Chapter 11: Joking Around Can Affect Marital Harmony

Chapter 11: Joking Around Can Affect Marital Harmony

Taking advantage of the situation, Little Bai kicked his short legs and broke free from the tyrant's grasp, swiftly vanishing out of sight.

Feng Xiyao, sitting atop Mo Cangyan, noticed something white dart away. As she regained her composure, she stared blankly at the tyrant beneath her.

Suddenly, Feng Xiyao felt a rigid object beneath her buttocks, which startled her.

"..."

Their eyes met, but neither spoke, and silence enveloped the surroundings.

"Get off me this instant!"

The tyrant's furious roar made Feng Xiyao immediately scramble up and retreat to a safe distance.

Mo Cangyan stood up, observing her with a face of disgust as if she had touched something impure. Veins popped on his forehead from anger.

What infuriated him the most was not being knocked down by Feng Xiyao, but the reaction he had towards her!!

At this thought, he furrowed his brows fiercely.

Noticing his "agonized" expression, Feng Xiyao cautiously poked her head out from behind the tree.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

While she spoke words of comfort, her thoughts were quite different.

"A man who can't perform can still rise, but only for a short while. With the Tyrant beneath me like that..."

Mo Cangyan's body swayed at her words, but fortunately, he had grown accustomed to her provocations lately; otherwise, this damned woman would have driven him to an early grave.

He consoled himself: don't get angry, don't get angry. If he killed her, he would lose his tool for foreseeing the future. He'd wait until she had revealed everything before torturing her properly.

After a long while, Mo Cangyan finally managed to swallow his anger and waved at Feng Xiyao.

"Come here."

"Come here!! Always these two words! Do you treat me like a dog?!"

Feng Xiyao reluctantly emerged from behind the tree.

Mo Cangyan laughed, though it was more out of frustration than amusement.

Dogs are adorable and amusing, wagging their tails at the mere sight of a bone, never harboring such ill feelings toward their masters.

Approaching him, Feng Xiyao kept her head down, avoiding his gaze.

Unperturbed, Mo Cangyan inquired of her, "The Empress is the mother of Great Xia, the empress of this realm. I trust that you would be willing to do anything for me, would you not?"

Feng Xiyao lifted her gaze, baffled by the tyrant's gaze. He was smiling at her, but it was a smile as poisonous as venom, sending shivers down her spine.

She couldn't bear to see this display, so she forced a smile. "Your Majesty, if you have something to say, just speak openly. There's no need to be so courteous with this minister. Even if it means scaling a mountain of blades or descending into a sea of fire..."

"The top-notch assassin will attempt to take my life tonight. No one in the palace can defeat him. Since the Empress is willing to go through such lengths for me, impersonate me tonight to lure him out!"

"F*ck, it's actually true!"

Seeing that the tyrant's expression was not one of jest, Feng Xiyao tried to shake her head in refusal. However, he didn't give her the chance, pinching her cheeks to stop her from declining.

"Was the Empress just now lying to Your Majesty?"

Feng Xiyao desperately wanted to say yes, but the tyrant didn't give her the chance to speak, continuing instead.

"Don't worry, Empress. Though that assassin is formidable and ruthless, killing without mercy, I'll save you. At worst, you might lose your head or be dismembered. But rest assured, I'll ensure you have a grand... "

Before he could finish, Feng Xiyao's legs gave way, collapsing to the ground as she clung to his leg, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, please no! This concubine still has elderly parents and young children to care for!"

For so many days, it had always been she who was left fuming. Seeing her finally frightened, Mo Cangyan was in an unusually good mood. The corners of his lips curled further as he pulled Feng Xiyao back to her feet.

"Empress, don't be afraid. His blade is swift; you won't feel any pain!"

Feng Xiyao shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum. "Your Majesty, please find someone else. This concubine believes the other sisters would be willing!"

Seeing that she had indeed been scared, Mo Cangyan decided not to tease her further.

"Empress, there's no need to take it so seriously. I was only joking!"

Feng Xiyao's impending tears were effectively held back by his words. She lifted her gaze, looking at the tyrant doubtfully, noticing the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"..."

She was so furious that she wanted to lash out at him with a string of insults. However, considering her current predicament, all she could manage to say was, "Your Majesty should refrain from such remarks in the future. They might strain our marital relations!"

Mo Cangyan crossed his arms and shook his head. "Although there were no assassins, I do have something that requires the Empress's assistance." He paused before continuing, "More accurately, I need you to convey a message to Prime Minister Feng!"

Feng Xiyao frowned. "My father?"

...

In the following days, the Emperor spent every night in Fengchun Palace, neglecting even his morning court sessions. This provoked jealousy and envy among the concubines, causing them to tear their handkerchiefs in frustration.

Consort Li, in particular, made several visits to the Empress Dowager, throwing tantrums and begging her to punish Feng Xiyao for bewitching the monarch.

Although the Empress Dowager was somewhat pleased that her son had finally grown up, Consort Li's constant weeping and wailing gave her a headache.

By the fifth day, she could no longer endure it and had no choice but to summon someone.

"Fetch the Empress," she commanded.

While everyone assumed the Empress was deeply favored, Feng Xiyao was in fact suffering every day.

The Tyrant spent his days in Fengchun Palace, having her grind ink for him as he dealt with state affairs, and his nights tossing and turning because of her presence, forcing her to sleep on the floor.

Unknown to all, the mighty Empress was sleeping later than a dog and waking up earlier than a rooster, making her college morning classes seem like a breeze in comparison.

In contrast, Mo Cangyan found himself unusually energetic here. He slept soundly at night, had an excellent appetite, and was so full of vitality that he felt like plowing two acres of land with a hoe.

He deliberately chose to stay here, knowing that after punishing several high-ranking officials, those affected by their fall would surely cause trouble. By giving them a few days to simmer down, he intended to remind them who the true emperor of Great Xia was.

The hard floor caused Feng Xiyao's back and waist to ache. Supporting herself on her waist, she stepped out of the room. The palace maids cleaning the courtyard, upon seeing her, covered their mouths and giggled discreetly.

It was clear what they were laughing at, causing Feng Xiyao's face to flush red. Fuming, she slammed the door shut.

At that moment, a mechanical voice echoed.

"Congratulations, Host's Life Force has increased by 15%."

Feng Xiyao's eyes widened in disbelief. In just a few days, her Life Force had actually risen so much!

Recalling how each boost was connected to the Tyrant, Feng Xiyao finally grasped the pattern.

"So the Tyrant really is the key to increasing my Life Force!"

Realizing this, she leaped up in excitement. As long as she understood the pattern behind her Life Force, she wouldn't have to worry about not advancing!

Gazing at the glowing treasure in her mind, her eyes sparkled. She only needed to reach 30% to unlock it. She hoped it would be filled with gold and silver treasures. That way, even if she wasn't the Empress when Great Xia fell, she wouldn't have to worry about starving!

Just as she was clapping her hands in anticipation, the door was knocked on. Assuming it was the Tyrant, she opened it and exclaimed,

"Your Majesty, you're finally back! This humble concubine..."

Upon realizing that the person approaching was a woman in her forties or fifties, she quickly withdrew her smile.

The old nanny despised women who brought calamity upon the nation and its people. Seeing Feng Xiyao's impatient demeanor, she shook her head in disdain.

"Your Majesty the Empress, this old servant has been sent by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. She orders you to proceed to Shoukang Palace immediately!"