The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - Chapter 35

In the depths of terror and despair, Wanyu’s fighting spirit was instead stirred up by Qi Rang.

Qi Rang wanted her to submit, but she refused!

Did he think that holding supreme imperial power would make her bow her head?

She was determined to resist this supreme power to the very end!

Wanyu steadied herself, tears brimming in her eyes as she gestured to Lai Sanchun: “I was wrong, I failed to recognize your greatness and underestimated you. As long as you don’t report me to His Majesty, I’ll do whatever you say. I only beg for your mercy-please let me wait a couple more days before serving you, is that alright?”

Her sudden humility and obedience caught Lai Sanchun off guard, but he remained wary: “Don’t think I don’t know this is just a delaying tactic. You want to pacify me first, then have Xu Qingzhan kill me, isn’t that right?”

He laughed twice and continued, “Do you know why I only came to find you now? Because Xu Qingzhan was sent out on an errand by His Majesty. He won’t be back until the day after tomorrow at the earliest.”

Wanyu was shocked again, hurriedly shaking her head in denial, pointing at the wound on his hand as she gestured: “You have the Pardon Token, how would I dare to kill you? But you’re so badly injured-don’t you need to bandage your wound?”

Lai Sanchun had been so preoccupied with his own schemes that he’d nearly forgotten about his injury. Reminded by Wanyu, he suddenly realized his blood had been flowing nonstop-on the floor, the bed, and himself, everywhere.

He truly feared he might bleed to death if this continued, so he stopped pestering her and hurried off to bandage his wound.

As he left, he tossed out a warning: “You’d better behave yourself and not cause any trouble, or I’ll tell His Majesty about you and Xu Qingzhan.”

Wanyu listened to his footsteps fading away, her whole body collapsing onto the bed, trembling uncontrollably.

Xu Qingzhan was away on a distant assignment. Even if she escaped this ordeal for now, what would she do in the coming days?

That scoundrel Lai Sanchun had leverage over her and would surely not let her go, taking advantage of Xu Qingzhan’s absence from the palace to force her into submission.

She was unwilling to yield even to Qi Rang-could she really be ruined by a eunuch?

Wanyu thought through the night, not closing her eyes until dawn.

At the fifth watch, she got up on time, her eyes swollen, ate breakfast, and went to work.

The new supervisor didn’t send her to do laundry again, but kept her in the ironing room.

The reason was the same as Xiang Rui’s: her hands had no calluses, so she wouldn’t scratch the masters’ clothes.

Wanyu obeyed the arrangement, working silently.

Although others were jealous, they only gossiped in private; on the surface, everyone got along.

Wanyu thought that since Lai Sanchun was so badly injured, he would at least be quiet for a day or two, giving her time to think of a countermeasure.

But unexpectedly, Lai Sanchun came to the Laundry Office that very morning. In full view of everyone, he went straight into the ironing room, walked up to Wanyu, and leered, “Little darling, haven’t seen you all night-did you miss me?”

His right hand, from forearm to palm, was tightly wrapped in white cloth and slung across his chest with a strip of fabric.

But this didn’t stop him from causing trouble. He immediately reached out with his uninjured left hand to pinch Wanyu’s face.

Wanyu turned her head to dodge, her face pale with fright.

“Why are you hiding? Don’t forget I have your secret in my hands.” Lai Sanchun looked at her panic-stricken expression as if he were watching a rabbit caught in his trap, his face full of the message: You’re mine, you can’t escape.

Wanyu’s stomach churned, but she forced a smile and gestured: “There are too many people here, everyone’s watching!”

It was the first time Lai Sanchun had seen her smile, and half his body went numb with delight.

“Be obedient, and I’ll give you face. I’ll come find you tonight.” He didn’t force Wanyu further, left her with those words, and walked away in high spirits.

Wanyu sat stiffly until Lai Sanchun was out of sight, then ran out covering her mouth, finding a secluded spot to vomit until she was dizzy.

After a while, she wiped away her tears and slowly walked back. Just as she reached the door of the ironing room, she overheard whispers inside-

“No wonder she was kept in the ironing room. Turns out she’s gotten close to Lai Gonggong.”

