DID YOU SEE MY CAT?

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 001: A Twisted Fate(01)

　　It was early autumn, and a bleak and chilly autumn rain had fallen.

　　The palace maid stood outside the bedroom, pacing back and forth several times behind the eight-panel screen depicting carp playing in the water. She hesitated, scratching her neck before finally making up her mind. Just as she was about to knock on the door, the person inside spoke first.

　　The woman's voice was like a nightingale singing in an empty valley, or like pearls falling onto a jade plate. She asked, "Gui Xi, is it Prime Minister Xie who has come to 'admonish' again?"

　　The word "admonish" was particularly emphasized, and Gui Xi could even hear a hint of gritted teeth in it.

　　"Yes...yes...Your Majesty, this servant will send Prime Minister Xie back immediately." Gui Xi broke out in a cold sweat behind the screen. A few days ago, Her Majesty had been furious for several days because the Emperor had brought a woman back to the palace and wanted to take her as a concubine. Not only Gui Xi, who had served her since childhood, had been affected, but even the Emperor himself had suffered.

　　The woman's words were filled with resentment: "There's no such thing as a 'Consort.' From now on, there will only be the Empress and the Imperial Concubine. Forget about calling someone 'Consort East' or 'Consort West.' Who are you calling? Everyone will respond! Call out 'Consort,' and every woman in the palace will respond. Even the mares at the stables will come and neigh for you."

　　"Yes... Your Majesty the Empress."

　　Gui Xi still remembered the day the slap echoed through the sky. She had knelt beside her, desperately pressing her forehead to the ground, afraid that if her head was too high, the Emperor would see her looking displeased at the Son of Heaven and she would be implicated and lose her head.

　　In the days that followed, the Empress would seize every opportunity to make sarcastic and mocking remarks about men. Although it was sarcasm, everyone knew she was referring to the Emperor. Gui Xi dared not respond, only parroting the Empress's words to cheer her up. After all, she was first Xue Yange's personal maid, and only then the Empress's head maid; for an ordinary person to say such things would be a death sentence.

　　Gui Xi thought that hearing these words would likely cost her her head as well.

　　It was unclear what had gotten into Xue Yange today, but she suddenly said, "Summon him to see me."

　　Gui Xi advised the Empress that it was improper to allow a man from outside the palace into her bedchamber, but Xue Yange sneered, "What's this talk of propriety? If we're going to talk about propriety, it was during the Zhou Dynasty when propriety and music collapsed. Today's customs are nothing but a poor imitation. Even the sages of ancient times couldn't maintain their dignity, let alone the current emperor..."

　　Gui Xi felt a chill run down her spine and quickly interrupted, "Yes, this servant will go and summon Prime Minister Xie!"

　　Xie Yan was led in by Gui Xi.

　　The floor was paved with white jade, carved into the ground to resemble lotus flowers. The lotus stamens were delicately discernible, each lotus flower a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Even in the dead of winter, walking barefoot on it felt warm and smooth.

　　Xue Yange, leaning against a jade pillow, reclined softly on the chaise longue, stretching out her fair arms to play with the black jade chess pieces on the table.

　　"Your Majesty, this humble subject greets Your Majesty the Empress."

　　From the moment Xie Yan entered, he meticulously observed etiquette, his gaze fixed straight ahead on the jade floor, so much so that he didn't even notice entering the bedroom.

　　The sound of chess pieces clattering was like the rustling of bamboo curtains in the wind. Xue Yange wanted to see how long it would take this pedantic, old-fashioned scholar to realize something was amiss . The chess pieces clattered for a long time, and Xie Yan knelt for just as long.

　　Seeing that Xie Yan's court robes were half-soaked, she assumed he had been kneeling outside the door again, trying to be a loyal and dutiful subject. No way, what a loyal dog!

　　Xue Yange sneered inwardly, but still had Gui Xi bring over a bowl of sickeningly sweet brown sugar ginger soup.

　　"Rise, this is your reward."

　　"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xie Yan stood up, patted his robes, and accepted the ginger soup. His hair was neatly styled and hidden in his gold-trimmed black gauze hat. His eyes were like clear mirrors, his face like jade, and a faint smile played on his lips. In his younger days, he had appeared somewhat gentle and refined, but unfortunately, since entering the court, his personality had become increasingly reserved, and now

　　only a hypocritical smile and official tone remained. When he was young, Xue Yange would follow him around calling him "Brother Ayan," so affectionately. Now, he was just an annoying old fox.

　　"Prime Minister Xie, didn't you see?" Xue Yange pointed mischievously to the six-foot-wide rosewood bed behind him. Xie Yan composed himself and realized that this was Xue Yange's bedroom. Sure enough, Xie Yan frowned, lowered his head, and was about to retreat when he caught sight of Xue Yange's disheveled clothes, revealing half of her breast. His mind went blank, and he spilled the large bowl of ginger soup.

　　Xue Yange, however, chuckled like a cunning villain who had succeeded in his scheme. Before Xie Yan could react, she threw out the bait, tapping a chess piece on the table: "Prime Minister Xie's concern for the nation is as clear as day and night. For three consecutive months, he has truly moved me. You and I will play a game of chess. If you win, I will reward you with whatever you desire, how about it?"

　　Gui Xi quickly handed over a wooden tray. Xie Yan put down his porcelain bowl, took a plain handkerchief from the tray to wash his hands, knowing that Xue Yange was provoking him, he did not join in the dance, but bowed again: "This humble subject's appearance is unsightly today, and I fear it may offend Your Majesty's eyes. I will take my leave for now and return another day."

　　"Even this cannot keep Prime Minister Xie?" Xue Yange revealed the imperial edict for taking a concubine and gestured for him to move.

　　Xie Yan moved to the front of the chessboard carved from pear wood, sitting upright and looking every bit the saintly gentleman.

　　Tap! The

　　chess piece landed casually in the far corner of the chessboard.

　　"Lord Xie, it's your turn."

　　Xie Yan's move was orderly, unlike Xue Yange's chaotic and disorderly move.

　　*Clatter

　　* Xue Yange sized up Xie Yan, utterly bewildered as to how he had become such an obnoxious figure, constantly opposing her.

　　"Lord Xie, I ask you, was it your idea to bring her into the palace, or that Li fellow's?"

　　Xie Yan lowered his head slightly, tears streaming down his chin, and replied, "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. It was entirely my idea." "

　　Without that scoundrel's tacit approval, would you still be running around in front of me?" Xue Yange scoffed dismissively, angrily slamming Mozi onto the table. Her autumn eyes, brimming with rage, misted over.

　　How could Xue Yange not be angry? She and that scoundrel had been married for seven years, known each other for five, a total of twelve years. Now she was twenty-three, her youth wasted entirely on him, a wasted life, rewarded with such a heartless man. She should never have brought him home; she couldn't blame anyone else, it was all her own fault for being blind and foolish.

　　Xue Yange, the legitimate daughter of a general, had enjoyed immense prestige due to her father's numerous victories and the adoration of the people. This arrogance

　　even made the emperor wary, leading him to betroth his least favored son, a concubine's son, to Xue Yange to suppress the general's power. This concubine's son arrived alone with the imperial edict, emaciated and barely better looking than a beggar on the outskirts of town. He knelt half-kneeling, his disheveled appearance not diminishing his proud spirit. Facing the vermilion gate, he held the edict high and proclaimed, "General Xue Yi, the Northern Garrison Commander, receive this decree!"

　　Upon hearing the first call, a servant hurriedly opened the door. Normally, imperial edicts were delivered by eunuchs sent by the emperor, a display of power and imperial authority that commanded respect. Seeing this newcomer, the servant hesitated, then quickly turned back to report.

　　Xue Yi, enraged like a raging bull, charged forward, repeatedly shouting, "This is outrageous! This is outrageous!" He grabbed his sword, ready to behead the man outside.

　　Fortunately, the steward was a reasonable man and quickly clung to the general's leg, pleading, "Absolutely not, General, absolutely not! To execute him would be disobeying an imperial decree and plotting against the imperial heir! The emperor's wrath could bring death to millions! Think it over, General! Think it over!"

　　Xue Yi, enraged, paid no heed to such considerations and dragged the steward towards the door. The steward hurriedly ordered a servant to summon the madam. The young master of the Xue family pushed open the door, and the steward breathed a sigh of relief, quickly urging the young master to persuade the general. The young master asked what had happened, and the general replied, "That old emperor is determined to betroth his illegitimate son to Yan Niang! I'm going to go and behead that damned bastard! I'll kill one if he comes, and two if he comes! Let's see who dares to covet Yan Niang! I've fought on all sides, and in the end, I can't even protect my daughter! What good is the title of general? This is outrageous!"

　　Then, the steward watched with a grim expression as the father and son, working in perfect unison, strode towards the door with the air of warriors ready to fight. A wave of dizziness washed over the steward; he felt the execution of his entire family was imminent.

　　As soon as he stepped out of the front hall,

　　a beautifully sculpted young woman stood in the front yard, leading a thin, frail boy, and asked curiously, "Father, brother, is there going to be another war?"

　　The three grown men were quite frightened by Xue Yange.

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) 002 A Strange Book(02)

　　With the passage of time, recalling their first meeting, Xue Yange held back her tears, refusing to let them fall: "I love him so much, how could he treat me like this?"

　　Xie Yan, with a heart of stone, didn't offer a single word of comfort, but instead analyzed: "Your Majesty, love cannot be forced. Besides, the Emperor has been more than kind to you. If you insist, your reputation for being childless and jealous will eventually spread beyond the palace, and then there will likely be even more blame."

　　She understood the reasoning perfectly well. Although she disliked the seven grounds for divorce, she knew them by heart.

　　"Forcing it? You also think it was me who forced it?" Xue Yange was somewhat distraught, her pearly teeth lightly biting her lips, her eyes red and on the verge of tears, but she swallowed her sobs for the sake of face.

　　This time, Xie Yan didn't answer and placed his piece directly, politely saying, "Your Majesty, please."

　　For three months, she had been consumed by jealousy day and night, her heart burning with unbearable pain. She couldn't understand how that scoundrel had suddenly changed his mind. He was aloof and deep, never displaying any passionate emotions. Sometimes, Xue Yange would suspect that their years of marriage were merely a desperate move he had made years ago. But after spending so much time together, their hearts and minds gradually built up, and eventually, some love would develop. Otherwise, why would he have cleansed the harem for her, ignoring the objections of his ministers and halting the imperial concubine selection?

