Nan Leli was indeed trying to scare Wen Qitian.
He wanted her to understand that he, as the emperor, had his dignity. Nan Leli had a vague premonition that if he didn’t establish his authority now, unexpected things would happen in the future.
Sure enough, under his intimidation, the little girl grew timid, just like the foolish rabbits he had raised before—silly and naive, her small face pale with fear.
Scared now, aren’t you?
The man wore a face that seemed fit for domestic violence, his ferocity masking the malice in his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, he felt an immense satisfaction.
However, before this satisfaction could fully settle, he felt a weight in his arms. The little girl who had been trembling just moments ago seemed to have forgotten the lesson, burying herself back into his embrace. The bells at her waist jingled with her movements as she whimpered, “Your Majesty is so scary, you frightened me to death.”
Nan Leli: “…”
With this sudden impact, his fierce demeanor faltered slightly. “If you’re afraid of me, why do you run toward me?”
Shouldn’t she be hiding far away in fear?
Clearly, the emperor didn’t understand the thought process of a young girl. From his embrace, he heard her whimper, “As the ancients said, the most dangerous place is the safest.”
“…” Whoever said that should be dragged out and executed.
System: [Darkening value decreased by 1%. Current darkening value: 96%. This trick works well. From now on, the host can happily pat-pat him.]
Wen Qitian was speechless. What was wrong with this System, always saying things that could be misunderstood? She automatically ignored the System, wrapping her arms around the man’s waist. Feeling the tyrant’s tense abdomen, which felt as hard as stone, a sly smile flickered in her eyes.
Just as she was thinking about how to continue fooling this man, an unexpected sound came from her stomach. Both Wen Qitian and Nan Leli stiffened at the same time.
From last night until now, they hadn’t eaten anything. Their stomachs were clearly protesting. Wen Qitian had planned to smooth the tyrant’s ruffled feathers to avoid trouble and then hurry to eat, but she never expected the man above her to say darkly, “You’re so foolish that killing you would dirty my hands. However… while the death penalty may be spared, punishment cannot be avoided. You are not allowed to eat today.”
Wen Qitian froze, letting out a small, breathy sound: “Huh??”
…
At the Yongwenhou Residence, after the incident involving Su Dishi, Wen Hongbo, the Yongwen Hou, felt both anxious and relieved.
In his youth, he was not the heir to the marquisate. He became the heir only because he was fortunate enough to marry Su Yuan, the daughter of the Imperial Tutor…
Unfortunately, although the Imperial Tutor’s daughter came from a scholarly family, he had won her hand solely because of his promise of lifelong devotion to her alone.
His words had been beautiful back then, but how could a marquis like him have only one woman?
Wen Hongbo didn’t show it openly, but he had long been discontent. Moreover, he had a cousin who had already secretly borne his child.
All these years, he had wronged his cousin and her daughter, keeping them as a hidden family and even making his own flesh and blood serve as a maid in the residence.
Every time he woke from a midnight dream, he was filled with guilt.
So, after sending Wen Qitian away, Wen Hongbo quickly legitimized the status of his cousin and her daughter.
For years, the Yongwen Hou and his wife had been seen as an ideal couple in the Yongwenhou Residence. When it was suddenly revealed that the Yongwen Hou had a hidden family and a daughter behind his wife’s back, everyone was stunned.
Some maids whispered among themselves:
“I used to envy the madam. In other noble households, it’s common to have multiple wives and concubines, but only in our marquisate… Who would have thought… sigh!”
“Exactly, that daughter born to a concubine, named Wen Jiyue, right? I used to serve the young lady alongside her before. Now the young lady has gone missing, and instead, she gets to take her place. Who knows if the young lady was harmed by her and her mother?”
“Shh~ You can’t say such things carelessly. Don’t let the young lady hear you.”
“Hmph, what kind of young lady is she…”
The maids chattered among themselves, none noticing that after they passed, a figure in white emerged from behind the rockery.
Her face was lovely, her skin fair, but her body was frail, swaying like duckweed in the cold wind, evoking an involuntary sense of pity.
Wen Jiyue bit her lower lip lightly, unable to suppress her sorrow. Were they not both daughters of the same father? Was their fate different simply because their mothers were not the same?
No, she refused to believe in fate.
