TFSRITA Chapter 5

When the time comes, the transmigrated girl will be in that house, building her fortune. Whether she can rekindle her past relationship with Song Yu will depend on fate.

What a shame—such a bold kick, and yet it didn’t provoke Ji Yecheng into killing me?

Yan Qing was somewhat frustrated and felt exhausted. As Ziyun applied the medicine, the warmth from it spread across the affected areas. Coupled with Ziyun’s excellent massage technique, Yan Qing quickly drifted off to sleep.

…

When Yan Qing woke up, her body no longer hurt. The ointment sent by the eunuch worked.

As she stirred slightly, the palace servants outside seemed to hear the movement, and Ziyun entered, lifting a corner of the crimson bed curtains. “Miss, would you like to get up?”

Yan Qing responded, “Yes.”

The curtains were pulled fully aside, and eight palace servants entered in single file, each holding different items, standing respectfully by the side. Two other servants, who appeared particularly skillful, approached to help her dress.

They attended to her every need with meticulous care.

Is this the indulgence that the corrupt imperial class of ancient times experienced?

Yan Qing sat expressionless as they dressed her, but she couldn’t help feeling a sense of awe inside.

Ziyun glanced at her lady cautiously, her face full of hesitation. Miss’s mood seemed a little off—should she mention what she discovered earlier?

But she didn’t dare. Ever since arriving at the palace, Miss had been different—quieter, even colder.

Ziyun held back her words, and Yan Qing didn’t notice. She was too busy thinking about how to provoke Ji Yecheng.

She had her breakfast in a side hall. There were about eight small dishes of various types, all exquisitely prepared. Just as she sat down, before she even settled in her seat, a eunuch’s voice called from outside the grand hall, “His Majesty arrives.”

Yan Qing barely had time to be surprised when a figure in black with gold embroidery appeared before her.

“Your Majesty,” the eunuch called out. At his arrival, everyone in the palace immediately knelt in fear, trembling and afraid of making a mistake that would lead to punishment.

Ji Yecheng lifted his head slightly, his cold eyes ignoring the kneeling servants, fixating instead on the woman who remained seated even after hearing of his arrival. His voice was icy: “Consort, why do you not bow?”

Ziyun was shocked, turning to see her mistress calmly sitting there without bowing. When had Miss become so bold?

Anxious and panicked, Ziyun dared not speak, but tugged on her sleeve, urging her to kneel quickly. The emperor had already executed dozens of palace servants and eunuchs recently, and even some concubines had been beheaded for offending him!

Sweating nervously, Ziyun tugged at Yan Qing’s sleeve, but her mistress slowly raised her hand, pulling the fabric out of Ziyun’s grasp. With a calm demeanor, Yan Qing replied, “I don’t feel like bowing.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, a tone Ziyun had always admired, but now it terrified her. She stammered, “Y-Your Majesty… Miss… she’s injured and unable to move easily!”

Ziyun’s voice wavered but gained confidence toward the end, feeling reassured by the fact that her mistress usually had a timid nature.

However, the cold aura from the emperor grew even more intense. Ziyun didn’t dare raise her head, her heart sinking, as she awaited the emperor’s wrath.

Unbeknownst to her, Yan Qing was leisurely sipping a bowl of congee.

Her upbringing had ingrained in her impeccable manners; even as she ate, there was no sound of the spoon hitting the bowl.

The congee was bland, and since she had just woken up and wasn’t very hungry, Yan Qing only ate a few bites to stimulate her appetite before setting the bowl down and reaching for something else.

Her blatant disregard seemed to infuriate the emperor, who had been observing her. Ji Yecheng quickly strode forward and grabbed her chin, his voice cold and menacing. “Are you courting death?”

Since becoming emperor, no one had ever dared act so brazenly before him.

Though his face was grim, inwardly, Ji Yecheng found the situation somewhat amusing.

Yan Qing smiled faintly, her delicate face adorned with light makeup, making her look even more stunning. She boldly nodded, “Yes, I am courting death.”

Her words were straightforward, and for a moment, a flash of murderous intent appeared in Ji Yecheng’s cold eyes.

Oddly enough, this only made Yan Qing feel more at ease.

However, Ji Yecheng didn’t act as she expected. Instead, he tightened his grip on her chin, causing her pain. Frowning, Yan Qing swatted his hand away and said, “That hurts. Don’t touch me.”

Ji Yecheng almost laughed in disbelief. Retracting his hand, he was about to lose his temper when something crossed his mind, causing him to suppress his anger. Taking two steps back, he sat across from her and ordered, “Serve the meal.”

The eunuch, Jiang Wende, who had been sweating bullets behind him, quickly responded, “Yes, Your Majesty,” and hurried out.

The emperor’s meals were naturally different. He had twelve dishes per meal, the empress ten, and the consort eight—such was the custom. Moreover, they couldn’t allow the emperor to eat cold food, or their heads would roll. Jiang Wende had to rush to request new dishes.

Ji Yecheng slowly took his seat, adjusting his sleeves, his regal bearing apparent. If not for his brooding, dark demeanor, he would’ve been a strikingly handsome man.

But wasn’t he being… too calm?

Yan Qing blinked and stared at him suspiciously. Could it be that, like her, his soul had been swapped?

“What are you looking at?”

Yan Qing replied honestly, “Your Majesty has quite a temper.”

A chuckle escaped Ji Yecheng. He sipped the tea brought by a palace maid, the hot drink slightly easing his earlier irritation. Glancing at the servants still kneeling, he said, “You may rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” the servants said as they got up, trembling with lingering fear, each returning to their assigned posts. Only the palace maid who had served Ji Yecheng his tea remained, casting shy, coquettish glances at him.

But after only a couple of glances, Ji Yecheng said, “Take her away.”