I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 47

The emperor’s gaze pierced sharply.

Xiao Qianxue instinctively loosened her hold, feeling that if she kept holding Yingying’s hand, she might be executed by His Majesty. She noticed that once she let go, the emperor’s body relaxed, the murderous aura dissipated instantly, further confirming her suspicions.

Thus, the good little sister who had just sworn eternal sisterhood abandoned her good elder sister in an instant: “Then, Your Majesty, Yingying, you two chat slowly. I’m going back to rest in my chamber.”

Yun Shao nodded slightly.

Yingying’s eyes widened in disbelief. Weren’t they just agreeing not to wish to die on the same year, month, and day, but at least on the same year, month, and day of death? And now she’s abandoning her?

Women are all liars!

Xiao Qianxue gave her a wink, then happily hopped away like a rabbit, leaving only Yingying and Yun Shao staring at each other in silence.

Finally, Yun Shao spoke: “Have you eaten?”

Yingying rubbed her stomach instinctively; she had just finished eating chicken and was still quite full.

Seeing this, Yun Shao understood and said, “You’re ill, so why are you standing outside? Come in and rest.”

Yingying felt her scalp tingle. It reminded her of being caught skipping class and dragged to the teacher’s office for a scolding. Sheepishly, she followed the “dog emperor,” her heart beating anxiously, even starting a little solo performance of The Nervous Tune.

Yun Shao picked up a white porcelain bowl from the table and turned to her: “I heard your illness hasn’t healed. I specially had someone prepare a bowl of medicine for you. Drink it, it will help your health.”

Yingying stepped back slightly, frowning, her eyes revealing a hint of grievance.

Why? She had just skipped a few classes—why force her to take medicine? She hated taking medicine the most!

Yun Shao held the bowl and stepped closer. Yingying stepped back. Step by step, she was cornered into the wall, tense and alert.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” The bowl was hot, her fingertips turned red from the heat, yet her hand remained steady, motionless, staring at the girl. “Aren’t you unwell?”

Seeing the girl remain silent for a long time, Yun Shao’s lips curled into a smile: “Do you want me to feed it to you?”

Yingying silently took out a card, planning to use it on the “dog emperor,” when Yun Shao continued, “Are you going to use a miracle on me again? Like last time making me move backward, the time before that making me talk to the thunder, and the time before that…”

Before she could finish, Yingying decisively took the bowl, determined to face it.

It’s just a bowl of medicine. Considering all the mischief she had done to the emperor before, ten bowls of medicine wouldn’t have been enough.

She closed her eyes, intending to drink it in one gulp, but after a sip, she realized the taste was strange… sweet, milky?

Lowering her gaze, she saw that the bowl contained pure white milk custard with floating pink peach blossoms.

Only then did Yun Shao slowly smile: “It’s peach blossom stewed milk. Yingying dislikes bitterness; I remembered.”

Yingying fell silent, sipping the custard slowly, thinking: Could it be that because she had messed with the “dog emperor” before, she recognized her so easily this time?

But when she had been the “white moonlight,” she was truly pristine, elegant, gentle, and kind—overflowing with praise, the perfect white moonlight.

At least toward the protagonist, she remained pure and would not harm anyone, right?

Thinking of this, she accidentally raised her eyes and nearly dropped the bowl in shock.

The “dog emperor” stood in the middle of the room, casually removing her clothing, now wearing only a thin, snow-white inner robe.

Usually wrapped in loose dragon robes, Yingying only noticed her slenderness. Now, removing the robes, she realized there was also a hint of subtle sexiness.

The emperor looked at her quietly, legs long, waist slender, hair cascading over the white robe like silk. Seeing Yingying silent, she began untying the inner robe.

Yingying: “You—”

Don’t start taking off your clothes right away!

Yun Shao unwrapped her chest with a white cloth, covering her upper body tightly, revealing only her narrow waist below. She then started unwrapping the chest band.

Yingying couldn’t help but ask: “Your Majesty, what are you trying to do?”

