Chapter 13

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives—!”

Zhao Sheng’s shrill voice rang out. Xie Tinglan promptly set down the chess piece in her hand, turned, and followed closely behind Helian Shaohua as she stepped out of Golden Phoenix Palace and bowed in the courtyard to the man in dragon robes.

“This concubine pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“This subject pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Emperor Yuan looked at Helian Shaohua and couldn’t help but smile gently. “Rise, both of you.”

He stepped forward and personally helped Helian Shaohua to her feet. She looked up at him with a smile, her expression tender and alluring. “Your Majesty, did you come here to see Prime Minister Xie?”

The Emperor lightly patted the back of Helian Shaohua’s hand and said in a low voice, “I know you and Prime Minister Xie are close. I do have something important to discuss today. I’ll apologize to you properly afterward, all right?”

“Your Majesty naturally should put the state first. This concubine will wait in the side hall.”

Helian Shaohua turned to glance at the palace maid who had been silent by her side, and the two of them then went toward the side hall. Emperor Yuan and Xie Tinglan entered the main hall, leaving Zhao Sheng outside.

As soon as the Emperor sat down, he asked urgently, “Who injured you this time? Do you have any leads?”

Xie Tinglan stood and poured tea for him. A flash of cold malice crossed her eyes; she filled the cup to seven-tenths before letting out a soft sigh and saying helplessly, “Your Majesty, the ones who came this time were all death warriors. This subject did everything she could, but she still couldn’t find any trace of the mastermind behind it.”

Emperor Yuan exhaled, his handsome sword-like brows tightening. “It must be those people from the Zhongshan Prince’s manor again.”

“Your Majesty is wise. This subject also believes they can’t be cleared of suspicion in this matter.”

Seeing that Xie Tinglan was still standing, Emperor Yuan immediately told her to sit before continuing, “You did very well in court today. That should have taken some of Duke of Wei’s edge off.”

“Serving Your Majesty and easing your burdens is this subject’s duty.”

Xie Tinglan’s reply was cool and indifferent. Emperor Yuan said again, “In that case, do you plan to take charge of the military ledgers for the three Yuanzhou cities again?”

Xie Tinglan’s brow twitched. “This subject’s body has grown even frailer after this injury. If Your Majesty has a better candidate, then I will naturally obey Your Majesty’s orders.”

She clasped her hands in salute, looking entirely willing to be directed at will, and Emperor Yuan couldn’t help but curve his lips. “My dear minister should put her health first. I will find someone suitable to share your burden as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After half a cup of tea, the most honored man in Great Yan left. Xie Tinglan watched him go, the depths of her eyes dark and unreadable, concealing calculations known to no one.

This court was full of wolves and tigers; murder and devouring were common. Even the wolf standing at the very top could not escape becoming prey.

**

In the side hall, Helian Shaohua was standing at the desk, writing. Her fingers, adorned with gold-inlaid nail guards, curled slightly as she leisurely wrote the character for “still” on the paper.

“Zhuiying.”

Helian Shaohua set down the brush and turned to look at the expressionless palace maid beside her. “What do you think of this character I wrote?”

The maid lowered her eyes to glance at it. After a long moment, she said, “Your Majesty, this subordinate does not know.”

Helian Shaohua put down the brush, then turned to Shen Zhuiying with a gentle smile. “Zhuiying.”

She lifted a hand and lightly traced Shen Zhuiying’s cheek with her fingertips; the gold nail guards gently brushed past her earlobe. “Only you are absolutely honest with me.”

Shen Zhuiying’s face reddened. She did not dodge, only said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, this subordinate’s life belongs to Your Majesty. I would never speak a single false word.”

Helian Shaohua’s lips curved slightly. Before she could continue, Zhao Sheng’s voice came from outside.

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives—!”

Hearing that shrill voice beyond the door, Helian Shaohua carefully adjusted her collar and said softly, “Today I want to eat the roast chicken you make.”

“...This subordinate will take her leave first.”

Helian Shaohua turned in one fluid motion, and the person who had been standing beside her was gone without a trace. Only the window frame trembled faintly, as if brushed by an irritating breeze.

Helian Shaohua looked toward the main door, a tender smile playing on her lips, and stepped forward to greet him...

**

The second day after being caught and tormented by Yin Yue, Ye Rui’s thighs hurt so badly she didn’t even want to move. She had only held a horse stance for a short while before she crashed heavily to the ground.

“I can’t do it anymore, Miss Yin Yue. Can I rest for a bit?”

Yesterday she had practiced horse stance for half a day, then run ten laps around the entire Xie residence. Ye Rui had had countless impulsive thoughts about becoming space trash and ending it all in one clean shot.

But in the end, she still gritted her teeth and endured it. Maybe Xie Tinglan was right; she really was a cowardly little thing. She was too scared to die, but the moment she saw Yin Yue, she also didn’t want to live.

“Rest then.”

Yin Yue looked terribly disappointed, but after thinking it over, she realized she had indeed been demanding a lot from Ye Rui these past two days. It was probably because Xie Tinglan had said, “Her aptitude is pretty good,” so she had developed a bit more expectation toward Ye Rui.

Training really couldn’t be rushed.

“I’ll go get you some medicinal oil.”

“Okay, okay, thank you, Miss Yin Yue.”

Ye Rui really did not want to see Yin Yue anymore; that woman had already left her with psychological trauma. As soon as Yin Yue left through the arched gate, Ye Rui immediately sat down in a stone chair, then flopped over the stone table and pretended to be dead. Her arms ached, her legs ached, everything ached; she really couldn’t hold the stance anymore.

