Chapter 5: Tyrant, You’re “Useless”

Chapter 5: Tyrant, You're "Useless"

Mo Cangyan expected her to be angry for calling him a dog emperor, but seeing her grit her teeth in pain from the fall, his mood suddenly improved. Even the flowers and plants on the ground seemed more pleasing to his eye.

It was Eunuch Hai who reacted first, hurriedly instructing someone to fetch the imperial physician for some medicine.

"The Empress is in such high spirits. She even has the leisure to prune the branches herself."

Pausing for a moment, he curled the corners of his lips slightly. "I had no idea the Empress possessed such skills. It's quite surprising to see this side of you today."

The smile that appeared on the tyrant's lips, intentional or not, fueled Feng Xiyao's anger.

She clenched her teeth. "If you hadn't forbidden my people from returning to the palace, would I have had to do it myself? You deserve to be cheated on until there's nothing left, you dog!"

Panties!

Angered, Mo Cangyan strode over and pulled her close, ready to scold her. But just as the words were about to leave his lips, he forcefully swallowed them back.

If he spoke, wouldn't she realize that he could hear her thoughts?

He still relied on her insights to learn certain matters; it was not yet time to reprimand her.

With this in mind, Mo Cangyan gradually released his grip.

Feng Xiyao looked at him with a hint of confusion.

"Has the tyrant gone mad again?"

Suppressing her thoughts, she forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty jests. This humble concubine only knows a little and happened to be bored, so I trimmed it. Otherwise, the branch would grow into Your Majesty's Zijin Hall, sullying Your eyes!"

From the memories of the original owner, Feng Xiyao knew that the tyrant disliked her, along with everything related to her.

In the past, the original owner had attempted to please him several times, making sachets and soups, but her efforts were met with cold shoulders. She was rejected without even getting a chance to meet him face-to-face.

The concubines in the harem often ridiculed her, saying she was useless and had been rejected by her husband soon after their marriage.

"The Empress is complaining that I haven't visited you!"

Feng Xiyao maintained her forced smile. "Hehehe, this humble concubine dare not!"

"Stop flattering yourself, what are you? I have no desire to see you!"

Hearing this mocking voice, Mo Cangyan curled his lips in a mocking sneer. "I see that the Empress is quite daring!"

Mo Cangyan didn't dwell on the matter further. His only intention was to extract all knowledge from Feng Xiyao and then swiftly eliminate her.

Seeing that Mo Cangyan had entered the room, Feng Xiyao followed reluctantly.

Eunuch Hai assumed they were a couple reuniting for a heart-to-heart conversation or perhaps something more intimate. He quickly dismissed the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs.

With a jovial smile, he stood guard at the door.

The Emperor had been preoccupied with state affairs and had not spent time with the concubines in the harem for a long while. Eunuch Hai made it his duty to stand guard and ensure a private moment for the Emperor and Empress to reconnect emotionally.

"I hope the Emperor seizes this opportunity to make an effort and promptly bears a little crown prince with Her Majesty the Empress!"

Eunuch Hai couldn't contain his excitement and spoke his thoughts aloud. Seeing no one around, he playfully slapped his own mouth.

Upon entering, Feng Xiyao and Mo Cangyan found themselves staring into each other's eyes, both unyielding.

Feng Xiyao had never been a "slave," so she was unsure how to address this "master."

Mo Cangyan, on the other hand, took his seat at the head of the room, awaiting Feng Xiyao to serve him tea.

After waiting for a while and realizing that Feng Xiyao didn't understand his unspoken cues, he could only reluctantly offer a reminder.

"I recall the Empress being skilled in brewing tea. Since you've graced us with your presence today, why not prepare a pot for me to savor?"

Feng Xiyao frowned. "Why didn't I know that I'm such an expert in making tea?!"

Mo Cangyan was doing this on purpose; he wanted to see just how much the current queen differed from the previous one.

He had heard before that Feng Xiyao, the daughter of the prime minister, was an expert in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, topping the list of talented women in Shang Jing. She even brewed tea so skillfully that the late emperor had praised her profusely, thus promising her the position of empress.

Should anyone from the Great Xia ascend to the throne, she would surely be the empress with both virtue and talent.

"It's over, it's over! I don't know how!"

Seeing her remain silent, Mo Cangyan tapped the table, reminding her not to swear and to come back to her senses.

"Should the Emperor desire tea, this concubine would brew it, even if I were injured!" she declared resolutely, then bravely picked up the tea set and began brewing before him. A series of clattering noises ensued.

Either water was spilt or the fire was too intense, causing her to choke on the smoke.

Eunuch Hai, listening to the commotion, blushed with embarrassment.

Indeed, it was His Majesty, the Emperor he respected most. Normally, the Emperor treated the palace consorts with icy detachment, but his passion upon this newfound indulgence was unexpectedly fervent.

Indeed, it's a case of remaining silent until making a stunning debut!

Inside the room, the Emperor, who had been praised by Eunuch Hai as a rising star, was suffering greatly from the smoke bombs crafted by Feng Xiyao.

Mo Cangyan was already beginning to regret letting Feng Xiyao prepare the tea. Was he putting her to difficulty or himself?

After a long while, when Feng Xiyao had finished brewing the tea, the room was in disarray. The floor was littered with water stains, and on the table sat something that had been burned into charcoal.

Observing this, Mo Cangyan's veins bulged with frustration.

"Your Majesty, your concubine has prepared the tea. Please enjoy!" Feng Xiyao carried the tray with tea, her lips curling into a captivating smile as she gracefully approached Mo Cangyan.

Mo Cangyan was well aware of his empress's beauty, but usually, she exuded a composed and refined demeanor. This was the first time he saw her smile so effortlessly and delightfully.

Her laughter was enchanting, her eyes sparkling with mirth, and her exquisite face, a masterpiece of perfection, momentarily captivated him.

When she reached his side, her smile deepened. It seemed as if the tea in her hands was not just a simple beverage, but a deadly poison that brought her such joy, or else why would she be so ecstatic?

"Your Majesty, please have your tea!"

Mo Cangyan lowered his gaze to inspect the "tea" in her hand, about to take it, when Feng Xiyao "accidentally" trembled, splashing the entire cup onto him.

Faking surprise, Feng Xiyao rushed forward, pretending to help wipe it off.

"Is Your Majesty alright? I didn't mean to do it!"

"I didn't mean to, but I did mean to. You wanted to taste the tea I made, didn't you? Well, let it intoxicate you with beauty!"

Mo Cangyan said nothing, enduring in silence as she wiped herself clean.

Feng Xiyao continued wiping, but as she moved higher, her hand was suddenly seized in a firm grip by Mo Cangyan.

A man's cold voice, tinged with mockery, rang in her ears: "Has the Empress been feeling lonely?"

"..."

Feng Xiyao's face flushed crimson, and in Mo Cangyan's eyes, it seemed she was startled by what she had touched. He couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph.

"Dead woman, dare to say he couldn't do it? Now you know his power, don't you!"

He expected to witness Feng Xiyao's embarrassment, annoyance, or even fear. To his surprise, what he encountered was a look of utter vulnerability on her face.

"It's over. She was already struggling, and now with this upheaval, she must be completely drained. Look, she's speaking incoherently and acting erratically!"

This time, Mo Cangyan truly could endure no longer. Disregarding his personal disdain for this woman, he decisively flipped over and pinned her down, all to prove his capabilities to her.

"..."

Feng Xiyao's eyes widened in fear.

"The tyrant is planning to silence witnesses!"