When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 114

Volume Five: Those Years When I Was the Prime Minister

Fatal

A hot bath made Sheng Tingwan even more restless. She was clearly in the flowing water, yet her mouth and tongue grew increasingly dry.

“Are you feeling a bit more comfortable?”

Sheng Tingwan was stunned, staring blankly at Wen Nuan. “Wha… what?”

The wet cloth wiped across her delicate collarbone, over the familiar scar on her chest. Wen Nuan looked at her dazed, chicken-like appearance and smiled helplessly. “I asked if your body is feeling a bit more comfortable?”

Sheng Tingwan came back to her senses and met Wen Nuan’s eyes, which were full of smiles. As if she had been scalded, she hurriedly lowered her head and said, “It’s… it’s better.”

Wen Nuan looked at her cheeks, which seemed about to drip blood, and gathered Sheng Tingwan’s dark hair floating on the water’s surface, gently rubbing it. “Is Your Majesty shy?”

Sheng Tingwan’s cheeks turned even redder.

“When Your Majesty was a child, I also bathed Your Majesty’s body. Back then, Your Majesty was not as coy as you are today, oh?”

In this mission world, Wen Nuan was seven years older than Sheng Tingwan. Now, her age was already approaching thirty. Thinking about it made her feel a little inexplicably sad.

The system comfortingly said: 【It’s alright, a woman at thirty is a flower in full bloom.】

Wen Nuan: “….”

Thanks, I don’t feel comforted at all.

“I… I was shy then, too,” Sheng Tingwan said in a whisper, her face flushed red.

If it weren’t for the fact that there were only two people in the entire bedchamber, Wen Nuan almost wouldn’t have heard what Sheng Tingwan said.

Wen Nuan’s hand, which was washing her hair, paused. “Back then, you were only 12 years old when I bathed you, right?”

Sheng Tingwan nodded.

“At 12 years old, you knew what shyness was?” Wen Nuan couldn’t help but tease. “Besides, back then, Your Majesty was very open about letting me bathe you, no?”

The female lead back then was, at best, a little brat. How could she understand shyness?!

When Wen Nuan said she would bathe her, the little girl didn’t say anything, obediently sitting in the bathtub. When told to raise her arm, she raised her arm; when told to stand up, she stood up. She didn’t show any sign of shyness or bashfulness at all.

“Because I was afraid you… would abandon me.”

Wen Nuan was taken aback. “What?”

Sheng Tingwan looked up at Wen Nuan. “I was afraid that if I wasn’t obedient, you would abandon me.”

The Wen Nuan of that time was a dazzling and warm ray of light in her difficult and sorrowful life. She descended to her side like a deity.

Her god was dressed in flowing white robes, pure as ice and jade, as if her body exuded a misty and fragrant immortal aura, while she herself was covered in dust and grime, like a maggot that had crawled out of a pile of dead bodies, disgustingly filthy.

The world often said that the gods in heaven would pity sorrowful mortals. Since she was young, she never believed these lies that mortals made up to deceive themselves.

In her memory, no one would pity her; everyone would only bully her, wishing they could beat her to death.

She was barely surviving in the imperial palace, without a stubborn desire for survival, but rather like a maggot born from decay in a corner, getting by day by day, waiting for death.

In the end, death did not arrive. Instead, she waited for her god. The god gave her a piece of very sweet, very sweet osmanthus cake. Just one bite was sweet enough to penetrate the bone marrow. From that moment on, she finally knew what sweetness was, and she only liked things that were sweet.

The god was very good to her, giving her clean clothes to wear, delicious food to eat, the status and position a royal daughter deserved, and even personally bathing her.

She would never forget that day. The god gently wiped her body, one stroke after another, with movements so gentle as if she were a fragile object, unlike those people from before who all thought she was a stinking rock that couldn’t be broken by hitting or kicking.

She endured her shyness and the throbbing of her heart, listening to the god’s words, yet in the moments when the god wasn’t paying attention, she nourished her own wantonly overflowing desires.

Now, her desire was too great, and it had tainted the god.

Sheng Tingwan carefully held Wen Nuan’s hand, her heart taut like a string. “I was afraid, I was afraid you would abandon me, so I endured my shyness and the throbbing of my heart. I was afraid you would discover my bad intentions and abandon me.”

Wen Nuan’s eyes stung. She spread her five fingers and intertwined them tightly with hers. “I won’t. I won’t abandon you. Don’t be afraid.”

“Really?” A small burst of joy welled up in Sheng Tingwan’s heart, and her gaze instantly brightened.

“Really.” Wen Nuan raised her hand, caressing her face and lips. “My Majesty is so good, how could I bear to abandon you?”

She lowered her head, kissing her trembling lips, and made a promise, “I am willing to bow my head and serve as your subject, loyal and unwavering.”

Sheng Tingwan’s entire heart was firmly grasped by Wen Nuan, and only in this moment did she feel that her god would not fly back to the heavens.

