I've Decided To Be This Tyrant's Dark Moonlight - Chapter 89

Autumn passed quickly. After a drift of auspicious snow, New Year’s Eve was soon upon them.

Wei Ying still remembered Consort Xian’s important “pen-pal meet-up” and began preparing early.

Every year on New Year’s Eve, the palace would hold a grand banquet. Last year, she and Xiao Qianxue had been banished to the Cold Palace, missing all the glittering cups and brilliant lanterns of that night. They could only watch the pitch-black sky bloom with one dazzling firework after another.

Later, Wei Ying had sneaked out, intending to wish the ghostly young lady a happy New Year, only to receive a sudden, unguarded kiss.

Thinking of last year, her cheeks warmed. She scooped up a handful of snow and pressed it to her face.

Xiao Qianxue blinked. “Eh? Yingying, what are you doing?”

“Ahem. A face mask. Good for the skin.”

“Really?” Qianxue at once gleefully grabbed two handfuls of snow, plastering them against her cheeks. The chill made her gasp, “So cold!”

Wei Ying: …

Of course it’s cold, silly child.

Yet the silly child, teeth chattering, kept doggedly pressing snow against her face.

“Yingying’s skin is so fair—touching it is smooth, like tofu. I want mine to be the same, soft and tender!”

Wei Ying quickly pulled her back. “Enough, enough. What if you freeze yourself? A little is fine, but don’t rush things.”

Once back in her room, Qianxue stood in front of the mirror, peering this way and that. “Has my skin improved? My cheeks look redder—this really works!”

Wei Ying sighed. “Silly girl, that’s just frostbite.”

Qianxue let out an “Oh,” disappointed.

After a few words of comfort, Wei Ying suddenly asked, “Qianxue, do you want to go out of the palace to play?”

Qianxue’s eyes lit up instantly. “What? Go out? Out to play!”

Like a happy puppy, she ran circles in the snow. “When do we go?”

Wei Ying smiled. “Tonight.”

Qianxue froze mid-run, looking over. “Tonight? But isn’t there supposed to be a New Year’s banquet?”

Wei Ying’s brows curved in a smile. “Not anymore.”

Just then, Eunuch Fushou arrived with a message: the Empress Dowager had taken ill and needed rest. For her health, the New Year’s banquet was canceled; the concubines were to pray for her in their own palaces.

“So, no palace banquet?” Qianxue cheered, leaping onto Wei Ying and hugging her tight. “Yingying, you’re amazing! You predicted this, didn’t you? You’re the best!”

Fushou chuckled at her bouncing excitement, then bowed. “Lady Wei, His Majesty invites you over.”

Qianxue’s cheer halted. “What? His Majesty’s stealing Yingying away again? Can’t he leave her for us? Always monopolizing her favor—hmph.”

Fushou wiped sweat from his brow, forcing a smile. What kind of talk was that? Since when did His Majesty “steal” favor from a concubine? And besides, if anyone could steal it, wasn’t it proof of his power?

Wei Ying patted Qianxue’s shoulder, whispering, “I’ll be back soon. Tonight, dress up—we’ll sneak out to the lantern festival.”

Qianxue clapped with joy. “Yay! And… will Noble Consort come too?”

Wei Ying’s eyes curved as she nodded.

Qianxue cheered again.

Wei Ying followed Fushou, swaying in the palanquin toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation. A few days ago she had told the emperor she wanted to attend the banquet; unexpectedly, he had magnanimously canceled it altogether. She felt she ought to show some gesture in return.

As soon as she lifted the heavy curtain, warmth washed over her—along with a warm person.

Yunshao flew into her arms like a bird to its nest, hugging tight. “Yingying, you’re so cold—let me warm you!”

Fushou tactfully withdrew, leaving the chamber to them alone.

Wei Ying smiled gently. “Your Majesty, how do you wish to spend this New Year’s Eve?”

Eyes shining, Yunshao tugged her sleeve. “I was just about to tell you.”

She had dismissed the banquet precisely to spend it with Wei Ying alone—to make this New Year unforgettable. She had prepared dumplings in the Golden House; last year Yingying had made dumplings for someone else, this year she wanted them made for her.

Wei Ying blinked, then laughed softly. “I was about to suggest something as well. Why don’t you go first—what do you have planned?”

Yunshao gazed at her. “Better you speak first.”

Wei Ying smiled, lashes fluttering. “Your Majesty, let’s go out of the palace.”

“Out… of the palace?” Yunshao tilted her head, bewildered.

Wei Ying continued, “I’ve heard that every year outside the palace there are fireworks and lantern festivals. Would you like to see them?”

Yunshao’s eyes went distant, remembering the past. She stayed dazed until Wei Ying called several times, then smiled faintly. “Will it just be the two of us?”

Wei Ying faltered. Suddenly guilty.

Yunshao laughed softly. “So I’m not the only one—who else? Xiao Qianxue?”

Wei Ying lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers. “Qianxue wants Noble Consort to come. Consort Xian also wishes to go. As for the Empress…I haven’t asked her yet.”

“…No need. The Empress has already left the palace.”

Wei Ying widened her eyes. “Eh?”

