Chapter 57

Fang Yao’er straightened up and accepted the order solemnly. “This concubine will do everything in her power!”

“Mmm. Do it well, and when you return, I’ll reward you according to your merits.” Yun Yaoyao did not forget to dangle a carrot.

At those words, Fang Yao’er became even more fired up.

All the other Answered Consorts were far too competitive, and she had spent far too long blaming herself for being useless.

Now, she, Fang Yao’er, could finally make a contribution to His Majesty and to Yan Chi!

“This concubine will not fail Your Majesty’s trust!”

Off to the side, Tu Shanjin couldn’t help twitching at the corners of his mouth.

She really could make use of anything, and she was constantly coming up with things that took people by surprise. The Xiongnu king’s residence was probably about to go up in flames.

Yun Yaoyao dispatched a group of Dragon Shadow Guards and handed the matter over to them. Once Fang Yao’er faked her death and escaped today, she would secretly head straight for the Xiongnu.

After hearing the plan, the Dragon Shadow Guards were filled with admiration.

As expected of His Majesty! The schemes she came up with were sinister, shameless, and incredibly effective!

Of course, they were still in the imperial palace, so they had to put on a convincing show.

Yun Yaoyao furrowed her brows and barked furiously, “Answered Consort Yao, you dared to slander the Empress Dowager behind her back and spread baseless rumors, insulting the dignity of the imperial family.”

“Guards, drag her away and execute her!”

The Dragon Shadow Guards immediately put on fierce expressions, seized Fang Yao’er, and dragged her away.

At that moment, Fang Yao’er was still basking in the pride of finally realizing her own worth and potential. Her face was positively radiant with excitement.

One of the Dragon Shadow Guards dragging her poked her in the arm and winked.

Who gets this happy when they’re being taken to their execution? Hurry up and put on an act, or the palace attendants will notice something’s wrong and we’ll be exposed!

Fang Yao’er understood at once. She desperately forced down the corners of her mouth, which were practically flying toward the heavens, squeezed out two tears, and wailed loudly, “Waaah! Your Majesty, spare me!”

“This concubine will never dare do it again!”

“Ah! You stupid, tyrannical emperor! Even as a ghost, I’ll never let you off, Yun Yaoyao!”

The Dragon Shadow Guards: “…”

There was really no need to act that seriously.

Meanwhile, outside the gates of Xuanzheng Palace, Ning Shouli had stood there for a long while. In the end, he decided to go find His Majesty.

Who would have thought that he wouldn’t find His Majesty, but would instead run into his daughter, who served as a female official in the palace?

“Father!” Ning Ying cried out softly.

After not seeing a family member for so many days, her nose suddenly began to sting.

Ning Shouli glared at her.

Ning Ying immediately realized her mistake and respectfully bowed to him. “Greetings, Minister Ning.”

“Mm.”

The palace attendants behind Ning Ying tactfully withdrew to the side, leaving the father and daughter some private space.

“Father, why haven’t you returned home? Has something happened to the family?”

Ning Shouli told her what had happened in court that day.

Ning Ying’s expression changed drastically. “How could Big Brother have betrayed the country? Two cities fell in a single night—that’s far too suspicious. Whoever sold out the military intelligence must hold a very high position!”

Ning Shouli gave a bitter smile. “Exactly. It’s a principle even you can understand, yet so many people refuse to see it. His Majesty didn’t express an opinion in court today. After thinking it over, I decided to seek him out.”

Ning Ying immediately reassured him. “Father, don’t worry. His Majesty is open-minded and benevolent. I don’t think he’ll be like the others and grow suspicious of or fearful of the Ning family. Perhaps His Majesty already has a solution to this matter.”

Ning Shouli was extremely surprised. “Weren’t you cursing the current sovereign as a cold-blooded tyrant when you had just returned to the capital? How did your opinion suddenly change?”

Ning Ying felt a little embarrassed. After being subjected to Guan Wanyu’s long-term brainwashing as a devoted admirer of His Majesty, she had long since developed a deep respect for the emperor.

“I was young and ignorant before. In any case, I just think His Majesty is wonderful. Take the way he stood against all the ministers and established the position of female officials—it was incredibly bold!”

“Father, His Majesty will certainly deal with this matter at tomorrow morning’s court session. Until then, don’t act rashly. Don’t give anyone an opportunity to exploit the situation.”

Ning Ying’s words gradually calmed Ning Shouli. In the end, he left the palace.

After he was gone, the worry returned to Ning Ying’s face. How could she not be concerned about her elder brother’s situation?

