Chapter 4 — Palace of the Moonlit Tower

The moment the Noble Consort departed, my courage returned twofold.

This nourishing soup is far too rich and heavy with grease. Your Majesty is in the absolute prime of your vigor; you should not partake in it.

I knew this remark carried a certain ambiguous allure. Yet between a man and a woman, what stirs the heart more deeply than ambiguity itself? Ambiguity is far more seductive than overt romance. It is like draping a room in fine, translucent silk—nothing is clearly seen, nothing is truly touched, leaving the mind to wander in endless, intoxicating suppositions. Emperor Nyan arched a brow, the corners of his lips curving into an elusive, enigmatic smile.

Oh? Am I truly in the prime of my vigor? And how, pray tell, did you manage to discern such a thing? Come, explain yourself. How did you see through to that?

I instantly feigned a look of bashful terror, as though I had only just realized my immense indiscretion. I stammered and stuttered, trembling slightly.

This... this humble servant spoke out of turn! I would never dare to be so bold again!

Far from being displeased, the Emperor burst into a rich, hearty laugh.

Since you know you have erred, then as punishment, I decree that you shall finish every last drop of this soup.

On the surface, it was a disciplinary measure, yet the gesture was steeped in a teasing intimacy that clearly delighted him. Very well. If he wished to play this game, I would play along to the end.

As Your Majesty commands... this servant will do her utmost to drink it all.

A long while later, I was so full I let out a soft hiccup, my cheeks flushed a rosy pink from the potent, heat-inducing herbs, prompting another wave of laughter from Emperor Nyan.

Ha, ha, ha! I merely told you to finish it, yet you actually licked the bowl clean without leaving a single drop. Are you truly a fool, or are you merely pretending?

A fool? If he wished to see a fool, then a fool I would become for his amusement. Only a fool could lull a supreme ruler into a state of absolute and un guarded complacency. After spending an entire day by his side, my daring grew by leaps and bounds. Step by step, I tested the boundaries of Emperor Nyan’s patience and indulgence. As dusk fell and the palace lanterns were lit, I ventured a gentle persuasion.

Your Majesty should retire early for the evening. Reading official memorials by candlelight late at night is terribly taxing on the eyes. Your sacred health is of the utmost importance; the documents can easily wait until tomorrow.

Nanny An had once mentioned that his former white moonlight would frequently use the excuse of preserving his eyesight to forbid Emperor Nyan from reading late under the lamps. Sure enough, the moment those words left my lips, the Emperor fixed his gaze entirely upon me, as though looking right through my physical shell to catch a glimpse of someone long gone. I knew it—he was reminiscing about that radiant, unreachable moon of his past. Suddenly, Emperor Nyan reached out and caught me by the wrist. With a single effortless pull, I tumbled forward and landed squarely upon his lap. The body of a youthful man is ever prone to sudden, passionate stirrings, yet I understood all too well that at this very moment, Emperor Nyan was merely viewing me as a surrogate. Therefore, I raised my hands and gently pressed against his advancing face.

Your Majesty! You must not!

A flicker of displeasure crossed the Emperor’s eyes, and his voice dropped to a low, husky register.

You care so deeply for my physical well-being; it is only fitting that I bestow upon you a most generous reward.

Ah... was this his idea of a reward? I hurriedly stammered out an explanation.

Tending to Your Majesty is this servant’s fundamental duty. Having received the sovereign’s generous stipend, I must devote myself heart and soul to serving the throne. This humble servant harbors no other ambitions whatsoever.

Emperor Nyan paused for a fraction of a second. The displeasure on his features deepened, resembling a choice morsel brought right to the edge of one’s lips yet remaining stubbornly out of reach, forcing him to sit and wait.

Bai Zhi, I am offering you a chance to elevate your station.

The underlying meaning of the Emperor’s words could not have been clearer. But... the time was still not right! I exerted force to shove him away, tumbling right off his lap and landing flat upon the cold stone floor of the imperial study, where I kowtowed repeatedly.

This servant does not dare!

The atmosphere within the grand hall grew strangely heavy and oppressive. Emperor Nyan let out a cold, sharp snort, rose abruptly to his feet, and strode out of the study. The chief eunuch deliberately lingered behind to offer me some well-meaning counsel.

Lady Bai Zhi, why must you be so rigid? If not for His Majesty’s discerning wisdom this time around, you would have already been handed over to that wretched man surnamed Tao. The fact that His Majesty still keeps you by his side to serve in the imperial presence clearly indicates he holds you in his heart. You ought to simply follow his will.

Take my words to heart and ponder them carefully. Do not ever displease His Majesty like this again. Should you provoke his wrath a second time, not a single soul in this palace will be able to save you.

Having delivered his admonitions, the chief eunuch also took his leave. Left alone in the quiet hall, I smiled faintly. A ruler’s anger was, in truth, a favorable omen. Human beings only writhe and fret in restlessness over what they desperately desire yet cannot possess. The more emotional turmoil Emperor Nyan experienced on my account, the greater the value of the chess piece I held in my hand. In the days that followed, I resumed my usual duties of presenting tea before the imperial desk. I made no proactive advances, nor did the Emperor press the matter any further. After all, he was a young monarch who had climbed the dragon throne entirely through his own ruthless ambition; such drive was woven into the very marrow of his bones.

Before long, however, the ultimate opportunity to capture his heart presented itself. According to the memories of my past life, the Empress Dowager was soon to summon a theatrical troupe into the inner palace to stage a grand performance. Among the performers would be a hidden assassin, whose primary target was none other than Emperor Nyan. In my previous life, although his life was never truly in mortal peril, he still sustained a nasty slash to his arm. This time, I would seize the credit by shielding him with my own body.

Three days later, the troupe entered the palace gates. As the tea-serving maid stationed in the imperial presence, I naturally stood right at Emperor Nyan’s side. The instant the assassin on stage whipped out a gleaming blade and lunged forward, I threw myself directly into the path of the oncoming steel. Because my movement was so swift and desperate, Emperor Nyan genuinely believed that pure, instinctive devotion had driven me to intercept the sword for him.

Bai Zhi!

Emperor Nyan roared in terror. The razor-sharp edge tore through the fabric of my sleeve, slicing a deep gash across my arm. It hurt intensely. Yet... my calculations had proven flawless once again. Disregarding the shocked gazes of everyone present, the Emperor swept me tightly into his embrace, his eyes swimming with profound panic and anguish.

Summon the imperial physicians immediately!

Every single imperial guard in the vicinity sprang instantly into action, forming an impenetrable barrier to shield both the Emperor and myself. I looked up and saw genuine, unfiltered terror mirrored in the depths of his eyes.

Bai Zhi! Hear me clearly! I forbid anything to happen to you!

Naturally, my injury was not truly life-threatening. Yet minor scratch or not, I had to play the part of a maiden gravely wounded.

It hurts so much... Your Majesty, this servant is in agony...

Emperor Nyan murmured frantic words of comfort against my hair.

The physician is almost here. If the pain is truly unbearable, bite down on my hand.

With that, he actually extended his bare hand right to my lips. At that exact moment, a surge of wild triumph exploded within my chest. The white moonlight of yesteryear had once shielded this very man from an assassin’s blade. The noble consort had merely mirrored her visage. But as for me... I mirrored her in every single aspect imaginable.