I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 52

Palace Intrigue Princess:
“You said what? The whip… would be merciful? The whip… damn, it actually is!”

The whip snapped through the air, producing a terrifying whoosh, aiming at the young girl’s frail back.

A few young palace maids turned their heads, unable to watch, as if the next moment would reveal blood and torn flesh.

Palace attendant Gong Beinu stood by with the standard villainous smile: “Heh.”

Xiao Qianxue’s eyes widened in fury: “Yingying!”

Then the whip slid past Wei Ying’s left side like a swimming fish, glided over the bench, and struck the ground with a crisp sound, not even brushing the girl’s skirt.

The eunuch holding the punitive whip froze.

Everyone present was stunned; Gong Beinu’s cold smile remained, unchanged; Xiao Qianxue’s mouth dropped open, and the echo of “Yingying” lingered on her lips.

Consort Shu’s face turned pale with anger as she scolded, “Foolish servant! Strike again!”

The eunuch thought he had missed, so this time he aimed carefully at the girl’s back, lifted the whip high, and struck down heavily. The whip became a silver streak in the air—

Gong Beinu continued his cold smirk: “Heh.”

Xiao Qianxue’s eyes strained: “Yingying!”

This time the whip slid past Wei Ying’s right side, hitting the ground with a heavy thud that raised a layer of dust.

The imagined scene of blood and gore never appeared. Wei Ying lay unharmed on the bench, even yawning under the warm sunlight.

Consort Shu assumed the eunuch had deliberately aimed wrong, so she sent her own trusted palace maid, a tall and strong woman, to try.

The palace maid’s expression was serious. She nodded at Consort Shu, raised the punitive whip, and struck heavily—

Gong Beinu merely lifted the corner of his mouth: “…Heh.”

Xiao Qianxue wiped the sweat off her face with a handkerchief and mechanically called out: “Yingying.”

The whip continued to hit the ground beside them, and the girl remained completely unharmed.

Consort Shu threw down her teacup in frustration and stood up: “What in the world is going on? Are you all disobedient? Is it really so hard to hit someone?!”

The palace maids and eunuchs exchanged helpless glances. Though they couldn’t tell Consort Shu, the truth was—it really was that hard to hit the girl! No matter how they tried, it was as if the whip deliberately avoided her.

A palace maid suddenly whispered in fear, “Could it be divine protection?”

Recalling Wei Ying’s reputation in the palace, everyone’s expression changed. They dropped the whip and dared not harm this half-immortal, fearing divine wrath.

“Divine protection?” Consort Shu’s chest heaved with anger as she picked up the whip. “I don’t believe in any god protecting you!”

Wei Ying provocatively pouted, smiling at her: “Consort, aim carefully before you hit~”

Palace Intrigue Princess reminded, “Host, don’t get too arrogant, time is almost up.”

Wei Ying still pouted: “Come on, then~”

Consort Shu swung the whip high. It sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, then hit the ground near Wei Ying without harming her.

Consort Shu stared in disbelief. She felt the whip had a mind of its own, sliding away from the girl. Could it really be divine protection?

Meanwhile, Xiao Qianxue and Gong Beinu squatted nearby, each holding a piece of melon.

When the whip struck the ground, they slowly looked up, staring blankly at the scene before them.

Gong Beinu (though late, still smirked coldly): “…Heh.”
Xiao Qianxue (though not too worried, still worried a bit): “…Yingying!”

Consort Shu, hearing the voices, turned toward Xiao Qianxue and pointed at her: “You, come here.”

If one person had divine protection, it was impossible that everyone did. The whip couldn’t hit the girl!

Xiao Qianxue hesitated but went to lie on the bench and hugged it. With Wei Ying in front, she suddenly felt less afraid.

Consort Shu raised the whip again. It slid past Xiao Qianxue’s side.

“What’s going on? Is this a ghost?”

Wei Ying covered her mouth, stifling a laugh: “Maybe it’s a whip that cherishes the gentle~”

Xiao Qianxue giggled: “Good whip!”

Gong Beinu examined the punitive whip thoroughly but found nothing unusual.

