Strongly Spoiled by the Villainous Tyrant After Climbing into the Dragon’s Bed - Chapter 10

She had never concerned herself with court affairs. On the rare occasions she tried to intervene in household matters, she would be dismissed from the study by her father and younger brother with a few light, dismissive words.

Zhan Jing had once told her with incomparable indulgence, “Girls don’t need to look at these things, Yan’er. Go and study your zither well; just don’t turn out like the Eldest Princess.”

The Eldest Princess, Tan Fu, was the current Emperor’s biological elder sister from the same mother.

Since childhood, she had lived and eaten alongside the royal brothers. She was physically strong, unlike the typical fragile and willow-like women, and possessed a unique, independent character. Consequently, many respected her to her face while slandering her behind her back.

Zhan Yan was no exception.

When the young ladies of the inner chambers invited each other out, this man-like Eldest Princess was frequently the object of their disdain.

But now, she only wished she had the Eldest Princess’s strength to kick this stupid younger brother to death.

Rumor had it that years ago, only a few days after Tan Huairan ascended the throne, he intended to kill his mother. Upon hearing this, the Eldest Princess galloped through the night from Yannan. A journey that originally took five days was shortened by her to a single day. Upon entering the palace, she kicked Tan Huairan so hard he remained unconscious for three days, cursing him for being heartless and unrighteous.

Three days later, Tan Huairan woke up, his temperament completely changed, and the reputation of a tyrant spread throughout the Imperial Capital.

The Eldest Princess and His Majesty also became enemies.

Just like the current state of her and Zhan De—

Zhan Yan lunged at Zhan De, no longer able to maintain her exquisite and beautiful mask, raving with hatred: “Are you insane? Have you grown the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard to dare drug His Majesty?!”

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Zhan Yan hated him to the extreme, and when she struck, her slender nails sank deep into Zhan De’s skin.

Zhan De gasped in pain. With the toxic blood acting up combined with this agony, his face grew even paler.

Zhan Yueqing watched them go mad with a calm expression, as if he had swapped identities with the Zhan Yan of moments ago.

Just now, Zhan Yan had been smiling while plotting against his sister, but now she had completely lost her decorum, appearing not at all like a noble.

However…

Zhan Yueqing was still a bit confused, but that confusion was soon resolved by Mu Zhou.

“Imperial law dictates that the sins of the father do not reach the wives and daughters. Those with marriage contracts shall marry as planned, and as for those without—as long as you were not involved in this matter, at most you will be demoted to a commoner. Miss Zhan, calm down and stop acting crazy.”

Mu Zhou said, “Otherwise, if my men end up scarring that flowery face of yours, don’t blame this uncle for being heartless.”

When he spoke softly, the end of his sentences carried a strange hook, making every word sound as if he were flirting with someone.

Zhan Yueqing raised an eyebrow slightly.

A feudal society actually has such a regulation? Is this normal? Is this truly a tyrant?

Zhan Yueqing fell into thought.

The identity of Tan Huairan became clearer in his heart.

“What do you know!!” In her desperation, Zhan Yan lost her composure and roared, “Without the Zhan family, the Su family will definitely break the engagement—”

“Hmm?” Mu Zhou swept a faint glance over her, narrowing his eyes dangerously. “It seems the Eldest Miss is not so innocent after all.”

Zhan Yan’s expression suddenly changed.

“Someone, take them away.”

Mu Zhou’s voice fell lightly.

Another bolt of thunder flashed in the sky, illuminating the pavilion. Zhan Yueqing’s pupils shrank—

In the room, a dozen or so men in black had appeared silently at some unknown moment. They wore the same long robes as Mu Zhou and were masked.

Zhan Yueqing was truly shocked this time.

He had originally thought the silent secret guards at Jinxiu Palace yesterday were only a few, never imagining there would be so many.

“Do it.”

Mu Zhou said flatly.

The three members of the Zhan family were immediately gagged and dragged away.

“As for you”

Mu Zhou picked up his sword and lazily poked Zhan Yueqing’s chest. “Lead me to the Zhan family study.”

Zhan Yueqing: “…”

Zhan Yueqing coughed slightly. “To be honest, Uncle, I hit my head two days ago and can’t quite remember where the study is…”

997 hadn’t given him the original owner’s memories, only a general background. He really didn’t know the location of the Zhan family study.

