“Husband and wife?” Jiang Wan scoffed. “If Your Majesty wanted to be my younger brother, I’d still have to consider your character.”
Huan Cheng was genuinely angered into laughter. “Empress, I am eighteen, and you are sixteen. Who should be the younger brother?”
Jiang Wan shrugged, sat down, and took a sip of water. “That’s not the point. The point is, you’re not even worthy of being a younger brother.”
After saying this, she felt she had been a bit too blunt. Seeing Huan Cheng’s barely contained, almost explosive anger, she quickly tried to make amends. “What I mean is, it’s not just Your Majesty I reject. You could say… I reject men.”
The fire that had rushed to Huan Cheng’s head instantly turned into thunder, striking him utterly dumbfounded. “You… Empress, you… like women?!”
Jiang Wan: “…”
She had nothing more to say. Standing up, she called out, “De Quan, summon Consort Ning to attend His Majesty for the night.”
Consort Ning had gone to great lengths today; she didn’t mind doing her a favor.
Huan Cheng, now thoroughly shaken, couldn’t care less about Consort Ning. The alcohol had completely worn off. Watching Jiang Wan leave, he irritably lay back down on the bed.
In his dream, his empress was holding a delicate young girl in her arms, laughing wantonly. “This palace likes women, likes delicate little beauties~”
Just as the two women were about to undress and engage in more intimate activities, Huan Cheng jolted upright from his near-death slumber. Before he could even regain his senses, he was startled by an enlarged face and tumbled off the bed.
Consort Ning’s enchanting face showed terror, only to see Huan Cheng grit his teeth, climb up, grab a soft pillow, and hurl it in fury. “Li Dequan! Get in here!”
“Your Majesty—”
“Whose side are you on? Huh? The Empress tells you to summon Consort Ning, and you just do it?! You treacherous dog, I’ll have you chopped up and fed to the dogs, believe it or not?”
Li Dequan knelt on the floor, unable to voice his grievances.
Hadn’t His Majesty tacitly agreed at the time?
Huan Cheng wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. Irritably ordering everyone out, he glared at Consort Ning on the bed with a look that could devour someone.
Consort Ning: “…”
If Jiang Wan knew, she’d pat her shoulder and say, “Don’t be afraid. The little emperor has already been scared limp by that dream.”
Meanwhile, in Eternal Joy Palace.
Jiang Wan hadn’t slept well either. Before bed, she had read a storybook, and her dreams were filled with images of Xie Changlin covered in blood. She woke several times, tossing and turning, unable to fall back asleep. After much internal struggle, she got up, took no one with her, and groped her way along a shortcut to Qu Palace.
And then… she was captured as an assassin by the black-clad figures hidden in the shadows around Qu Palace…
Rong Qing hurried over upon hearing the news, wanting to see who had such nerve.
He never expected to see the little empress.
The little empress?!
He could hardly believe his eyes.
Jiang Wan didn’t dare look up either.
Embarrassing, so embarrassing!
“Empress… Empress?” Rong Qing tentatively called out.
Jiang Wan, restrained by two men, couldn’t move. Hearing his voice, she pitifully looked up. “Little Rongzi, quickly tell them to let go. It hurts so much.”
Those two men, with their faces covered, looked much more like assassins! Their strength was so great, it felt like they could rip her arms right off.
Rong Qing paused. “Why is Your Majesty outside Qu Palace at this hour?”
Jiang Wan couldn’t explain. Could she say she had a nightmare and wanted to see Xie Changlin immediately?
That would be insane—at least, in the eyes of others.
So Rong Qing went to call Xie Changlin.
Jiang Wan was still in the same state as when she was caught. Seeing Xie Changlin arrive, tears immediately fell from her eyes. “Your Eminence…”
“Did you miss me? I’ve come to see you.”
Xie Changlin: “…”
He hadn’t slept at all, having spent the entire night reviewing memorials in his study while also dealing with matters of the Eastern Depot and Western Depot. A hint of fatigue showed on his face.
Now, seeing Jiang Wan, his mind went blank for a rare moment—no wonder Rong Qing had been hesitant to speak earlier.
Was there anything more absurd than this?
“Your Ladyship doesn’t know martial arts?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
Jiang Wan shook her head pitifully.
Xie Changlin fell silent again for a moment, a faint, ambiguous smile on his lips. “So, Your Ladyship, who can’t even tie up a chicken, came in the dead of night to assassinate me?”
“Do I look like it?” Jiang Wan cried even louder. “I dreamed that Your Eminence was gone and just wanted to come see for myself. Who knew there were experts outside the palace? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come—so embarrassing.”
She complained in a rush, “Won’t Your Eminence tell them to let go? It hurts so much. What did these two eat growing up? They’re so strong?”
The two Eastern Depot guards: “…”
Xie Changlin raised his hand slightly, and they vanished in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Wan twisted her arm, her unpainted face wet with tears. She got up and threw herself into Xie Changlin’s arms. “Your Eminence, I’m just glad you’re alright, wuwu…”
Xie Changlin frowned slightly, looking down at her with some helplessness. “Is Your Ladyship hoping for my death, then?”
“I’m afraid you might die. You must live well, please.”
Xie Changlin didn’t respond. He pulled her away, his pitch-black eyes concealing a probing gaze.
He truly couldn’t understand Jiang Wan. Her actions these days seemed bizarre, yet there was no evidence to suggest she knew anything or intended to do anything.
Over the past half-month, he had sent people to investigate Jiang Wan’s life in Jiangnan from childhood to adulthood, and nothing suspicious was found. Even before entering the palace, she spent her days learning etiquette at home. Jiang Wenshan rarely returned, and there was no indication he had told her anything.
So, Jiang Wan, what exactly are you trying to do?
If she had truly guessed something on her own and wanted to secretly share Jiang Wenshan’s burdens, going to such lengths and scheming to get close to a eunuch like him would indeed be a desperate move.
Xie Changlin remained silent, staring at Jiang Wan until she felt a chill down her spine.
She timidly withdrew the hand she had intended to reach out and lowered her gaze. “I know my actions make Your Eminence suspicious, but I truly mean no harm.”
She took a deep breath and smiled again. “It’s alright. Your Eminence only needs to know that I will not hinder anything you intend to do, and I will always stand by your side.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her neck was seized.
Jiang Wan’s smile vanished, her eyes widening in shock.
Again??
Xie Changlin narrowed his eyes. “Tell me, Your Ladyship, what exactly is it that I intend to do?”
Jiang Wan: “…” I slipped up!
She was soon choked until her face flushed red, regretting bitterly. Why couldn’t she have just endured it earlier? Did she have to come all this way and suffer such undeserved calamity?
This time, she truly felt death approaching. Her vision blurred as if she could see the King of Hell beckoning to her.
Once Xie Changlin’s killing intent arose, it was nearly impossible to restrain at that moment. But suddenly, seeing the tears at the corner of her eyes, he faltered.
In that instant, Jiang Wan fainted.
Xie Changlin ultimately didn’t snap her neck.
Looking at Jiang Wan on the ground, he licked his teeth with some irritation. “Rong Qing, take her away and kill her.”
Rong Qing feared he had misheard. “R-really kill her?”
“Unless you want your ears cut off and fed to the dogs.”
Rong Qing immediately shut his mouth tight, his brows furrowed, anxiously waving for someone to come over.
“Take… take him away.”
His voice carried deep uncertainty and hesitation.