“Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant’s name is Song Ying. The ‘Ying’ is the same character used in the phrase ‘bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.’”
An amused gaze swept across her face before a languid voice sounded.
“Is it the ‘Ying’ from ‘flattering and currying favor’?”
Song Ying: ………… You bastard.
I knew nothing good would ever come out of that filthy mouth of yours!
Want to play the sarcasm game, huh? Just you wait.
Despite her furious internal complaints, her outward expression remained perfectly respectful.
“This servant’s name does indeed carry the wonderful meaning of currying favor with Your Majesty!”
Emperor Yongzhao raised an eyebrow, the amusement in his eyes deepening.
“…Song Ying.”
Her name rolled off his tongue.
“That is indeed this servant,” Song Ying replied.
Seeing the faint smile at the corners of his mouth, she grew a little bolder and shuffled forward slightly on her knees.
She tilted her palm-sized face upward, blinking her large, watery almond-shaped eyes.
Her voice became exceptionally soft and sweet.
“This servant has been attending to Your Majesty for several days, and I’m truly running out of energy. May this servant humbly beg Your Majesty to grant me… one day of rest every six days?”
“Only after getting enough rest can this servant better help ease Your Majesty’s burdens!”
Emperor Yongzhao’s mood had just begun to improve.
But the moment he heard those words, the curve of his lips froze, and his brows immediately furrowed.
A mere palace maid actually dared to push her luck?!
Over the past two days, she’d been slacking off more and more frequently while on duty.
He had merely chosen to turn a blind eye to it, yet she had actually started taking herself seriously?!
He drew in a deep breath.
However, all that filled his nostrils was the same irritating, pungent mixture of odors.
The choking smoke from the burning candles, the scent of paper on the imperial desk mingled with cinnabar ink…
And there were other smells, too…
All of them mixed together.
Like countless tiny burrs constantly scraping against his nerves, they made the irritation in his heart grow increasingly unbearable.
She was already doing a terrible job, yet she still had the nerve to ask for time off?!
In her dreams!
The moment Song Ying noticed Emperor Yongzhao’s handsome face turning as black as the bottom of a cooking pot, her hopes were practically dashed.
Tsk. As expected of a capitalist from a feudal dynasty. He wouldn’t even dangle the promise of a 996 work schedule in front of her.
The base in her previous life had been so much better. At least basic employee benefits and welfare were guaranteed.
Unlike now, when asking for a single day off meant risking her head!
Song Ying sighed inwardly.
Resigning herself to her fate, she lowered her head and prepared to retreat to her corner to continue being part of the background.
“Just… tomorrow. One day only.”
The words slipped out of Emperor Yongzhao’s mouth almost instinctively.
Even he was startled by his own response.
Since when had he become so… softhearted?
Song Ying: !
Wasn’t this classic psychological manipulation?
A slap followed by a sweet reward.
It was practically the oldest trick in the book.
The little figure inside Song Ying’s head was furiously complaining, but her body was far more honest than her thoughts.
Her tear-filled almond eyes suddenly lit up.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s boundless grace!”
Her kowtow was perfectly executed, with impressive force and precision.
Suddenly, the long-absent fragrance began spreading from her body once more.
It drifted toward him, entered his nostrils, and flowed into his heart.
The agitation that had plagued him for two days gradually subsided under its soothing influence.
It was like receiving a refreshing downpour after a long drought.
Even his tightly strained nerves began to relax.
So it really was true…
Her emotions could affect him!
Emperor Yongzhao was both shocked and furious.
He was the Son of Heaven, the emperor himself!
Not only was he being restrained by a mere palace maid, but now he was actually being influenced by her emotions as well?!
Yet on the other hand, his body’s filthy instincts made it impossible for him to ignore the fragrance.
He was greedily absorbing the scent that brought such comfort to both his body and mind.
The feeling of sinking into that blissful sensation filled him with shame and anger.
And yet… he couldn’t resist it.
Very well.
He lowered his head slightly and took another deep breath of the intoxicating fragrance.
The balance in his heart quietly shifted—
Since he’d already made an exception, he might as well turn the situation to his advantage and see exactly what this woman was plotting.
If she really was a spy planted in the palace, tomorrow’s day off would be the perfect opportunity for her to communicate with the outside world!
When that happened, he could follow the trail and capture every last one of them!
At that thought, Emperor Yongzhao felt that his calculations were flawless.
Even the sweet, rich fragrance drifting into his nostrils seemed more refreshing and pleasant than before.
The following day, having been granted permission to rest, Song Ying treasured her hard-earned holiday.
She pulled the quilt over her head and slept so soundly that she completely lost track of time, nearly drooling all over her pillow.
She slept until the sun was high in the sky, missing breakfast entirely.
It never even occurred to her that a certain emperor had sent people to watch her every move.
And so—
Song Ying enjoyed her sleep immensely.
But Emperor Yongzhao was the one who suffered.
