After the Substitute Male Bride Fled, the Emperor Turned Dark - Chapter 15

Watching Lan Ruo leave and close the door behind her, Fang Zhiyan’s mind went completely blank.

Xiao Huan stood up, walked to the edge of the bed, and called out to him, “Come here.”

Fang Zhiyan clung to his chair, procrastinating. “This painting of mine is not yet finished. This concubine is obsessed with painting. If I do not finish this today, I fear I will not sleep well. Perhaps Your Majesty should head back first?”

Xiao Huan ignored him, making himself comfortable by sitting on the edge of the bed. “Do not make me say it a second time.”

Fang Zhiyan’s scalp tingled. He moved stiffly toward the bed, his mind racing through a hundred ways to make the Emperor leave immediately.

Before he could think of a plan, Xiao Huan tilted his head slightly, watching him with interest. “You seem very resistant to me.”

Resistant was an understatement.

Fang Zhiyan pursed his lips and murmured, “This concubine is not resistant. I simply do not know how to get along with Your Majesty.”

“Is that so?” Xiao Huan did not expose the lie but instead signaled for him to get onto the bed. “I can teach you.”

It was a terrible conversation.

Fang Zhiyan was nearly frightened to tears. Why was he so unlucky? Was he destined to die today? No matter how hard he prayed, no one could save him from this predicament. Under Xiao Huan’s intimidating gaze, he moved like a marionette and climbed onto the bed.

“Lie down.”

Fang Zhiyan slowly lay down and closed his eyes. Xiao Huan wasted no time and actually lifted his skirt!

Two lines of silent tears flowed from the corners of Fang Zhiyan’s eyes. His end had come. His mind involuntarily began replaying fragments of his past life. This must be the revolving lantern of memories people spoke of before death.

Suddenly, a warm palm covered his knee. The man above him asked in confusion, “Why are you crying? Does it hurt that much?”

Fang Zhiyan opened his eyes and glanced at his knee. In a flash of inspiration, he squeezed out a few more tears and said with a trembling voice, “Yes. As Your Majesty can see, this concubine is truly unable to serve Your Majesty.”

Seeing him like this, Xiao Huan found it quite amusing and eventually could not help but let out a low chuckle. Fang Zhiyan never knew that the dignified and cold Emperor could laugh like that. It was deep and pleasant, resonating from the depths of his chest.

Now it was Fang Zhiyan’s turn to feel embarrassed. He pursed his lips. “Your Majesty.”

Xiao Huan took a jar of ointment from the nearby cabinet, squeezed some onto his hand, rubbed his palms together to melt it, and then applied it to the bruised, purple area of the knee.

The next moment, Fang Zhiyan let out a sharp cry. His leg jerked instinctively, trying to pull back from the pain.

Xiao Huan’s expression darkened slightly as he scolded in a low voice, “Do not move. Just endure it for a moment.”

Fang Zhiyan covered his mouth, feeling extremely awkward. This was such a strange conversation.

Out in the courtyard, Lan Ruo, who was absentmindedly catching insects, kept her ears pressed toward the room. After what she heard, she did not sleep a wink the entire night.

The next morning, Lan Ruo appeared before Fang Zhiyan to serve him, sporting two dark circles under her eyes.

Fang Zhiyan was startled. “Lan Ruo, are the insects in the courtyard that difficult to catch? You stayed up all night?”

Lan Ruo: “…”

Was that really the important part? Did she not think that what happened between him and the Emperor last night was far more bizarre?

She hesitated for a long while before finally asking, “Your Ladyship, you and the Emperor last night.”

Fang Zhiyan recalled Xiao Huan’s ruthless, iron like palms from the night before. His legs ached just thinking about it. He frowned. “The Emperor’s strength is truly immense.”

Lan Ruo gasped.

Before the two could clarify their misunderstanding, the courtyard became lively. The Chief of the Internal Affairs Bureau arrived with a crowd of people to announce the Emperor’s decree: “From this day forward, Concubine Zhuang shall move to Chengqian Palace. All furnishings and servant quotas shall be arranged according to the standards of a Consort.”

Fang Zhiyan felt only darkness ahead. Jingyang Palace was some distance from Qianqing Palace; previously, the Emperor only summoned him occasionally. But Chengqian Palace was only a few steps away from the Emperor’s residence.

Fang Zhiyan struggled to protest. “I must trouble the Eunuch to send word for me. My legs are inconvenient; perhaps it is better if I continue living here for now.”

The Chief of Internal Affairs exclaimed with a joyful expression, “Your Majesty has already prepared a soft sedan for Your Ladyship. Do not worry; all other trivial matters will be handled by us servants. You just need to move in happily.”

Lan Ruo had initially held onto a shred of hope, but watching this scene, her illusions shattered completely. Her heart was screaming.

The Emperor was actually a cut sleeve!

And so, in broad daylight, Fang Zhiyan was carried into Chengqian Palace in a soft sedan.