　　Xue Yange looked stubbornly at Xie Yan, and finally, a tear slipped down her cheek. Her bitten red lips trembled slightly, filled with unconcealed sorrow: "Lord Xie, do you also think... that I look like a resentful woman in my secluded chamber... is ugly?"

　　Xie Yan, who usually loved to spout clichés and reason, was now completely silent, like a taciturn gourd.

　　About half a month ago, Xue Yange, feeling extremely frustrated, took a few guards and lightly dressed to leave the palace for a stroll. Leaving the oppressive palace and finding herself in the bustling streets, her mood improved somewhat. Wandering aimlessly, she casually asked a guard to save an elderly man with white hair who was nearly struck by a galloping horse. Surprisingly, the old man, despite his advanced age, was remarkably agile. He feigned kneeling, lunged forward, and carried Xue Yange for three blocks before finally setting her down in a dark alley.

　　Xue Yange, a woman who had weathered many storms, remained calm. Knowing the old man's exceptional skills, she knew she couldn't confront him directly and could only try to smooth things over.

　　"Old man, do you have something to say?" she asked casually, touching her bracelet. Inside was a hawk-scented pill; in a crisis, crushing it would summon the palace's trained hawks.

　　The old man shoved a book into her arms, then suddenly knelt down and bowed deeply to her, saying, "Thank you so much for saving my life so many years ago!"

　　Xue Yange saw his face clearly; his clear, bright eyes, like glass, seemed particularly incongruous on the old man.

　　"We've found Mother... Madam!"

　　The palace staff followed the hawk to Xue Yange's location. The old man, seeing so many people, jumped up in fright and ran away. Xue Yange shouted "Chase!" and the guards with swords filed into the dark alley to search. However, after searching for a long time, they still couldn't find the "white-haired old man" the Empress had mentioned. Xue Yange didn't believe it and went to the place where the old man had run away. It was a dead-end alley. Xue Yange stepped on something; three or five bird feathers were scattered on the ground. She squatted down and picked up one of them. It was half black and half white, about the length of a forearm. It was clearly not from a hawk trained in the palace, nor from an ordinary pigeon, and certainly not from a bird nesting on the roof beam. What could it be?

　　Xue Yange knew that a living person of that size couldn't possibly escape from under the guards' noses; the old man had vanished into thin air as if by magic.

　　Strange.

　　Xue Yange felt she had only been gone a moment, yet the sky had already changed from midday to the afterglow of sunset. When the palace servants arrived, she wasn't in the capital, but in a small town three miles outside.

　　Strange.

　　The visitors weren't just the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, but also that bastard Li Chenyuan.

　　Strange.

　　Seeing Xue Yange unharmed, Li Chenyuan turned and left with a gloomy face.

　　Xue Yange had gone to great lengths to oppose the concubine's taking, even staging a scene of being framed herself. After Li Chenyuan refused to see her, she intensified her efforts, using everything from falling into water and being poisoned to being on the verge of death, even using pregnancy, all to see Li Chenyuan. Yet, even when she saw the man she longed for, they were constantly at each other's throats, nitpicking and finding fault.

　　Now a shepherd boy, Xue Yange felt a pang of sorrow watching Li Chenyuan's departing figure. How had things come to this?

　　The Imperial Guards exchanged glances, their faces expressionless, probably thinking to themselves that the Empress was here again.

　　"Your Majesty, be careful not to catch a chill in the evening breeze."

　　However, among the onlookers, there was one person who remained devoted to Xue Yange, named Lan Jun, the head of the Eastern Depot. His

　　deep purple flying fish robe made him appear even paler, his face smooth and beardless, his features deep-set, a blend of masculine strength and feminine softness. His voice was neither loud nor soft, making it difficult to discern his gender. He appeared to have Hu (non-Han) ancestry, hence his tall stature; one could tell at a glance that he was a man, and a eunuch at that.

　　Lan Jun removed her cloak and draped it over Xue Yange's shoulders. A faint fragrance of orchids wafted into her nostrils. Xue Yange was startled: "Do you also think I'm being unreasonable?"

　　"Lan Jun wouldn't dare. Lan Jun is nothing more than a dog in Your Majesty's hands; my life and death are entirely in your master's hands."

　　Even after many years in the palace, Xue Yange still felt uncomfortable. The atmosphere in the palace was tense; one had to be careful everywhere. If one inadvertently lost manners, it would easily become a laughingstock. At first, Xue Yange was the laughingstock of high-ranking officials and nobles after a few drinks.

　　Civil officials despised the recklessness of military generals. Every family spent a fortune carefully cultivating their daughters, hoping they would become phoenixes. No one ever imagined that in the end, it would be the lowly illegitimate son born to a palace maid who would climb to the throne.

　　Civil officials looked down on the illegitimate emperor, and even more so on the uneducated daughter of a military general. Xue Yange, from the noble ladies' association in the capital, was utterly unskilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, let alone etiquette. In the beginning

　　, she often became a laughingstock. A single slip of the tongue at a palace banquet would be reported as "vulgar" the next day. From then on, Xue Yange channeled her grief and anger into strength, studying day and night to reach her current state. Yet, she still treads on thin ice, always cautious. Now, she has read all kinds of classical texts, even the Four Books for Women that she despised the most, but she still cannot suppress her jealousy. After all, she never thought of becoming an empress, but only wanted to find someone she loved to spend her life with, like her parents.

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 003: The Beloved Concubine's Guide to Rising to Power(03)

　　Explaining anything now is useless. She sighed, "I'm tired. Let's go back."

　　"Yes, Your Majesty." Lan Jun bowed, not daring to raise his head higher than Xue Yange. He took Xue Yange's hand and carefully helped her up. When she was about to get into the carriage, he knelt down and used his body as a step stool. Who was

　　the Director of the Eastern Depot? He was a powerful figure who held sway over the court. If the Emperor was called "Long Live the Emperor," then it wouldn't be an exaggeration for Lan Jun to be called "Long Live the Emperor

　　." The carriage door closed, and Xue Yange was about to return to the prison called the Imperial Palace. She sighed again.

　　Lan Jun watched the carriage leave. He placed his index finger on his philtrum as if he was thinking. He pondered for a long time until the lingering fragrance on his palm dissipated. He raised his orchid finger and pointed at a few people, saying, "Hui'er, these people have disrespected their master. Gouge out their eyes."

　　"Yes, Godfather!" The person who answered was named Xu Hui, Lan Jun's adopted son.

　　The eunuchs from the Eastern Depot, dressed in dark flying fish robes, swiftly escorted the named Imperial Guards before Lan Jun, gouging out their eyes one by one. Lan Jun fiddled with the white jade thumb ring on her thumb, casually saying, "Your eyesight was poor today. If you hear even the slightest rumor from me in the future, it won't be a matter of just paying with a tongue. And if you dare to neglect your master again..."

　　Lan Jun curled her lips into a smile, her voice as leisurely as a midnight demon's murmur, "It's alright, just be more careful in your next life."

　　Lan Jun deliberately left things ambiguous, creating suspense to terrify the reader.

　　After returning to the palace, Xue Yange remembered the book the strange old man had given her. Seeing the cover, "The Guide to Becoming a Favored Concubine," she inwardly scoffed at it as a vulgar, blasphemous folk novel. She'd see who wrote this filthy rubbish and have Lan Jun chop off that author's head tomorrow.

　　She became increasingly engrossed in reading, her face glowing with vibrant colors. She didn't sleep a wink all night. Finally, she angrily slammed the book down, cursing it as utter garbage, daring to leak royal secrets and portraying her as a venomous, jealous woman deserving of death!

　　When Xue Yange angrily summoned Lan Jun, throwing the demonic book aside, Lan Jun picked it up and examined it closely, unable to understand it. He asked, "Your Majesty, I, Lan Jun, cannot find any errors. May I ask where in this Book of Poetry is wrong, that it has displeased Your Majesty?"

　　Xue Yange asked several people in succession, but everyone else was reading the "Book of Poetry," while she saw a "Handbook for a Favored Concubine's Rise to Power." Strange indeed! Considering the book was a gift from a sorcerer, she became even more fearful and simply threw it into the fire to burn it. But every time she threw it away, the book returned, over and over again, leaving Xue Yange puzzled. What kind of demonic entity was this?

　　Who dared to so brazenly desecrate the royal family? The book begins with the day the Emperor returned with a woman named Li Shuangshuang. The book describes her as the Emperor's long-cherished "white moonlight," a symbol of his kindness and compassion, while Xue Yange is portrayed as vicious and treacherous.

　　Xue Yange couldn't believe it. Although she was indeed jealous, she wouldn't resort to such underhanded methods. But upon reflection, she realized that her jealousy had clouded her judgment, and she would never have reflected on her actions if not for this book.

　　As time passed, the events described in the book came true one by one, and she realized with a start that this wasn't a demonic book, but a prophecy given by an immortal.

　　So, suppressing her anger, she carefully read every word, gradually understanding the strange and bizarre terms: time travel, strategy system, completing tasks, items. She watched the lovey-dovey couple in the book, her eyes burning with rage.

　　Her fate was this: the deposed empress was banished to the cold palace for harming Li Shuangshuang and attempting to assassinate the emperor. Her accomplices, including those from General Xue's household, were stripped of their official titles, and her entire family was reduced to commoners and exiled to the frontier. Thus, General Xue's household lost its glory. Closing

　　the book, Xue Yange was unwilling to accept this. She took off the purple jade bracelet from her wrist, as if to throw it away. Although not as precious as the white jade paving the ground, it was the first item Li Chenyuan had given her, holding immense significance for her.

　　But now…

　　Xue Yange held it for a long time, unable to bring herself to throw it. She squatted down, helplessly clutching the purple jade bracelet, and bitterly complained, "You scoundrel! We've been married for seven years, and you've never called me by my maiden name, nor have you ever lit a lantern for me… You… Waaah…"

　　Xue Yange was filled with resentment, throwing a tantrum like a shrew. Afterwards, as if possessed, she was lost in thought, and if anyone approached, she would hurl sarcastic remarks at them. Right now, she was playing chess with Xie Yan.

