Volume Seven: The Years I Was a General
How Not to Die
A great rain thoroughly drenched the Imperial Palace, washing away all the filth and obsessions one by one.
The sky was faintly bright. Wen Nuan looked at Xiao Chuyu, who was lying on her lap. For a whole night, she had just sat foolishly on the ground like this, lying on her lap, flustered and bewildered, fearful and lost.
“The sky is bright. Does Your Majesty wish to attend the morning court session today?” Wen Nuan gently stroked her hair.
Xiao Chuyu’s body trembled. She raised her head and looked at the fine cloth bandaged on Wen Nuan’s face, which covered half of her face, leaving only a pair of eyes that were still clear.
“Does it hurt?”
This was the 158th time she had asked her.
Wen Nuan said softly: “It doesn’t hurt.”
This was the 159th time she had answered her.
“I don’t believe it,” Xiao Chuyu stretched out her hand, her fingertip stopping on the fine cloth, not daring to touch, “It must hurt a lot.”
Wen Nuan held her hand, placed it on her own face, and smiled: “It really doesn’t hurt, Chuchu, believe me, okay?”
Believe her.
Xiao Chuyu, you must believe her.
Wen Nuan watched Xiao Chuyu’s eyes flicker, her feathered eyelashes trembling lightly, and she said in a low voice: “…I believe you.”
She smiled, lowered her head, and kissed the space between Xiao Chuyu’s eyebrows, “Mm-hm.”
Yuan Qi walked into Zhongming Hall, kneeling in the outer hall, “Your Majesty, it is time for the morning court session.”
“I don’t want to go to the morning court session today,” Xiao Chuyu wrapped her arms around Wen Nuan’s waist, burying herself in her embrace, “I want to accompany you.”
“Then wouldn’t this guilty subject become a demon concubine1 who brings disaster to the country and calamity to the people2, fooling around with the monarch every day, making the monarch unaware of the morning court, and disregarding the affairs of the state?” Wen Nuan teased.
Xiao Chuyu frowned: “Whatever.”
It would be fine if this country were destroyed too.
“Go on, when Your Majesty returns from court, this guilty subject will be waiting for you in the hall, how about that?”
Xiao Chuyu’s expression was moved, she raised her eyes: “Will you be here?”
“I will be here,” Wen Nuan lowered her head, kissing the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with a love and gentleness that could drown a person, “Don’t be afraid, I will definitely be here waiting for you to come back.”
“Mm,” Xiao Chuyu looked into her eyes and said seriously, “I believe you.”
Xiao Chuyu went to the morning court session, and Wen Nuan stayed alone in Zhongming Hall.
【The blackening value has decreased. The female lead’s current blackening value is 6.1.】The system spoke up, unable to resist complaining, 【You were a bit too extreme last night. Fengyan has good feelings for you, yet you used her to provoke the female lead. Yesterday’s blackening value shot up, it scared me to death.】
Wen Nuan pressed her aching and swollen head: “Fengyan’s feelings for me run deep. If I were to reject her directly, it might backfire. It’s better to make the best of a mistake and apply the right medicine for the illness.”
“The moment she drugged me, I immediately called for you to wake me up, intending to solve all problems in one go.”
This risky move was, one, to prove her true feelings for Xiao Chuyu, and two, to completely sever Fengyan’s affection for her.
Although the process was cruel and ruthless, the result was still good.
Fengyan’s heart is now dead, and Xiao Chuyu can also have a little trust in her.
“Are you really one to use every means to achieve your goal3?”
Although the system had long known that Wen Nuan was unscrupulous in achieving her goals, seeing her methods now, the system couldn’t help but sigh at how it was no wonder the Lord Master and its host had a good relationship.
“In this world, she is suspicious, gloomy, paranoid, and ruthless. No matter how many times I say I love her or we are skin to skin, it’s impossible to make her believe in my true feelings for her. She will only think that I have ulterior motives.”
“In her eyes, both Ji Bei and Fengyan could become reasons for me to betray her.”
“This is too tiring. Even if I can wait, she cannot. If I let her continue to struggle with her own inner turmoil, I’m afraid she will die before me.” Wen Nuan choked up.
