The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - Chapter 38

Wanyu seemed to awaken from a nightmare and suddenly turned to look at him.

Their eyes met. After a moment, Wanyu blinked, and tears burst from her eyes, mixing with the blood on her face as they slid downward.

Qi Rang’s cold gaze followed that tear. Just as it was about to seep into the trembling corner of the girl’s mouth, he reached out a slender, fair finger and wiped it away.

It seemed he did not want such filthy blood to stain those cherry blossom-like lips.

He spoke, his voice still icy as ever: “Now, I’ll ask you again. Will you come back with me?”

Wanyu stared at him blankly, saying nothing, only silently shedding tears.

Qi Rang’s heart seemed made of iron, still unmoved. He asked again, “Will you come back with me?”

Wanyu still did not answer.

Qi Rang turned to leave.

The moment he took a step, his sleeve was tugged.

Qi Rang looked back and saw the girl’s blood-stained hand clutching his sleeve tightly, her whole body trembling from the effort.

“This is your own choice.” The chill in Qi Rang’s eyes faded. He took off his cloak and wrapped her in it, then carried her out in his arms.

“Your Majesty, what about Lai Sanchun?” Sun Liangyan asked.

“Chop him up and feed him to the dogs!” Qi Rang flung down the words and strode out.

Sun Liangyan and Hu Jinzhong exchanged a glance.

Hu Jinzhong, still shaken, spread his hands helplessly.

On the floor by the bed lay a pile of scattered clothes, with a yellowish pardon token nearby.

Sun Liangyan walked over, bent down, and picked up the token.

He recognized it as the pardon token the emperor had privately bestowed upon Lai Sanchun, which Lai Sanchun carried with him every day as if it were his lifeline.

Now, the man who had thrown his weight around relying on the pardon token had been stabbed so many times his body looked like a hornet’s nest.

“Deputy Chief Steward Hu, you go back and await His Majesty’s orders. Leave this to me!” Sun Liangyan said to Hu Jinzhong.

Hu Jinzhong was only too eager, and without a word of courtesy, immediately ran after Qi Rang.

Fuzi, just coming to his senses, asked Sun Liangyan, “Master, there’s blood everywhere here. Why not let Eunuch Hu stay behind to handle the aftermath? Wouldn’t it be better if we went back to serve His Majesty?”

“What do you know?” Sun Liangyan waved his hand. “Hurry up and get someone to carry this bastard out. According to His Majesty’s order, chop him up and feed him to the dogs.”

“Really chop him up?” Fuzi’s eyes widened.

“Of course – it’s an imperial edict.”

Sun Liangyan thought to himself, although His Majesty was furious right now, Lai Sanchun had once saved the Holy Empress Dowager’s life. If His Majesty investigated later, it could spell trouble.

Better to take advantage of His Majesty’s distraction, destroy the body and erase all traces first. After all, the order came from His Majesty himself; he couldn’t possibly turn back and blame him for it.

To think Miss Wanyu is truly ruthless-usually she looks so gentle and fragile, bullied by everyone, but at the crucial moment, she was able to strike so hard.

No wonder they say even a cornered rabbit will bite. Isn’t it true? When honest people are driven to the edge, they can do anything.

Now, His Majesty has taken her away. He probably won’t let her return here again, right?

Who knows what she was thinking, to actually ask for his help to return to His Majesty’s side.

Has she truly given up and no longer wishes to leave the palace?

…

Qi Rang carried Wanyu swiftly out of the Lateral Courts (Yeting), with guards holding lanterns and torches following behind. The long, narrow palace path was empty and silent, only the sound of footsteps echoing in the night wind.

It was quite a distance from the Lateral Courts to the Qianqing Palace. Hu Jinzhong, afraid the emperor would exhaust himself, caught up and asked, “Your Majesty, aren’t you tired? Would you like your servant to carry her for a while?”

Qi Rang turned and shot him a glance, saying nothing.

Hu Jinzhong shrank his neck in fright and slapped himself across the mouth.

