The Cannon Fodder Was Pampered By The Tyrant - Chapter 19

“My person is not for the likes of you to judge.”

An intoxicated Lin Yutian was clearly not easy to coax. She didn’t forgive Si Yan just because of an apology, yet she didn’t reject Si Yan when the woman held her.

The scent on Si Yan was different from anyone else’s. The outer layer of her robes carried a somewhat majestic sandalwood incense, but smelling her up close revealed another fragrance soft, elegant, and refined.

Lin Yutian sniffed her, and for reasons unknown, her thoughts turned somber again.

Seeing that she was on the verge of tears once more, Si Yan felt a massive headache coming on.

For three months, Lin Yutian hadn’t cried once despite being bullied by her at every turn. Why was it that after a bit of wine, she acted as if she had endured a lifetime of grievances?

Lin Yutian felt a deep repulsion toward her current behavior. “It’s all your fault…”

Because of Si Yan, even her love for money was no longer pure.

Si Yan decided not to argue with a drunkard. “Mhm, it’s all We’s fault.”

“Why do you have to be so good-looking?”

To this moment, Lin Yutian believed it was entirely because Si Yan was too beautiful that her sexual orientation was being shaken. This trip had not only left her return home indefinitely delayed, but she was also at risk of becoming a lesbian.

She didn’t want to become like this.

“Are you ever going to be reasonable?”

Si Yan found it amusing.

She gathered Lin Yutian into her arms and slowly stood up. “Little drunkard, I won’t hold it against you.”

Lin Yutian’s arms naturally hooked around her neck, her head resting quietly against Si Yan’s chest.

After Si Yan laid her on the bed, she removed Lin Yutian’s shoes and socks.

Lin Yutian fell asleep the moment she hit the mattress.

Si Yan tidied the stray hairs on her forehead. “I’ll let you off the hook today.”

If things had to be done while she was drunk, Si Yan would rather not do them at all.

She pressed a light kiss to Lin Yutian’s forehead. “Sleep.”

Lin Yutian slept until the sun was high in the sky. When she finally opened her eyes, she felt exhausted, as if she had been beaten up.

Her thoughts slowly returned to her. She sluggishly recalled the events of the previous night, but she only remembered the scenes before she got drunk, everything after that was a total blank.

She had likely just fallen asleep.

It seemed drinking was somewhat useful after all.

Lin Yutian turned her head and realized Si Yan wasn’t by her side. A strange sense of loss washed over her.

“Scumbag,” Lin Yutian muttered. “Running off right after sleeping together.”

And she had the nerve to say she didn’t view her as a bedmate. If she was so precious, why did she ditch her the moment they were done?

From now on, she wouldn’t believe a single word out of Si Yan’s mouth.

Lin Yutian also keenly realized that her emotions were fluctuating more and more because of Si Yan.

This wasn’t like her at all.

An inexplicable anxiety gripped her. She really had to go back, she couldn’t delay any longer.

But Si Yan’s people were always watching her. Forget dying, it was difficult to even get a scratch on herself.

Lin Yutian truly found herself in a position where she couldn’t die even if she wanted to.

So, what method should she use?

At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door.

“Miss Lin, are you awake?”

Lin Yutian immediately snapped out of it. “Please, come in.”

A palace maid entered and set dishes on the table. “Her Majesty will not be returning for the midday meal.”

Sleeping with me and then not even willing to eat with me?

Lin Yutian had long expected that Si Yan would eventually lose interest in her, and she had been looking forward to that day.

However, she hadn’t anticipated that when it actually happened, she would feel so unadapted to it.

Lin Yutian hesitated for a moment before asking, “Where is she?”

The maid replied respectfully, “Envoys from the State of Zhou have arrived today. Her Majesty is hosting a banquet in the Great Hall.”

“The State of Zhou?”

“A small allied nation. Her Majesty led a personal expedition there two years ago, and they have visited every year since.”

Lin Yutian nodded. “I see. Thank you.”

Once the maid left, Lin Yutian slowly sat before the bronze mirror, staring at her own face.

Since Si Yan had already lost interest in her, she didn’t mind giving her a little “push” out the door.

Si Yan didn’t want her to go? Fine, she would go anyway.

If she made a complete fool of herself in the Great Hall, she didn’t believe Si Yan would still keep her around.

Lin Yutian changed into beautiful clothes and did her makeup before quietly staring at her reflection.

A moment later, her eyes blinked, feeling slightly sore.

Hadn’t she anticipated this day long ago?

To think she had spent so much effort trying to figure out Si Yan’s thoughts, it turned out it was all just her own unrequited sentiment.

Lin Yutian walked quickly. As she reached the entrance of the Great Hall, she first heard a man’s booming voice: “Does Your Majesty have any plans for marriage now?”

Lin Yutian’s footsteps faltered, and her heart tightened suddenly.

Claiming there would be no one else, and even reciting my preferences one by one last night… and yet she can’t help herself now?

Human hearts change so fast.

Lin Yutian walked up a few more steps and saw Si Yan sitting on the dragon throne with a calm expression. Envoys sat at tables on either side, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

It was one of the few times Lin Yutian truly felt the overwhelming, oppressive aura emanating from Si Yan.

As if sensing Lin Yutian’s gaze, Si Yan looked up and happened to meet her eyes.

Whether it was Lin Yutian’s imagination or not, Si Yan seemed to freeze for a split second.

As expected, she didn’t think I would show up.

Lin Yutian felt a sourness in her heart.

She wanted to see exactly how Si Yan would introduce her.

As she slowly entered the hall, the noisy crowd fell into an instant, breathless silence.

