The Tyrant’s Drama Queen Empress

CHAPTER 25: I’ll Make You a Better One Next Time

　　Shen Ling kept her distance from Xie Yuanxun, standing at what she considered a safe boundary. She stared straight ahead, her eyes never once drifting toward the kite lying on the ground.

　　Xie Yuanxun bent down and picked it up. “This is the kite you cried so hard over, insisting I come fly with you? This thing?”

　　His tone was calm, but the disdain and contempt tucked inside it were impossible to miss.

　　And he did not bother hiding it either.

　　Shen Ling nearly bit her tongue. “Your Majesty, I did invite you, but the part about me crying is absolutely not true.” Her memory was not that bad.

　　—Let alone crying while begging you to come. Dream on.

　　—I only casually had someone pass you a message. Who knew you would actually show up? And now you say I cried and begged you, hehe. Sounds more like you wanted to come yourself. Still, I’m a kind person, so I’ll generously forgive your hypocrisy.

　　To give him an out, Shen Ling tugged at the corner of her lips and gave him a gentle, affectionate smile.

　　—When someone as pretty as me smiles like this, even if I argue back, you won’t feel offended. This is a beauty’s privilege.

　　Xie Yuanxun, “......”

　　A beauty’s privilege? He had killed more beauties than he could count. He did not need her to hand him a way out.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Is that so? You didn’t cry? Then it must be the messenger who passed on the wrong words. Drag him out......”

　　Drag him out and kill him.

　　Shen Ling felt exhausted. No dragging needed. She gave in. “Fine. I cried.”

　　—Here it comes. You’re forcing me up the mountain again.

　　—I didn’t cry and you were about to make me cry. Are you really that eager to see me cry?

　　Shen Ling did not dwell on the topic any further. She tilted her head slightly and noticed someone beside Senior Eunuch Feng holding a box. The moment she saw it, she thought of Jing Fēi, who had just left after generously handing her a whole pile of jewelry in a box as well.

　　Shen Ling asked, “Your Majesty, did you also bring me a gift?”

　　Xie Yuanxun replied, “Also? Who else came to see you?”

　　Shen Ling did not bother covering for anyone. “Jing Fēi.” She had only left not long ago. Judging by Xie Yuanxun’s expression, though, she could tell he had not run into Jing Fēi.

　　Xie Yuanxun asked, “What gift did she give you?”

　　Shen Ling answered, “Jewelry the late Emperor rewarded her with. When she saw that I liked them, she gave them all to me.”

　　Xie Yuanxun let out a snort. “She would give them to you? Looks more like you robbed her.”

　　—Heh. You really do know me well. That’s right, I did rob her.

　　“The late Emperor’s rewards.” Xie Yuanxun walked over and raised his hand, about to toss the kite he had picked up earlier back onto the ground. He glanced at Shen Ling, then did not throw it. Instead, he casually tossed it to a palace servant and asked her, “Do you want the late Emperor’s rewards?”

　　Shen Ling shook her head. “No. The rewards Your Majesty has given me are already more than enough. I don’t need anyone else’s.”

　　—Don’t think I haven’t noticed how bad your relationship with the late Emperor was. Every time you mention him, you never look happy. I’d be an idiot to say I want his rewards.

　　—Besides, he’s dead. What would I even do with a dead man’s things? Summon his soul?

　　—As for Jing Fēi’s things, those were delivered right to my doorstep. I’d be stupid not to take them. Once I get back to Chang Le Palace, I’ll have them put into storage.

　　She thought the late Emperor’s rewards were bad luck? Xie Yuanxun stared at her for a moment, then slowly smiled. He reached out his hand. Shen Ling placed hers into it, and he closed his fingers around her hand.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “What a pity the late Emperor isn’t around anymore. Otherwise, he could have taken a good look at you.”

　　Shen Ling replied tactfully, “I think that’s better avoided.”

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Hm? Why?”

　　Shen Ling said, “I already belong to you. It wouldn’t be proper to meet another man.”

　　—What else could it be? Obviously, I’m afraid my charm would be too much to handle and he’d fall for me at first sight.

　　—Jing Fēi really has a big mouth. She once said that among the late Emperor’s concubines there were minister’s wives. If he wanted to snatch a daughter-in-law, it wouldn’t be impossible. Hiss!