The system excitedly said: 【Blackening value has decreased. The female lead’s current blackening value is 2.1!】

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The Empress Regnant of Tianyang Kingdom issued an imperial decree of appointment. Normally, such a decree for bestowing official posts and titles shouldn’t have attracted so much attention from the people of Tianyang Kingdom. However, the protagonist of this appointment was truly a figure of great importance, so as soon as the decree was issued, it caused a nationwide turmoil.

The general content of the imperial decree was very clear: Ling Wen Nuan was to be restored to her original post, becoming the still supreme and powerful Prime Minister Ling of Tianyang Kingdom, who held power over the court, and would continue to lead the hundred officials and assist the Empress Regnant in governing the country.

Once this imperial decree was issued, some were happy and some were worried, but no one dared to voice any complaints.

During the morning court session, the hundred officials looked at Ling Wen Nuan standing in the front row. She was dressed in a purple robe embroidered with cranes, a gold and jade belt cinching her waist. Her black hair was tied up high in a glazed hair crown, with a jasper hairpin inserted horizontally through it. Her entire being was filled with an air of calm and unrestrained ease.

Sheng Tingwan looked at the familiar person standing in the familiar position, her heart filled with immense joy. For the past few days of morning court, she had worn a smile on her face, a smile that made the hundred officials feel terrified in their hearts. They all speculated whether it was Prime Minister Ling’s return that had frightened Her Majesty the Empress Regnant into a state of bewilderment. Although their hearts were bitter, they still had to maintain a happy appearance on the surface.

“If you have matters to report, step forward. If not, court is dismissed,” Sheng Tingwan said in a loud voice.

The hundred officials looked at me, and I looked at you, and finally, they all looked towards Ling Wen Nuan in unison.

Ling Wen Nuan sensed everyone’s gazes, turned her head to look at them, and said with a smile, “What? Does everyone have an opinion about me? Feel free to speak directly.”

When Prime Minister Ling smiled, the hearts of the hundred officials tightened. They all averted their gazes from her, pretending to be deaf to her words, playing dumb.

Ling Wen Nuan chuckled. “Since none of you plan to say anything, then let’s disperse.”

A bunch of cowards.

“This subject has a matter to report.” The Minister of Rites, Qiu Shuang, stepped out and cupped her hands.

Sheng Tingwan raised her hand. “Speak.”

Qiu Shuang bowed. “Your Majesty has been married for three years, yet there has been no news of an heir. This subject believes that carrying on the family line is a matter of great importance to the state and cannot be treated lightly. This subject hopes that Your Majesty will open the palace gates wide, recruit numerous handsome consorts, and continue the imperial family’s lineage.”

Ling Wen Nuan: “….”

Sheng Tingwan immediately looked at Ling Wen Nuan. Seeing her expression turn cold, she panicked in her heart and quickly said, “What? Does Minister Qiu think that We are old? That We must have a royal daughter to inherit Our throne?”

Qiu Shuang trembled and knelt on the ground. “This subject is terrified. This subject knows my mistake. I beg Your Majesty to mete out punishment.”

Sheng Tingwan looked at the others and said coldly, “We currently have no intention of carrying on the family line, nor do We have any thought of recruiting numerous handsome consorts. We know that all of you beloved ministers have groups of beautiful consorts at home, enjoying the bliss of having many partners…”

“This subject is terrified——” The hundred officials abruptly knelt, shouting in terror.

In the imperial court, only Ling Wen Nuan remained standing, looking down from a commanding position, surveying the crowd.

Sheng Tingwan’s eyes narrowed, and she said in a frigid voice, “We don’t care how many men you have in your manors, or how many heirs you have. If you were to bring those thoughts of yours out into the open, take a guess, how many times would that be enough for Us to chop off your heads? Go back and weigh it for yourselves, understand?”

Everyone’s hearts and livers trembled, their legs shaking, not daring to look up directly at the heavenly might.

Sheng Tingwan looked at Qiu Shuang. “Minister Qiu?”

Qiu Shuang’s body instantly tensed, and she quickly said, “This subject is here.”

“Manage your own duties well,” Sheng Tingwan’s fingers fiddled slightly. “The triennial imperial examination is about to begin. We are very much looking forward to you handling this examination properly and putting Our mind at ease, are We not?”

Bean-sized teardrops blurred Qiu Shuang’s eyes. She closed them and said, her voice resounding, “This subject will certainly do my utmost and not fail to live up to Your Majesty’s expectations.”

“As for the others,” Sheng Tingwan’s eyes slightly lifted, her voice laced with a threat, “if you have matters to report, step forward. If not, court is dismissed.”

The hundred officials remained silent.

Ling Wen Nuan looked at Sheng Tingwan on the dragon throne. She had really changed so much. From the trembling fear of her first time attending court to her current ease and adeptness, handling matters with ample grace, she suddenly felt as if she no longer needed to assist Sheng Tingwan in the imperial court. She could already stand on her own, becoming the Empress Regnant of Tianyang Kingdom, revered by tens of thousands.

