I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 31

As Wei Ying walked toward the Hall of Riches and Splendor, she calculated the rewards for the current mission.

Fifty points could be exchanged for one green card, plus there was a guaranteed green card from a blind box, meaning even with bad luck she would get at least two green cards this time.

But—

The system hadn’t released new missions lately, and the gray cards she had mass-produced by exploiting a bug last time were almost used up. She needed to find a new way to make money.

Wei Ying’s lips curled up in a pleasant smile as an idea came to her.

Her palace-fighting system felt a jolt of unease. “Host, why are you smiling?”

Wei Ying said, “What does it mean to safely exit a ‘Feast at Hong Gate’? It’s too abstract. It’s hard to tell without specifics. Does it mean I complete the mission as long as I step out the door with the female lead?”

The system replied, “Exactly. That’s the judging criterion.”

Wei Ying was delighted. She pulled back the curtain, looked up at the vast, clear autumn sky, her eyes curving into crescent moons. “The weather is so lovely today. The wind is quite boisterous.”

Dong E, as if suffering from PTSD from the words “boisterous wind,” subconsciously looked up, a look of terror in her eyes.

Wei Ying leaned against the window, her eyes crinkling in a smile. “Aunt Dong, what are you looking at?”

Dong E’s heart tightened. She lowered her head honestly. “Nothing, my lady.”

“Don’t be so formal, Aunt Dong,” Wei Ying said, looking at her with a friendly and benevolent gaze.

Xiao Qianxue also leaned in, staring at Dong E’s legs. After all, if something were to happen, she would rely entirely on Aunt Dong to be a distraction. However, she felt that Aunt Dong was very nimble on her feet and that she might not be able to outrun her, which made her a little worried.

Watched by the two of them, Dong E nervously wrung her sleeves, her forehead beaded with sweat.

Wei Ying was silent for a moment, then laughed again. “Don’t worry, Aunt Dong. It won’t get windy later.”

Dong E: “…”

“You don’t look at the wind with your eyes. Close them, and it will naturally come to you.”

Xiao Qianxue said, “Yingying, what you’re saying is so profound.”

Wei Ying said, “So sometimes, we should close our eyes to feel beautiful things.”

Hearing this, Xiao Qianxue obediently closed her eyes, trying hard to feel what Wei Ying described.

“Did you feel it? That bright, warm, dazzling thing.”

Xiao Qianxue nodded, happily saying, “I felt it! It’s the autumn sun!”

The golden autumn sun shone on her face, warm and cozy, and even the gentle breeze carried the warm scent of sunshine.

Wei Ying said, “It’s not the wind.”

Xiao Qianxue asked, “Then what is it?”

“It seems your comprehension is still lacking,” Wei Ying said, picking up a pastry. “Even with your eyes closed, you are still misled by my beauty and can’t feel my bright and interesting soul.”

Xiao Qianxue: “…”

Okay, now I feel it.

Upon arriving at the Hall of Riches and Splendor, Dong E had grown wiser. She no longer dared to accept anything Wei Ying handed to her and followed obediently behind them, looking as innocent as if to say, “As long as I don’t cause trouble, trouble won’t find me.”

Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue walked into the dim palace chamber.

Consort Li’s eyes widened when she saw them, and she kept winking at them.

She didn’t understand. She had clearly sent Xiao Cui to notify the two sisters, so why had they still come? Had Xiao Cui not been able to reach them in time?

Consort Li saw Xiao Cui following behind them and couldn’t help but frown.

Xiao Cui came up to her and whispered a few words. Consort Li and the little maid found an opportunity to slip away to a secluded corner.

“Did you not tell the two ladies about the Empress Dowager?” Consort Li asked anxiously.

Xiao Cui said, “I did. They still insisted on coming.”

Consort Li was immediately filled with awe, praising their spirit of knowingly walking into the tiger’s den, a spirit of “valiant old heroes.”

Xiao Cui was silent for a moment, then said, “My lady, the two noble consorts are still very young. They can’t be considered old heroes.”

Consort Li sighed with melancholy. “They will be soon.”

After all, by coming here, they had one foot in the grave.