“It’s obvious, really. She’s so pretty, she was bound to end up as Lai Gonggong’s person sooner or later.”
“Earlier I was wondering why Lai Sanchun hadn’t made a move on her-turns out he’d already gotten involved with her behind our backs.”

“Shh, stop it, she’s back.”

The room instantly fell silent.

Wanyu entered soundlessly, sat down in her seat, and resumed her work as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Over the past few years at Qi Rang’s side, she had endured every sort of humiliation. The scornful things Qi Rang had said to her were even harsher than what these people whispered-she had long since grown impervious.

The gossipers, however, felt awkward and quickly tried to change the subject.

“Hey, did you hear? The Young Marquis from the Pingxi Marquis Mansion has returned to the capital. The Emperor is throwing a banquet for him in the Qianqing Palace!”

A buzzing filled Wanyu’s mind, her heart pounding wildly. Unconsciously, her hand clenched tightly around the hot iron.

Someone added, “Really? I heard that years ago, when the Old Marquis was gravely ill, the Young Marquis went to pacify the northwest on his behalf and then stayed there for five years without returning. Why would he suddenly come back this year?”

“Well, you said it yourself-five years away. Wouldn’t the Young Marquis miss home after so long? Coming back to visit is only natural.”

“Back then, the Young Marquis was the most famous handsome man in the capital. He’s spent five years in that harsh land out west-I wonder what he looks like now?”

“It’s a shame we’re just the lowest-ranked servants in the Lateral Courts. We have no right to serve at Qianqing Palace, and no chance to see the Young Marquis’s presence…”

The chattering still continued in her ears, but Wanyu could no longer hear it clearly. Her mind was filled with a single thought: he would enter the palace for the banquet, and she had to find a way to see him.

But she was now just one of the lowest-ranked servants in the Lateral Courts. What right did she have to go to Qianqing Palace?

Besides, it was the very place she had longed to escape.

She still remembered when he left the capital, how he promised to strive for achievements, to return in glory and marry her, making her the happiest bride in the world.

Five years apart-he returned full of honor, while she had become a criminal servant in the Lateral Courts. If they truly met again, how could she bear it…

A sharp pain seared her fingertips. Wanyu snapped back to herself, finding several of her fingers scorched red by the hot iron.

Tears fell in heavy drops; she could no longer tell whether the pain was in her fingers or her heart.

No matter what, she had to see him.

Even if she couldn’t speak to him-even a glimpse from afar would be enough to comfort the bitterness of these past years and finally steady her restless heart.

But how could she ever get out of the Lateral Courts?

Did she truly have to beg Qi Rang?

Even if she begged, would Qi Rang agree?

And that predatory Lai Sanchun-would he be willing to let her go?

If nothing else worked, she would have to risk everything.

Wanyu spent the entire day unsettled, and as soon as she returned to her quarters in the evening, Lai Sanchun arrived.

Lai Sanchun brought along two young eunuchs, carrying a generous supply of charcoal, two bright red candles, and two brand new mandarin-duck brocade quilts.

“I care for you,” Lai Sanchun said, “I give you enough dignity and treat you as if you were the main consort. These wedding candles and bedding are all prepared for our bridal chamber night. Do you like them?”

Wanyu silently nodded.

Lai Sanchun immediately beamed, coaxing her, “See, there are good things in the Lateral Courts too. But who gets to use them, that’s entirely up to me. As long as you follow me obediently, I promise your days will be no worse than those in the Qianqing Palace.”

His tone was as if he had already placed Wanyu into his ‘harem’, with himself as the affectionate emperor.

Wanyu nodded meekly again.

Seeing her so gentle and submissive, Lai Sanchun’s desire was stirred. He tried to touch her.

Wanyu dodged shyly, pleading for another day, promising that tomorrow night she would prepare the bridal chamber and await his arrival.

Lai Sanchun’s hand injury still hadn’t healed, so he truly wasn’t able to do much. He agreed to her request and promised to come for her the next evening.

After all, with Wanyu already within his grasp, he was certain she couldn’t escape.

Wanyu had escaped disaster again, but her determination to risk everything had grown only stronger.”