Chapter 220: Feeling Drained Just from Watching

"Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood. Care for a little drink?"

Xiao Li had finished a pile of blueprints and, utterly exhausted, was now lying on a rocking chair, enjoying the breeze. Although Lou Yan had asked a question, he had already brought the wine over.

Xiao Li lazily opened her eyes and glanced at him. ’This man is an untamable wolf. As long as you’re stronger, you can keep him suppressed and subservient. But the moment you let up, his wild nature takes over, and he’ll look for a chance to bite back and devour you. Just like now—he’s testing my mood.’

Ever since he crossed the line that day, he’s been like a wolf that has tasted blood. The look in his eyes has changed, and he’s constantly courting death.

"Put it down."

’Come to think of it, I haven’t had a proper drink since seizing the throne.’

’Prince Yanping is dead, the lost territories are reclaimed. This is indeed a cause for a drink.’

Mu Bai led the Palace Attendants in to set out some side dishes, then quickly withdrew.

Lou Yan picked up a wine cup, filled it to the brim, and held it out to Xiao Li. "Your Majesty, please."

Xiao Li didn’t take it. Instead, she glanced at the Palace Attendants and narrowed her eyes slightly. "Mr. Lou, you’ve trained them well."

Lou Yan instantly dropped to one knee. "Servants who attend to Your Majesty must naturally be well-trained."

’He clearly knew that wasn’t what I meant, but as long as he understood, that was enough.’

’But it did get me thinking. Should I replace these eunuchs? As a woman, I didn’t have to worry about being cheated on. Besides, it wasn’t like I could be cuckolded, anyway.’

’And even though these eunuchs were castrated, they were still men. If I needed personal attendants, I might as well recruit some handsome men. At least they’d be easy on the eyes. What was the point of keeping these mutilated eunuchs around?’

As she was thinking, she reached out to take the wine from Lou Yan, but he wouldn’t let her. Instead, he insisted on bringing the cup to her lips.

Xiao Li: "..."

’This man really couldn’t seem to grasp his own status. Was this how a servant was supposed to behave?’

Lou Yan’s gaze was lowered, but his eyes held the fearless arrogance of one who knows they are favored. "This servant is attending to Your Majesty."

Xiao Li said, "We are not disabled. And another thing—with this attitude of yours, are you trying to serve Us into becoming an incompetent ruler?"

Lou Yan actually chuckled at her words. "This servant would love to, but Your Majesty is so clear-headed it’s infuriating."

Xiao Li drank from his hand. He continued to pour her wine, not forgetting to feed her side dishes as well.

Xiao Li decided to see what kind of game he was playing today. Sure enough, by the third cup of wine, he showed his true colors.

The wine had just entered Xiao Li’s mouth, and before she could swallow, he suddenly leaned forward and snatched it from her mouth.

The desire in his eyes was practically overflowing, yet he still put on a prim and proper act. "A little drink is for enjoyment, Your Majesty. You mustn’t be greedy."

’Who the hell was it that fed it to me in the first place?’

’And this blatant seduction combined with this playing-hard-to-get routine... he was the very image of a male siren.’

’Just looking at him was enough to make me feel drained.’

’If I really let him into my bed, would I ever be able to get out of it?’

"Your Majesty, Princess Wende and Princess Wen Shan request an audience."

A certain someone’s fun was interrupted. His expression instantly darkened, and his killing intent became palpable.

Xiao Li: "..."

’He’s like a sexually frustrated beast.’

"Let them in."

Only after speaking did she realize what she’d said, and she was instantly rendered speechless.

’I didn’t want to see those two princesses at all. But Lou Yan had thrown my emotions into such disarray that my intended refusal came out as an acceptance.’

’I feel like the one who most deserves to be killed is Lou Yan.’

’He who disturbs my heart is a demon and must be slain!’

The two young girls entered carrying something and bowed respectfully. "We, your younger sisters, pay our respects to Your Majesty."

Xiao Li waved her hand. "Rise."

The two rose. The slightly older Princess Wende stepped forward first, holding a tray. "Imperial Sister, my sister and I made some pastries with our own hands. We hope you will give them a try."

’I don’t need pastries, nor do I want to bother with these two so-called sisters.’

