I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 56
The onlookers: !!!
Their gazes toward Wei Ying shifted from reverence to intense admiration. If it weren’t for Consort Shu being present, they might have knelt down and performed a full ritual of worship.
The card time lasted only ten seconds. The plump monk gradually came to his senses, his mouth agape, staring at Wei Ying in shock.
Master Zhang scolded: “Are you blind? She’s a true immortal descended to the mortal realm!”
The plump monk realized that denying what he had just said would ruin his reputation. It would be better to simply admit it, so he slyly turned to bicker with Master Zhang: “Amitabha, a monk does not tell lies. This devotee is clearly the reincarnation of the Buddha. Master Zhang, do not speak recklessly.”
Then, one brandishing an ebony sword and the other holding a monk’s staff, they began fighting in the garden. Chaos erupted instantly, and the palace servants all hid behind Wei Ying.
Even Gong Beinu pulled her older sister behind Wei Ying, peeking out with a small head. Seeing the monk and master cursing and fighting, she quickly shrank her head back and said to Consort Shu, “Sister, don’t be afraid, Ying Ying will protect us!”
Consort Shu breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest, and then suddenly realized something was off. She widened her eyes: “What did you say?”
Gong Beinu: “Ying Ying will protect us!”
Consort Shu: “Who will protect us?”
Gong Beinu’s voice lowered, clutching her clothes, muttering: “Ying Ying…”
“Hm?”
“Duan Wei Ying!”
Hearing her voice, Wei Ying turned back and smiled at her. Gong Beinu squatted on the ground, tilting her little face up, and also smiled brightly, which quickly faded under Consort Shu’s furious gaze.
Consort Shu: “I knew you couldn’t be relied upon.”
Wei Ying, like a diligent mother hen, stretched her hands out to shield the little chicks behind her. She approached the two bickering men and called out, “Hey.”
The monk and master looked back at her.
Wei Ying spread her hands: “Multiple responsibilities, but I’m not tired.”
Master Zhang leaned back, sighing in admiration: “As expected of you!”
Wei Ying waved her hand: “You two should continue your fight outside; otherwise, the guards will come in to arrest you.”
Master Zhang: “Yes, True Immortal, we obey!”
The plump monk simultaneously said: “Yes, Venerable One, we obey!”
The two exchanged a murderous glance, agreeing to continue their battle outside, cursing and cursing as they left.
Wei Ying folded her arms, glancing at Consort Shu and her sister. She had no idea where they had found these two entertainers; they were likely fake monks from the streets, the kind who reveal their tattooed arms once they take off the robe.
She smiled: “It’s nothing.”
The palace servants surged forward, their eyes full of admiration: “Thank you, Your Highness!”
Gong Beinu still squatted on the ground, tilting her little face. Viewed from this angle, the young girl stood against the light under the tree, dust particles shimmering around her, the sky a pure blue, and white clouds piled behind her like snow.
She slowly approached, reaching out her hand with a smile: “Aren’t your legs numb? Get up.”
Gong Beinu froze, raising her hand as if to grab hers, but halfway there, it was gently pushed away.
Consort Shu angrily picked up her foolish younger sister and said to Wei Ying, “It’s my mistake for being deceived by those two swindlers; Ying Beauty need not take it to heart. They are just two conmen.”
Wei Ying smiled, stopping them: “Your Highness, didn’t you agree that once my innocence is proven, you would apologize?”
Consort Shu frowned, probably not expecting her to have the courage to demand an apology. Gong Beinu, still watching, said excitedly, “Yes, sister, she did prove she’s not a demon!”
Consort Shu ignored her sister, her smile sharp: “Did I ever say that?”
Before Wei Ying could respond, Gong Beinu hurriedly added: “Yes, yes, sister, you did! I remember clearly, my memory is excellent.”
Consort Shu: …
Wei Ying smiled.
Consort Shu noticed the gazes of the surrounding palace servants, blushed, and reluctantly muttered an apology to Wei Ying before quickly leaving with Gong Beinu.
Wei Ying leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching them leave.
A line of people passed by. She clapped her hands and prepared to leave when she bumped into a tall palace maid coming back to her.
Wei Ying recognized her—she was the one wielding the whip that day, likely a favorite of Consort Shu.
The palace maid nervously clasped her hands: “Ying Beauty, that day… that day’s incident…”
Wei Ying smiled: “I don’t mind.”
The palace maid breathed a sigh of relief. She had been afraid that the half-immortal might remember the execution attempt and secretly curse her. After hearing the plump monk, she feared even more—challenging a Venerable One would be a grave sin!
“Ugh,” she almost knelt at Wei Ying’s feet: “You are truly magnanimous! I will burn incense for you every day in the future.”
