Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 134
by Little Panda[Note: Chapter 133 on JJWXC is locked and can’t be accessed anymore.]
The Empress Dowager Refuses
Emperor Ming Cheng, gritting his teeth against the pain, ordered the guards who had rushed to his defense to stand down. He had only had a sudden flash of inspiration, wanting to take the opportunity to test Sun Yan’s attitude. If Sun Yan tacitly accepted or even agreed, that would be fine; if she was unwilling, that was also fine. It was just a pity about his dislocated arm…
Ah, the pain! He longed to call for the imperial physician!
Sun Yan had laid hands on Emperor Ming Cheng in a fit of anger. What difference was there between proposing marriage without asking and forcibly abducting a commoner girl? She had originally thought that returning to her fiefdom would mean being alone, and as long as the emperor didn’t harass her excessively, staying in the palace for a while with her elder female cousin and Yao-jiejie was fine. But who would have thought that not only did the emperor summon her to Qianqing Palace to talk every so often, but just now he had even shamelessly followed the Empress Dowager’s lead and said he would make her his consort.
How could he say something so casually that would ruin her life?
“I have a few words I’d like to say to Your Majesty. Please ask the eunuchs to leave,” Sun Yan said after calming down a bit. She returned to her chair and sat down, looking at Emperor Ming Cheng with an indifferent expression. She really didn’t want to keep entangled with the emperor anymore. Last time, their conversation in Qianqing Palace had been interrupted by Commander Cao Yue, who came to report. This time, she was determined to make things clear with the emperor.
Emperor Ming Cheng, clutching his injured arm, retreated toward the wall, hesitating. He was afraid that Sun Yan wanted everyone out so she could have space to beat him freely, and he couldn’t fight back. If he wasn’t careful, he might actually end up getting beaten to death. He had seen how strong Sun Yan was—from a distance, it was adorable; up close, it was terrifying.
In the trembling, cowardly Emperor Ming Cheng, Sun Yan unexpectedly saw the shadow of that prince from years ago who had been bullied by everyone. She was the type who softened at a gentle approach but stiffened at coercion, and she couldn’t stand seeing someone show weakness. Besides, she knew in her heart that the emperor was letting her off easy; otherwise, he would have ordered her captured the first time they met.
With that thought, Sun Yan’s tone softened a little. “Your Majesty, rest assured. I won’t lay a hand on you. I just want to talk to you calmly and sincerely.”
“Everyone out!” Emperor Ming Cheng ordered the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial to withdraw, then sat down far away from Sun Yan.
“I will never be Your Majesty’s consort in this lifetime.” Sun Yan said it directly and decisively, leaving no room for negotiation.
She sat up straight, proudly erect in her chair, and spoke with ringing clarity. “I have no feelings of love for Your Majesty. Let alone a consort or concubine, I wouldn’t even want the position of Empress. And don’t talk to me about ‘the emperor’s words are no joke.’1 Today, either you take back your decree, or I will resist unto death. Since Your Majesty claims to love me, I dare ask: which is more important to you—your reputation as the Son of Heaven, or my life?”
“Your life, of course.” Emperor Ming Cheng did not hesitate. But he was so sad that he couldn’t even feel the pain in his shoulder. He really hadn’t expected Sun Yan would rather die than be with him. “What We said just now was too abrupt. Please don’t be angry, alright? Don’t talk about resisting unto death. If you think there’s something We are doing wrong, We can change. We have patience.”
“Does Your Majesty have patience? Why can’t I feel it?” Sun Yan let out a cold laugh. “Forcibly keeping me in the palace, summoning me to Qianqing Palace whenever you want to see me, repeatedly bringing up marriage in your words… To be honest, all I feel is your eagerness to get what you want. It’s as if you’ve set yourself a goal and are rushing to achieve it by any means necessary. Do you love me, or do you see me as a trophy?”
“Of course I love you!” Emperor Ming Cheng’s tone was firm.
Sun Yan looked directly into Emperor Ming Cheng’s eyes and shook her head with a bitter smile. “If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t ignore my feelings and force me. When I get angry, sad, and furious because of your unreasonable actions, have you ever shown the slightest concern? No. You’ve racked your brains just to get me, to fulfill a wish you planted in your heart as a youth. As for whether I’m willing or happy, you don’t care.”
A look of shame appeared on Emperor Ming Cheng’s face. He asked himself if he loved Sun Yan, but he suddenly realized that although he possessed the greatest power in the world, he had no ability to love. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be good to Sun Yan; he just didn’t know how. It wasn’t that he hadn’t put himself in her shoes; it was just that the actions he took for granted were all wrong in her eyes.
Emperor Ming Cheng had no way to defend himself and could only say weakly, “We were just speaking casually earlier. We won’t force you.” He would rather Sun Yan be furious and beat him black and blue than hear her analyze his heart so calmly. Calmness meant indifference. Sun Yan didn’t even deign to be angry with him.
“Is that so? Then can I leave the palace now?” Sun Yan stood up and asked coldly.
“…” Emperor Ming Cheng also stood up, his eyes stinging. “…You may.” His heart felt as if something had gouged it out—a pain he had never known before.
“Thank you for your great kindness!” Sun Yan bent her knees and performed a proper bow to Emperor Ming Cheng.
Emperor Ming Cheng’s heart ached again. Seeing that Sun Yan hadn’t left yet, he asked with a trace of hope, “Why aren’t you leaving? Shouldn’t you be happily fleeing from me as fast as you can?”
Sun Yan walked toward Emperor Ming Cheng expressionlessly. Emperor Ming Cheng shrank back, looking at her with a mix of fear and a wry smile. “Are you going to beat Us before you go?” A hint of sweetness rose in his heart. He even hoped Sun Yan would hit him hard enough to leave a scar, something to remember her by for the rest of his life.
