Looking at the glint in Wushuang’s eyes, Shangguan Liqian knew the pressure was now squarely on her shoulders.
If she didn’t find a way to redirect this girl’s overwhelming energy, tomorrow was going to be a disaster.
But before she could even speak, Luo Wushuang had already excitedly pulled her toward the side hall.
The side hall was connected to a natural hot spring—the Imperial Bath reserved for generations of emperors. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what Luo Wushuang was plotting.
Shangguan Liqian didn’t want to go, yet she found it impossible to win against someone so persistent. But if she simply let Wushuang have her way every time, she feared she would be bullied to death by this master of acting pitiful.
Just as Liqian was calculating how to persuade her to exercise some restraint, Wushuang—having long since seen through her thoughts—interrupted her.
“Sister, it’s nighttime now.”
Shangguan Liqian understood the subtext immediately: she couldn’t use her daytime excuses to stop her anymore.
But she hadn’t said it was okay every single night, either!
As Liqian stood there helplessly, Luo Wushuang leaned in with a pitiful expression, asking with a wounded pout, “Does Sister mean to forbid me at night as well?”
Looking at Wushuang, who looked as if tears would fall the moment she nodded, Liqian felt a wave of exhaustion. Even though she knew the girl was deliberately tugging at her heartstrings, she still found herself forced to compromise.
“Only once.”
In the end, Liqian managed only that single sentence before being carried into the Imperial Bath by Wushuang.
Within the petal-strewn pool, red waves tumbled and the water’s surface shimmered. Accompanied by the soft, melodious cries of a warbler, the sounds rose and fell in a captivating rhythm…
Outside the window, a gale raged and thunder rolled…
Gradually, the wind died down and the thunder faded. Just as everything returned to tranquility, a shy yet annoyed voice suddenly rang out.
“I said only once.”
Luo Wushuang gave a low hum of affirmation, her hands still tightly holding the person who was too weak to even sit up. Her beautiful eyes were filled with obsession. “Sister’s ‘once’ refers to Sister’s ‘once,’ not mine.”
The ‘once’ I agreed to was my ‘once’…
Shangguan Liqian turned her head slightly to dodge the red lips leaning toward her, scolding in annoyance, “You scoundrel!”
The person being scolded wasn’t angry at all. Instead, she wore a smile as bright as a spring breeze. “Scold me all you like, Sister. I enjoy hearing it.”
Facing such a shameless Luo Wushuang, Shangguan Liqian was temporarily at a loss.
If she scolded her lightly, the girl acted as if she hadn’t heard. If she scolded her harshly, Wushuang would look at her with such an accusatory gaze, as if Liqian were some unfeeling block of wood.
And yet, she was the one being bullied…
Fortunately, Luo Wushuang took pity on her for having been bedridden for several days and didn’t go too far. Having satisfied her cravings somewhat, she held Liqian as they went to the bed to rest—though her hands and feet remained rather restless.
Despite this, when Luo Wushuang opened her eyes the next morning, Shangguan Liqian was still deep in sleep.
After ordering that no one was to disturb her, Luo Wushuang smoothed out her Phoenix Robe and headed to the morning court, looking radiant and refreshed.
The personal guards behind her, seeing their Empress looking like she was basking in the spring sun, knew their master had enjoyed a very “happy” night.
As she neared the Hall of Pure Harmony, Luo Wushuang suddenly remembered the romance novel she had seen in Liqian’s hands. Her smile vanished instantly, and she asked with a slight frown, “Have you found out who put that book in my bedchamber?”
Ling Yun, following behind, was startled but quickly responded respectfully. “Your Majesty, the book was sent in along with the others the Lady Shangguan was reading. However, before it was delivered, it passed through the hands of a maid named Cailian. I discovered…”
Luo Wushuang stopped in her tracks and stared at Ling Yun, her Phoenix eyes flashing with imperial authority.
Why tell her all this? She didn’t know who that maid was.
Ling Yun felt quite wronged under Wushuang’s piercing gaze. Her master had interrupted her before she could finish; where was she supposed to go for justice?