Sheng Tingwan swept her gaze over the crowd. “Since all you beloved ministers have nothing to report, then court is dismissed.”

The crowd said, “Yes.”

Sheng Tingwan looked at Ling Wen Nuan, worried that Ling Wen Nuan was angry. She was nervous inside, but her expression remained calm. “After court is dismissed, Prime Minister Ling is to come to the Imperial Study. We have important matters to discuss.”

The corners of Ling Wen Nuan’s mouth lifted slightly. She bowed and cupped her hands. “Yes.”

Lü Yan shouted loudly, “Court dismissed——”

Sheng Tingwan glanced at Ling Wen Nuan again, then stood up and left the main hall.

Everyone instantly breathed a sigh of relief, all lamenting that they had just taken a walk through the gates of hell.

“Everyone, a word of advice,” Wen Nuan looked at the crowd, pointed to her head, and warned with a gentle smile, “don’t do things that will get your heads chopped off, okay?”

Everyone’s pupils instantly widened. Thinking of the scene when Tianyang Kingdom was controlled by Wen Nuan years ago, a chill ran down their backs, and they said with hearts pounding in fear, “This humble official thanks the Prime Minister for the reminder.”

Wen Nuan walked up to Qiu Shuang and patted her on the shoulder. “Handle this imperial examination well, otherwise… tsk…”

She looked at Qiu Shuang’s face, covered in cold sweat, and sneered, “Let me think, what happened to the Minister of Rites who organized the imperial examination three years ago? It seems it was some under-the-table operations, colluding with others, and selling □□ to the candidates. In the end, the outcome was…”

“Hey, Lord Shi Jing, you were also here three years ago, weren’t you? What was the fate of the Minister of Rites that year?”

Shi Jing said faintly, “Dismemberment by five horses¹.”

Qiu Shuang’s body shook violently, and her legs gave out as she knelt on the ground. “Th-this humble official will definitely handle the imperial examination well…”

“This Prime Minister has no other meaning,” Wen Nuan bent down, pinched Qiu Shuang’s chin, and narrowed her eyes. “I just hope that Lord Qiu can do her own duties well. The more you meddle, the faster you die, okay?”

Qiu Shuang swallowed with difficulty. “..Yes, yes, what the Prime Minister says is right.”

Wen Nuan looked at the others and smiled faintly. “The same goes for all of you, okay? Each of you attend to your own duties. If this Prime Minister discovers any of you lords neglecting your proper business and meddling in other people’s affairs, then this Prime Minister wouldn’t mind teaching you properly what it means to be an official, understand?”

Everyone nodded like a pestle pounding garlic, all responding, “…Yes, yes, what the Prime Minister says is right.”

It was back. The terrifying feeling of being oppressed by Ling Wen Nuan from three years ago was back again.

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Imperial Study.

Sheng Tingwan waited for a long time but still hadn’t seen Ling Wen Nuan. She was extremely anxious, terrified that Wen Nuan was angry and wouldn’t come to see her.

She paced back and forth in the room, feeling uneasy. Unable to wait any longer, just as she was about to push the door open to go out, she ran head-on into Wen Nuan.

Wen Nuan wrapped her in her arms, lifted a leg, and kicked the door shut.

“Where is Your Majesty going?”

Sheng Tingwan looked up. “I thought you were angry and wouldn’t come to see me.”

“Why would this subject be angry?” Wen Nuan looked at her with composure.

Sheng Tingwan wrapped her arms around Wen Nuan’s waist. “Don’t take Qiu Shuang’s words to heart. I have no intention of recruiting handsome consorts, nor do I plan to have an heir.”

Wen Nuan looked at her nervous appearance and sighed. “What she said is also right. You are, after all, Her Majesty the Empress Regnant. For the imperial family, for the country, it is only right and proper to continue the lineage. As a subject, it is also appropriate for her to be concerned about the sovereign’s heir.”

“Then… then I won’t be the Empress Regnant anymore, okay?” Sheng Tingwan hugged her tightly, terrified that Wen Nuan would leave her. “Take me away with you. To the ends of the earth, as long as I can be by your side, anywhere is fine.”

Even if it meant going to die, it would be fine.

Wen Nuan paused, her expression somewhat moved. “Tingwan, for me, you would even give up the throne?”

“What is the throne compared to you?”

What Sheng Tingwan wanted from the beginning was not supreme power. Before meeting Wen Nuan, she was just getting by, without desires or wants. But after meeting Wen Nuan, all she wanted was her.

And this throne, was what Wen Nuan wanted to give her.

As long as it was given by Wen Nuan, even if it were a sharp arrow shot at her, she would be willing to open her arms to welcome it.

“As long as it’s you, I can even give up my life.”

Wen Nuan’s Adam’s apple couldn’t help but bob. She lowered her head and kissed her lips, saying with a tremble, “Tingwan, are you trying to take my life?”

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