Chapter 11
That night, I waited in torment.
Whoever wanted his favor was welcome to compete for it.
As long as I didn’t have to.
If someone suddenly lured the emperor to her own residence, I’d send her a banner of gratitude.
Unfortunately, Murong Su still came. Where were all those women who kept shouting about winning favor, exclusive favor, glorious favor?
Where the hell had they all gone?!
He entered, and I bowed reluctantly, head lowered. “Welcome, Your Majesty.”
A subtle fragrance drifted in with him. “Rise. Treat me as you did the other day.”
Better not.
I didn’t want to frighten him off the human race entirely.
I still had Sister’s mission to complete.
I stood and said dutifully, “I should observe the rules. You are the Son of Heaven, the ruler of our nation. So many women here long for your visits.”
He scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’ve been frightened into submission. It’s only confinement. I don’t believe you’ve changed your nature and learned obedience.”
…He didn’t believe me? Was this pig demon asking to be insulted?
Suppressing the urge to question the origins of his species, I smiled. “However strange I may be, I must still obey the palace rules.”
“And not only me. You should obey them too. You haven’t visited the inner palace for days, and our dynasty has no imperial heir. This concerns the foundation of the state.” I coaxed him patiently, looking up. Only then did I notice how extravagantly he’d dressed.
Why had he come looking like a bridegroom?
Was it time to slaughter the New Year pig?
I stared in astonishment.
He noticed. After a pause, he asked softly, “What do I really look like to you?”
Hadn’t he asked that already?
I didn’t want to hurt him, so I changed the subject. “Why… why are you so dressed up?”
“…No reason.” He coughed and turned his face aside. “Don’t you like it?”
I gave a tactful reply. “Don’t dress like this next time. It looks very nice. It’s just liable to give people the wrong idea.”
He suddenly looked up. His eyes were very, very bright, like the brightest stars I’d ever seen. Expectation crept into his voice. “What idea?”
…He had to ask.
What if someone mistook him for the festive pig and slaughtered him?
Looking at pale, plump Murong Su, I suddenly felt something strange stir inside me.
Why… why did this fat emperor suddenly seem to have a charm of his own?
For a moment, I was terrified.
Was this pig fetish contagious?!
“A misunderstanding. It’s all a misunderstanding,” I reassured myself.
He seemed bewildered but kept the conversation going. “All right. It’s late. Aren’t you sleeping? You’ve finished the poetry collection, haven’t you? Can we go straight to bed?”
I produced a copy of the Tao Te Ching and declared solemnly, “Reading the Tao Te Ching to Your Majesty is my lifelong dream.”
Speechless, he quietly lay down.
After I’d read for a while, he seemed to fall asleep.
I relaxed and lay down to rest.
The next moment, his arm came around me, gently drawing me close.
!!!
Tao Te Ching, my child! We’ve both been outwitted!