The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - Chapter 40

Wanyu looked at the spacious and luxurious dragon bed, feeling extremely resistant inside.

Clearly, this was a problem that could be solved with a change of position, but Qi Rang insisted that she get on the bed. Who knew what trick this man was playing?

She was just afraid that this dragon bed would be easy to get on but hard to get off, and one careless move could mean losing everything.

“So frightened-what, is My bed a den of dragons and tigers?” Qi Rang said with displeasure. “I am not so desperate as to favor a murderer!”

Wanyu knew she couldn’t avoid it, so she could only choose to trust him this once. She took off her shoes and, bracing herself, climbed onto the bed from the foot.

Qi Rang watched her cautious crawling and remarked idly, “Consort Shu scolds you every day for wanting to climb onto the dragon bed. Today, you finally live up to the name.”

Wanyu’s pale face flushed crimson in an instant.

What did he mean by ‘live up to the name’?

It wasn’t as if she wanted this herself.

She was being forced to climb onto the dragon bed.

Suppressing her humiliation, she pressed her lips together and, without a word, crawled to Qi Rang’s inner side, knelt, and picked up his arm to begin kneading it.

Qi Rang snorted, “Mute does have this one good point-whatever is said, she never talks back.”

Wanyu’s hands paused slightly, then she continued kneading with her head lowered.

Perhaps Qi Rang felt his words were a bit harsh, so he closed his eyes and said nothing more.

The room fell quiet, with only the occasional gentle crackling from the candles.

The floor dragon warmed the entire palace hall until it felt like a spring day. From the window, tendrils of fragrant mist rose from the filigree enamel incense burner with its lotus pattern.

If not for the bloody slaughter just experienced, this would truly be a tranquil and beautiful night.

Qi Rang did not know when he fell asleep. When he woke up again, his neck was sore and aching. Wanting to raise his hand to rub it, he discovered that Wanyu was hugging his arm, deeply asleep on the inner side of the bed.

Qi Rang’s body froze, and it felt as if a kitten’s paw had gently scratched at his heart.

He did not withdraw his hand, but instead used the other to pull the quilt over her.

Wanyu was completely unaware, not even stirring. Even in her sleep, her delicate brows were tightly furrowed, as if she had suffered some great grievance.

Qi Rang stared at her for a while, then gave a cold sneer: “Sleeping on My dragon bed, and yet you feel wronged?”

Unfortunately, the person sunk in deep sleep heard none of it.

Outside the door, Sun Liangyan, having dealt with Lai Sanchun, hurried back anxiously, only to find the palace doors closed and Hu Jinzhong squatting like a thief by the wall under the south window, eavesdropping inside.

“What are you doing?” Sun Liangyan walked over and kicked him.

“Shh, keep your voice down.” Hu Jinzhong stood up, pulled him a little farther away, and retorted, “With you gone, I was wondering whether to remind His Majesty to show some restraint.”

There were palace rules: when the Emperor summoned a consort for the night, he could not be too indulgent. If time was up and matters had not concluded, the eunuchs outside were to remind him the hour had come, to prevent him from exhausting himself.

But since ascending the throne, His Majesty had shown little enthusiasm for such affairs, needing no reminders, always restraining himself.

Thus, in his five years of reign, only three concubines had borne royal offspring. Of those, two young princes did not survive, passing away early, and only Princess Jiahua remained alive.

As the Emperor’s trusted eunuch, Sun Liangyan naturally hoped he would summon more consorts and father more princes and princesses. But now, upon hearing that the Emperor was inside sharing his bed, Sun Liangyan’s heart skipped a beat. He grabbed Hu Jinzhong by the collar.

“His Majesty didn’t flip any plaques tonight-who is attending him inside?”

“Just listen to yourself.” Hu Jinzhong chuckled. “Didn’t His Majesty take someone away right under your nose?”

“You mean Miss Wanyu? She just gave in to His Majesty like that?” Sun Liangyan already knew the answer, but still asked, unwilling to give up.
“What if I refuse?” Hu Jinzhong said. “The dungeons of the Shenxing Si or His Majesty’s dragon bed-if you had to choose, which would it be?”

Sun Liangyan fell silent, recalling the image of that girl, hair disheveled and covered in blood, killing with abandon. He just couldn’t believe she would submit so easily.

Hu Jinzhong tugged at his sleeve. “Chief Steward, say something-should we remind His Majesty or not?”

Sun Liangyan shook him off irritably. “If you want to bring it up, you do it. I still want to live a couple more years.”

“Who doesn’t?” Hu Jinzhong shrugged. “If you won’t, I won’t. My life is a life too. Only that idiot Lai Sanchun treats his life like it’s worth nothing…”

At this, he shuddered and grabbed Sun Liangyan again. “Did you really chop Lai Sanchun up and feed him to the dogs?”

“Mm, couldn’t be more chopped.” Sun Liangyan said. “Don’t you like dumplings? Fuzi was watching. I told him to bring you two jin back to make dumplings.”

“Ugh…” Hu Jinzhong gagged, clutching his mouth as he rushed out.

“Coward,” Sun Liangyan rolled his eyes. He was just about to return to his quarters to change when the hall doors suddenly swung open. Qi Rang poked his head out, startling him.

“Your Majesty, why are you up yourself? If you need anything, just call for your servant-”

“Shh, keep it down,” Qi Rang cut him off, voice low. “I’m going to sleep in the East Warm Pavilion. Have someone come in and attend me.”

Sun Liangyan froze for a second, then forced himself to ask, “Isn’t Your Majesty sleeping with Miss Wanyu?”

“Who told you that?” Qi Rang shot him a look, then turned back inside. “Aren’t you afraid she’ll stab me full of holes in my sleep?”

…Sun Liangyan wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, so he followed Qi Rang to the East Warm Pavilion.

His Majesty may have a sharp tongue, but in truth, he didn’t want to take advantage of someone in distress, did he?

After all, Miss Wanyu had just survived a brush with death. To force himself on her now would hardly be honorable.

But then again, could a killing god like His Majesty even be called an honorable man?

…

The Calming Incense in the emperor’s bedchamber was truly effective-Wanyu slept straight through to the next morning.

When she awoke, she stared up at the layers of gauze above her head and the bright yellow quilt covering her, then abruptly sat up in bed.

Qi Rang was already gone. She quickly checked her clothes and her body, and only when she found everything intact did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Judging by the light outside, Qi Rang should be at morning court by now. She climbed off the bed, tidied her clothes and hair a little, and nervously stepped out.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Xue Ying waiting outside, and embarrassment rushed over her-she had no idea what to say.

“Awake?” Xue Ying greeted her with a smile. “His Majesty went to court. He instructed me to watch over you here, and not let anyone else disturb you.”

Wanyu blushed, anxious to explain.

Xue Ying laughed, “No need to worry. I know His Majesty didn’t touch you. This morning, the people from the Office of Imperial Affairs asked His Majesty whether they should record anything for the archives-His Majesty scolded them thoroughly. See, didn’t I say His Majesty wasn’t the type to take advantage of someone in need?”

Wanyu couldn’t refute her, but felt frustrated that she could sleep so soundly under such circumstances-right until broad daylight.

“Come, let’s wash and change,” Xue Ying took her hand. “His Majesty said you’re not to wander about. Everything will wait until he returns from court.”

Wanyu’s heart sank. She had no idea how Qi Rang would handle her.

She had risked so much returning to Qianqing Palace, just for one more glimpse of him. She only hoped Qi Rang wouldn’t send her back to the Lateral Courts.”