Wei Ying: “…That won’t be necessary.”
Just hearing this reminded her that there was an altar in her room, used nightly to burn incense for the suction device. Now that it hadn’t been used for a while, she wondered if it had gathered dust. Perhaps it should be removed.
The summer heat dissipated, and day by day the air grew cool. The emperor led his consorts back from the summer palace to the main palace.
This time, as usual, Wei Ying wanted to board the large carriage, but Fushou stopped her and guided her to a vermilion carriage up front: “Your Highness, you may sit here.”
Wei Ying pushed open the door. Yun Shao sat inside, tilting her head and smiling at her.
The carriage wheels slowly turned, heading toward Shengjing. The wooden floorboard beneath Wei Ying vibrated slightly, so she bent and entered the carriage, sitting diagonally from the emperor.
Yun Shao took out a tray of pre-prepared pastries and a plate of dark purple grapes, placing them on the center table. She picked a grape, slowly peeling it to reveal the translucent fruit inside.
“Do you want some?”
Wei Ying shook her head, leaning back on the soft cushion, staring aimlessly at the tassels swaying above her with the carriage’s movement, her eyes vacant.
Yun Shao raised her eyes, looking at her: “They’re very sweet. Won’t you have some?”
Wei Ying: “You eat them yourself.”
Yun Shao lowered her gaze, tasting the grape, chewing twice, then wiping her fingers with a handkerchief. After a moment, she looked at the young girl again: “Really, you won’t eat any? They’re very sweet.”
Wei Ying sighed helplessly, feeling that if she didn’t eat a few, Yun Shao would keep asking endlessly: “Eat them?” “Won’t you eat?” “Don’t want any?”
Yun Shao blushed, carefully selecting the plumpest grape, peeling it to reveal the crystal-like flesh. Wei Ying tilted her face, and Yun Shao took the chance to sit beside her, placing the grape into her mouth.
Wei Ying bit into it, thinking, indeed, it was very sweet.
Yun Shao continued peeling grapes while softly speaking: “Near my childhood home, there was a grape trellis. Originally, they were Rosa varieties, later replaced with purple-gold grapes. At this time, my teacher would pick a bunch, wash them in the nearby lake, set up a table under the trellis, with grapes and wine.”
She smiled: “Those grapes were sweeter than these.”
Wei Ying took another grape from her hand, chewing absentmindedly while listening to her recount the past.
The memories unfolded vividly before her eyes. Yun Shao could describe every detail—the sunlight filtering through the trellis, a woman leaning on a bamboo chair with dappled light on her body. She peeled dark purple grapes, her fair fingertips dampened.
Yun Shao closed her eyes for a moment and then said softly: “January snow, February winds, March trellis setup, April watering, May pruning, June spraying and tying, July fertilizing. When the grapes ripen, one must stay busy all over again. A whole season of labor, just to see you.”
Wei Ying tilted her head, taking the grape from her hand in one bite, and laughed: “Then you get eaten?”
Yun Shao’s fingertips trembled slightly.
…
The carriage entered the palace.
The emperor stepped down first, reaching out his hand toward Wei Ying.
In full view of everyone, Wei Ying could only hold it, jump down, and then quickly let go, intending to rush to Xiao Qianxue’s carriage, but the emperor grabbed her sleeve again.
She turned, her beautiful eyes wide: “Your Majesty?”
Yun Shao smiled faintly: “It’s been a long journey. The Yangxin Hall is just ahead. Why not go in and rest for a while?”
She gently held Wei Ying’s sleeve, leading her inside, while the other consorts were sent to their respective palaces.
Wei Ying followed Yun Shao, sighing as she accepted her fate. Since New Year’s Eve, the emperor had been openly exercising his privilege to get close to those he wished.
“Ying Ying—” Xiao Qianxue called from behind.
Wei Ying turned at the sound, her eyes glistening: “Qian—Xue—”
They gazed at each other like star-crossed lovers, until Xiao Qianxue waved happily: “I’ll return to Yulu Hall first. Serve the emperor well!”
With that, she turned away without looking back.
Wei Ying sighed, entering the palace, when she noticed the emperor stiffen. Curious, she peeked inside.
Sitting on a zitan armchair was a woman in plain clothing she had never seen before.
The woman had deep eyes, a prominent nose, and Hu-style features. She wore simple clothing and a string of Buddhist beads on her wrist.
Wei Ying recognized her immediately and instinctively looked at the emperor. Despite being mischievous, the emperor had inherited his parents’ good looks, with deep foreign-style eyebrows and a gentle Dase-style softness when looking down—a truly stunning visage.
Yun Shao paused at the doorway, released Wei Ying’s sleeve, and approached the woman: “Paying respects to Mother Empress Dowager.”