She pondered for a moment. “No, we have to go find the Emperor!”

Xiao Cui said, “Noble Consort Ying said there’s no need to find him. As long as we help…”

The two squatted in a corner, whispering. Consort Li’s eyes grew wider and wider as she said in terror, “Are you sure this is okay?”

Xiao Cui said, “I think so?”

Meanwhile, inside the Hall of Riches and Splendor, a fake warmth filled the air.

To Consort Shu and her sisters, Consort Li was just a tool to lure Wei Ying over. Now that they had arrived, no one cared when Consort Li suddenly left.

Wei Ying expressed her sincere concern for the red spots on Consort Shu’s face and offered her deep condolences regarding the boisterous autumn wind in the Jade Dew Palace. The two of them had a friendly exchange about the surprising 1+1>2 effect of face powder and the autumn wind, and they reached a mutual agreement to never open a box of face powder when it was windy.

Xiao Qianxue and Gong Bei Nu were munching on pastries, listening to this, completely baffled.

Even the Empress Dowager, who was sitting behind a screen, couldn’t stand the strong, fake sisterly affection in the air. She coughed twice and slowly walked out.

Wei Ying’s heart skipped a beat. She knew the difficult person had arrived and quickly rose to curtsy.

The Empress Dowager sat on the east seat and waved her hand, signaling for them to rise. Her gaze discreetly landed on Dong E.

Dong E’s legs went weak, and she wanted to kneel before her old master to show her loyalty.

The initial atmosphere was quite harmonious, but toward the end, the Empress Dowager suddenly brought up the night Wei Ying and the Emperor had spent on the city wall. Her words were full of malice, and Consort Shu and her sisters fanned the flames, trying to accuse her of meddling in palace politics.

Cold sweat trickled down Xiao Qianxue’s back.

Are they trying to get Yingying killed? She tightened her grip on her cup, secretly regretting coming here.

Wei Ying lowered her eyes, listening obediently, when she suddenly covered her mouth and started coughing, a gut-wrenching, painful cough.

Xiao Qianxue exclaimed, “Yingying! Noble Consort Ying’s old illness has flared up. We must find an imperial physician immediately.”

She wanted to find an excuse to leave, but the Empress Dowager and her group were not willing to let them go so easily.

The Empress Dowager smiled. “It’s nothing serious. I think she just choked. Dong E, quickly serve the noble consort some tea.” She looked at Dong E with a meaningful expression. “Dong E has been by my side for many years. She has always been a thoughtful and reliable servant. Seeing her always makes me feel at ease.”

Gong Bei Nu pouted, feeling wronged, not understanding why her aunt was so protective of this servant.

Wei Ying coughed weakly twice, took the tea Dong E handed her, and said, “Aunt Dong is so thoughtful. That’s excellent. Aunt, why don’t you go and serve the Empress Dowager some tea?”

Dong E lowered her head and went to prepare the tea.

She remembered that the Empress Dowager disliked tea that was too cold or too hot. She carried a cup full of her heart’s devotion, determined to let the Empress Dowager see her loyalty, to understand that she had never changed her mind, that she was still the Empress Dowager’s person, the most diligent spy in the Jade Dew Palace!

She respectfully came before the Empress Dowager, whispered “My Lady,” her eyes as loyal as ever.

The Empress Dowager understood her. She sighed softly. “I have always trusted you. You are a reliable person.”

With that, she reached out to take the tea Dong E had brewed, but her fingers missed the teacup.

The Empress Dowager frowned in confusion.

A card that only Wei Ying could see silently flew onto Dong E.

Contrariety: Things go contrary to one’s wishes, leading to lingering. After using this card, the subject’s actions will proceed in the opposite direction of their intentions for 10 seconds.

Dong E picked up a wine cup and, avoiding the Empress Dowager’s hand, respectfully said, “My Lady, the tea is here.”

The Empress Dowager stared at her hand, which was frozen in mid-air, having grasped nothing. After a moment of silence, she nodded. “Alright, just place it here.”

Dong E said, “Yes, my Lady.”

However, after saying that, she still held the teacup, motionless.