Upon entering the hanging flower gate, he saw a ground paved with bluestone. The locust trees on both sides looked ancient and vigorous. Under the veranda, the red lacquer pillars were decorated with gold traced lotus patterns. It was not gaudy like other places but instead possessed a refined and grand atmosphere.

The main hall was three rooms wide, with plain palace lanterns hanging from the eaves. The characters “Cheng Qian” on the door plaque were written with powerful brushstrokes. The furnishings inside were minimalist yet incredibly precious: pearwood desks, brocade cushions, and authentic landscape paintings on the walls. Even the incense burner was carved from the finest white jade; the smoke it produced was light and subtle, neither overwhelming nor harsh.

He felt as though he had accidentally wandered into the inner sanctum of the celestial family.

The bedroom was far better than the one in Jingyang Palace. It was spacious, bright, covered with thick soft carpets, and offered a wide view. Standing on the veranda, the upturned eaves of Qianqing Palace were visible in the distance, so close that one could reach them in a few steps. This was the only flaw of Chengqian Palace: it was too close to the Emperor.

The head eunuch of Chengqian Palace led the group of servants to pay their respects. “There are 2 managing mammas, 4 head maids, and a total of 24 other ordinary maids and eunuchs.”

There were so many people.

Fang Zhiyan sighed and then gave calm instructions: “Keep things as they were in Jingyang Palace. If there is anything, look for Fu An or Lan Ruo. Try to disturb my peace as little as possible.”

Everyone complied.

Once the crowd withdrew, Fu An stepped forward, his eyes somewhat red. “Your Ladyship, Fu Xi passed away in the Imperial Prison today.”

Fang Zhiyan paused. Fu Xi’s face flashed through his mind, leaving behind an unidentifiable feeling. Just as he was about to wave his hand for Fu An to leave, Fu An spoke again.

“This is what I found in Fu Xi’s pillow while moving house. Does Your Ladyship wish to see it?”

Fang Zhiyan stared at the yellowed envelope for a long time before taking it. Once everyone had left, he looked down at the envelope. It felt like there was more than one letter inside. He opened it to find a letter and a banknote for one hundred taels of silver.

He unfolded the paper and saw four words written in a clumsy, scrawling hand: “Respectfully presented by Fu Xi.”

The time spent with Your Ladyship was the happiest time for this servant. However, I truly had no choice; my family’s lives were held in someone else’s hands. I believe Your Ladyship is blessed by heaven and will surely escape this tribulation. Fu Xi will go ahead first. These hundred taels are my entire savings; I hope Your Ladyship does not disdain them.

The banknote was crisp and new, likely exchanged at a bank recently. Fang Zhiyan took a fire starter and lit the letter. The paper was swallowed by flames, leaving only a pile of ashes.

In his ears, he seemed to hear Fu Xi’s simple minded voice once more: “Your Ladyship, the injury on my face is nothing. Those people from the Internal Affairs Bureau went too far. You are a noble person; how could I let them humiliate you like that? I punched that manager several times.”

During the hour of the Dragon, inside Qianqing Palace, Xiao Huan asked about Chengqian Palace after seeing off several ministers.

Eunuch Li reported everything faithfully. “Lady Concubine Zhuang’s legs are likely still injured, so she has stayed in the bedroom and has not come out. The other ladies who went to congratulate her were all turned away at the door.”

After this incident, a person who was already reluctant to socialize would likely withdraw even further into their room.

“Let us go and take a look.”

Eunuch Li replied with a smile, “Chengqian Palace is right behind us; it is only a few steps away.”

Chengqian Palace was quiet. Xiao Huan prevented the eunuchs from announcing his arrival and walked in quietly.

Lan Ruo had been absentmindedly pruning branches with her shears. From the corner of her eye, she spotted that flash of bright yellow. Remembering her master’s instructions, she immediately shouted with full strength, “Your Ladyship, the Emperor has arrived!”

Xiao Huan: “…”

She was not even pretending anymore.

Fang Zhiyan had been sitting dejectedly for half the day, holding a brush but painting nothing. Hearing the commotion, he quickly stood up and forced a smile to greet the visitor. “This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Xiao Huan scanned his face and raised an eyebrow. “Why are your eyes red?”

Fang Zhiyan did not meet his gaze, looking away as he fabricated an excuse. “To be allowed to live in such a wonderful palace, this concubine was somewhat moved to tears of joy.”

Xiao Huan moved past him, grabbed his wrist, and led him inside. Fang Zhiyan was still not used to such sudden physical contact. Just as he was about to resist, he heard the Emperor say, “How is it that I heard you asked the people from Internal Affairs to tell me that Jingyang Palace was not a bad place to live?”

His attention was instantly diverted. He gave a hollow laugh. “This concubine was only being polite. I actually like it here very much.”

Xiao Huan held his hand, and Fang Zhiyan’s heart beat very fast. It must be because he was afraid Xiao Huan would notice that his hand was larger than that of an average woman.

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