Heaven favored everyone equally; everything that had happened before was merely a test for her.
Look at now—Wen Qitian’s maternal family had lost power, and hadn’t she been sent straight into the palace?
Since she had once enjoyed the glory of the marquis’s household, it was only natural that she should sacrifice for it at a critical moment.
Now, with Wen Qitian’s brother not in the capital and only her remaining by her father’s side as his daughter, she would surely make her father see her thoughtfulness.
Wen Jiyue fetched a plate of pastries from the kitchen, taking care to keep them warm against a hand warmer due to the chilly weather. At that moment, Wen Hongbo was in his study, his brow furrowed.
For some reason, his eyelids had been twitching all day—not a good omen.
A knock came at the door, and Wen Hongbo called out, “Come in.”
Wen Jiyue, holding the pastries, gently pushed the door open and entered. Every movement was graceful and composed, and her words were filled with concern.
“Father, you haven’t rested properly since last night. I specially brought you some pastries. Would you like to have some?”
Seeing his younger daughter, who had suffered for many years, Wen Hongbo’s expression softened slightly. “It’s Jiyue. I’m not hungry, just set them aside for now.”
“Father~”
Wen Jiyue was about to continue persuading him when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. “Marquis, it’s terrible, Marquis!”
Interrupted at this moment, a flicker of displeasure flashed in Wen Jiyue’s eyes. However, accustomed to restraint, she generously set the pastries aside.
Yongwen Hou, on the other hand, felt his heart skip a beat. His face turned cold as he scolded, “What’s all this panic? As the steward of the marquis’s household, you have no sense of propriety.”
The steward of the estate rushed in frantically, knelt on the ground, and cried out, “Marquis, it’s terrible! Someone from the palace has arrived. You must go and see!”
Hearing that someone from the palace had come, Yongwen Hou’s face paled. Not daring to delay, he hurried out to receive them. After some thought, Wen Jiyue followed.
The visitor from the palace was a eunuch, accompanied by several others. Even so, Wen Hongbo greeted him with utmost respect. “Thank you for coming, sir. May I ask if His Majesty has any instructions?”
The eunuch smiled and said, “Naturally, I’m here to congratulate you, Marquis. You have raised your daughter well. His Majesty specifically ordered me to bring you rewards as a token of gratitude.”
His words were skillfully phrased, and the household members, who had feared a disaster, immediately felt relieved.
After letting out a sigh of relief, the marquis’s mind grew even more active.
It was well known that women sent into the palace met no good end. The emperor had no understanding of cherishing beauty and could even implicate their families. Over time, the ministers had abandoned such thoughts.
When Wen Qitian was sent into the palace, it wasn’t to become a consort but to appease the emperor’s anger.
Who would have thought the emperor would send rewards?
Yongwen Hou was ecstatic. Could it be that a daughter of their Wen family was about to become the first concubine, or even the Empress, to be taken into the Emperor’s harem?
Not only Wen Hongbo thought this way, but even Wen Jiyue behind him had the same thought. Dressed in snow-white robes, her face drained of all color, her fingertips beneath her cloak nearly digging into her flesh.
If Wen Qitian became an imperial consort, would she and her mother have any chance of survival?
How could the eunuch, who spent most of his time in the palace, fail to understand their thoughts?
The eunuch smiled and ordered someone to present the items.
In their hands were several boxes, not much larger than a man’s palm. As palace items, they were made of fine redwood, with dark red wood grain and exquisite craftsmanship. The carved patterns were lifelike, but the only puzzling thing was that the patterns seemed to depict beasts trapped in chains.
“What is the Marquis waiting for? Open it quickly. It’s still warm, and it might cool down soon.”
Could it be food?
Indeed, no matter what it was, as long as it was bestowed by the Emperor, even a single pastry would be something they had to receive with gratitude and honor.
Suppressing the strangeness in his heart, Wen Hongbo stepped forward and opened it himself.
As the box was opened, a peculiar smell rushed toward him. His eyes widened, and his pupils suddenly contracted. After all, he had lived a peaceful life for so many years and could no longer withstand such shocks. Coupled with his lack of rest the previous night, he couldn’t hold back and fainted, his eyes rolling back.
“Father?”
Wen Jiyue was shocked and hurried forward to support Wen Hongbo. As her gaze swept over the contents of the box, her hands and feet instantly turned cold.
