Chapter 56: The Emperor’s Powerless Fury!

The moment she mentioned last night, a flood of unspeakable images rushed into Shangguan Liqian’s mind. She forced herself to swallow the food in her mouth and spoke without any expression.

“Eat!”

“Sister is already getting impatient—”

Luo Wushuang was about to continue her complaining when a sudden blow landed on her head.

Stunned, Luo Wushuang cautiously turned her head. Meeting the warning glare in Shangguan Liqian’s eyes, she immediately behaved herself.

She offered a compliment from the bottom of her heart. “Sister, you’re so strong!”

The strike had left her head ringing; she had nearly gone to see her Father Emperor. No, that wasn’t right—her father was still alive. She had nearly gone to see her father’s father.

“Do you want to try again?” Shangguan Liqian asked softly, her crimson lips parting slightly.

Liqian had been trying her best to adapt to this person’s ill-timed “bluntness,” yet she still couldn’t keep up with the sheer thickness of the woman’s skin. Since she couldn’t adapt, she decided there was no need to make things difficult for herself; physically forcing the other woman to shut up was a perfectly viable alternative.

Luo Wushuang, who had become quite adept at reading Shangguan Liqian’s expressions, saw the displeasure on her face. She immediately lowered her gaze, focused on her nose, and concentrated on her food.

She remained well-behaved for only a moment before she started trying to make her presence felt again.

“Sister, eat more meat,” Luo Wushuang said with a flattering smile, busily placing food into Liqian’s bowl.

Shangguan Liqian lowered her eyes and reached out, accepting the gesture.

Seeing that she wasn’t rejected, Luo Wushuang’s eyes lit up. She kept adding more… and more…

Luo Wushuang, who loved meat, piled a mountain of it onto the plate of Shangguan Liqian, who preferred vegetables.

Shangguan Liqian’s pace slowed. Seeing that the woman intended to continue, she frowned and spoke up. “Stop it.”

Luo Wushuang placed one last piece of Eight-Treasure Duck onto the plate in front of Liqian, smiling obediently. “Just one last—”

Before she could finish, Shangguan Liqian pushed a plate of bright, vibrant green vegetables in front of her.

“Finish this entire plate,” Liqian commanded.

The obedience and the smile on Luo Wushuang’s face froze simultaneously. She instinctively let out a cry of hysterical protest.

“No!”

After quietly enjoying the Emperor’s powerless fury for a moment, Shangguan Liqian spoke as if granting a mercy. “Fine. Eat half the plate then.”

Seeing that Luo Wushuang was still reluctant, Shangguan Liqian lowered her head and gave a faint, elegant smile. “Otherwise…”

Without waiting for her to finish the threat, Luo Wushuang spoke through gritted teeth. “I’ll eat it! I’ll eat! I love vegetables the most!”

Seeing the woman’s profound reluctance, the smile in the depths of Shangguan Liqian’s eyes faded slightly. Just as she was about to reach out and pull the plate away, a slender, jade-like hand stopped her.

“I know Sister is doing this for my own good,” Luo Wushuang said softly, her phoenix eyes shimmering with a trace of satisfaction.

In this world, no one else was worth Sister’s concern except for her. Thinking of it this way, the vegetables suddenly seemed much more appetizing.

***

After lunch, Luo Wushuang kept her word. She excitedly led Liqian toward Mochen Pavilion.

She had stumbled upon a hilarious sight while interrogating prisoners—Qingdai happily “planting mushrooms” in the courtyard—and wanted to share the joy with Liqian.

However, their timing was unfortunate. Qingdai had just finished watering the “mushroom people” who had been favored by the sun for days and was currently resting inside the house.

To make her beloved smile, Luo Wushuang’s eyes darted around. She pointed at the “mushrooms” in the courtyard and then pointed toward the house.

Ling Yun understood the signal and flicked a finger. Accompanied by the weak moans of the mushroom people, a slight commotion came from the house, and someone soon emerged.

Dressed in a maid’s uniform, Qingdai looked bleary-eyed from sleep, muttering under her breath. “Didn’t I just water them? Why are they acting up again?”