The system looked at the wound on Wen Nuan’s face and sighed, 【Are you planning to keep this scar?】
Wen Nuan removed the fine cloth and looked at the wound in the bronze mirror. The scar was like a ferocious, twisted centipede crawling on her fair face, “I’ll keep it, to put her at ease.”
She didn’t intend to use this scar to make Xiao Chuyu feel guilty, but just to give her an assurance.
It just so happened that Xiao Chuyu wanted to leave a mark on her body, and this scar was just right to be left.
【Okay, the blackening value has dropped quite quickly this time. Keep up the good work.】The system thought for a moment, 【How about you try cutting yourself again and see if the blackening value will drop?】
“….” Wen Nuan’s eyes were about to roll into the sky, “What kind of perverted character setting does Xiao Chuyu have? That another cut can lower the blackening value? If I simply cut myself into a thousand pieces, would Xiao Chuyu’s blackening value clear to zero directly?!”
The system said seriously: 【We can try. I’ll turn on pain shielding for you.】
“….” Wen Nuan took a deep breath and cursed angrily, “What damn use is your pain shielding that’s only half effective! Cut into a thousand pieces, this old master will cut you into a thousand pieces first.”
【Don’t be angry, I’m just doing this for your own good. The faster the blackening value decreases, the sooner you can complete the mission, and the sooner you can go back to find ‘her’.】The system persuaded with kind words.
Although that was the case, this unscrupulous system dared to suggest any wicked idea to lower the blackening value.
【How about this, forget about being cut into a thousand pieces. We can try a similar method to lower the female lead’s blackening value.】The system proposed.
Wen Nuan’s eyes were suspicious: “What?”
The system gave a sleazy smile: 【S.M, isn’t there a different tune played with equal skill4 to it? I can provide you with special props. It can satisfy the female lead’s wish to leave a mark on your body, without you having to be truly injured or bleed, and it can also increase the passion between you. How about it?】
“…..”
Wen Nuan truly felt that this system was really unreliable. Look at all the messy solutions it proposed. S.M., could it not promote some Socialist Core Values5? All it knows every day is to do color6 and do stimulating things, it’s simply corrupting the children!
The system listened to Wen Nuan’s inner voice and said indifferently: 【Do you want it or not? The offer expires soon.】
Wen Nuan looked at the system angrily and scolded: “You are simply insulting me!”
【So do you want it?】The system crossed its legs.
“You unscrupulous system, you have less and less of a bottom line and principles!”
【Uh-huh, enough with the nonsense, hurry up.】The system shook its leg.
“You are simply….” Seeing that the system was about to leave, Wen Nuan immediately stretched out an “Erkang hand”7 to keep it, “Give me a set!”
The system had an “I knew it” expression, and transmitted the props to Wen Nuan, 【As if I don’t know you. We’ve cooperated for so long, I know exactly what kind of person you are. Still pretending to be a gentleman to me?】
Wen Nuan giggled, looking at the oddly shaped props, and asked curiously: “How do you use these things?”
The system was sly: 【I’ll teach you, they are very useful.】
“You are truly. lewd.” Wen Nuan despised the system’s sleazy smile.
The system retorted: 【Likewise, likewise.】
Then the two acted as wolf and bei in collusion8 and began a session of mutual learning and assistance.
Xiao Chuyu listened with a listless expression as the hundred officials talked about some old sesame seeds and rotten grain9 matters. She raised her hand slightly. Seeing this, Yuan Qi immediately stepped forward and announced: “Her Majesty is not feeling well today. If there are no important matters, let today’s morning court be dismissed.”
The hundred officials bowed their heads: “We subjects respectfully send off….”
“Your Majesty, this humble official has a matter to report.” Ye Mingxiu stepped out and called.
Xiao Chuyu pressed her aching and swollen forehead with her fingertips, “What matter?”
“The Buddha worship at Qinglong Temple10 and the worship at the Imperial Mausoleum11, does Your Majesty still not wish to go this year?”
“Mm, is there a problem?”
“This humble official believes that Your Majesty should go this year.”
Xiao Chuyu raised her eyes: “Reason.”