As he watched the hours slowly pass, from early morning to noon, and then until the sun began setting in the west…
The reports sent back by the shadow guards contained the same few words, repeated over and over.
“Song Ying is still sleeping soundly.”
“Song Ying has turned over and continues to sleep soundly.”
“Song Ying appears to have spoken in her sleep. The contents are unclear, but she is still sleeping soundly.”
Forget luring a snake out of its hole!
He hadn’t even managed to lure out a single earthworm!
Emperor Yongzhao abruptly raised his hand and swept every memorial off the imperial desk.
The hall doors were tightly shut, and the windows were firmly closed.
Not a single ray of light could penetrate the darkness.
His tall, slender figure swayed.
He stumbled backward and collapsed onto the bed, bracing both hands against his knees as he gasped desperately for breath.
He struggled to remember, searching his memory for that fragrance capable of bringing him even a fleeting moment of peace.
His Adam’s apple bobbed violently with longing.
His lips parted and moved, and he couldn’t help swallowing.
Suddenly, his eyes flew open!
In the darkness, those originally pitch-black pupils began to shimmer.
—In an instant, their shape elongated, transforming into two pale golden vertical slits!
Those slit pupils were filled with longing.
But after only a single breath, they returned to their original black appearance, only to transform once again…
The changes repeated endlessly, as though something inside his body was violently struggling, desperately trying to break free of its restraints.
“Hah… Hah, hah…”
He let out heavy, beastlike breaths.
His fingers plunged into his long hair, and the veins on the backs of his hands bulged hideously.
His chest rose and fell.
The imaginary sweet spring he desperately longed for did nothing to suppress the frenzy raging inside him.
Instead, the violent turmoil surging from the depths of his bloodline grew increasingly overwhelming, threatening to swallow his remaining sanity!
“Argh—!”
A painful groan escaped his throat.
He hated it!
He hated it so much!
He hated himself for being like this!
His teeth clenched tightly, yet furious roars still forced their way through the gaps.
What exactly was he?!
A monster wearing human skin?!
Had he been born into this world solely to endure this torment, a suffering worse than death, without ever knowing a moment of peace for all eternity?!
Neither human nor ghost, what was he supposed to be?!
A beast?!
And now, as though all that suffering still wasn’t enough, the damned heavens had gone even further!
They had sent down a woman specifically to restrain him, expose his most humiliating side, and torment him until he wished he were dead?!
What did that make him?!
Was he nothing more than a dog for Heaven to toy with as it pleased?!
Overwhelming fury and humiliation gnawed away at his sanity.
No!
No—!
“I will never let those surviving Yan rebels get what they want! Nor will I let the heavens have their way! My fate can only be controlled by me!”
Before his words had even faded, a powerful blast of force erupted from his palm, striking a nearby pillar!
Bang—!
The golden pillar trembled, and dust came cascading down from the overhead beams.
A muffled explosion suddenly echoed throughout the hall.
At the edge of the powerful gust created by his palm strike, the silver kettle Song Ying had placed nearby was caught in the force.
Its lid was violently blown off—
Clang!
It crashed back onto the table.
Emperor Yongzhao’s eerie eyes instantly caught sight of the unexpected disturbance.
His frenzied thoughts abruptly faltered.
“Song Ying…”
As his pain eased slightly, his longing for that fragrance resurfaced.
Anticipating it, urging him toward it, clamoring for it!
Emperor Yongzhao’s gaze became extraordinarily dangerous in an instant.
…Was she truly so hopelessly stupid, or was she… so deeply calculating that even he couldn’t see through her?
Regardless, this woman… absolutely could not be allowed to live!
But at the very instant his murderous intent reached its peak, his body suddenly stiffened and began trembling uncontrollably.
Something beneath his muscles was twitching and throbbing.
He could even feel the inhuman golden color in his eyes spreading, becoming increasingly intense!
No… No, he couldn’t…
For the time being, he still couldn’t do without her.
Or rather, he couldn’t do without the fragrance emanating from her body.
Emperor Yongzhao drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent surge of blood and energy within him.
Meanwhile, in the eastern side hall next door.
Song Ying, who had been awakened by the noise: Huh? Is it thundering outside…?
Good thing I don’t have to work today.
She rolled over and went straight back to sleep.
*
The following day.
As usual, Song Ying resumed her role as a human background decoration, doing her best to minimize her presence.
After what had happened the day before yesterday, she had finally figured something out.
Emperor Yongzhao was an eccentric man with an unpredictable temperament.
Playing the victim and pretending to be weak simply didn’t work on him.
Since that was the case, she would have to think of another approach.
At the very least, she had to secure one day off every week!
“A confidential report from Yanzhou.”
Suddenly, a black-clad figure appeared before the imperial desk.
The figure placed a secret report sealed with wax on the desk, then vanished again in a blur.
The entire process happened as quickly as lightning.
Song Ying hurriedly lowered her eyes.