For some reason, she suddenly thought of her sworn elder brother. Ever since they had sworn brotherhood beneath the apricot tree, the two of them had never met again.

Her sworn brother was a man with plenty of ideas. If he were here, perhaps he could think of a way to resolve this crisis…

At ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍that moment, Ning Ying’s good sworn elder brother—Yun Yaoyao, who had just finished playing the role of an enraged tyrant—wandered over to Xiwan Palace.

Xiwan Palace was located in a remote, secluded area. The palace was surrounded layer upon layer by imperial guards, and security was extremely tight.

The empress dowager of one country living together with a hostage from an enemy nation was simply too strange.

However, Tu Shanjin had looked so grim and unwilling to discuss the matter just now that Yun Yaoyao had decided not to ask.

She strode into Xiwan Palace.

The first thing she saw was a frail young man sitting alone beside a pavilion. His back was slightly curved as he scattered red fish food into the lake, drawing a school of koi into a frantic scramble.

His crow-black hair spilled down like a waterfall, half falling across his legs and half draped over his wrist, making him look even more delicate, fragile, and broken.

Perhaps sensing the heated gaze fixed upon him, the young man turned his head and looked back.

His eyes were ethereally clear. The moment he met Yun Yaoyao’s gaze, she was seized by the profound sensation of something tightening around her throat, leaving her unable to breathe.

In an instant, the yandere radar inside Yun Yaoyao began beeping frantically.

Dangerous. This man was a yandere!

At that moment, a voice came from inside the hall.

“Jin’er, where did you go?”

The next second, a woman dressed in dark green palace robes hurried out. “Jin’er, are you hiding from me? Come out this instant!”

She had originally been rushing toward the young man in the pavilion, but the moment she saw Yun Yaoyao, she halted.

Then she charged toward her instead, madness gleaming in her eyes.

“Jin’er, so this is where you are!”

Before Yun Yaoyao could react, the woman had seized her arm and twisted it viciously. Yun Yaoyao’s face immediately contorted into a mask of agony.

When she saw that the woman was about to raise her hand and give her a massive slap, Yun Yaoyao hurriedly seized her wrist and retreated to a safe distance.

Damn it! Who launches a sneak attack without even observing martial ethics?

“Jin’er, how did you dodge?” the woman demanded in fury and confusion. “Come here, darling. Let Mother hit you a few times.”

“No, I should use a hairpin to cut a few bloody gashes into your hand! That way, your father will come to see me. You can just tell him that Consort De’s people did it!”

The woman pulled out her hairpin and thrust it directly at Yun Yaoyao.

Yun Yaoyao dodged backward. Remembering the fine scars of varying depths she had seen covering this body when she bathed, her gaze turned dark and unreadable.

So the injuries on Tu Shanjin’s body had come from his own birth mother?

“You useless good-for-nothing! If only you were more capable, your father would come to see us!”

“It’s all because I gave birth to you that my figure was ruined and I lost His favor!”

“You disaster-bringing jinx!”

Yun Yaoyao suddenly felt an intense irritation and anger well up inside her. The last trace of emotion vanished from her eyes, leaving behind nothing but ice.

She extended her merciless iron hand and viciously twisted the woman’s arm, putting so much force into it that even her toes were straining.

The woman cried out in pain on the spot, her face filled with disbelief, as though the docile pet she had raised for years had suddenly bitten her.

“Mother,” Yun Yaoyao said with an utterly serious expression, “Father just told me why you lost his favor.”

At those words, the woman fell silent and stared at her strangely. “Why?”

Yun Yaoyao leaned close to her ear and murmured ominously, “Because he fell in love with a man!”

“What?!” The woman broke down. “A man? How could I possibly become a man? Why would he fall in love with a man? Aaaah!”

Seeing this, Yun Yaoyao waved for the attending maid to take her inside.

Only Yun Yaoyao and Huyan Mu remained in the courtyard, silently facing each other.

Yun Yaoyao approached. The difference in their heights allowed her to look down at him, her eyes filled with the intimidating authority of one in a position of power.

“Huyan Mu, you were sent to Yan Chi as a hostage by the Xiongnu King when you were three. Seventeen years have passed since then. Your birth mother was murdered, and your birth father has completely forgotten and abandoned you. Do you wish to return to the Xiongnu? Or rather, do you wish to go back and take revenge?”

“I can help you.”

At those words, Huyan Mu tilted his head slightly, a smile playing across his brows and eyes.

“Your Majesty, I don’t.”