The Cannon Fodder Was Pampered By The Tyrant - Chapter 24

“I have never kissed anyone else. I have only kissed you.”

The dead of night was silent. Deep within the forest, the carriage had long been waiting at its original spot.

When the attendants saw Si Yan emerging with Lin Yutian in her arms, their expressions didn’t even flicker at the sight of the tiger following behind them. After all, most of them knew of the tiger’s existence. Though they didn’t know its origins, they knew the Emperor had kept it by her side since before her ascension. It was only gentle toward Her Majesty, and thus it was kept in this secluded area, away from others.

Miss Lin has her eyes tightly shut; could she have been scared unconscious?

Si Yan turned to Lulu and said, “Go back.”

Lulu whimpered twice, clearly reluctant to leave.

Si Yan’s tone sharpened. “Be good.”

Seeing that Si Yan truly had no intention of staying, Lulu finally turned and left despondently.

“Return to the palace.”

Si Yan retracted her gaze and carried Lin Yutian into the carriage.

The Failed Escape

Lin Yutian’s grand plan to escape had ended in failure. It hadn’t even been twelve hours.

But this didn’t mean her crisis was over. She remembered Si Yan’s words vividly, she was going to break her legs and lock her up. If her legs were broken, everything would be over. She had to find a way to stabilize Si Yan’s emotions.

However, Lin Yutian had no solution other than avoidance. When Si Yan had asked that question earlier, she truly didn’t know how to answer, so she simply pretended to faint from exhaustion in Si Yan’s arms.

She didn’t know if Si Yan believed her, but the Emperor had only let out an ambiguous chuckle before pulling her tighter into her embrace.

Though it was inappropriate, Lin Yutian felt Si Yan’s embrace was warm. Having been so lost while running away alone, she felt a rare sting in her nose. When her parents were alive, she had celebrated being away from home for a few days. Why, then, did she feel this lingering attachment in the arms of the person who threatened to break her legs?

Before she could finish her thoughts, she felt a weight settle over her followed by warmth. Si Yan had draped her own cloak over her shoulders, and the scent of flowers filled her senses.

…Wasn’t she just furious? Why is she covering me now?

Lin Yutian wasn’t particularly sleepy, but after smelling that familiar scent, she drifted off. She was truly exhausted, today’s physical exertion had far exceeded her body’s limits.

Only after the person in her arms began to breathe steadily did Si Yan lift the hem of her garment to look at her ankle. Under the dim oil lamp, she could clearly see the girl’s fair ankle was badly swollen, covered in tiny scratches from the brush.

“Stupid,” she murmured softly.

The Apothecary’s Confession

In the silent streets of the capital, an apothecary shopkeeper was dozing off. Suddenly, two figures dressed in black entered with stern faces. “Our Master has questions for you.”

Seeing they were not to be trifled with, the shopkeeper’s drowsiness vanished. After a moment’s hesitation, he followed them outside. A magnificent carriage stood before the shop, clearly the property of a high-ranking family.

The curtain was pulled back, revealing a cold, beautiful face that made the shopkeeper daze for a moment.

“What did she buy from you today?”

From his angle, the shopkeeper could see the person held in her arms only a small face was visible, the rest bundled tightly in clothes. Knowing he couldn’t afford to offend this person, he smiled flatteringly. “That lady bought… herbal medicine from me.”

“For what purpose?” Si Yan asked.

The shopkeeper hesitated. This looked like a precious treasure of a household who had run away. If the Master found out what he had sold her…

“Speak the truth,” the black-clad guard said coldly.

The shopkeeper shuddered. “The lady bought medicine to treat… her orientation.”

“Orientation?”

The shopkeeper bit the bullet. “Medicine to cure a woman of liking other women.”

The street seemed to grow even quieter. He peeked at the young woman in the carriage and saw the corners of her lips curl into a faint smile.

“Can it truly be cured?” she asked, glancing at him.

The shopkeeper dared not lie further. With a miserable face, he confessed, “It has no such effect. It is merely ordinary nourishing tea.”

“How much did you charge her?”

“Three taels of silver.” Fearing further trouble, the shopkeeper pulled out his purse. “I will refund the money to the lady right now.”

