I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 69

“You really are a prodigy, aren’t you?”

Gong Beinu thought this and, in her simple-minded way, asked aloud.

Wei Ying paused for a moment, looked at her, and smiled, asking in return, “What?”

Xiao Qianxue said, displeased, “What are you doing? Who are you calling a prodigy? You’re the prodigy!”

Gong Beinu: “No, you are the prodigy!”

Xiao Qianxue: “No, you are!”

…

The two of them bickered face to face, like two competitive parrots, endlessly repeating each other. Wei Ying, like a referee, intervened, waving her hand: “Stop!”

The quarrel immediately ceased, and the two parrots simultaneously looked at her.

Wei Ying smiled and asked Gong Beinu, “So, were you planning to send someone to catch me again?”

Gong Beinu’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth. “Y-you knew!”

Xiao Qianxue: …She had never seen someone so eager to confess, to the point that it made one wonder if she was pretending.

Wei Ying lowered her head, the corner of her mouth curling upward, then asked, “That day, didn’t you already have someone prove my innocence? They said I was some kind of reincarnated Buddha, or a celestial being, and now you’ve turned around with a whole new explanation?”

Gong Beinu scratched her head and honestly admitted, “But… sister thought they were lying, that they just couldn’t win against you in a duel, so they made things up!”

After saying this, she scanned Wei Ying up and down, trying to find any sign of a great demon. Could she be a nine-tailed fox? Was there a fluffy tail under her skirt?

Wei Ying turned around lazily, letting her skirt sway as she settled into a rosewood chair, took a sip from the nearby tea cup, wet her throat, and then looked up at Gong Beinu: “You brought both the people and the ‘prodigy’ title yourselves. Whatever you say, it becomes true. How could I have any right to argue?”

Xiao Qianxue nodded repeatedly: “Exactly, exactly! Whatever you say goes. Just admit you’re bullying us with your influence.”

Gong Beinu stomped her foot: “Hey, you two, watch your tone!”

Wei Ying smiled, setting down her tea cup so that the white porcelain tray lightly tapped the table. She paid no mind to Gong Beinu’s fussing, and lifted her gaze with a smile: “This is how I treat my friends.”

Gong Beinu suddenly fell silent, tilting her head: “Friends?”

The word was so strange to Gong Beinu that she had no energy to be angry. She tilted her head for a while, processing it. She held her chest, feeling her heartbeat quicken, thump-thump, thump-thump, as a joyful emotion welled up inside her, like a gentle mountain stream at first, gradually swelling into a river that flooded her entirely.

She frowned slightly in confusion, finally breaking free from this strange feeling, and sighed: “You really are a demon consort!”

Otherwise, how could a single sentence stir her emotions so?

Wei Ying propped her chin on her hand, smiling as she squinted her eyes: “Have you ever seen a demon consort so helpful and adored by everyone?”

Gong Beinu was speechless.

At mealtime, Granny Shi Pei came in to summon Wei Ying and the others.

Wei Ying warmly invited Gong Beinu to join, but Gong Beinu bristled: “No way! Did you put poison in the food?”

Xiao Qianxue huffed and led the way, pushing aside the crystal curtain and stepping out of the bedchamber.

“Not coming? Fine, we don’t care. One more person won’t make us hungry.”

At this, Gong Beinu immediately changed her mind: “Then I’ll go eat!”

Just to spite them a little.

Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue exchanged glances and smiled helplessly—they were used to this young lady’s fickle behavior.

Xiao Qianxue continued to play the stern role: “You really are something. You even fight over the cold palace food. What can a cold palace have? Only cold rice and cold dishes! You surely won’t like it.”

The crystal bead curtain rustled as it opened, making a clear, crisp sound. Through the curtain, Xiao Qianxue’s figure seemed slightly blurred for a moment.

Gong Beinu frowned. She should have been angry, just like before. But seeing that figure, she didn’t feel much anger at all. Somehow, maybe she didn’t dislike Xiao Qianxue so much.

It felt strange; why had she disliked her so much before?

Wei Ying held the girl’s small hand and led her out: “Come eat, come eat. Eating is the most important.”

Gong Beinu pursed her lips, thinking that this was just an excuse to gather information—she was risking herself to be with the demon consort. Her sister and aunt surely wouldn’t mind! It definitely wasn’t because the food smelled too good.

The table had four dishes and one soup: stir-fried pork, green peppers with eggs, steamed eggplant, chestnut braised ribs, and a lily soup.

Gong Beinu: “Hmph, I knew you were lying. You said the cold palace only had cold rice and cold dishes, but it’s all hot!”

And it smelled delicious.

She lowered her head and ate heartily, confused. People had always said the cold palace was terrifying. But now she saw it was so nice, with fragrant, steaming food. Why were people ever afraid of this place?

Granny Shi Pei rubbed her hands, smiling. According to the cold palace rules, each person would usually only get two cold buns. But in the past year, Wei Ying had opened the Anle Hall for three months. Palace staff came to consult her about their fortunes, and to show gratitude, sent many gifts.

