I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 39

As autumn deepened, Shengjing grew even colder.

In the morning, frost whitened the ground, and a thin layer of ice formed on the water jars in the courtyard.

The world felt cold, except for the warmth of the bed. Wei Ying curled up under the covers, clutching the blankets tightly, once again entering a tug-of-war with Luò Cà.

“I’m not getting up! The sun won’t rise, I won’t rise; the moon won’t sleep, I won’t sleep!”

Luò Cà sighed helplessly. “Master, the sun has already risen; it’s almost noon.”

Buried under the covers, Wei Ying continued to linger in bed. “I won’t listen, I won’t listen! Monk chanting, I won’t get up!”

Just then, Xiao Qianxue entered with Hongzhu and saw the daily habit of lying in at Yulu Hall. She smiled.

“Yingying, you need to get up earlier today.”

Half-asleep, Wei Ying lifted her head. Her cheeks were flushed from sleep, and her eyes still hazy. She mumbled, “Why?”

Xiao Qianxue sat at the bedside and held her hand. The moment they touched, the girl shivered from the cold and murmured softly, “So cold…”

Yet, she turned her hand over to hold Xiao Qianxue’s hand, using her own warmth to warm her.

Xiao Qianxue’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “Today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday. We must get ready early—the birthday banquet will begin soon.”

This time, Wei Ying half-opened her eyes, water shimmering in them, as she studied Xiao Qianxue. Today, Xiao Qianxue was dressed formally in a light blue-gold brocade interwoven with a blue floral pattern skirt, embroidered with fragrant orchids. The outfit was elegant and refined, understated yet graceful.

It seemed that after previous experiences, the heroine had learned the ways to survive in the deep palace.

“I don’t want to get up… it’s too cold,” Wei Ying murmured.

Xiao Qianxue instructed Luò Cà to warm their clothes by the brazier, so they wouldn’t feel too cold when wearing them. She held Wei Ying tightly. “No, come on, get up.”

Dragged out of bed, Wei Ying lowered her face, shrugged, and mournfully remarked, “In the cold autumn, even Xiao Qianxue’s □□ has lost its warmth.”

Xiao Qianxue’s face flushed. She wrapped the warm clothes around Wei Ying and pushed her to the dressing table. “You say that again, and see what happens.”

Who casually says □□? Ridiculous.

The bronze mirror reflected two equally delicate faces. After the usual morning routines and showers of compliments at Yulu Hall, preparations began in earnest. Half an hour later, Wei Ying was fully dressed, while Xiao Qianxue sipped tea and reviewed the script.

Holding a piece of pastry, Xiao Qianxue sighed. “The food from the imperial kitchen isn’t as good as what Sister Xianfei makes.”

Recently, Xianfei had been busy arranging the birthday celebrations, assisting the Empress in managing the six palaces during the day, and locking herself in her room at night, rarely making pastries.

Wei Ying nodded in agreement.

Hand in hand, they stepped out together, wearing matching skirts and draped in goose-yellow cloaks with fur collars, braving the cold.

After a while, Xianfei also appeared. Seeing them, her eyes brightened, and she smiled softly, a smile full of satisfaction and an inexplicable sense of accomplishment.

Wei Ying frowned slightly; that familiar feeling returned! Why did she feel that Xianfei’s eyes were glowing green?

Suppressing her doubts, she thought: Sister Xianfei is gentle and reserved and likes making small pastries. She couldn’t possibly have bad intentions, it must be a hallucination!

The kind Xianfei smiled kindly. “You two, come with me to Cining Palace.”

Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue bowed in unison and obediently followed behind her, like two little chicks trailing after a mother hen. The yellow cloaks fluttered in the wind, making their steps seem clumsy.

Wei Ying whispered this strange metaphor to the heroine.

Xiao Qianxue immediately said, “Then I’ll be the older sister!”

Wei Ying, amused by her quirky competitiveness, replied, “Fine, you’re the big chick, I’m the little chick. Cluck, cluck.”

Xiao Qianxue: “Cluck, cluck.”

Hearing the two chicken sounds behind her, Xianfei turned and saw the girls laughing together, and couldn’t help laughing herself.

“They are so harmonious and loving, cluck, cluck, cluck.”

Zhang Momo sighed.

Dong E also sighed.

She felt out of place at Yulu Hall, unable to join in the “chicken laughter.”

Inside Cining Palace, the concubines chatted merrily in groups, the atmosphere warm and pleasant.

The palace maids, as usual, followed Shufei. Seeing Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue, they first gave them a disdainful glance, but then, recalling their gifts, covered their lips and chuckled quietly, whispering to Shufei: “Sister, with these gifts, I doubt the emperor can protect them. Heh heh heh.”

Dong E had already informed them of the gifts given by the two noble ladies. Xiao Qianxue’s hundred-crane robe had been replaced with a wrinkled, worn garment, and as for Duan Wei Ying… who would give a turtle as a birthday gift?

Although turtles symbolized longevity among the common people, it was still a turtle…

All the other concubines had sent things like peaches of immortality or cranes. Who would give a turtle as a gift? Wouldn’t it offend someone?

Thinking of what might happen, the palace maid giggled.

Due to some subtle connection between the protagonist and the antagonist, Xiao Qianxue was jostled through the crowd and ended up next to the palace maid.

The maid, seeing her, merely smiled, thinking of the embarrassment Xiao Qianxue might face, too lazy to cause trouble, she just watched and laughed softly.

Xiao Qianxue, puzzled, frowned at her and raised her mouth in a friendly smile: “Cluck, cluck?”

The maid: “Pffft, pffft, pffft.”

Xiao Qianxue: “Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.”

