I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 27.1

Heavy rain poured outside the Gate of Supreme Harmony, laying a transparent glaze over the white jade ground. The lanterns hanging from the palace gates swayed nonstop, their flickering lights hazy in the mist, leaving only blurred shadows.

A group of officials knelt outside the palace gates, having been there for several hours.

They were there to oppose the emperor’s new policies. Ten months ago, the young emperor had swiftly issued a series of new decrees covering various aspects, including one that stated officials could be appointed regardless of their birth.

This was simply shaking the foundation of the nation and going against the ways of their ancestors!

The leader was Grand Scholar Zhang Ke, a man of little real ability but considerable guts, who was quite well-known among scholars. He led these censorial officials in their protest, hoping to intimidate the young emperor into revoking the new policies.

Yun Shao tightly held Wei Ying’s hand, and whether she resisted or not, brought her to the city wall, looking down at the kneeling officials from above.

The officials were waiting for the emperor here. Seeing the Son of Heaven appear on the city tower, they thought she had given in and shouted “Long live the Emperor!” in unison. But at the same time, they saw the slender figure next to the emperor—a palace consort?

Bah, how debauched!

Wei Ying frowned, a few drops of cold rain hitting her face, making her shiver slightly.

Yun Shao turned around, pulling the cloak tighter around her and wiping the raindrops from her cheek. Her fingertip lingered on the girl’s soft skin for a moment. She asked softly, “How do you want to handle them?”

Wei Ying blinked. What business did a consort have in such matters? Was this dog emperor trying to solidify her reputation as a treacherous vixen? After a moment, she smiled and lowered her head obediently. “How would I know anything about this?”

Yun Shao also smiled. “Aren’t all those kneeling down there your unfilial sons? Why are you so reluctant to have them punished?”

Wei Ying’s eyes widened slightly. “They’re also Your Majesty’s unfilial sons…” Her eyes, a light gray like glass, shone with a clear light—

This dog emperor was taking advantage of her!

Yun Shao clasped her hand tightly. “Then I’ll teach our unfilial descendants a lesson for Yingying.”

With that, she gave a few instructions to Fu Shou. The guards came forward with canes, ready to flog the disobedient officials.

The scene descended into chaos.

The leading official desperately broke free from the guards, ran to the city gate, and shouted his grievances.

Yun Shao’s pale lips curved into a slight smile. She raised her hand. The little eunuchs on both sides lifted their lanterns. A few sparks of light flickered past her eyes, making the emperor’s gaze appear even colder and more ruthless.

She had originally intended to have the guards go in directly, but she suddenly thought of Wei Ying standing next to her. If she did that… it might give Wei Ying an impression of her being violent and cruel.

Yun Shao sighed deeply. She knew her image wasn’t great in Wei Ying’s eyes, but she didn’t want it to get any worse. So she uncharacteristically changed her usual direct approach, lowering her head to ask, “What grievances do you have?”

Seeing an opening, Zhang Ke immediately knelt on the ground and spouted nonsense. He claimed his heart was for the nation, and that while the officials here might have disturbed the emperor, their intentions were good and their hearts were full of sincere patriotism. He continued with a string of twisted logic, while performing his own theatrics and not forgetting to take a jab at the emperor, and even innocently involving Wei Ying.

Wei Ying felt the emperor next to her was about to be so angry she’d spit blood.

This official was truly bold, and his insults were spot-on. In his words, the emperor had become a complete tyrant and lecher, and he even hinted that the emperor’s lack of proper education from being in the common folk as a child was the reason for her behavior.

Wasn’t that just saying she was ill-bred?

Wei Ying quietly edged away, wanting to distance herself from the emperor in case the enraged monarch’s fury was directed at her. But the emperor tightened her grip, pulling her back and half-embracing her.

It looked like the emperor was holding her, but in reality, she was using her as a support, leaning half her body on her.

Yun Shao said, “Let me hold you.”

Wei Ying: …A worker forced to comply.

A hot breath swept across Wei Ying’s neck, making her feel a little ticklish.

It was then that Wei Ying realized the emperor was actually a little shorter than her. The emperor’s breath lightly brushed against her ear and neck with each word.

The warmth radiated through her clothes, wrapping her like a warm blanket. They were so close that she could even feel the emperor trembling slightly.

It was probably from anger.

Wei Ying silently mourned for her for a couple of seconds. Then she suddenly thought of something and asked softly, “Your Majesty, is this Grand Scholar Zhang?”

Yun Shao’s head throbbed with anger, and she began to regret letting this old man speak just to show she was a wise ruler. People like this should have their mouths stuffed and be beaten until they can’t speak. But Zhang Ke was the head of the censorial officials and was quite famous among scholars. She was trying to cleanse the court and bring in new talent, so it wasn’t a good time to deal with this troublemaker.

As she was debating, she heard the girl’s clear voice. Yun Shao replied without thinking, “He’s that unfilial son.”

Pah, she would never have a son like that.

The censorial officials saw the emperor bring Wei Ying to the city tower at night, and now their heads were close together, whispering. They secretly cursed the emperor for being lecherous and dissolute.

Zhang Ke was not only bold in his heart but also in his words. His voice was loud and his spirit was high. Even after shouting for so long, his voice was still booming: “Your Majesty, do not indulge in debauchery!”

