I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 12

Upon entering the palace, they were to first pay respects to the virtuous Consort of the main hall. However, the Consort declined, citing poor health, and shut her doors to visitors. Instead, she sent an old palace maid to deliver two bowls of osmanthus rice wine to them.

After drinking the sweet wine, the two girls left happily.

Xiao Qianxue had wanted to stay in Wei Ying’s room, just like when they were still candidates, sharing the same bed. But Hongzhu informed her that it was against palace rules, so she reluctantly left.

She had already reached the doorway when she saw the dusky twilight outside. The nine-layered palace loomed ahead, and beyond the gates stood a gnarled old tree with a few cold crows crying atop its branches—an atmosphere of desolation and loneliness. Once you enter the deep palace, you can never leave…

This realization struck her suddenly, sending a chill through her. She turned back and saw Wei Ying sitting quietly under the lamp, her beautiful face bathed in soft light. Unable to resist, she ran over, knelt before her, and held her cold hand: “Yingying.”

Wei Ying: “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Qianxue pursed her lips and asked, “Will we grow apart in the future?”

Wei Ying gently patted her head: “We won’t.”

“Then let’s be sisters for life, okay?”

Wei Ying’s heart skipped a beat. Wasn’t this line a classic flag in palace dramas? Was she destined to become the villainous supporting character who betrays the heroine later on?

Palace System: “Host, you’re very perceptive.”

Wei Ying: “Shut up!”

To avoid triggering the dreaded plot flag, Wei Ying held the heroine’s hand, her eyes full of emotion, and softly said, “Let’s not.”

Xiao Qianxue had expected her to agree to a lifelong sisterhood. Hearing this, she widened her eyes in disbelief, visibly hurt.

Wei Ying: Making the heroine sad… I must be a sinful woman. Alas, it’s my fault for being too charming.

Palace System: …

Xiao Qianxue bit her lip in grievance: “Yingying doesn’t want to be my sister?”

Wei Ying sighed: “I used to love listening to storytellers at the bridge. In those tales, people who swore lifelong friendship always ended up enemies. We mustn’t follow that path.”

Xiao Qianxue nodded earnestly: “If Yingying doesn’t betray me, I won’t betray Yingying.”

Wei Ying: …That sounds even more like a flag.

Must they become enemies later? No! She must turn the flag into magic!

She held Xiao Qianxue’s hand: “But I heard a story where three people swore brotherhood and stayed loyal until death.”

Xiao Qianxue: “Really? Let’s be like them!”

Wei Ying glanced wistfully at the dark palace gates: “First, we need a peach grove. It’s late autumn now, no peach blossoms. When spring comes and the imperial garden blooms, we’ll swear our oath there.”

Xiao Qianxue: “Okay! Don’t forget!”

After the heroine left, Wei Ying finally relaxed, collapsing into her chair, pale and dazed.

Greenwax asked cautiously: “Mistress, are you feeling unwell?”

Wei Ying shook her head and smiled gently: “Nothing. You may rest. I’ll be alone for a while.”

Greenwax wasn’t reassured. She tucked Wei Ying into bed before leaving. Forced into bed, Wei Ying stared at the canopy above and sighed.

Back in the candidate quarters, she was managed by Xiao Qianxue. Now, she was managed by Greenwax.

She didn’t want to take medicine. Xiao Qianxue would coax her into drinking it, while the little maid would cry, tears rolling down her cheeks, kneeling and sobbing: “If Mistress doesn’t take her medicine, it means I’ve failed in my service.”

What could Wei Ying do?

She couldn’t bear to see soft, delicate girls cry.

Fine, she’d drink the medicine!

Now her mouth was bitter, and the maid insisted she take medicine and sleep on time. Truly a nemesis. But remembering the tragic fate of this loyal maid in the original novel, she couldn’t help but soften.

Wei Ying: “System, read me the mission.”

Palace System cheerfully replied: “Okay, Host! Two missions this time! One is to leave a strong impression during your first formal greeting with the consorts. You’ll earn 10 points in constitution and fusion, plus one draw of the lowest green card.”

Wei Ying: “Easy. I got this.”

Palace System cautiously added: “Don’t overperform. Just be normal.”

Wei Ying paused, then nodded: “Fine. What’s the second mission?”

