The young emperor’s face was striking even when unsmiling, but now, with that deepening grin, he looked devastatingly handsome. Jiang Fuling was dazzled, nodding in a daze without realizing the trap in his words.
Wangan rose, circling the desk toward her.
“…Only, I never expected someone would throw herself forward to play the role of that ‘femme fatale.’ Saves me and the Grand Historian quite a bit of trouble.”
“What?”
Meeting his eyes at last, Jiang Fuling felt a chill race down her spine. The warmth she had imagined was nowhere to be found.
Her smile faltered. For the first time, she realized his feelings for her were nothing like what she’d dreamed.
Crushed beneath the weight of his presence, she shrank back, trembling, taking an unsteady step away.
“Y-Your Majesty… ah!”
Jiang Fuling’s eyes flew wide open—Emperor Wangan had gripped her throat and lifted her clear off the ground by her neck.
“Ugh… urk… Y-Your Majesty… spare… me…”
The emperor watched the terror in her eyes with a flicker of satisfaction.
It was the thrill of a hunter watching prey on the verge of death.
“What’s wrong, Lady Fuling? Didn’t you just tell me you were ‘willing’?”
His hand tightened.
“Or are you going back on your word?” he barked.
Jiang Fuling clawed frantically at his arm, but it was useless.
The air grew thinner, her vision dimmed, and her eyes rolled back.
Whizz!
At that instant, an arrow zipped past the emperor’s ear. He released her and twisted aside. Jiang Fuling collapsed to the floor, coughing violently as she clutched her neck.
“Who’s there?”
“Assassins! Protect His Majesty! Protect him!”
“After them! Alive or dead—I want them found!”
…
“This was all you recovered?” Emperor Wangan studied the arrow in his hand, his voice cold.
One of the shadow guards stepped forward and whispered in his ear.
The emperor’s gaze sharpened. “Are you certain?”
The guard nodded.
Wangan strode over and tossed the arrow at Jiang Fuling’s feet with a cold laugh. “I underestimated the Jiang family. You three sisters—your coordination is flawless.”
Still clutching her throat, coughing, Jiang Fuling had no idea what he meant.
As usual, Mingming brought in a bowl of medicine. She slipped quietly to the back window, ready to pour it out onto the unlucky money tree outside like she always did.
But when she pushed the window open, someone was standing right there.
She nearly screamed. Looking closer, she realized it was Emperor Wangan.
Mingming glanced at the medicine bowl in her hand, then at the row of dying money trees outside, and forced a nervous laugh. “Y-Your Majesty… why are you standing out here?”
“Relax. I’m not in the mood to deal with your little medicine scheme right now.”
“Ah? Oh, uh… then why not come inside?”
“No need. I’ll stay right here.”
…So it worked? Did Jiang Fuling actually succeed? He’s keeping his distance now, trying not to look compromised…
“I encountered an assassin in the council hall today,” the emperor said abruptly.
“What?” Mingming’s eyes swept over him. He looked intact—though she couldn’t be sure if anything was hidden beneath his robes. Carefully, she asked, “Your Majesty… are you unharmed?”
“Tell me, Lady Lan—do you truly wish me safe… or would you rather see me dead?”
She let out a dry laugh. “How could I ever wish such misfortune on Your Majesty? Hahaha…”
In her mind, she whispered to the system: What the hell did that idiot Jiang Fuling do? Wasn’t she supposed to confess her love? Don’t tell me she changed her mind and tried to assassinate him instead?!
Before the system could respond, Wangan suddenly reached out and clamped his hand around her throat.
Startled, Mingming dropped the bowl, shattering it.
The noise was loud, but no one came.
“Such effort you’ve gone to, Lady Lan,” the emperor said. He held her half out the window, thumb stroking lightly against her neck without fully choking her.
“Do you know what your dear sister told me today?”
“N-no… no, I don’t.”
He answered evenly: “She said I was a tyrant.”
???
“System? System?! What happened???”
“Major premise: Jiang Fuling sold you out on her third sentence. Minor premise: she called the emperor a tyrant. Conclusion: He’s furious.”
Mingming shivered head to toe.
The emperor’s grip tightened. “Since she claimed you advised her, I asked if that insult was also your teaching. She denied it. If it was your doing, I’d have executed your entire clan. If not, I would’ve spared you and killed only her. But now… it seems you had more schemes waiting.”
“You actually conspired together to assassinate me.”
Mingming’s face flushed red, breath coming short. Tears welled up, blurring her vision as she looked helplessly at him.
Something in the emperor’s expression shifted. He had felt nothing while choking Jiang Fuling, but looking at Jiang Zhelan’s flushed face and tear-brimmed eyes, a dark thrill stirred in him.
He drew a long breath, but instead of calming him, it only made his breathing harsher.
“Y-Your Majesty…” Mingming tried to beg, but as soon as she spoke, tears spilled like broken pearls, trailing down her cheeks and dripping onto his hand—scalding him.
Abruptly, he let go. Mingming slumped against the window frame, gasping for air, cursing Jiang Fuling to high heaven in her mind.
Buffs stacked or not, I never expected that idiot to sell me out on her third damn sentence! No way she’s the heroine—too stupid! And what’s this about an assassination? Whose mess am I covering now?!
Meanwhile, Emperor Wangan loomed over her, watching intently.
She kept her head bowed, chest heaving, face flushed, eyes brimming with tears. She raised her head slightly, gaze disoriented, meeting his by accident…
And just that glance made his heart jolt with unprecedented excitement.
He clenched his fists, shut his eyes, forcing the heat down. When he opened them again, his expression was cold, detached.
After staring at her for another long moment, he gave a low snort, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave.
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1