　　Her clothes were disheveled, her behavior frivolous, even bordering on self-destructive. Xie Yan, always composed, remained unmoved by her words.

　　The man before him still possessed his dignified air; compared to him, her disheveled state was laughable. For a moment, he felt a pang of sadness, an inexplicable ache in his heart, a longing to confide in someone. When she was still the daughter of the General's family, Xie Yan treated her like a younger sister, showering her with affection.

　　Times had changed. Her current isolation and helplessness were entirely her own fault. She should never have defied her father's wishes and insisted on marrying Li Chenyuan, later causing a huge uproar with the General's family, vowing to sever ties and refuse to be their legitimate daughter. Looking back, it all seemed naive and laughable.

　　She regretted marrying Li Chenyuan, truly regretted it.

　　There were no vows of eternal love, no deep affection between husband and wife. Twelve years vanished without a trace the moment Li Shuangshuang appeared. She had initially thought he was just too dull to express himself, but in reality, he hadn't even bothered to appease her. All these years had been nothing but wishful thinking on her part.

　　How absurd and laughable.

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 004: All Love is a Curse　　(04)

　　Looking back, the happiest moment was probably when she was the daughter of the General's Mansion.

　　Xue Yange asked herself, her parents, relatives, and childhood sweetheart were all strangers, all for that scoundrel of a man, was it worth it?

　　What good was regret? She had already embarked on a path of no return, lost herself. Before becoming Empress, she was still the simple and innocent Yan Niang, but after becoming Empress, she seemed to have suddenly become a different person, an existence that had erased her personality, dedicated to becoming the gentle, kind, respectful, and frugal Empress in history books.

　　She was not happy, but there was no room for maneuver. She was losing herself, and no one could save her.

　　Xie Yan was the last straw she grasped, but unfortunately, Xie Yan didn't want to pay any attention to her at all. His heart was entirely focused on helping the Emperor take concubines and continue the family line, making him a loyal minister.

　　Regarding Xue Yange's question, Xie Yan did not answer whether it was ugly or not, and Xue Yange took it as an admission.

　　Xue Yange sat up, her snow-white breasts swaying slightly. Tears welled in her eyes as she questioned, "Brother Ayan, do you hate me?" "

　　This humble subject wouldn't dare, Your Majesty, please be careful with your words."

　　"I wouldn't dare...I wouldn't dare..." Xue Yange chuckled, playing with the chess pieces, repeatedly mentioning "Your Majesty." Was Xie Yan warning her to be mindful of her status as Empress?

　　She teased herself, "Why do you hold a grudge against me? I didn't put anyone in your room."

　　Xie Yan was not yet married, but had a fiancée, Lin Yanran. The talented Lin family woman was more than a match for him. They were supposed to marry a few years ago, but unfortunately, Xie's mother passed away, and Xie Yan observed three years of mourning. Judging from his attire now, the mourning period was over.

　　Xue Yange had read some strange books and knew that Lin Yanran and Li Shuangshuang had some connection. If Li Shuangshuang was to reunite with that scoundrel, Lin Yanran was involved.

　　Now, Xie Yan was eager to help that scoundrel take a concubine, probably to please his fiancée.

　　She gently stroked the imperial edict. "Very well," she thought, "let her see the magnanimity of the Lin family's talented daughter.

　　" Xue Yange placed her fifth piece, the Mozi pieces forming a line, and her lips parted slightly: "Thank you, Lord Xie, for your concession."

　　Xie Yan watched as she wiped away her tears and returned to normal, as if the pitiful woman from before was merely an illusion. A hint of cunning lingered in her smile.

　　Xie Yan remembered that she used to smile like that when she teased people.

　　"Lord Xie, I'm playing Gomoku." She picked up the Go box and turned it upside down. The Go stones landed like raindrops on banana leaves. It was rare for her to speak her true feelings: "Music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—I have no interest in any of these. I felt sorry for that guy surnamed Li when I saw him playing Go alone. Unlike some people who are naturally intelligent, I can only study Go manuals by lamplight to be able to play a few moves with him. Now that I think about it, it's laughable. I was just showing off my limited skills before an expert."

　　After mocking herself, she said to Xie Yan, "I didn't mean to tease Lord Xie

　　. I didn't want you to leave empty-handed. Since you are so loyal, let me see how far you can go for the country." Xie Yan bowed: "Please speak, Your Majesty."

　　Sigh, blind loyalty.

　　Xue Yange thought that Xie Yan might be like herself, losing his personality after becoming prime minister. She would never have imagined before that the two who were so incompatible would become ruler and subject, and that Xie Yan would even be so devoted to him.

　　"The imperial decree for the consort's appointment has been drafted. It will take effect once the phoenix seal is affixed. However, my legs are weak and I cannot bend down. I would be grateful if Prime Minister Xie could retrieve the phoenix seal beneath my feet." Xue Yange sat on the imperial concubine's footstool, her legs bent. Beneath her feet was the phoenix seal, a symbol of the Empress. To retrieve it, she would have to crawl back under her skirt.

　　Xue Yange was doing this intentionally, to retaliate against Xie Yan and his fiancée, Lin Yanran, for their illicit scheme to smuggle women into the harem. Xie Yan was inherently arrogant; forcing him to crawl under a woman's skirt was a profound insult to his dignity.

　　It wasn't entirely Xue Yange's fault; she had given Xie Yan many chances. If he had spoken more gently, she wouldn't have been subjected to such harassment. She decided to throw

　　caution to the wind. Xue Yange no longer wanted to be a benevolent Empress, caring for others. After all these years, it was time to plan for herself. Now, she needed to regain her good mood.

　　This mountain of resentment finally needed an outlet, and Xie Yan was there nonetheless.

　　Xue Yange wanted to see just how far Xie Yan would dedicate himself to the country.

　　Xie Yan was a strange man. If he was so particular about etiquette and formalities, then he should never have kowtowed at her feet.

　　This scene was something Xue Yange had never expected. She had thought Xie Yan would angrily storm off, but instead, he said, "This humble subject has been impolite," and lowered his head, slowly reaching towards her skirt. She had been indulging herself lately, and wasn't even wearing stockings under her skirt, her bare feet exposed.

　　The one who felt embarrassed was Xue Yange. Her aggressive demeanor vanished instantly, and she hurriedly retreated, saying, "Wait!"

　　But Xie Yan had already touched the phoenix print on the sole of her foot.

　　A cry of "The Emperor has arrived!" startled her heart. If Li Chenyuan saw this scene, both of them would probably lose their lives. The footsteps grew closer, and in a moment of panic, Xue Yange lifted her skirt to hide Xie Yan.

　　Xue Yange quickly regained her composure. Li Chenyuan, dressed in a black dragon robe, strode in. His powerful presence was impossible to ignore; his innate arrogance, ingrained in his very being, made people unconsciously bow down to him.

　　When Xue Yange first saw the illegitimate prince, she thought he was elegant in his simple blue robe, with clear, bright eyes and a pair of cynical

　　, dark pupils. Everyone felt they owed him millions of taels of silver; even kneeling on a jade brick exuded an aura of absolute dominance. Li Chenyuan sensed Xue Yange's gaze and turned to look at her. Upon closer inspection, his arrogant gaze faded, replaced by a calm expression, yet there was a chilling, unsettling feeling emanating from him

　　. That gaze, though seemingly calm, made her somewhat apprehensive. In her youthful ignorance, she couldn't discern whether it was fear or love at first sight; her heart skipped a beat, and she believed it was infatuation.

　　This oddball, in Xue Yange's eyes, was simply handsome and pleasing to the eye, but unfortunately, he had a problem. He knelt arrogantly in front of the General's mansion, as if afraid others wouldn't see his arrogance. She quickly took this fool home to prevent him from embarrassing himself in public.

　　Now, she realized she hadn't just been attracted to his appearance, but also to his domineering aura, his unyielding spirit even in the face of adversity, his resilience like a strong blade of grass—a true hero.

　　Xue Yange suddenly understood; it was she who had the problem. How could she have fallen for someone more arrogant than a peacock, tormenting her like this?

　　It was truly a case of all love being a curse, no one without grievances; she had always been the one to humiliate herself.

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 005: Under the Pomegranate Skirt　　(05)

　　"Why does Your Majesty have the leisure to visit your wife who has shared your hardships?"

　　Xue Yange had long told herself not to like Li Chenyuan, that big jerk, but how could she easily let go of twelve years of feelings? A thousand threads of emotion were tangled together, impossible to untangle, a truly messy affair.

　　She was not only getting angrier the more she thought about it, but her eyes were also red like a rabbit's, she was so angry that she was definitely not sad. Li

　　Chenyuan came in with a fierce momentum, and even the twelve beaded curtains on his crown could not hide his sinister aura. He surveyed the room, saw the mess on the floor, and saw Xue Yange's disheveled clothes, his oppressive aura became even heavier, he asked indifferently: "Where is she?"

　　"Who is Your Majesty talking about?" The emperor's power was nothing but a fart in Xue Yange's eyes. If she was afraid of Li Chenyuan, that tyrant, she would have avoided him like a poisonous snake in the first place, how could she have so eagerly thrown herself at him.

　　"Xie Yan."

　　Xue Yange said in a tone that seemed to say, "Are you blind?" She glanced at the scattered chess pieces on the floor and said, "Your Majesty, didn't you see this?"

　　As usual, she grabbed the overturned chess box and threw it, her cheeks flushed red with anger. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she shouted, "I've driven him away! I absolutely will not allow him to take a concubine! If Your Majesty dares to bring anyone into the harem, I will hang myself right here in Chang Le Palace, and even as a ghost

　　, I will haunt you two!" Although Xue Yange said this, she was actually terrified inside; that person was hiding under her skirt.

　　With Li Chenyuan's skill, he could have easily dodged it, but he stood there taking the hit. The chess box shattered the glass beaded curtain, but Li Chenyuan didn't even blink. Xue Yange was ruthless; she smashed it with all her might, wishing she could smash this dog of a man to death.

　　Li Chenyuan let the blood slide down his forehead: "Have you made a scene?"

　　Everyone thought she was making a scene.