“This year is the second year of Your Majesty’s reign. The reason for not going in the first year was the turmoil in the court and the border wars, making it so you lacked the ability to be in two places at once12. But this year, under Your Majesty’s wise management, the people of Ming’an Kingdom live and work in peace and contentment, the country is prosperous and the people are at peace, the war situation in Mobei is stable, and the enemy country does not dare to offend the heavenly might of our great nation. With such seas calm and rivers clear, a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity in the world, Your Majesty should rightly report to the ancestors of the imperial family, to show that Ming’an Kingdom’s future prospects are like brocade13, and the Emperor’s merit and virtue are immeasurable14.”
The hundred officials looked at the Emperor, then at Ye Mingxiu, and one by one they all stepped forward, bowed and said: “This official seconds the motion——”
Xiao Chuyu paused, her brow slightly furrowed: “…You see to it.”
“This humble official, obeys the decree.” Ye Mingxiu replied.
“Court dismissed——”
Yuan Qi immediately stepped forward to support Xiao Chuyu.
“Your Majesty, this humble official has another important matter to discuss with you,” Ye Mingxiu said.
Xiao Chuyu glanced at him, “Come with Zhen.”
The other officials left Hezheng Hall, and Ye Mingxiu followed behind Xiao Chuyu.
“What is it?”
Ye Mingxiu originally did not want to get involved in these matters, but he felt that the change in Xiao Chuyu’s temperament was too great. The her of the past was gentle, virtuous, modest, and courteous; the her of today was becoming more and more sinister, ruthless, and cruel.
Especially after he saw Commandery Princess Fengyan last night, he immediately sent people to investigate what had happened in the Imperial Palace. Learning the truth, Ye Mingxiu was alarmed and unsettled, becoming even more certain that Xiao Chuyu’s current state was very difficult to handle.
He pondered and said: “Last night, this humble official saw Commandery Princess Fengyan. Her condition… was not very good.”
Rather than not very good, it would be better to say she was crazed and delirious, as if she had received a great shock, and her entire person had collapsed.
Yuan Qi glanced at Ye Mingxiu in panic, then immediately lowered his head and stepped back, leaving a quiet space for the two of them.
Xiao Chuyu stopped walking, rubbing the jade thumb ring, her expression indifferent: “This is the important matter the Chancellor wanted to discuss with Zhen?”
“This humble official is just worried. Commandery Princess Fengyan’s state before entering the palace and after leaving the palace were like two different people. This humble official thought….”
“Ye Mingxiu,” Xiao Chuyu interrupted him, her gaze cold, “Your hands are stretching too far.”
Ye Mingxiu lowered his head: “This humble official is just worried about Your Majesty.”
“Worried about Zhen?” A throbbing pain started in Xiao Chuyu’s forehead, like fine needle tips densely pricking her meridians, “What is there about Zhen that is worthy of Chancellor you being worried about?”
“Has Your Majesty not noticed your own changes?”
Xiao Chuyu’s eyes narrowed: “What is the Chancellor saying? Are you playing some kind of word game with Zhen?”
“Xiao Chuyu, the you of the past was not like this.” Ye Mingxiu looked at Xiao Chuyu’s pitch-black pupils, incomparably dark, like a bottomless abyss.
When he first met Xiao Chuyu, he thought he was a man. At that time, he only felt that this Crown Prince was too delicate in appearance, his looks even more dainty and elegant than a woman’s. But because Gu Wen Nuan’s appearance was even more beautiful, he had not suspected Xiao Chuyu’s true gender.
Since coming into contact with Xiao Chuyu, he had been won over by Xiao Chuyu’s knowledge and temperament. Although this person was skilled in both literary and martial arts and brilliantly talented, they were not arrogant on account of their talent15 or presumptuously arrogant.
Xiao Chuyu’s temperament was gentle and amiable. They treated others with modesty and courtesy, and treated worthy men with courtesy and condescended to scholars16. He deeply felt that after this person ascended the throne, they would definitely be a shrewd and capable monarch. With him and Gu Wen Nuan assisting together, they could surely protect Ming’an Kingdom’s prosperity for more than a hundred years.
But later, Gu Wen Nuan exposed Xiao Chuyu’s true identity in the court. The Crown Prince of Ming’an Kingdom was actually a “woman.”
In that instant, everyone was shocked, but he alone had privately developed feelings.
Hearing Ye Mingxiu call her by her full name, Xiao Chuyu frowned: “Ye Mingxiu, you have overstepped.”
