The Tyrant’s Drama Queen Empress

CHAPTER 17: What Bad Intentions Could She Possibly Have?

　　Xie Yuanxun did not give Shen Ling an answer. Instead, he asked her back, “Who do you think I was talking about?”

　　Shen Ling made a small “mm” sound and answered briskly, “My mother?”

　　Xie Yuanxun looked at her and said nothing.

　　Oh. Alright, wrong guess. Shen Ling felt a little disappointed, but not nervous. If it was not her mother, Madam Jiang, then there was only one other possibility. “Jing Fei, right, Your Majesty?”

　　Xie Yuanxun continued to look at her. He did not say yes, and he did not say no. He only gazed at Shen Ling with a somewhat meaningful look.

　　Shen Ling, “......” So who exactly was it?! And wait, did she accidentally expose some dangerous thought in front of him just now?

　　The first person she had thought of was Madam Jiang. Shen Ling felt a little guilty.

　　—But that is not my fault. I am not that important to her anyway. Why can I not think of her?

　　With that thought, her guilt vanished immediately. Although Shen Ling did not suddenly grow broader shoulders or thicker skin, her attitude in front of Xie Yuanxun became perfectly justified.

　　Xie Yuanxun raised an eyebrow. To be honest, he quite liked Shen Ling’s cold and detached nature. Back when the late Emperor was still alive, he had arranged an Empress and concubines for him. The Court was also filled with officials promoted by the late Emperor, along with policies he had set in place. After Xie Yuanxun ascended the throne, he killed the Empress, killed the concubines, killed those officials, and overturned the late Emperor’s policies. Who did not call him brutal and heartless? But could any of them stop him? If the late Emperor were still alive, would he regret it now? Thinking of this, Xie Yuanxun let out a few soft, cold laughs.

　　Shen Ling, “???”

　　Why was he laughing again? She could not figure it out at all!

　　Xie Yuanxun said in a pleasant mood, “Since she went to see Jing Fei and did not come to see you, then let her leave the Palace after she finishes seeing Jing Fei.”

　　Shen Ling, “Really?” The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself. Speak properly, then speak properly. Why was she acting cute for no reason?

　　Xie Yuanxun laughed again, copying Shen Ling’s tone. “Really.”

　　Shen Ling, “......”

　　—You really pick things up fast, huh.

　　—But I still have plenty of good qualities worth learning from, like my kindness, my kindness, my kindness, my kindness!

　　Xie Yuanxun patted Shen Ling on the head and said, “Your hair is very long.” Shen Ling stared at him with dead fish eyes. Ah yes, that familiar feeling of patting a little dog again.

　　Shen Ling put on a shy expression. “Is Your Majesty praising me?”

　　In a good mood, Xie Yuanxun explained, “I was just reminded of that saying about people with long hair having short sight and being stupid.”

　　Shen Ling fell silent on the spot.

　　—Dog bastard, go die!

　　Shen Ling moved her fingers, and they brushed against Xie Yuanxun’s hair. Her eyes widened instantly. Hair. His hair. It was long too! Shen Ling looked excited, her gaze full of affection. “Your Majesty, you are absolutely right.” (T/N: Bwahahahahaha, karma hits fast, huh, Emperor? 😂🤭)

　　—Hehe, trash! You did not expect that you also have long hair, right? Hahahaha!

　　—You attacked me, but that wide-range attack also hit yourself. I am stupid, and you are stupid too. Those were your own words.

　　Xie Yuanxun, “......” His expression darkened, and his gaze turned cold.

　　With a blank face, he reached out and precisely pinched Shen Ling’s cheeks with his fingers. “Bao Fēi, your face has gotten rounder again. My hand can barely hold it.”

　　Shen Ling only wanted to give him three words: knock your head!

　　Although she had no idea why Xie Yuanxun’s mood had suddenly soured, after spending so much time with him, she knew one thing well. When he was unhappy, she had better make him happy again. Otherwise, the one who would suffer was definitely her.

　　Shen Ling said gratefully, “I used to be so frail. Thankfully I met Your Majesty, so now I can eat well and drink well.” A second growth spurt, especially in her chest. It was much bigger than when she first entered the Palace. All of this was thanks to him. It allowed her to stand proudly before Jing Fei and the other concubines, towering over all their chests!

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Eating well and drinking well is enough to satisfy you? Are you a pig?”

　　Shen Ling, “......”

　　—I freaking......

　　—If I am a pig, then what are you, someone who sticks to me all day long? You trash man hug me and hold me every night, and in bed I am your little sweetheart. The moment you get out of bed, you pretend not to know me. Heh.

