I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 53

Naturally, a grand Buddhist temple could not be demolished.

Yet the emperor’s lingering anger had not subsided. When he saw the memorial submitted by Zhang requesting funds to repair the palace’s Buddhist hall, he did not hesitate—he picked up his brush and drew a large “X” on it.

Fushou wanted to speak but hesitated.

The emperor asked, “What is it?”

Fushou whispered, “This is from the Empress Dowager…”

The emperor sneered, “Hmph.”

So Fushou quietly put the memorial away and kept silent to save his life. Before leaving, he mentioned to the emperor that he had seen Wei Ying and her companion heading toward Qingdan Studio.

The emperor looked up from his memorials, “Qingdan Studio?”

Fushou replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. I was afraid that the ladies might run into trouble there.”

The emperor pressed his fingers to his brow, thought for a while, and softly asked, “Who lives in Qingdan Studio?”

Fushou paused for a moment. Truly, His Majesty hasn’t noticed this until now? he thought. Then he answered honestly, “It is Consort Shu and the Jieyu Consort.”

The emperor set down his vermilion brush, frowning slightly.

Meanwhile, Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue had already arrived at Qingdan Studio, where the palace sisters lived.

Qingdan Studio was a two-story pavilion near the main hall, with ornate water pavilions, fragrant corridors, and layered terraces. Passing through a lotus-scented pond and several moon gates with glazed walls, one finally saw this exquisite, luxurious small building.

Inside, Consort Shu was feeding Gong Beinu watermelon, using a small silver hairpin to hold a piece and guide it to her younger sister’s mouth.

Gong Beinu chewed vigorously, “Hm-chi, hm-chi.”

Consort Shu sighed silently.

Gong Beinu, eating and fuming simultaneously, said, “Sister, I knew they had witchcraft, magic! Wuwu, hm-chi, what should we do, wuwu… hm-chi.”

Consort Shu sighed again. Today’s events had made her start questioning whether some supernatural forces truly existed—otherwise, why would the whip always miss everyone else but hit her little sister perfectly? She lowered her gaze, focusing on feeding the melon, and finally said, “Don’t worry. I’ve asked our aunt to invite a powerful master. Even if she has some kind of magic, it won’t cause trouble.”

Gong Beinu twisted happily—but immediately pulled at her wound. Her backside burned painfully. She gritted her teeth and cried, “Sister! You’re too cruel!”

Consort Shu paused her hand, saying, “You said you wanted to use the threatening whip.”

“…”

“And you let me hit you.”

“…Never heard of such a strange request before.”

Gong Beinu buried her face in the pillow, shouting in indignation, “Sister!”

A young palace maid approached, informing them that Beauty Ying and Beauty Xiao had come to visit.

Gong Beinu twisted in her pillow, forehead glistening with sweat, flushed, and squealed, “They dare to come? Sister, don’t go out! I don’t want to see them! Ah ah ah, I won’t see them!”

Consort Shu smiled and asked the maid to relay a message: she would come out shortly.

Gong Beinu: “Mm-hmm, I won’t see them, won’t see them!”

Consort Shu fed her a small piece of melon and said, “You don’t get to see them—just let them enjoy the sun for a while.”

Gong Beinu looked at the scorching sun outside and instantly brightened, “Yay!”

The summer sun was blazing, the heat like an oven, scorching the grass and trees.

Xiao Qianxue fanned herself, ready to give up, but a few palace maids blocked their path at the Moon Gate, not letting them leave.

“Where’s Consort Shu? Why hasn’t she come out?” Xiao Qianxue asked.

A maid smiled, “The Consort is busy. Please wait a moment, ladies.”

In this scorching summer, even a “moment” felt deadly. Wei Ying realized Consort Shu wouldn’t appear—she recognized this punishment method from before, back at Baoyun Palace.

Xiao Qianxue muttered, “If it’s not the Consort, why should we wait?”

Wei Ying agreed, and when they turned to leave, the maids stopped them. Wei Ying noticed a flash of bright yellow.

She froze.

The emperor had arrived in a hurry, standing under the blazing sun. His hair was hastily bound with a golden hairpin, a few strands falling around his face. Perhaps from a lingering cold or haste, his face was unusually flushed, and his watery eyes looked straight at her.

Wei Ying’s heart skipped a beat. “Your Majesty?”

Xiao Qianxue happily stepped forward, “What brings Your Majesty here?”

Yun Shao covered her mouth and coughed lightly, glancing around as if seeking an excuse. After a while, she said, “I heard that the Jieyu Consort is unwell. I came to check on her,” she smiled slowly at Wei Ying, “What a coincidence.”

Wei Ying also smiled, “Unfortunately, the Consort is busy and cannot meet us.”

Yun Shao nodded casually, “What a pity. Well… my beloved, it’s hot. The Yanbo Hall is far from here. Rather than wait for another day, shall we go to Ximo Lake to cool off?”

Wei Ying hesitated slightly, but Xiao Qianxue answered first, “Yes, yes!”

The palace maids had secretly run inside to inform Consort Shu.

Inside Qingdan Studio, Gong Beinu and Consort Shu were happily enjoying melon, imagining Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue suffering in the scorching sun, perhaps fainting from heatstroke.

