I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 51

Xiao Qianxue was stunned: “What kind of training is this?!”

Wei Ying was also shocked: “Damn it, what the hell is she doing? This is definitely not something I taught!”

The Emperor walked against the light, loose strands of hair brushing her cheeks, her face still showing the faint redness of just waking up. Every step she took was steady, slow, and undeniably authoritative. She fixed her gaze on Wei Ying, as if it had been a long time, yet in an instant, she arrived before her. Hesitating for a moment, she whispered, “Long time no see.”

Wei Ying: …Hello? What’s the matter?

It had only been a few days—how was that a “long time”? Did she live in a different calendar where one day equals three autumns?

Xiao Qianxue nodded repeatedly: “Yes, it’s been a while! Your Majesty, did you come to see Yingying?”

Yun Shao then tilted her head slightly to glance at Xiao Qianxue, quickly withdrawing, her eyes remaining fixed on Wei Ying. “Are you two heading back to Yanbo Hall?”

Xiao Qianxue tried to keep the mood lively: “Yes, we’re going to have a meal together. Yingying cooks fish really well! Your Majesty, haven’t you eaten yet? Come join us.”

When Yun Shao heard that Wei Ying cooked, her eyes lit up, and a faint smile curved on her lips as she nodded lightly.

Xiao Qianxue happily grabbed Wei Ying’s hand and headed into the hall, with Yun Shao obediently following behind, watching Wei Ying’s back as if it were second nature, without a word.

Suddenly, Xiao Qianxue seemed to remember something and turned around: “Your Majesty, shouldn’t you walk ahead?”

Yun Shao frowned: “Hmm?”

Xiao Qianxue whispered: “Your Majesty, isn’t it customary for you to walk in front?”

Yun Shao paused for a moment, then smiled: “No need to be particular.”

Xiao Qianxue and Wei Ying whispered to each other: “The Emperor is so nice!” and happily returned to Yanbo Hall together. Once back, they immediately shoved Wei Ying into the kitchen to cook the fish.

Seeing her overly enthusiastic younger sister, Wei Ying could only sigh helplessly, roll up her sleeves, and start cooking. By the time she finished, the fish was steamed and ready; she only needed to season it before serving.

She carried the fish out, and the other two women obediently sat at the table like schoolgirls waiting for a meal.

Xiao Qianxue sniffed and praised: “It smells amazing! Yingying, you’re amazing!”

The Emperor only looked at her, eyes curving slightly in a smile.

The steamed sea bass was fresh and fragrant, topped with snow-white scallions and bright red carrot shreds.

Xiao Qianxue, meanwhile, busily ate while showering praise. Halfway through, she noticed the atmosphere was off—both the Emperor and Yingying hadn’t touched their chopsticks.

She blinked: “Why aren’t you eating?”

Wei Ying lowered her eyes: “I’m eating.”

Only after Wei Ying moved her chopsticks did the Emperor follow suit.

After finishing the meal, Wei Ying looked at the Emperor, who had obediently set down his chopsticks, and thought: Did this dog Emperor come all this way just for a meal? She asked, “Your Majesty, are you full?”

Yun Shao nodded, hands resting on her knees: “Yes, I’m full.” After a pause, she added: “Yingying cooks fish very well… it tastes even better than before.”

Xiao Qianxue’s eyes widened: “Yingying, you’ve cooked for the Emperor before?”

Wei Ying didn’t answer. Yun Shao spoke first: “Yes, Yingying has personally cooked many dishes for me.” She emphasized each word carefully, as if asserting her claim: “Many dishes.”

Xiao Qianxue: “Wow, I’m so jealous!”

Yun Shao’s smile deepened, gentle and tender.

Xiao Qianxue thought about it, still puzzled how Wei Ying had secretly found time to cook for the Emperor. When they were in Yulu Hall, they often visited Consort Xian for meals and drinks, and Wei Ying had never cooked in front of them. They were almost always together, leaving little time for private moments. Xiao Qianxue couldn’t imagine when Yingying found time to see the Emperor.

