The Seductive Beauty Breaks the Insecure Bottom Script [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 35.2

Yet, for some reason, the Emperor seemed to have forgotten the man today, even failing to remember his name.

“Is that so? Then let us go out and see him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eunuch Zhao dared not say more. He had already sensed from the Emperor’s expression that Song Mingjiao was no longer interested in Shang Nanxuan far from the previous period where his passion bordered on the un-emperor-like.

Imperial favor is as fleeting as flowing water.

Eunuch Zhao had seen much of this. He simply shook his head inwardly: it seemed that the previous special treatments for Shang Nanxuan would no longer be necessary.

The maids and eunuchs had finished dressing Song Mingjiao in his dragon robes. Today was a day of rest, so there was no morning court session. He did not wear the heavy, complex imperial crown, but instead a “commoner’s crown” low-key yet luxurious.

Song Mingjiao stood before the bronze mirror. Ancient technology was inferior to modern times; even the bronze mirror in the Emperor’s hall could not perfectly reflect his figure.

However, he could see that this was still his own body every part was familiar, only the hair had changed, likely the modification the System performed upon entry.

“All of you, withdraw.”

Song Mingjiao walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation into the connected side chamber (warm pavilion). He dismissed everyone, leaving only Eunuch Zhao waiting at the door.

“Greetings to Your Majesty.”

A man was sitting in the warm pavilion. He looked cold and arrogant, with a familiar air of detached pretense. Seeing Song Mingjiao walk out of the inner chamber, he slowly rose to salute.

This was Shang Nanxuan, the male lead of this world’s plot, the center of the world favored by the System, and the object Song Mingjiao was supposed to chase, fawn over, and feel inferior toward.

Song Mingjiao took a brief glance and had no intention of wasting too much attention on this person. He looked somewhat similar to Mo Qin’an from the previous world.

Sure enough, the people I hate always have something in common, Song Mingjiao mused inwardly.

“It seems the Zhuangyuan’s palace etiquette still needs some work.”

Song Mingjiao was referring to the fact that while waiting for the Emperor, Shang Nanxuan was sitting comfortably in the warm pavilion.

As expected of a plot protagonist, that dismissive, self-centered, and annoying attitude remained unchanged across worlds.

The young Emperor walked over, a faint smile on his lips as he spoke those words lightly words which, if spread, would be enough for the Censorate to impeach Shang Nanxuan for half a year.

The current Emperor had taken power at a young age and was slightly shorter than Shang Nanxuan. Yet, as he walked over, he brought an inexplicable sense of pressure. Even beneath the fine robes specially prepared for the Qionglin Banquet, beads of sweat began to form on Shang Nanxuan’s back.

“Eunuch Zhao told me to sit. I thought it was Your Majesty’s intention,” Shang Nanxuan explained through gritted teeth.

In just one day, he felt that the young Emperor before him had changed significantly. He no longer appeared beautiful and fragile, his eyes no longer filled with the light of affection and longing, nor did he gaze at him fervently or use imperial schemes to force him onto a path of no return.

Shang Nanxuan was not a “broken sleeve” (homosexual) and had always detested the Emperor’s behavior.

Eunuch Zhao, trying to remain invisible by the door, felt his heart jump. He wished he could throw his fly-whisk at the man.

What an ungrateful wretch! If the Emperor hadn’t favored him, why would he have been given special treatment? Now he had thrown the eunuch under the bus directly.

“Then, is the way you are speaking to me now also something Eunuch Zhao taught you?”

Song Mingjiao asked with a beaming smile.

He had just glanced at the settings. As expected, the male lead of this world was just like the one in the last a waste. Born of humble origin, orphaned, with no family background or influence. He had failed the imperial exams multiple times and was only a minor scholar.

It was only because the Emperor, during a random incognito visit, took a fancy to him while he was studying in a school that his luck changed. The Emperor hired tutors, brought him to the capital, and bestowed upon him a private imperial residence complete with servants and cooks.

All along, short of giving him the exam questions directly, the Emperor had used the best resources to build him up, including predicting exam topics.

With such protection, Shang Nanxuan had barely made it to the final palace exam. The palace exam was the Emperor’s domain, which was the only reason he now held the title of Zhuangyuan.

But looking at the Zhuangyuan’s reluctant face now, he likely thought just like Mo Qinan that he had reached this point through his own ability and even believed Song Mingjiao was an obstacle to his glorious career.

Song Mingjiao had no intention of following the inferiority persona from the start, nor did he intend to give Shang Nanxuan any face. He spoke those high-pressure words directly.

Opposite him, Shang Nanxuan felt as if he were sitting on needles. He forgot the rule about not looking directly at the Son of Heaven and looked up, asking foolishly, “What?”