“Big sister, I want to lie on the bench and try too,” she said, annoyed at Xiao Qianxue’s relaxed posture.

Xiao Qianxue frowned: “Try what? Consort Shu meant to hit me! Come on, Consort Shu, again!”

Gong Beinu pushed her aside: “What do you mean come on? Sister, hit me!” She pouted and wiggled on the bench: “Sister, try hitting me!”

Consort Shu focused on this wiggling bottom, raised the whip experimentally, and struck.

“Ahhh—!”

Screams echoed in Yanbo Hall, startling several waterfowl.

Wei Ying sighed. Time was up. The whip was no longer merciful—she couldn’t be blamed.

Gong Beinu clutched her bottom, her face pale, tears streaming down as she wailed. Consort Shu immediately dropped the whip and called the imperial doctor. Chaos erupted. Seizing the opportunity, Wei Ying grabbed Xiao Qianxue’s hand and hurriedly escaped.

They reached the pavilion in the middle of Ximo Lake and exchanged a glance, bursting into carefree laughter.

Xiao Qianxue tilted her head: “Yingying, why doesn’t the whip hit us, only her?”

Wei Ying shrugged innocently: “How would I know?”

Xiao Qianxue leaned closer: “Did you do something to the whip?”

Wei Ying widened her eyes and feigned innocence: “How would Yingying know? How could Yingying have bad intentions?”

Xiao Qianxue smiled, trying to feel the invisible protective aura around Wei Ying but couldn’t detect it. She leaned on the railing, watching the lotus-filled pond. Then she said: “The Emperor caught a cold. I wonder if it’s serious. Should we go see him?”

Wei Ying: “Let’s~”

Xiao Qianxue thought: “Better to prepare medicine for him first,” then turned to the girl: “But why was His Majesty soaking wet when he returned last night? What did you do?”

Wei Ying: “Hmm… I wanted to give him some… intimate enjoyment.”

Xiao Qianxue’s pupils dilated, shocked: “You… you didn’t—”

Way too sudden!

Although they were both the Emperor’s women…

Wei Ying leaned on the railing, fingers curling slightly, then added: “So I let him have close contact with water and fish.”

Xiao Qianxue froze, finally realizing what she meant, inhaling sharply: “Yingying, aren’t you afraid the Emperor will be angry?”

This was the Emperor—a fierce, tyrannical ruler!

Wei Ying was slightly stunned: “Really fierce?”

Xiao Qianxue: “Super fierce!”

Wei Ying recalled the Emperor tugging her sleeve last night and smiled lightly, then pressed her lips together and corrected Xiao Qianxue: “Not fierce—he seems quite nice.”

Xiao Qianxue fell silent for a moment, realizing the Emperor’s image indeed differed from popular rumors. Still, in front of outsiders, he was violent and unpredictable.

“Yingying,” she slowly said, “don’t you understand? The Emperor is just very fond of you.”

Wei Ying stared at the lotus pond, her posture still, hands resting on the railing, eyes flickering.

A gentle breeze blew over the pond, sunlight fell on her face, lighting her downy cheeks in gold. Her eyelashes twitched slightly.

Xiao Qianxue watched, enchanted. After a long moment, she whispered: “The Emperor really likes you.”

Wei Ying pressed her lips together: “Many people like me.”

But she didn’t need to accept all of them.

Xiao Qianxue smiled, holding her hand: “Exactly! I like you too! You’re so good, who wouldn’t like you? Let’s go prepare medicine for the Emperor—he’ll be so happy.”

Wei Ying followed, thinking of her many past lives.

As the “beloved” white moonlight, she had been cherished, the center of attention. Those loves were passionate and sincere, yet none moved her.

She was like the delicate princess in a fairy tale: no matter how many feather mattresses she lay upon, she could still feel the tiny pea of love, painfully inescapable.

“The Emperor likes you too,” Wei Ying said absently.

Xiao Qianxue tilted her head, blushing, muttering: “After entering the palace, I realized he isn’t actually violent—he’s truly a capable, wise young ruler!”

Wei Ying lowered her eyes, continuing to stroke her, focused on pampering her.