Hu Tu: 【Hey, hey, Ye Rui, I’ve got a side quest here. If you succeed, I’ll give you twenty points of stamina, which will be very useful for your martial training later!】

Hearing that, Ye Rui felt the tragic weight of a beast of burden being squeezed dry once more. In a weak, lifeless voice, she replied to Hu Tu: 【Go on. What task?】

Hu Tu: 【Win the archery competition inside the manor!】

Ye Rui’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Her body was about to shut down; she really couldn’t hold on anymore. 【And if I lose...?】

Hu Tu: 【Deduct five points of stamina. Your current stamina is twenty-five.】

Ye Rui gave a bitter smile and muttered a few yeses before drifting off into a daze. She no longer cared where she was and simply fell asleep wherever she lay.

Probably because her sleeping posture was terrible, Ye Rui had all kinds of fragmented dreams: some from her previous life, some from this one, and all sorts of messy people and events, until someone patted her awake.

A fair hand lightly tapped her arm. Ye Rui let out a muffled sound, then emitted a low, catlike hum. “Miss Yin Yue... let me sleep a little longer. Just a little longer.”

Ye Rui also felt pretty impressed with herself; even half-asleep, she could still remember where she was and what she was doing, and she mumbled the words in hopes that Yin Yue would spare her.

Probably because Yin Yue’s intimidation had become too strong, so strong that even in her sleep she still remembered she had to keep practicing horse stance.

“If you want to sleep, go sleep in your room. Is this comfortable?”

This was... so nice?! Yin Yue was actually letting her go back to sleep?! Impossible, absolutely impossible! Was she still dreaming?!

No, that wasn’t Yin Yue’s voice!

Ye Rui sat up abruptly, instantly clearing her head. She subconsciously wiped at the corner of her mouth; thankfully, she hadn’t drooled. Someone was indeed standing beside her, and that scent was far too familiar. Even without looking directly, she knew exactly who it was.

“Dazed?”

Xie Tinglan curled her lips in a light smile and tilted her head, trying to see what this person was spacing out about. Unexpectedly, Ye Rui suddenly stood up; even Xie Tinglan was startled by that.

Why was this person always jumping at shadows?

“You, y-you... why are you back?”

Ye Rui nearly lost her footing. Fortunately, she braced herself on the stone table beside her, so she didn’t make a fool of herself by stumbling over in front of Xie Tinglan.

Xie Tinglan gave a low laugh and sat down, letting out a sigh. “Oh? So you didn’t want to see me?”

“No, I just...”

Before the word “curious” could leave her mouth, Xie Tinglan cut her off first. “Then that means you do want to see me.”

Ye Rui: “...”

This unreasonable woman!

Enduring the pain in her legs, Ye Rui sat down too, showing not the least bit of self-awareness as a guard. She knew the hierarchy in this country was very clear; even a demon like Yin Yue was respectful and deferential toward Xie Tinglan, and she ought to imitate that.

However, the pride in Ye Rui’s bones, and the soul-deep demand she had for equal relationships, meant that even though she knew what she should do, she did not want to do it.

She did not wish to be a servant; nor did she want to bow and scrape because of the difference in status.

This act of sitting was not merely casual; it was also a test of Xie Tinglan, a blade meant to break through the barrier of status.

Xie Tinglan glanced at Ye Rui and brushed the sycamore leaves off the stone table. “It’s only been two days, and you can’t take it anymore?”

“Not even an ox could take it.”

Xie Tinglan: “...”

Ye Rui rolled her eyes. She had a lot she wanted to complain about; the resentment in her now was terrifyingly strong, and even if the other person was Xie Tinglan, she wasn’t afraid.

“I heard Miss Yin Yue say you wouldn’t be back for three days. Why are you back on the second day?”

Xie Tinglan looked at Ye Rui. The other girl was staring straight at her; though awkwardness had already surfaced in her eyes, she still refused to look away. No one knew what she was stubbornly competing over.

“I went to Linglong Fragrance in the north of the city and had some good tea. Then I thought there was an interesting person in the manor waiting for me, so I came back early.”

Ye Rui: “...”

Was she talking about me?

Seeing Ye Rui dazed as if she were thinking about something, Xie Tinglan only smiled lightly. “So, how much do you think those five fire sparrow grasses can sell for now?”

Right, there was still that matter!

Ye Rui certainly could not judge how much Xie Tinglan was worth. But after several thoughts spun through her mind, she smiled and said, “Then you’re not suited to be a merchant either. If you had sold them when I said five taels, wouldn’t you have saved yourself a large sum of silver?”

Xie Tinglan shook her head and looked Ye Rui up and down, then said in a low voice, “I could indeed buy them with five taels, but what I want is more than just fire sparrow grass.”

Ye Rui’s heart lurched. Under Xie Tinglan’s increasingly aggressive gaze, she was just about to look away when a cool fingertip lightly touched her cheek and drew her attention back.

This woman was at it again, touching her like this!!

“What I want, do you understand?”

Ye Rui was momentarily speechless. Xie Tinglan’s entire face was full of amusement, especially when she saw Ye Rui grow a little flustered; her smile deepened even more. How could that perfectly flat stomach hold so much rotten water!?

No, wait. Why was I thinking about her stomach?!

Hu Tu: 【So full of filthy thoughts.】

Ye Rui: 【Shut up!】

Ye Rui managed to steady her breathing, then leaned back slightly to avoid that cool fingertip. “What you want has nothing to do with me, does it?”

“Of course it has something to do with you.”

Xie Tinglan leaned forward, her gaze coiling around Ye Rui’s face like a snake. Smiling, she said, “Ye Rui, pretending not to understand when you clearly do is not wise.”

Ye Rui: “...”

Her palm was sweating; her spine was going cold.

Somehow... this woman felt like she wanted to eat her.

Author’s Note:

----------------------

A second CP appears in this chapter, hehe~

There’s more tomorrow too!

[dog head]