Chapter 7
I exercised Murong Su all afternoon. Toward the end he looked ready to die, but I still made him stick it out.
Didn’t working up a sweat feel good?
After his bath, he collapsed on the bed.
I went out for another three or four laps. He looked at me as though I were insane.
My stamina and determination must have frightened him.
Before my bath, I warned him, “No sneaking food. Nothing at all. You can only drink water.”
He gave a muffled assent.
Honestly, he had a very good temper.
That night, lying in bed, he suddenly asked, “Have I ever offended you?”
Dinner had consisted of a plate of greens, boiled chicken breast dipped in salt, and a small bowl of pearl rice. He’d lost the will to live.
“Your Majesty, I’m doing this for your own good.”
I brushed him off with that one line.
He fell silent.
He looked so miserable that I actually felt a little sorry for him.
My humanity briefly gained the upper hand. “Run ten laps tomorrow morning and you can eat whatever you like. Get an early night. I’ll read you some poetry.”
He said nothing. I took that as agreement.
I started reciting, and before long he was sound asleep.
Once he was out, I lay down, thoroughly pleased with myself.
I really was kind to animals.
Murong Su normally rose before dawn for morning court. To fit in his exercise, I deliberately woke him two hours earlier.
He blinked sleepily. “It’s so dark outside.”
I pinched his fat cheek. “Yes. Just the time for your exercise.”
He stiffened and quickly dodged my hand.
I must have frightened him.
I dragged him around the courtyard at a run for ten laps, until he was so exhausted he kept dry-heaving.
Considerately, I patted his back. “It’s all right. You’ll get used to it. Breakfast is ready. Eat plenty.”
For four or five days straight, Murong Su exercised in the morning, reviewed memorials in the afternoon, and ate weight-loss meals at night.
One evening, I studied him with a puzzled look.
What was going on? He hadn’t lost any weight.
“Have you been eating behind my back?”
I raised an eyebrow and interrogated him.
His writing hand stopped. “Do you think I’d dare?”
How bizarre.
I couldn’t understand it.
“You must not be getting enough exercise. We’ll increase it tomorrow.”
Early the next morning, I opened my eyes to find the place beside me empty.
Murong Su had left for court extra early.
I had to intercept him on his way back.
Who knew he’d turn and run the moment he saw me?
I immediately hitched up my skirts and tore after him. “Your Majesty! Why are you running?”
“Stop chasing me! Go bother the empress, will you?!” Abandoning all imperial dignity, he shouted himself hoarse.
I yelled after him, “You’d better run faster! You’re in trouble if I catch you!”
As I ran, an alien suddenly appeared in front of me, blocking my path.
He slowly opened his folding fan. His eyes curved in an arch, his smile flirtatious. “There are stones on this path. Do be careful.”
My face went blank.
The next instant, I kicked him to the ground and strode on. “What sort of monster is blocking the road?”