I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 100

That night, when Wei Ying lay in bed, she thought the golden bathing tub in the palace ought to be changed—it was a bit cramped for two people to bathe together.

Still, she wouldn’t throw it away. Small things had their own charms.

She caressed Yunshao’s smooth back. Her skin was white as snow, the curve of her spine rising like a hill. Lower down, her fingers found the little hollow of her waist, and Wei Ying poked it twice before murmuring:
“Your Majesty has grown a little plumper.”

Her flesh and bones were more balanced now, no longer as terrifyingly thin as before.

Yunshao lazily lifted her eyes, a faint smile curving at her lips.
“Does Yingying like it?”

Wei Ying, always frank, replied:
“Like it? I love it to death.”

Yunshao lay beside her, her snow-white back curving downwards, the brocade quilt barely covering her waist. Black hair spilled across her back, revealing a glimpse of peerless beauty. She smiled at Wei Ying, gazed for a while, and at last, wearied, her eyelids drooped lower and lower.

Wei Ying took advantage of her half-dreaming state, leaned close to her ear, and whispered:
“How did Your Majesty know I was here?”

Drowsy, Yunshao mumbled:
“I guessed. Since Yingying was avoiding me, you wouldn’t have gone back to Yulu Hall.”

Well then. She thought she was hiding on the second floor, yet Her Majesty was already on the fifth.

Wei Ying almost flicked the little emperor’s clever forehead in amusement, but glancing at Yunshao half-asleep, her hand instead fell gently to stroke her brow. Then, in a low voice, she asked in her ear:
“Is Your Majesty afraid of the teacher?”

Yunshao clutched her robe.
“Mm… afraid Yingying won’t care for me.”

Hearing her half-dreamed confession, Wei Ying’s cheeks warmed. She couldn’t resist rubbing against that soft face, and while the emperor was still muddled, she continued:
“Your Majesty… have you ever lied to me?”

Yunshao’s lashes trembled, but her tone remained dreamy, almost like a murmur in sleep:
“Never lied to Yingying.”

Wei Ying smiled, embraced the emperor, and kissed the corner of her lips.
“Your Majesty, good night. Sweet dreams.”

Once the lamp was extinguished, Yunshao opened her eyes in Wei Ying’s arms. Her black gaze was clear, not the least bit sleepy.

Wei Ying, holding her warm little emperor, shut her eyes and drifted into another dream altogether.

In that dream, she returned to the beginning—when she had first met the emperor beneath the sun-dappled flowering tree, the air filled with the sweetness of roasted chestnuts.

She reached out her hand; the girl lifted bright dark eyes and gladly placed her small hand in hers.

They went boating together, tilled the earth to plant grapes in the courtyard, galloped through blazing red maple forests, and wrote a blessing for peace upon the fallen leaves. Later, she took Yunshao to her own little planet, showed her the vast starry sky, a moon so close you could touch it, and seas of swaying roses.

Through the rose fields wound a small path; following it led to a fairytale castle. On the stone steps sat a little robot, holding an open book.

She took the book, and together with Yunshao, read aloud her favorite tale:

“…The fox said: ‘To me, you are nothing more than a little boy, just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you, and you have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But, if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world…

“…If you tame me, my life will be filled with sunshine. The sound of your footsteps will be different from all the others. Other footsteps send me hurrying underground. Yours will call me out of my burrow like music.

“…Look over there, at the wheat fields. I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields say nothing to me—and that is sad. But you have golden hair. Think how wonderful it will be when you have tamed me! The golden wheat will remind me of you. And I shall love the sound of the wind in the wheat…”

She turned her head, gazing at her little emperor—clad in golden robes, the twelve-jewel tassels swaying before her eyes.

Those deep black eyes, that struck fear into the world and reflected blood and ruthlessness, softened only at her side.

Her little emperor always looked at her in silence, gaze as gentle as in the past.

Wei Ying couldn’t help but smile. All around, the flowers swayed in the wind; stars merged with seas of blossoms; spinning windmills lifted iridescent bubbles into the air, dazzling yet fragile—like interwoven lies, beautiful even though they would burst at a touch.

With a soft sigh, she said:
“Your Majesty, it seems I was tamed long ago.”

The Spring Examinations were about to begin. Young scholars from across the land flocked to the capital, making it livelier than ever.

The youths delighted in elegance—composing poetry and drinking in taverns, galloping through blossoms outside the city, brimming with spirit and scholarly charm.

Even storybooks sold better in such an atmosphere.

Consort Xian, seeing her own storybook sell like hotcakes, was so pleased she immediately picked up her brush to begin another novel, shutting herself indoors. Losing her main provider of delicious food, Wei Ying had no choice but to diligently tend to her “half-immortal” business every day to earn points. Once court was dismissed, she hurried to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to find her other provider.

Her days were as full and regular as a corporate worker clocking in.

One day, as she was conducting her daily business, a palace maid sneaked up to her.

Thanks to her half-immortal trade, Wei Ying knew everyone in the palace—whether empresses, concubines, eunuchs, or maids.

This elderly maid was an old acquaintance, practically a regular. She often came asking Wei Ying to find keys or hairpins, and once even begged for ointment from Xiao Qianxue.

Seeing her, Wei Ying smiled.
“Nanny, is your back aching again? I’ll fetch you some medicine.”

The maid shook her head, followed her into the hall, then suddenly shut the door and dropped to her knees.
“Lady Jieyu, you must be very careful these days!”

Wei Ying raised her brows and quickly helped her up.
“Slow down, Nanny. What’s happened?”