　　Shen Ling’s hand was painfully squeezed by Xie Yuanxun.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “The late Emperor was actually quite ugly. Old, blind in the eyes.”

　　Shen Ling noticed the surrounding palace staff practically bowing to the ground and said, “Your Majesty, maybe you shouldn’t say it like that.”

　　Xie Yuanxun replied, “Why not? He had already heard it all while he was alive.” He chuckled, voice sly, “When he died, I had several eunuchs by his bed, saying things that would make him die unsettled.”

　　Shen Ling shivered. Xie Yuanxun’s relationship with his father wasn’t just bad—it was basically a feud. She didn’t ask what exactly they said to leave the late Emperor unsettled, and Xie Yuanxun only hinted at it lightly.

　　Shen Ling exhaled in relief.

　　—Good, you didn’t say more. You were scaring me.

　　Xie Yuanxun had someone open the box he brought and led Shen Ling to look inside. It held a very roughly made kite.

　　Shen Ling didn’t know what to say. This kite was really rough, such a waste of the good materials. Everything Xie Yuanxun usually used was top quality. How could he have such a rough kite? Or… was this actually Xie Yuanxun’s true aesthetic?

　　Xie Yuanxun asked, “What are you thinking?”

　　Shen Ling blurted out, “Your Majesty, who made this kite? Shouldn’t they practice their craft a bit more?” She added silently, You couldn’t even give this as a gift.

　　Xie Yuanxun looked at her, “I made it.”

　　“......” Shen Ling immediately changed her tone. “No wonder it gives me that rustic, back-to-basics kind of charm, stripping away all pretense.”

　　—As long as I don’t feel embarrassed, no one can embarrass me!

　　Xie Yuanxun teased, “So you don’t want me to refine my skills anymore?” He had definitely noticed the hint of disdain in her tone.

　　Shen Ling’s gaze flickered, “No need. This is the most beautiful kite I’ve ever seen.”

　　—Yeah, right, it's not beautiful at all.

　　—Hahahaha, I never thought you'd be so clumsy.

　　Back when Shen Ling was clumsy, Xie Yuanxun was always the one laughing at her. Now she finally had a chance to tease him. What is this—karma coming full circle!

　　Xie Yuanxun handed the rough kite he made to Shen Ling. “Since you say it’s the most beautiful, then it’s yours. Consider yourself its patron. Next time you want to fly a kite, make sure to bring this one.”

　　Shen Ling “......” turned her gaze away with difficulty.

　　—I really, really, really want to say no.

　　She stared at the kite in her hands. “Your Majesty, are you going to fly it with me?”

　　Xie Yuanxun replied, “It’s too rough to be worthy of me using it.”

　　Shen Ling almost wanted to kneel.

　　—Ancestor, you know it’s rough and ugly, yet you give it to me, and now I can only ever fly this one kite in the future. Are you a demon?

　　—It’s unworthy of your use, so now I’m supposed to use it?

　　Xie Yuanxun clicked his tongue. He had taken the rare effort to make something by hand, and usually people would be grateful. Not her. She looked utterly disdainful, as if she wanted to return it to him. “Next time I’ll make a proper one. This is my first attempt, I have no experience.”

　　He looped his arms around Shen Ling from behind. The kite, guided by the palace staff, soared into the sky. Their joined hands held the other end of the kite string.

　　Shen Ling looked up at the kite. After staring for a while, the roughness started to feel kind of interesting.

　　Shen Ling “......”

　　—Ugh, has my sense of aesthetics been eaten by a dog?

　　Shen Ling said, “If the next one you make is still like this……”

　　Bam. Xie Yuanxun tapped her on the head.

　　Once the kite was in the sky, Xie Yuanxun and Shen Ling had to control its direction and altitude. At one point, Xie Yuanxun let go, leaving Shen Ling to fly it alone. She stepped back and accidentally stepped on Xie Yuanxun’s foot.

　　Shen Ling “......” Oh no, I stepped on his foot. What now?

　　—Admit it and apologize, or pretend nothing happened?

　　—Pretend nothing happened…

　　“You stepped on me,” Xie Yuanxun said from behind.

　　Okay, he spoke, so she had to admit it. Shen Ling said decisively, “My bad.”

　　Xie Yuanxun replied, “Well, you admit it quickly enough.”

　　—Good thing, good thing, not really praise-worthy.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “But you stepped on me. How are you going to make it up? Should I step on you back?”

