I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 67

Xiao Qianxue, unwilling and failing at trying to act coquettishly, could only cast a sorrowful glance at the little fairy and return to her room to sleep.

Seeing her leave, Wei Ying gently lifted the curtain and frowned at the emperor for a long while.

The beauty lay sideways on dark silk, her snow-white skin and black hair in stark contrast. Her pale, delicate fingers curled over the dark strands of her hair, most of her face turned toward Wei Ying, her features serene—as if painted in ink wash, ethereal and fragile, as though a single touch could make her vanish.

Wei Ying thought this to herself and reached out to poke her cheek—it was soft.

The beauty seemed to feel the warmth of her fingers; her brows furrowed slightly, long lashes trembled twice, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Seeing Wei Ying, still half-asleep, she smiled and stretched out her arms: “Yingying, hug me.”

Wei Ying didn’t move.

Yun Shao’s eyes gradually cleared; realizing this wasn’t a dream, she paused for a moment, then lowered her head slightly and smiled submissively: “I can’t sleep; I never sleep well without Yingying, so I came over… Yingying, don’t be mad, alright?”

Whenever she acted so humble, Wei Ying couldn’t bear it. Even knowing that most of the time it was just an act, she couldn’t help but sigh, curling her fingers to flick the emperor’s forehead: “You’re His Majesty, who could ever blame you?”

Yun Shao held her forehead and smiled lightly, a fleeting, delicate smile. She reached out, carefully grasping Wei Ying’s dangling sleeve, tilting her head to look up at her, and said expectantly: “Then Yingying, come sleep with me, alright?”

Wei Ying thought for a moment, then hung the bed curtain on the golden hook and lifted her dress to sit at the head of the bed.

Yun Shao wound herself behind her, resting her head on Wei Ying’s shoulder, her figure soft and boneless.

Wei Ying asked, “Your Majesty, do you remember what happened last night?”

Yun Shao frowned in confusion: “Last night? Did I do something to Yingying?” She looked at her with innocent water-like eyes.

Wei Ying: …

It seemed she heard another meaning in the emperor’s words.

She turned her head; the emperor blinked at her, expression innocent, and Wei Ying thought she was overthinking, saying, “Nothing at all.”

Yun Shao continued to frown: “Then… did Yingying do something to me?”

Wei Ying shook her head: “No.”

After that, she heard a soft sigh behind her, as if someone was very regretful.

Wei Ying: …Looks like from the start she wasn’t overthinking at all.

She turned her head and noticed the emperor had undone her collar, rolled up her sleeve, and was inspecting something. The large dragon robe was half removed, revealing pale, slender shoulders glowing faintly in the dark.

Wei Ying watched for a moment, quickly looking away, asking: “Your Majesty, what are you doing?”

Yun Shao pouted, distressed: “Why are there no marks on my body? Could it be that Yingying really didn’t do anything to me? Or was I too ugly when I was drunk?”

Wei Ying pursed her lips, resting her forehead as she sighed: “The palace is so far from the Pleasure Hall, how did Your Majesty get here?”

Yun Shao wrapped herself around Wei Ying, smiled, and led her to the window, opening it and pointing outside.

In the night, the little Mary Sue-like Xiaolihua stood prominently, her snow-white fur gleaming under the moonlight. Thunder (Lei Ting) hovered beside her, nudging her head, trying hard to curry favor.

Yun Shao was stunned: “Why is Thunder here too?”

Wei Ying didn’t answer, lowering her gaze to watch the two horses nuzzle each other in the moonlight. Yun Shao tilted her head, leaning toward Wei Ying, brushing her ear and asking softly: “Yingying, seeing this, what do you think of?”

“What do I think of?” Wei Ying asked. “That the horses under the window are a pair?”

Yun Shao smiled faintly, then asked again: “Then, Yingying, tell me, what did I do when I was drunk?”

Wei Ying thought for a moment: “Your Majesty, it’s better you don’t know.”

Yun Shao’s eyes brightened, thinking she had finally made progress in her drunken state, and persisted: “Why shouldn’t I know? Is it… something that cannot be spoken?”

Wei Ying recalled the emperor’s drunken state the night before and nodded: “Indeed, it cannot be said.”

Yun Shao smiled even brighter, pressed close to her, and said softly: “Then I forgive Yingying, please tell me.”

