The Bright Moon Reflects My Heart - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Zhan Yan was elegant, charming, and known far and wide as the Jade-faced Prince. Even if the sky were falling, he could remain perfectly composed with a beauty in his arms.

But right now, his face was so red it looked like it might drip blood. His features twitched, and the wine cup in his hand had been crushed to pieces.

His voice cracked a little. “Imperial Brother!”

“When have I ever… ever… Who told you such nonsense?!”

Just then, the System chimed in again. “Congratulations, host. You have successfully obtained key intel: Prince An likes goose-yellow belly bands embroidered with little duck patterns and trimmed with lace. Please keep up the good work.”

“Warm reminder: soothing the target’s emotions at this time may earn you an extra reward.”

Soothe him, my ass.

The look on Zhan Yan’s face clearly said: anyone who comes near me dies.

“Pfft.”

Somewhere in the corner, someone suddenly failed to hold back a laugh.

Then, one after another…

Pfft, pfft, pfft.

The imperial relatives and court officials all lowered their heads, their shoulders shaking.

Zhan Liangsheng seemed to age ten years in an instant.

He waved weakly, his voice hoarse. “Dismissed. All of you, leave. I… have a headache.”

Eunuch Guo, standing off to the side, stumbled down the steps and began organizing everyone’s orderly retreat. “Elders and children first!”

The System’s voice rang out again, this time playing a cheery settlement jingle.

“Sweetie, you’re amazing! Your first battle is a victory! New mission issued: obtain intel from the Emperor on whether Prince An prefers moon-white inner robes or silver-white inner robes.”

“Time limit: three days. Failure penalty: perform a public square dance in front of everyone, then die on the spot.”

Why were all the missions like this?

I watched Zhan Yan storm off with a murderous aura, and in my mind, I could already hear square-dance music echoing through the palace.

After the palace banquet incident, everyone in the entire imperial palace looked at me with an indescribably complicated mix of emotions.

As for Zhan Liangsheng, my former target, he had not stepped into my chambers for two days straight.

I slipped a few taels of silver to a young eunuch who served before the throne and got him to reveal a little news about Zhan Liangsheng.

The young eunuch said that for the past two days, whenever Zhan Liangsheng reviewed memorials, he would constantly snap his brushes in half. Then he would start talking to the empty air.

“Belly band… belly band. What does the color of the belly band he likes have to do with you?”

“Zhan Yan? What is so good about him?”

“You are my woman. Why are you asking about him?”

The young eunuch imitated him perfectly, then added, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty breaks one brush for every sentence he says. The hand passing him brushes is about to cramp. Just look-what does that prove?”

“It proves he has a strong grip,” I replied.

Wonderful. Just wonderful.

Would he snap my neck too?

So hard to guess.

The System was still hounding me. “Warning! Twelve hours remain before the mission deadline. Countdown to the public square dance and death-on-the-spot penalty has begun!”

My vision went dark. “No. The green-tea demon consort persona I worked so hard to build cannot be destroyed by a square dance.”

System: “Is that really what the host should be focusing on?”

I raced back to my chambers, fighting for every second.

The moment I reached the door, the System said, “Detected massive emotional fluctuations in target Zhan Liangsheng. Jealousy value is skyrocketing. This is the ideal time to obtain intel. Host, please make use of your personal advantages, act cute, and soothe the dragon heart!”

I spat at it.

Ideal time to obtain intel, my foot.

More like the ideal time to get myself killed.

I looked at my miserable, anxious face in the bronze mirror, then changed into the crimson dress Zhan Liangsheng liked seeing me in most. After that, I rushed to the imperial kitchen, snatched a pot of mung bean and coix seed drink, and charged straight toward the Imperial Study.

But as soon as I reached the entrance of the Imperial Study, Eunuch Guo stopped me.