I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 11

Wei Ying struggled for a while before obediently kneeling to thank the emperor for his grace.

But in her heart, she was thinking—

Palace Struggle System: Dog Emperor, Dog Emperor.

Wei Ying: ?

Palace Struggle System: I cursed him for you! Host, you’ve completed the task and gained 20 points in physique and 20 points in fusion!

Wei Ying was suddenly moved to tears and sincerely shouted, “Long live the Dog Emperor!” Unfortunately, she got carried away and accidentally said her inner thoughts aloud: “Long live the Dog Emperor, long live, long long live!”

The Palace Struggle System panicked and quickly censored her, so what everyone heard was: “Beep—Long live the Emperor, long long live.”

Everyone looked at her with strange expressions.

Wei Ying rolled her eyes, trying to play cute and get away with it. “Little Chicken, look what you’ve done!”

Palace Struggle System: “You can’t just shout ‘Dog Emperor’ out loud, sis. You’ll get beheaded.”

Wei Ying: “…Beep—Emperors don’t get beheaded?”

That long “beep—” electronic sound was especially conspicuous. The imperial hall instantly fell silent, even the sound of falling leaves could be heard clearly.

The other candidates were terrified, not daring to speak, trembling in place, all wondering what kind of death awaited this girl. The notoriously moody and violent emperor sat there quietly, expressionless, with a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.

Consort Shu composed herself and gently said, “Your Majesty, this girl did not mean to offend you.”

It seemed like she was pleading for Wei Ying, but in truth, she was confirming her offense. At the very least, she could be punished for improper conduct and demoted to a palace maid.

The emperor smiled slightly, his delicate features softening: “Oh?”

Consort Shu clenched her fingers, lowered her head shyly, and stammered, “Y-yes, she didn’t mean to offend. Please show mercy, Your Majesty.”

Emperor: “How do you know? Did you instruct her?”

Consort Shu’s face turned pale instantly. She knelt down, unable to speak clearly: “Of course I didn’t know! Your Majesty, you’ve wronged me, I—I…”

The emperor lifted her chin, his gaze dark. After a moment of eye contact, he smiled again and helped her up: “I was joking. Why take it so seriously, my dear?” Then, in a voice only the two could hear, he added, “Look at you—so fake when pleading for others, but when it’s about yourself, you couldn’t be more sincere.”

Consort Shu’s face turned pale again, her body trembling. She didn’t say another word.

After that, with the emperor overseeing the selection, Consort Shu didn’t dare play tricks anymore. Xiao Qianxue passed smoothly and happily came over to stick close to Wei Ying.

The emperor watched the two girls laughing and chatting, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, though he felt a strange pang of jealousy.

Tsk. He touched his hair, then looked down at his fingers—slender and fair like scallion stalks.

Hmm, not green.

After the selection, Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue returned to their small courtyard and found eunuchs and maids helping them pack.

“Master.” A lively maid came over cheerfully. “We’re your servants. I’m Hongzhu, and she’s Lüla.” She pulled over a shy little maid. “See the master? Hurry and greet her!”

Lüla bowed deeply and blushed as she called out “Master.”

Xiao Qianxue quickly helped them up. “Don’t call us master and servant. We’re sisters. You’re younger, so I’ll treat you like little sisters. We live together, no need to distinguish.”

Her words moved the maids to tears. Everything was arranged clearly.

Wei Ying was impressed.

But she also knew that the heroine spoke from the heart. Later, when she became a concubine beaten down by the palace, those same words would become mere tactics.

Xiao Qianxue turned around and met Wei Ying’s smile.

The girl stood under the shade of a tree, her hair kissed by sunlight, her smile pale yet gentle.

Xiao Qianxue was stunned for a moment, then returned a big smile—like a flower blooming.

Hongzhu clutched her chest: “Our master is just too beautiful! She must be a fairy descended from heaven!”

—

Wei Ying was granted the title of Noble Lady and lived with Xiao Qianxue in the side hall of Yulu Palace.

Hongzhu served Xiao Qianxue, and Lüla served Wei Ying. This marked a change in the plot. In the original story, because of the emperor’s favor, Xiao Qianxue was nominally a Noble Lady, but her servants and expenses were all at the level of a higher-ranked concubine. Both Hongzhu and Lüla served her, along with four unnamed maids.

