TFSRITA Chapter 67

Zhuyin couldn’t afford to fail; she was a crucial part of completing the mission.

Her movements halted, and though she glanced at them reluctantly, she withdrew her strength, clenched her fists, and turned to leave.

Ji Yecheng’s lips curved slightly, a hint of amusement in his voice. “You’re quite clever.”

If that palace maid had made a move, he wouldn’t have spared her. As an emperor, how could he not have people protecting him? Fortunately, Yan Qing stopped her.

Looking at the bed in front of him, Ji Yecheng raised an eyebrow. This woman wasn’t as foolish as she seemed—she truly was a match for him.

Author’s Note: This isn’t torturing the heroine, right? Just a little love from the domineering and slightly crazy emperor~ Haha…

Ji Yecheng didn’t touch Yan Qing.

He simply lay in bed, and before long, the steady sound of his breathing filled the room.

Yan Qing, expressionless, turned her head and saw that his eyes were closed. Only then did she notice how long his eyelashes were, though they didn’t curl. They were especially noticeable when he closed his eyes. His eyes had a slight upward tilt at the corners, his brows furrowed slightly, and his brows were well-shaped. His forehead was full, and beneath his high nose were tightly pressed thin lips, giving him the appearance of someone burdened with many thoughts. Even lying down, his face looked much leaner than when she first met him.

A wave of heat emanated from him, and Yan Qing awkwardly tried to move her legs.

However, he had hit a pressure point somewhere, leaving her legs weak and powerless. She could only lie there, unable to move.

Sighing inwardly, Yan Qing looked up at the elegant canopy above her and slowly closed her eyes.

She calmed her heart.

There was no need to get angry. She couldn’t fight back anyway, so she might as well focus on training her martial arts in the future.

Or rather, she should continue causing trouble.

Surely, the ministers of the Great Qian dynasty wouldn’t tolerate a troublesome and useless imperial consort like her for much longer.

With that optimistic thought, Yan Qing felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her and slowly drifted to sleep.

Her breathing became more even, and beside her, the man suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze dark and stormy, as though he was suppressing a tempest within.

As if sensing his gaze, the sleeping Yan Qing frowned uneasily, her head shifting slightly.

Ji Yecheng’s breath hitched, but he quickly closed his eyes again. His upper body shifted as he leaned over, gently brushing his cheek against hers.

It was just a brief touch, and he quickly retreated to his position, not moving again.

His eyes remained closed, though a faint flush appeared on his cheeks.

Yan Qing’s face itched, and in her sleep, she instinctively rubbed her cheek against the nearby fabric.

The soft cloth didn’t hurt her; instead, it soothed the itch on her face.

She fell back into a deep sleep.

The man beside her also breathed more steadily.

These past few days had exhausted him—so much so that he didn’t even feel like talking.

After all, he still disliked the battles of wits and power struggles with the ministers. But the person beside him needed his protection, and for that, he was willing.

Ji Yecheng’s lips twitched slightly, his frown gradually easing as his expression became more relaxed.

Having someone to protect filled his heart with a warmth that dispelled the emptiness. The world didn’t seem so dull anymore.

Three days later, Empress Dowager Jiang was sent to a secluded nunnery reserved for royal consorts.

This place had been used by previous emperors to house the childless consorts of the late emperor. Though they were technically the emperor’s legal mothers, in practice, they had no real power. The accommodations were modest, and the attendants were average. They lived a simple life of vegetarian meals and Buddhist rituals, which made it a painful prospect for Empress Dowager Jiang.

Before her departure, she handed over the phoenix seal to Yan Qing.

However, Yan Qing immediately returned it to the Tai Ji Hall.

Managing the harem was too troublesome; she had no interest in it.

The concubines, upon seeing this, were filled with hope, each secretly wishing they’d be chosen by the emperor to manage the harem. But none of them were selected. Ji Yecheng, noticing Yan Qing’s lack of interest, didn’t give the seal to anyone else. Instead, he temporarily assigned Jiang Wende to oversee the harem.

“Your Majesty, the Consort is still young. She may not yet realize the importance of the phoenix seal, but in a few years, she surely will.” Jiang Wende, holding the box containing the seal, cautiously tried to please the emperor.

“I know.” Ji Yecheng remained calm as he looked at the returned seal, a trace of indulgence in his eyes. Shaking his head, he said, “Send the finest rice from Mizhen to the Noble Consort. Let her enjoy herself for a little while longer.”

Once she became empress, she wouldn’t have a choice but to accept the seal.

Ji Yecheng’s gaze darkened as he recalled his impulsive actions that day. If it weren’t for his plan to consummate their marriage on their wedding night, he wouldn’t have let her off so easily.

Thinking about it now, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of regret.

Jiang Wende quickly nodded. “Yes, yes! And regarding the emperor’s supply of Mizhen rice…”

The emperor’s mood had improved noticeably in recent days, as he didn’t seem upset by anything. Mizhen rice, known for its delicate flavor and rarity, was reserved exclusively for the emperor. Some imperial consorts had been lucky enough to taste it only when the emperor gifted them a small portion, and even then, only on special occasions.

Mizhen rice was notoriously difficult to cultivate, but it wasn’t just its flavor that made it special; it also left a pleasant fragrance in the mouth long after eating.

Ji Yecheng had saved some of his supply for Yan Qing.

Of course, Yan Qing was unaware of all this. She only noticed that her rice seemed to have improved in quality, but no one mentioned it. The meals were so delicious that she started eating an extra half bowl each time, and her face became fuller as a result.

Every time she looked in the mirror, she couldn’t help but admire how cute and youthful she looked. After all, she was only seventeen years old—still a minor by modern standards.

With the fall of Empress Dowager Jiang, the imperial harem seemed to quiet down, becoming far more peaceful than one would expect of a royal palace.