The Empress Dowager’s forehead began to throb. “Just place it here.”

Dong E said, “As you command, my Lady.”

She remained as still as a statue, and the candlelight from the lamps above shone on her resolute face, making her look like a martyr willing to die.

The Empress Dowager was both angry and annoyed. She rebuked her in a low voice, “Dong E, what are you doing? When did you become so ill-mannered?”

Dong E said, “Empress Dowager, your servant wishes to serve you tea.”

Then she raised her hand and, to the Empress Dowager’s astonishment, drank the clear tea in her cup in a very bold manner.

Xiao Qianxue gasped and whispered to Wei Ying, “Aunt Dong is so brave.”

Wei Ying clapped for her. “Not bad. She has some of our spirit.”

Xiao Qianxue said, “…No, no, Aunt Dong is braver.”

While they were whispering, a deathly silence fell over the Empress Dowager’s side, followed by a sudden outburst.

Gong Bei Nu slammed the table and shrieked, “You lowly servant! Do you know what you’re doing?”

Dong E was frozen in place. She looked at the empty porcelain cup in her hand, recalled what she had just done, and her legs went weak as she knelt on the ground, her mind a complete blank.

She didn’t know what had happened. She had clearly wanted to serve the Empress Dowager tea, just like she used to in the Palace of Benevolent Peace. But… but why had she drunk the Empress Dowager’s tea herself?

What was she doing?

The Empress Dowager was so angry she was about to faint. She kept rubbing her temples.

Consort Shu supported the Empress Dowager and picked up a cup of tea. “Aunt, don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Have a sip of tea to calm down.”

Gong Bei Nu walked up to Dong E and kicked her fiercely. “You wretched servant, what are you? How dare you act so presumptuously in front of the Empress Dowager?”

Dong E said, “Your servant’s death is not enough to atone for my sins. My Lady, please don’t let this upset you!”

The Empress Dowager’s voice trembled with anger. “You idiot! Why are you bringing up death for no reason?”

Amidst the chaos, Consort Shu inadvertently glanced at the two empty seats and was stunned. She wondered, Did those two run away in the confusion? Before she could voice her question, she suddenly heard a eunuch outside the window yell, “Fire! Fire!”

“Fire?” Consort Shu sat up, her face pale.

Outside the window, palace servants were running and shouting, all yelling, “Fire! Fire! Run quickly!” The crackling of flames, the sounds of rescue, the roars, and the crashing of palace walls all came through, painting a picture of a ferocious blaze.

Consort Shu pushed open the window and saw thick black smoke rolling in the distance, a dark plume rising to the sky. She turned around in fright and trembling with fear, went to help the Empress Dowager leave. “Aunt, there’s a fire. We must leave quickly!”

The Empress Dowager was old and had been made dizzy with anger and fear. She was supported by the two younger women as they left.

After they were gone, Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue emerged from behind the wall and under the window.

Xiao Qianxue exclaimed, “Yingying, your voice mimicry is a miracle!”

Just now, while Dong E had distracted a few people, the two of them had gone around the palace gate. Xiao Qianxue had thought Wei Ying planned to take the opportunity to leave, but Wei Ying had pulled her hand, led her to squat outside the palace wall under the window, and began her performance.

“No wonder you had Noble Consort Li smoking something in the side hall,” Xiao Qianxue said, half-understanding. “But since they’ve all left, why did we come back?”

Wei Ying took her hand and stepped onto the threshold of the palace gate. “To swipe the card.”

Xiao Qianxue said, “Huh?”

Right after, Wei Ying pulled Xiao Qianxue back and forth over the palace threshold, hearing the system’s notification sound:

“Mission complete, one draw chance added.”

“Mission complete, one draw chance added.”

“…+1, +1, +1.”

…

The palace-fighting system’s voice came, full of exasperation. “Host, you… you have to stop!”

I was careless! Careless!

This wretched host!

The system cursed inwardly. “You’ve already earned a ten-pull! You’re not allowed to do it again, or I won’t give you any merge points on the next mission!”

Wei Ying immediately retracted her leg and pulled Xiao Qianxue. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Xiao Qianxue, who had been bouncing back and forth with her at the door, was still bewildered. “Yingying, what were we just doing?”

