I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 37

In the original story, the Empress Dowager’s birthday is also a significant episode in the heroine’s history of suffering.

The Eastern Empress Dowager was celebrating her fiftieth birthday, and the palace was bustling with activity. Every concubine was racking her brains to prepare the perfect gift. The most common and safest choices were gold, silver, jewelry, or porcelain, but the Empress Dowager had lived for decades and had seen all these things countless times, leaving her unimpressed.

Some concubines chose to embroider tapestries or other hand-stitched items to show their filial piety and demonstrate their skill.

In the original story, the heroine also prepared a hand-sewn robe decorated with a hundred cranes. Cranes symbolized longevity and good fortune and were regarded in Daoism as the birds of immortals. Since the Eastern Palace Empress Dowager was a devout Daoist, she should have been extremely pleased to receive it.

However, at the birthday banquet, her gift was switched and replaced with a crumpled, shabby piece of clothing.

The Empress Dowager was furious. Though the emperor wanted to protect her, he could not defy the Dowager’s rage. As a result, she was confined to the Anle Hall for three months, essentially being sent to a cold palace.

Life in the cold palace was bleak and miserable, a world away from the days when she had enjoyed the emperor’s favor. Only two loyal young maids stayed by her side.

Here, the heroine was tempered; she became more miserable but also stronger.

But this was just the first time she entered the cold palace. Later, she would go in and out multiple times, each time facing harsher trials and becoming stronger, until she eventually reached the pinnacle of power.

At this moment, unaware of the miserable fate awaiting her, the heroine smiled radiantly at Wei Ying: “Yingying, what did you prepare?”

Wei Ying replied calmly, “I haven’t prepared anything.”

Xiao Qianxue was slightly taken aback. “B-but all the concubines are supposed to bring gifts. Didn’t Sister Virtuous Concubine tell us? If we don’t, the Empress Dowager will blame us.”

Wei Ying smiled: “It’s fine. My birthday gift doesn’t need preparation.” She winked at Xiao Qianxue. “I will make sure the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet is unforgettable.”

Xiao Qianxue’s heart pounded so fast she clutched her chest, gasping: “Ah—”

“Stop gasping!” Wei Ying interrupted, tightening her grip on the reins, clamping her legs, and dashing forward like a bolt of lightning. The wind whipped her hair around, tinged by the setting sun into a soft gold. “Come catch me!”

Xiao Qianxue laughed, holding the reins as she rode after her: “Will there be a reward if I catch you?”

Wei Ying turned her head, a mischievous smile on her face: “If you catch me, you can do whatever you want.”

Xiao Qianxue’s excitement surged like a shot of adrenaline. She galloped after her with “da-da-da” of hooves, but sadly discovered that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t catch Yingying. Concerned about tiring out the little pear blossom, she finally patted the horse’s head and dismounted.

Wei Ying led her horse over as well.

Xiao Qianxue pursed her lips and complained: “I’ve been riding since I was little, so why is my horsemanship worse than yours?”

Wei Ying smiled lazily: “Because I’ve practiced.”

These mission-holders really were omnipotent.

Xiao Qianxue looked her over again, suspiciously.

Now, Wei Ying had gradually stepped out from the pale and sickly disguise she had once worn, becoming… dazzlingly radiant.

Xiao Qianxue suddenly recalled the first time she had seen the pale, fragile face of the young girl with tear-filled eyes, and it felt like a different person entirely. She laughed softly, letting go of her doubts, and wrapped an arm around Wei Ying’s shoulder as they returned to Yulu Hall.

“Yingying, honestly, if I believed in ghosts, I’d think some old demon possessed your body and borrowed your skin to make you change so much.”

Wei Ying stated seriously: “I’m not old.”

Xiao Qianxue paused, then laughed heartily: “You really know how to joke!”

Wei Ying: “…I’m serious.”

Of course, the heroine didn’t believe her earnest statement, and after a chuckle, she forgot about it and dragged Wei Ying to see the embroidered robe she had made.

It was a Daoist-style robe with a rounded collar inlaid with eastern pearls. The deep blue silk was embroidered with countless cranes in flight using silver thread.

The cranes were vivid and lifelike, surrounded by faint clouds and mist, full of ethereal charm.

Wei Ying silently marveled that embroidered works could truly reach the level described in the book, seeming to come alive. The breeze lifted the robe slightly, and the hundred cranes seemed to dance in the wind, as if in a fairyland.

In the original story, a palace maid had stolen the heroine’s “Hundred Cranes Robe” and presented it to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was delighted upon seeing it. Everyone present praised the exquisite embroidery, and the palace maid gained immense favor, rising from Jieyu to Zhaorong.

The thief profited openly, while the original heroine was left miserable in the cold palace.

Wei Ying affectionately patted Xiao Qianxue: “Make sure to keep this safe; don’t let anyone steal it.”

Xiao Qianxue patted her chest, promising to store the gift carefully in a locked box.

Seeing her lock it, Wei Ying glanced around and asked, “What about Auntie Dong?”

“I don’t know. She’s often out and about, maybe at the Internal Affairs Department.”

Meanwhile, Dong’e was at Nonghua Hall, caught between two palace sisters, feeling the murderous glare from above.

Since the powder incident, Consort Shu had learned to be cautious, bringing her younger sister along when doing mischief.

After all, the palace maid couldn’t help much, but leaving her behind would certainly cause trouble.

Dong’e fanned herself and sighed, exhausted: “Do you know what gifts these two have prepared this time?”