Yun Shao replied matter-of-factly: “Bedtime, of course.”

Yingying: “……”

Yun Shao quickly blinked, looking innocent: “You can’t sleep well with the chest bound.”

Yingying: “…………”

In the end, Yingying allowed the “dog emperor” into her bed, on the condition that she kept the inner robe on. She lingered on the chair, reluctant to get under the covers, staring at the emperor wide-eyed.

Yun Shao cleared her throat and broke the tension: “It’s cold outside. Come in; the bed is warm.”

Yingying pursed her lips.

Yun Shao smiled: “Is the beloved consort shy?”

Yingying: …

Theoretically, she was the dog emperor’s woman, so this stage of bedtime duties had to be passed. But since the other party was a woman, it was easier than expected. At most, it would be hugging, kissing, or cuddling. And the emperor was good-looking, so she wasn’t losing out.

Still hesitant, she took out a “sleep card” from the store, preparing to use it on the dog emperor.

Suddenly, Yun Shao spoke: “Actually, I recognized you a long time ago.”

Yingying looked over curiously; she had wanted to figure out for a long time how she had “crashed.” Normally, no one would think about reincarnation.

Yun Shao rested her chin, hair loose, collar slightly disheveled, revealing a long pale neck and delicate collarbones, exuding subtle seduction.

“Get in bed, and I’ll tell you.” Her voice was soft, hypnotic.

Yingying thought for a few seconds, slowly removed her outer robe, climbed onto the bed, and sat beside the emperor.

Yun Shao pressed close to her, gazing at her face: “I recognized you a long time ago.”

Yingying widened her eyes: “What?”

Yun Shao smiled: “When you feel guilty, you look at the ground. You have the habit of touching your lips when thinking or doing naughty things. You dislike medicine, love sweets, fear pain, and fear the cold…”

Yingying interrupted: “Your Majesty, that’s just coincidence. Many people have these traits.”

Yun Shao looked up at her: “Because you are you.”

Yingying: “Really? I don’t believe it.”

Yun Shao gently held a strand of her hair, lightly grasping it, then smelled it at her nose, smiling. “Sir, it was you who told me.”

Yingying lowered her gaze.

Yun Shao still smiling softly said: “You said one day you would return, and I waited here. You would always come back.”

Yingying asked calmly: “Why?”

Yun Shao smiled widely, her face glowing in the lamplight, voice gentle yet trembling uncontrollably: “Because… you love me.”

The next second, the emperor fell asleep peacefully under the covers.

Yingying, seeing her hand shake as she used the sleep card, felt a headache coming. She decided it was better to share the headache, using a combination of “dream lover” + “miracle trick” cards on the emperor.

Dog emperor, let you mess with me! Have nightmares!

Yingying hugged a pillow and spent most of the night in Xiao Qianxue’s palace, sharing a blanket.

Xiao Qianxue, groggy, asked: “Won’t His Majesty be angry?”

Yingying: “Hmph.”

By morning, she returned to her own room on time, curling up in bed. The blanket had been warmed by the dog emperor all night.

She closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. Soon, she felt a soft warmth pressing against her side; the emperor had shifted and was watching her.

She could feel the emperor’s gaze, burning like fire, sweeping down her smooth nose to her lips, then letting out a soft laugh.

Yun Shao’s eyes never left her face, but she recalled the first time she saw the girl, standing under a blossom tree, smiling innocently after mischief—only the corner of the lips betrayed her pride. That scene replayed from years ago.

The man from the South Sea bowed his head, a sly smile fleeting, hiding behind the floral shadows, then returning to a saintly, radiant expression adored by all.

No one noticed, except her. After all, observers always see most clearly.

Yun Shao couldn’t help but smile: “I know you’re awake.”

Yingying: !!!

She didn’t open her eyes, continuing to feign sleep. A tingling warmth crept along her neck as someone buried their face in it, lightly sniffing.

Yingying thought: What a sin! I used to “absorb” the ghost; now the ghost is absorbing me.