　　Men spend their lives striving for fame, promotion, and wealth; women spend their lives marrying, raising children, and taking a concubine is a matter of lifelong happiness. How could it be considered making a scene? She was defending her dignity. How could it be called

　　making a scene? "Yes, I am a hen that can't lay eggs. Even so, I will not release her. Li Chenyuan, if you are not satisfied, either depose me or kill me. Of course, if you dare to depose me, I will hang myself in this Chang Le Palace anyway. No matter what you choose, I'm going to die either way. Let's see who can outlast whom!" She cursed like a shrew, even forgetting there was someone under her skirt, stomping her feet and accidentally kicking Xie Yan.

　　Xue Yange was adept at infuriating people; with just a few words, she moved this formidable figure away. Only after confirming with Gui Xi that he was gone did she breathe a sigh of relief and lift her skirt: "Lord Xie, come out now."

　　When Xie Yan regained his freedom, his ink-black face rivaled that of Li Chenyuan. He picked up his fallen official hat, placed it on his stomach, dusted it off a few times, and showed no intention of putting it back. His hair was disheveled, sweat beaded on his temples, and if one looked closely, one could see his earlobes were flushed red.

　　Accustomed to his meticulousness, seeing him like this now stirred an indescribable flutter in Xue Yange's heart, a sense of forbidden transgression.

　　This thrill even overshadowed her recent nausea, causing her to temporarily forget just how despicable that son of a bitch truly was.

　　Yes, Lin Yanran had led Li Shuangshuang to see that scoundrel; in a way, Lin Yanran was also the culprit who stole her husband. Therefore, she couldn't be blamed for revenge.

　　Xue Yange, being no novice, naturally understood what had happened to Xie Yan. Unconsciously, she bit her nails, which were adorned with nail polish, and her eyes lingered between the man's legs, teasingly asking, "Lord Xie, why aren't you wearing your official hat?"

　　Xue Yange stirred a still pond into a turbulent sea. The redness at the tips of Xie Yan's ears spread to the back of his neck. Xie Yan finally revealed his first emotion since becoming Prime Minister: anger.

　　Xue Yange, however, laughed, a laugh as melodious as a silver bell.

　　She felt perhaps driven mad by jealousy; otherwise, how could she laugh so outrageously? She was unaware of the utter wickedness hidden deep within her.

　　Let them make a scene, let them cause chaos. If she can't have a good time, no one else can either. She'll have her fun for now, and then make her plans later.

　　Then she heard a high-pitched, shrill voice outside the door shout, "The Emperor has arrived!" She never expected that scoundrel to return, for some reason. Xue Yange lifted her skirt and silently said, "Lord Xie, shall we hide inside?"

　　The two faced off, and Xie Yan bent down at the last moment, hiding under her skirt.

　　She was capable of adultery too.

　　Li Chenyuan had removed his crown, the blood on his forehead half-dried. He sat down naturally in front of her, his eyes narrowed, his usually sharp demeanor unusually calm as he said, "Let's talk."

　　He didn't use "Empress and I," but "we"—how ironic, going to such lengths for Li Shuangshuang, willing to lower himself, just to reunite with his beloved as soon as possible.

　　Xue Yange naturally understood what they were talking about. She placed her full, delicate feet on Xie Yan's thigh, leaned slightly forward, beckoned Li Chenyuan closer with her finger, and then spat in his face.

　　"Your Majesty, instead of getting your wound bandaged, you rushed back because you think the wound is asymmetrical and want me to smash it again?"

　　In the entire world, only Xue Yange dared to cause trouble in front of Li Chenyuan.

　　The new emperor was born of humble birth, but his actions were swift and decisive. Upon taking office, he ruthlessly beheaded several rebellious officials, and those who committed embezzlement and fraud were all sentenced to death, regardless of their social standing. The officials, knowing he had the powerful General's Mansion as his backing, dared not be the first to rebel.

　　This back-and-forth, this constant beheading, gave rise to a reputation for tyranny alongside a reputation for integrity and justice in the court. Even now, a faint red bloodstain remains in front of the Golden Dragon Hall, and the officials all cower in fear of being beheaded by the tyrant.

　　Xue Yange dared to treat Li Chenyuan this way because she had the General's Mansion behind her. Although she was now almost completely estranged from the General's Mansion, she was still a daughter of the General's Mansion, and her family wouldn't abandon her if she were in dire straits. If he dared to lay a finger on her, it would be a fight to the death, even if it meant losing her as emperor.

　　Before she obtained the strange book, she would have thought this way, but now, reflecting calmly, she realized how terrifying her jealousy was, even to the point of wanting to drag the entire world down with her.

　　Although Li Chenyuan was a scoundrel, under his rule,

　　the country was peaceful and prosperous, and the people lived happily. The previous emperor loved war, and even though he won many battles, the people suffered greatly, living a life of hardship, selling their children and resorting to cannibalism.

　　Xue Yange calmed down; she could hate this scoundrel, but she couldn't go to the point of a fight to the death.

　　But she could still hit him a few times and curse him a few times, just to provoke him and give her some satisfaction.

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 006: Watching the Tigers Fight　(06)

　　With a glance from Li Chenyuan, the attending eunuch Jiang Hai respectfully withdrew.

　　Gui Xi rolled her eyes, unsure of where to go. One foot was stuck with glue, and she tried to walk on tiptoe with the other, but a resentful voice echoed in her ears.

　　"Gui Xi, if you dare to be like Xing An, who sticks her arms out to others, and listens to the orders of that lowly thing, leaving whenever she is told to, forgetting who the proper mistress is, then you can forget about serving me in the future."

　　Thus, Gui Xi dared not move despite the emperor's power.

　　Originally, there were two personal maids, Gui Xi and Xing An. Gui Xi was a maid who came with her as part of her dowry, while Xing An was added after Xue Yange entered the palace. Naturally, their relationship was not as deep as that of Gui Xi, who had grown up with her since childhood.

　　At that time, Xue Yange had been insane for a month, and whoever she saw would suffer misfortune. The maids of Chang Le Palace wished they could dig a hole and bury themselves so that the Empress would not see them.

　　After all, they had been companions for seven years. When Xing'an was exiled to the Embroidery Pavilion and left Chang Le Palace, she repeatedly advised Gui happy against it.

　　"Although I haven't read many books, I know that those who know when to yield are the wise. We servants, at best, are still servants, our lives as worthless as grass. Being beaten and scolded for making mistakes is the least of our worries; losing our lives is truly terrifying. Sister Guixi, please don't blame me for speaking harshly. Although the Empress controls the inner palace, the entire empire is still in the Emperor's hands, so... sigh... take care, Sister Guixi."

　　Xing'an hesitated, wanting to persuade Guixi but afraid of offending the Emperor. In the end, she could only leave with the words "take care," then picked up her bundle and the reward money given by the Empress and left. The generous reward money was enough for Xing'an to leave the palace immediately, open a small shop, do business, and live a peaceful life with her family. Xing'an had always wanted to leave the palace. She was already of age but hadn't left because of the few taels of monthly salary. Now the opportunity had finally come, but as she turned a corner, she hugged the heavy bundle and wept uncontrollably.

　　Xing'an eventually sent the reward money home and continued working at the embroidery pavilion, claiming that she could never have too much money.

　　Gui Xi, of course, understood this. Xing'an had family outside the palace to support, so she dared not take the risk. Gui Xi was dug out of a mass grave during the war. Later, perhaps because she was too young to even fill a tooth gap, or perhaps because she was sickly and afraid of getting sick from eating her, Gui Xi was thrown into that pot of stewed human flesh and bones. Fortunately, she was rescued by her mistress when she was on her last breath and was even appointed as her personal maid. Her mistress treated her kindly, and Gui Xi would never forget this kindness, nor dare she forget it.

　　Gui Xi knew, of course, that the palace and the world belonged to the emperor, but it was thanks to Miss Xue's kindness that she was where she was today.

　　When everyone in Chang Le Palace fled in fear, only Gui Xi stayed behind. Only Gui Xi pitied this woman who cried at night and put on heavy makeup to appear strong during the day.

　　Gui Xi was reminiscing about her life when Xue Yange waved her hand to interrupt her. She breathed a sigh of relief and left, standing behind the door. She touched the cold back of her neck, thankful that her head was still connected to her body. Hearing a sigh beside her, Gui Xi looked up and exchanged an awkward smile with Jiang Hai, a smile tinged with mutual sympathy.

　　Inside the room, Li Chenyuan, whether genuinely afraid of Xue Yange giving him another accusation or something else, leaned over and picked up the bowl of white jade tea from the table. His deep, dark eyes were breathtaking. If it were Xie Yan, Xue Yange could guess a thing or two, but as for Li Chenyuan, with whom she had shared a bed for many years, she still didn't understand what he was thinking, only able to deduce from subtle expressions based on experience.

　　There was a saying in the Imperial Instructions: "The emperor should not show his joy or anger, and should remain calm

　　in the face of adversity." She felt this was particularly true, especially for Li Chenyuan. This man was a born schemer, extremely shrewd and skilled at psychological manipulation. An ordinary person would probably be kneeling and begging Li Chenyuan for forgiveness for keeping a lover.

　　Seven years ago, Xue Yange wouldn't have dared to say, but now she handles Li Chenyuan with ease. Years of interaction have inevitably picked up some of his bad habits; her nails, painted a vibrant red like blood, reflect her own wild and unruly nature.

　　"Before you leave, I'd like to ask Lord Xie to have a bowl of ginger soup to warm himself. After all, you bear heavy responsibilities in the court. If you fall ill, it will only increase the burden on His Majesty's shoulders. If His Majesty were to fall ill due to his busy schedule, I would be very worried." Li

　　Chenyuan's reason for returning wasn't Xie Yan or Xue Yange, but rather the cloyingly sweet scent in the air. If Xue Yange had said it was to warm him up in the cold weather, Li Chenyuan wouldn't have believed her, as she disliked sweet things.

