I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 16

Part 1: The Visit

Empress Xian hesitated for a moment, then gently knocked on the door. “Little sister, it’s me.”

Two small heads peeked out from the door crack, followed by two girls who smiled brightly at her.

Empress Xian’s heart fluttered. She pressed a hand to her chest, thinking, “Ah, so cute.”

Xiao Qianxue ran out first, curtsied, and said with a smile, “Why have you come, Your Ladyship? Oh,” her nose twitched and her eyes lit up, “It smells so good!”

Empress Xian had a palace maid bring over two bowls of milk curd. “I prepared these for you. You must be tired today.”

Xiao Qianxue bowed happily. “Thank you, Your Ladyship! You’re so kind!”

Empress Xian smiled gently. “You’re welcome. About today…” She looked at Wei Ying. The girl had taken off her dazzling red robes and appeared even paler and more delicate, as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind. Empress Xian sighed inwardly and said, “Little sister, you don’t need to dwell on what happened today, and you certainly don’t need to be sad about it.”

Wei Ying: Huh?

Palace Rivalry System: … You’re overthinking it. She’s not sad at all. She’s already started recruiting the female lead to form an “Unfavored Concubines’ Re-employment Squad.”

The milk curd was fragrant, smooth, and rich. Wei Ying held her small bowl, sipping slowly. She wanted another, and when she looked up, she met Empress Xian’s concerned gaze.

Wei Ying felt a warmth in her heart. “This kind and beautiful older sister, who also loves to cook—where did such a fairy come from! I’m in love!”

Empress Xian met the girl’s burning gaze, her brows furrowing in confusion. Then she watched as Wei Ying’s lips parted and a single word escaped: “…Burp.”

Wei Ying rubbed her belly sheepishly and squinted happily. “The curd you made is so delicious, Your Ladyship!”

Empress Xian’s heart fluttered with cuteness again. After a long moment, she said softly, “I’m glad you like it.”

Xiao Qianxue: “We love it so much! The red bean pastries from this morning were also delicious. I couldn’t help but eat them in the carriage this morning.”

Wei Ying said in surprise, “You… you actually finished them so early!”

Xiao Qianxue also patted her belly and pursed her lips. “The red bean pastry attacked first.”

Wei Ying: “A mere red bean pastry, so dishonorable!”

Their back-and-forth banter made the corners of Empress Xian’s eyes crinkle as she struggled to hold back her laughter.

The Palace Rivalry System’s heart sank. It thought, “Oh no, the female lead is starting to get influenced by Ying.”

“This is a disaster.”

Empress Xian chatted with them for a bit, and then mentioned that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching. As per custom, the palace would hold a banquet, and concubines could perform to add to the festive atmosphere. To Wei Ying, it sounded similar to a school’s cultural performance.

Empress Xian invited them to dance with her. Xiao Qianxue immediately agreed, while Wei Ying looked troubled and said she needed to think about it. Empress Xian gently told them to rest early, then left the side hall and returned to her own palace.

Wei Ying watched Empress Xian’s gentle and ladylike back view and couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a gentle older sister.”

Xiao Qianxue’s eyes were also wide. “She must be a fairy.”

Palace Rivalry System: …

The night breeze was cool. Empress Xian dismissed the other maids, keeping only her confidante, Nanny Zhang, and strolled with her in the garden behind the Jade Dew Palace. She cautiously looked around. Finding no one, she took a deep breath, rubbed her flushed face, and then—

“Aaaah, they’re so cute! I can’t handle it!”

Nanny Zhang was clearly accustomed to her master’s behavior and merely smiled slightly.

Empress Xian thought of how Wei Ying had winked at her before they parted. The girl’s beautiful face had seemed so lively and animated with that wink. Empress Xian covered her chest. “Ah, I’m dead!”

Nanny Zhang: “My lady, the new storybooks have been secretly placed in your sleeping quarters.”

Empress Xian: “Ah, I’m alive again.”

Nanny Zhang was used to her master’s repeated “deaths” and “resurrections.” She shook her head with a smile. “The night is too cold. Let’s go back.”

Thinking of the storybooks, Empress Xian quickened her pace, zipping back to the Jade Dew Palace like a pinwheel of fire. Seeing the neatly stacked books by her bedside, a happy smile bloomed on her face. She flopped onto the soft bed and picked up a book with one hand.

It was a popular storybook in the capital called Affairs of the Previous Dynasty and the Harem.

Empress Xian read late into the night. After a while, she suddenly looked up, her expression serious, and said to Nanny Zhang, “Do you think Noble Lady Ying and Noble Lady Xiao will turn against each other in the future?”

Nanny Zhang: “The two young ladies have a close relationship. I don’t think they will.”

Empress Xian: “The book says they will. Look, these two sisters from the previous dynasty entered the palace at the same time but eventually became enemies. See, there are many examples like this!”

Nanny Zhang nodded helplessly. “That was a matter of the previous dynasty, and it’s just a storybook written by common folk.”