　　That “heh” carried an extraordinary amount of soul.

　　Shen Ling’s eyes brimmed with moisture. She clutched her chest with a handkerchief and said sorrowfully, “Your Majesty, why must you humiliate me like this? Wuwu, I admire you so deeply, and respect you so much. My gaze and my heart have always revolved around you alone.”

　　—Ugh......

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “You......”

　　Shen Ling dramatically removed her hand from her chest and pressed both hands over her ears, her eyes misty with tears. “I am not listening, I am not listening, I am not listening!”

　　—I do not even need a mirror to know how pitiful I look right now, especially when my tears are about to fall but not quite. Even I would feel my heart shatter seeing this, let alone men. They would all have to stiffen a bit out of respect!

　　—I am nothing more than a fragile woman. What bad intentions could I possibly have?

　　—*Sobbing*

　　Xie Yuanxun laughed. His smile was so gentle it was almost perverse.

　　He took the handkerchief from Shen Ling’s hand and softly pressed it to the corner of her eye. Shen Ling’s eyelid twitched.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Crying like this will not do. Cry harder. I want to see it.”

　　Shen Ling, “......” What the hell?

　　Xie Yuanxun asked, “Why did you stop crying? Cry louder.”

　　Shen Ling looked at him deeply.

　　—Not only did you not show any respect, but you also asked me to cry even louder, tsk tsk tsk, you dog of a man, you're truly something else!

　　Shen Ling smiled faintly and said coquettishly, “Your Majesty is really bad. Even when you are trying to comfort me, your methods are always so uniquely creative.”

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Am I?” He genuinely had no idea he was comforting her.

　　Shen Ling nodded. “You are.”

　　—Even if you are not, you have to be. Anyway, I am not crying anymore, so give it up!

　　Shen Ling pulled out another handkerchief from her sleeve. The one she had just used had been taken by Xie Yuanxun. The archery grounds were sunny, and standing there for too long felt a bit harsh. She lifted the handkerchief to shield her head from the sun. Xie Yuanxun glanced at her, and Shen Ling could only move closer, lifting the handkerchief over his head instead.

　　Xie Yuanxun grabbed her and led her into the Taiji hall. His strides were long, and Shen Ling, wearing a heavy and elaborate dress, could not keep up while being pulled along. She lifted her skirt as she walked and complained, “Slow down, you are walking too fast.”

　　Xie Yuanxun frowned. “You cannot even keep up over such a short distance. What do you usually do all day?”

　　Taking advantage of him not looking, Shen Ling rolled her eyes behind his back and said, “It is because the skirt is too heavy. Otherwise, I would definitely be able to keep up with you.”

　　Xie Yuanxun turned his head. “Then why do you not take it off?”

　　Shen Ling, “......” She said irritably, “I cannot do it alone. I need someone to help. Are you going to take it off for me?” The layers of thick and exquisite clothing she was wearing had all been put on with the help of Liu Zhu and the other palace maids. Sometimes even watching the process made her dizzy, it was so complicated. Once, she tried to take it off by herself. After struggling for ages and sweating at the forehead, she only managed to mess it up even more, and in the end she had to call Liu Zhu to help her take it off.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Fine, I will take it off for you.”

　　He stepped back, bent down, and scooped Shen Ling into his arms, striding quickly into the hall. The palace servants stopped outside. From inside came the voices of Xie Yuanxun and Shen Ling.

　　“Are you really taking it off?”

　　“What else would I do?”

　　“Do you even know how to?”

　　“There is nothing I do not know how to do.”

　　“Huh? You really took it off...... Hey, do not take everything off. At least leave me one layer. Hey? Why are you pulling me up? You are not planning to do something to me, are you......”

　　“Now follow me and walk again. Let me see if you can keep up. If you cannot, that is deceiving the Emperor.”    

　　“......”

　　Hearing this, the expression on Shen Ling’s face was hard to put into words.

　　—I may not be a man, but you are truly a dog.

　　Xie Yuanxun looked at her, somewhat puzzled. He really did not understand why she kept calling him a dog.

　　Was he not giving her a chance to prove that without the burden of that skirt, she could keep up with him?

　　Xie Yuanxun dragged Shen Ling around Taiji Hall for a full round. By the time they finished, she was huffing and puffing nonstop, her chest feeling tight and suffocated, with a hint of nausea mixed in. It was extremely uncomfortable. Shen Ling wore a tragic expression. She had really fallen this far. Back then, she could climb over twenty flights of stairs without issue. Now, just walking one fast round with Xie Yuanxun had left her exhausted like a dog.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “You really are useless.”