But then she rationalized: I absorbed the ghost for luck, the ghost absorbs me for misfortune—either way, I’m not losing out.

“Sir, I dreamed of you last night,” Yun Shao smiled tenderly. “It was a wonderful dream.”

She got up, rustling into her clothes, leaving the chamber with a spring breeze in her step.

Yingying opened her eyes, staring at the curtain, frowning. Dog emperor dreamed of her? As a ghost?

Footsteps returned; she quickly closed her eyes.

Yun Shao removed a pearl from her golden crown, placing it by Yingying’s pillow, glanced once more, and slowly left.

Once she confirmed the emperor had gone, Yingying sat up, playing with the egg-sized, priceless pearl, wondering what the dog emperor meant by this “sleep fee.”

No need to be so polite.

She tossed the pearl into a chest, sprawled on the bed, mind racing.

Soon, she turned her attention to work: “My fusion level is almost full. What will the future mission rewards be?”

Palace Strategy Assistant: “Still fusion level.”

Yingying: “Hmm?”

Palace Strategy Assistant: “It’s the fusion with the memory fragments left from your last mission failure.”

Yingying: “So, when I max out the fusion, I can know why my mission failed?”

Palace Strategy Assistant honestly: “Only some memory fragments, the most important part left from your last mission. But it should reveal why you failed.”

Seeing Yingying silent, it tried to lighten the mood: “Host, didn’t expect you to be such a romantic!”

Yingying shivered: “Romantic my foot! Her mouth never speaks the truth, all lies.”

Palace Strategy Assistant froze: “Ah… the emperor lied to you?”

Yingying’s gaze fell on the crimson embroidered gauze. After a moment, she spoke: “She said I love her, and I told her I’d return. That’s definitely false, but—”

But those little details about her were exactly right.

She pondered, subconsciously touching her lips, then recalling the emperor’s words, let her hand fall.

These small habits and quirks, unnoticed even by herself, were remembered clearly by the emperor. Past admirers might have known her better, but they wouldn’t remember six years, fresh as ever.

Thinking of the original story where the dog emperor used Xiao Qianxue as a substitute, Yingying couldn’t help but be annoyed: what use is memory if it’s the dog emperor!

During this period, Yingying’s life became busier.

The dog emperor adhered to the principle: “If Yingying doesn’t come to me, I’ll go to her,” disregarding imperial dignity. Every time Yingying avoided the Yangxin Hall, the emperor would sneak into her bed at night.

Yingying struggled for about ten days, finally agreeing, under the persuasion of Xiao Qianxue and the virtuous consort, to go to Yangxin Hall to “grind ink” for the emperor.

Inside Yangxin Hall, the lamps glowed warmly.

She ground ink lazily, soon complaining of hand pain, and sat aside reading scripts. Since the fallout, she had abandoned the sickly vase persona, embracing her indulgence openly.

After all, she was the white moonlight!

If the dog emperor’s love faded because of her antics, and he no longer saw her as pure, even better.

Yet, the more she acted out, the stranger the emperor’s gaze became.

He looked at her, seemingly ready to bind her with golden chains, to lock her forever like a canary.

Yingying felt a little excited.

But the emperor did nothing, only lowered his gaze, picked up a report, and softly said: “The envoy from Northern Xue will arrive soon. What does Yingying think?”

Yingying yawned, ignoring him.

Yun Shao continued: “The political theories you taught me…” Her lips pressed, her expression briefly cold, then she smiled: “Yingying, you’re tired. Go rest on the couch.”

Yingying bowed and turned to leave, asking: “Aren’t you worried I’ll tell others about your identity?”

The emperor being a woman—if this leaked, it would be chaos. Yet, the dog emperor didn’t seem to care.

Yun Shao’s brush trailed across her cheek, leaving a spot of vermilion by her lips. She smiled: “Do you want to tell the world, Yingying?”

Yingying: …

The dog emperor was teasing her again!

