South Li Side Hall—
Wen Qitian slept restlessly, her joints aching all over and feeling terribly cold.
She curled up, wanting to continue sleeping, vaguely sensing many people gathered around her.
It was noisy, chaotic.
“…”
Wen Qitian tried to speak, but her throat felt as if she had swallowed shards of glass—dry, rough, and painful. Her eyelids were heavy, and she could only listen to their intermittent chatter.
“The young lady has caught a chill and contracted a cold. Perhaps due to the fright she suffered, both physically and mentally, it has become more severe than a common cold. This old minister has prescribed a formula and will have someone prepare the medicine immediately.”
Nan Leli frowned. “Frightened is frightened. What do you mean by ‘physically and mentally’ frightened?”
What does it have to do with the body?
When the Emperor frowned, everyone present felt their hearts tremble.
This was Imperial Physician Chen’s third time seeing Wen Qitian, and each encounter had been heart-stopping.
The first time, the Emperor had a bad back.
The second time, the Emperor was slapped.
The third time, the Emperor’s beloved had fallen ill.
Yes, beloved—aside from that, the imperial physician could find no other reason to describe the improper atmosphere between His Majesty and the young lady.
Did they think he hadn’t noticed the red marks on the young lady’s wrist while taking her pulse earlier?
If it wasn’t physical and mental abuse, what was it?
The key point was, knowing too much would lead to an early demise.
Imperial Physician Chen pondered for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “It’s the fright in her heart, and cold has invaded her body. It’s early winter now, and although there is dilong in the hall, we must still pay attention to keeping warm. The young lady has a cold constitution and must not be careless in the future.”
Nan Leli’s brows were so tightly knit they could crush a fly. His face darkened. “Are you lecturing me on how to do things?”
Imperial Physician Chen was horrified and knelt in fear.
“This humble minister dares not.”
He had only advised the young lady to keep warm. Why was His Majesty so agitated?
Nan Leli snorted coldly. “Why are you kneeling? Hurry up and go prepare the medicine.”
Imperial Physician Chen: “…”
Although he feared death, ever since becoming the head of the Taiyiyuan, unless the Emperor himself fell ill, trivial matters like preparing medicine were absolutely not his responsibility.
His Majesty’s meaning…
Imperial Physician Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Fine, fine. Preparing medicine was better than losing his life.
However, before leaving, Imperial Physician Chen couldn’t resist adding, “Your Majesty need not worry. The young lady will be fine. After taking the medicine, she will recover in a couple of days.”
Nan Leli: “…”
Who said he was concerned about her?
He was about to rebuke him, but Imperial Physician Chen had already taken his leave. His face darkened, and he sat silently by the bedside, sulking.
His dark eyes occasionally swept over Wen Qitian.
The little girl was curled up uncomfortably, her long hair spread across the pillow, revealing a face no larger than a palm.
Her features were delicate as if painted, her eyes tightly shut, her eyelashes trembling uneasily, like a porcelain doll without a sense of security.
Her cheeks carried a faint blush. Nan Leli’s gaze lingered on her face.
Although she was thin, her cheeks held a slight baby fat, and they felt soft to the touch.
As if guided by some unseen force, he reached out and pinched them.
“Slap!”
Wen Qitian furrowed her willow-leaf brows, impatiently swatting away the annoying fly on her face. The familiar crisp sound made Bai Zhi and the other servants standing by avert their eyes, focusing on their noses and hearts.
Nan Leli’s veins throbbed. Acknowledging his own fault, he restrained himself from erupting in anger. With a darkened face, he dismissed the others, then once again targeted that soft flesh.
Disturbed again and again, Wen Qitian grew furious.
“Brother, stop it!”
Among the direct relatives of the Wen family, the only young ones were Wen Qitian and Wen Yongsī.
Wen Yongsī had a gentle temperament, though he occasionally acted childishly to amuse his younger sister.
For instance, when waking her up, he would pinch her nose or gently squeeze her cheeks.
Wen Qitian, delirious with fever, couldn’t distinguish between dreams and reality, and the word “brother” slipped from her lips.
Nan Leli’s movements abruptly halted.
System: [Villain’s Darkening value -1, -1, -1… -1. Remaining Darkening value: 77%.]
Nan Leli’s dark, brooding eyes mechanically shifted to her flushed cheeks. His hand still rested there, the soft, warm sensation lingering like her earlier soft, tender call of “brother.”
Royal family bonds were shallow. His father regarded him as a thorn in his side, his mother treated him as a tool for power struggles, his elder brothers despised him, and even his younger sister feared him.
This was the first time someone had nestled beside him without reservation and called him “brother.”
Wen Qitian, unconscious and forced to lie still: “…”
Nan Leli continued to dwell on the events of the previous night.
Had he gone too far?
The man released his hand, the lingering warmth on his fingertips something to cherish.
In the next moment, a wicked thought crossed his mind: So what if he had gone too far?
The entire palace belonged to him. She was in the palace now, so she was his too. He could bully her however he pleased.
Just as he was thinking this, a soft whimper came from the bed. The man stiffened, quickly stood up, and clasped his hands behind his back, assuming an air of composed, cold, and sinister authority.
Yes, he didn’t care in the slightest whether this woman lived or died.
Calling him “brother” wouldn’t work either.
However, Wen Qitian was momentarily stunned upon seeing him. “Why is it you?”
Waking up so suddenly, she momentarily forgot to maintain her facade. Her voice, hoarse from the high fever, was like a cat’s paw, scratching restlessly at one’s heart.