　　These words were so logical and well-founded that Li Chenyuan couldn't find any fault with them. He remained silent for a long time, looking at the sudden connection of five pieces on the chessboard, trying to find any suspicious clues. But then he heard her half-smile and say, "Your Majesty, I had a few reminiscing sessions with Lord Xie. We were having a pleasant conversation when Lord Xie brought up the incident between us on the Qixi Festival... It was just a small matter, so let's not dwell on it. Anyway, Lord Xie, with his silver tongue, managed to bring up the old story from the Qixi Festival and connect it to the matter of Nali Shuangshuang. We were in high spirits when he brought up this unlucky thing. How could I not be angry?"

　　If Li Chenyuan was a silent, silent killer, then Xue Yange was a firework that flew around wildly, ready to ignite at any moment, rushing towards anyone she saw, eager to explode with a bang.

　　A brute might not be incapable of using wit to subdue someone; a brute also has his own abilities. By adding a touch of cunning to his reckless charge, he could deceive people. Who would have thought that a brute could also be cunning?

　　This was all thanks to Li Chenyuan's incredibly perceptive nature. If his eyes could see, they would be no less cunning than a beehive, riddled with holes, even a cunning rabbit hiding inside would have no way out. Xue Yange was fortunate enough to learn a few tricks from him.

　　Despite being Empress, Xue Yange maintained a straightforward attitude towards Li Chenyuan, her joys and sorrows mirroring his.

　　In front of others, she was a dignified Empress, but in front of Li Chenyuan, she offered him her most authentic self without any pretense. Li Chenyuan never objected to this, and Xue Yange once thought it was a privilege he granted her. But upon closer reflection, her man's taciturn and vengeful nature meant he was likely keeping a record of his actions, waiting for the right opportunity to punish him.

　　It was precisely his forbearance and suspicious nature that became Xue Yange's best weapon against Li Chenyuan.

　　For example, he must be thinking right now:

　　Why did Xue Yange change her mind and keep Xie Yan? Why did she reward him with ginger soup? And why did she suddenly bring up the Qixi Festival?

　　The Qixi Festival story was a complete fabrication by Xue Yange. She had no memory of the Qixi Festival with Xie Yan whatsoever, and no matter how hard Li Chenyuan investigated, he couldn't find a single clue.

　　How could a baseless rumor be plausible?

　　The more she disbelieved it, the more suspicious she became, and once that suspicion took hold, it was hard to dispel.

　　Let those two bastards who ruined her happiness fight it out first.

----

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) 007 The Understanding Flower(07)

　　Li Chenyuan listened quietly. Xue Yange thought he was brewing anger, but to her surprise, he was not only not provoked, but also pretended to think seriously. "In that case, I must reward Xie Yan properly."

　　Xue Yange was originally there to watch the show and provoke Li Chenyuan, but unexpectedly, he suddenly changed his attitude.

　　Xue Yange looked at Li Chenyuan in surprise and saw his lips twitch slightly. She immediately understood that he was laughing in anger. Li Chenyuan usually didn't laugh, but when he did, someone was doomed.

　　This time it was Xue Yange's turn to laugh. She saw the water droplets on Li Chenyuan and teased, "Your Majesty came in a hurry this time."

　　She called out loudly, "Guixi, go to the small kitchen and bring the ginger soup that was just heated up."

　　Guixi looked at Jiang Hai pitifully, as if she wanted to cry, and Jiang Hai returned her a "take care" look.

　　The Empress had specifically mentioned that the soup was "just warmed up," referring to the cloyingly sweet ginger soup. Although the Emperor wasn't particularly fond of food and wasn't picky, this bowl of ginger soup...

　　the Empress had said it was "just warmed up," but now it was only slightly warm, chilling to the bone. Gui Xi shivered, sighing that serving the Emperor was like walking on thin ice, and resignedly served the soup. Sure enough, after the first sip, the porcelain spoon shattered on the floor. Gui Xi knelt down in panic, begging for mercy, "Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please

　　calm down!" The servants outside, hearing the commotion, also knelt down.

　　Li Chenyuan's brows were so furrowed they could kill a fly. Li Chenyuan didn't care about the food; delicacies and street food made no difference to him. It was just that the sweetness was not only cloying to smell but also nauseating to eat.

　　At this moment, the hall was eerily quiet, making the sound of the autumn rain outside the window seem particularly noisy.

　　Xue Yange watched Li Chenyuan with amusement, waiting for him to lash out. Li Chenyuan only said, "The Empress is very thoughtful."

　　Xue Yange replied sarcastically, "Your Majesty is too kind. It's just a bowl of ginger soup. Compared to Your Majesty's empire and great undertakings, my little token is nothing."

　　"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The small things the Empress has thought of for me are also important matters." Li Chenyuan drank the porcelain bowl in one gulp. "Even Xie Qing's tastes have been taken care of. My Empress is truly thoughtful." "

　　After all, Xie Yan is Your Majesty's 'beloved minister.' Even if he doesn't like him, he should still remember that Your Majesty loves him because of Xie Yan. Your Majesty shouldn't mind, right?" Xue Yange deliberately blinked, her peach blossom eyes possessing the innocent charm of a young woman.

　　How could Xue Yange, who was scheming among the wolves in the court, possibly have such a look? It was just a pretense to disgust and mock Li Chenyuan. Sure enough, Xue Yange's sudden change startled Li Chenyuan, and he took a step back.

　　"What? Your Li Shuangshuang can be such an understanding and empathetic confidante, but I can't?" Li Chenyuan's face darkened further. Xue Yange chuckled, a sad laugh laced with self-mockery, "Yes, in your eyes I'm nothing more than an arrogant and domineering woman, utterly devoid of any gentleness."

　　Xue Yange's laughter vanished, her gaze turning icy, her red lips parting sharply, "Li Chenyuan, I'm not joking with you. If you dare bring anyone into the harem, I will fight you to the death!"

　　"Get out of my room now, immediately! I feel disgusted and want to vomit if you stay even a little longer. I'm telling you now, from this day forward, if anyone dares to say another word of advice, don't blame me for being impolite!"

　　This is how they've been getting along for the past three months, a pair of resentful lovers torturing each other. Every word Xue Yange uttered pierced Li Chenyuan's heart. Li Chenyuan, as the current emperor, couldn't stand Xue Yange bullying him like this. Xue Yange called him ungrateful, and he retorted arrogantly. With just one sentence, the woman exploded like a raging fire, and her three-inch-long pinky fingernail scratched a hideous bloody mark on his jaw.

　　"Xue Yange, let's have a proper talk about Li Shuangshuang."

　　Xue Yange, unusually composed, glared at him. "What Your Majesty wants to talk about, I've laid out my bottom line perfectly well. I absolutely refuse to allow Your Majesty to bring her into the harem. Furthermore, if Your Majesty considered me a mortal, you should have discussed her matter with me long ago, instead of suddenly bringing her into the palace as a surprise, making it known to everyone except me, the person directly involved. Your Majesty has only now shamelessly come to discuss her matter with me? No way! Get out!" Xue Yange pointed at... At the gate, the order was repeated: "Get out!"

　　Li Chenyuan also sighed, a rare occurrence, and explained, "It was a sudden matter. I had no choice but to bring her back to the palace. It was my fault for not informing the Empress in time."

　　Xue Yange raised her eyebrows and repeated, "A sudden matter? What could possibly be a sudden matter for the all-powerful Emperor? I can't think of anything that would warrant Your Majesty lowering yourself to take the daughter of a disgraced official as a concubine."

　　Li Chenyuan's obsequious manner infuriated Xue Yange. If it weren't for Xie Yan under her skirt, she would have pounced on him and started tearing at him.

　　"The Li family is innocent, and Li Shuangshuang is not the daughter of a criminal."

　　Xue Yange retorted, "The evidence in the Li family case is conclusive. Does Your Majesty still think about overturning the case for the Li family?"

　　The Li family's downfall can be traced back to the previous dynasty. At that time, Li Pingchuan, the Minister of Works, was caught in a factional struggle and was framed and imprisoned by a powerful eunuch. Everyone knew that Li Pingchuan was of noble character and would not have embezzled funds for the construction of the dam. Leaving aside the embezzlement, the dam suddenly collapsed one day after its completion, causing the drowning of countless people. After investigation, it was found that the dam had only used less than 40% of the original budget. No wonder it collapsed. As for the remaining 60%, it goes without saying. With witnesses and physical evidence, the accusation was flawless. At this point, Li Pingchuan confessed and his whole family was exiled to the frontier.

　　Before the Li family fell from power, Li Shuangshuang and Lin Yanran were known as the two most outstanding women in the capital, both possessing excellent family backgrounds and exceptional talents. In comparison, Xue Yange seemed so inadequate. Leaving aside her military family background, her mother's past as a bandit leader was enough to draw criticism.

　　If Li Chenyuan had only been attracted to Li Shuangshuang because of her family background and talent, Xue Yange might have felt inferior. After all, some things are determined by talent, and some people can't achieve them even with a lifetime of effort. But that scoundrel didn't value those things; he had feelings for Li Shuangshuang and was even willing to break his principles to bring her into the palace.

　　Xue Yange had known him for twelve years, and her sacrifices still couldn't compare to his beloved. How could she accept this?

.....

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 008: Not Overstepping the Limits(08)

　　Li Chenyuan, who could manipulate events at court, was clearly struggling against Xue Yange. He loosened his collar slightly, waved away Gui Xi, and said, "There are three reasons for taking a concubine. First, as the Empress knows, Li Shuangshuang and I met a few times when we were young. Second, there is currently a drought in the south and floods in the north, and we need capable people. The Li family is also a master of flood control. Therefore, I want to use the name of Li Shuangshuang entering the palace to bring Li Pingchuan back to court. Third, the throne needs an heir to dispel the ambitions of those who want to kill the emperor and seize the throne."

　　Xue Yange was still unconvinced and retorted again, "After so many years of marriage, why does Your Majesty have to beat around the bush? Just say that you despise me for being a barren hen, and that Li Shuangshuang is your white moonlight and you want to take her as a concubine. As for Lord Li, he is just a pretext for taking Li Shuangshuang. He is nothing but a criminal."

　　"I'm speaking to you about the matter at hand now. I did have personal motives regarding Li Shuangshuang, but the most important thing right now is Li Pingchuan. Although Li Pingchuan is guilty, the law is not without human sentiment, and he can atone for his crimes through meritorious service."

