The sky gradually darkened and turned cold, with a biting chill sweeping through the light snow that had begun to fall unnoticed. The fluttering snowflakes seemed to weigh heavily on the hearts of everyone in the marquis’s estate.
The last time someone from the imperial palace came, the weather was much like today’s, and the people of the marquis’s estate had been left with lingering psychological shadows.
Yongwen Hou had no time to spare for Wen Qitian. He took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the tremor in his voice.
“Who has come?”
Surrounded by guards, Wen Qitian pricked up her little ears.
The servant replied, “Reporting to the Marquis, it seems to be that Eunuch Zhang from the Emperor’s side. He’s brought quite a few people with him and is waiting at the entrance of our estate.”
The marquis’s body trembled, and he dared not delay. He glared at Wen Qitian, “I’ll deal with you when I return.”
With a flick of his sleeve, he hurriedly led the others out to greet the guest…
It was better to offend a gentleman than a petty man. Eunuch Zhang’s ability to remain by the Emperor’s side for so long spoke volumes of his skill; targeting someone was as simple as uttering a word.
It was said that someone once called Eunuch Zhang a eunuch, and when he overheard it, the very next day that person was investigated for corruption, demoted, and condemned to generations of servitude, barred from ever pursuing official titles.
Moreover, Eunuch Zhang’s words most often represented the Emperor’s own decrees. Even with ten times the courage, the marquis’s estate would not dare keep Eunuch Zhang waiting at the gate for long.
Yongwen Hou led his entourage away, leaving only a few guards to watch Wen Qitian. She tilted her head, watching their retreating figures, her thoughts more numerous than the marquis had imagined.
Eunuch Zhang was usually by that man’s side. Could it be that he had come too?
What was he here for?
He was clearly angry. Could it be that he was in a bad mood and wanted to seize her to demand an explanation?
For a moment, Wen Qitian’s fair little face was filled with worry.
Compared to that man, she’d rather face her scoundrel of a father.
Bai Zhi said with lingering fear, “Miss Wen, the marquis’s estate has gone too far. When has the palace ever dared treat you like this? You’ve suffered such injustice this time. If His Majesty were to find out, he would surely be heartbroken.”
Heartbroken?
Wen Qitian’s brow twitched. Her bright, clear eyes shifted, and a mischievous smile curled at the corners of her lips as she looked meaningfully at the guards who hadn’t yet left.
The marquis’s estate guards: “…”
For some reason, a group of grown men instinctively clutched the swords at their waists and cautiously stepped back.
Wen Qitian raised an eyebrow. “Don’t be nervous! How could someone as understanding as me possibly bully you, right?”
The guards: “!!!” They grew even more tense. Should they apprehend her or not? The marquis had already left, and an esteemed guest had arrived. If things escalated, they would be in deep trouble.
However, the guards had no time to think. They watched as the petite, delicate, and seemingly well-behaved young lady, who claimed to be “understanding,” dashed forward in a flash, snatching a rope from one of the guards’ hands.
Wen Qitian wiped the corner of her mouth, smearing the faint red lip rouge onto her chin. She then tousled her hair and hastily tied the rope around herself. Under everyone’s horrified gazes, she rushed out with a pitiful whimper.
Bai Zhi: “???” What was the young lady doing?
The guards: “…”
They quickly snapped back to reality and hurriedly chased after her.
“Stop!” They couldn’t let her escape, or they’d have no way to explain it to the marquis. What if she offended the esteemed guest…
…
At the entrance of the Marquis’s residence, Wen Hongbo, who had been scowling darkly in front of Wen Qitian, now greeted Eunuch Zhang with a warm and welcoming face. After exchanging pleasantries for quite some time, he finally noticed a hint of impatience in Eunuch Zhang’s demeanor. He smiled and asked, “May I ask what brings you here, Eunuch? Does the Emperor have an edict?”
His heart pounded with anxiety, fearing that the Emperor might bestow some bizarre gift like last time—a fright that could take several lifetimes to recover from.
For a while, whenever Yongwen Hou saw the Emperor, he would recall that day’s human skin, freshly peeled from a body, dripping with blood, steaming in layers in the cold air, its metallic scent impossible to conceal.
He couldn’t dwell on it any longer.
Yongwen Hou’s stomach churned. He glanced left and right at Eunuch Zhang and the people behind him, confirming there were no strange or peculiar boxes, and only then did he feel somewhat relieved.
Soon, Yongwen Hou realized he had relaxed too soon.
Eunuch Zhang offered a forced smile. “The Marquis guessed correctly. I am indeed here on orders. His Majesty has issued an oral decree, instructing me to come to the Marquis’s residence to escort Miss Wen back to the palace. Why is Miss Wen not here?”