“Cailian is infatuated with Shen Zhiyan, the son of Duke Dingyang. This Young Master Shen has always enjoyed literature and is particularly skilled at writing stories about romance.” This time, Ling Yun didn’t dare pause and finished the explanation in one breath.
“That book came from Shen Zhiyan’s hand?” Luo Wushuang asked.
“Your Majesty is wise!”
Luo Wushuang nodded slightly and gave a casual order. “The maid Cailian is to be beaten to death with staves. Carry out the execution in public.”
Ling Yun acknowledged the command. Guessing the Empress had further instructions, she didn’t retreat, keeping her head bowed in wait.
“As for the Duke of Dingyang’s estate…” Luo Wushuang pondered for a moment before continuing, “Have the Secret Guards focus an investigation on the bandit suppression in Huaixi two months ago.”
Since this Shen Zhiyan was so good at writing stories, how could he also be so proficient in military strategy and troop deployment?
Whether he was truly a polymath or if something was happening behind the scenes, an investigation would reveal the truth. If the Duke of Dingyang’s estate really deceived her regarding the bandit suppression, they shouldn’t blame her for what came next…
Luo Wushuang suppressed a cold sneer and turned to leave.
Ling Yun went to fulfill the order, sighing inwardly that the Duke’s estate was likely going to be destroyed by that fool’s actions.
***
Thanks to the fact that she had finished the memorials the previous night, the morning court ended quite early.
The moment she stepped out of the Hall of Pure Harmony, Luo Wushuang headed straight for the Phoenix Hall.
This time, however, before she could even enter, she heard voices speaking inside.
The smile on Luo Wushuang’s face froze. Who was in there?
Seeing the Empress approach with a cold face and then press her ear against the door like a common thief, the guards carrying the memorials and the attending maids all lowered their heads in unison.
They tried their best to ignore this scene they weren’t supposed to witness.
The Empress’s residence was vast; the inner and outer halls were connected, and one had to enter through this specific door. If she wanted to know who was inside, she could have just asked the maids guarding the entrance.
But for some reason, Luo Wushuang didn’t ask. Instead, she circulated her internal energy, straining to hear the movements within.
“Are you adjusting well to the palace?”
Hearing Liqian’s voice, Luo Wushuang held her breath, her brow furrowing deeply.
Who was her sister caring about? She really wanted to kill them!
“Thank you for your concern, My Lady. This servant is fine.”
Another, relatively unfamiliar female voice drifted out, and the killing intent on Luo Wushuang’s face grew even thicker.
However, hearing the form of address, Luo Wushuang had a guess as to the person’s identity.
She remembered that because she had seen her sister looking gloomy before, she had softened her heart and ordered Leng Yu to train Liqian’s former maids in the etiquette of Xuanguang Hall so they could be brought to see Liqian. She hadn’t wanted Liqian to worry.
Now, she suddenly regretted it.
She was particularly annoyed with Leng Yu, who had dared to send someone in while she wasn’t there. Letting Liqian spend time alone with someone else felt worse than death.
Leng Yu, being glared at for no apparent reason, felt completely innocent.
She had originally planned to bring the person in while the master was present. But the girl, Qingdai, seemed to have been frightened by the Empress; every time she heard her mistress was with the Empress, she didn’t dare enter.
Since Lady Shangguan ate and lived with the Empress, the only time they were apart was during the morning court.
Leng Yu had thought she would bring the person to Lady Shangguan as soon as the Empress left for court, and by the time the Empress returned, the master and servant would have finished their talk.
But when she actually put the plan into motion, she realized how many difficulties there were.
First, Lady Shangguan had likely been exhausted the night before, so she woke up quite late. By the time Leng Yu inquired and finally brought the person over… the Empress had already returned?
Leng Yu shot a questioning look at Ling Yun: Why did the Empress finish court so early today?
Ling Yun threw up her hands, giving her a look that said, “You’re on your own.”
Leng Yu suddenly felt even more depressed.
It was over. This time, she wouldn’t be able to escape a beating…
