Wang Feifei’s words pleased Di Lingwei greatly.
“That’s exactly right. Now then, I’m going to sleep,” Di Lingwei said with a smile.
“Your Majesty’s smile is truly beautiful,” Wang Feifei praised sincerely as she looked at Di Lingwei’s face.
Most of the time, as the Heavenly Mandate Empress, Di Lingwei presented a dignified and solemn countenance. As a generation’s Female Emperor, she needed to command the respect of her ministers, so maintaining solemnity was essential.
But in private, there was no need to keep on the mask.
“Feifei’s smile is also very beautiful.” Di Lingwei reached out and pinched Wang Feifei’s cheek, which was a delicate blend of fair skin with a rosy flush.
This gesture made Wang Feifei’s complexion redden even further.
The woman before her was the Heavenly Mandate Empress herself, yet she was displaying such affectionate gestures towards her. If Di Lingwei didn’t trust her immensely, how could she ever act like this?
“Alright, I truly mean to sleep now. No more talking.” Di Lingwei withdrew her hand.
Wang Feifei nodded.
Immediately after, she felt her entire body enveloped in Di Lingwei’s embrace. The situation made her whole face burn crimson. She hadn’t expected Di Lingwei’s intimate actions to advance even further.
Her breathing became involuntarily rapid, but then she recalled that Di Lingwei was preparing to sleep—wouldn’t her heavy breathing disturb her?
At this thought, she had no choice but to forcibly control her body, steadying her breathing. However, her bright red face was unlikely to cool down anytime soon.
Being held by Di Lingwei, Wang Feifei didn’t dare move recklessly, though a worry lingered.
Di Lingwei was embracing her with both arms, meaning one hand was threaded beneath her neck and now pressed under her body. While being held like this was comfortable for her, would it cause Di Lingwei’s hand to go numb from the pressure?
Thinking this, Wang Feifei lifted her head slightly, maintaining some space to keep the pressure off Di Lingwei’s hand.
But before she could maintain this posture for long, Di Lingwei’s voice drifted over. “What are you doing? Isn’t that position tiring?”
“Ah? Your Majesty, you haven’t fallen asleep yet?” Wang Feifei froze.
“Sleeping isn’t something that happens the instant you close your eyes.”
As she spoke, the hand under Wang Feifei’s head pulled her closer, guiding her head to rest beneath Di Lingwei’s chin, where Di Lingwei’s nose and mouth could catch the faint fragrance of Wang Feifei’s hair.
“Your… Your Majesty…”
“What is it?”
“Like this… won’t Feifei be pressing on Your Majesty’s hand?”
“Don’t worry. Simply staying by my side is enough. You don’t need to do anything extra.”
Di Lingwei patted Wang Feifei’s back.
Perhaps the life she’d faced since transmigrating had been overly tense, because now that her environment had suddenly relaxed, Di Lingwei felt somewhat languid and her movements became more casual.
Of course, Wang Feifei’s ample beauty was also key. Who wouldn’t enjoy embracing a beautiful young woman?
Wang Feifei said no more and simply allowed Di Lingwei to hold her.
Di Lingwei closed her eyes.
With Wang Feifei lying obediently in her arms, comfort soon lulled Di Lingwei into sleep.
Chancellor’s Mansion.
Clad in white robes that fluttered lightly, Shangguan Yuchan stood within the courtyard, listening to the reports from Dongxue and Dongmei with a faint smile.
“So, Commander Wang has now gained Her Majesty’s utmost trust and even spends long periods within Her Majesty’s Bedchamber? Even Xing Ruolan waits outside, while Wang Feifei remains inside all the while?”
In truth, Shangguan Yuchan felt some confusion in her heart.
Why had events unfolded in such a way?
Hadn’t Mu Fuwan committed regicide? And Wang Feifei was likely the mastermind behind Mu Fuwan. Yet now, both of them had instead gained Di Lingwei’s trust?
Even she couldn’t immediately grasp the logic behind this sequence of events.
However, since this was Di Lingwei’s doing, there must be profound intention behind it. Her own inability to understand could only mean her comprehension was insufficient, unable to reach Her Majesty’s heights.
After inquiring about a few more matters, Shangguan Yuchan dismissed Dongxue and Dongmei.
She turned and re-entered her bedchamber, the absolute forbidden zone within the Chancellor’s Mansion.
Walls covered in paintings—all depicting Di Lingwei in a myriad of poses: riding horses, drawing bows, seated upon the dragon throne… countless paintings, as if assembling a true, living Di Lingwei before Shangguan Yuchan’s eyes.
As was her daily habit, Shangguan Yuchan gazed at them blankly for a long moment before returning to her bed. There, she embraced the pillow resting upon it, which bore an image created with consummate embroidery skill—an image of Di Lingwei.
“Your Majesty…”
Shangguan Yuchan took several deep breaths, rubbing the pillow against her face, a look of infatuation appearing.
Then, clutching the pillow, she rolled twice to the left on her bed, and twice to the right.
By the time Di Lingwei awoke, a good portion of the afternoon had passed.
She turned over. Wang Feifei, who had also been asleep, immediately stirred awake alongside her, nestling into Di Lingwei’s arms and whispering, “Your Majesty, you’ve awakened?”