Wei Ying also came forward to greet the Empress Dowager, the emperor’s mother, for the first time.
The Empress Dowager nodded, her gaze briefly landing on Wei Ying before turning to the emperor.
Yun Shao presented a cup of tea: “Mother, weren’t you meditating in the Buddhist hall?”
The Empress Dowager did not take the tea: “The hall has been neglected for years and is in disrepair. It should be restored. Why did you reject the memorial for its repair?”
Yun Shao tensed slightly, then gently placed the tea on the table: “There has been flooding in the southeast. The people are displaced; the palace is not suitable for major construction.”
The Empress Dowager smiled softly: “Your Majesty, you are using state affairs as an excuse. There have been floods every year, yet I never saw the previous emperor neglect the hall.”
The emperor remained silent, standing quietly.
The Empress Dowager continued: “I do not ask for birthday feasts, only for a quiet life with the Buddha. Does Your Majesty forbid even this wish?”
The emperor maintained his “I don’t listen” expression.
The Empress Dowager squinted: “Your Majesty, will you not repair the hall?”
The emperor slightly tilted his head, glanced at Wei Ying without revealing his thoughts, and firmly said: “No.”
The Empress Dowager, furious, swept her sleeves and left.
Wei Ying stood for a while. Seeing the emperor remain silent, she tentatively said: “Shall I leave first?”
She waved, like a little bird, and quickly slipped away, just as Yun Shao caught a glimpse of the pale-colored skirt at the doorway.
In Yulu Hall, Consort Xian had already prepared a table of pastries and delicacies.
Xiao Qianxue was already munching on red bean cakes. Seeing Wei Ying, she was a little surprised: “Ying Ying, you’re back so soon?”
Consort Xian, a little shocked and also slightly disappointed: “So soon? Didn’t you do anything?”
Wei Ying frowned: “Do?”
Consort Xian paused, then smiled and took her hand: “Do… do things to ease the emperor’s burdens, Ying Ying. Why are you so thin again? Did anyone bully you?”
Xiao Qianxue quickly complained to Consort Xian: “The palace ladies kept giving us trouble and even tried to whip us!”
Consort Xian, pale with fright, asked: “And… you?”
Wei Ying patted her hand reassuringly: “It’s nothing. We’re fine.”
Consort Xian almost wanted to check their skirts, muttering: “How could it be nothing? That’s a whip, very painful. I should never have let you go. If only I knew—”
Wei Ying: “We’re fine.”
Xiao Qianxue, finishing her cake, added: “Believe it or not, we really are fine.”
Wei Ying: “It’s complicated. Better sit down and I’ll explain slowly.”
She pulled the confused Consort Xian to sit, picking up tea to start recounting the summer palace trip. When she got to the part where Gong Beinu was whipped by Consort Shu, Consort Xian “pfft,” quickly covering her mouth to stifle laughter.
Wei Ying smiled, giving her some time to laugh, ready to continue, but someone came to visit.
The visitor was a personal maid of the Noble Consort, bowing her head: “Consort wishes to invite Ying Ying to Baoyun Palace for a gathering.”
Wei Ying hesitated, glancing at Consort Xian: “Shall I go there first?”
Consort Xian bit her lip: “But, Ying Ying, you haven’t finished telling me the story yet,” she said softly: “Weren’t I the one you came to first?”
The awkward silence made the maid lower her head further.
Wei Ying thought for a moment and said: “Please tell the Noble Consort that I will come later.”
The maid bowed and returned to Baoyun Palace.
Wei Ying decided to speak briefly, finish telling Consort Xian about the summer palace trip, then move on to meet the Noble Consort at Baoyun Palace. She sipped her tea to moisten her throat but was interrupted again.
This time it was Li Pin’s maid, a young girl too afraid to look up, trembling as she said: “Consort, a banquet has been prepared to welcome Ying Beauty.”
Wei Ying looked at Consort Xian and coughed softly: “I will come later, please wait a moment.”
Xiao Qianxue raised a finger: “You’re third in line now!”
Wei Ying: …
The atmosphere turned chilly. The little maid sensed something was wrong and hurried away.
Wei Ying tried to ease the tension, smiling at Consort Xian: “Palace sisters are really enthusiastic. Oh yes, earlier you asked about Consort Jieyu being injured? Later, Xiao Qianxue and I went to visit her, and then—”
She was interrupted again.
Wei Ying, exasperated, recognized the attendant before her: “Has the Empress set a banquet for me?”
The attendant praised: “You, Your Highness, are truly prescient!”
Xiao Qianxue held up her hand: “Fourth in line! Don’t wait too long, or it’ll be dark.”
Wei Ying rubbed her forehead, feeling tired for the first time.
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