His slender eyes lifted slightly, lingering on Wen Jiyue for a few seconds before he flicked the horsetail whisk in his hand and surveyed the surroundings. Not seeing Wen Qitian’s figure, his brows furrowed tightly.
It was this glance that led Yongwen Hou to misunderstand.
He stepped forward slightly. “Does the Eunuch mean Jiyue?”
“What Jiyue or any other month? The Emperor is looking for Miss Qitian,” Eunuch Zhang retorted irritably. In a foul mood, he had no time for idle pleasantries with Yongwen Hou.
His sole focus was to bring that little ancestor, Miss Wen, back to see the Emperor. Eunuch Zhang dared not even recall the Emperor’s “resentful wife” expression before his departure—so dark and foreboding, he never wanted to see it again in his lifetime.
As for that so-called Jiyue…
Eunuch Zhang glanced over. How could a girl like that compare to the little ancestor? She’d probably faint from fright at the mere sight of the Emperor.
Just as he was about to urge them further, the voice of the little ancestor he had been thinking of suddenly rang out pitifully not far away. Startled, he narrowed his eyes into slits and looked in the direction of the sound.
In the distance, a large group of guards, fierce and menacing, were chasing two young girls toward them.
The girl in front wore a disheveled fox fur coat, its white fur swaying pitifully as she ran. Her already fair face had turned deathly pale from fright, and she seemed to have suffered some inhuman abuse—her lips were swollen and red. Her bright, large eyes brimmed with tears of grievance as she cried and ran. Upon seeing the group, she appeared utterly shocked, lost her footing, and fell to the ground…
Eunuch Zhang: “”
His pupils trembled in shock, and he trembled as he raised a delicate finger and slapped his thigh.
“Oh, my little ancestor~” For a moment, he was at a loss. He quickly ordered someone to help her up while glaring at Yongwen Hou with wide eyes, as if he could swallow him whole. Pointing an accusing finger at Yongwen Hou, he exclaimed, “You’re in big trouble now, you… a dignified Marquis, how could you be so foolish?”
Yongwen Hou realized the gravity of the situation.
Could it be that this girl had truly won the Emperor’s favor?
His vision darkened, and if not for Zhou Shi supporting him in time, he would have stumbled. He roared at the approaching guards, “Without my orders, how dare you lay hands on the young lady?”
In a desperate attempt to absolve himself, he wanted to shift the blame onto the Marquis’s guards.
The guards stood bewildered, utterly confused.
They stood frozen in place, caught in the wind of confusion, until one guard finally stepped forward.
“Returning to the Marquis, we never laid a hand on her—she was the one running around wildly…” They had merely been following her out of concern that losing her would make it difficult to explain to the Marquis. Who could have known why the young lady ended up in such a state…
“How dare you speak back?”
“…”
Supported by others, Wen Qitian limped forward, wincing in pain with every breath.
This wasn’t an act. Lost in the moment earlier, she had miscalculated and taken a rather hard fall on flat ground.
Her eyes darted around, but she didn’t see Nan Leli, and she breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
Good, the dignified Emperor of a nation couldn’t personally come to capture her.
But the act still had to go on.
Her almond-shaped eyes reddened as she whimpered to Eunuch Zhang, “Eunuch Zhang, please take me away quickly. I can’t stay in this house for another moment.”
Yongwen Hou’s face darkened as he tried to explain, “Child, what nonsense are you talking? How could your father possibly harm you? This is your home after all. If there’s any misunderstanding, we should talk it out properly.”
“Wah wah, you were going to tie me up, hit me, and wouldn’t let me return to see His Majesty.” Wen Qitian wiped her tears with her small hands, then bent over to rub her knees, hiding the mischief in her eyes that mirrored Nan Leli’s.
Scumbag father, pah!
“You…” Yongwen Hou was nearly angered to death by this rebellious daughter.
When had he ever said she couldn’t see the Emperor?
If he had known Wen Qitian had ties to the Emperor, Yongwen Hou wouldn’t have dared, even if beaten to death.
Seeing his “ferocious” expression, Wen Qitian shrank behind Eunuch Zhang and the others. Eunuch Zhang felt a pang of distress at the sight. Look how frightened Miss Wen was—if the Emperor found out, wouldn’t he skin him alive?
When Wen Qitian first entered the palace, Eunuch Zhang hadn’t paid her much mind. But later, seeing her dare to strike the Emperor, and the Emperor not only refraining from punishment but often acting inexplicably, he knew something was amiss.
Having survived in the palace for so long, Eunuch Zhang was adept at reading people. With one glance, he could tell the Emperor’s iron tree was about to bloom.
Eunuch Zhang never misjudged, yet His Majesty still stubbornly denied it.
Look, the moment the young lady left, he grew anxious. If not for “restraint,” he probably wished he could sprout wings and personally go after her.