　　Li Chenyuan has had a string of misfortunes these past three months. In the south, summer floods killed several people, and after the floods receded, epidemics broke out. In the north, there hasn't been rain for six months, causing crops to wither and die. Now, with winter approaching, food shortages are likely to recur. Furthermore,

　　there are a group of old fogies in the previous dynasty who strongly object to Xue Yange's prohibition on taking concubines and her lack of offspring.

　　After careful analysis, taking Li Shuangshuang is the best choice. It can solve the problem of having children through concubines and also help alleviate the drought and flood crisis through Li Pingchuan's assistance.

　　Xue Yange laughed again. Today was probably the day she laughed the most in the past three months. "What a fine saying, 'The law is not without human sentiment,' but I don't think so. Your Majesty is a man of human sentiment. Otherwise, why would you be so meticulous as to worry about even a bowl of ginger soup?"

　　As expected of her husband, Xue Yange always managed to provoke Li Chenyuan's anger with precision. Li Chenyuan frowned, trying to calm himself down. "The Li family has been a family of water management geniuses for generations. If we were to let the Li family disappear from the court, it would not only be a loss for the country but would also bring disaster to countless people. I assure you, Li Shuangshuang's entry into the palace will absolutely not affect your position as Empress."

　　"Empress position, Empress position... Do you think I married you because I wanted this Empress position?" Xue Yange looked at Li Chenyuan, who was talking about national affairs and caring about the common people, with a sense of unfamiliarity. This dream of a woman's lifelong monogamy had finally shattered. The man she chose was no ordinary person; he had lofty ambitions. For a moment, she remembered the old saying, "If you don't have the skills, don't take on the job." She was now shooting herself in the foot. She was in so much pain that she couldn't cry out. She could only swallow her grievances in silence. If she voiced her opposition, she would be seen as vicious, ignorant, and harming innocent people.

　　She never imagined she would have to sacrifice her husband for the greater good. It was truly laughable. She looked away, her eyes lowered, her dejection barely concealed. Her eyes reddened as she struggled to hold back tears. Her red lips parted slightly. "The thief said, 'It's just a handful of rice, a bowl of noodles, a silver ingot, and a life.' But you said, 'It's just a woman.' What can a woman do? Your Majesty should know perfectly well. Li Shuangshuang has been unmarried for many years; what good intentions could she possibly have?"

　　She was distraught, her words like a dream or a murmur to herself. She said, "If I had known this would happen, I would never have married you."

　　Xue Yange was strong-willed and never showed weakness. She had never shed a single tear in front of Li Chenyuan, but now she finally couldn't hold back. She turned her head away and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "I understand what you mean. Please leave now and let me have some peace and quiet. I will have a servant deliver a message to you later."

　　This was why Xue Yange preferred to make a scene rather than have a proper conversation. She was in the wrong from beginning to end, and any attempt to reason with him would inevitably result in her complete defeat.

　　Hearing Xue Yange's whisper, Li Chenyuan's heart felt like it was being squeezed. Seeing her tears, a suffocating feeling welled up inside him. Li Chenyuan instantly lost his composure, rising slightly to try and comfort her, only to suddenly realize how fragile Xue Yange was, stripped of all her thorns, with a fragile, almost broken quality.

　　Li Chenyuan was shocked to discover that she could also be sad.

　　That single tear caught Li Chenyuan off guard, leaving him momentarily at a loss, his comical appearance like that of a three-year-old who had done something wrong. He couldn't admit his mistake, dared not apologize, and could only stiffly watch everything unfold.

　　She shed another tear, cleared her throat, and shouted, "Someone, escort the Emperor back to the palace!"

　　Unless someone was suicidal, no one dared to take on this task, not even the ever-loyal Gui Xi. She could die for the Empress, but at least her death had to be meaningful.

　　Xue Yange looked at the deserted doorway and felt a pang of sorrow. A purple figure, like a savior, strode in and bowed respectfully, saying, "This servant respectfully invites Your Majesty to return to the palace."

Xue Yange could no longer hold back her tears. The more people saw her disgraceful state, the more ashamed she felt. Li Chenyuan refused to leave until she choked out in a shrill voice, "Li Chenyuan, I don't want to see you. I don't want to see you anymore. Go back, go back, I beg you, disappear from my sight now!"

　　Urged on by Lan Jun and Xue Yange's piercing cries, Li Chenyuan finally left, but he kept turning back, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

　　After seeing Li Chenyuan off, Xie Yan was finally able to emerge from under her skirt. At first, he was furious, but after hearing her sorrowful sobs, his anger subsided considerably. He intended to turn back and go home, but Xue Yange rushed forward as he stood up, her two slender arms encircling his neck. She cried even more bitterly, like when she was a child and sought his comfort after being wronged and sad. "Brother Ayan... I'm so stupid... Waaah..."

　　Those slender arms, like deadly water ghosts, gradually dragged Xie Yan into the abyss. He struggled to constantly remind himself that there was a difference between ruler and subject. He not only had a fiancée, but was also a subject, and moreover, she respected him as "Brother Ayan," so he could not overstep the bounds.

...

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 009: Forced Kiss(09)

　　Xie Yan didn't know how much effort it took to push Xue Yange away. The moment the soft fragrance left, his whole body trembled from the force. He took two steps back to steady himself, still feeling lingering fear: "Your Majesty, please have some self-respect."

　　Xie Yan and Xue Yange's elder brother were close friends, and their families had been in contact since childhood. Her own brother was as reckless and unreliable as her father, so Xue Yange naturally relied on the young and experienced Xie Yan. In her heart, Xie Yan was even closer than her own brother. Even after Xue Yange caused a great disaster, the Xie family forbade Xie Yan from associating with the Xue siblings to avoid suspicion. However, the three of them still secretly met.

　　Xie Yan's decisiveness was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Xue Yange's eyes were still wet with tears. She couldn't believe it: "What self-respect? Xie Yan, what do you take me for...? I just wanted to..." to find someone to comfort her.

　　The second half of the sentence stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered. Yes, she was no longer a child who could act willfully and unreasonably, and Xie Yan was no longer the brother who had been so tolerant of her back then. Putting aside their childhood sweetheart bond, the two were merely an empress and a subject.

　　Looking back, she was truly isolated and helpless now.

　　Before leaving home, when Li Chenyuan was just a prince, Xue Yange thought he was her everything, and even smugly declared that she would never return to the Xue family. In the end, it all turned out badly, and no one was optimistic about their marriage. Fortunately, Li Chenyuan lived up to expectations and rose step by step to a high position, proving that she hadn't misjudged him. But that was all she proved. What good was proof? She had almost abandoned everything for this, wholeheartedly supporting him. To be worthy of him, she had also abandoned her vulgar habits, transforming herself into a cautious noblewoman of the capital. But now, she was truly exhausted.

　　Later, after her parents died, she regretted her resolute words before leaving home. She thought her parents would always be there for her, so she acted willfully and recklessly, doing what she loved, thinking she would come back and reconcile with them someday. But she dragged it out, until she arrived at the grim funeral hall, where all her regrets could only be told to the gods and ghosts.

　　Although Xue Yange had been rumored to be insane for three months, she knew perfectly well what was going on. But now she felt she was on the verge of collapse, not far from truly going mad. So she decided to stop at the point of no return. She clutched her head, which was throbbing with pain. "Well, it's getting late, Lord

　　Xie, you should go back. Remember that year's Qixi Festival, make sure you agree on your story, otherwise that guy..." Xie Yan immediately interrupted and corrected her, "Your Majesty and I are completely innocent. We did not have any... um... um!"

　　Seeing Xie Yan avoiding her like the plague and hastily trying to distance himself from her was particularly irritating.

　　For a

　　moment, Xue Yange felt her reason snap. She grabbed Xie Yan by the collar and forcefully kissed his cold, heartless lips. He was terrified and retreated repeatedly, but Xue Yange pressed on until he lost his footing and fell to the ground. Xue Yange straddled his waist and abdomen, tracing the red mark on his lips. "Lord Xie, are we still innocent?"

　　In that instant, Xie Yan felt he was finished.

　　Xue Yange found his disheveled appearance as he fled in panic particularly amusing. After he left, Xue Yange licked the lingering sweetness on his red lips, savoring it repeatedly. "Gui Xi, don't you think Xie Yan looks like a virgin who's been harassed?"

　　After Xie Yan left, Gui Xi timidly entered the room. Hearing the Empress mention Xie Yan, she looked up. Although the Empress's eyes were still red like a rabbit's, her gaze was like that of a wild beast teasing its prey, intimidating. Gui Xi quickly lowered her head, not daring to answer. If she did, it would be a veiled insult, calling the Empress a spoiled brat.

　　"Gui Xi, pack your things, there's more to come." Xue Yange smiled sweetly, touching the corner of her mouth. No one in the palace would stand up for her, so be it. She didn't need those people; she would earn her own pride.

　　Xie Yan was in turmoil. He instinctively fled Chang Le Palace. The autumn rain soaked him to the bone, but it couldn't extinguish the fire in his heart; he felt it burning ever brighter.

　　When Xie Yan returned, he encountered his father, Xie Wende. His father had resigned as prime minister three years ago, and Xie Yan had inherited the position. As a young prime minister, he inevitably faced sabotage from others. Initially, Xie Yan struggled to cope. Back then, he would consult his father, and the two could still manage some communication. However, within a year, Xie Yan had become adept and flawless.

　　Now, their relationship was more like that of superior and subordinate than father and son. Previously, Xie's mother had tried to mediate, but since her death, the two had become increasingly estranged, their conversations revolving around the court and the nation.

　　Xie Yan bowed and greeted, "Father."

　　"Hmm." Xie Wende's temples were gray, and he had an imposing face that commanded respect even without anger. Just looking at him reminded one of a stern-faced teacher in a school, making one unconsciously straighten their back, afraid that the old man might accidentally pull out his ruler.

　　Father and son exchanged a brief greeting and then went their separate ways.

　　Xie Yan called for hot water, preparing to bathe and change. There was a barely perceptible stain of red mud on his dark court robe. He touched it as if possessed, then pulled his hand back as if electrocuted. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand, unable to erase the lingering soft touch of her.