“Your Majesty made me dig a pit.”

Yun Shao froze, blinking in bewilderment: “What?”

Wei Ying secretly smiled, then said seriously: “If you don’t believe me, Your Majesty can go back to the Golden House and see. That pit is still there, and oh, the shovel too.”

Yun Shao’s cheeks burned; she wanted to jump into the pit and bury herself. Sulking, she returned to the bed, curling up in a corner. After a while, she looked up softly: “Then, Yingying, will you sleep with me?”

Wei Ying gestured helplessly: There’s no other bed here.

Perhaps because of the emperor’s sulking, that night he slept unusually obediently, without snuggling close or being clingy. Wei Ying slept on the other side, feeling the quilt a bit cold.

The next morning, Yun Shao woke early and left quietly.

Before leaving, she crouched at the bedside, gazing at Wei Ying’s sleeping face, unwilling to move her eyes away.

She couldn’t be late for the morning court again, letting Yingying be labeled the “demonic consort.” She clenched a strand of Wei Ying’s hair, holding it gently, thinking again: if she were truly a demonic consort…

How wonderful that would be.

With bittersweet emotions, Yun Shao left again, heading downstairs to untie the horse reins. The sky was faintly bright, and the moon sank below the palace walls.

Looking up at the tightly shut window, she smiled, mounted Xiaolihua, and spurred her toward the Yangxin Hall. Thunder obediently followed behind.

Halfway along, Yun Shao suddenly encountered a familiar figure on the palace path.

She tightened the reins, slowed the horse, looked down, and couldn’t help but smile: “Prince Luling, what are you doing here?”

Prince Luling, heads bowed and exhausted, hadn’t heard the emperor’s question.

Though not delicate, he was a nobleman, seldom walked long distances, and walking at night left him weary and in pain, his tender feet blistered. He had no choice but to lean on the walls, moving slowly. He regretted not bringing his horse back and even more, why he had gotten up in the middle of the night to stroll to the Cold Palace.

Why!

What was he thinking then?

One must have a few moments of regret in life, and last night’s reckless outing added one more. The joy of encountering the “fairy maiden” was quickly driven away by the shock brought by the strong girl later.

He sighed heavily, walked far, his calves cramping with each step. Eventually, he reached a palace path with people, and a night-pot carriage gave him a ride, though the smell was unpleasant.

When he finally stepped onto the ground of Yangxin Hall, it felt like another world. Looking at the solemn building, he thought: The fief is so good—fine horses, beauties, splendid attire and food—why am I suffering in the palace?

The morning sun rose over the palace, casting golden light on the glazed tiles. The ninefold palace was bathed in the shallow-golden dawn, clouds rolling in the sky, fire-like light spreading across the heavens.

Prince Luling looked up for a long while, feeling content. Suddenly, he exclaimed: “I understand!”

This must be Heaven’s trial. The emperor is unprincipled, favoring a demonic consort. Even a royal like him suffers—how much more so for the common people?

To save the world from mud and misery, he must endure hardships, bear all trials, until midnight passes and the sun rises.

Prince Luling silently clenched his fists, deeply moved, and walked toward the Cining Palace. Palace maids saw him and quickly kept their distance, bowing from afar.

Feeling divinely tasked, he ignored the hesitant eunuchs and confidently entered Cining Palace: “Child pays respects to mother!”

The Empress Dowager heard her adopted child’s voice, her expression softening. Smiling, she looked up: “Rise, Jue’er, no need for formalities, hmm?”

What met her eyes wasn’t a handsome young man but a dirt-smeared figure, as if he had rolled in the fields.

Her voice trembled: “Jue’er, why are you so messy?”

Prince Luling paused, looked down at his dusty state, shrugged, and walked in: “Mother, it’s a long story; I’ll explain it slowly.”

After a few steps, the Empress Dowager covered her nose, shouting: “Wait! Don’t come closer! Where did this smell come from? Did you fall into the night-pot?”

Prince Luling stood awkwardly, kept retreating under her gestures, until they were two rooms apart. Only then could she breathe, lowering her hands.

They shouted at each other from a distance.

The Empress Dowager: “Jue’er, what happened?”

Prince Luling: “Mother, it’s not my fault! My horse is gone!”

The Empress Dowager was furious: “Brat! Who are you cursing?!”

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