I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 58

Yunshao tilted her head slightly, as if she hadn’t quite understood. She removed her golden crown and placed it aside, letting her long, jet-black hair fall down each side, softening her sharp features and revealing a hint of childlike innocence.

“Stay with me?” She repeated the words, slowly chewing on them in her mouth. After a long pause, she finally understood, raising her brows and smiling in delight, “Really?”

Wei Ying skillfully climbed onto the bed, still lying beside Yunshao in her usual sprawled, relaxed posture.

“It’s raining outside,” she said slowly, thinking, “I don’t want to get my shoes wet.”

Yunshao smiled softly again, placing a pillow behind her back and sinking slightly into it. She opened her mouth but made no sound, knowing in her heart that she should cherish this moment, yet once truly close, she became clumsy.

“Are you pitying me, Yingying?” the Emperor’s voice was faint and rough, tinged with bitterness.

Wei Ying tilted her head back to look at her. The candlelight by the bed cut out the Emperor’s pale and frail silhouette. She was wrapped in a loose dragon robe, her jade belt hanging slack at her waist, like a child wearing clothes too big for her—a mismatch for someone holding the position of supreme ruler yet so lonely.

Yunshao lowered her gaze; her dark eyes partially hidden in her pale skin, her features like a beauty sung of in the Book of Songs. Her eyes met Wei Ying’s, then quickly shifted away. Her lips, faintly pink, pressed into a line. After a long silence, she said, “I’m not pitiable.”

But… if Yingying came close out of pity, she would allow herself to be pitied a little more.

Wei Ying tugged at her sleeve. “I’m not pitying you, I just don’t want to get my shoes wet.” Perhaps finding this reason unconvincing, she added, “It’s dark and wet outside, walking is slippery… sigh, go to sleep, go to sleep. Don’t you have morning court tomorrow?”

Yunshao replied with a soft “Mm,” reaching to loosen her collar.

Wei Ying, used to her sudden habit of undressing, yawned and rolled onto her side, back to the Emperor, hearing the rustle behind her as she loosened her undergarment. Soon, the Emperor wrapped around her from behind, her warm arms embracing Wei Ying’s waist.

Like a spirit that clung on and never let go.

Wei Ying squirmed slightly, uncomfortable. Yunshao held her tighter, letting out a low, almost crying sound.

“…Let me hold you, okay?” Her voice choked, a humble plea.

Wei Ying’s heart skipped a beat. She furrowed her brows but said nothing.

Though she faced away, the beauty pressed her face against Wei Ying’s back, inhaled deeply, then chuckled quietly, far less sorrowful than her voice suggested.

Wei Ying closed her eyes, intending to sleep, when suddenly the Palace Intrigue Companion reminded her: “Host, do you want to draw a card now?”

“Huh?”

Palace Intrigue Companion: “You wouldn’t seriously rely on your luck, would you? No way, no way?”

Wei Ying: …

The dog-system was getting more and more snarky!

She hesitated. Her inventory was sufficient, points abundant, so she didn’t need to draw. Besides… the heat from behind through the thin clothes softened her heart for once.

The Emperor was already suffering; it was best not to drain her luck from him for now.

The Palace Intrigue Companion was pleased: “Host, you’ve finally become less of a dog!”

Wei Ying: “Well, I have points. With money, I can do whatever I want!”

While happily chatting with her companion, the Emperor suddenly spoke in a soft voice, like words from a dream.

“Yingying… I am not pitiable.” His voice was soft and fine, slightly choked.

Wei Ying turned, meeting the beauty’s tearful gaze, sighing helplessly. “I’m not pitying you. You are worthy.” She ruffled the Emperor’s fluffy hair, soothingly coaxing: “Who said you’re not worthy?”

Palace Intrigue Companion: yo!

Wei Ying pressed her lips, attempting to save face: “Blame it on the white moonlight gene!”

After ruffling her, she withdrew her hand. The Emperor, still unsatisfied, pressed her face to her warm palm, tilting her head to look at Wei Ying.

Wei Ying lowered her gaze, blinking, then quickly raised it. Her eyes were bright, like clear glass.

“Your Majesty, you are very good.”

She often scolded the dog-Emperor, but only for the position of “Emperor.” Being in that position meant being a dog, hurting many while saving many.

An emperor’s mind is like a layered heart; a ruler’s heart has countless weights, like a painting of rivers and mountains, lonely and solitary.

Looking at the girl in front of her, she couldn’t connect her to the word “Emperor.” The girl’s eyes were wide, moist and dark, soft and harmless, plush and tender. Up close, she noticed a small tear mole at the corner of Yunshao’s left eye, hidden when she smiled.

“Yingying?” Yunshao gazed at her almost obsessively.

Wei Ying pressed her palm to the girl’s face, feeling the heat, and asked, “Why do you always look at me, Your Majesty?”