　　Xie Yan felt a sting and frowned suddenly, but then noticed a small blister on the back of his hand. He remembered the scene when he hadn't held the ginger soup properly. Her snow-white breasts were half exposed, and he had momentarily lost his grip, trembling. He had been so focused on dispelling the erotic image that he had forgotten to heat the soup. Now, recalling that bowl of brown sugar ginger soup, he found it very sweet, but it was the taste he liked.

　　Xie Yan pursed his lips, staring intently at the blister on his hand. He pressed his left hand against it as if to vent his frustration, then, disregarding everything else, plunged into the bathtub. Leaning against the edge of the wooden tub, he tilted his head back, trying to clear his mind, but distracting thoughts kept arising and spreading. The more he forced himself not to think about it, the deeper he sank.

　　The next day, rain or shine, the usually unwavering Prime Minister Xie took sick leave, missing seven consecutive days of court sessions. Rumors spread like wildfire in the court; some said Xie Yan was seriously ill and nearing death, some even lamenting that heaven was jealous of his talent, and some had even prepared a eulogy for his funeral.

　　Xie Yan was indeed ill, though not as seriously as the rumors suggested, but it was not minor either.

.....

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 10: Adultery (Mild H)(10)

　　After Xie Yan left, Xue Yange remembered that she hadn't given the imperial edict yet, so she stamped it with the phoenix seal and handed it to Gui Xi, saying, "Send it to Xie Yan tomorrow."

　　Gui Xi accepted the imperial edict as if it weighed a ton, "Yes, Your Majesty."

　　Thunder rumbled outside the window, and the rain intensified. Lan Jun escorted Li Chenyuan away from Chang Le Palace. He had secretly witnessed Xue Yange and Xie Yan embracing and kissing, and quietly left without anyone noticing. After a while, he returned to Chang Le Palace to request an audience. When he entered, Xue Yange had already changed into her nightgown and was leaning against the chaise longue with a copy of the Book of Poetry. She glanced at the visitor, her expression disdainful and lacking her previous vigor. She was somewhat impatient, "What is it?"

　　"I heard that Your Majesty and the Emperor have quarreled again, and I, Lan Jun, have come to share Your Majesty's burdens."

　　Xue Yange beckoned, and Lan Jun knelt before Xue Yange's bed, her submissive appearance particularly endearing. Holding a book, she lifted Lan Jun's chin, "Are you doing this to try and win my favor by helping that scoundrel to reconcile us, or...?"

　　Even with her head raised, Lan Jun kept her eyes down, refusing to look directly at Xue Yange. "I have no ulterior motives. Your Majesty is my savior, and I will do my utmost for you, even unto death."

　　The previous emperor loved war, and prisoners of war, if no one redeemed them, would be castrated and sent to the palace as the lowest of servants. Prisoners of war were already as worthless as weeds, and with a stubborn temper, their lives were numbered.

　　Lan Jun entered the palace at the age of fifteen. At that time, he not only lost the symbol of manhood, but also his human name. He was called a lowly slave and a worthless beast. He survived only by flattering and fawning. Fellow captives of the Hu people cursed him as a spineless and despicable wretch. Han people also mocked him at every turn. He lived a hard life. On good days, he would eat scraps from other people's bowls, and on bad days, he wouldn't even get a bite of spoiled food. He

　　barely survived until one snowy night, when he accidentally spilled water on the steward's feet. He was dragged out and beaten dozens of times, and lay on the silvery snow with only one breath left, looking at the empty darkness and letting the snowflakes cover him.

　　Suddenly, a red figure appeared, her bright red cloak trimmed with fine white fox fur. Her eyes were red-rimmed, suggesting she had just been crying. Her voice was clear and melodious, like a nightingale's song, "What have you done?"

　　Lan Jun's mind was reeling. The voice was very familiar, even evoking a sense of nostalgia, but he couldn't recall where he had heard it before. Perhaps it belonged to a celestial being.

　　Even in his desperate situation, he thought of only one thing: struggling to grasp the hem of her robe, unafraid of being kicked by the noblewoman for being dirty. It was a last-ditch effort. He weakly pleaded, "I...I want to live...Please...Please save me...I can't die...I can't die..."

　　Later, Lan Jun fainted, but he also gained a glimmer of hope. He became a eunuch in Chang Le Palace. When Xue Yange asked his name, he replied that he had no name or surname. Thus, Xue Yange bestowed upon him the name Lan Jun. With her support, Lan Jun finally saw a glimmer of hope.

　　Aside from Gui Xi, Xue Yange found it difficult to fully trust anyone else. It wasn't that she was overly suspicious, but rather that she had been secretly stabbed so many times in her early years that it was hard for her to build trust in people again.

　　Xue Yange smiled nonchalantly, "What if it wasn't me who saved you back then?"

　　"Then there wouldn't be Lan Jun today. Your Majesty, you are Lan Jun's benefactor. I can never repay your great kindness, so I can only serve you for the rest of my life. Therefore, Lan Jun is your person."

　　Lan Jun's declaration of loyalty reminded Xue Yange of Xing An. Xing An was also a little palace maid whom she saved when she was on her last breath. Xing An used to say things like "I am Your Majesty's person in life and Your Majesty's ghost in death," and it's laughable that Xue Yange actually believed it.

　　"Are you one of my people?" Xue Yange wouldn't be foolish enough to do it a second time. Her words were sharp as she ordered him to leave. "You are the head of the Eastern Depot, under the Emperor's command, while I am merely an Empress. How will you prove your loyalty? Get out of here. I don't like these flattering words. And don't come to Chang Le Palace again. Stay in the Eastern Depot and manage your affairs properly. Gui Xi will handle palace matters; the head of the depot doesn't need to worry about them."

　　"Your Majesty," Lan Jun bowed, reverently kissing her bare instep, her calloused hands cradling her jade-like feet. "Please give Lan Jun a chance to prove it."

　　"How do you intend to prove it?"

　　Meeting Xue Yange's gaze, Lan Jun looked away in alarm. Her palm, which was holding Lan Jun's jade-like foot, inadvertently brushed against the sole. Lan Jun's body temperature was very low, and the object in her palm felt like the finest warm jade, making it irresistible. Lan Jun gently squeezed it. "This is Lan Jun's first time, and I can't say for sure. If Your Majesty is not pleased, Lan Jun will stop immediately."

　　Xue Yange did not reply. Daring to say that she would prove it, she propped her head up, curious to see what he would do next. Lan Jun's pale, almost sickly skin flushed. She said, "Lan Jun is being disrespectful," and then held the sole of his foot and lowered her head to kiss it. First, she kissed the instep, then the ankle, then the calf, tentatively moving upwards inch by inch until she slipped under his skirt.

　　In the past, Xue Yange would have stopped Lan Jun the moment he kissed her instep. But now, as she lost her temper and kissed Xie Yan in a fit of rage, she crossed the line of morality. All the pressure that had been building up for so long found a better outlet than anger. The thrill of immorality was touching and exhilarating. If Li Chenyuan saw this scene, how colorful would his expression be?

　　This feeling was quite nice.

　　Xue Yange's legs hooked around Lan Jun's broad shoulders, and she occasionally let out suppressed gasps and moans.

　　Lan Jun asked in a hoarse voice, "Will Your Highness continue?"

　　Xue Yange pressed her head down under her skirt, feigning resistance. "Don't stop."

　　Lan Jun's movements were very clumsy, just ordinary licking, but when her tongue touched a clitoris, Xue Yange trembled as she arched her neck like a swan, completely immersed in the pleasure.

　　Xue Yange had only seen this position in erotic novels; she never dreamed that it would taste so good.

....

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 11: The Older Brother(11)

　　After it was over, Xue Yange was still in a daze for a long time. With Lan Jun's help, he changed his soiled clothes. He smoothed out the wrinkles on his nightgown, carried him to the bed, pulled down the gauze curtain, lit a fire in the incense burner, and white smoke swirled around. His soft voice was like a feather brushing against his skin, raising goosebumps.

　　"If Lan Jun is ever unfaithful, Your Majesty can use this as a reason to take Lan Jun's head." He smiled lightly, like a fox who had successfully stolen some fish. It was a little annoying but not unpleasant. He extinguished the candle, and the world returned to darkness.

　　Even with the calming incense, he still slept restlessly that night, dreaming of many things, sad, happy, and regretful things from childhood to adulthood, all kinds of things that made it difficult to fall asleep.

　　The next morning, Xue Yange woke up with dark circles under her eyes. Lan Jun was already waiting beside her with a basin of water. Xue Yange rubbed her eyes and lazily asked, "Where is Gui Xi?"

　　Lan Jun's expression froze, and she lowered her head, concealing the malice in her eyes. Holding the basin of water, she said, "Lan Jun told her to prepare breakfast. Your Highness, please wash your face."

　　Xue Yange took the warm towel. Just as Lan Jun thought Xue Yange had tacitly approved of his actions, she heard her say, "Lan Jun, I said that the affairs of the palace would be handled by Gui Xi."

　　Lan Jun lowered her head even further, her soft voice revealing neither joy nor anger. "Lan Jun understands. Please forgive me, Your Highness, forgive this self-righteous and lowly thing."

　　The sound of fabric rustling came from behind her. Xue Yange got out of bed and came to him. She reached out and lifted his cheek, gently scratching his chin like she was teasing a dog. "Look at how nervous you are. I have something more important for you to do. In a few days, do something for me, a small matter that must be kept from this dog."

　　"Please give your orders, Your Majesty." Lan Jun trembled almost imperceptibly as her slender, white fingertips traced the veins beneath her neck. Xue Yange lowered her gaze to examine her; the pale skin was marred by prominent blue veins, like fine white jade cracked with streaks of blue. Though this marred her overall value, with the help of a skilled jade craftsman, it could still be a unique work of art.

　　Xue Yange inexplicably praised, "Quite beautiful."

　　Xue Yange told Lan Jun to return to handle matters at the Eastern Depot and come back in a few days. Before leaving, she instructed him to write a letter inviting General Xue to the palace to see her.

　　Lan Jun left Chang Le Palace and walked to a secluded corner of the Imperial Garden. She repeatedly stroked the side of her neck where Xue Yange had touched her, her heart pounding violently, a burning, dark desire surging within her. Her breathing grew increasingly labored, finally culminating in a sigh of pleasure.

