After the Substitute Male Bride Fled, the Emperor Turned Dark - Chapter 1

This was the new Emperor’s first imperial selection. Families of every rank were scrambling to send their daughters into the palace, and Fang Zhengan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, was not about to miss this golden opportunity for advancement.

To secure his future, he heartlessly tore his beloved daughter away from her sweetheart, using the man she loved as leverage to force her into the palace selection.

A few days later, amidst the desperate prayers of the Fang household, the imperial decree of conferment finally arrived. Fang Zhengan held the decree, his hands trembling. It was not out of excitement; it was because his daughter had fled.

Fang Zhiwei, seventeen years old, was a renowned beauty of the capital, skilled in the four arts of the scholar. Her only flaw was that she was far too headstrong. Three days ago, she had left behind a letter and fled the city under the cover of night with her lover, a minor editor from the Hanlin Academy.

The letter was written politely enough: “Father, your daughter is unfilial, but I only wish to marry the man I love. If His Majesty fancies this face of mine, then you might as well go to Gusu and fetch my younger brother back. Let him go in my stead.”

Fang Zhengan was so livid he nearly dropped dead on the spot. Your brother is a man, you wretched creature!

But with things as they were, finding a solution was the only priority. Fang Zhengan summoned his wife and two sons, who had already entered government service, and unleashed a torrent of rage upon his wife.

“It is your indulgence that ruined her! She is gambling with the lives of the entire Fang family!”

Madam Fang’s knees buckled. She clutched her handkerchief and sobbed, “Master, please punish me. I failed to teach Zhiwei properly. To think she would commit such an enormous blunder, sobbing.”

The eldest son quickly bowed to plead, “Father, do not blame Mother. It is I, as the eldest brother.”

The second son also bowed. “It is I, as the second brother.”

Fang Zhengan slammed his palm onto the table, the veins in his neck bulging with rage. “Shut up, all of you! If this isn’t resolved, the entire household will be charged. When that time comes, you can go play the devoted family in the imperial dungeons.”

The mother and sons fell silent. The butler entered with a grimace. “Master, the Miss’s flight seems well-planned. Our men have pursued her for two days, but the trail has gone cold. I am afraid.”

“Afraid of what?!”

“I am afraid she will be difficult to find.”

Fang Zhengan slumped into his chair, his face ashen. Lying to the Emperor was a crime punishable by the execution of the entire clan. The Emperor had only agreed to the selection after much persuasion from his ministers; if such a scandal broke out, he would have every reason to cancel the results. When that happened, the Empress Dowager would be the first to show no mercy to the Fang family.

Recalling the contents of the letter, Fang Zhengan clenched his fists. “Go to Gusu. Fetch him.”

And so, the long-forgotten Fang Zhiyan was brought to the capital.

A few days later, a servant announced, “Master, Madam, the Third Young Master has arrived.”

The couple turned in unison. Standing at the doorway was a youth of about seventeen or eighteen. He was tall and slender, dressed in a robe that was not exactly new. His dark hair was tied back casually, and his features were so exquisite they looked as if they had been lifted from a painting. More importantly, that face truly shared seventy percent of its likeness with Fang Zhiwei.

However, where Fang Zhiwei was gentle and soft, this youth possessed a rebellious, rakish air. The corners of his mouth were slightly tilted upward, as if he were perpetually ready to say something infuriating. Fang Zhengan dazed for a moment, reminded of a flamboyant and stubborn beauty from years ago.

Unlike the Vice Minister’s complex emotions, Madam Fang’s eyes flickered with a spark of hope. It was the look of a drowning person clutching a final straw or a hungry wolf spotting its prey.

Under their intense scrutiny, Fang Zhiyan straightened his clothes and, at the butler’s signal, bowed. “Your son, Fang Zhiyan, greets Father and Mother.”

Fang Zhengan took a deep breath and forced a benevolent smile. “Zhiyan, it has been many years. You have grown tall.”

It has been ten years; how could I not grow tall?

“I am grateful for Father’s concern.”

After a few moments of idle chatter, Fang Zhengan cut to the chase and laid out the entire situation. After listening, Fang Zhiyan fell into a long silence. He was a man. Though he was a bit short for one and quite lean, surely he could not pass as a woman well enough to deceive the inner palace?