Di Lingwei murmured an acknowledgment. Holding Wang Feifei’s delicate body, she gently patted her. With their bodies pressed closely together, warmth transferred easily between them, feeling extremely pleasant and tempting Di Lingwei to keep holding her longer.
At this moment, Wang Feifei spoke up a bit sheepishly. “Though Feifei is now Your Majesty’s Personal Guard, I still feel that sharing a bed like this is something far above my station.”
“Pay it no mind. Whatever I give you, just accept. So long as it is something I am able to give, you may take it,” Di Lingwei said unhurriedly, her words carrying the inherent, domineering grace of the Heavenly Mandate Empress.
“But…”
“There are no ‘buts.’ After all, I still need you to protect me at my side.”
“Given Your Majesty’s strength, there is truly no need for Feifei’s protection. Feifei is far weaker than Your Majesty.”
“In that case, Feifei, let me make a pact with you today. From now on, no matter what arises, I will refrain from acting whenever possible and let you resolve everything. How does that sound?” Di Lingwei’s eyes flickered as she spoke.
Hearing this, Wang Feifei couldn’t help but feel moved.
She understood that Di Lingwei was doing this so she could realize her own value and not feel overly inferior.
The Sovereign of a Nation was making such a promise to her—how deeply she must trust her!
Immediately, Wang Feifei nodded fervently. “Then Feifei will certainly protect Your Majesty with all her might, striving resolutely to ensure that Your Majesty never has a reason to personally take action.”
Thinking it over, if a Nation’s ruler frequently needed to personally handle matters, wouldn’t it make the guards seem incompetent?
Wang Feifei felt she absolutely could not be an incompetent Commander of the Imperial Guard and Personal Guard. She must protect Her Majesty well, shining brightly and contributing earnestly by Her Majesty’s side.
41.5 – Your Majesty is Too Good
After rising, it was time for the evening meal. Di Lingwei had Wang Feifei join her.
At this, even Xing Ruolan’s gaze betrayed curiosity. She could not fathom why Di Lingwei was treating Wang Feifei so well. The turnaround was something even someone as intelligent as she could not see through.
Wang Feifei naturally felt overwhelmed by the favor, but correspondingly, she was also happy. After all, this was a sign of Di Lingwei’s esteem.
During the meal, Di Lingwei glanced back at Xing Ruolan, who stood behind her, feeling somewhat curious about this Chief Palace Steward whose outward demeanor was gentle.
Her personality was problematic according to Di Lingwei’s Mystic Left Eye scan, so she had always guarded against Xing Ruolan just as she had once guarded against Wang Feifei.
But having experienced the successful taming of Wang Feifei, she couldn’t help speculating. Could she find a way to unlock the traits related to Xing Ruolan and then win her over based on her circumstances?
Perhaps, despite her problematic personality, there existed a possibility of winning her over, just like with Wang Feifei.
After all, when it came purely to the skill of attending someone’s needs, Xing Ruolan performed the task better.
Still, after mulling it over, Di Lingwei set the matter aside for the moment, deciding to first tackle another issue.
The issue of Imperial Uncle Chen.
According to the intelligence provided by Wang Feifei, Imperial Uncle Chen’s nephew, Chen Hongming, was secretly raising an army. This was undoubtedly in violation of the Dynasty’s prohibitions.
However, this information originated from the Shadow Division, a private intelligence network in the martial world. This could not be considered absolute proof, so the Imperial Court would need to investigate it further. Di Lingwei planned to entrust this matter to Mu Fuwan.
Come to think of it, the Dynasty’s intelligence capabilities are actually inferior to a civilian organization?
Pondering this situation, Di Lingwei felt somewhat disgruntled internally, finding it quite worth complaining about.
Having studied the history of the Phoenix Dynasty, however, she understood it had never been a peaceful regime. Turmoil was frequent, and internal strife and external threats existed in nearly every reign, keeping each ruler extremely busy.
Of course, this wasn’t to say that no one had tried to build an intelligence system. It was critically important and had naturally been valued by past monarchs. It’s just that no one had achieved particular success in it. The intelligence system existed and could function to a certain degree, but truly, only to a small degree.
Di Lingwei felt she would have to dedicate time to developing this aspect properly in the future.
Lost in thought while eating, the evening meal was soon finished.
After wiping her mouth and rinsing, Di Lingwei led Wang Feifei out of Phoenix Perch Palace.
Reinstated to her post, Mu Fuwan had naturally resumed responsibility for the security of Phoenix Perch Palace, standing dutifully on guard outside.
Her figure was slender, and her appearance was quite delicate and pretty. Even clad in leather armor, she still exuded the aura of a gentle, refined young lady from a humble family.
Mu Fuwan’s feelings about her current situation were utterly dreamlike. To be pardoned and reinstated to her original post filled her with surprise and delight, along with immense gratitude toward Di Lingwei.
She knew the fate she should have faced, yet Di Lingwei had let it all pass.
Honestly, she felt Di Lingwei was a very good person. If possible, she would not want to stand in opposition to her. Her previous course of action had been taken solely because of Wang Feifei, as Wang Feifei’s importance always ranked first in her heart.
But now that no issues remained between Wang Feifei and Di Lingwei, she no longer needed to agonize over the conflict in her heart.
