The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - chapter 3

Wanyu knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Fortunately, Qi Rang had to attend court and could not afford to waste time. He stared at her in silence for a moment, then stepped over her and crossed the threshold.

Wanyu remained kneeling until his footsteps faded completely before slowly rising and heading to the inner hall.

Several other Palace Maids followed her in, watching as she opened the windows to air out the room, swept the bed and folded the bedding, tidied up, and replaced the Calming Incense with a fresh orchid scent to clear the air.

Once everything was in order, inside and out, and she had double-checked that nothing was amiss, she sent the Emperor’s discarded garments to be washed and recorded, before finally going to have breakfast.

After breakfast, she handled some trivial matters. As noon approached, it was time to prepare for the Emperor’s midday rest.

Perhaps there was some thorny issue at court today, for Qi Rang did not return until the end of the noon hour.

When Wanyu heard the announcement of the imperial lunch from the front, she led several Palace Maids to tidy the bedding again.

In fact, the bed had already been made in the morning, but out of caution, they had to check it thoroughly once more, in case anyone had tampered with the dragon bed during this time.

Although the possibility was almost zero.

But the Emperor’s life was precious; checking a hundred times would not be too much.

Wanyu demonstrated each step carefully, teaching the Palace Maids with gestures and examples.

At that moment, Sun Liangyan’s apprentice, Fuzi, hurried in and whispered in Wanyu’s ear, “Gugu, Master says your elder sister angered His Majesty. He told you to leave quickly after you finish, so you don’t run into the Emperor again.”

Wanyu’s heart skipped a beat. She nodded silently and made a gesture of thanks to him.

Fuzi hurried away.

Wanyu also quickened her pace.

But just as she finished and was leading the Palace Maids out the door, Qi Rang approached, surrounded by a group of people.

Wanyu silently cursed her luck. She quickly led the Palace Maids to kneel in a row by the main entrance, bowing her head even lower as the footsteps drew near.

How could it be such a coincidence?

If she didn’t know Qi Rang disliked her, she would have suspected he was deliberately trying to catch her.

Qi Rang quickly ascended the steps, pausing briefly at the door. His gaze swept over the Palace Maids and landed precisely on Wanyu.

Wanyu pressed her lips together, every muscle in her body tense.

After a moment, Qi Rang withdrew his gaze and stepped into the grand hall.

Wanyu breathed a sigh of relief and was just about to rise and leave when she heard Qi Rang inside ask, “Who made the bed?”

Sun Liangyan’s face changed, instinctively sensing something was wrong. He immediately looked at Wanyu.

The Palace Maids also looked at her nervously.

Wanyu smiled bitterly to herself.

She had made the bed herself. She had been making that bed for five years; there was no way she could have made a mistake.

Qi Rang was simply looking for another excuse to make things difficult for her.

She waved her hand, signaling the Palace Maids to withdraw first. Taking a deep breath, she clasped her hands before her chest, straightened her back, and walked in.

Qi Rang stood by the dragon bed with his hands behind his back, his sword-like brows slightly furrowed. From the moment he heard Wanyu’s footsteps, his gaze was fixed in her direction.

Wanyu felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, but forced herself to walk up and kneel three steps away from him, quietly waiting for his rebuke.

Qi Rang said nothing, his gaze falling on her lowered eyelashes.

Her lashes were long-so long and thick they seemed like butterflies resting by a lakeshore.

Her eyes were like two pools of water.
Clear, pure, calm.

She was always like this, no matter the time, wearing an expression of resignation.

It seemed that whatever fate gave her, she would accept it all, even with gratitude.

But Qi Rang knew her heart was not truly like this.

The Jiang Wanyu hidden beneath that gentle exterior had never intended to submit to fate.

“There’s a hair on the bed. Whose is it?” Qi Rang asked coldly.

Wanyu looked up at him in surprise.

She couldn’t tell whether he was serious or deliberately making things difficult for her.

Qi Rang seemed to understand her look and gave a cold laugh. “I am not that bored – go and see for yourself.”

Wanyu accepted the order, got up, and walked to the bed to check.

The dragon bed was enormous. Today, the quilt was sapphire blue, embroidered with a luxurious round floral medallion motif. A single hair lay on it, as inconspicuous as a grain of sand sinking into the sea.

Wanyu bent over, searching carefully.

Qi Rang gave her no guidance, simply watched coldly as she searched.

She was much too thin. Bending over made her clothes stretch tight across her back, making her slender waist seem so fragile that it could be snapped with a gentle squeeze.

With her head bowed, the bones at the nape of her neck were clearly visible – a thin, fragile line extending into her collar, evoking a sudden pang of pity.

Qi Rang felt as if something had lightly plucked at his heartstrings, and as if compelled by some strange impulse, he reached out, his long fingers brushing her delicate neck.

Wanyu was completely absorbed in searching for the hair when a hand suddenly landed on the back of her neck. Startled, she cried out, instinctively swatted the hand away, and darted aside like a frightened rabbit.

She immediately realized it was Qi Rang’s hand. Her face turned deathly pale, like a startled bird, looking helplessly at Qi Rang, her breath nearly stopping.

Qi Rang stared at her coldly, his pitch-black pupils as deep as an abyss, his whole presence radiating chill as he stepped toward her.

Wanyu, terrified and despairing, retreated step by step as he approached, seeing in his deep phoenix eyes a chilling intent to kill.

This young emperor had never been a kind soul.

Five years ago, in the battle for the throne, he killed three of his four brothers. The remaining one, his twin, the Third Prince, Qi Wang, was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment in the Cold Palace.

The brutality of that battle could not be described by bloodshed or carnage alone. Those who survived by luck were all haunted, waking from nightmares in the middle of the night.

Everyone feared this ruthless emperor, her father included.

That was why he threatened her with her mother’s life, forcing her into the palace to serve the emperor, lest the emperor’s wrath fall upon her elder sister.

And her sister’s husband was none other than the Third Prince, Qi Wang, imprisoned in the Cold Palace.

Sometimes Wanyu could not understand why the emperor spared the Third Prince – whether out of regard for his twin brother or to torment her sister on purpose.

Whatever his reason, she herself was an innocent sacrifice.

Watching this god of slaughter approach step by step, Wanyu’s mind went blank, instinctively retreating as he advanced.

Qianqing Palace was vast, so vast it frightened her. She did not know when she would reach the end.

At that moment, Sun Liangyan’s voice sounded from outside the door: “Your Majesty, the Princess Consort of Jin has fainted outside the palace gates.”