“No need,” the young woman said calmly. “But if you continue to sell such things, you know the consequences.”

The shopkeeper immediately dropped to his knees. “I understand! I will never do it again!”

He remained kneeling for a long time. Only after the sound of the wheels faded did he dare to look up, trembling as he climbed up to take down the sign for “Orientation Treatment” overnight.

The Confrontation

Lin Yutian woke from a very deep sleep. When she opened her eyes and saw unfamiliar rafters, she blinked in a daze. As the memories of last night flooded back, she sat up abruptly.

Si Yan said she’d break my legs!

She looked around and realized this palace was different from Si Yan’s. Si Yan’s was minimalist and cold; this room felt much more lived-in.

Where was she?

Before she could investigate, she heard someone approaching. She quickly scrambled back under the covers and closed her eyes. She heard the door open and Si Yan’s voice instructing: “Bring the items here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lin Yutian lay there, heart racing. What items? Things to break my legs?

The footsteps drew closer. Lin Yutian’s hands clenched under the quilt. Finally, the footsteps stopped by her bed. Silence followed. She could feel Si Yan’s gaze burning into her. She channeled her best acting skills to stay “asleep.”

As long as I don’t wake up, she can’t break my legs.

Seeing her trembling eyelashes, Si Yan murmured intentionally, “Still not awake? Doing it once while she’s sleeping wouldn’t be bad either.”

“?”

When Si Yan’s hand moved from her ankle toward her thigh, Lin Yutian could no longer maintain the charade. She forced her eyes open.

Looking at Si Yan, she saw the Emperor had already retracted her hand, looking as if she had expected this. “Awake?”

Lin Yutian gave an awkward smile. “Just woke up.” She sat up and cleared her throat. “Good morning, Your Majesty. Why aren’t you at court today?”

“You’re more concerned than I am,” Si Yan remarked. “But do you like me going to court, or do you just like finding gaps to sneak away?”

Lin Yutian tried to play dumb. “I don’t quite understand what Your Majesty means.”

“Lost your memory?” Si Yan chuckled. “Then I shall help you remember.”

“I remember!” Lin Yutian blurted out.

“Everything?”

Lin Yutian replied miserably, “Everything.”

“Then… what do you plan to do now?” Si Yan leaned in slightly, her voice soft.

Lin Yutian wondered if it was a hallucination, but Si Yan looked even more exquisitely dressed than usual today, smelling fresh as if she had just bathed.

…What are you thinking? She’s going to break your legs, and you’re here being a fan-girl.

Lin Yutian condemned herself internally. But then she thought: If she breaks my legs, maybe I’ll hate her and stop liking her. When I’m a ‘plaything’ that’s broken, she’ll surely find someone else.

She looked up at the Emperor, her voice trembling but firm. “Since I’ve been caught, you can kill me or cut me as you wish.”

Si Yan knew she was nervous. She felt a surge of displeasure. She’s already starting to like me, so why is she still thinking of ‘death’?

She pinched Lin Yutian’s chin. “You certainly have self-awareness. Then don’t cry out in pain this afternoon.”

Lin Yutian gripped the blanket, feeling a surge of bitterness. To Si Yan, was she really just a thoughtless plaything to be locked up if she didn’t obey?

“Then why wait until the afternoon? You might as well have someone break my legs now,” Lin Yutian said, turning her head away peevishly. “To Your Majesty, am I not just a bedmate?”

Si Yan’s eyes narrowed, her voice turning cold and incredulous. “You think I treat you as a bedmate?”

“Is that not it?” Lin Yutian looked at her with reddened eyes, letting all her suppressed emotions out. “You keep me locked in a room, and all you do when you return is kiss me. You never ask what I’ve learned or how my mood is. If that’s not a bedmate, what is?”

She waited for Si Yan’s rage or mockery. Instead, she felt a warmth on her face. Si Yan wiped the corner of her eye with her thumb.

“So, this is how you have viewed me all this time?” Si Yan spoke calmly. Seeing Lin Yutian’s confused expression, she decided to be blunt.

“That was my oversight. But Yutian, the meaning of a kiss is more than just that one thing.”

“I only want to kiss you. Do you understand now?”