Sun Yan pressed her lips together without speaking. She lifted Emperor Ming Cheng’s dislocated arm and expertly popped it back into place. Then she took out the death-exemption gold plaque and the edict from her bosom and presented them to Emperor Ming Cheng with both hands. Lowering her head, she said in a voice barely audible, “That day in Qianqing Palace, I was actually a little moved. I thought it wouldn’t be bad to have an older brother like Your Majesty.” After saying this, Sun Yan quickly pushed open the door and left the bookstore.
Emperor Ming Cheng dazedly unfolded the edict he had written with his own hand, clutched it to his chest, and sobbed uncontrollably. He possessed the entire world, yet he felt he had lost everything.
In the woodwork shop.
Yao Xi sat slumped on the ground with a look of utter despair, wrapped in her clothes.
“The ground is cold.” Wan Bi reached out to help her up, her heart aching.
Yao Xi awkwardly brushed aside the Empress Dowager’s hand and said, panting, in a wronged tone, “Wait a bit.” She could barely speak, let alone stand.
“That tired?” Wan Bi stepped forward, hooked her arms under Yao Xi’s armpits, lifted her up, and helped her to a chair. “Then sit and rest for a while. This bereaved one2 will help you straighten your clothes.” She then gently picked up Yao Xi’s limp arm and guided it into the sleeve.
Yao Xi was like an obedient puppet, too lazy to move, letting the Empress Dowager fuss over her.
After resting for a while and catching her breath, Yao Xi asked the Empress Dowager curiously, “Your Highness isn’t tired?” Last night was so wild, and just now was even wilder—did Her Highness have inexhaustible energy?
Wan Bi smiled and shook her head. Her body wasn’t tired, but her heart was. When she wanted Yao Xi, she was also itching with desire, but she was on her period, so she couldn’t ask Yao Xi to serve her. Of course, Yao Xi, in her frail state, didn’t have any extra energy to serve her either. “Can you walk?”
This time it was Yao Xi’s turn to shake her head. Her legs were trembling with weakness; she couldn’t walk at all.
“Alright. Then this bereaved one will order a palanquin brought.” Wan Bi leaned down with a mischievous smile and kissed Yao Xi, deliberately scaring her. “Eunuch, shall we continue when we get back to the palace?”
“No, no, no, no, no!” Yao Xi shook her head with all her might, like a rattle-drum, and waved her hands as well, using her whole body to reject the Empress Dowager’s generous invitation. “I’m tired. I just want to sleep when we get back. Your Highness is the most caring person. Can we rest for a few days, please?” Hmph! Once Her Highness’s period was over, she would definitely get her revenge! Extra time, extra intensity, extra quantity!
“This bereaved one meant sleeping!” Wan Bi cupped Yao Xi’s flushed little face and rubbed it while teasing her.
Yao Xi pouted and said angrily, “Your Highness and I don’t mean the same thing.”
“Then tell me, what did this bereaved one mean?” Wan Bi’s face bloomed with a smile. How could her silly girl be so adorable? It made her want to strip her clean right there and go again, but Yao Xi’s pitiful, tearful look made her unable to bear it.
A hint of a wicked smile flickered at the corner of Yao Xi’s mouth. If she really let loose with her dirty talk, Her Highness would probably be scared into questioning her life. Forget it, better to be reserved. “Your Highness, weren’t you going to order a palanquin?” Yao Xi changed the subject.
Wan Bi was in the middle of teasing Yao Xi and had a wicked idea. “No need for that trouble. This bereaved one will carry you back, alright?”
“No, no, no, no, no!” Yao Xi’s full-body rejection went online again. The Empress Dowager carrying her back to the palace? Her Highness carrying a eunuch? No matter how you looked at it, that scene was weird! Yao Xi would rather crawl back than become the hot topic of the palace. Gripping the armrest of the chair, she stood up shakily and said with determination despite her exhaustion, “Your Highness, I can walk back.”
Even if she had to crawl, she would crawl back!
Seeing how scared Yao Xi was, Wan Bi stepped forward and scooped her up in her arms. “What’s there to be shy about? Who in the palace doesn’t know you’re this bereaved one’s person?” With that, she kicked open the door and walked out into the bustling market street.
Yao Xi was too weak to struggle, so she could only bury her face in the Empress Dowager’s chest in embarrassment, as if that would stop people from recognizing who Her Highness was carrying.
Emperor Ming Cheng walked over from the direction of the bookstore, feeling lost and empty, heading back to Qianqing Palace to attend to state affairs. He walked with his head down, not watching where he was going, his eyes red and swollen from crying. Sun Yan had said everything there was to say; he had no reason to stop her. Would they really never see each other again in this life? Or would he see her again only to find she had married someone else?
Emperor Ming Cheng’s heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife. He walked unsteadily through the lively crowd.
After walking a short distance, he suddenly collided with someone. Emperor Ming Cheng looked up with a dazed expression and saw that the person he had bumped into was Wan Bi, and in Wan Bi’s arms was the little eunuch she treasured above all else—Yao Xi.
Seeing that she had collided with the emperor, Yao Xi was frightened and struggled to get down and bow. The emperor already disliked her enough; she didn’t dare to incur his further displeasure. Wan Bi, afraid that the restless Yao Xi would fall out of her arms and get hurt, held her even tighter.
Emperor Ming Cheng cast a faint glance at the two of them, so entangled and oblivious to the onlookers. His heart ached even more. He walked on, dazed. He actually wanted to lean on Wan Bi’s shoulder and cry his heart out, to ask her what to do if he loved someone so, so much. But Wan Bi’s arms were already full. There was no place for him to lean.
The market street was bustling with noise and activity, but none of it had anything to do with him. He was truly alone.
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