　　Shen Ling said dryly, “Go ahead, but can you step on the foot in my shadow instead?”

　　Xie Yuanxun, “No.”

　　He lifted his foot as if to do it, and Shen Ling hugged his waist from behind, her body pressed close. “We can negotiate,” she said, her fingers digging into his waist.

　　Xie Yuanxun frowned, grabbed her hand, and looked at her with a serious face. “You’re being reckless.” His tone was sharp.

　　Shen Ling met his gaze, her eyes slowly growing brighter.

　　She said, “Your Majesty, you’re ticklish.”

　　—I’m not ticklish, you are.

　　—So this is what they call having a tiger in your heart but a rose in your hand?

　　Shen Ling smiled, clearly enjoying discovering Xie Yuanxun’s little secret. If she had even a peanut in her mouth, she wouldn't be this drunk.

　　“......”

　　Xie Yuanxun’s expression was cold, his voice chilling. “Noisy.”

　　Shen Ling, “Oh.” She buried her head on his shoulder, clutching his clothes, and silently grinned.

　　Xie Yuanxun handed the rough kite to Senior Eunuch Feng and guided Shen Ling toward the pavilion. They walked a bit wobbly, almost like conjoined twins.

　　Once Shen Ling’s laughter settled, Xie Yuanxun said casually, “If you drool on me, I’ll throw you in the pond for the fish.”

　　Shen Ling rolled her eyes. She wasn’t a baby without teeth. No way she’d drool. “You’re imagining things.”

　　The next second, Shen Ling noticed a small wet patch on Xie Yuanxun’s shoulder.    

　　“......”

　　—Holy crap, no way. Did karma really slap back this fast?

　　Xie Yuanxun halted mid-step. “You...” He lifted his hand, about to pull Shen Ling off him and look down at his shoulder.

　　Panic surged in Shen Ling’s chest. She was scared of being exposed, so she clung to Xie Yuanxun even tighter.

　　—Don’t pull me away. No matter what, I am not separating from you. Even if we have to separate, it has to be after that little wet patch on your clothes dries.

　　Xie Yuanxun wore an indescribable expression. Even without hearing her thoughts, her actions alone were already a blatant confession of guilt.

　　Suddenly, Xie Yuanxun lifted his head and looked to the right. His gaze was sharp and icy. He saw no one, only a corner of clothing.

　　Around the corner, Jing Fēi stood there in silence, gripping Nanny Zhou’s arm. Her lips trembled, her legs unable to take a single step forward.

　　Nanny Zhou called out worriedly, “Your Grace?”

　　Jing Fēi took a deep breath. In her mind, scenes replayed over and over of what she had just witnessed between Shen Ling and Xie Yuanxun, and finally, those cold, indifferent eyes Xie Yuanxun had turned toward her. Whether her trembling was from anger or fear, Nanny Zhou could not tell. But Jing Fēi knew clearly. She had been frightened by that final look, and she used anger to cover up her fear.

　　Her expression darkened. “What am I lacking compared to her? Why can His Majesty never see me?”

　　“She relies on His Majesty backing her, so she dares to provoke me and even snatch my jewelry.”

　　“That Zhaoyi before her was despised by His Majesty just for flying a kite, even had her hand stepped on and broken. So why is it that when she flies a kite, His Majesty goes and flies it with her?”

　　“She’s too fake. Nanny, just look at how she pretends to be fragile in front of His Majesty. She can’t even walk properly and keeps leaning into him. Are her legs broken or what? All she does is put on an act and play tricks to monopolize His Majesty.”

　　Jing Fēi hardened her resolve. “No. This can’t go on. I have to teach her a lesson.”

　　Nanny Zhou said, “Your Grace, don’t act on impulse. Bao Fei is often with His Majesty. If you do anything to her, His Majesty will find out.”

　　Jing Fēi replied, “I know. That’s why I never planned to do anything myself. I’m not that stupid. I want her to personally offend His Majesty and do something he dislikes. For example, let her learn about that deceased Empress Mu. I heard from my father that Empress Mu once enjoyed His Majesty’s favor too, but in the end she still died. If we let someone leak this to her, I refuse to believe she won’t feel jealous. Once she grows arrogant because of His Majesty’s favor and goes to question him, her ending might just be the same as Empress Mu’s.”

    

    

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