Eunuch Zhao lowered his head, unable to watch Shang Nanxuan’s stupidity. He finally understood why the Emperor had changed his mind; this Zhuangyuan was indeed not fit for the stage.

Whether the Zhuangyuan truly didn’t understand or was intentionally playing dumb, he had failed to perform the full grand kowtow both when first seeing the Emperor and now when the Emperor was clearly angry and questioning him only offering a slight cupping of the hands.

“Kneel.”

Song Mingjiao laughed, but the smile did not reach his eyes, and a hint of coldness could be seen at the corner of his mouth.

Shang Nanxuan’s eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. “What are you saying? Didn’t you say before that in private, you excused me from the grand kowtow?”

Eunuch Zhao closed his eyes at the door: He’s a goner. This Master Shang still thinks he’s in favor. He hasn’t noticed at all that the imperial will has already turned.

Song Mingjiao found Shang Nanxuan’s current state quite amusing.

He didn’t necessarily want to maliciously target the male lead every time, but this person was truly a piece of mud that couldn’t stick to a wall. Moreover, he was both stupid and disgusting, making Song Mingjiao unwilling to waste even a bit of thought on him.

Song Mingjiao’s face went cold. The smile he had been feigning vanished instantly, replaced by imperial ruthlessness.

“I said, kneel.”

As soon as he spoke, without needing Song Mingjiao to signal, the eunuchs by his side who were as sharp as spirits immediately came forward. They pressed down on Shang Nanxuan’s shoulders and forcibly forced the new Zhuangyuan to his knees before the Emperor.

Song Mingjiao was very satisfied with this position; finally, he didn’t have to look up at these men who were taller than him. He leaned down, and his noble hand patted Shang Nanxuan’s cheek.

“When a meeting is considered ‘private’ is for me to decide.”

Then, Song Mingjiao stood up straight and left the warm pavilion without looking back, making no mention of traveling together to the banquet.

His back was cold and indifferent. He waved a hand, his voice trailing back like the wind:

“Have someone watch him. He is to kneel for a full half-hour before being allowed to rise. Let him learn palace etiquette properly. After all, he is the Zhuangyuan I personally selected; don’t let him embarrass me at the Qionglin Banquet.”

Eunuch Zhao answered in a low voice, following Song Mingjiao closely to accompany him. He didn’t dare mention the Emperor’s previous plan to bring the Zhuangyuan along.

Kneeling on the floor, Shang Nanxuan clenched his fists as a wave of boundless humiliation washed over him.

Never before had he felt the gap in status between himself and Song Mingjiao so clearly. But in this palace of strict rules and armed guards, Shang Nanxuan dared not resist the Emperor’s command.

Previously, he wasn’t blind to the Emperor’s feelings after all, the Emperor had given him so many resources. But Song Mingjiao had never put on imperial airs in front of him before; he had even seemed guilty, as if his imperial selfishness had “defiled” a future pillar of the state.

Shang Nanxuan had thought the same. He enjoyed the Emperor’s favor while righteously accepting his “compensation,” never imagining the day the wind would change.

Now, he could only ask the remaining young eunuch in a low, humble voice, “Excuse me, could you tell me why… His Majesty is like this today?”

The young eunuch wasn’t as attuned to the Emperor’s heart as the head eunuch, but he knew one thing: he had been taught from childhood to revere the Son of Heaven. Moreover, the current Emperor, though young, had a reputation for virtue and was highly regarded by officials and citizens alike.

Therefore, the young eunuch glared angrily at Shang Nanxuan. “Whatever His Majesty says is correct! You must not be disrespectful!”

Shang Nanxuan felt his blood boil with humiliation, but in the end, he could only shut his mouth miserably.

On the other side, Song Mingjiao had already boarded the Emperor’s exclusive carriage and arrived at the Qionglin Banquet.

The civil and military officials and the new graduates, who had been bustling with conversation, fell silent upon seeing that bright yellow figure. they hurried from their seats to salute.

“Peace and longevity to Your Majesty!”

Amidst the rising waves of greetings, Song Mingjiao stepped up to the head seat of the banquet. He showed no cowardice or struggle with the persona; even the System was being sarcastic in his mind, saying it was a pity he wasn’t an actual Emperor.

To be honest, Song Mingjiao felt the System was wronging him. Except in front of the annoying male lead, he wasn’t someone who liked to put on airs constantly. He didn’t intentionally make the officials kneel for too long and quickly called for them to “rise.”

Once the officials were seated, Song Mingjiao finally cast his gaze across the room to examine his “corporate team” for this world.

However, that casual glance caused Song Mingjiao to see a familiar profile.

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