After returning to Tangcui Palace, Jing Xin told everything to Chang Huan and Shou Quan. She knew she had not fully dispelled Qi Shen’s suspicion yet, so she instructed them that if Qi Shen issued any decree, they must inform her immediately.
She trusted these two palace servants quite a bit. The novel did not go into detail about Jing Xin, this expendable cannon fodder character, but the original owner’s memories were still intact.
The original owner had once been a noble daughter of a fallen Biandu family, suffering through hardship in a chaotic era. After being taken in by Prince Zhou, she understood that entering the Liang Dynasty’s royal palace required bringing loyal confidants with her. Chang Huan and Shou Quan were both people who had nearly died in misery, rescued by the original owner. In gratitude for saving their lives, they remained utterly loyal. Shou Quan had even personally castrated himself to enter the palace in order to protect her.
It was already the second watch of the night, but Jing Xin had no intention of sleeping. After all, this was her first night in an unfamiliar world.
She stood in her room and looked into the mirror, finally taking the time to examine this face carefully. In her previous life, she had also been considered a beauty, but the reflection before her now was on another level entirely. The features were exquisitely refined, a pair of eyes like peach blossoms yet also faintly fox-like, alluring and radiant with every glance.
Jing Xin was quite satisfied with this face. After all, she was a looks-driven person.
The palace was filled almost entirely with luxurious clothing and cosmetics, with very few books or cultured items. The only object that could be considered elegant was an ancient guqin that Qi Shen had once bestowed upon the original owner, who had been skilled in both music and dance.
Jing Xin: …
She had absolutely no talent for music or dance.
She was a young painter!
Before being killed by choking on milk tea, she had just finished an oil painting for a competition. The university graffiti wall project had also just been completed with her juniors, and tomorrow she was supposed to receive the final payment from her client.
Aside from painting, her hobby was baking. While browsing social media, she would be making desserts at the same time.
In the oven, puff pastry cream puffs were rising. The mixer was whipping cream. The freshly kneaded snow mochi dough was resting in the fridge…
What was she going to do? She, a baking genius, would never be able to eat those sweets again QAQ.
And more importantly, in this backward chaotic era of the Liang Dynasty, would there even be enough pigments and painting tools?
If she could not eat desserts, she would die.
If she could not paint, she would develop obsessive tendencies.
Life was too difficult QAQ.
After looking around, Jing Xin could not find a single painting in the palace. The original owner truly deserved the title of a decorative vase.
She regretted ever reading this ridiculous novel.
Oh right, she had originally been attracted by the explicit scenes between Qi Shen and the original owner. Later, she had been drawn in by the sweet but tragic relationship between the male and female leads, reading with a smile the entire time.
The female lead had an impressive ability: after marrying Qi Shen for a year, she still never had relations with him, and even made him believe he had been too rough with her during a drunken night…
Why was it so easy to pacify a tyrant? Probably because he deeply loved Shen Qingyue.
By the later chapters, she no longer favored Qin Wuheng as the male lead. The only character she felt sympathy for was Qi Shen, this deeply devoted man. Thinking about it now, what exactly had he done wrong? It all seemed to be the fault of his upbringing and Shen Qingyue.
In the side stories, Qin Wuheng’s son eventually overthrew his father’s regime, resenting him for how he treated Shen Qingyue, and even posthumously honored Qi Shen as the “Hao Kang Wu Sheng Da Xing Emperor,” continuing the cycle of tyranny.
The more Jing Xin thought about it, the more she regretted reading this novel.
Other transmigrators had systems. Did she have one too?
She silently called out in her mind, “Uh, system, are you there?”
Only the crackling of candle wicks answered her.
No system. So would she just wake up and return to her own world after sleeping?
Jing Xin quickly lay down.
Her sleep was uneasy. She dreamed of Qin Wuheng and Shen Qingyue’s son Qin Lian ruling a tyrannical state where the people suffered endlessly, and that his son and grandson continued the same cycle.