Because Luo Wushuang had initially hidden behind a wall with Shangguan Liqian, Qingdai didn’t realize there were uninvited guests in the courtyard. She continued to grumble incessantly.

“It’s not like you’re real mushrooms. Why do you need so much water?”

Splash, splash…

Through the thick weeds, Shangguan Liqian watched from a distance.

Row upon row of human heads were poking out from the ground.

Qingdai, who had quickly settled into her work rhythm, was humming a song and sprinkling water with a relaxed expression.

Watching Qingdai “grow” people as if they were flowers, Shangguan Liqian fell silent.

Was this really her timid maid who would be moved to tears by the sound of thunder? How did she become… this?

Just as Shangguan Liqian’s emotions reached a peak of complexity, Luo Wushuang—who had been watching with a smile—suddenly had a delayed realization. Mochen Pavilion was a place for disposing of criminals. She wondered if her Sister… would think she was cruel.

Sister was so kind; would she hate her for this?

Luo Wushuang glanced at Shangguan Liqian with a mix of trepidation and worry. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Liqian turn to leave.

The anxiety in her heart intensified. Luo Wushuang followed closely behind Shangguan Liqian, bracing herself before tentatively asking, “Does Sister want to go to the Imperial Garden for a stroll?”

She was now filled with immense regret for bringing Liqian here. Thinking of the failed Imperial Garden date from yesterday, she hoped to make some small amends.

At the mention of the Imperial Garden, Shangguan Liqian felt the ache in her waist and legs flare up. Her voice lost its warmth.

“I’m not going!”

The words were short and blunt, her attitude resolute.

Assuming that Liqian was dissatisfied with her mistreatment of the prisoners, Luo Wushuang’s regret deepened. While cursing herself for being inconsiderate, she continued to suggest, “Then how about outside the palace? Sister hasn’t left the palace in a while. Would you like to go for a walk?”

Shangguan Liqian, whose legs were trembling after walking just a short distance, came to a halt. She slowly turned around, met Luo Wushuang’s uneasy gaze, and parted her lips to speak softly.

“Come here.”

Confused, Luo Wushuang stepped forward. Seeing Shangguan Liqian reach out, she hurried to support her.

“Help me back. I’m tired,” Shangguan Liqian said in a low voice, sounding a bit frustrated and embarrassed.

Luo Wushuang blinked, then realization dawned on her. She was about to call for the sedan chair when Shangguan Liqian stopped her.

“No need for a crowd. Just support me.”

The distance wasn’t that great; calling for a sedan chair would be too much of a spectacle.

Seeing Luo Wushuang still hesitating, Shangguan Liqian’s expression cooled. Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, it was gripped tightly.

Realizing that her Sister must be feeling shy, Luo Wushuang coaxed her gently, “Don’t be upset, Sister. I will support you back.”

She slid her arm around Liqian’s slender, willow-like waist to give her better support, carefully guiding her toward the sleeping quarters.

Sensing Luo Wushuang’s frequent glances, Shangguan Liqian originally intended to ignore her, but the “hesitating to speak” look on the Emperor’s face was too hard to miss.

“What is it?”

At the inquiry, Luo Wushuang hesitated for a moment before saying, “The prisoners in Mochen Pavilion are all…”

“I don’t want to hear it,” Shangguan Liqian interrupted, her expression calm. “As the Emperor, you should be decisive in your killings and clear in your rewards and punishments. How you handle prisoners is your prerogative; you don’t need to worry about my thoughts.”

Realizing the woman was uneasy because of this, Shangguan Liqian frowned and added, “I won’t think poorly of you because of such things.”

Hearing this, the unease in Luo Wushuang’s heart finally dissipated, and a small smile touched the corners of her lips.

“As long as Sister doesn’t think my methods are cruel and doesn’t hate me, it’s fine.”

At the mention of the word “hate,” Shangguan Liqian’s frown deepened. “Even if your methods are cruel, I do not hate you.”

The curve of Luo Wushuang’s smile widened until she was so happy she felt like spinning in circles right then and there.