Wei Ying, who was once again innocently involved, widened her eyes, so angry she wanted to throw rotten eggs at Zhang Ke.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t see anything clearly. To her, the officials looked like a swarm of ants crawling around, and Zhang Ke was the most hideous, gesticulating ant at the very front!

Why me?

Why was he singling her out?

Besides, when had this dog emperor ever indulged in debauchery? She had brought her consorts into the palace to be her workers, for goodness’ sake!

She suddenly felt a pang of pity for the emperor: what a miserable capitalist.

Zhang Ke shouted again, “Debauchery corrupts the nation, Your Majesty!”

The other censorial officials followed suit, making such a racket that the emperor’s head ached and her face turned ashen.

Wei Ying pursed her lips and then smiled. “System, come here. I want to exchange a card with my points.”

She was being insincere.

She had used this card many times, but it was still as effective as ever. She couldn’t bring herself to use a 10s green card on Zhang Ke and his group, so she exchanged for two gray 3s cards instead.

She smiled slightly, clasped the emperor’s hand, and led her to the edge of the city wall, sticking her head out to look down.

Yun Shao, who had been furious, saw Wei Ying looking down with such curiosity. She thought she looked like a curious little cat, and her anger dissipated. She then played the part of the lecherous tyrant the officials had accused her of being, and chuckled softly. “Does my beloved consort want to throw rotten eggs?”

Wei Ying nodded instinctively, then immediately widened her eyes.

How did the dog emperor guess again?

Yun Shao sighed. “It’s a pity there are no rotten eggs here. Next time, I’ll have the imperial kitchen save some.”

Wei Ying: “…Your Majesty, I just wanted to see these pillars of the nation.”

Yun Shao smiled. “See them? What do they look like?”

Wei Ying tilted her head. “They look like big leeches. No, big mosquitoes.”

Leeches only suck blood silently, while mosquitoes buzz loudly while they suck blood. Compared to mosquitoes, leeches seemed much more lovable.

Zhang Ke was still shouting slogans. He would shout one, and the officials behind him would follow, like a hundred-day countdown rally for college entrance exams:

“Our loyalty is witnessed by Heaven!”

“Witnessed by Heaven!”

“Frank criticism is a bitter pill to swallow but beneficial to one’s conduct. We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!”

“Your Majesty to reconsider!”

Wei Ying’s lips curled up. She subtly raised her small hand, and the Insincere Card flew silently toward the man.

He trembled, then shouted loudly, “Your Majesty, please reconsider… Please punish your humble servants! This is a great crime that only death can atone for to quell the indignation of Heaven and the people!”

The other officials, whose minds hadn’t caught up, also shouted, “Please grant us death, Your Majesty!”

The emperor fell silent.

She had never heard such a strange request before.

She raised her lips in delight. “You all know your place. Then I will grant your wish.”

The officials who had just realized what they had said were stunned.

What in the world was going on?

“Grand Scholar Zhang, look,” someone stammered in fear, “What did you just shout? Are you trying to get us all killed?”

“My old mother is still at home to be taken care of. I wish I hadn’t followed you here.”

Zhang Ke froze in place, his mind a blank. After realizing what he had said, he shivered and knelt on the ground with a loud thud.

The officials behind him also dropped to their knees, knocking their heads on the ground.

They watched as the armed guards came closer.

They had none of their previous arrogance, scrambling like ants on a hot pan, banging their heads on the ground until they bled, the blood mixing with the rainwater.

“Your Majesty, have mercy!”

“Mercy, Your Majesty! We know we were wrong.”

Wei Ying took a step back, hiding in the shadows, her deeds hidden in plain sight. Now she understood. All the fearless words they had said at the beginning were just empty boasts, because they had calculated the emperor wouldn’t dare to punish them.

Now that they were afraid of being executed, they all panicked.

Yun Shao never thought she would have a day where she would be a merciful monarch. She coughed twice and said, “Death is pardonable, but a living punishment is not. Each of you will receive thirty strikes. Zhang Ke, you have gathered a mob and formed a faction, so you shall receive sixty!”

The officials all kowtowed, praising the emperor for her benevolence and wisdom.

The emperor, who was being praised this way for the first time, held Wei Ying’s hand tightly and led her down from the city wall to get into her imperial carriage.

Wei Ying felt the palm gripping hers getting colder and colder. The cold sweat soaked through, and even a person as heartless as she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, are you all right? Do you want to take some medicine?”

Yun Shao turned to look at her, her eyes hazy from a high fever, her expression somewhat dazed. “Thank you.”

Wei Ying: “Huh? For what?”

“You are… always good to me.”

Before she could finish, the emperor swayed and collapsed onto her. Wei Ying instinctively caught her, her palm feeling a burning-hot skin.

The emperor’s fainting caused the entire palace to fall into chaos.

Wei Ying was forced to stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, sitting next to the dragon bed, watching the imperial physicians and palace maids come and go.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to leave. It was that the emperor was holding her hand so tightly she couldn’t move. She just sat there listlessly, as if she was in handcuffs, and even felt like singing a song about being imprisoned.

“Noble Lady Ying, please drink this ginger soup to ward off the cold.” Fu Shou, remembering she was in poor health, thoughtfully brought a bowl of ginger soup. Wei Ying reached for it. As soon as she moved, the emperor, as if sensing it in her sleep, furrowed her brows and tightened her grip even more.

Wei Ying was helpless. It was hard to drink with one hand, so she said, “Never mind.”

Fu Shou bowed respectfully. “This old servant will serve you, my master.”

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