I am the Main Character? No Thanks!: Chapter 40 (Volume 2)

“Absolutely Not!!”

“My Empress!! Please reconsider your decision!!”

“This minister cannot accept some no-name commoner to become your consort!!”

Yin Lingxi watched silently as the projections of her various ministers and noble families spoke out one after another through the communication jade.

She knew from the very beginning that these fools would oppose her relationship with Da Wei, simply because of his background and the fact that he did not belong to any faction that they could coerce or control.

It has always been like this with the Royal Family.

On the surface, they appear to be the most powerful people in the Empire, enjoying luxuries that the mortals and most cultivators can’t even imagine.

But, in truth, they are always restricted into playing this game of checks and balances with the various Noble families, Ministers, and sects of the Empire, trying to make sure that one of them does not become stronger than the other and cause chaos across the Empire with their ambitions.

Yin Lingxi had learned long ago that being born as a member of the Royal Family was no blessing. In fact, it was much closer to a curse than anything.

However, now that she has finally found a place for herself in this world. Now that she had found a person who loved her not for some ulterior motive but simply for herself, she will not allow anyone to get in her way.

And if she needed to get rid of all these bastards for it, then so be it.

Her cold voice instantly shut up the protesting people in her court.

“This Empress does not require your opinion on my personal life. I will be conducting the ceremony with Da Wei in a few days and you will prepare everything on your end to welcome your new Emperor.”

“Anyone who goes against my order will have their families annihilated to the last living relative. Is that clear?”

The clear threat forced the men to start sweating in fear because the reputation of the Yin family is something they are very familiar with thanks to their long years spent in the Royal court.

The Yin family never makes any empty threats. When they say something, they will do it not matter the cost. That is how it has always been in the thousand years that the Yin Long empire has existed.

With a thought, the jade stopped working and cut off all the men, but left a single projection active which showed Yao Xingchen who held a fierce scowl on her face, much to Yin Lingxi’s amusement.

“Do you have anything to say? Aunt Xingchen?”

“..My Empress, I still think that getting involved with that man is a mistake.”

“Aunt Xingchen, you have always been hostile towards Da Wei ever since we first met so long ago. Tell me clearly, what do you find so unappealing about him? Especially in comparison to all those foolish young masters or arrogant heirs of the various sects?”

Yao Xingchen’s expressions softened a little as she looked at Yin Lingxi, realizing that she was not speaking as the Empress but as her niece.

“Lingxi. I have nothing against Da Wei. In fact, I have nothing but respect for him after watching how he has been taking care of his village which I got the opportunity to visit while you were gone. But, the reason I don’t like this new relationship is because of his background.”

“You mean the Hidden Heavens Holy Land.”

“Yes. Just like any other Holy Land, they are a dangerous force that use their strength and heritage to get their way with most of the things. Once Da Wei rejoins that Holy Land, it is a matter of when not if, what is stopping him from being corrupted by those people and turning on you and your empire?”

Yin Lingxi put on a neutral look as she looked at her Aunt.

“Do you think so lowly of his character?”

“It is not a matter of his character, Lingxi. No force can hold as lofty a position as the Holy Lands without having a few dozen tricks up their sleeves. Most importantly, they cannot achieve such positions without knowing how to manipulate people, including their own people.”

“I am worried that some poisonous snakes will breathe lies and half-truths into Da Wei’s mind, provoking him into taking over your family’s empire for the benefit of the Hidden Heavens Holy Land.”

Yin Lingxi closed her eyes and forcefully suppressed her anger, knowing that her aunt did not think about such a hypothetical issue because she despised Da Wei.

No. All of these overthinking and hypothetical scenarios were born from Yao Xingchen’s fears and concerns.

Fear that she would lose her niece, the only family she had left in this world, and concern that Yin Lingxi was being deceived by Da Wei.

Yin Lingxi knew for a fact that Yao Xingchen could not care less about the Empire or its people. To her aunt, the only one who truly mattered the most was her sister when she was alive and her niece, Yin Lingxi.

After thinking deeply about all these things and finally suppressing her impulsive emotions, Yin Lingxi looked serenely at her Aunt.

“..I will not deny that the possibility is there that what you just said may come true. My love and My heart condemn me for even entertaining such thoughts, but my mind and my position as the Empress tells me to prepare for the worst.”

“That is why, I have a new task for you, my Dao Protector.”

Immediately, Yao Xingchen fell to a knee.

“This one is ready, My Empress.”

“I need you to continue staying by my side and observe me and Da Wei as you always do. Watch over us as we run our empire.”

Then, Yin Lingxi smiled warmly as her Aunt’s body trembled a little.

“And, when the time comes for you and me to be proven wrong for questioning my beloved’s character in such a way, I need you to be by my side as we apologize to him for this slight.”

Yao Xingchen did not dare to raise her head lest her empress see the tears gathering in her eyes at her niece’s words.

Despite how she tried to stay stoic and strongly put forward her opinions, Yao Xingchen always held the fear that her personality would one day drive a wedge between her and her niece, taking away the only family she had left in this world.

Thankfully, her niece always proved to be much more understanding of her. In some cases, it felt like Yin Lingxi knew her better than she knew herself.

It was this fact that always reassured Yao Xingchen that she was in no danger of losing her niece.

However, this new development in her relationship with Da Wei really did scare Yao Xingchen, especially when she spoke about the possibility of him turning on Yin Lingxi.

The scary expression that appeared on Yin Lingxi’s face truly terrorized Yao Xingchen and made her think that this time, she had truly gone too far in her worry and overprotectiveness, making her lose her niece.

Thankfully, Yin Lingxi once again proved why she was chosen as the Empress by the previous emperor secretly all the way back in her childhood over her brothers.

“As you command, My Empress. Although…what about your brothers?”

“What about them?”

At the mention of her brothers Yin Lingxi’s voice turned to ice.

“Let the elder one rot in the prison for his actions. As for the younger one? Let him roam around the continent as he is doing. Just think of it as the next stage in his debauchery and tolerate it as such. Given his lifestyle, I highly doubt he can even remember the date of my ceremony even if he is informed about it.”

“…Understood. Then, I’ll get back to arranging things here-”

“Actually, I need you to delegate those tasks to someone you trust and head to the village.”

Yin Lingxi smiled at Yao Xincheng who immediately understood the reason why Yin Lingxi asked her to visit so soon, making the older woman finally shed tears without hiding.

“Da Wei’s side has already chosen the Elder who is going to represent him in the ceremony. On my side, I want you to represent me. Are you willing? Aunt Xingchen?”

“Willing! Definitely willing! I’ll set off right now!!”

Without even waiting for Yin Lingxi to speak further, Yao Xingchen disconnected the call, probably heading straight for her room to gather her things before her travel.

Yin Lingxi chuckled lightly at those actions before leaning back in her seat, stroking the fur of the Panda Demonic Beast that she had chosen to take in despite Da Wei’s protests.

“I am sorry, my love, for even entertaining the thoughts of your betrayal, but I must always think about my Empire and about the worst-case scenarios, no matter how impossible.”

She looked out through the window, towards the large ground of men who were huddled together and worked on something, much to Da Wei’s protests and annoyance as his loud protests rang out across the village.

“I can only ask for your understanding and forgiveness when all of this proves to be pointless and my trust in you is proven true like always. I just hope you don’t hate me for thinking like this.”

Her sorrowful whispers spread across the room as the panda cub curled up tighter into her abdomen, trying to comfort the young empress who continued smiling sadly while watching out of the window towards her beloved.