“Hmm?”

Mu Zhou spoke once more, this time with a hint of killing intent in his voice, clearly suspecting that he might not be innocent either. “I’ll give you half a stick of incense’s time to think hard. If you can’t remember, you can come with us to the Capital Guard Bureau for a ‘visit’.”

Zhan Yueqing’s mouth twitched. He glanced at the unconscious Zhan Xiaosong, wanting to shake her awake to ask, but then realized this sister wasn’t valued; even if she woke up, she might not know where the study was, so he gave up.

He let out a soft breath, preparing to skillfully use Tan Huairan’s name as a shield: “His Maj—”

“In the Capital Guard Bureau, the Son of Heaven is equal to a commoner before the law. Even His Majesty has been inside—so even if you are His Majesty’s favorite consort, you are no exception.”

Mu Zhou directly pointed out his identity.

A man entering the rear palace was a disgrace in the current court. Mu Zhou spoke this way intentionally, carrying a hint of humiliation toward the person before him.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Yueqing didn’t care at all, as if he hadn’t even noticed the sarcasm. Instead, he asked curiously, “Why did His Majesty go in? Did he make a mistake too?”

Ever since he took on the role of Tan Huairan’s “stepmother,” he hadn’t cared about such things.

Mu Zhou: “Half a stick of incense’s time is up.”

Zhan Yueqing hurriedly looked at the incense burner—the incense had fallen over with a whoosh.

This must be a counterfeit product, right? He remembered the system’s transmission table saying half a stick of incense was about eight minutes. Had eight minutes passed that quickly?

Zhan Yueqing stared with wide eyes in anger. “But I really don’t remember!”

Mu Zhou: “Men—”

“Oh, Mu Zhou, stop teasing him,” Jun Song said, huffing and puffing as he pushed open the door. He was clearly getting old and couldn’t keep up with the ghostly movements of the Capital Guard, appearing out of breath.

“Can’t you just send someone to search the manor? If he gets scared by you and starts crying, I don’t have experience in coaxing children… Hmm? So you are my freshly minted son?”

Zhan Yueqing was dazed upon hearing this, looking at the old man. “And who are you?”

Jun Song watched him for a while, then suddenly said, “I am your new father.”

Zhan Yueqing almost let out an “Ah!” in surprise but held it back, looking at Mu Zhou.

What exactly was going on?

Mu Zhou’s eyes flashed as he turned to leave, clearly having just been teasing him.

Zhan Yueqing realized in hindsight—Tan Huairan’s secret guards had said Mu Zhou was the one to clean up the aftermath; how could he actually drag him into the Capital Guard Bureau?

Mu Zhou had clearly seen he was young and wanted to scare him.

“Son! You have suffered!!” Jun Song’s tears came on command as he patted Zhan Yueqing into his embrace. “Let’s hurry back to the Grand Preceptor’s Manor! You have to report to the Imperial Hospital tomorrow!”

The original owner’s body was too weak; Zhan Yueqing felt like half his lungs were nearly patted out of him. The bandage wrapped around his neck last night seemed to have snapped from the impact, making him hiss in pain.

Grand Preceptor? Is this a Civil Grand Preceptor or a Military Grand Preceptor? Such strength?!

“Um, Grand Preceptor, I need to first—”

“Call me Father,” Jun Song said with a serious face.

Zhan Yueqing spoke to people as a person and to ghosts as a ghost; he immediately acknowledged him: “Father, I need to go back to the palace to see His Majesty first—you take my sister back first.”

He had to go into the palace to ask Tan Huairan what this meant.

Also, he wanted to confirm Tan Huairan’s identity.

At the thought that Tan Huairan might be his ex-boyfriend, Zhan Yueqing boarded the carriage back to the palace with a sense of excitement.

In the modern world, although he had betrayed Tan Huai, in the end, the Tan family fortune had gone to Tan Huai with his help.

Now that he had money and power, he didn’t think Tan Huai would hate him.

Given the choice between the kingdom and a beauty, everyone would choose the kingdom; a beauty is merely an embellishment.

Although the ‘beauty’ had eventually used terminal cancer as a ruse to fake his death and escape, that shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

Zhan Yueqing thought to himself.