A bloody, thin layer of skin was neatly arranged inside the box. Faint traces of flesh could still be seen on it, as if it had just been peeled from a human body. Exposed to the cold air, it emitted a faint mist—indeed, it was still warm.
…
At this moment, Wen Qitian was unaware of the situation in the Marquis’s residence. She was preoccupied with her hunger, and in her mind, a little figure was frantically stabbing another doll-like Nan Leli with a vicious expression, wishing she could stab him to death.
Before crossing over, she had thought that emperors were all figures of great vision and stature; otherwise, they would never have ascended to the throne.
After crossing over, she discovered that the Emperor she had encountered had a multitude of flaws: a terrible temper, a love for intimidation, and sometimes extreme childishness. For example, while the ruler of a nation went to review memorials, he assigned two young maids to watch over her, giving her neither food nor water—simply infuriating.
The maids were named Bai Zhi and Yue E. Bai Zhi was a carefree young girl with a simple personality, while Yue E was quite steady and composed.
The side hall next to Nanli Palace had been cleaned out for her. She thanked him for at least giving her a place to stay.
Her stomach growled with hunger. Having grown up in the modern era, the Wen family held an extraordinary status in City B and had never let her go hungry. She had developed a delicate temperament and couldn’t bear even the slightest hunger.
So, she sat by the table, staring pitifully at the two maids beside her.
She wore a small red robe, her hair casually tied back to reveal a face the size of a palm. Her appearance was naturally flawless, with every feature exquisitely beautiful—a living, breathing little beauty.
As a result, the little beauty’s pitiful gaze made Bai Zhi and the other maid feel an indescribable sense of guilt.
Bai Zhi gave Yue E a look: Should we give her something to eat?
Yue E: … Aren’t you afraid the Emperor will find out and devour you alive?
At the thought of the Emperor’s face, Bai Zhi shuddered.
The Emperor is so cruel. Although she had never heard of His Majesty swallowing anyone alive, she had heard that when the court was collecting overdue payments to aid refugees, there was once a minister who was utterly heartless and extravagant. He indulged in lavish feasts and entertainment in his mansion, living a life of luxury while only submitting fifty taels of silver.
To think, the hairpin that minister gave as a reward to a dancer alone was worth no less than a hundred taels of silver.
Then the Emperor ordered Commander Wei to seal the minister’s mansion overnight, and at the next morning court session, he had the minister boiled alive. Many elderly officials fainted from fright on the spot.
Bai Zhi thought, if His Majesty can boil someone alive, he’s not far from swallowing someone whole.
So, suppressing her sympathy, she advised, “Miss, you should endure it for now. At least His Majesty hasn’t ordered your life.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the little beauty’s eyes welled up with tears. “Is that even human talk?”
Bai Zhi: “…”
She coughed lightly and nudged Yue E behind her back, facing away from Wen Qitian.
Yue E was usually steady and eloquent—she could surely persuade this young lady.
Yue E thought for a moment and said, “Why don’t you go and beg His Majesty, miss?”
Since His Majesty wouldn’t kill her, he must have some affection for this young lady.
Perhaps he was secretly hoping she would soften up and act coquettishly.
Yue E discreetly observed Wen Qitian.
Look at her delicate features, innocent expression, and curvaceous figure—who wouldn’t be moved?
Hearing this, Wen Qitian gave her a sweet smile. “You’re right. Let’s go! Come with me to find His Majesty.”
The Emperor had forbidden the young lady from leaving, but going to find him should be allowed, right?
The two maids exchanged a glance and silently followed behind. After turning a few corners and walking for about half an hour, the three large characters “Imperial Kitchen” appeared before them, leaving them utterly bewildered.
“Miss, weren’t you going to find His Majesty?”
Besides, how did the young lady know where the kitchen was on her first time in the palace?
Wen Qitian looked innocent. “How can I have the strength to find His Majesty if I’m not full?”
She didn’t know where the Imperial Kitchen was, but the System did.
Bai Zhi & Yue E: “…”
Something about the young lady just didn’t feel right?
[Author’s Note]
Yue E: “The young lady is so beautiful, adorable, gentle, and kind—even I, a maid, am moved.”
The Tyrant: “Is there nothing left in this world for you to cherish??”