The old maid said:
“If you trust me, then… then be cautious.” She accepted the hot tea Wei Ying offered, hands trembling. “I’ve been in the palace many years. Though low in rank, I hear much. Lately, the guards at the southern gate have been replaced.”

Wei Ying frowned.
“Replaced?”

The maid leaned closer, whispering:
“They’re all men of the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Uncle.”

She said no more, only bowed deeply.
“These words I should not speak. But you have shown me much kindness. I fear great upheaval is coming. Please, be careful.”

Wei Ying bowed in return, helping her up with both hands, and softly said:
“I understand. Thank you.”

That day, she closed her half-immortal business early and went to the southern gate. Looking up, she saw the guards were indeed unfamiliar faces.

They were startled to see a consort wandering about instead of staying in the palace.
“Your Ladyship, what are you doing beneath the walls?”

Wei Ying smiled.
“I want to leave the palace—just a quick errand!”

The guards dutifully replied that without a token, she could not pass.

Wei Ying shrugged and turned back, thinking: such loyalty, such diligence—definitely new replacements.

Perhaps the maid was right: change was in the air.

She recalled that just days ago, the Eastern Empress Dowager had claimed illness and left the palace to recuperate.

At such a critical moment, was she truly sick—or avoiding something?

Wei Ying quickened her pace back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The emperor had not yet returned. She sat restlessly, anxious, and flipped open the original book.

In it, the plot still spoke only of romance: the emperor and her substitute beauty enjoying love and poetry, while the heroine left the palace in disappointment—nothing of upheaval.

With a sigh, Wei Ying tossed the book aside. It was utterly useless now, so far from reality. She obediently waited for the emperor’s return instead.

While waiting, she checked her remaining points—barely over a thousand.

Thinking of what might soon come, she entered the system shop and chose a golden legendary item.

Her balance instantly dropped to a mere sliver. She winced, pained.

She felt like a little hamster who had worked tirelessly for two years, stuffing her burrow with seeds—only to empty it all in one moment. Seeing the number fall to nearly zero, she pouted and sighed over life’s hardship.

She had never been this poor in all her missions.

But when she looked at her new golden legend, she couldn’t help but grin with satisfaction.

Two Ends of the Void:
Search heaven and earth, yet neither above nor below shall you be found.
It could render a person or object invisible, vanishing from all eyes, impossible to find—lasting twelve hours.

Wei Ying read the description and smiled. Nice.

The palace-fighting system chirped:
“Host, that card only works on one person. If chaos breaks out and you use it on the emperor, what about yourself?”

Wei Ying smiled slyly.
“Who said it’s for her?”

Just then, Yunshao entered the hall, sunlight slanting behind her, making her appear tall and radiant. The moment she saw Wei Ying, she broke into a smile, quickened her pace, and kissed her on the cheek.
“Have you been waiting long? Court affairs delayed me.”

Wei Ying returned the smile.
“What business took so long?”

Yunshao sat beside her.
“The Spring Examinations at last. After years of delay, they’re finally happening.” Her eyes lit with a strange brilliance. Grasping Wei Ying’s hand tightly, she said:
“With talent gathered from across the realm, my throne will be unshakable. Then the palace faction can never rise again. At that time, no one will be able to part us.”

Wei Ying tilted her head, kissed her cheek, and asked softly:
“Is Your Majesty not worried the palace faction will fight to the death? Just days ago, the Empress Dowager left the palace. If, at this moment…”

Yunshao’s expression darkened.
“The capital’s troops are under Jiang Fangsong and Zhou Nan. Zhou Nan isn’t of the palace faction, though lately he has dealt with Gong Hongbo. I’ve already sent Pei Qing to the hunting grounds to raise soldiers—but the earliest reinforcements will only arrive tomorrow.”

Wei Ying frowned.
“And before then?”

Yunshao shook her head.
“Gong Hongbo doesn’t know I sent Pei Qing. He may not act. Best not to startle the snake.”

Wei Ying pressed:
“And if he does act tonight?”

Yunshao smiled and pulled her close.
“Then, Yingying, would you live and die with me?”

Wei Ying: …emmmm

Why was this child suddenly so fatalistic?

Yunshao laughed more brightly, whispering:
“I’m teasing. How could I bear… Even if there is rebellion, at worst they’ll kill me and enthrone Prince Luling. There’s a secret passage in the palace that leads outside. When the time comes, you’ll leave through it.”

Wei Ying’s eyes lit up.
“A secret passage? Where?”

Yunshao whispered the location in her ear—and nipped her earlobe, making the girl gasp softly.

Wei Ying memorized it, then flipped her position, pinning the emperor beneath her.
“Will Your Majesty leave with me then?”

Yunshao shook her head.
“I will stay.”

Wei Ying narrowed her eyes.
“You know they intend to kill you, yet you’ll remain on purpose?”

Yunshao parted her lips.
“If there is rebellion, it must be the Empress Dowager’s doing. She has always been shortsighted, cruel, and venomous. She never considered the consequences—right now, when we are at war with Beijue, what chaos would follow if the court fell into turmoil? Heh.”

She sneered softly.
“But the teacher would not overlook this. As I know Gong Hongbo, he won’t kill me. I wager he’ll stop the Dowager in the end.”

Wei Ying’s gaze dimmed.
“Does Your Majesty love gambling so much?”

Yunshao smiled at her.
“My whole life has been a gamble. Don’t worry, Yingying—my luck is always good.”

Wei Ying whispered:
“And if you lose this gamble?”

Yunshao’s expression remained calm.
“Then I’ll be crushed to pieces. Nothing more than that.”

Wei Ying bent and kissed her lips.
“Your Majesty will win. But before that, I’ll take some interest first.”

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