Shufei, caught in the middle, felt like she was standing in a countryside field, watching a chicken and a piglet quarrel, nearly dizzy, almost joining in with “pffft” and “cluck.”

Feeling the gazes of other concubines, she quickly pulled her little piglet away.

How embarrassing!

The Empress Dowager’s fiftieth birthday celebration lasted five days.

The first day was a family banquet, attended only by the concubines of the harem.

The courtesans performed songs and dances on stage; music drifted through the palace, echoing off the red-draped walls. Pushing open a carved window, the cold air swept in, framing the heavily adorned palace like a rich, vivid painting.

Wei Ying watched for a while before Xiao Qianxue pulled her to sit at their seat. The banquet was about to begin.

The Empress Dowager was assisted to the main seat. Seeing Wei Ying, her heart skipped a beat; she felt a little uneasy.

The courtesans’ sleeves fluttered as they danced, their voices clear and sweet.

The emperor held a wine vessel, his gaze lazily drifting across the dancers, glancing at the corner, until he noticed Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue together, eating, and his face faintly smiled.

Yue Qinghui: “Did His Majesty glance sideways again?”

Yun Shao cleared her throat and drained her wine: “Zi Tong also twisted his neck?”

They exchanged a rare smile, momentarily at ease, then simultaneously cast their gaze to the corner again.

Wei Ying chatted with Xiao Qianxue, suddenly feeling someone watching her. She raised her eyes and met the “benevolent” gaze of the Empress.

The Empress gave her a slight nod, her gaze gentle.

Wei Ying waved happily. Her sleeve fell, revealing a wrist adorned with a jade bracelet of a deep green, moving with her wrist.

Yue Qinghui immediately recognized the quality: the color was rich, deep, and vibrant—the finest imperial green jade. One bracelet alone was worth a fortune.

She recalled seeing a similar bracelet among tribute gifts from a neighboring small country. She tilted her head to glance at the emperor.

The emperor sat quietly, seemingly unbothered.

The banquet continued, golden cups filled with wine, sumptuous dishes arranged lavishly.

Eunuchs began presenting the concubines’ tribute gifts, placed on trays covered in red cloth.

First was the Empress’s gift: a painting of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix. Hundreds of birds and flowers meticulously depicted; a masterpiece.

As the scroll unfurled, the concubines gasped in admiration.

Wei Ying rested her chin on her hand, thinking she hadn’t expected the Empress’s painting skills to be so extraordinary. Managing the empire, preparing a lengthy scroll—it was time management mastery.

Extraordinary painting skills?

She frowned slightly. This painting reminded her of someone else… except that person painted explicit spring palace scrolls.

Quickly shaking her head, she banished such impure thoughts. Her beloved Empress, head of the six palaces, model of the empire—how could she secretly paint illicit works? Impossible! This world is false!

Next, the concubines’ gifts were presented in turn.

When it came to Xiao Qianxue, the palace maid smirked, provoking the girl. She had already arranged for Dong E to swap the hundred-crane robe. The tray now held…

The eunuch unveiled it: “Consort Xiao presents the East Pearl-embroidered Hundred-Crane Robe, wishing the Empress Dowager blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains.”

The silver-threaded cranes spread their wings amidst clouds, lit by lanterns, vivid as if alive.

“How beautiful.”

“The embroidery is exquisite, one can see the effort.”

“It must have taken much thought.”

The concubines whispered among themselves. The Empress Dowager gazed at the robe with satisfaction.

Only the two palace maid sisters were frozen.

Hadn’t it been swapped already? Then what was on the tray now?

A small eunuch brought over the next tray and lifted the red cloth. “Palace Concubine Shufei presents her gift…”

He frowned, puzzled at the tray’s contents. “A wrinkled old garment?”

The palace maid’s face flushed crimson, her mind blank.

The concubines gawked, pointing. “What? That’s so careless!”

“No way, someone actually sent this?”

“Shh, she’s the Empress Dowager’s little niece. It’s casual, she won’t be punished.”

The Empress Dowager would not punish, but she was nearly enraged, glaring at the palace maid, her eyes reddened.

The maid stammered, “N-not like that!”

Dong E had personally seen the gift sent—how did it end up being presented? What happened?

The banquet abruptly paused, discussions buzzing around, while Wei Ying sipped her tea quietly, smiling without a word.

A perfect time for a stealthy trick, a purple card ready for use.

She exchanged points for two purple cards: one called “Vivid,” one “Modification Card.”

Vivid: “In the past, Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, vividly so, symbolizing fulfillment.” Makes inanimate objects come alive for one hour.
Note: The species cannot exceed the rules of the mission world; any excess will automatically revert.

“Use ‘Vivid’ on Shufei’s gift, and the ‘Modification Card’…” Wei Ying pouted thoughtfully, giving a soft, innocent smile: “…to turn what pleases the Empress into what saddens her.”

The palace concubine AI: …It seemed the host didn’t need to appear personally to complete the task.

Shufei inhaled deeply, massaging her throbbing temples. “Surely, the servants made a mistake!” She smiled at the Empress Dowager. “Aunt, Shufei and Beinu sent the same gift; this confusion is the servants’ fault.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression softened slightly as she nodded.

She had heard of a phoenix jade carving prepared for her by the top sculptor Dong Shi, sure to be impressive.

Shufei arranged for her gift to be delivered.

The jade sculpture was heavy, packed in a box. Two small eunuchs carefully carried the box, chanting the birthday greetings as they opened it: “Consort Shufei and Concubine Shufei wish the Empress Dowager…”

They froze.

Everyone froze.

Inside the box was a magnificent, vibrant rooster, strutting proudly. The rooster wagged its tail and flapped out of the box, crowing three times: “Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

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