Wei Ying said, “Exercising.”

Xiao Qianxue said, “I get it! I’ll definitely run faster than Aunt Dong and the others!”

Wei Ying said, “Then let’s start running!”

Just as the Empress Dowager was being helped into her sedan chair, she suddenly came to her senses. “Where are Noble Consort Ying and Noble Consort Xiao?”

Consort Shu said, “They probably heard the fire and ran away first.”

The Empress Dowager felt more and more that something was wrong. She looked back at the Hall of Riches and Splendor. The black smoke had already thinned and was almost gone. She rubbed her head, which was throbbing. “Was there really a fire?”

Gong Bei Nu’s eyes widened. She guaranteed it with certainty. “Yes! I heard many people running that way to put out the fire!”

The Empress Dowager glanced at Dong E, who was following her. “You should go back to the Jade Dew Palace and stay with Duan Wei Ying and the others.”

Dong E had always been gentle and obedient, but this time she was uncharacteristically defiant. She knelt beside the Empress Dowager, every word a plea from a bleeding heart, speaking of the hardship of being a spy. “My Lady, I don’t want to go back, sob.”

Even if she had to die, even if she had to jump from here, she would absolutely not go back to serve those two again!

The Empress Dowager said, “If you come back, I’ll make you a first-rank palace official.”

Dong E said, “Yes, Empress Dowager, as you command. I will return to the Jade Dew Palace right away.”

Gong Bei Nu spat, muttering, “Fair-weather friend.”

Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue didn’t take a sedan chair back. They walked out of the palace gates in a grand manner, making sure the palace servants saw that they had left after the Empress Dowager. This was to prevent Consort Shu and her group from using their early departure against them.

They hadn’t walked far when they ran into the Emperor, who was rushing toward them.

Consort Li had sent a message, and upon hearing the news, the Emperor immediately put down his state affairs and hurried to the Hall of Riches and Splendor.

He didn’t expect to meet the two young women walking hand in hand on the way.

Yun Shao’s gaze swept over them—their clothes were neat, their faces rosy, they didn’t seem to be hurt, and they were in high spirits. Could it be that the Empress Dowager hadn’t troubled them and had just invited them for a cup of tea?

She frowned slightly, a flash of suspicion in her eyes.

Impossible. How could the Empress Dowager be so kind?

Perhaps she used some other method to kill their spirits…

Yun Shao stared at the two young women, a surge of sorrow welling up in her heart. If she were not so incompetent, she wouldn’t be unable to protect her own concubines. If the Empress Dowager had executed them today… if this were to happen again in the future…

She quietly watched the two young women, and after a long moment, she said, “Are you two alright?”

Xiao Qianxue was both surprised and delighted to see the Emperor. After curtsying, she heard her question and said bluntly, “We’re fine, better than ever.”

But Wei Ying remembered the original novel’s plot.

In the book, when the Emperor arrived at the Hall of Riches and Splendor, he only managed to save the female lead, who was bruised and beaten, barely clinging to life. He looked at her with sadness in his eyes and whispered, “Bear this for a little longer, endure the pain. When… when the snow melts, I will watch the plum blossoms with you.”

The Emperor now showed the same look described in the book.

Her misty eyes were filled with a light sorrow, like smoke and clouds.

She parted her lips and said in a low voice, “You two bear this for a little longer, endure the pain. When…”

Xiao Qianxue’s face turned pale with fright. Ah! Did Her Majesty know that they had played a trick on the Empress Dowager and Consort Shu!?

Her Majesty is truly a god. How did she know?

She was so scared that her legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground again. “Your Majesty, we were wrong! Please have mercy!”

Yun Shao: “???”

Wei Ying pulled up the honest child who had never done anything bad. “You misheard. Her Majesty said she would bear the pain for a little longer, not to make someone else suffer it. Your Majesty, who is suffering? We will go and save her!”

Yun Shao’s pupils shrank, as if the cloudy mist in her eyes had been evaporated by three consecutive days of a scorching summer sun. She sighed weakly. “It’s me.”

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