“Since Your Majesty believes Mingxiu has overstepped, then Mingxiu will be bold enough to ask Your Majesty, you hate Gu Wen Nuan to the bone, is it really because three years ago she exposed your identity, causing you to be imprisoned and punished?”
Clearly, on that day, Gu Wen Nuan had already explained clearly the reason for exposing Xiao Chuyu’s true identity back then, so why does Xiao Chuyu still refuse to let Gu Wen Nuan go?
Especially after seeing Commandery Princess Fengyan’s condition last night, it was likely because of Gu Wen Nuan that Xiao Chuyu made a move against Commandery Princess Fengyan, but as for the main reason within that, he had no way of knowing.
Xiao Chuyu concealed the pain in the bottom of her eyes, her tone without ripples: “Ye Mingxiu, do you know who Zhen’s mother is?”
“Empress Xianren.”
“Do you know how Zhen’s mother empress died?”
A dimness appeared in the bottom of Ye Mingxiu’s eyes, and he sighed: “…The former Empress hanged herself in the Cold Palace.”
“Hanged herself, hehe…” Xiao Chuyu couldn’t help but sneer, “You ask why Zhen hates Gu Wen Nuan so much. Do you really think that her exposing Zhen’s identity on the spot, causing Zhen to be deposed by the former emperor, imprisoned and punished, is worthy of Zhen wishing to grind her bones to dust and scatter her ashes?”
Ye Mingxiu faintly sensed a trace of unease. He stared at Xiao Chuyu without blinking, “So, for what reason exactly does Your Majesty….?”
Insist on putting Gu Wen Nuan to death.
“Because Zhen’s mother empress was killed by Gu Wen Nuan’s own hands,” Xiao Chuyu’s eyes seemed to want to split17, her eyes crimson, “She personally killed my mother empress, and faked the appearance of suicide by hanging.”
“If it weren’t for the mother empress’s personal palace maid seeing it, Zhen is afraid she would never have known that this person, Gu Wen Nuan, was so cruel and ruthless, so cold and unfeeling.”
“Ye Mingxiu, Zhen asks you, does Gu Wen Nuan deserve to die or not?”
Ye Mingxiu froze.
It was not until nightfall.
That Xiao Chuyu’s figure appeared in Zhongming Hall.
Wen Nuan saw that she seemed a little tired, “What’s wrong?”
She looked at Xiao Chuyu’s eyes, which were full of red blood vessels, and said with heartache: “How did you get so tired? Were today’s government affairs very troublesome?”
Xiao Chuyu shook her head, “It’s nothing, perhaps I was drenched in the rain yesterday, my head is a little dizzy.”
“Then let’s rest early today.”
She won’t torment her then, it’s just…
The system and Wen Nuan sighed secretly, what a pity for those props.
“Okay,” Xiao Chuyu looked at the wound on Wen Nuan’s face, which had already stopped bleeding, her pupils trembling slightly.
She raised her hand to touch her cheek, not daring to touch the wound, “Will it leave a scar?”
“It probably will. Didn’t Your Majesty want to leave a mark on this guilty subject’s body?” Wen Nuan touched the wound, “This is just right.”
“Then can this scar not be left?”
Wen Nuan was taken aback: “Why?”
“Zhen does not want it.” Xiao Chuyu lowered her eyes.
I don’t want to look at you through this scar.
She originally thought that when Wen Nuan had a scar belonging to her, she would be very happy. But when Wen Nuan really left a mark for her, she felt that it shouldn’t be like this.
She knew the reason why Wen Nuan kept the scar, but she didn’t want it anymore.
Wen Nuan should be pure white and flawless. She wanted to drag her into hell, but she didn’t want to completely stain her. She wanted Wen Nuan to accompany her to death cleanly.
“Gu Wen Nuan?”
She answered her: “Mm.”
Xiao Chuyu’s gaze was hopeful, her phoenix eyes slightly raised, and she smiled faintly: “After you die, I will come to accompany you, okay?”
Wen Nuan’s eyes soured. It seemed she had bullied her girl until she was broken.
Warmth surged into her eyes. She held Xiao Chuyu in her arms, “Okay.”
The author has something to say:
Yan Hu: Who wants to have a good relationship with her, I dote on my wife very much.
Wen Nuan: ……
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