When the former Empress organized the inner palace, she had naturally made arrangements for these two. She moved them from a remote residence to a larger, closer one and assigned capable matrons to look after them. She even prepared dowries; they just needed to be married off once they turned fourteen.

Xiao Li never acknowledged any blood ties between them. But seeing as they were young and there was no conflict of interest, she didn’t mind supporting them until they left the palace.

That was all.

"That won’t be necessary. If you have business here, state it."

Although Wende was older than Wen Shan, she wasn’t very brave. Seeing Xiao Li’s cold expression, she immediately became a little frightened.

"We really just wanted to bring Your Majesty some pastries we made ourselves."

Wen Shan stepped forward with a bright smile. "If you must blame someone, Imperial Sister, please blame me. I was the one who dragged Sister Wende here."

She glanced at Lou Yan before continuing, "If Mr. Lou hadn’t told me that it was you, Imperial Sister, who had him save me, I would never have known that you actually care about us."

"You seem cold, Imperial Sister, but you are actually kind-hearted. I came today to apologize for misunderstanding you for so long, and also to thank you for saving my life."

She gave a shy smile. "Unfortunately, Wen Shan has no special talents. I just learned how to make pastries from my matron’s hometown and made them especially for you. Please don’t be displeased with them, Imperial Sister."

’I understood. The apology and gratitude were just excuses. They were here to build a connection with me.’

"There’s no need. You may leave."

Lou Yan immediately carried out the order, moving to usher them out.

Wende retreated timidly, truly preparing to leave, but Wen Shan dropped to her knees with a THUD. "Imperial Sister, Wen Shan is truly grateful to you! From now on, I will listen to your every word. I will do anything you ask of me."

’Wen Shan has a bit of a cunning streak, but she’s ultimately too young. Her every thought is written on her face.’

’I didn’t look down on her for it. A motherless child couldn’t survive without some cunning. But now I’ve given her a stable life, and no one would dare bully a princess.’

But Wen Shan’s ambitious gaze made it clear she wasn’t satisfied with her current comfortable life.

’She’s a princess. As the Empress, I won’t mistreat her. So what is she so ambitious to obtain?’

’I’ll help the weak, but not a greedy, insatiable wolf.’

’Wen Shan... isn’t a wolf. She’s a jackal. A wolf at least has passion and loyalty; she, on the other hand, might not have either.’

"Take her away."

Xiao Li thought that after sending them away and making her attitude clear, the matter would be over. But the next day, Wen Shan pulled a completely unexpected stunt.

"Imperial Sister, look out!"

An assassin disguised as a palace maid suddenly tried to stab Xiao Li. Lou Yan’s hand had already shot out, but he was suddenly knocked aside by Wen Shan, who had rushed out and taken the sword with her own body.

Lou Yan sent the assassin flying with a kick, and the guards swarmed forward to engage the attackers.

As the assassin’s sword was pulled out, Wen Shan’s chest was instantly stained red with blood. Her body swayed, her face pale with pain, but then she looked at Xiao Li and smiled happily. "Imperial Sister, you’re all right... That’s wonderful..."

With that, her eyes closed, and she slowly crumpled to the ground.

Xiao Li: "..." ’This plot... it seems so familiar, so cliché.’

Xiao Li didn’t move. No one went to catch her. They simply let her fall to the ground.

As she hit the ground with a THUD, Xiao Li finally figured it out. ’Isn’t this a scene straight out of a romance drama?’

’The person being assassinated just stands there and doesn’t dodge. The person who sees it doesn’t rush to tackle them out of the way, but insists on throwing their own body onto the blade. They have to block the sword with their own flesh and blood, then smile in relief and say, ’It’s wonderful that you’re all right.’ And then the other person is deeply moved and forever remembers the debt of being saved.’

’So, are my martial arts just for show? Are this group of guards just useless freeloaders? Did it really have to be this little girl who jumped out to take the blade?’

’And don’t even talk to me about sisterly affection. There was none of that between me and Wen Shan.’

’This clumsy scheme was so bad it hurt my eyes to watch.’

There were three assassins in total. They were taken down in the blink of an eye—two dead, one captured.

None of the guards were injured. No Palace Attendants were harmed. The only casualty was Princess Wen Shan, lying on the ground.