Now, with the Emperor’s precious darling being bullied outside, if His Majesty were to take out his anger, Eunuch Zhang would suffer the consequences.
Eunuch Zhang stepped in front of Wen Qitian, his tone dripping with sarcasm, “Well, well, Yongwen Hou shows no regard for His Majesty, daring to detain even someone belonging to the Emperor.”
Regardless of whether she was Yongwen Hou’s daughter or not, since ancient times, any woman favored by the Emperor had to be treated with utmost respect.
Yet here was Yongwen Hou, beating and scolding the young lady upon her return home. If Eunuch Zhang had arrived any later, Miss Wen might not have seen tomorrow’s sun. With this thought, Eunuch Zhang felt he couldn’t stay in this marquis’ residence for another moment, just like Wen Qitian.
Ignoring Yongwen Hou’s excuses, Eunuch Zhang coldly insisted on taking Wen Qitian away.
As if remembering something, Wen Qitian whispered to Eunuch Zhang, “My mother is ill. May I say goodbye before leaving?”
“Of course.”
Eunuch Zhang’s tone toward her was entirely different from that toward Yongwen Hou. After Wen Qitian bid farewell, he even left a few junior eunuchs behind to guard Su Yuan, ensuring Yongwen Hou wouldn’t dare bother Wen Qitian’s mother.
Wen Qitian promised to return to visit Su Yuan in the future, then finally felt at ease boarding the carriage back to the palace.
There was still a tough battle awaiting her upon her return to the palace.
The journey from Marquis Wen’s residence to the imperial palace took about half an hour by carriage. By the time they made their way back after all the commotion, the sky had already darkened.
The imperial palace was brightly lit, with patrol teams occasionally passing by in orderly steps, the atmosphere solemn and heavily guarded.
Perhaps it was just an illusion, but tonight the guards around Nanli Palace seemed particularly numerous. Wen Qitian’s heart raced with anxiety along the way. If not for the System’s Darkening value remaining unchanged, she would have almost believed the villainous tyrant was about to have her executed.
Finally, the inevitable arrived. Eunuch Zhang led her to the side hall.
Her eyes widened slightly. “Is His Majesty in my bedchamber?”
Eunuch Zhang lowered his head and whispered a reminder, “Miss, His Majesty was in a foul mood when he couldn’t find you. Whatever happens later, just go along with him to avoid suffering physical pain.”
Although… that kind of thing probably shouldn’t count as physical pain, but with Miss’s delicate frame, she likely wouldn’t be able to endure it.
Unaware that Eunuch Zhang’s mind was filled with thoughts of that sort of affair, Wen Qitian took his words at face value.
She interpreted it to mean that Nan Leli had been terrifying when he sent Eunuch Zhang to apprehend her, wanting to devour her whole and perhaps even subject her to some cruel torture.
Still, it seemed there was room for negotiation; otherwise, Eunuch Zhang wouldn’t have advised her to comply with Nan Leli.
Thinking this, Wen Qitian expressed her gratitude, “Thank you, Eunuch Zhang.”
“You’re too kind, Miss.”
Eunuch Zhang felt unworthy of her thanks and bowed slightly before leading the way ahead.
The silent bedchamber was filled only with the sound of slow footsteps. The flickering candlelight on both sides of the walls cast shifting shadows, as if leading down a path to hell.
Yue E and the others stood outside the hall, heads bowed, not daring to let their eyes wander. The atmosphere around each of them was heavy, and Wen Qitian pursed her lips slightly.
So that scoundrel had come to her room to throw a tantrum.
Wasn’t it just a trip back home?
Besides, with the recent disagreements between them, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t tried to placate him—the problem was she simply hadn’t had the chance.
Muttering inwardly, the moment the inner chamber doors opened, Wen Qitian instantly changed her expression. Without a second thought, she rushed inside, startling Eunuch Zhang. In the blink of an eye, the little ancestor had already thrown herself at the side of the great ancestor.
“…” Well then, it seemed lodging complaints wasn’t his job after all. She clearly wasn’t one to suffer grievances quietly.
Before Wen Qitian returned, Nan Leli sat imposingly on her small bed, his hands resting on his knees. The scent of her lingered around him, and his face, which bore the marks of a violent temper, was filled with impatience.
His jaw was tense, and the headache that had somewhat subsided began to throb faintly again. His gloomy eyes were fixed intently on the doorway, like a leopard waiting for its prey, ready to devour its target the moment it appeared.
Finally, the familiar slender figure came into view. He tapped his fingers lightly against his knee, imagining countless ways to discipline her. Yet before he could act, the little prey, seemingly oblivious, threw herself into his embrace.
The man paused, a turbulent wave rising in his deep pupils. Immediately after, a familiar series of soft whimpers came from within his arms.