He really must be out of his mind, daring to question His Majesty’s strength, and even thinking of carrying the person closest to His Majesty’s heart.
Although he was a eunuch, he was still a man. Miss Wanyu had just been harmed by another eunuch, and at this moment, His Majesty would surely be furious at the sight of any eunuch, wishing he could kill a few more eunuchs to vent his anger for Miss Wanyu.

No wonder Sun Liangyan had volunteered to stay behind in the Lateral Courts to handle the aftermath, letting him follow His Majesty back.

That old fox was truly too cunning. To think he had believed he’d gained a great advantage.

He dared not utter another word, hunching over as he followed Qi Rang back to Qianqing Palace.

Qi Rang carried her into the bedchamber, heading straight for the dragon bed.

Hu Jinzhong mustered his courage and called out, “Your Majesty, Miss Wanyu has blood on her. It wouldn’t be proper for her to sleep on the dragon bed like this. Why not let her wash up in the side chamber first?”

Qi Rang hesitated briefly, then accepted the suggestion and carried her to the side chamber.

Wanyu remained silent the entire way, and even after being placed on the bed, she was still motionless.

Qi Rang suddenly had a bad feeling. He removed the cloak and saw her face was pale, her eyes tightly shut, and his heart skipped a beat.

“Wanyu?” he called.

Wanyu lay there, unmoving, giving him no response.

“Jiang Wanyu?” he called again, reaching out to pat her face.

Still, Wanyu did not react.

Qi Rang panicked, placing his fingers under her nose. Feeling a faint breath, he quickly ordered Hu Jinzhong to summon the imperial physician.

Hu Jinzhong rushed out, first instructing someone to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau, then ordering hot water to be prepared, clean clothes to be readied, and some easily digestible supper to be set aside.

The lights in Qianqing Palace were rekindled, and everyone was thrown into a flurry of activity.

The imperial physician arrived quickly, took Wanyu’s pulse, and said her body was unharmed, that she had likely fainted from excessive shock, and that administering a few acupuncture needles would suffice.

Qi Rang sat there, watching the imperial physician administer the needles.

After a few needles, Wanyu indeed opened her eyes.

She hadn’t fainted at all; she simply didn’t want to face Qi Rang. But with the needles, she had no choice but to wake.

Hu Jinzhong exclaimed joyfully, “Good, good, she’s finally awake! I told you Miss Wanyu was blessed, that fortune favors the kind-hearted.”

Qi Rang also breathed a sigh of relief, but glared at Hu Jinzhong in disdain, “When did you say that?”

Hu Jinzhong choked, replying awkwardly, “I-I only said it to myself.”

Qi Rang ignored him. When Wanyu’s dazed gaze swept over, he stood up and said coldly, “Have someone clean her up. Don’t soil my bedchamber.”

With that, he turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.

Hu Jinzhong led the imperial physician out. Soon after, several young eunuchs carried in two large buckets of hot water, and Xue Ying followed behind, holding toiletries.

When Wanyu saw Xue Ying, a glimmer of life returned to her eyes. She gestured, asking if her illness had passed.

Xue Ying walked to the bedside, looking at her battered state, and said with concern, “You’re in such a condition yourself, yet you still worry about me. It’s only been a few days-how did you end up so wretched?”

Wanyu recalled their farewell on the day she left the palace, when they had agreed to meet outside the palace at this time next year. Grief welled up inside her, and all her sorrow turned to tears.

Xue Ying couldn’t help but cry as well. “I thought you’d finally made it through, but how did things go so wrong at the last moment? What happened with that jade pendant? I refuse to believe you took it.”

Wanyu’s grievances were beyond words. She shook her head through tears, telling her not to ask anymore.

“Alright, I won’t ask, I won’t ask. Let’s get you bathed first; we can talk about everything else later.”

Xue Ying wiped away her tears, helped her out of bed, and into the bath barrel.

Wanyu’s cold body was enveloped by the hot water. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

She had left the Lateral Courts, only to return to Qianqing Palace.

She didn’t know whether to be grateful for surviving, or to mourn her return to the cage.

She didn’t know whether this move she had made was right or wrong.