Her gaze flicked over them, sensing a subtle atmosphere. She yawned, “Ah, I’m so sleepy, I want to rest. Your Majesty, you can stay with Ying… uh, Yingying, stay with the Emperor!”

With that, she dashed off, faster than a rabbit.

Wei Ying pinched her forehead, letting out a soft sigh.

Since forming their sworn sisterhood, the heroine had become even bolder in “selling out” her teammates.

Yun Shao suddenly asked: “Reluctant to let her go?”

Wei Ying put on a stern face: “Do you have business with me, Your Majesty?”

Her once sour tone softened, hands clutching her sleeves, lowering her head. She looked at Wei Ying, then quickly averted her gaze and gently said: “Yingying, would you… accompany me to Ximo Lake?”

Wei Ying answered decisively: “I won’t.”

The Emperor trembled slightly, as if struck by a heavy blow. After a long moment, she lifted her gaze, lips pale, and said: “You don’t want to be Empress anymore?”

Wei Ying paused for two seconds, then stood, stretching out her hand: “Let’s go then—storm through Jiuzhou together!”

The Emperor fell silent, probably not expecting her to follow her heart so freely.

She stared at the girl’s pale hand, hesitated, and then grabbed her sleeve.

Wei Ying: ???

Though she didn’t understand the Emperor’s habit of grabbing sleeves, it wasn’t a big deal. She guided the Emperor toward Ximo Lake, passing winding corridors and small pavilions until they arrived at a shimmering lotus pond.

Dusk had nearly fallen; the last warmth of summer was dispersed by a gentle breeze. The lotus flowers stood tall and elegant in the water.

Yun Shao let go of Wei Ying’s sleeve, jumped onto a boat by the lake, and extended her hand: “Come aboard.”

Wei Ying followed, and their fingers brushed. The Emperor’s scent of musk mingled with the lotus breeze. Wei Ying’s body wobbled as the boat rocked, but she was steadied by the Emperor.

She sat at the bow, eyes drinking in the lake and flowers, with elegant pavilions in sight.

A few startled waterfowl flew from the lotus pond into the blue sky.

Yun Shao paddled through the pond, cutting through the lotus blossoms, leaving long ripples in the water.

Wei Ying removed her shoes, rolled up her pants, and dipped her feet into the green water. Lying back on the boat, hands behind her head, she looked at the clouds.

Stars gradually appeared as twilight deepened, forming a magnificent Milky Way.

She squinted, a rare sense of peace washing over her. Yun Shao lay beside her, eyes fixed on her intently.

Fireflies emerged from the lotus flowers, swirling around.

Yun Shao moved her hand slowly, clutching Wei Ying’s sleeve gently. She closed her eyes for a long moment, then opened them and said softly: “Yingying, the place we lived before had a lake like this. I fell in once, and you saved me, catching a cold yourself… I ran to ask for medicine…”

She recounted the story repeatedly, a struggle in her eyes transforming into a faint smile.

“Thank you for saving me,” she said again.

Wei Ying waved her hand: “Don’t mention it.”

Saving people was normal; she had done it for many protagonists before, though they never had a chance to thank her. She would simply vanish in an instant.

Yun Shao pressed closer.

Wei Ying, feeling a little ticklish, subtly withdrew her sleeve from the Emperor’s hand.

The Emperor leaned over, nose brushing her face, intoxicating scent mingling with the lotus-scented breeze.

At that moment, the Palace Intrigue Spirit issued a mission:

Mission: Replace the heroine in completing the Emperor’s “intimate encounter” scene.
Reward: +10 memory fusion (memory fragment +1), +1 lottery chance (guaranteed blue card).

Wei Ying stiffened, frowning.

The Palace Intrigue Spirit shouted in her mind: “Host! Charge! Go now!”

Wei Ying hesitated: which “go” was this referring to? She met the Emperor’s dark eyes.

Palace Intrigue Spirit: “Yes! Complete the heroine’s scene!”

Wei Ying sighed: “No way.”

The Emperor remained close, moonlight highlighting her delicate face.