“…”
His face darkened as he peeled her away from his chest, but then he paused, his gaze carefully examining the young girl’s face.
Her skin was as smooth as jade, with a distinct red mark at the corner of her mouth. Her round, almond-shaped eyes were brimming with tears—if eyes could speak, these almond eyes would surely be recounting their owner’s grievances.
It felt like a little cat, bullied while wandering outside, had returned to its owner, meowing pitifully.
One might not understand what the cat was saying, but it was undoubtedly filled with a sense of being wronged.
Nan Leli fell silent for a long moment, swallowing back the reprimand that had been on the tip of his tongue. He cast a cold glance at Eunuch Zhang behind him.
Eunuch Zhang shuddered, hastily shifting the blame: “Your Majesty, as soon as this servant arrived at the marquis’s residence, I saw Yongwen Hou sending a group of people to chase and beat the young lady.”
Wen Qitian herself: “…”
Eunuch Zhang’s mouth was truly impressive.
She stole a glance at the man’s expression. Sure enough, he didn’t pursue the matter of her leaving the palace without permission, but instead seemed displeased about her being beaten.
She forced out crocodile tears, burying her head in his chest with sobs, whimpering, “Your Majesty is the only one who treats me well. You are magnanimous, not holding grudges against others, and you love helping the weak. From now on, I’ll stay by Your Majesty’s side and never leave. You must protect me.”
At least in this world, she wouldn’t leave him.
Wen Qitian chattered away, showering him with compliments, not forgetting to add a coquettish tone that made Nan Leli’s ears tingle once more.
He couldn’t stand this. The eighteen layers of hell in his mind were shamelessly pushed aside as he hesitantly raised his hand to pat her.
“Then… should I now have Yongwen Hou’s entire family executed?”
“…”
Overdoing it, Wen Qitian nearly broke character. She quietly wiped her tears on the fabric of the man’s chest, continuing in her sugary voice, “Wouldn’t that mean burying me along with them?”
Nan Leli pinched her earlobe firmly, his tone warning: “Speak properly. If you keep pretending, it won’t be convincing. I’ll deduct Yongwen Hou’s salary for six months. If he dares do it again, I’ll skin him alive.”
Caught off guard and exposed, Wen Qitian felt awkward, knowing she had passed this hurdle. She lifted her head, eyes sparkling: “Your Majesty is wise.”
The Emperor said coldly: “Now it’s time to settle our account.”
Wen Qitian: “…”
While the two were “flirting,” Eunuch Zhang quietly withdrew. Wen Qitian thought it over and, like a small animal, leaned in to apologize: “Last time, I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly and made you angry.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her ear stung in pain. The man said with a cold face, “Is that what I was referring to?”
Wen Qitian covered his hand to stop him from pinching, tears welling in her eyes: “It hurts, it hurts! Be gentle. Last time, didn’t you say that as long as I didn’t cry, you’d grant me one condition? I want to redeem it now!”
“Pathetic! You’re using it already?” The man scoffed, releasing her ear and pinching the soft flesh on her cheek instead, making her grimace. He paused, his fingers suspiciously brushing against her skin, and his fair, slender fingertips came away stained with a layer of rouge.
Little liar, even the wounds were fake.
Nan Leli rubbed it back onto her face in retaliation, satisfied to see what looked like vibrant red petals blooming on her cheeks.
“I’ll let it go this time. But if you dare leave the palace again without my permission, I’ll break your legs and tie you to the bed. Let’s see if you still dare to leave.” He made no mention of the unpleasantness from that day.
Wen Qitian cooperated fully, agreeing to whatever he said, her eyes bright and lively, reflecting only his image.
Nan Leli was satisfied, smoothing her hair: “Go wash up.”
Wen Qitian blinked: “Are you sleeping here?”
“…”
“Wishful thinking!” The man snorted coldly, pushed her away, and stood up to leave. His retreating figure appeared decisive and carefree, but Wen Qitian’s gaze fell on his slightly awkward gait, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.
System: [Darkening value -5%. Only 3% left to claim the next Gift pack.]
Wen Qitian’s eyes curved into crescents. This way, the original host’s brother wouldn’t be left with any hidden ailments.
The System suggested: 【The previous gift pack hasn’t been used yet. Perhaps you could try Rumeng. Rumeng allows you to enter the antagonist’s dreams to discover what he desires most, which could help you quickly find a way to reduce the Darkening value.】
Wen Qitian’s eyes lit up.
Although this item was a one-time use, it sounded incredibly useful.
“Alright! This time, don’ttrick me.”
【Suddenly hit by past scandals—can we not bring this up, Host?】 It really wasn’t intentional.
To regain the host’s trust, the System decided to put on a good performance. That night, Wen Qitian went to bed early, waiting for the System to activate Rumeng.