When they heard the emperor arriving with the two visitors, they were stunned.

Consort Shu quickly wiped her hands and ran out to intercept the emperor. “Your Majesty,” she panted, sweat on her forehead, “why are you here?”

The emperor glanced at her, “Weren’t you busy?”

Consort Shu, flustered, pulled her handkerchief and said, “Well… I’ve finished now. Your Majesty, please come in and rest. My younger sister often says she misses Your Majesty.” She took a few steps and said to Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue, “Ladies, please come in. Don’t get sunburned.”

Xiao Qianxue made a face at Wei Ying and followed the emperor into Qingdan Studio.

Every room had ice jars, slowly melting and cooling the summer heat.

With the emperor’s presence, the two visitors enjoyed VIP treatment, sipping chilled plum juice and relaxing comfortably.

Consort Shu ignored them, speaking only with the emperor. “Your Majesty came to see your sister?” she whispered.

Yun Shao’s fingers lightly tapped the table, eyes lingering on Wei Ying. When she saw Wei Ying rub her stomach after drinking the plum juice, she smiled softly.

Consort Shu realized the emperor’s unusual tenderness, marveling at his youthful beauty and gentle smile.

Inside Qingdan Studio, Gong Beinu reached for a piece of melon but couldn’t move and accidentally hurt her wound. “Wuwu, it’s all your fault, those fox spirits!”

A silver hairpin was used to feed her melon, and she looked up at the beautiful hand, noticing the pale, long arm beneath a silken garment.

The beauty smiled, bending her eyes, and gently asked, “Do you want more?”

Gong Beinu nodded, startled. “How did you get in here?”

Wei Ying smiled, “Just came to see you.”

Gong Beinu, furious, felt her pain intensify and threw the melon.

Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue dodged deftly.

Gong Beinu tried to get up, wincing from pain, but fell again, crying, “You’re deliberately trying to annoy me! I’m not done with you!”

Wei Ying’s lips twitched. She thought, How did I get dragged into this again?

Consort Shu rushed in, ensuring Gong Beinu’s wound was safe before taking the visitors out, leaving Gong Beinu buried in her pillow, crying.

Gong Beinu: “Wuwu… damn it!”

She paused, then slowly said, “Damn it? Hey? I can speak!”

Meanwhile, Wei Ying did not leave Qingdan Studio to go to the lake, preferring the palace’s cool interior.

She visited the emperor’s bedchamber, noticing a pile of memorials. Even when ill, the emperor has to review these… is this life for humans?

Yun Shao noticed her gaze and hurriedly swept the papers aside, explaining, “I came out in a rush and didn’t tidy up.”

Wei Ying gently placed a hand on a memorial.

Yun Shao looked up, meeting Wei Ying’s smile.

Wei Ying said, “Let palace staff handle these trivial matters. Your Majesty should rest more, especially if you’re unwell.”

Yun Shao reluctantly let go, lingering on the corner Wei Ying had touched, and nodded, “You’re right.”

Wei Ying suggested, “Shall we lie on the bed, or sit outside and have a cooling drink?”

The emperor chose to sit outside, holding the iced dessert carefully. Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue shared a plate of sweet pastries, enjoying the cool treat like ancient ice cream.

As the sun set, the oppressive heat faded. Wei Ying released Xiao Qianxue’s hand. They each wiped sweat from their palms and walked apart.

Wei Ying noted that the emperor usually held her sleeve, never hand-in-hand. If he were here, he wouldn’t have let go.

…

Consort Shu’s sisters were proactive. That night, Gong Beinu and Consort Shu discussed Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue’s strange powers—surely some supernatural ability caused their previous incidents. A master had to be summoned to investigate.

A few days later, while Wei Ying fished by the lake, footsteps approached, and she was surrounded by palace staff again—larger in number this time, including a Taoist priest.

The Taoist held a peachwood sword, a red cloth-covered altar behind him with folded talismans.

Wei Ying, confused, asked Gong Beinu, “Is your backside better?”

Gong Beinu blushed furiously, stamping her foot, “Mind your own business!”

Wei Ying laughed, “I was just asking—no desire to see anything else.”

Gong Beinu tried to attack her but was restrained by Consort Shu.

Consort Shu whispered, “Don’t forget the purpose of our visit.”

Gong Beinu remembered, biting her lip, and glared at Wei Ying, “Let’s see how long you can pull tricks! Where’s Xiao Qianxue?”

Wei Ying answered, “She went to the hunting grounds. Did the Jieyu Consort need her?”

Gong Beinu thought, “No rush. First, deal with you—what if you two team up?”

“Monsters?” Wei Ying raised an eyebrow, laughing.

Gong Beinu struck a proud pose like a peacock, “Hah! You always use magic to make me say strange things! That’s why we brought a master. Scared?”

Wei Ying opened her mouth, “So scared…” She bowed slightly, “I’m afraid that the New Year’s firecrackers are too loud for you to hear my blessings; afraid that the Chinese New Year’s fireworks are too noisy for you to receive my greetings. So I wish everyone an early Happy New Year! May you be healthy and everything go well!”

The Taoist priest stepped back, trembling, staring at her.

Gong Beinu and Consort Shu were stunned.

The Taoist declared, “…This girl’s magic is profound!”

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