But what was with the disdain in her tone?
“If not me, then who else?” Nan Leli’s back stiffened.
Just moments ago, she was calling him “brother,” and now she was turning her back on him?
Wen Qitian felt physically unwell and emotionally drained, and she didn’t want to see this person.
Besides, who was to blame for her current state?
Yesterday…
Having experienced a midnight ambush, Wen Qitian hadn’t slept soundly. Occasionally, she’d felt paranoid, as if someone was standing by her bed while she slept. Turning over, she’d felt as if someone was at her feet. In short, it seemed the dog Emperor could pop out from anywhere.
She had long since asked Bai Zhi to fetch a few beans and place them by her bed. Only after making these preparations did she intend to sleep properly.
A rustling sound came from outside, and her heart skipped a beat as she retreated under the covers.
Sure enough, not long after, the eerie, oppressive aura unique to the tyrant descended. She prepared to strike, but unexpectedly, he was also prepared. Not only did she miss, but she ended up falling onto the bed, nearly crushed by him.
“Ouch~”
The weight of a grown man was more than she could bear. He wasn’t overweight, his muscles were well-proportioned, and when he fell, it felt like being hit by a rock.
She tried to push him away, but the man sneered, “Still trying to hit me? Dream on!”
To prevent her from continuing her assault, Nan Leli grabbed her wrists, stuffed them under the covers, and wrapped her tightly in the blanket, pinning her down.
“Still dare to hit me?”
Cocooned Wen Qitian: “…”
She tried to struggle but found her hands completely trapped, so she gave up and curled up inside the blanket.
“I won’t hit anymore. Your Majesty, find somewhere else to sleep.”
Her tone was tinged with exhaustion, and she let out a small yawn before preparing to sleep.
Nan Leli had clearly never been ignored like this before, and in a fit of anger, he…
Wen Qitian didn’t want to recall what happened afterward. Every time she thought about it, she felt the urge to kill that dog Emperor.
He actually snatched her little blanket and covered himself with it right in front of her, falling into a deep sleep. She was weak, and even though she hit him a couple of times to make him lose strength, she still couldn’t wrestle it back from this giant shameless dog.
So much so that now, whenever she saw this face that deserved domestic violence, she really wanted to give him a taste of it.
Wen Qitian angrily let out a small huff, her almond-shaped eyes misty. Without even glancing at the figure standing with his hands behind his back, she turned away, facing the other direction.
But the other party clearly couldn’t stand the silence.
“Wen Qitian, are you ignoring me?”
In Nan Leli’s eyes, this woman was all “brother” one second and “little brother” the next. Since ascending the throne, few had dared to show him such a cold face.
How dare she not even look at him?
“Wen Qitian?”
“…” After calling her several times without a response, Nan Leli’s face darkened, and the fists behind his back clenched with a creaking sound. “If you keep ignoring me, I’ll throw you out to freeze to death.”
“Woo woo woo~”
“???”
“Woo woo~”
A faint sound came from under the blanket. Nan Leli’s expression stiffened, and the invisible killing intent dissipated, fading away.
Wen Qitian slightly lifted her eyelids to glance at him before quickly burying her head back under the blanket. Her sobs carried the nasal tone left by her illness, and she looked like an angry kitten, exuding an aura of gloom, pitiful and helpless.
Anyone who saw her would feel a sense of guilt.
Nan Leli wasn’t the type to comfort others. His face fell, and his mood grew increasingly gloomy.
But a voice inside him told him not to do anything he would regret.
Having died a miserable death in his previous life and committed countless sins in this one, Nan Leli truly couldn’t understand—why would he regret anything over a mere woman?
His brows and eyes shadowed with gloom, he fiercely waved his long sleeve and then…
Plonked down on the bed, stiffly patting the cocoon-like figure.
“Stop crying. I won’t punish you, alright?”
“…Woo~” Just no punishment? It was his fault to begin with.
“I’ll make allowances for you since you’re sick. I’ll permit your rudeness. Stop crying—it’s hurting my ears. I won’t snatch your blanket anymore, okay?”
“Ying ying ying~”
“…!”
Nan Leli rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on again. Whether it was because of the pain or not, he felt uneasy inside.
“Wen Qitian! If you keep crying… I’ll just ignore you.”
“Fine, ignore me then.”
Wen Qitian’s voice was thick with tears, carrying a hint of spoiled petulance.
Nan Leli stood up in anger, then sat back down, repeating the motion several times before finally settling on: “Once you’re better, I’ll grant you one condition. You can ask for anything.”
Wen Qitian’s crying paused. She turned slightly, revealing her head. “Hmm?”
Darkening value! You rotten thing, hurry up and lower the Darkening value to below zero for this young lady!!
This lousy palace isn’t even fit for dogs.
Her cheeks were flushed from the fever, her almond-shaped eyes red, swollen, and moist, with teardrops still clinging to her lashes. She looked utterly pitiful—anyone would feel they had gone too far, how could they bully such a poor little beauty?
Nan Leli, however, felt no such sympathy. He was just relieved she had finally stopped crying and let out a heavy sigh. “The Emperor’s word is his bond. You can ask for anything.”
Whether it was an illusion or not, he felt that after saying this, the little girl’s expression visibly brightened.
[Author’s Note]
You all guessed it. Once again, I condemn the behavior of that rotten little brother and award him a golden washboard.
Title Announcement: “The Little Beauty Presented to the Tyrant,” One-Line Summary: Was she eaten? No, she beat the tyrant into submission.