Some items were sold in the Anle Hall, some stored in the warehouse, and now were still unused.

In just three months, the Anle Hall had gone from poverty in the cold palace to one of the richest spots in the palace.

Hence, the meals had been so good these past few days.

Gong Beinu didn’t know the details. She scooped a spoonful of soup and said, “So strange… the cold palace food is so good. What were people afraid of before?”

Wei Ying started giving her a bit of soul-nourishing advice: “Actually, the cold palace isn’t scary. What people fear is just fear itself.”

This went beyond Gong Beinu’s understanding. She thought for a while: “So… the cold palace isn’t scary?”

Wei Ying nodded, concentrating on her ribs: “No, it’s not.”

The ribs smelled so good, and the chestnuts were sweet!

Gong Beinu thought of something and looked up seriously: “But the key is to master a skill.”

Xiao Qianxue nodded in agreement: “Exactly! With a skill, you can get by anywhere.”

Gong Beinu put down her chopsticks, propping her chin, fully focused on learning the cold palace survival secrets and palace career advice. Wei Ying and Xiao Qianxue were never stingy with their experience. They patiently guided her, sharing their wealth of entrepreneurial experience.

“So,” Wei Ying slowly said after wiping her hands, “it’s best to work according to your own conditions. Do you have any special skills?”

Gong Beinu thought carefully, and cautiously replied: “I… I’m good at spending money. Is that okay?”

Wei Ying: …

Xiao Qianxue gave a thumbs up: “That’s our girl.”

Gong Beinu wasn’t satisfied: “What about you guys?”

Wei Ying: “I can tell fortunes.”

Xiao Qianxue: “I have ancestral remedies!”

Hearing this, Gong Beinu snorted dismissively. Only these lowly tricks, useful at most for amusing ignorant eunuchs and palace maids.

Xiao Qianxue restrained her temper and asked, “What about you, Zhaorong?”

Gong Beinu: …She can spend money.

Wei Ying smiled with squinted eyes. Xiao Qianxue covered her mouth and giggled. Gong Beinu slammed the table and stood up: “No laughing! I can do everything. I… I can do everything! Don’t mock me!”

Wei Ying smiled and stroked her hair: “Yes, yes, Zhaorong can do everything. I heard all young ladies learn needlework from childhood. That’s a remarkable skill.”

Xiao Qianxue agreed: “Yes! I never learned embroidery; I always pricked my fingers. If you’re good at embroidery, that’s really impressive. Later, Wei Ying can tell fortunes, I can sell remedies, and you can do the embroidery for us.” She patted her chest proudly: “We’ll support you!”

Gong Beinu: “Hmph, I don’t need your support! My embroidery is excellent. Each piece I sell is worth a thousand gold coins, much better than you two.”

She twisted her waist, puffed up her chest, and stormed off.

Xiao Qianxue shrugged: “She eats, then turns her back on you. Sigh… I’m used to it.”

Wei Ying smiled and strolled outside with Xiao Qianxue for digestion. They then began the day’s business: telling fortunes for palace staff, preparing new remedies for those with rheumatism, and even getting a small batch of points from newly arrived palace maids.

After work, the two collapsed in lounge chairs, holding cups of tea, watching the sunset, smiling as if they had returned home.

Xiao Qianxue recalled their daytime conversation: “Wei Ying, do you really think she knows embroidery? This young lady never touches a needle. She’s definitely helpless.”

Wei Ying smiled, sipping her tea: “It’s all forced. Now she has everything in the palace and doesn’t need to learn anything. But outside, she might still manage.”

Xiao Qianxue pouted.

Wei Ying tilted her head: “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Qianxue continued pouting: “You defend her again. You always defend her. Hmph, Wei Ying has changed her heart. Wei Ying used to spoil me.”

Wei Ying gently smiled, rubbing her cheeks until they turned pink, then released her: “I’m still spoiling you.”

Xiao Qianxue tilted her head, pouting: “Wei Ying won’t let me sleep with you anymore. She said I’d crush your wings. But before, it was allowed. Just now, you two sat so close—didn’t you crush her wings?”

Wei Ying was silent for a moment, then patted her head. She agreed to sleep together that night, but in her own room—otherwise, the Emperor might walk in.

Xiao Qianxue successfully won Wei Ying’s favor, happily running back to her room to prepare, leaving Wei Ying alone with the sunset.

Wei Ying held her tea, watching her jump joyfully, thinking about how to arrange her evening. Xiao Qianxue’s room wasn’t far from hers. If the Emperor came, she could first soothe him to sleep, then go to Qianxue’s room, and it shouldn’t be noticeable.

Sigh, every day she worked hard to become a time management master.

Xiao Qianxue finished preparing and happily bounced out: “Wei Ying, do you really think Gong Beinu knows anything? She’s always scheming against us. Why are you so nice to her?”

Wei Ying looked up, didn’t answer the question, and smiled: “Want to make a bet? She’ll come find me again tomorrow.”

Xiao Qianxue: “No way. She doesn’t usually come, and she dislikes the cold palace. She says it’s crude.”

