“Slap—”
With a crisp slap, the entire palace staff in the Empress’s bedchamber, Weiyang Palace, dared not utter a sound.
In that instant, every single one of them envied their companions who were not on duty in Weiyang Palace at that moment.
—That slap had just landed on the face of the most esteemed emperor of the entire Great Qi Dynasty.
Even though the person who struck him was the Empress, whose arrogant and domineering nature was well-known, and who dared to offend her—even the Emperor would never give her face— this time… she had actually struck His Majesty.
And it was a real slap to the face.
Just as the palace staff were filled with trepidation, fearing that they might be silenced for witnessing such a “grand” scene to prevent the matter from spreading, there was soon a new commotion behind the curtain where the sound had just come from.
Dressed in a moon-white palace gown, with snow-white skin and a beautiful face, the stunningly beautiful woman abruptly shook off the man’s large hand gripping her fair wrist. She took two steps back, her delicate brows furrowed with anger, and her usual sweet voice snapped, “Xie Liu! Have you had your brain slammed in a door?”
“Just ten days ago, news came from the front lines that my brother, your general, had been framed and was missing. Is this all you can think about?”
Hearing her address him so bluntly, the young emperor’s face darkened, showing that he too was angered by her actions. He coldly said, “I am the Son of Heaven. As my Empress, serving me is only natural.”
Upon hearing this, Ying Xu’s stunningly beautiful face instantly turned even colder than the emperor’s, covered with a layer of frost.
Her voice was full of pride as she said, “I am unwilling. Even if you are the emperor, you cannot force me.” As soon as she finished speaking, the emperor’s expression became even more unpleasant.
But when his gaze fell upon the other girl’s ethereal, otherworldly beauty, her expression cold and aloof, he seemed to remember something. He suppressed his temper and coaxed her, saying, “Alright, Xu’er, stop making a fuss. Yes, the Great General is missing, but as the Emperor, am I supposed to abstain from sex because of a subject’s affairs?”
He gazed deeply at Ying Xu, his exquisitely beautiful eyes carrying a hint of arrogance, a haughty pride forged by countless riches and power.
Remembering how Ying Xu had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, he softened his voice and patiently said, “Xu’er, you should also feel sorry for me. This vast harem, I’ve made it a mere formality, with only you in it. Yet you say you won’t let me touch you. I’m a normal man too. For you, in the three years since I ascended the throne, I haven’t favored a single maid. No emperor in the world has ever done that…”
His affection for Ying Xu was unprecedented.
Even setting aside the emperor, how many ordinary nobles throughout history have truly remained devoted to their wives for life?
The emperor had hoped these words would remind Ying Xu of his good qualities and win her back, but instead, they only fueled her anger, which was already simmering due to her brother’s disappearance.
Hearing his praise of her, Ying Xu immediately sneered.
She retorted, “Did I force you? Didn’t you swear to marry only me, Ying Xu, for the rest of your life? Didn’t you say you were willing to wait until my three-year mourning period was over before marrying me as empress? Who are you trying to impress with your act of sacrificing so much for me? Did I ask you to do that?”
Hearing Ying Xu refute his moral blackmail, mercilessly pointing out his self-pity, the emperor’s face flushed and pale, becoming extremely ugly.
But what truly made him lose his composure was Ying Xu’s next sentence.
The girl, beautiful as a celestial being, had a clear, melodious voice, yet the words spoken in that sweet, gentle voice felt like a sharp knife piercing his heart—
“I wonder if my imperial uncle would regret betrothing me to you if he knew you’d become like this after marriage.”
Ying Xu’s voice was actually quite calm, carrying only a childlike, innocent doubt. But it was precisely this naive tone that made the emperor feel even more embarrassed.
Suddenly, memories of his youth flooded back—that bright, beautiful, and eternally proud young woman, someone all the noble young men of Jinling could only dream of.
Even though he was a prince, Ying Xu’s eyes, like pools of water, could never reflect his image.
Ying Xu’s father was a great general of the Great Qi Dynasty, and had a deep bond with the late emperor. They had been sworn brothers on the battlefield in their youth, and he had been highly trusted by the late emperor, serving as both a powerful minister and a favorite.
After Ying Xu’s birth, the late emperor, out of love for her, doted on the little girl, treating her like his own daughter. Thus, she was born into a world of unparalleled privilege.
Ying Xu was the noble moon, while they, the late emperor’s true descendants, could only be dim stars serving as her backdrop.
Everyone in the palace knew that it was acceptable to neglect the emperor’s princes and princesses, but anyone who dared to displease the young lady of the Ying family would face execution.
Despite this stark difference in treatment, few among them disliked Ying Xu; most admired her, pursued her, and hoped that one day she would turn around and catch her eye.
However, no one ever received a glance from that proud young woman, except…
Suddenly remembering someone he utterly disliked, the emperor’s face darkened completely. Under Ying Xu’s angry gaze, it was unclear who he was truly angry with, as he stormed off.
His disdainful attitude naturally angered Ying Xu again. With his beautiful phoenix eyes wide open, he casually pushed a vase off the rosewood stand.
With a crash, shards of porcelain littered the floor.
The palace servants outside, who had just knelt after the emperor’s angry departure, felt a renewed sense of unease.
His Majesty hadn’t “punished” them for stumbling upon such a scandalous affair, but the mistress of the room was a different story.
The Empress was known for her spoiled and domineering nature, utterly unreasonable and tyrannical. Despite possessing a face of celestial beauty, she harbored a heart of venom.