Yunshao sat gloomily, twisting her hands. “So I’m the last to know.”

Wei Ying laid her hands on her shoulders, lowering her head with a smile. “I saved telling Your Majesty for last—because there’s something important, just for you alone.”

Yunshao looked up. “What is it?”

Wei Ying raised a brow, tugging her hand. “Come with me.”

The two ran together through swirling snow, not by carriage but on foot, leaving twin tracks across the white expanse.

Wei Ying blew on her hands. “So cold.”

Yunshao’s voice softened with concern. “We should’ve taken the palanquin. Why run in this weather?”

“To do something fun, of course!”

Wei Ying tugged her into the Golden House, opened the wardrobe, and drew out a plain white dress. She frowned. “Too bland.”

Her Majesty’s vivid beauty deserved the finest attire.

Fortunately, she had recently ordered the Bureau of Tailors to make exquisite new gowns, all in Yunshao’s size. Dragon robes every day were dull—even if, admittedly, she looked magnificent in them.

Wei Ying finally chose an outfit: an inner gown of pale tea-colored moon-silk, with an outer jacket of lavender embroidered with morning glories. For her hair, a silver hairpin set with amethyst morning-glories in a soaring cloud bun.

Pleased with her choices, Wei Ying leaned by the window, smiling as she watched.

The beauty sat with eyes lowered, the crystal hairpin swaying, dazzling yet not vulgar, alluring yet refined.

Wei Ying dabbed her finger in rouge and pressed it playfully onto Yunshao’s brow. “Stamp complete.”

With a red mark between her brows, the beauty gazed at her tenderly.

Then Wei Ying gave her a long veiled hat that fell to her knees, hiding her face from recognition. Hand in hand, they set off for the Jade Dew Hall.

Servants passing by bowed respectfully to Wei Ying, peeking curiously at the veiled figure behind her.

Yunshao knew that if Wei Ying lifted that veil, her carefully guarded secret would be revealed to all. Yet she felt no worry—she simply trusted, and followed wherever Wei Ying led.

—

Night fell. A large carriage waited outside Jade Dew Hall.

Several consorts had already lit their lanterns, waiting and chatting happily.

Xiao Qianxue, in a pale yellow cloak, was the most excited, chattering nonstop. “Consort Xian, you’re coming out too? Great! We can all play together! You hardly ever leave the palace, but this time you’re with us!”

Consort Xian smiled. “I have some matters. Noble Consort, you’re leaving as well?”

Pei Que averted her gaze, nodding. “Mm. I also have business.”

Qianxue blinked round eyes. “What are you going to do? Watch the fireworks?”

Pei Que snorted. “Of course not something so childish. I…” She paused, her voice softening. “I’m going home.”

Qianxue clapped. “Going home, that’s wonderful! General Pei’s mansion must be lively tonight!”

Pei Que murmured, “Lively? My father still guards the frontier at Yunzhou, who knows when he’ll return. Aside from my brother, it’s just one cook and an old steward at home…” She cut herself short, realizing she’d said too much.

Why was she saying all this?

Consort Xian spoke gently, “Thanks to the old General Pei and the soldiers on the frontier, Great Sheng remains at peace, and the people can enjoy the New Year.”

Qianxue whispered, “They must miss home terribly.”

Pei Que muttered, “Mm… They’re used to it by now.”

Qianxue’s eyes lit up. “Someday, let’s go spend New Year with General Pei at the border!”

Pei Que only scoffed. “Ridiculous. We’re lucky enough to leave the palace at all—how could we reach the frontier?”

Qianxue beamed. “You never know!”

As they spoke, Wei Ying approached with a lantern, leading the veiled beauty through the snow.

Qianxue’s attention shifted instantly. “Yingying!”

Her gaze fell on the figure behind her. “Eh? Who’s that?”

The lantern light revealed the hem of a pale tea-colored gown beneath drifting veils. The figure was shrouded in gauze, moving like a phantom through mist.

“Even without seeing her face, you can tell she’s beautiful!”

Pei Que scoffed. “Without seeing, how can you be sure?”

Qianxue tilted her head. “It’s her aura! Just like Yingying, and all of you sisters.”

Consort Xian pinched her cheek with a smile. “Qianxue really knows how to talk.”

Wei Ying arrived, gripping Yunshao’s hand. She merely said this was a beauty she knew in the palace, without revealing her true identity. But everyone’s minds were on slipping out, so they didn’t press, and all climbed into the carriage.

Wei Ying boarded first, then bent down and offered her hand. Yunshao clasped it, stepping aboard.

Everything had been arranged in advance. The carriage rolled smoothly out of the palace, no one stopping them.

Yunshao nestled beside Wei Ying, sleeve slipping as her delicate hand sought hers.

Qianxue lifted the curtain, watching the palace lights recede into the distance. She exhaled happily. “At last, we’re free! Honestly, just now I thought Yingying had gone back again.”

Pei Que raised a brow. “Why would she go back?”

Qianxue bit her tongue, then muttered resentfully, “His Majesty summoned her again. So unfair—always calling for Yingying! Does he think she belongs to him alone?”

Pei Que spat, “Hmph. Foolish emperor.”

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