Madam Fang, sensing his hesitation, offered reassurance: “Your sister likely planned this long ago. She wore high-soled shoes on the day of the selection; looking at you now, your height is almost identical to hers then.”

Fang Zhiyan nearly reached his breaking point. So this whole scheme was aimed directly at me.

Fang Zhengan and his wife worked in tandem, maintaining their kindly masks. “I know this is dangerous, but we have no other choice. This concerns the life and death of the entire Fang family.”

He handed over both the imperial decree and Fang Zhiwei’s letter. Fang Zhiyan read them and remained silent. In this world, women often did head-rolling things for the sake of love. It just so happened that the heads rolling would belong to the Fang family.

He slowly looked up, his expression complex. “Father, this is far too risky.”

“You and your sister look alike; that is our family’s greatest advantage,” Fang Zhengan spoke with grave earnestness. “Rest assured, the current Emperor is famous for working from dawn to dusk and has no interest in women. As long as you stay low-profile and do not stand out, I will find a way to switch you back with Zhiwei in a year or so. At that time, I will give you twenty thousand taels of silver so you and your grandmother can live in comfort in Gusu.”

Fang Zhiyan: “Is this matter truly certain?”

“Naturally. If you do not trust me, we can put it in writing.”

Fang Zhiyan took a deep breath, his mind racing. His mother had passed away when he was young, and his father had ignored him, leaving him to live with his maternal grandmother in a small town in Gusu. They were not wealthy, but they had enough to get by until recently, as his grandmother’s health had begun to decline. Seeking a famous doctor required a massive amount of money.

Seeing the Fang family’s desperate posture, he realized he would be forced into the palace one way or another. Better to feign compliance and act later than to resist and die now. Once he reached this conclusion, he smiled.

“Give me three thousand taels upfront. The remainder is to be paid to me one year from today. Furthermore, you must hire a famous physician to treat my grandmother’s illness.”

The Fang couple exchanged a glance but did not agree immediately.

“I am risking my head here; these conditions are hardly harsh. Besides, if my grandmother recovers, I will be grateful and serve the Fang family with even greater dedication.”

Fang Zhengan beckoned the butler. “Draft the agreement. We shall sign and seal it.”

Fang Zhiyan took the paper provided by the butler, read it carefully, and then signed.

Madam Fang arranged a clean courtyard for him and assigned him all the servants who had previously served Fang Zhiwei. He was given one month to familiarize himself with his sister’s habits to avoid detection. They even managed to procure Voice-Changing Pills which, when consumed, could alter one’s vocal range.

With one month left before he entered the palace disguised as a woman, the Fang family hired a retired governess from the palace to teach him etiquette, covering everything from walking, speaking, and eating to drinking tea and bowing. He donned silken skirts, applied light makeup, and stuffed two steamed buns into his chest area. In front of the governess, he managed to avoid any obvious blunders.

“Miss Fang, when you see the Empress Dowager, you must bow like this.”

“Miss Fang, when a noble person questions you, you must not raise your eyes to look at them.”

After half a month together, the governess was quite satisfied with his performance. “Truly a lady of such fame in the capital; every frown and smile from Miss Fang is captivating.”

Fang Zhiyan covered his face and yawned. “Thank you for the praise, Governess.”

That night, the governess went to Madam Fang to take her leave. “I see that the Miss is prepared in all aspects. The remaining days should be left for your family reunion. This old body must return to report to the Empress Dowager.”

Madam Fang gave her many rewards as gifts, and her heart finally settled a little. If even a governess who spent every day with him could not find a flaw, then perhaps the plan would work. If he stayed low-profile in the palace, maybe the Emperor would not even notice him. If Zhiwei regretted her choice later, they could still swap them back.

With only a few days left before entering the palace, Fang Zhiyan leaned against the window frame, watching the servants listlessly sweep the courtyard. The curtain was lifted, and Lanruo, Fang Zhiwei’s personal maid, walked in. Seeing the figure by the window, she dazed for a second, thinking it was her mistress.

“Young Master, the Master sent a guard from the front yard to inform you that the famous physician has arrived in Zishui Town to take the Old Madam’s pulse.”

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