　　Two days later, Xue Yange finally saw her brother, Xue Qingyang, after a long absence. He arrived at the palace in military uniform, travel-worn and weary. Even the Empress couldn't summon family members to the palace at will, lest rumors of interference in politics spread. Therefore, he used Li Chenyuan's name as a pretext for entering the palace.

　　Xue Qingyang was training his troops when his sister, whom he rarely saw except during holidays, suddenly said she wanted to see him. He figured there was no reason for her to be so attentive, and Xue Qingyang wasn't going to see this little devil. She was a source of resentment; if it weren't for her being the Empress, he would have thrown her onto the roof like he used to when they were children, without even a ladder to get her down.

　　He slammed his helmet down on the table.

　　Without any ceremony, Xue Qingyang chose the chair furthest from Xue Yange, poured himself a cup of tea, and downed it in one gulp. The fine tea became a cheap, inferior brew in his hands.

　　"Spit it out," he said irritably. "Why did the Empress suddenly think of me, her 'brother'? Did you suffer some injustice at the Emperor's hands and want your 'brother' to comfort you?"

　　Xue Qingyang resembled his father, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a heroic spirit. The scar on his left eyebrow added to his resolute appearance. In his youth, Xue Qingyang was praised for his handsome looks. When he and Xie Yan went out, they always received bags full of fruits. However, Xue Qingyang didn't like this "reputation." Every time he went to the military camp, he was teased for having skin as white as a woman's. Later, he beat them all up, easily taking on ten at a time, leaving them bloodied and battered.

　　From then on, he went out to sunbathe every day, practiced martial arts diligently, and ate three bowls of rice per meal. His skin darkened, he grew taller, and he became stronger. His imposing figure exuded an aura of power, and no one teased him about his appearance anymore.

　　Xue Yange hadn't expected to see him so soon, and had even prepared to send a dozen letters. But shortly after sending them, he rushed back to the capital.

　　She had thought her brother hated her, that, given his stubborn nature, he would rather be stabbed in the back by barbarians than see her, especially since she had so cruelly hurt their entire family.

　　Seeing Xue Qingyang now was the greatest comfort for Xue Yange. Suddenly, she didn't feel so alone; at least her brother was still willing to appear before her.

　　A sense of relief washed over her, and her nose began to sting with tears. Unlike before, this time it wasn't just an outpouring of grievances, but also tears of joy. She called out with difficulty, "Brother..." *Clang!*

　　A

　　teacup slammed heavily onto the rosewood tabletop.

　　"If you don't want to take a concubine, then don't. Why all the crying and wailing!" He scratched the back of his head in frustration. "I have a million ways to kill that Li Shuangshuang, but..."

　　"Brother!" Xue Yange interrupted immediately, afraid he'd say something outrageous that could bring trouble. "It's not about Li Shuangshuang. I've already thought about taking a concubine. I just... suddenly... feel a little... homesick."

　　Xue Yange's voice trailed off, filled with guilt.

　　Xue Qingyang had wanted to mock Xue Yange, but seeing her sobbing made him even more annoyed than when she called him General Xue.

　　"If you miss home, come back. Don't just think about it. Nobody knows what you're thinking. Do I look like a psychic or a divine advisor?"

　　He blurted out the word "divine advisor" without thinking, and Xue Qingyang's face stiffened, afraid Xue Yange would take it to heart. He racked his brains, trying to use his gentlest tone, but even so, it was still somewhat clumsy. "I just wanted to say, if you miss home, come back. That's all. Don't overthink it."

　　He was using his brain no less than on the battlefield. On the battlefield, it's all about fighting; the winner speaks, the loser submits. It's all about who wins and who loses. Why bother with so much scheming?

　　But Xue Yange cried even harder.

　　"I wasn't being mean to you. Don't cry. Why are you crying? I..." Xue Qingyang was speechless, feeling like the sky had fallen. He regretted coming to see Xue Yange, forgetting that this woman was more difficult to deal with than those bastards who spoke gibberish.

　　It's always been like this since childhood. Whether he's right or wrong, he's always the one who bows his head first, sighs, and curses himself for his sins, "I was wrong, okay?" ---

The entire

book, 300,000 words long, is complete. Chapters 62 are available for free. Please visit the website below to read them.

.....

The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Episode 012: Reconciliation(12)

　　Xue Qingyang stood in front of her without her noticing, wiping away her tears haphazardly, ruining her makeup and failing to appease her. She looked like a clown in a play, all sorts of colors.

　　"An old maid of your age still crying, don't you know shame?" Xue Qingyang said, but her hands were very careful.

　　Xue Yange's smile was more like a grimace. "I thought... I thought we'd never be able to... make up... I'm sorry... I..."

　　Xue Qingyang, a big, burly man, couldn't stand such sentimentality. "The family doesn't care about making up or not, it's all because you can't bring yourself to come back and apologize. If you just apologized, it would be fine... anyway, your parents wouldn't blame you."

　　Xue Qingyang touched Xue Yange's sore spot. She really had no face to face her brother. If it weren't for her stubborn pride...

　　However, her parents were gone, and she could no longer apologize to them. This unfilial daughter of hers still had the audacity to want to make up.

　　"But..."

　　Suddenly, Xue Qingyang patted her shoulder, his tone resolute and forceful, "No buts. Haven't you caused enough trouble since you were little? When have we ever really held it against you?"

　　The better Xue Qingyang treated her, the more ashamed and upset she felt. She squatted down, curling into a ball, where was the dignity of a nation's mother? She was just an ordinary woman who had been wronged. Xue Qingyang

　　also squatted down, the two of them side by side looking somewhat comical. He wanted to say a few words of comfort, but he was tongue-tied and nothing kind came out.

　　"Why are you so hung up on one thing? I told you that thing was no good, but you wouldn't listen. You just eagerly offered yourself up. Look, now it's come true." He clapped his hands, palms outstretched.

　　Xue Yange's legs went numb from squatting, and she plopped down on the ground, burying her face between her knees. A few years ago, if she had heard these words, she would have been furious. She was blinded by her own involvement. Now that she was hurt, she realized that he wasn't actually that good.

　　He was a man of few words, incapable of sweet talk; he was deep in thought, even she was wary of him; he lacked consideration, offering no comfort when she was down; he was meticulous, even concerned about a bowl of ginger soup.

　　She began to wonder how she had ever fallen for him in the first place—she must have been blind.

　　What Xue Yange couldn't understand, Xue Qingyang said aloud, "You said you liked a peerless hero like your father. What hero would make his wife sad? A coward would be more like it. If you really liked him, there were heroes in the army for you to choose from, yet you picked this skinny, unremarkable pretty boy, lifting him up step by step, only to have him turn around and bite you in return. You…"

　　"So foolish," Xue Yange replied with a bitter smile, her mouth filled with the bitterness of gall. Even so, she still managed to say a few words, "Perhaps others can't see it, but in my eyes, he was a jewel covered in dust. Back then, he was so dazzling, I even worried I wasn't good enough for him…"

　　"Pah, pah, pah! What do you mean by 'matching'? Even horses in the army don't have such rules for breeding. You're a daughter of the Xue family, a daughter of the meritorious Xue family. You don't need to fawn over anyone. Take those words back. Our Xue family is of iron will, our ancestors were all heroes. We won't allow someone as spineless as you. If our ancestors heard this, they'd crawl out of their graves and strangle you!"

　　Xue Qingyang slapped her frail back, straightening her up as if opening her meridians. His powerful aura left no room for resistance. Military orders were as firm as mountains. "Wipe away your tears. The Xue family's ancestral precepts don't follow those pedantic theories of 'harmony is precious.' Only 'the victor is king, the loser is a bandit.' Put away your cowardly face. The enemy won't applaud if they see this. Who made Xue family's Yan Niang unhappy? Tell your brother, we won't tolerate this humiliation. We'll get our revenge!"

　　It's true that there are differences in kinship. Xie Yan, whom he once trusted, avoided her like the plague, while they had fought since childhood. Her brother stood unconditionally by her side, and she instantly felt a surge of strength. Leaning to the side, she half-reclined against

　　him. "Brother, it's so good to have you." Oh, she'd always heard him praise Xie Yan since they were little, and now it was finally her turn. Xue Qingyang, not content with that, pinched her cheek and snorted smugly, "Now you realize how good your older brother is."

　　Xue Yange didn't argue. She pulled his hand and put it around her shoulder. The armor was not only cold but also uncomfortable. "Don't wear armor to the palace next time."

　　Then, in an almost silent whisper, she said, "...Luckily, I still have you."

　　Xue Qingyang's petty vanity was instantly satisfied. He smirked, hooked his arm around her neck, and pulled her into his embrace. He ruffled her hair haphazardly. Her hairpin fell away, stripping away her elaborate adornments, gorgeous makeup, and dignified status. It didn't matter whether she was noble or not; it was simply because she was his, Xue Qingyang's, sister.

　　The brother and sister sat quietly on the ground. Xue Yange leaned against Xue Qingyang, feeling down. She was somewhat attached to this sense of security, but at the same time, she felt ashamed, extremely ashamed and embarrassed. She couldn't bear to tear her face off and throw it into the sea.

　　As for Xue Qingyang, he had a smug, amused expression, wanting to see how Xue Yange would handle the situation. The brother and sister remained locked in a standoff until Gui Xi outside announced that the palace curfew would begin in a couple of quarters, reminding Xue Qingyang not to be late for his departure. Xue Qingyang had no choice but to give up. Before getting up, he deliberately ruffled Xue Yange's hair, making it even more disheveled. Seeing her awkward face, whether from anger or embarrassment, he couldn't tell, but it was still amusing. He chuckled, unaware that his tone was full of undisguised doting affection. "I'm leaving now. I'll come see you again when I have time."

　　Xue Yange watched his departing figure and hurriedly grabbed a corner of his cloak. Xue Qingyang turned back, raising his scarred left eyebrow, waiting for her response. She only managed to squeeze out a dry "Brother, be careful on the road."

　　"I know. Remember to find 'brother' if anything happens, and brother will get justice for you." Xue Qingyang waved goodbye with a hearty laugh, his laughter echoing throughout Chang Le Palace.

　　After Xue Qingyang left, Xue Yange still felt very embarrassed. She lay on the bed with her cheeks burning with shame, but at the same time, she felt warm inside.

...