Palace System: “A special mission with no time limit—win hearts in the palace and build alliances. You’ll earn points.”

Wei Ying: “Points?”

Palace System: “Points can be exchanged for cards in the shop! I’ll open it for you later. Lots of cards—perfect for unlucky players like you.”

Wei Ying clutched her blanket weakly: “You didn’t have to say it so bluntly.”

No dignity for the unlucky, huh?

But the system was right. Points were perfect for someone who never drew good cards. The system explained the rules: recruiting a low-ranking maid earned 5 points, higher ranks earned more. Eunuchs and guards counted too. But Hongzhu and Greenwax were already allies, so they couldn’t be recruited.

As the system babbled on, Wei Ying closed her eyes, dreaming of glittering cards.

—

At dawn, Wei Ying sat before the bronze mirror as Greenwax styled her hair.

Greenwax couldn’t help but gush: “Mistress is so beautiful! I’ve never seen anyone like you. Your hair is like silk—long, black, and smooth. Your skin is so soft, like the milk pudding my aunt makes for New Year…”

Wei Ying stopped her: no more flattery.

Greenwax bit her lip and nodded, but when Wei Ying put on her flowing red embroidered peony dress, she gasped again: “Mistress looks stunning!”

The pale, delicate girl transformed in the red dress, her cheeks flushed with color—breathtaking.

Greenwax: “…slurp.”

Wei Ying: “Don’t copy Qianxue!”

Greenwax clutched her chest: “Mistress is so beautiful I’m dizzy. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen!”

Her heart raced like a deer, completely flustered.

Wei Ying held her hand: “I’m not done yet. Help me finish my hair.”

Greenwax nodded quickly: “Okay! Slurp.”

Wei Ying: …

When they left, Xiao Qianxue and Hongzhu were already waiting outside the Jade Dew Hall. Seeing Wei Ying, they gasped in unison—

“Slurp.”

Xiao Qianxue wore a pale yellow dress, looking fresh and delicate like a swaying canola flower.

Palace System: “Host, what kind of metaphor is that?”

Wei Ying looked at her red dress and sighed: “And I’m like a pot of spicy butter hotpot.”

She was even tempted to slurp herself.

Xiao Qianxue rushed over with a barrage of compliments. Wei Ying didn’t hold back either, praising her to the skies. As they exchanged flattery, the virtuous Consort arrived with her maids.

Only then did they see the mistress of Jade Dew Hall.

The Consort lived up to her name—gentle, graceful, and beautiful, dressed in pale blue with scholarly elegance. She saw Wei Ying, paused briefly, then smiled: “Sisters, let’s go greet the Empress together.”

Wei Ying rode in a sedan chair, swaying along the way, then walked with the Consort.

On the way, they ran into Gong Beinu, who followed the Elegant Consort. Seeing Xiao Qianxue, she glared angrily.

Xiao Qianxue: “Bleh.”

Come fight me if you dare.

The Elegant and Virtuous Consorts exchanged fake greetings, then entered the Long Spring Palace, while the new consorts waited outside.

Gong Beinu: “What’s the point of dressing up? His Majesty won’t come anyway.”

Xiao Qianxue retorted: “Some people dress up every day and still don’t get noticed.”

Gong Beinu: “You—”

Wei Ying excitedly rubbed her hands, munching on drama: “System, can I open blind boxes while they argue?”

Palace System: “Nope.”

Wei Ying: Then never mind.

Just as the heroine and rival were about to clash again, the palace doors opened. A kind old maid smiled: “Her Majesty summons the new consorts.”

They joined the crowd and entered the Long Spring Palace.

The Empress’s residence was grand—golden bricks, red walls, green tiles.

Xiao Qianxue whispered: “It’s so big and empty. Must be cold to live here.”

Wei Ying nodded absentmindedly, suddenly wondering… Could the ghostly girl she often saw at night be the Empress?

Not for any particular reason—just that she gave off a cold, lonely aura, like someone high above the world.

The new consorts knelt outside and paid respects, then entered to be scrutinized by the palace’s top figures.

The leader sat in the center, dressed in regal attire, dignified and aloof.

The Empress glanced at an empty seat and said coldly, “The Noble Consort isn’t here yet?”

Elegant Consort laughed.

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