Normally, even a palace servant who accidentally misplaced a flower or spilled a drop of water would suffer severe punishment.
Now, she was capable of even harming His Majesty and driving him out of the palace in anger—how could they not be terrified?
In the silence and unease of the room, the kneeling palace servants suddenly saw an unfamiliar figure stand up and walk towards Ying Xu.
It seemed to be the young palace maid who had recently been demoted to Weiyang Palace.
“Your Majesty, don’t be sad, Your Majesty…”
The young maid’s words startled everyone. She was actually going to comfort the Empress?
But clearly, the person she was “comforting” didn’t understand the situation.
Ying Xu slightly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the young maid who had appeared out of nowhere, and directly interrupted her, “Who do you think you are, daring to watch me make a fool of myself? Get out!”
Hearing Ying Xu’s words, the young maid’s eyes immediately filled with tears. She felt that the Empress was indeed as spoiled as others said. She had clearly meant well in comforting her, but all she received was a furious “Get out!” Filled with grievance, she bowed and retreated.
Just as she turned around, the Empress’s clear and beautiful voice suddenly rang in her ears again, “Wait.”
This time, however, the words spoken were equally enchanting.
But it wasn’t a turning point after all. The next moment, Ying Xu ruthlessly announced her fate.
“From today onwards, you no longer need to stay in my Weiyang Palace. Go to the laundry department.”
She spoke lazily, deciding the fate of this little palace maid with a few casual words.
As soon as Ying Xu finished speaking, the little palace maid who had tried to stand up for herself was terrified. She immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly to the beautiful woman in palace attire, crying out, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, spare me! Please give me another chance!”
Ying Xu frowned, glancing impatiently at the wooden-faced palace servants standing by. “What are you all standing there for? Do you want me to personally escort her away?” Upon hearing this, the palace servants rushed forward, one after another, to take the little maid who had just offended the Empress.
Ying Xu felt nothing but disgust. The palace servants were truly getting worse with each generation. Not only were there more and more clueless fools, but even those who could read their master’s mind had become a rare breed.
A bunch of useless trash.
Then, after a farcical scene involving a palace maid, promoted by some unknown person, attempting to usurp power and rise to a higher social status, accompanied by the distant cries of the maid who had just been dragged away, “Your Majesty, please spare me!” and “I will never dare to do it again!”, Ying Xu, remembering her argument with the Emperor and the disheveled state of her hair, went to her dressing table and sat down to tidy her appearance.
She had always loved to be meticulous. She had always been this way, even when she was with her father and brothers in the military camp.
Back then, she was a young girl who was praised as “jade-like and adorable” wherever she went. A delicate little girl appearing in the military camp was a great spectacle for the soldiers.
Moreover, this little girl was the daughter of their respected general, naturally attracting much curiosity. Many people tried to gather around to see her, but they were all turned away by her father, brothers, and the person who had served her the longest in her youth.
Recalling the past, and looking at her slightly disheveled hair in the mirror, she couldn’t help but think of what had just happened.
“Damn it, Xie Liu, that bastard!”
The thought of the emperor trying to force himself on her made Ying Xu furious, and she couldn’t help but curse him. But being from a high-ranking family and pampered since childhood, she was well-mannered and couldn’t bring herself to utter any harsh words.
She could only repeat two words she knew weren’t good, or occasionally utter a phrase she’d heard in the streets, “bastard!” That was all she knew.
As she finished cursing, Ying Xu looked at her slightly reddened hand that had just slapped the emperor, and felt a pang of regret. She shouldn’t have hit Xie Liu.
She should have grabbed a sharp weapon before dealing with that thick-skinned bastard! Otherwise, her hand wouldn’t be hurting now.
Thinking of this, Ying Xu felt a surge of unprecedented and intense resentment. No one had ever dared to treat her like this before.
From childhood, she had always been given everything she wanted in the palace; she had never had to lift a finger to hit anyone.
If it were four years ago, she would have already complained to her beloved uncle, the emperor, and ordered the execution of those who dared to displease her.
Even for those whose status was special and whose execution her uncle couldn’t directly order, she still had followers who would stand up for her no matter the consequences, as long as she asked.
…Xie Jingchen.
Thinking of this name, which had been “missing” for even longer than her recently confirmed missing brother—almost four whole years without a trace—she felt a deep sense of loss.
The stunningly beautiful girl suddenly let out a heavy, cold snort and cursed, “Fool!”
Perhaps it was fate, but just as Ying Xu in the palace uttered these words, a thousand miles away in the northern desert, Xie Jingchen, whom she had called a fool, awoke with a start.
The handsome young man, with his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, sat bolt upright, his voice filled with fear as he called out the name etched in his heart for so many years,
“—A-Xu!”
Author’s Note:
I’ve started a new story, exploring a new genre. Welcome, my darlings, to jump in! I hope you like it QAQ, thank you!
Also, please add my pre-order to your collection:
Title: “After the Divorce, the Emperor Became My Mistress”
One-line summary: My mistress is super obedient and sweet!
Synopsis ↓
Everyone in Shengjing knows that Ying Jin is bold and even more temperamental.
If her husband dared to keep a mistress outside, she could simply throw down a divorce letter the day after finding out and return to her parents’ home.
But no one could have imagined that she would be so audacious as to treat the emperor as a mistress shortly after their divorce, behaving like a servant and bossing him around.