She mustn’t look at what she wasn’t supposed to see or listen to what she wasn’t supposed to hear.
However, in the very next moment, she heard a faint noise.
Looking toward the imperial desk, she saw that Emperor Yongzhao had suddenly collapsed forward over it.
His shoulders were trembling, and heavy, labored breaths escaped his lips.
“Your Majesty?”
She called out and cautiously took a few steps forward.
But when she saw Emperor Yongzhao’s deathly pale face, she immediately realized something was wrong.
Without thinking further, Song Ying turned and hurried toward the entrance of the hall.
“Eunuch Runde! Eunuch Runde! Someone, come quickly! Something’s happened to His Majesty!”
Eunuch Runde, who had been waiting outside, rushed in upon hearing her cries.
After taking a hurried glance at the emperor, he immediately said to Song Ying,
“Miss Song, stay here and look after His Majesty for now. This old servant will go summon the imperial physicians!”
“Song… Ying…”
Hearing Emperor Yongzhao call her name, Song Ying’s heart trembled.
At a complete loss, she turned around and hurried back toward the imperial desk.
By now, Emperor Yongzhao looked as though he could collapse at any moment.
One hand was pressed against his chest, while the other supported his forehead.
Seeing this, Song Ying instinctively wanted to rush up the steps and help support him.
But before she could even steady her footing, she noticed something that felt strangely out of place.
Something wasn’t right.
She stopped in her tracks.
The aura surrounding him… although it was as unpleasant as ever, didn’t feel like the agony of someone whose five senses had gone out of control.
Instead, it seemed more like something deliberately staged.
She quickly raised her eyes.
His breathing was indeed somewhat faster than usual, and his complexion was slightly pale.
But deep within those seemingly unfocused pupils, a cold glint was concealed.
Putting on an act for me?
Song Ying sneered inwardly.
What exactly was he trying to test?
Had Li Jingrong’s assassination attempt made him suspicious of her?
So that was why the words “confidential report” had been deliberately announced in such a loud voice earlier, as though they were afraid someone might not hear them.
That damned emperor…
Was he trying to make her believe that something in the confidential report had upset him so badly that it affected his health?
First, he wanted to test whether she was interested in the confidential report.
Second, he wanted to find out whether she knew what role she played in soothing him.
What a damned emperor!
But even though she knew it was a trap, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and walk straight into it.
Seated above her, Emperor Yongzhao caught every trace of her momentary hesitation.
In that split second, Song Ying closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
After judging the direction, she took a step forward and lightly supported Emperor Yongzhao’s forearm.
As she approached, that faint, sweet fragrance became increasingly clear and distinct.
Emperor Yongzhao’s half-closed phoenix eyes suddenly opened a fraction as he looked toward Song Ying.
She… hadn’t touched the confidential report.
“Heh.”
An extremely faint, cold snort escaped Emperor Yongzhao’s throat.
How could he possibly be foolish enough to genuinely allow a shadow guard to loudly announce the words “confidential report”?
That had merely been bait he’d thrown out, specifically waiting for the fish to bite.
Naturally, he had been pretending.
He had been testing her.
He simply wanted to see whether Song Ying would reveal any suspicious behavior she shouldn’t have, or perhaps… betray even the slightest ambition to pry into his secrets.
Yet the result had exceeded his expectations—
Almost the very instant he’d set his trap, she had already seen through his intentions.
So she wasn’t actually stupid.
In that case, she must be extraordinarily calculating.
Compared to fools who only knew how to cause trouble, he had always appreciated intelligent people who were capable of challenging him across a chessboard.
Yet what truly stirred something within him went far beyond that.
As she drew closer, it was as though he were drinking the most exquisite poisoned wine in the world.
It intoxicated him, made him crave more, yet at the same time caused an even deeper sense of vigilance and suspicion to rise within him the very next moment.
Emperor Yongzhao slowly straightened his body.
He lowered his gaze and stared at Song Ying.
Her eyes were still tightly shut, but her eyelashes were trembling even more violently than before.
After all, there were limits to what he could discover within the confines of his private chambers.
Perhaps it was time to place her somewhere more complicated, more unpredictable, somewhere that could strip away every disguise and allow him to finally see—
Outside the hall, Eunuch Runde had already gathered the guards and was waiting with bated breath.
But there had been no sound from inside for quite some time.
Bound by the emperor’s orders, he didn’t dare enter without permission.
After a long silence, Emperor Yongzhao finally spoke.
“Starting tomorrow, you will accompany me to morning court.”
Song Ying: ?
Her eyes flew open, her almond-shaped eyes widening into perfect circles.
M-morning court?!
She was just a palace maid!
And he wanted her to attend morning court?!
What, did he think she possessed some extraordinary bone structure, or that her face was particularly effective at warding off evil spirits?
Was she supposed to stand in the imperial court and somehow safeguard the nation’s fate, ensuring the dynasty endured for ten thousand years?!
Countless fireworks exploded inside her head at once.