Yunshao paused, recalling how as a child she always hid in dark corners, greedily studying the young, radiant scholar. Her selfish thoughts had long spread, entwining her completely.

Yet she couldn’t quite explain why.

After a long moment, she softly smiled: “Because… I can’t contain it anymore.”

Wei Ying was a little surprised. She finally understood—it meant she couldn’t fit anyone else in her heart. Her heartbeat skipped as she turned back, facing away from the Emperor, murmuring: “Go to sleep, go to sleep, it’s late.”

Yunshao gently responded, pressing close again, her body stretching against Wei Ying’s back like a boat docking in a harbor.

People met in youth can dazzle one’s life briefly. Yunshao closed her eyes, recalling the mottled light under the grape arbor at sixteen, the scorching scent of summer bedding, the swaying bamboo chair under the eaves, and the jade-green pond.

Back then, she stood beneath a tree, looking up at a young woman, thinking—would anyone ever be like that scholar?

Growing up, she realized no one could ever be like Yingying.

The harem had three thousand beauties: empresses, virtuous consorts, noble consorts… all exquisite, each brilliant and charming. Yet the person she met in youth shone so brightly that her remaining life could hold no one else. No matter how wonderful others were, they were just irrelevant clamor.

She closed her eyes and, rarely, had a beautiful dream.

In the dream, she was sixteen, wishing only to abandon everything to wander the world with the scholar. They secretly left Shengjing, met beauties and heroes, rode along ancient roads at sunset, admired the misty rivers.

She thought she had reached the ends of the earth, but when she turned, she could never find home again.

The next day, Wei Ying woke to find the Emperor still asleep, sticking to her like glue.

Checking the time with the Palace Intrigue Companion, she realized he might be late for morning court. The Emperor was diligent and had never missed court, even when ill—yet today he woke late.

Then she thought: it was his empire, ministers were just his employees. If he wanted to be late, fine. Thinking this, she felt at ease.

The body pressed against her moved slightly. Wei Ying quickly closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.

The Emperor slowly propped up, staring at her for a while. His long black hair fell smoothly against her cheek, tickling her. After a long while, he finally dressed, placing the Dong Pearl on the bedside, frowning at the perfectly round gem.

Yunshao thought: having asked Yingying to hold her, she had already given one Dong Pearl. After spending the night together, what else could she give? She searched her body, realizing her most precious treasures were already given. She had no idea what could match the warmth of this night.

She owed Yingying a great deal. She leaned forward, resting on the bed edge, and gently kissed Wei Ying’s eye.

…Might as well owe a little more.

Wei Ying: !!!

She kissed my eye!

The sleeping girl twitched her lashes as if burned, frowning. Yunshao looked at her, smiled, and crookedly placed the golden crown on her head before leaving.

Outside the golden chamber, Fushou waited anxiously. The Emperor being late for court was unprecedented.

When the doors opened, he saw the Emperor slowly approach and froze.

The young ruler’s golden-yellow sleeve robe had many creases, loosely draped, revealing the white undergarment. The Dong Pearl from the Eastern Sea was gone. Her golden crown was crooked, hair disheveled.

Yet she was in a good mood, smiling at Fushou, the small mole hidden at the eye’s corner. “I dreamed of the scholar last night.”

She smiled happily, cheeks slightly flushed.

After the Emperor left, Wei Ying bounced out of bed, rubbing her eyes. The kiss’s heat still lingered, stuck to her eyelids.

After a while, she picked up the Dong Pearl from the bedside and returned to Yulu Palace.

Xiao Qianxue had been waiting and bounced over: “Yingying, where were you?”

Wei Ying smiled faintly: “Nothing.”

Xiao Qianxue stared for a moment: “Why are your eyes red?”

Wei Ying: “…Burned. Bring me some cold water.”

Lü La quickly handed a cold towel. Wei Ying applied it to her left eye, sprawled on a bamboo lounge under the eaves, her mind blank.

Xiao Qianxue, like ten thousand whys: “Yingying, why did you burn your eye? Where did you go last night? Why did the Empress Dowager call you? Why…”

Lü La spun around like a top: “Master, change the towel; Master, want to see the imperial doctor; Master, I’ll get medicine for the burn; Master…”

Surrounded by endless questions and the whirling little top, Wei Ying waved helplessly: “Stop—”

The Dong Pearl fell from her sleeve, rolling to Xiao Qianxue’s feet.

Xiao Qianxue picked it up, immediately recognizing it as the Emperor’s crown pearl. She exchanged a glance with Lü La, both smiling.

Xiao Qianxue: “Hehe, Yingying, you’re impressive!”

Lü La: “Hehe, Master, you’re impressive!”

Wei Ying scratched her head, took the Dong Pearl from Xiao Qianxue, slowly took a small wooden box from the room, and put the pearl inside. The Emperor often gifted her Dong Pearls, so she had accumulated quite a few. At first glance, it was impressive.

“Want it?” she asked innocently. “There’s more if you want.”

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