…
On a quiet, scorching summer afternoon, at a crossroads in the imperial garden, a group of people was making a commotion. A delicate, jade-like little boy, dressed in expensive robes now torn to shreds, had visible red marks on his face and hands—clear signs of frequent bullying. Yet, his dark, intense eyes glared fiercely at the others, like a wild wolf trapped in a hunter’s snare, ready to fight to the death.
Wen Qitian arrived just in time to witness this scene.
She immediately recognized the child as Nan Leli in his youth.
The System: 【We are now in the antagonist’s dream. They cannot see us. Here, we can witness everything the antagonist desires most.】
A woman dressed in luxurious attire, wearing a phoenix crown, was surrounded like a star. Someone brought her a chair, and she sat down, disdainfully addressing the boy: “A savage bastard from Beituo. Even as a child, you dare to openly harm the Crown Prince and defy this palace. Would you not attempt to usurp the throne in the future?”
When Nan Leli was eight years old, he had gone to the imperial garden to pick flowers to please his mother, only to be spotted by the young Crown Prince, who ordered him beaten. In a fit of rage, Nan Leli pushed the Crown Prince, and it just so happened that the Empress witnessed it.
Wen Qitian walked over to the young Nan Leli and couldn’t help but ponder upon hearing this—usurp the throne?
Didn’t he achieve that in reality?
Nan Leli as a child was delicate and jade-like, resembling a modern anime character with his well-defined features and smooth lines. Even injured, he had an endearing, pitiable charm.
He stood alone in the crowd, small and pitiful, while opposite him, beside the woman, stood a boy over ten years old. The boy was unharmed, merely with some dust on his clothes—nothing compared to Nan Leli’s condition.
They were the former Empress and Crown Prince, whom Nan Leli had killed in reality. Seeing the former Empress’s aggressive demeanor and Nan Leli as just a child, Wen Qitian felt her heart gradually tighten, worried that the young Nan Leli would suffer at the hands of the Empress.
Fortunately, at that moment, a pleasant female voice rang out: “What’s going on here? Why is Her Majesty the Empress so angry?”
Wen Qitian looked up and saw a woman no less impressive than the Empress. The newcomer had a somewhat exotic appearance and demeanor. Though she addressed the Empress as “sister,” her eyes were filled with arrogance and disdain.
Tuoba Zhen, a princess of Beituo, had grown up surrounded by praise. If Beituo hadn’t been defeated in war, she would never have come to the Jingnan Kingdom to suffer, let alone live under someone else’s thumb. Her innate pride was something she could never change.
She gracefully walked up to the crowd, coldly glanced at Nan Leli, and then smiled at the Empress: “Has Lier offended you, sister?”
The Empress sneered: “What do you think, sister?”
An unspoken confrontation arose between the two. Even Wen Qitian, as an outsider, could feel the sparks flying between them, as if they wished nothing more than to destroy each other.
She sighed inwardly, thinking, is this the legendary palace intrigue?
Yet in the very next moment, Tuoba Zhen turned around, her wide, magnificent sleeves cutting a perfect arc through the air, followed by a resounding slap that left Wen Qitian breathless.
The woman’s fingernails viciously scraped across the boy’s cheek, leaving a shocking trail of blood.
“Then there’s no need for my elder sister to trouble herself. This humble consort will naturally discipline this ungrateful little brat properly.”
Without a word of inquiry or any attempt to determine who was at fault, as a mother, she had publicly slapped her own child—an act far more unforgettable than any punishment the Empress could have delivered.
Wen Qitian hadn’t expected this outcome, her palm stung with a burning pain…
Wait, why did her hand hurt?
When she looked up again, the scene of the imperial garden had vanished. A terrifying face was now right before her eyes—a man with a clear slap mark on his cheek, his eyes crimson as he stared at her, like a provoked beast. Wen Qitian lowered her gaze and saw her own palm swollen and numb, evidence that she must have struck with considerable force.
She was momentarily stunned and called out to the System: Didn’t it say that others couldn’t see her when she was outside the situation?
Unfortunately, the System seemed to have lost connection, leaving her question unanswered and sinking into silence.
Faced abruptly with the antagonist’s intensely aggressive expression, Wen Qitian swallowed hard, considering whether to slap him again to calm her nerves.
However, the man didn’t collapse weakly as he would in reality. Instead, her action had provoked his anger. His dark eyes narrowed dangerously. “You dare strike again? Even in my dream, you dare to be so insolent?”
“What?” Wen Qitian was shocked, thinking he had seen through the System’s cheat. The next moment, he gritted his teeth and hissed, “You lingering ghost, you’re dead!”
A towering figure loomed over her, his overwhelming presence enveloping her entirely. Any cry of alarm was swallowed before it could escape her lips. She stared at his magnified face—his eyes as dark as an abyss, as if eager to drag her into their depths. His thin lips, as if in retaliation, mercilessly tormented her.