Empress Xian: “I must protect their friendship!”

Nanny Zhang could only smile.

Part 2: The Prank and the Practice

When the time came, Wei Ying was once again sent to bed by the diligent Green Wax.

She suspected the little maid had a spring in her eyes, because they would turn red after only two sentences, scaring her into quickly jumping into bed and wrapping herself up like a zongzi.

Green Wax came over to tuck her in. “My lady, it’s late. You should rest. Your health isn’t good, so you need to get more rest.”

Wei Ying was bundled in the golden embroidered quilt, with only her pretty face showing. She looked at Green Wax pitifully, her lips pouting, and said in a wretched voice, “Can we negotiate? Can I stay up an hour later from now on?”

Green Wax’s eyes turned red.

Green Wax knelt on the ground and choked out, “If anything were to happen to your health, this servant would be held responsible for ten thousand deaths.”

Wei Ying: …

In the end, she had no choice but to lie in bed, forced into a healthy routine. She stared at the gleaming bed canopy, feeling stifled, so she started chatting with the system.

“System, what’s that ‘Goose’ doing now?”

The Palace Rivalry System took a moment to realize she meant Dong E. “She has secretly written a letter reporting your and the female lead’s whereabouts to the Empress Dowager. She has now extinguished the incense in the censer and gone to bed.”

Extinguished the incense?

Wei Ying couldn’t help but laugh. “She’s pretty good at self-preservation.”

In the original plot, when she was harming Xiao Qianxue, she would burn incense for the female lead every day.

Wei Ying sat up. “Then let’s go burn some incense for her too.”

Palace Rivalry System: “Should we relight the incense in the censer?”

Wei Ying shook her head. That would definitely alert Dong E to their presence. Anyway, she had several cards in her hand, which could achieve the same effect as the incense. She pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, “System, can you check the almanac for me and find a lucky day?”

She still had two card draws she hadn’t used.

The Palace Rivalry System mercilessly taunted her. “Wake up, Host. For you, every day is an unlucky day.”

Wei Ying: QQ How cruel.

She sadly whimpered twice. “A sad person lives in this room.”

The sad person, struck by the system’s blow, decided that being sad alone was no fun. So, she turned her sights on the soundly sleeping Dong E.

She used the cards: Dream Lover + Impersonate Deity.

Watching the two cards disappear into the night, she sighed. “Look how much I value her. This kind of treatment is usually reserved only for the dog emperor!”

The Palace Rivalry System was speechless: … “I doubt anyone would want this kind of treatment.”

Wei Ying: “I’m going to give her a little ‘color’ to look at!”

The Palace Rivalry System was very excited. “Good, good, give her a little color to look at!”

Dong E was the Empress Dowager’s confidante and had been by her side for many years. She tossed and turned in bed that night, unable to sleep.

At first, when she received the order, she couldn’t understand why the Empress Dowager would send her to serve two newly-arrived concubines. She had thought it was to monitor Empress Xian, but Empress Xian had always been tactful and knew how to protect herself, never getting involved in the turbulent struggles of the palace.

But the moment she saw Xiao Qianxue, she understood everything. This young lady looked so much like that person from back then. No wonder the Empress Dowager was so worried. Who knows how captivated the Emperor would be when he saw that face?

Perhaps it was seeing Xiao Qianxue that left her with a swirl of emotions and made her so unsettled. That night, she had a strange dream. She… dreamed of a dye house.

Several large dye vats sat in the courtyard, and colorful, dyed cloths hung on wooden racks. Everywhere she looked, it was a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors.

The colors were so garish they made her eyes hurt.

Dong E was trapped in this strange dream for the entire night. When she woke up the next day, her eyes were heavily shadowed with dark circles.

Green Wax’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Auntie, did you not sleep well?”

Dong E said weakly, “I had a nightmare.”

“What did you dream of?”

Dong E was silent for a long time before finally saying, “The dye house came to life.”

They picked up a few golden-yellow paulownia leaves and a couple of blooming osmanthus branches, placed them in Wei Ying’s room, and then helped their master get up and wash.

Seeing Dong E’s two enormous black circles, Wei Ying also sincerely asked, “Auntie, did you not sleep well last night?”

Dong E: “…No.”

Wei Ying laughed internally, but on the surface, she remained gentle, like a kind person worried about her. “What kind of nightmare? Should I ask the imperial physician to prescribe a soothing remedy for you?”

Dong E shook her head. “Thank you, my lady, but there’s no need. It was just a strange nightmare.”

Looking up again, she saw the girl’s eyes light up, her voice full of barely-contained excitement. “What kind of nightmare?!”

Dong E was silent for a moment, then honestly confessed, “The dye house came to life.”

Wei Ying expressed her gentle concern, while thinking to herself: “Hahahaha.”

Palace Rivalry System: “So this is what you meant by ‘giving her a little color’?”

Wei Ying: “Hahahaha, that’s right! I gave her a whole dye house!”

