

So fast?

Was this a threat or a declaration that imperial authority brooked no refusal?

And Jiang Qingshan would have absolutely no way to resist it?

Hah.

Jiang Jiamian raised an eyebrow and smiled, tilting his head. "So... are you reminding me to hurry up and pull you off the throne?"

Xiao Jinan: "..."

"Then..." Jiang Jiamian stepped closer, nearly face to face, lowering his voice until his breath brushed against Xiao Jinan’s cheek, "I’ll be the Emperor, and you’ll be the Empress. How about that?"

Xiao Jinan’s eyes widened slightly. Feeling that warm breath so close, staring at that bright face magnified before him, he answered without hesitation, "Okay."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

"Ahem." Jiang Jiamian coughed lightly. "Will the Empress have to wear women’s clothing?"

Xiao Jinan finally snapped out of it. His face lit up with joy. "You agreed!? Don’t worry, I know what you’re concerned about. Making you Empress doesn’t mean locking you in the inner palace. You’re a man, and I would never confine you."

He squeezed Jiang Jiamian’s hand. "I just believe that only the title of Empress can tell the entire world that you, Jiang Jiamian, are the one who truly stands shoulder to shoulder with me."

Empress.

No title stood closer to the Emperor than that.

Jiang Jiamian raised an eyebrow. "It’s not impossible. But I have a condition."

Xiao Jinan was overjoyed and immediately pulled him into a tight embrace. "Say it. One condition, ten, a hundred, whatever it is, I’ll agree."

Jiang Jiamian let this newly crowned Emperor, dressed in an extravagant dragon robe, cling to him like a child craving candy. His joy was impossible to hide.

Even Jiang Jiamian’s heart softened.

"I can be Empress, but only in name." Jiang Jiamian said calmly. "I’ll still do as I please. I’ll still be myself. I’ll still ride into battle and cause chaos."

Xiao Jinan laughed. "I thought you were going to demand something serious. Did you really think I’d cage you in the inner palace if you hadn’t said it? Don’t worry, you can be Empress and still wield the power of the world."

He lifted Jiang Jiamian’s hand and pressed it gently to his cheek, his gaze so tender it nearly melted even Jiang Jiamian’s battle-hardened heart. "I don’t mind being your puppet Emperor."

Jiang Jiamian’s heart skipped. "You said it yourself!"

Being Empress didn’t seem so bad.

After all, he had never been one before.

Since Xiao Jinan had invited him so sincerely, he would reluctantly accept.

As for Jiang Qingshan... that would have to wait until he arrived in the capital from the Huainan King’s residence, when Jiang Jiamian could properly explain this surprise.

After all, Jiang Jiamian hadn’t forgotten that when father and son parted in prison, Jiang Qingshan had been full of hope, believing that once cooperation with the King of Huainan ended, the Jiang family would be cleared of blame, regain its military prestige, shed the false title of Queen Consort...

And then marry a wife and continue the family line.

In short, Jiang Qingshan’s plans back then had been very beautiful indeed.

Now... Jiang Jiamian covered his face.

This... might be a bit troublesome.

"The Empress Conferment?!"

Amid the thunderous sound of gongs and drums and the expectant gazes of civil and military officials, Xiao Jinan ascended the throne upon the nine dragon steps, his presence exuding an unprecedented, overwhelming authority.

Everything proceeded smoothly.

The entire court, composed of Xiao Jinan’s former subordinates from the Huainan King’s faction and surrendered officials of Great An, regarded this Emperor, who had seized the throne through bloodshed and iron-handed conquest, with profound awe. Throughout the ceremony, no one dared utter a word.

However, when Xiao Jinan announced that the Empress Conferment would proceed, the court visibly stirred.

Especially among a few rigid civil officials. Upon hearing that Xiao Jinan intended to make a man Empress, they immediately lost their composure.

"Your Majesty, this must not be done! Throughout history, the Empress has always been the Mother of the Nation. When has there ever been a precedent for appointing a man as Empress?"

"Exactly! If a man is made Empress, the world will laugh at us! Moreover, the Empress bears the responsibility of continuing the imperial bloodline, how could a man fulfill such a duty?"

Xiao Jinan’s gaze turned icy. His sharp eyes swept over the two officials like blades.

He had spared them only because they held key positions in the Ministry of Rites and could not yet be replaced, and because they had chosen to surrender when the coup succeeded.

Now it seemed they had completely misjudged their situation.

Did they truly believe he had spared their lives because he lacked alternatives? That he dared not purge all the old officials of Great An?

"Oh?" Xiao Jinan spoke calmly. "Is that what the two of you think?"

Those who knew him well understood immediately that this was the calm before the storm.

Though his tone sounded questioning, his eyes held no trace of inquiry.

Only cold intent.

Unfortunately, the two former Great An officials remained oblivious. Taking his words as encouragement, they spoke with even greater conviction.

"Your Majesty, now that you have ascended the throne, you should select women for the harem, establish an Empress, and take concubines to enrich the palace and ensure the prosperity of the new dynasty!"

Xiao Jinan said softly, "You two, is that truly what you mean?"

His gaze slowly swept across the hall.

"Or does anyone else here share this opinion?"

"Your Majesty, we dare not!"

Several of Xiao Jinan’s long-time subordinates immediately knelt, followed by the more perceptive surrendered officials who understood the situation.

Their actions forced even those who secretly agreed with the two officials to hesitate, then kneel as well.

In an instant, the two outspoken ministers were left standing alone.

"Guards." Xiao Jinan said coldly. "Drag them out and give them fifty strokes."

He looked down at the hall. "Anyone who dares disobey my will again will be executed without mercy."

"Yes!"

The two old ministers were dragged away. Silence finally fell.

Only when the ceremonial bell rang again did Jiang Jiamian appear at the far end of the hall.

Bathed in sunlight, he stood there like a god descending from the heavens, his presence radiant.

He wore a phoenix robe and phoenix crown, not women’s attire, but a set specially designed for him. It did nothing to diminish his masculine bearing. On the contrary, it highlighted his heroic spirit, outlining a peerless figure that seemed almost celestial. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Xiao Jinan descended the steps without waiting for him to approach. He strode forward and stopped before Jiang Jiamian, slowly extending his hand.

Jiang Jiamian smiled, bright as sunlight piercing clouds, and placed his hand into Xiao Jinan’s palm.

Xiao Jinan clasped it tightly.

In that moment, he felt a sense of fulfillment unlike anything the throne itself had given him.