Everything happened too suddenly, so fast that Wen Qitian had no time to react before she was thoroughly dominated, inside and out. Her lips were swollen and red, her mind foggy and disoriented, forced to follow his rhythm.
Wen Qitian had been well-protected by her family and had never been this close to a man before, let alone crossed such boundaries.
She hadn’t expected such sudden intensity.
Overwhelmed, she unconsciously lost herself in it.
Half-asleep and half-awake, she suddenly felt those slender fingers…
She jolted, abruptly waking up. At the same time, in the main hall of Nanli Palace, the sky was just beginning to lighten. A candle that had burned through the night flickered and fell. The servants on night duty lazily yawned by the door, sensing movement inside the hall. Just as they were about to peek in, they were startled by a furious roar: “Don’t come in! All of you, get out!”
The servants: “…”
So early in the morning, they were nearly frightened out of their wits by this dragon-like roar. They hurriedly closed the door, afraid of displeasing their master. Glancing at the sky, they noted there was still a short while before the morning court session. They’d wait a little longer!
Inside the hall, the man sat upright on the bed, his tall and imposing figure rigidly still. His usually fierce and handsome face now wore an expression of shock as he stared at the bedsheet.
“…”
He pulled the blanket over himself with a dark expression, took a deep breath, and lifted it again.
“…”
Refusing to believe it, he covered himself once more, waited a few seconds, and lifted the blanket again…
“…”
“Thud—”
Nan Leli tossed the blanket aside, covering his face with his hands. His expression was darker than the ashes of a fire that had burned all night.
Last night, he had returned to his room only to find himself inexplicably sleepless, his thoughts drifting inexplicably to that wretched girl’s words.
“Will you sleep here with me?”
Sleep where?
Inviting a man to sleep in her room—how could he not overthink it?
Before, when his headaches forced him to sleep in her room, it was one thing. But now, she was growing bolder. Giving her an inch, and her hidden intentions toward him were impossible to conceal.
Nan Leli often drifted between sleep and wakefulness, frequently dreaming of unpleasant memories from the past. For him, this was nothing unusual. But he never expected last night’s dream to be so absurd, so utterly preposterous that…
Nan Leli didn’t want to think about what had stained the bedding. He got up and changed his clothes. As the Emperor, he personally destroyed the inner garment and bedsheet, eliminating all evidence, before stiffly calling the servants in to attend to him.
…
Meanwhile, Wen Qitian was furiously choking the System. She rarely got angry, but this time the System had gone too far.
“You actually left me alone in Nan Leli’s dream? What kind of System are you? Where’s the reliability you promised? If you keep this up, I won’t be able to work with you on missions anymore, I’m telling you.”
The System was too scared to make a sound. If it had fingers, it would definitely be crouching in a corner, nervously fidgeting with them.
The System didn’t want to hold her back either.
But… it had been inexplicably kicked out of the villain’s dream.
How infuriating! The villain was deliberately opposing it. It wasn’t like it was anything inappropriate for minors—why the need to censor it?!
After venting for a while, Wen Qitian noticed the System’s silence and couldn’t help but purse her lips. “What, have you gone mute? Or did you disconnect again?”
The System replied dryly: 【I haven’t disconnected. I just can’t figure it out…】
“Neither can I.”
Wen Qitian couldn’t understand why the tyrant would dream about her in the first place.
And…
As the scenes from the dream flashed through her mind, Wen Qitian’s cheeks flushed with heat, and she quickly shifted her focus.
“Tell me, what does the tyrant lack? How should we approach winning him over?”
The System: “…I feel like he might be lacking maternal love.”
That seemed to be the case. Back then, when Nan Leli was surrounded by enemies on all sides, he clearly placed high hopes on Tuoba Zhen’s arrival.
But reality had slapped him hard in the face. The lifeline he had just grasped snapped, plunging him into the depths of despair.
The book didn’t say much about the villain’s mother, only mentioning that his parents had treated him poorly since childhood, which shaped his cruel and ruthless personality.
Perhaps they could start from this angle.
Having made up her mind, Wen Qitian got up, washed up, had some breakfast, and went to find Nan Fengyao.
Nan Fengyao had heard the rumors the night before and was worried that Wen Qitian might be mistreated by Nan Leli, so she wanted to rescue her.
Unfortunately, Nan Leli had already ordered Yuyao Palace sealed off, forbidding anyone from entering. When Wen Qitian arrived, she was also stopped outside.
The cold wind howled past as Wen Qitian tightened her long coat, secretly fuming at Nan Leli’s unreasonableness.