Palace Rivalry System: “…”

Part 3: The Mid-Autumn Banquet

At the Mid-Autumn Festival moonlight banquet, Empress Xian had planned a song and dance performance. Empress Xian would play the zither, while Xiao Qianxue and Wei Ying would dance.

Xiao Qianxue was truly worthy of being the female lead. Her waist was flexible, and she performed one difficult move after another, making Wei Ying dizzy just watching her.

Empress Xian was radiant. She turned to Wei Ying. “Yingying, can you dance?”

Wei Ying quickly shook her head.

Empress Xian: “I heard that the women of Rouzhou in Jiangnan are all excellent singers and dancers. Don’t be shy; just treat it like you’re at home and perform the dance you’re most familiar with.”

“Treat it like I’m at home?”

Wei Ying thought for a moment, then suddenly nodded. “I understand!”

Empress Xian smiled gently, but soon, she couldn’t smile anymore.

The girl straightened her arms, then swung them powerfully, chanting a strange tune and stomping on the ground.

Empress Xian: “…Yingying, what kind of dance is this?”

Wei Ying said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Square dancing.”

Empress Xian’s small head was filled with many question marks. “Huh?”

Wei Ying spread her hands. “This is the only kind of dance I know how to do.”

Fortunately, Empress Xian was gentle enough to recover quickly from the shock. She smiled and said, “That’s okay. I’ll teach you. Let’s start with a split.”

“NO! PLEASE!”

A tragic scream echoed through the Jade Dew Palace, startling several crows.

Dong E looked out the window and began writing furiously in her room: “Reporting to my lady, Empress Xian is having the two noble ladies practice dancing to prepare for the Mid-Autumn banquet…” But as she wrote, she stopped. She felt that being so detailed was too tedious, and such a small matter didn’t need to be reported. So, she tore up the paper and wrote a new one:

“Reporting to my lady, everything in the Jade Dew Palace is peaceful and quiet today. Only the autumn wind is a bit noisy.”

…

After the dance practice, Wei Ying was completely worn out. Without Green Wax having to urge her, she obediently lay on the bed, playing dead.

Green Wax smiled indulgently, extinguished the lamp, and left the sleeping quarters.

After confirming that the person was gone, Wei Ying dragged her aching body out of bed. Today was the day she had specifically marked on the almanac for drawing cards, and she needed to find a place with good feng shui to do it.

She pushed the door open slightly and peeked out. The night was quiet, and the palace lanterns were lonely.

The corners of Wei Ying’s mouth lifted. She picked up a lantern and skillfully slipped out. Following the Palace Rivalry System’s guidance, she took several turns and arrived at a familiar place.

Her physical stats had increased by 40 points. She stood in front of the courtyard gate, holding up the lantern, trying to make out what was written on the plaque. After looking for a while, the plaque was still a black blur.

The half-blind girl dejectedly put down the lantern, pushed the door open, and poked her small head inside. “Miss Ghost!”

The ghost girl’s voice sounded right in front of her. “What are you doing?”

Wei Ying’s eyes crinkled into a smile. She bit her lip like a little rabbit. “Hey, you’ve been standing at the door. Were you waiting for me?”

“…No. Get out.”

Wei Ying: “Okay, okay, I’ll go, but get closer to me.” Before Yun Shao could react, Wei Ying buried her head in Yun Shao’s chest and took a long, deep breath. “Let me take a sniff!”

Yun Shao’s body froze.

Wei Ying: “Ever since I met you, my luck has been especially good, heh.”

She no longer had to worry about getting lost and having no place to sleep, or being tormented by the villain. In short, her luck was great.

While she was “sniffing,” she quickly told the system in her mind to open a blind box, the one with the green card guarantee. She forgot about her awkward position with Yun Shao, and nervously watched the blind box that only she could see.

The box slowly opened, and a purple light leaked out.

The Palace Rivalry System shouted excitedly, “Purple, purple, a purple card! You still have one more chance, Host, draw it now!”

Wei Ying couldn’t help but chuckle. “Hehe.”

Her smile gradually became more unrestrained. “Hahahaha, let me take another sniff before I draw!”

Yun Shao was hugged by the girl. Her body involuntarily tensed. She struggled for a moment and found that the girl, who looked so sickly, had an incredibly strong grip that she couldn’t break free from.

“Let go, you audacious… you… are you looking for death?” The Emperor never imagined he would be “molested” in this way. His face flushed crimson. “Insolent! I’ll kill you if you don’t let go!”

Then, she watched helplessly as Wei Ying lowered her head, took another big sniff of her, and revealed a strange smile that became more and more unhinged.

Yun Shao’s eyes widened. She was trembling with anger.

“How can such a person exist?!”

“Ah! Another purple card!” Wei Ying was crying tears of joy.

Yun Shao’s face was full of murderous intent. “I’ll kill you!”

Wei Ying smiled brightly. “Okay, okay, let me take one more little sniff before you kill me.”

“One more sniff, no more bad luck; another sniff, and I’ll be lucky.”

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