TFSRITA Chapter 57

She knew that Ji Yecheng wouldn’t harm her, so she decided to threaten him with her own body.

After she spoke, Ji Yecheng indeed stood there stiffly, his back turned to her, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, making a creaking sound that made one’s teeth ache.

Zhu Yin watched him warily, afraid he might turn and attack her lady.

But Ji Yecheng didn’t move.

He stood there for quite a while before darkening his face and gritting his teeth, saying, “Am I not standing still?”

Yan Qing replied, “That’s right!”

Ji Yecheng: “…”

If he weren’t a big man, he would feel like crying out of anger.

Was there anything more tragic than this?

He was her husband, so why did it feel like he was her lover instead?

Ji Yecheng took several deep breaths to stabilize his impending rage before turning to look at Yan Qing.

Seeing her still standing by the window, he growled fiercely, “Come here!”

His shout startled everyone in the cramped room, and seeing his bloodshot eyes, Yan Qing felt a bit scared; it was too frightening.

After hesitating for two seconds, she took a couple of steps forward.

Ji Yecheng angrily grasped her shoulders, gritting his teeth, “Remember, I am your husband! You will be buried as my woman, even in death!”

Yan Qing blinked, looking up at him sincerely, “I am a concubine; you can’t call yourself my husband.”

In ancient times, concubines were essentially traded; not everyone dared to claim they were a couple with the emperor. One wrong move could lead to accusations of coveting the position of the empress or acting against the hierarchy.

Ji Yecheng was momentarily taken aback as if he suddenly understood something. His anger lessened, and he released her, turning to say, “Return to the palace.”

“Yes,” Jiang Wende said, shaking his feather duster as he respectfully bowed toward Yan Qing, “Your Highness, shall we go back?”

Yan Qing felt a bit regretful about not being able to stay for a couple more days, but since her purpose for leaving the palace was accomplished, she followed him back.

However, she didn’t ride in the same carriage as Ji Yecheng, which made her feel somewhat relieved.

She initially thought they would share a carriage, and Jiang Wende thought so too, leading her to the front carriage.

But as soon as he lifted the curtain, he heard Ji Yecheng’s cold voice inside saying, “Get lost! I’m afraid I might kill you!”

At those words, Jiang Wende promptly lowered the curtain and smiled apologetically, “Your Highness, how about we sit in the back carriage instead?”

“Mm,” Yan Qing nodded, easy to please.

She didn’t feel angered by that remark at all because she thought Ji Yecheng, this madman, was speaking the truth; he might lose control and kill someone.

Besides, riding alone in a carriage was much more comfortable.

Once she got into the carriage, a smile curved on Yan Qing’s lips, reflecting her good mood.

Jiang Wende, having just lowered the curtain, caught sight of this scene and wore a complex expression, feeling a bit sour for his emperor.

Indeed, the Empress was colder than the Emperor himself.

He thought about how the Emperor often lost his temper for her sake but always managed to hold it back. No one else had ever received such treatment. Besides, no one dared to provoke the Emperor, yet she had hit him so many times and still survived, even enjoying a favored status in the harem.

Moreover, which noblewoman could return to her family home for a couple of days after entering the palace?

Which lady could make her master worry so much, secretly sneaking out of the palace to peek over the wall just to catch a glimpse of her?

Jiang Wende suddenly felt it was unfair for his emperor.

But if he were to say this to Yan Qing, she would probably scoff.

She dared not fall in love with a man like Ji Yecheng; her vendetta was not yet settled! Furthermore, they were destined to confront each other as enemies in the future. If she became emotionally attached, it would only complicate things.

That day when they returned to the palace, Ji Yecheng went directly to the Tai Chi Hall and summoned several instructors to vent his frustrations. He was filled with rage; although Yan Qing’s words had diminished it somewhat, he was still brimming with anger, wanting to rush out and kill anyone who dared to seduce Yan Qing!

The impulse made his head pound, filled with a violent urge he couldn’t release. He only thought of this method to dissipate his excess energy.

He was certain that if he killed Song Yu, Yan Qing would harm herself in front of him.

For the first time in his life, Ji Yecheng felt a profound and oppressive pain.

Even during the years he was bullied by the entire palace, he didn’t care. He simply focused on building up strength for revenge.

But now, his mind was in disarray; he couldn’t think of being calm or accumulating power. All he wanted was to kill!

Yet the person he wanted to kill was untouchable.

“Bang—” Just as he was about to strike Ji Yecheng, Coach Lin changed the direction of his sword, hitting Ji Yecheng in the chest with the hilt while deliberately avoiding a lethal spot. He then said seriously, “Your Majesty, you seem distracted today.”

Ji Yecheng had quite a talent for martial arts, and Coach Lin, despite being skilled himself, was straightforward. Having faced repeated setbacks in the officialdom, he felt a fondness for Ji Yecheng when he first met him as a prince and began teaching him martial arts. He had been teaching for over a decade, and he was the only one who dared to speak the truth and hurt Ji Yecheng.

Right now, while others wouldn’t dare to truly touch the emperor, Coach Lin didn’t hold back, even if his strikes were restrained.

Noticing Ji Yecheng’s abnormal behavior, Coach Lin was the first to point it out seriously.

Ji Yecheng calmly nodded, his face expressionless, “Let’s continue.”

The physical pain just now made him forget some of the discomfort in his heart.

Coach Lin frowned, but when he saw Ji Yecheng attacking again, he took the blows seriously, knowing he was distracted but still not going easy on him. Every strike landed hard enough that Ji Yecheng’s face changed in pain, yet he gritted his teeth and persisted.

In just half a day, his body was covered in bruises.

The medicinal ointment had run out, and the old doctor arrived to apply more ointment and massage him.

Another round of soreness hit him hard. Ji Yecheng bit his lip to endure, and by the time the massage ended, blood from his lips had stained half of the pillow.

The old doctor, just immersed in his massage techniques, suddenly looked at Ji Yecheng and was startled, exclaiming, “Your Majesty, what are you doing? If it hurts, just say so! I’ll be gentler!”