Chapter 7

Compared with Yizhou, life in the palace was rather dull.

After supper, I even took my sword into the courtyard to practice. Had Grandmother been there to see it, she would surely have wept with joy.

Several female officials followed me.

I had expected them to object and had already prepared my excuses.

Instead, when my gaze swept toward them, they all shuddered.

They looked at the sky, at the ground—anywhere but at me.

I couldn’t help saying to Yuanyuan, “How understanding they are! Give them some fresh fruit later.”

Yuanyuan had looked as though she wanted to say something ever since returning from outside. Now she could contain herself no longer.

“My dear miss, has it occurred to you that they aren’t understanding? They think you’re as frightening as His Majesty. You are the person who wanted the noble consort beaten to death on your second day in the palace.”

“Everyone outside is saying…”

I had a bad feeling.

“Saying what?”

“That His Majesty adores you, and no wonder—you are clearly two people of like mind.”

Like mind? With whom?

Xiao Xuechi?

My vision darkened. “They mean birds of a foul feather, don’t they?”

“They wouldn’t dare put it that way.”

Right. My vision went darker still.

A faint melancholy lingered over me until, after bathing, I lifted the quilt to climb into bed.

A sinister voice came from behind me.

“Why did you tell Jiang Youde to prepare this?”

Startled, I acted faster than I could think. Thump—I pinned him down.

“Wang Jingwan!” he said through gritted teeth.

My brain caught up, and I quickly let go. “Why have you sneaked into my rooms again?”

The lamps were still lit, so I could clearly see Xiao Xuechi’s smile without a trace of amusement.

“What is wrong with my sleeping in my empress’s rooms?”

Nothing, apparently…

I hastily changed the subject and glanced at the list in his hand.

“Half the court is missing. Am I not allowed to ask?”

Xiao Xuechi fell silent.

The smile that hadn’t reached his eyes abruptly vanished.

I had to admit, when he wasn’t smiling at all, he truly resembled the unpredictable, vicious ruler of the rumors.

“You think I’m a fool too?”

Holding the sheet of paper, he asked it lightly.

I shook my head. “Your Majesty is exceptionally intelligent.”

Xiao Xuechi curved his lips. A flicker of mockery and weariness crossed his eyes.

I continued, “So you’re a tyrant, not a fool.”

Xiao Xuechi stared.

“Oh,” I said. “You didn’t know?”

He smiled again and leaned against the inner side of the bed.

“Wang Jingwan, do you really think I won’t kill you?”

He’d stopped using the imperial manner of speaking…

Perhaps it was because we had exchanged bodies, but however viciously others described him, I could never feel much fear of Xiao Xuechi.

I thought it over and decided to say something flattering.

“Your Majesty’s word is binding. You promised me a death of old age. Naturally, you won’t kill me.”

“Mm. Go to sleep. I’m tired.”

He changed the subject so quickly that I couldn’t react. Only when the bed sank again beside me did I slowly get up to extinguish the lamps and candles.

I had been planning to read a story for a while before bed.

The instant the light went out, a daze swept over me. In a flash, I was no longer standing beside the lampstand but lying on the soft bed.

While my mind was still muddled, “my” voice came from nearby.

“…Wang Jingwan?”

It took me a moment.

Then I clutched my head and let out a wail.

Yuanyuan!

Your Buddha isn’t working!