Lin Yutian walked up to Si Yan, intending to admire her reaction, but she found that Si Yan didn’t seem angry at all. Instead, those eyes which had been indifferent just moments ago, now carried a faint, flickering smile.

Is her composure really that steady?

She had shown up so boldly at an event like this, yet Si Yan still wasn’t angry.

“Why are you just standing there?”

Si Yan patted the space beside her. “Come, sit.”

“….?”

Lin Yutian understood now. Si Yan was just protecting her own dignity, she would likely explode in a rage once this was over.

So, she lifted her skirt and sat beside Si Yan with visible reluctance.

She wanted to see how Si Yan would wrap this up.

A former bedmate suddenly appearing at such an event dressed so vibrantly. Si Yan must think she had forgotten her place.

Si Yan, assuming Lin Yutian was just grumpy from waking up, spoke up: “This is…”

An envoy on the side, thinking he understood the situation, said loudly, “This must be the future Empress, then!”

Lin Yutian: “?”

Why is there a lightning-round for answering?

Before her confusion could settle, the room was filled with voices of agreement. “But of course!”

“The Lady is so beautiful and such a perfect match for Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

Lin Yutian felt she had successfully set the stage.

She stole a glance at Si Yan and found that she was smiling too.

She must be driven mad with rage.

The booming envoy said, “I have come today with a gift for Your Majesty, but I must ask for the Lady’s opinion first.”

His tone turned somewhat meaningful toward the end.

Lin Yutian didn’t understand. What could possibly require her opinion?

For a moment, all eyes were on her.

Lin Yutian cleared her throat. “Then… let’s see it.”

Otherwise, since they had prepared a gift, it wouldn’t be right to refuse.

However, the moment she spoke, five women dressed in lavish clothing and wearing veils entered the hall.

“My State of Zhou has always been known for its song and dance. Today, I have specifically chosen several of our most ethereal maidens to present to Your Majesty.”

The envoy’s fawning tone was unmistakable.

Only then did Lin Yutian realize what the “gift” he mentioned actually was.

Her face turned cold instantly. She first glared at the envoy, then glared at Si Yan.

Scumbag.

Si Yan was baffled by the glare.

The atmosphere in the room turned silent. Lin Yutian noticed that one of the girls seemed unsteady on her feet. Though she wore makeup, it was clear she was unwell.

Before Lin Yutian could speak, the girl collapsed onto the floor.

The envoy’s expression shifted, and he began to scold her, “What is wrong with you?”

The girl clutched her stomach and slowly stood back up. “I am sorry.”

With a pale face, she said, “I can still dance.”

“This is for Her Majesty’s..”

“Enough.”

Lin Yutian’s voice rang out sharply.

Her expression was cold. “Is the ‘gift’ you speak of simply forcing a woman who is clearly unwell to get up and dance?”

The envoy’s face stiffened. In his heart, he sneered at Lin Yutian.

Everyone knew she was just a palace maid by origin, reaching her current position surely required every trick in the book.

But seeing how favored she was now, he couldn’t confront her directly. He could only resort to sarcasm: “I am terrified by your words, My Lady. But on a battlefield, there is no room for retreat.”

Lin Yutian wasn’t about to fall for his trap. “So, is today’s banquet a battlefield to you?”

“I meant no such thing.”

Lin Yutian looked at him and suddenly said, “I think you’re quite fit for it. Why don’t you come out and perform a dance for us instead?”

The envoy’s expression turned ugly. “I am but a coarse man. I do not know such things.”

Lin Yutian curved her lips into a smile. “Didn’t you say your State of Zhou was the most skilled in song and dance? How is it that you don’t know? Or is it that you think Her Majesty isn’t worthy of watching you?”

She made sure to throw a sarcastic jab at Si Yan while she was at it.

She refused to believe Si Yan wouldn’t get angry at this.

“Mhm.”

Si Yan lightly put her arm around Lin Yutian’s waist. “We shall do as Ayu says.”

Lin Yutian looked at her strangely.

What is wrong with Si Yan?

Is she truly driven mad by anger?

Forced to dance like a buffoon in front of everyone, the envoy was already fuming. Seeing that the person who had ordered him to do so wasn’t even sparing him a glance now, he felt utterly insulted.

His fists clenched tightly, but Si Yan gave him a cool, sidelong glance, and he didn’t dare do anything.

“I have finished the dance,” he said, swallowing his temper.

Lin Yutian figured since things had come this far, she might as well make a bigger scene. “Besides dancing, what other talents do you have? Let me have a proper look.”

As soon as she said this, the expressions of the others in the room soured.

The envoy, unable to endure the humiliation further, snapped, “Why does the Lady persist in making things difficult for me? I have never offended you, have I?”

Lin Yutian thought to herself: Truly, people don’t know pain until the boards hit their own backs.

She had played the “spoiled consort” role enough and decided to give Si Yan one last disgusting push before her metaphorical demise.

Lin Yutian leaned her head into Si Yan’s embrace and said in a soft, cloying voice, “Your Majesty, do you think I am making things difficult for him?”

Right now, Si Yan was in an awkward position, but Lin Yutian knew she would surely choose the stupid envoy.

When that happened, to show her sincerity to the foreign state, Si Yan would surely punish her severely.

“Of course not.”

Si Yan played along.

Lin Yutian’s entire body went rigid.

Why was that the answer?

The envoy, who had been suppressing a bellyful of rage, finally dropped his facade. “If Your Majesty insists on favoring such an uneducat.”

Before his words could leave his mouth, blood spilled from his throat.

Before Lin Yutian could see clearly, her vision went black as her eyes were covered. She could only hear the chaotic noise around her and Si Yan’s voice.

“My person is not for the likes of you to judge.”