Now, Hongzhu and Lüla were split between Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue—symbolizing a shift in the heroine’s halo.

But since they lived together, this subtle change shouldn’t affect the plot too much.

The main hall of Yulu Palace housed Consort Xian.

On the way there, Hongzhu chatted about her. Consort Xian came from a scholarly family; her father was the current Prime Minister, one of the Three Dukes. She was gentle, considerate, and soft as water.

“Master is truly lucky,” Hongzhu said with a smile. “Good thing you weren’t assigned to Baoyun Palace. That place…” She realized she’d said too much and stuck out her tongue.

Xiao Qianxue: “Baoyun Palace?”

Wei Ying explained: “That’s where the Noble Consort lives. She’s said to be difficult.”

Xiao Qianxue murmured, “I haven’t met her yet. Her father and brother are generals—I’ve admired them for a long time. I wonder when I’ll get to meet her.”

“You’ll see her tomorrow morning when we pay respects to the Empress and Empress Dowager.” Wei Ying patted her hand. Her hand was smooth and delicate… For some reason, she suddenly thought of the ghostly girl from last night and smiled faintly.

That girl’s hand was cold—just like a ghost.

She wondered if today’s visit from the Dog Emperor was arranged by her. If fate allows, maybe they’ll meet again…

Xiao Qianxue waited but heard no follow-up. She turned and saw Wei Ying with her head slightly bowed, smiling gently. The two maids were stunned.

“Ying Ying?”

Wei Ying snapped out of it. “What?”

Xiao Qianxue: “What were you thinking? Were you thinking about His Majesty?”

Wei Ying denied it three times: “I wasn’t, couldn’t be, doesn’t exist.”

Xiao Qianxue smiled knowingly and repeated her earlier question: “What should I wear tomorrow when we greet the Empress? How can I catch the Noble Consort’s attention?”

She fretted, “If only I could bring Little Pear Blossom. The Noble Consort would surely love her!”

Wei Ying gave her a wild idea: “Thick cotton jacket with double-layered pants—sheepskin inside, cloth outside. If you wear that, the Noble Consort will definitely notice you.”

Xiao Qianxue: “If I wear that, I’ll be hung on the city wall as a cautionary tale.”

Wei Ying patted her shoulder: “Being hung on the wall is standard for heroines in tragic romances. You…”

Oh right, you’re a tragic romance heroine too. Then it’s fine.

Xiao Qianxue didn’t understand but laughed anyway, grabbing Wei Ying’s hand. “I have a red embroidered peony ‘Liu Xian’ dress. My mother said I looked best in it. Should I wear it to meet the Noble Consort?”

Wei Ying fell silent.

In the original story, greeting the Empress was a dramatic scene. The heroine wore that eye-catching dress and became a target—verbally attacked by several consorts. Worse, she wore the same dress as the Noble Consort.

Matching outfits are bad enough, but with a competitive Noble Consort? Even worse, the emperor showed up and defended the heroine, scolding the Noble Consort.

With her pride, how could the Noble Consort accept such humiliation?

So for a long time, she played the villain in the story.

Now that Wei Ying knew the heroine wore that dress to get close to the Noble Consort, her feelings were complicated. After thinking it over, she said, “I don’t think it’s wise. The red Liu Xian dress is too flashy. You look stunning in it, so you’ll definitely be targeted.”

Xiao Qianxue nodded, still unsure.

Just then, the Palace Struggle System giggled, making Wei Ying’s head ache.

System: “Host, you’re too clever! Your new mission is to leave a deep impression on the consorts during tomorrow’s morning greeting!” Before Wei Ying could get mad, it added, “You’ll get 10 fusion points and a card draw reward! First draw in the palace—guaranteed green card, 50% chance of a purple card. Good luck!”

Wei Ying looked at the heroine and said calmly, “Then let me wear that dress. Though I’ll face gossip, jealousy, and admiration—I’m not tired.”

Xiao Qianxue tilted her head. “Eh?”

In the end, Wei Ying got the dress. While Xiao Qianxue covered her chest. “Ah! Honored Lady Ying is so beautiful! Is this what a fairy looks like? Just one look at me and I’m all weak in the knees!”

Wei Ying looked at the master and servant duo making the same “groundhog” squeal and helplessly rubbed her forehead. “Are you two rainbow farts in human form?”

Support