She glanced at the vermilion on the emperor’s pale cheek, said nothing, yawned, and went to her inner chamber, snuggling into the warm bed.

A few days later, the Northern Xue envoy, Peng Liguo, arrived in Shengjing.

In the original story, the emperor hosted him in the back garden for a banquet, bringing along her favored consorts. Later, they went hunting, displaying a “kill a chicken for monkeys” act.

It was in the hunting grounds that the heroine discovered Peng Liguo’s plot: Northern Xue had no intention of peace, only sending the envoy to spy for future war preparations. The peace talks and border negotiations were merely a stalling tactic.

Reviewing this stage, Yingying thought the mission was simple: from targeting the emperor to dealing with the envoy, she was very familiar.

Her life continued: reading scripts with Xiao Qianxue, hunting with the consorts, helping the virtuous consort cook.

Only at night did she have an extra routine, facing the warm, soft presence suddenly in her bed.

One day, she was hunting at Baoyun Palace with the virtuous consort when someone announced that the Northern Xue envoy had entered the palace, and His Majesty awaited in the imperial garden, inviting them to see.

Yingying recalled the original story: her bow arched like a full moon, the arrow hitting the center of the target with a quiver.

She put down her bow, tilted her head: “Consort, that’s enough for today.”

The virtuous consort shot an arrow as well: “Going?”

Yingying nodded slowly.

The consort didn’t look at her: “Then go. Continue tomorrow.”

Yingying rode leisurely: “Consort, will you come?”

The consort shook her head: “Brother A is discussing affairs with the emperor in the garden. If I go, it might cause gossip.”

The Pei family had high achievements; many were waiting to find their mistakes.

Yingying shot another arrow: “Besides, I’ve seen Northern Xue people many times. Go see, for curiosity’s sake.”

Her tone suggested it was like visiting a zoo.

In the imperial garden, State Uncle Gong Hongbo brought the envoy Peng Liguo.

The Northern Xue people looked slightly different from the people of Da Sheng. Peng Liguo was tall like a tower, blonde hair, green eyes, a full beard, and wild features.

Looking down at the ministers, shorter than him, he smirked, thinking the Da Sheng people were weak and would be easily defeated in war.

The Northern Xue king had sent him to spy, to assess Da Sheng’s strength. They had recently suffered several defeats, forcing them to use clever tactics.

Peng Liguo arrogantly overlooked them, chest out.

Upon arrival, he had already investigated the populace, finding that though wealthy, the people were idle, queuing at bookstores from dawn to buy “pocket novels.”

How unambitious, indulging in pleasure!

To understand the enemy, he even bought a book to read… oh, delightful.

He imagined the lascivious illustrations, coughing nervously: Da Sheng is doomed!

Several young officials also arrived. Gong Hongbo greeted them politely.

The leading youth was the new Deputy Minister of War, Pei Jian, elder brother of Pei Que, recently returned from the battlefield. He smiled at Gong Hongbo, then at Peng Liguo, showing a good temperament.

Since border negotiations required familiar faces, the emperor had invited these young war officials. Pei Jian held a rolled-up map in his hand.

After waiting a while, the emperor had not arrived. Gong Hongbo suggested: “Envoy, the peach blossoms in the garden are in full bloom. Shall we walk through the orchard?”

Peng Liguo agreed, following them into the orchard, marveling at Da Sheng’s beautiful scenery, thinking it would soon fall to Northern Xue, excitement rising.

He looked at the ministers, thinking these weak scholars couldn’t compare to Northern Xue men, who hunted on the plains from age ten, and by adulthood killed beasts as rites of passage.

Da Sheng people likely hadn’t even seen blood.

Soon, he saw a pool of black blood on the ground.

Peng Liguo stopped abruptly, puzzled: why would there be blood in the imperial garden? In Northern Xue, palaces had no blood!

Was it a shark-man? Punishments for palace women?

His mind raced. A chill ran down his back.

Gong Hongbo frowned, looking at the blood, puzzled by the strange occurrence, then smiled: “Must be paint spilled.”

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