If it really is Tan Huai, the system tasks will be much easier to do.

At least that pile of yellow-framed tasks could be completed…

Perhaps because his expectations were too high, a trace of vengeful emotion had actually sprouted in Zhan Yueqing’s heart—

He must be Tan Huai.

This world cannot have just me alone…

If he isn’t… if he isn’t, what should I do?

Zhan Yueqing’s expression suddenly became a bit lost.

【Warning: Self-destruction value detected at 90%!! What were you just thinking?】 997 suddenly spoke up to warn him.

“Nothing,” Zhan Yueqing lied.

997 went silent, but Zhan Yueqing felt as if it were observing him.

Thus, Zhan Yueqing stopped talking as well.

An innate alertness made him disguise his true emotions as he began to flip through the yellow-framed tasks.

997 indeed stopped probing the self-destruction value from earlier and instead recommended: 【This task to ‘Let the Tyrant touch your leg’ gives 100 points. Since you don’t want to have a sexual relationship with him yet, you can start with this.】

Zhan Yueqing felt inexplicably listless. “Fine.”

He felt the system’s algorithm was a bit miraculous—can anyone just touch a leg? And that doesn’t count as having a relationship?

Does it only count if it actually goes “inside”?

Of course, last night he had kissed the tyrant to save himself… that was different from a system task.

Zhan Yueqing thought dizzily and fell asleep leaning against the carriage.

The night deepened, snowflakes drifted down, and the palace candles flickered.

Zhan Yueqing was awakened by Zhou Jiu.

“Second Young Master, we have arrived,” Zhou Jiu knocked on the door. “Wake up?”

Zhan Yueqing frowned, opened his eyes, and sluggishly got out of the carriage. “What time is it?”

“The hour of the Ox (around midnight).”

People were kneeling outside the carriage to serve as a stepping stool. Zhan Yueqing glanced at them but didn’t step on them, choosing instead to jump down from the carriage.

Zhou Jiu was startled and supported him. “It’s nearly two feet high, why did you jump like that?”

Zhan Yueqing said lazily, “Then next time tell His Majesty to change the carriage; why does it have to be so high?”

He shook his ankles, yawned, and walked into the palace.

Zhou Jiu trotted to keep up, unable to stop muttering, “That is the Azure Dragon Fragrant Carriage used by His Majesty for travel. It looks ordinary and low-profile, but that’s just because they don’t recognize quality—there are only a few of these carriages in the whole world, and you’re complaining?”

Zhan Yueqing thought, So what?

I’ve sat on His Majesty’s lap and lost the Imperial Decree; isn’t it normal for me to dislike the carriage?

“Then just change the stool; I don’t like stepping on anyone other than His Majesty,” Zhan Yueqing sighed.

Zhou Jiu’s body jolted; he really should go see a doctor.

These auditory hallucinations were getting worse!

What did he just hear? Stepping on His Majesty?

“Where is His Majesty?” Zhan Yueqing had walked a short distance down the palace path before realizing Zhou Jiu hadn’t followed, so he turned around in confusion.

A secret guard’s hearing is different from an ordinary person’s—it’s extremely sensitive. Upon hearing this, he flickered over: “At this hour, His Majesty should be at Haiyan Palace handling government affairs.”

Zhan Yueqing paused. Midnight, and he was still handling government affairs?

Truly not a tyrant.

His withered heart was instantly brushed by a spring breeze, bringing life and sprouting a small sapling.

Zhan Yueqing’s whole being seemed to radiate a strange brilliance. His eyes lit up, and suppressing his excitement, he grabbed Zhou Jiu’s arm: “Where is Haiyan Palace?!”

As if bewitched, Zhou Jiu dazed-ly pointed in a direction.

Zhan Yueqing braved the fluttering heavy snow and charged ahead, running toward it—

The heavy, complex robes were too much; he was forced to lift his skirts and run, leaving the whistling wind and the secret guards behind.

“Wait!” Zhou Jiu suddenly remembered something. “His Majesty said you aren’t to see him before the hour of the Ox (1:00 AM)!”

Zhan Yueqing had already run far away, the vast palace path covered in snow, leaving behind a series of small footprints.