Palace Intrigue Spirit: “Check out the reward! Don’t you want to know how previous missions failed?”

Wei Ying calmly replied: “Not curious, no interest, won’t do it.”

Palace Intrigue Spirit: “…For everyone’s sake, complete the mission!”

Wei Ying: “Even if I die, I won’t perform any intimate scene with the dog Emperor.”

“Reward: +100 points, deal?”

“Deal, put it in writing.”

The Emperor’s obedient, beautiful, occasionally tsundere demeanor perfectly matched Wei Ying’s taste. She found herself secretly thinking that if she were to like anyone, it would likely be someone like the Emperor.

Yun Shao blushed from the touch of Wei Ying’s fingers, froze for a moment, then released her and jumped into the water, startling several fireflies, ripples scattering in the moonlight.

Wei Ying forgot the Emperor’s status, laughing at her dazed expression.

The Emperor, soaked, coughed a few times on the way back: “Yingying… can I come find you again?”

Wei Ying sighed: “Your Majesty, you are the Emperor, after all.”

Yun Shao’s face flushed, and she stood still, watching Wei Ying disappear into the hall before slowly turning away.

That night, back at Yanbo Hall, Wei Ying looked at her fingers and smiled absentmindedly. The night’s “intimate encounter” hadn’t been so bad.

After receiving her memory fusion reward, Wei Ying dreamed that night.

In the dream, she lay in bed, throat sore, head heavy. She touched her forehead—burning hot.

A dim lamp flickered on the bedside table, shadows dancing on the white walls.

She turned her head slightly, seeing a girl outside the door, drenched in rain, watching silently like a ghost.

On the table was a bowl of bitter medicine.

Wei Ying tried to call out, but no sound came. Finally, she shouted once and woke up in a sweat.

Seeing the morning light, she drank some cool tea and realized: the Emperor had really cared for her. He had once sought medicine for her when she was sick.

Perhaps she could be a little gentler next time she kicked him into the water for an “intimate encounter.”

But the next day at noon, Consort Shu arrived at Yanbo Hall with palace maids, furious: “What did you do with His Majesty last night?”

Wei Ying: “Of course… we did something fun~”

Xiao Qianxue giggled, covering her mouth.

Consort Shu slammed her teacup on the table, the blue porcelain clinking against the wood.

Wei Ying frowned, sensing trouble.

The palace maids scolded: “You dare laugh? His Majesty returned soaked from Yanbo Hall. Who knows what you were doing—did you fall into the fish pond?”

Consort Shu coughed, signaling the maid to be quiet.

The maid muttered: “If you don’t punish them, they’ll keep seducing the Emperor…”

Consort Shu pulled her away to silence her.

Wei Ying protected Xiao Qianxue: “Qianxue slept early last night; the palace maids can vouch. If anyone is punished, it should be me.”

Xiao Qianxue teared up: “No, if punished, it’s together!”

Wei Ying: “Good little sister!”

Xiao Qianxue: “Good elder sister!”

They held hands, eyes brimming with tears.

Consort Shu sighed: “Fine, punish them together. Who goes first?”

Wei Ying dragged Xiao Qianxue to the back, patted her shoulder, smiling: “Don’t worry.” Then stepped forward to face a eunuch holding a killing whip—made of iron with sharp spikes, far harsher than bamboo or thorn whips, used for the worst criminals.

Wei Ying estimated that one strike would confine her to bed for days.

Xiao Qianxue recognized the whip and swore, trying to stop the eunuch, but was restrained.

Consort Shu smiled coldly: “Lie down obediently and take your punishment.”

Wei Ying looked at her, then obediently lay on the bench, hands clutching it, calling to the system: “Exchange a card.”

System: “Sure, which one?”

Wei Ying used points to exchange for Tender Care.

Tender Care: The target feels caring, protective, and unwilling to harm, lasting three minutes.

The Palace Intrigue Spirit looked at the situation, then asked: “Use it on Consort Shu?”

Wei Ying: “No, use it on the whip.”

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