A voice told her she had to stop Qi Shen from the source and guide him into becoming a wise ruler. As a reward, she would receive all kinds of things she loved, like cream, butter, cheese, and watercolor paints. Otherwise, she would die.
Jing Xin found it ridiculous. A tyrant with both intelligence and power like Qi Shen, how could she possibly guide him? He understood everything; he simply refused to change. Even Shen Qingyue’s attempts to advise him on virtue had been rejected.
Then you will die.
Before she could even refute the voice, Chang Huan urgently woke her.
“My lady, the rebel army has reached the city gates!”
“What about the Emperor?” Jing Xin opened her eyes, looking at the ancient-style room with disappointment.
So she had not returned.
The rebel army reaching the gates was part of Qi Shen’s plan.
Qi Shen leaned lazily against the dragon throne, listening to reports from his generals.
The sky outside was beginning to lighten.
“General Rong has already lured the rebel forces into our formation. The main commanders of Biandu have all been killed. The traitor Prince Zhou may also—”
“Report—Your Majesty, Prince Zhou has been captured. He attempted to take his own life but was stopped by General Rong and is now being escorted to the prison.”
The entire Ziyan Palace had already been replaced with new personnel, and only Qi Shen’s chief eunuch, Cang Ji, had survived the previous night.
The news excited Qi Shen. Cang Ji noticed the faint curve of his lips and quickly ordered the meal to be served.
“May Your Majesty enjoy eternal prosperity.”
All the palace attendants knelt in unison.
“Your Majesty, please eat breakfast before going to the prison.”
Qi Shen sat up and began to eat. His movements were slow and composed. He blew on the porridge until it reached the perfect temperature before taking a bite, the sound of the golden spoon lightly striking the bowl crisp and rhythmic.
As if he found the sound pleasing, he began tapping it more deliberately, the rhythm becoming lighter and more playful, the curve of his lips deepening.
Cang Ji, always perceptive, knew Qi Shen’s mood fluctuated between extremely good and extremely bad, and that he particularly liked sweets. He quickly presented pastries on his knees.
Qi Shen picked up a piece of date paste cake with a golden fork.
“Your Majesty, is today’s sweetness satisfactory?”
Qi Shen ate with elegant restraint. There was a faint smile at the corner of his lips, yet his gaze remained deep and cold. His tyrannical aura was unmistakable. Cang Ji feared the pastries might not please him and lowered his head even further, sweat dripping down his neck.
Qi Shen finished the cake before tossing the fork aside. “Still not enough.”
Cang Ji went pale and immediately knocked his head to the ground. The entire hall followed in panic.
Cang Ji: …
He really wanted to go back home and farm.
After a moment, a slow and cold voice came from above. “Tomorrow, I want it ninety percent sweet.”
“Yes! This servant will inform the kitchen immediately!”
Finally, his head was still attached.
At that moment, a eunuch entered to report that the Chancellor requested an audience.
The Chancellor was Qin Wuheng.
Qi Shen granted permission.
A man in green robes entered. He was tall and slightly more robust than Qi Shen, with sharp brows and bright eyes, also extremely handsome.
As Qi Shen’s most trusted minister and brother-in-arms, Qin Wuheng naturally knew everything about the royal residence’s situation. He first reported that Prince Zhou had been captured and escorted to prison, then asked why Jing Xin had not been brought to the dungeon as well.
Cang Ji coughed lightly. This matter could not be made public, so he dismissed the surrounding attendants.
Qin Wuheng’s dark eyes flickered. “Your Majesty… could it be that Consort Jing has already perished?”
This had been Qi Shen’s plan. Jing Xin’s death was meant to pave the way for Shen Qingyue. Everything should have proceeded without issue. Qin Wuheng had slept peacefully the previous night, so Jing Xin should have already been imprisoned with Prince Zhou.
“Consort Jing is unharmed,” Qi Shen said as he rose from the throne, his dark blue dragon robe flowing with his movement. “Come with me to see this courageous feudal lord.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips, but his eyes were filled with killing intent.
“Bring Consort Jing as well.”