Dong’e lowered her hands and answered honestly: “Consort Xiao Qianxue embroidered a hundred-crane robe with inlaid pearls; it’s exquisitely crafted, superbly delicate.”

The palace maid snorted, raising her chin: “Ordinary. What about Wei Ying?”

Dong’e shook her head: “I haven’t seen her prepare anything.”

The palace maid frowned and leaned forward: “Nothing prepared? Doesn’t she know it’s our aunt’s birthday soon? Isn’t she afraid of punishment if she doesn’t present a gift?”

Recalling Wei Ying’s usual behavior, Consort Shu felt a sense of foreboding.

The palace maid, unconcerned, continued to mock: “A country bumpkin girl doesn’t even know to prepare a gift. I can’t wait to see how she handles it. Sister, our phoenix jade carving is the most precious, and no one will steal our spotlight this time.”

The gifts prepared were a jade carving, the finest Hetian jade. The master carver, famous for decades, had been held in captivity for three years by the Gong family just to produce this single work for the Empress Dowager.

The palace maid proudly straightened her back, thinking their efforts would surely dazzle the other concubines who had never seen such precious things.

Consort Shu ignored her sister and asked Dong’e: “How is Xiao Qianxue’s embroidery?”

Dong’e thought for a moment: “Very good.”

Consort Shu asked again: “Between the jade carving and the hundred-crane robe, which do you think the Dowager will prefer?”

Dong’e cautiously replied: “The robe is exquisite, not inferior to the jade carving. Besides, the Empress Dowager believes in Daoism and loves cranes. Xiao Qianxue’s embroidery is novel and full of heart. Jade is valuable, but the Dowager has seen even more precious things before…”

“Impudent!” The palace maid slammed the table, wincing from the pain, and shouted: “You mean our precious gift isn’t as good as her random stitched chickens?”

Dong’e remained silent, thinking she shouldn’t speak honestly to someone not too bright.

Consort Shu patted her sister’s hand: “Enough, enough. No matter what gift Xiao Qianxue prepared, we’ll just swap it before presenting it. What should we replace it with?”

The palace maid’s mischievous side immediately sparked: “A toad!”

Consort Shu and Dong’e fell silent.

The palace maid’s eyes lit up: “Not allowed?”

Consort Shu sighed: “It’s almost winter; there are no toads. Besides… that’s your own aunt, your own family.”

The silly younger sister pouted: “I didn’t think much. Why care about them? They just stitched a few chickens anyway.”

“Crane,” Consort Shu corrected.

“Same thing,” the silly sister said, stretching out her hand for her sister to rub. “Who cares what they do? We’re the Empress Dowager’s favorite concubines anyway.”

Consort Shu gently tapped her sister’s head: “You are the emperor’s concubine, not just the Dowager’s. You must think about the birthday banquet with His Majesty present.”

The palace maid pouted: “Fine.”

Consort Shu turned to Dong’e: “Swap it with a crumpled, shabby robe. This is your task now. Don’t forget to find Wei Ying’s gift too.”

Dong’e’s steps grew heavy as she left Nonghua Hall.

She assumed Wei Ying was difficult to predict, seemingly gentle and approachable but hard to get close to. She didn’t want to approach her unnecessarily.

Back at Yulu Hall, Dong’e waited for the opportunity to swap Xiao Qianxue’s robe with a shabby garment before it was presented, but she could not find any trace of Wei Ying’s gift.

Just as Dong’e, exhausted, prepared to settle for doing her task half-heartedly, she encountered a green-clad maid carrying a mysterious box.

Dong’e approached: “What’s this?”

The maid whispered: “It’s the gift Wei Ying prepared for the Empress Dowager.”

Dong’e’s eyes lit up: “What is it?”

The maid shook her head: “Wei Ying didn’t allow me to open it. She said it’s a spiritual item. Even a glance would release its energy and ruin its effect. I have to stand outside with it every night under the moonlight for nine nights to absorb the moon’s glow.”

Dong’e stared at the box.

Having served the Empress Dowager for a long time, she had never seen such a mysterious gift. It perfectly matched the semi-immortal aura of its giver.

She tried to persuade the maid: “Let me do it instead. I’m used to hard work; I won’t get tired.”

The little maid hesitated but eventually agreed, handing the wooden box to Dong’e with the warning: “Don’t open it, Auntie.”

Dong’e took the box with a silly posture, silently hoping the maid would leave quickly.

But the maid was diligent; if the moon hadn’t set, she wouldn’t leave.

Dong’e’s arms grew stiff and cold from standing in the autumn wind. Every slight movement was monitored by the little maid, who would immediately scold: “Auntie, don’t drop it!”

Dong’e stood frozen for nine nights, her body and spirit exhausted, becoming a walking shell, as if her soul had left her.

While everyone else slept warm and cozy, she shivered in the autumn wind, arms aching, hearing the girl’s constant “coo coo coo” beside her.

Dong’e thought if she could redo it, she would never have let curiosity tempt her to peek at Wei Ying’s gift.

She didn’t deserve it.

On the ninth night, the maid accidentally dozed off, leaning against the wall.

Dong’e saw a rare opportunity, quickly set down the box, and tremblingly opened it—hoping to discover Wei Ying’s gift and swap it with a stone, ruining her birthday.

But upon opening the box, Dong’e froze.

Inside lay a peacefully resting earthly spirit: a giant turtle.

On its shell was a note: “Those who peek in advance share the fate of this creature.”

Dong’e, now a “turtle peer” herself, sadly put down the stone.

She realized there was no need to swap it. Who would have thought the Empress Dowager’s birthday gift would be a turtle?

In the end, what had all nine nights of suffering been for?

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