TFSRITA Chapter 61

Ji Yecheng listened, then spoke in a deep voice, “Zhou He is the one I chose to spoil, and the favor comes from me alone. She has never asked for it!”

He believed in taking full responsibility for his actions. Ji Yecheng never thought Yan Qing had held him back;, without her, he might have been even more reckless. It was because of her presence that he had reined in his temperament. Ever since Yan Qing entered the palace, didn’t they notice? The death toll had decreased.

Unless they caught him on a really bad day, how could anyone live so carefree? Even the prime minister had fallen ill from the torment he endured before.

However, the ministers didn’t see it that way. Some of them were too rigid and believed it was all a woman’s fault. They opposed women’s involvement in politics, yet when the court fell apart, they placed the blame squarely on women.

With strained necks, they argued, “If not for the noble consort, how could things have escalated like this? While she may not have done wrong, her very existence is a mistake!”

“Oh?” Ji Yecheng sneered coldly. “I think your existence is a mistake too! Someone, drag him out and beat him until I’m satisfied!”

“Your Majesty, you’ve been bewitched by that enchantress! The ancestors were right; an evil consort will destroy the nation!” Another minister stepped forward.

Soon after, everyone in the court—except a few who clung to neutrality—knelt, including the prime minister.

The ministers were in disbelief: “??!!”

The prime minister had lost his mind?

Ji Yecheng’s eyes twitched when he saw Prime Minister Yan kneeling. He roared, “Fine, if you’re all going to pressure me like this, then stay kneeling!”

It wasn’t the first time he’d tormented these officials. When he ascended the throne and they deemed him cruel, the scene played out the same way.

Ji Yecheng found it all amusing. He gave them one indifferent glance, flicked his sleeve, and left.

If Ji Yecheng could be threatened, he wouldn’t have become emperor in the first place!

…

The eunuchs dared not lay hands on the ministers, who stayed kneeling, refusing to leave.

Some ministers even wanted to bash their heads against the pillars to show their resolve, but Prime Minister Yan stopped them. Protesting was one thing, but he didn’t want deaths to be blamed on his daughter.

After all, as prime minister, he had done many good deeds, and the ministers still listened to him.

Thus, a familiar scene unfolded in the court again. Imperial physicians stood by with supplies, waiting to treat anyone who faltered, ensuring the ministers couldn’t even pass out if they tried.

While this struggle continued in the court…

Ji Yecheng stormed back to the harem, heading straight for Lingyun Palace.

Inside Lingyun Palace…

Yan Qing was listening to a young palace maid tell a story. The girl’s sweet and lively voice was pleasant, and Yan Qing, eyes half-closed, was almost dozing off with her hands resting on her belly.

Granny Qian stood at the door, looking worried.

Seeing Zhuyin, who was standing guard with her, Granny Qian asked, “Aren’t you worried? This has spread through both the front court and the harem.”

Zhuyin shook her head. “As long as the lady’s life is safe, I’m not worried.”

With the prime minister around, as long as there was no rebellion, he would make sure nothing happened to Yan Qing. That much, Zhuyin was confident of.

Of course, she didn’t know that her lady did indeed want to rebel.

Yan Qing remained calm. Let them make a fuss; after all, no one had said they wanted to kill her yet. They only wanted to banish her, and that was fine. Once she was out, she could properly study the classics and become a woman no less capable than any man, a loyal minister assisting the new emperor!

With a loud “bang,” Ji Yecheng kicked open the door and stormed in.

The palace maid froze in fear and dared not speak again.

“Leave,” Yan Qing waved her hand.

The palace maid, feeling as if she had been pardoned, fled so quickly that she even forgot to bow to the emperor.

Ji Yecheng didn’t notice her at all. His gaze locked onto Yan Qing’s serene, flawless face. Seeing no trace of worry or resentment in her expression, he suddenly felt something stuck in his throat, and his voice faltered.

Yan Qing stood up and tidied her clothes before asking, “Is there something you need?”

It must be about the “enchantress,” right?

It sure felt like a scene from a drama where Yang Guifei was about to be executed.

Could it be that the winds had changed outside?

Was her father, the prime minister, no longer of use?

Was she about to be killed?

A string of questions flooded her mind, making her quite nervous.

Yan Qing instinctively touched her neck. The shadow of past fears lingered, and she was afraid of the pain before death. She didn’t want to die, not anymore. She bit her lip, looking at him with a hint of pleading in her eyes. “Don’t kill me. I don’t want to die anymore.”

Ji Yecheng’s mind buzzed. It felt like a hammer had struck his heart. His voice, hoarse and determined, was rougher than hers, despite her throat injury. “I won’t kill you! I never will! You will live—always!”

Yan Qing’s eyes lit up instantly. As long as she wouldn’t die, everything was fine. She smiled, “Good, so when will you send me out of the palace?”

Hearing her soft voice, Ji Yecheng felt as if his moment of vulnerability had been for nothing. The emotions that had stirred him turned into sharp blades stabbing at his heart. The pain left his face pale, but he stubbornly held on. With each beat of his heart, the ache deepened, seeping into his bones.

So, after everything he had done, this woman didn’t care at all. She only wanted to escape him!

Was it for Song Yu?

Ji Yecheng wasn’t sure, but something told him, yes! This woman only loved Song Yu. In the face of life and death, only Song Yu could give her hope to live again.

Now she saw a chance to reunite with him.

But that would never happen!

Ji Yecheng leaned in slightly, his lips near her ear, his voice low and filled with rage, each word laced with venom. “No, you’re not leaving. You belong to me. You always will.”

He moved even closer, his hot breath practically scalding her ear. His once-darkened face was now clouded with violence, and his raspy voice had taken on a sinister edge. “As long as I live, you won’t die. And when I die, you’ll still never escape.”