"Isn't it a little wrong to deceive your son like that?"
After Xia Xunyang left, the Heavenly Queen slowly emerged inside the Tower of a Hundred Beauties.
Her gaze at Emperor Yongchang was filled with contempt.
Emperor Yongchang was perfectly composed. "My queen, I haven't deceived Xunyang, just as I haven't deceived you."
"Pah."
The Heavenly Queen had nothing but scorn for Emperor Yongchang's womanizing rhetoric.
"You said that to Lianshan Xin, and now you're saying it to Xia Xunyang. Aren't you afraid these two sons of yours will come to blows on Kuang Mountain and turn brother against brother?"
Emperor Yongchang's tone was calm. "That was how I came through it. Who among those vying for the throne hasn't come through it that way?"
"Neither of them was trying to vie for the throne," the Heavenly Queen said with a frown.
Emperor Yongchang shrugged. "Sometimes, whether they fight for it isn't up to them."
"You really are a cold-blooded, heartless father."
"I'll take that as a compliment, my queen."
Emperor Yongchang did not consider himself offended.
"If either Xunyang or Xin truly manages to gain control of the Kuang Mountain Secret Realm, why shouldn't I pass the realm to him? They're both my sons, after all. It wouldn't fall into an outsider's hands."
As for propriety, reputation, and even the question of their status as illegitimate sons, none of these were major concerns to Emperor Yongchang.
The Heavenly Queen believed he meant that, but she still shook her head. "Their birth all but rules out their chances of laying a hand on the throne. No one will support them."
"My support and sufficient strength of their own will be enough. The support of the outer court isn't that important. My queen, I truly have high hopes for both of