The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - chapter 2

Wanyu trembled, despair washing over her like a tide, threatening to drown her.

She had endured five long years in this deep palace, suffering countless pains and hardships that words could not express. The only belief that kept her going was the thought that she could leave the palace when she turned twenty.

Now, with only three days left, the thought that she might be forced to stay because the Emperor had taken an interest in her filled her with more hopelessness than death itself.

If it had been anyone else, she could have kicked, scratched, bitten, or even dragged them down with her.

But he was the Emperor.

The master of the world, the supreme sovereign.

She could not afford the consequences of resisting the Emperor.

She closed her eyes, a single tear sliding silently from the corner of her eye.

At that moment, a eunuch’s shrill voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall: “Consort Shu, you must not go in.”

“Out of my way! You wretched dog!”

With a harsh shout, the doors were pushed open, and hurried footsteps stormed into the inner hall.

Qi Rang’s brows furrowed slightly as he rose from the bed.

Wanyu scrambled off the bed in a panic, too flustered to tidy her disheveled state. Consort Shu, draped in a snowy white fox fur, had already arrived in front of her. Without a word, she raised her hand and slapped Wanyu across the face.

“You little tramp, daring to seduce His Majesty-let’s see if I don’t smash your face in!”

Wanyu staggered from the blow and knelt down, her clothes in disarray.

Her face burned with pain, but in her heart she felt nothing but relief.

No matter what, she had at least escaped disaster.

No matter how brazen the Emperor was, he would not force her in front of Consort Shu.

Consort Shu’s father had died heroically on the battlefield years ago, giving his life to protect the Emperor.

In gratitude for that lifesaving deed, the Emperor indulged Consort Shu in everything.

So long as she didn’t threaten his throne, he would forgive her even if she tore the sky asunder.

Looking at Wanyu kneeling on the floor, her exposed snowy skin and swollen red lips an eyesore, Consort Shu raised her foot and kicked toward Wanyu’s chest.

“Fox Spirit! You filthy thing, thinking you can climb into the imperial bed just because of your looks? Bah! Take a good look at yourself-see what you really are!”

Just as the kick was about to land on Wanyu, Qi Rang grabbed Consort Shu and pulled her into his embrace.

“Enough, stop making a scene. If you find her an eyesore, just have her leave. It’s late, and if you get upset you won’t be able to sleep.”

Leaning into Qi Rang’s arms, Consort Shu’s striking face shone with pride. “Get out! For His Majesty’s sake, I’ll spare you this time. But if you dare try to seduce him again, I’ll make sure you suffer a fate worse than death!”

Wanyu bowed respectfully, clutching her torn outer robe with one hand, and slowly retreated.

Qi Rang’s gaze followed her, dark waves surging in his deep eyes.

“Your Majesty, why are you still looking at her? I, a living person, am right here in front of you!”

Consort Shu pulled his hand to her chest. “I’m so angry my heart aches, Your Majesty. Come, soothe me.”

Wanyu had already reached the door when she heard Qi Rang laugh softly and deeply behind her, saying something that made Consort Shu giggle.

Wanyu let out a long sigh of relief, her taut body finally relaxing as she stepped unsteadily over the threshold.

Outside the door, Chief Eunuch Sun Liangyan and several younger eunuchs waited in the corridor. Seeing her emerge in such a disheveled state, they all looked somewhat embarrassed.

The winter night air was biting. Sun Liangyan, unable to bear it, took off his own cloak and draped it over her shoulders.

“It’s winter now, and the nights are cold. Gugu, hurry back, draw a tub of hot water for a foot soak, and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, when the sun rises, it’ll be a new day.”

Wanyu did not refuse his kindness. She gripped the cloak with both hands, gave him a deep bow, then straightened her back and walked into the night.

She deliberately walked slowly. By the time she returned to the servants’ quarters, all the rooms had gone dark.

That way, no one would see her in such a wretched state.

She tightened the cloak around herself and groped her way to her own room in the darkness.
Passing by a doorway, Wanyu overheard voices inside, and her name was mentioned.

“Who exactly is Wanyu? How can a mute still be working in Qianqing Palace?”

“You don’t know? She’s the third young lady of Anping Marquis Mansion.”

“No way. How did a noble daughter from the Marquis Mansion end up as a servant?”

“It’s a long story. Back when His Majesty was still the Fourth Prince, Anping Marquis Mansion was still Anguo Duke Mansion. His Majesty and their eldest daughter, Jiang Wantang, were in love.

But the Anguo Duke thought His Majesty had no prospects and forcibly broke them apart, marrying the eldest daughter to the Third Prince, who was believed most likely to inherit the throne.

Later, His Majesty defied the odds and ascended to the throne, and the Anguo Duke became the first person he suppressed, demoting him from Duke to Marquis.

Helpless, the Marquis sent his third daughter, born of a concubine, into the palace. On the surface, it was to serve His Majesty, but in truth, she was sent to be the target of His Majesty’s resentment.”

“So that’s what happened. Was she born mute?”

“No, she was fine when she arrived. Later, she offended Consort Shu, who forced her to drink a bowl of medicine. Since then, she hasn’t been able to speak.”

“My goodness, Consort Shu is so cruel…”

There was a sound of sharp inhalation from inside the room.

“But she’s already mute. Why does His Majesty still keep her in Qianqing Palace? Don’t tell me His Majesty has fallen for her?”

“How is that possible? His Majesty only holds resentment, keeping her by his side every day as a stand-in, just to humiliate her.”

“So, she’s a pitiful person. At least, after enduring for so long, she can finally leave the palace.”

“I doubt it’ll be that easy. If she leaves, who will His Majesty vent his anger on? Whether she leaves or not still depends on His Majesty’s wishes.”

Wanyu listened for a long time without much reaction, but that last sentence felt like a dagger stabbing straight into her heart.

Would Qi Rang really not let her go?

If he wouldn’t let her go, wouldn’t her thousand-plus days and nights of torment have all been for nothing?

No.

She could not stay in the palace; no matter what, she had to find a way out.

But what way?

In this imperial palace, was there anyone who could make Qi Rang change his mind?

She wandered back to her room in a daze, sat in the darkness pondering for a long time, until her body was chilled to the bone. Only then did she grope her way to bed, curling up and falling asleep.

Early the next morning, at dawn, she crawled out of bedding that had stayed cold all night, scooped some nearly frozen water from the bucket in the corner to wash and comb her hair.

She had two palace maids under her, both of whom were diligent in bringing her water and food each day.

When word got out she was to leave the palace, both wanted to take her position and secretly schemed against each other. They were caught by Chief Steward Sun and immediately sent to the Lateral Courts as punishment, leaving her with no one to help and making everything inconvenient.

Fortunately, there were only three days left before she could leave the palace. Once she returned home, no matter how much her father disliked her, he would still have to assign her a few maids.

Thinking this as she dressed, she braved the morning chill to report for duty at Qianqing Palace.

His Majesty rose at the fifth watch for morning court, and her job was to tidy up the dragon bed he had slept in.

After last night, she dared not face Qi Rang and deliberately arrived a little late, hoping to avoid him.

She thought Qi Rang would have already left, but as soon as she entered, she ran straight into him, his face cold as frost.

Wanyu’s heart pounded in her chest and she quickly knelt to pay her respects.

She was mute and couldn’t offer the customary greetings, so she could only bow her head deeply, showing her respect in the most humble posture.

Qi Rang’s cold gaze lingered on her neck, pale as porcelain, and after a long moment, he spoke in a low voice: “After today, only two days remain. Do you really think you can get through safely just by avoiding me?”