Xiao Qianxue murmured: “I don’t know why everyone says the Emperor killed his father… he’s actually so nice.”

Wei Ying paused: “Killed his father?”

Xiao Qianxue looked around, then whispered: “You didn’t know? The late emperor died mysteriously—healthy one moment, dead the next. My father, a minor official in Yunzhou, secretly told my mother… rumors said it was the Emperor… Later the people started believing it too.”

Wei Ying: “But the Emperor never punished anyone for such disrespect.”

Xiao Qianxue realized this and nodded quickly: “Exactly! The Emperor is good! Everyone misunderstands him. Let’s prepare medicine to help him recover!”

They arrived at the imperial doctor’s place, confirmed the Emperor’s illness was not serious, and took charge of preparing the medicine. Aromatic steam rose from the purple clay pot.

Wei Ying wrinkled her face at the bitterness, noticing Xiao Qianxue’s same expression. She opened the window for fresh air, while she continued preparing the medicine.

The bitter fumes swirled in the room. Wei Ying felt like she might turn into a bitter gourd.

After a while, the medicine was ready—dark, glossy, poured into a bowl. She burned her hand slightly while serving it, leaving a red mark.

Wei Ying hissed, covered the burn with her sleeve, and, along with Xiao Qianxue, brought the medicine to the main hall. To see the Emperor’s struggling expression, she considered it revenge for being forced to drink bitter medicine herself. A little pain was nothing!

The main hall doors were closed. Palace servants entered to deliver a message. After a while, Eunuch Fushou came out, saying the Emperor would be expecting Xiao Qianxue with the medicine.

Xiao Qianxue asked: “What about Yingying?”

Fushou smiled at them: “Ying beauty should rest earlier.”

Wei Ying watched them enter the hall. She didn’t return to Yanbo Hall to rest but went to the training grounds, mounted a horse, and rode two laps.

Grass and dirt mixed under the hooves, the vast sky above, wind sweeping clouds away.

She drew her bow, shooting arrows until the targets were shredded like hedgehogs, her quiver empty, then returned to her palace.

Outside Yanbo Hall, Xiao Qianxue leaned on the railing. Seeing her, she ran over, lifting her skirt high:

“Yingying!” The girl hugged her arm: “You’re back! I thought you’d wait in Yanbo Hall. It’s so hot outside—did you ride too? Aren’t you usually afraid of heat?”

Wei Ying tapped her forehead with a smile: “Hot… let’s go lie down.”

Xiao Qianxue led her to a room with chilled water and offered a bowl of snow-infused plum wine: “Drink to cool down.”

Wei Ying lowered her head to drink. Xiao Qianxue watched her, hesitating to speak.

“Something on your mind?” Wei Ying asked.

Xiao Qianxue clutched her chest. The girl’s face was flushed from exercise, forehead dotted with sweat, eyes bright as morning stars.

“…Sssslurp.”

Wei Ying slapped her forehead, exasperated: “What is it? Just say it.”

Xiao Qianxue wrung her handkerchief: “Actually, the Emperor doesn’t not want to see you!”

Wei Ying raised an eyebrow, put down the cup, and looked at her leisurely.

Xiao Qianxue tugged her sleeve, blushing: “The Emperor was worried about passing his illness to you. Your health isn’t strong; what if you caught a cold?”

Wei Ying continued to watch her.

Xiao Qianxue kept tugging her sleeve, bashfully: “So, the Emperor cares about you!”

Wei Ying tilted her head: “Did the Emperor make you say that?”

Xiao Qianxue’s eyes widened: “How did you know? No, I said it because I felt it!”

Wei Ying pinched her face, smiling as her eyebrows curved.

This silly girl really can’t lie.

Wei Ying thought: something’s off—did the Emperor say anything to her when she delivered the medicine? Brainwash or seduction?

Xiao Qianxue, dizzy from the gentle stroking, insisted on defending the Emperor: “He really cares about you! Ah… not because he told me, it’s my own words. He just didn’t want you to catch a cold!”

Wei Ying said nothing, then smiled: “I understand.”

Xiao Qianxue bit her lip, worried: “I wonder how Consort Jieyu is now.”