Wei Ying: “A bet?”

Xiao Qianxue thought for a moment and smiled, nodding: “Alright, let’s bet!”

As for the wager, since everything was shared, they couldn’t think of what to stake immediately, so they decided the loser would fulfill a request from the winner later, with no conditions.

Xiao Qianxue clapped: “Yay! Can I watch Wei Ying do magic?”

Wei Ying shook her head: “You’re hopeless.”

Late at night, Wei Ying still worried about time allocation, but the Emperor didn’t come.

She lay in bed, Xiao Qianxue sleeping beside her peacefully.

Wei Ying watched the flickering candlelight, thinking that she didn’t need to be a time management master tonight. She should have felt relaxed, but strangely, she felt a little down. Xiao Qianxue slept soundly, not sneaking over or talking in her sleep, calling only Wei Ying.

Wei Ying frowned, slowly closed her eyes, and lay for a while, not sleeping deeply. She vaguely heard horse hooves, waking her. She got up quietly, lit a lamp, and stepped out.

Cold wind blew through her robe, tossing her black hair.

She froze, realizing the raindrops hitting her face. It took a moment to realize it was raining.

The sound she had heard in her dream wasn’t hooves—it was raindrops hitting the window.

Autumn rain brings chill.

The world was soaked in cool wind and evening rain, immersed in icy mist. Wei Ying held the lamp; the dim light illuminated only a short distance. She tilted her head, listening to the rustling rain, throat itching slightly, and coughed softly.

After standing for a while, she returned to bed, hands and feet cold, unwilling to wake Xiao Qianxue. She curled up in a corner, thinking if the Emperor were here, he would immediately come over and hold her, dispelling the cold.

The next day, Xiao Qianxue opened the window, noticing the wet ground: “Did it rain last night?”

Wei Ying wrapped herself in the blanket like a ball, her nose red, and nodded: “Yes, it did.”

Xiao Qianxue smiled: “I slept too soundly to hear it. Wei Ying, you didn’t sleep at that time, right?”

Wei Ying lowered her head guiltily and rubbed her nose.

Fortunately, Xiao Qianxue changed the subject, leaning on the window, almost certain: “Look, it rained. Gong Beinu won’t come, so you lost the bet.”

Just as she finished speaking, a familiar voice came from outside the door, accompanied by a loud knocking: “Hey! Open up!”

Not only did Gong Beinu come, but she also brought an embroidery, slamming it onto Wei Ying’s bed: “Look! I embroidered this. Isn’t it much prettier than yours?”

Two mandarin ducks were embroidered on snow-white cloth, the work very delicate.

Wei Ying smiled, coaxing her: “Zhaorong embroidered this? It’s really beautiful.”

Xiao Qianxue was also impressed: “Wow, it’s beautiful! I didn’t expect you to be so skilled.”

Gong Beinu puffed up her chest proudly: “Hmph, I told you I could do it.”

Wei Ying found an excuse to send Xiao Qianxue out, yawned, put on a robe, and went to Gong Beinu. She extended her hand.

Gong Beinu’s eyes widened in confusion: “W-what are you doing?”

Wei Ying: “Let me see your hands.”

Gong Beinu hid her hands behind her back, panicking: “Why look? What’s so special?”

Wei Ying ignored her resistance, pulling her hand forward. She looked down, then fell silent. Gong Beinu’s small hands, unused to labor, were soft and plump, but now had many tiny injuries from embroidery needles.

Wei Ying: …

Gong Beinu’s eyes filled with tears, biting her lip without speaking.

The earlier lies were exposed in the presence of these wounds. A hand capable of creating such beautiful mandarin ducks shouldn’t have so many fresh injuries. She lowered her head like a scolded schoolgirl, face red.

Wei Ying said nothing, took a medicine box from the drawer, and gently applied a crystal-white ointment on her fingertips.

Gong Beinu’s tears fell instantly. She whispered: “That… was embroidered by my sister.”

Wei Ying acknowledged: “Mm. And what about the one you embroidered yourself?”

Gong Beinu pouted, black eyes looking up at her, then lowered her head and reluctantly pulled out another handkerchief from her sleeve.

Wei Ying glanced at it and couldn’t help but smile—the one Gong Beinu embroidered herself didn’t really look like mandarin ducks, more like alien creatures. She pressed her lips, admired the work, and said: “It’s cute and creative. The previous ones were all so uniform. Yours is fun.”

Gong Beinu’s eyes misted over: “Really?”

Wei Ying, serious: “Really. I want to frame it and hang it on the wall to admire every day.”

Gong Beinu quickly refused: “No, you can’t,” then paused, fearing Wei Ying might be disappointed, and added: “But I can give it to you. You can keep it and admire it secretly. I embroidered it overnight.”

Wei Ying smiled and took the handkerchief.

Gong Beinu sat on the bed, looking at her, suddenly asking: “Hey, are you going hunting this autumn?”

Wei Ying turned: “Why?”

Gong Beinu thought for a while, then said slowly: “You probably won’t go, right?”

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