…
The Yongwenhou Residence also suffered inhumane treatment. Early in the morning, the residence received an imperial decree: they were fined six months’ salary, forbidden from attending morning court sessions for two months, and surrounded by several layers of guards outside the residence, with a strict prohibition against anyone from the residence leaving.
Violators would be severely punished with thirty heavy strikes.
Yongwen Hou’s face turned green with anger.
Wasn’t the Emperor clearly trying to avenge that girl?
Yongwen Hou would never have imagined in his lifetime that his spoiled, willful eldest daughter would one day catch the Emperor’s eye.
That day, he had been so angry he hadn’t listened carefully to Wen Qitian’s words. If he had known they were true, he would never have threatened or scolded her.
A sense of crisis permeated the residence. Yongwen Hou stayed in his room for two or three days without leaving. Zhou Shi prepared chicken soup for him and gently coaxed him, “Master, don’t take it too much to heart. There’s no lasting grudge between father and daughter. Even if you had hit that girl—which you didn’t—you’re still her father. If she holds a grudge over such a small matter, that would truly be unjustified.”
Yongwen Hou had no appetite. He snorted coldly, “It’s all her mother’s fault for spoiling her. What a terrible temper she has, nothing like Jiyue, who’s gentle and sensible.”
A flicker of amusement flashed in Zhou Shi’s eyes as she said impassively, “Speaking of Madam, her spirits have improved considerably lately, and she has palace attendants looking after her. Do you think we should have them plead for mercy at the palace?”
With so many people in the Yongwenhou Residence, everything required money. Having half a year’s salary withheld would mean everyone tightening their belts.
When Prince Jia’s residence called off the engagement that day, after much discussion, both sides agreed to substitute another young lady from the household. Though she was born of a concubine, without Wen Qitian, she was the only eligible girl left in the residence, and Prince Jia’s household did not refuse.
Now that their betrothal gifts were already left at the Yongwenhou Residence, the dowry from the residence naturally could not be shabby.
Who would have thought that at such a critical juncture, half a year’s salary for the residence would be withheld just like that.
Zhou Shi would not sit idly by and turned her attention to Su Yuan.
She refused to believe that if Su Yuan went to plead for mercy, Wen Qitian would stand by and do nothing.
Yongwen Hou rubbed his temples. “I’ll go see her now.”
However, reality was harsh. Several eunuchs were guarding Su Yuan’s door, not allowing them to enter at all.
Yongwen Hou was polite to Eunuch Zhang solely because Eunuch Zhang was a favorite of the Emperor. This did not mean that he, a distinguished marquis, would be amiable to other eunuchs as well.
“This is the Yongwenhou Residence. Is there any place I, the Marquis, cannot go? Step aside for me.”
He repeatedly referred to himself as “this Marquis,” applying pressure. He had expected them to cower, but instead, the two eunuchs smiled insincerely. “Your Lordship, all under heaven belongs to the Emperor. Surely you do not intend to defy His Majesty’s command?”
“When did His Majesty command that I, the Marquis, cannot see my own wife?”
“His Majesty did not command Your Lordship, but he did command us to guard Madam Wen. If Your Lordship insists on proceeding, it would be defying the imperial decree.”
Yongwen Hou had never been so infuriated. His face turned ashen, and from the corner of his eye, he glanced into the courtyard. He had stood at the door for a long while, yet there was not the slightest movement inside—clearly, she had no intention of seeing him.
She simply did not regard him, her husband, with any importance.
“Fine. Since you refuse to see me, stay in there for the rest of your life.” He snapped angrily, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.
Inside the room, Cui Luan said, “Madam, don’t dwell on it. His Lordship was just speaking in anger.”
Today, Su Yuan looked much better than usual and was even able to get out of bed and move about. She paid little mind to it. “As long as my child is alive, that is enough.”
She gazed quietly into the distance, a faint worry in her eyes.
That child had left again.
At first, Su Yuan thought Wen Qitian had been spending time with the princess these past days, but she later realized that the princess usually stayed deep within the palace—how could she possibly have the influence to summon Eunuch Zhang?
To have made such an acquaintance—whether it was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen…
…
Wen Qitian wanted to find Nan Leli to lift the house arrest on Nan Fengyao, as it was all because of her. However, whether it was her imagination or not, Nan Leli had recently started avoiding her again, citing urgent border conflicts and a continuous stream of critical intelligence.
Wen Qitian had no choice but to stop seeking him out, especially since she was also deeply concerned about her brother’s situation.
As the year-end approached, the weather grew colder, and the battles at the border were likely difficult. She heard from some eunuchs that Nan Leli wished he could lead the expedition personally to deal with Beituo.
Unfortunately, the court could not be without its ruler for even a day. Until sufficient preparations were made, Nan Leli would find it hard to free his hands.