Wei Ying recalled when Consort Shu hit Gong Beinu—it was only a test. Though the whip was powerful, one strike wasn’t enough to seriously injure her.

“Shall we visit her tomorrow?” Wei Ying suggested, tilting her head.

Xiao Qianxue clapped: “Yes, yes!”

Wei Ying nodded, silently applauding herself for spreading love and peace in the summer resort.

Every time she thought of her efforts, she was moved to tears. Gong Beinu, seeing them so forgiving and benevolent, might be so happy that she’d jump out of bed.

Wei Ying: “I’m truly a good person!”

Xiao Qianxue: “You really are!”

The next day was bright and clear—perfect for visiting the sick.

They dressed up in matching silver-red light gauze dresses, hair elegantly done with tassel hairpins.

Xiao Qianxue looked in the mirror: “Is this too flashy for a visit?”

Wei Ying walked out with a round fan, interrupting: “We want Consort Jieyu to feel the summer air, to see the beauty of the season even while bedridden.”

She waved the fan, golden pendants swaying, radiant and glorious: “Seeing us like this will inspire her to dress beautifully too, helping her recover faster.”

“We’re doing a good deed!”

Xiao Qianxue thought for a moment, then nodded, honestly surrendering to beauty: “Yingying is right!”

The great beauty was always right!

Hand in hand, with the fan, green wax beads and red jewels carrying chilled fruit, they headed to Qingdan Zhai to visit Gong Beinu.

As they exited Yanbo Hall, Fushou approached.

Xiao Qianxue greeted happily: “Eunuch, why are you here?”

Fushou, seeing the two beauties, felt the surrounding greenery dull. He bowed: the Emperor had rewarded them for delivering the medicine yesterday, granting them gifts.

Behind him, a young eunuch carried two boxes of gold and jade jewelry into the hall.

Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue thanked him. Fushou, however, lingered, pulling Wei Ying aside and presenting a scroll: “This is a gift from the Emperor to you.”

Wei Ying opened it and blushed—it was a moonlit boating painting.

The scene depicted that night: the people on the boat were Wei Ying and the Emperor, ink lotus splashing, fireflies in the night sky.

Xiao Qianxue: “Wow, what painting is this?”

Fushou: “The Emperor painted it for you, Beauty Ying.”

Xiao Qianxue: “Wow, how did he paint it?”

Fushou: “The night before, soaked, he bathed then painted all night, refusing rest. He caught a cold but continued to finish it, wanting to give it to you.”

Xiao Qianxue clutched her chest, tears welling: “So touching.”

Wei Ying lowered her eyes, unrolling the scroll further. At the end, a poem read:

“You roam east, east again, how can you chase the west wind?
May I be the stars, you the moon, shining together night by night.”

Xiao Qianxue read it aloud: “This seems like a love poem?”

Fushou: “Though ancient, it perfectly reflects the Emperor’s heart.”

Xiao Qianxue: “So moving.”

Fushou: “Indeed.”

They began reciting poetry together:

“Willing to be mandarin ducks, not envying immortals!”
“Wasted away for her love!”
“When shall we meet?”
“This night is too tender!”

…

Wei Ying couldn’t stand their recitation, pressing pause: “Stop—”

They looked sincerely at her.

Wei Ying thought: “Should I also give the Emperor something in return?”

Xiao Qianxue’s eyes lit up: “Yes! Considering his heart, we must!”

Wei Ying returned to Yanbo Hall, brought a small silk-wrapped box, and handed it to Fushou:

“This is a personal item, the Emperor will like it.”

Fushou happily received it, thinking anything from her would be cherished. He watched the two women leave hand in hand, tears in his eyes, then returned to present the gift to the Emperor.

“Did she give this to me?” The Emperor, still weak, jumped from bed, grabbed the silk box, and opened it eagerly.

The contents fell—the box held a Buddhist scripture.

Fushou broke into a cold sweat. The Emperor had missed the ‘rare bloom,’ but Beauty Ying had uprooted the iron tree entirely.

The Emperor steadied himself, carefully placed the scripture back

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