　　Shen Ling: “Huff huff......”

　　—The one at fault is not me, it is this world! It is because this Taiji Hall is too big. Yes, that is it, exactly that.

　　Shen Ling glanced at Xie Yuanxun, who looked perfectly fine standing beside her, and felt a surge of resentment. How could the gap between people be this big?!

　　After Shen Ling finally calmed her rapid breathing, Liu Zhu entered behind Senior Eunuch Feng Zhi. Feng Zhi bowed and said, “Your Majesty, Your Grace, servants from Chang Le Palace have arrived. They say Madam Jiang has reached Chang Le Palace and wishes to see Bao Fei.”

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Feng Zhi, escort her out of the Palace.”

　　Shen Ling blinked.

　　—Men like women who are gentle, virtuous, considerate, and graceful. Even though I want to kick her out, I still need to put on a filial act.

　　Shen Ling put on a worried expression and said hesitantly, “Your Majesty, is that really appropriate?”

　　Xie Yuanxun looked at her strangely. “How is it inappropriate?” He could tell she seemed quite pleased.

　　Shen Ling said, “She is my mother. Since I entered the Palace, I have not seen her again. I think Mother must miss me very much. If I do not see her, I am afraid it will invite gossip and unpleasant rumors. Things like saying our relationship is poor, or that once I entered the Palace and gained favor, I wanted to cut ties with them.”

　　—Mm, the two points I gave are completely correct, okay!

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “They are indeed unpleasant.”

　　Shen Ling: “???”

　　—You just admitted it? Could you at least argue back a little?

　　—I was only saying it casually. Why are you taking it seriously?

　　Shen Ling grew a little nervous, afraid that his next sentence would be to let her meet Madam Jiang. Then all her earlier happiness would have been for nothing. She softly reminded him, “Your Majesty, your words carry absolute authority. No one dares to challenge it.” First flatter him a bit, then subtly get to the point. “You also told me that after she met Jing Fei, she should leave the Palace.”

　　Xie Yuanxun smiled but did not quite smile. “You remember it very clearly.”

　　Shen Ling unconsciously shifted closer and shamelessly flattered him, “Everything Your Majesty says to me, I keep firmly in my heart.”

　　Xie Yuanxun didn’t comment on how effective Shen Ling’s flattery had been, but judging from the order he gave Feng Zhi, it was obvious he was very pleased.

　　“Feng Zhi, do as Bao Fei suggests.”

　　Feng Zhi replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

　　Shen Ling really wanted to throw her arms around Xie Yuanxun and kiss him. He was way too cooperative!

　　—Cold and ruthless like this, so handsome!

　　—I love it!

　　Xie Yuanxun glanced at her a few times and said casually, “Have the Grand General escort her out.”

　　Feng Zhi acknowledged the order and went to summon the “Grand General.” For a split second, Liu Zhu’s face went deathly pale.

　　Noticing her reaction, Shen Ling asked curiously, “The Grand General?” That’s a person, right? Why does Liu Zhu look so scared?

　　Xie Yuanxun stood up and said to her, “You want to see the Grand General? Oh right, you haven’t met him yet. Come, I’ll take you to see him.”

　　“Yes.” Shen Ling swallowed.

　　—Why is this ancestor being so cooperative today? Cooperative to the point it’s making my skin crawl.

　　The two of them arrived at a towering palace called Zhaixing Tower. From the top, they could see the palace gates. Soon, Shen Ling spotted Madam Jiang heading toward the exit. Her steps were unusually quick. In the next second, Shen Ling understood why.

　　Behind Madam Jiang was a Tibetan mastiff. Black, massive, and vicious-looking. Madam Jiang’s legs were so weak she nearly collapsed more than once, and each time a palace servant had to catch her. She stumbled and crashed her way out of the Palace.

　　Shen Ling watched with great satisfaction. So the “Grand General” was a Tibetan mastiff.

　　Xie Yuanxun turned to look at her. Shen Ling immediately reined in her delight and said sorrowfully, “Mother…”

　　“It’s been many days since I last saw her. She’s lost so much weight.”

　　“I really wish I could take the Grand General’s place and personally escort her.”

　　—Hahahahaha! Look at how scared she is, so pathetic!

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “The Grand General helped you see someone off. Shouldn’t you thank it?” Before Shen Ling could come up with a tactful excuse to refuse, he raised his voice and ordered, “Bring the Grand General up. Bao Fei wants to see it.”

　　Shen Ling: “???”

　　Her breathing hitched, her lips trembling.

　　—Are you freaking kidding me!

    

    

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