“Miss, I heard there are clues regarding Tao Zhi’s matter. His Majesty is currently conducting an interrogation. However, it’s cold outside. I’ve prepared some ginseng soup to ward off the chill for you. Please warm yourself up before heading over.”
The weather today was exceptionally cold. Even with the dilong burning inside the room, gusts of chilly wind could still be felt by the windows. Wen Qitian hugged a hand warmer, her small face filled with utter despair.
She didn’t really want to go out, but the matter was related to her.
Wen Qitian said weakly, “Bring it here.”
…
The seven-day period had passed, and Wei Chang had captured a palace maid named Mo Qianxia in the final moments.
After finding her, Wei Chang did not hand her over to Wen Qitian for punishment but first brought her before Nan Leli.
After all, he was following the Emperor’s orders.
In Junlin Palace, Eunuch Zhang exclaimed, “So it’s you? How bold of you to dare send someone to frame Miss Wen?”
Eunuch Zhang recognized at a glance that this woman was none other than Mo Qianxia, who had given Wen Qitian a hard time in the Imperial Kitchen back then.
Mo Qianxia was pinned to the ground in a wretched state, her beautiful face filled with fear and unease. “This servant is wronged. I have never harmed anyone.”
She was now a third-class palace maid. Her pretty face was covered in dust, and her once delicate hands had grown rough.
The last shred of pride Mo Qianxia struggled to maintain vanished when a cold gaze fell upon her, leaving her filled with despair and bitterness.
Indeed, how could she escape this man’s clutches? If he wanted to investigate, the entire palace was within his control.
But she was unwilling!
Before being sent to the laundry house, she had been the one serving dishes every time the Emperor summoned a meal. Though she feared the Emperor, after spending so much time with him and driven by her thirst for power, how could she not be tempted?
All of this had been ruined by that woman.
If it weren’t for that woman’s appearance, how could she have been demoted to the laundry house by Eunuch Zhang?
She was just some nobody who appeared out of nowhere. Mo Qianxia had thought the Emperor wouldn’t pursue the matter to the end.
Nan Leli had no patience for her excuses. He had some impression of this woman. In his previous life, she had drugged him, attempting to seduce him, and was eventually thrown into the snake pit by him.
The palace had many cruel punishments—skinning was one, and the snake pit was another.
Since she had crossed his path again…
The man said expressionlessly, “Throw her into the snake pit.”
Regardless of the reason, throwing her into the snake pit would settle it. He couldn’t be bothered to think about how she should die.
“Your Majesty, you haven’t investigated thoroughly. This servant is wronged. I have been loyal and devoted to you. You cannot treat me like this.” Mo Qianxia’s face turned pale, tears stubbornly welling in her eyes. She tried to crawl closer to Nan Leli, but Wei Chang blocked her.
Strangely enough, if it were Wen Qitian crying, Nan Leli would feel flustered and try to find a way to comfort her and make her stop.
Now, when other women cried, Nan Leli also felt flustered—but only because he wanted them to shut up permanently.
His head throbbed faintly, and he signaled Wei Chang to quickly drag her away.
His heartless demeanor pierced Mo Qianxia’s eyes. Her expression gradually twisted into a grimace as she was dragged by the guards to the doorway. Clutching the threshold tightly, she hissed with hatred, “If I can’t have it, neither can she. You tyrant, you will regret this.”
Nan Leli’s expression changed abruptly, and he stood up suddenly.
“Keep her alive for now. Prepare the carriage, return to Nanli Palace!”
Eunuch Zhang inwardly cursed, quickly ordering people to bring the imperial dragon carriage. However, Nan Leli had no mind to ride any carriage now. The cold wind swept through his dark black Dragon Robe, the biting chill spreading across his face as if it could penetrate his very bones…
His heart had never felt so panicked before.
Nan Leli didn’t know what was happening to him—he only wanted to see her as quickly as possible.
The imperial palace grounds were vast, yet he had forcibly halved the distance from Junlin Palace to Nanli. That day, all the busy palace servants saw their Emperor running in great strides, his broad Dragon Robe flapping loudly in the wind. By the time they knelt and looked up again, the Emperor had long vanished without a trace.
The doors of Nanli Palace were kicked open, snowflakes swirling in with the gust. The maids in the outer chamber lay scattered and unconscious on the floor.
Nan Leli’s expression was grim, an aura of ferocity radiating from his entire being as he strode step by step into the inner chamber.
A strange, faint fragrance permeated the room, and faint sobbing could be heard. His gaze locked onto the bed.
[Author’s Note]
His Majesty the Emperor, still unsatisfied: “Do you dare to describe it in more detail?”
Author: “I dare!”
His Majesty: “Then write it!”
Author: “You need to step up first!”
“…”
My big V chapter is finally done, throwing myself some flowers first~
Thank you all for your support, mwah~