TFSRITA Chapter 10

“Mm.” The young, ruthless emperor narrowed his eyes and nodded slowly as if he didn’t care at all. However, the fingers resting on his knee lightly tapped.

The imperial physician finished writing the prescription, and Qingshan took it from him willingly.

After giving a few more instructions, the physician excused himself.

In an instant, the pavilion fell silent again.

…

Although there were many people around, not a single one dared to make a sound, except for Yan Qing, who lay groggily in the rocking chair, occasionally frowning and letting out soft groans.

Ji Yechen, hearing the sound, slowly opened his eyes and observed the person in the rocking chair. Her pale, delicate face looked almost ghostly white. The bruises on her neck were still clearly visible, and her light pink palace dress exposed her slender neck and beautiful collarbones. Seeing her like this, she looked so fragile, as if a slight squeeze could break her.

Ji Yechen recalled the sensation from earlier. He had almost twisted that fragile neck when he touched her. Why had he stopped?

Perhaps it was because she offered no resistance in his hands, as fragile as a clay doll, ready to shatter at the slightest touch. It unconsciously made him hold back his strength.

His gaze dropped slightly, noticing the two peonies clutched in her hand. The stems were crushed, and green sap stained her fair, delicate fingers.

Ji Yechen bent down slightly and took the peonies from her, playing with them in his hand.

“Not a bad choice,” Ji Yechen muttered softly.

These two flowers were the most beautiful ones blooming in the entire garden.

“Bring a vase.”

“Yes,” came the prompt reply as Jiang Wende hurried to fetch it.

Before long, he returned with a slender vase, white with a delicate blue pattern. The vase looked elegant, with a fine gloss, and he was panting heavily from running, eager to present the best porcelain available.

After all, it was the emperor’s request; he couldn’t just grab something mediocre.

Ji Yechen casually placed the flowers in the vase. Though his movements appeared careless, Jiang Wende held the vase steadily, not daring to relax.

Yan Qing, now feeling somewhat better, propped herself up slightly, scanned her surroundings, and shot a hateful glare at Ji Yechen. She stood up, intending to leave.

But there were too many palace attendants around, all of them loyal to Ji Yechen. Naturally, they wouldn’t move without the emperor’s command.

Blocked once again, Yan Qing grew even angrier. She instinctively wanted to speak, but a sharp pain in her throat stopped her. As soon as she uttered a syllable, the agony silenced her, the hoarseness evident in the sound she hadn’t fully spoken.

Damn it, this is infuriating.

She hadn’t died, but she’d suffered so much.

For a moment, Yan Qing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had survived yet another encounter with this emperor, who killed as easily as drinking water.

But this man in front of her, who had tried to harm her several times, always hurt her quite a bit. After her desire to die had failed, she thought about fighting back. Yet the gap in their strength reminded her that some things were best left as just thoughts.

The pain in her throat made Yan Qing both fearful and resentful of Ji Yechen. She had to find a way. Even if she couldn’t kill him, she had to get revenge!

Her round eyes, now even wider with rage, looked sharp and fierce. But her angry little mouth took away any real menace from her appearance.

Ji Yechen waved his hand. “Let the consort leave.”

“Yes,” the eunuch replied, immediately stepping aside.

Yan Qing grew even angrier at the way Ji Yechen gave orders and, with a huff, knocked over a fruit plate on the table before stomping away.

With a crash, the fruit plate hit the ground, and the emperor’s beloved purple grapes scattered everywhere. Ice cubes rolled across the floor, several even landing at Ji Yechen’s feet.

Jiang Wende’s heart skipped a beat, and his face twitched slightly.

Even though he had witnessed how the consort treated the emperor before, he still couldn’t get used to it.

If the ministers in the court saw this, they would’ve had her executed long ago. Being the prime minister’s daughter wouldn’t save her.

But… this emperor…

Ji Yechen’s eyes flickered as he looked out at the vibrant, colorful garden. He said calmly, “Have some peonies transplanted. Get the best ones.”

Where to transplant them? There was no need for the emperor to specify.

Jiang Wende mentally sighed, realizing the emperor had a taste for this kind of beauty. He quickly agreed and cautiously asked, “And the vase…?”

“Leave it in the Tai Chi Palace.”

“Understood!”

Silence returned once more.

After a while, a slightly puzzled and uncertain voice broke the quiet. “I… seem to favor her a lot, don’t I?”

As a loyal supporter of the emperor, Jiang Wende immediately nodded with confidence. “Of course! Very much so.”

After all, in the entire palace, no one else had been treated like this by the emperor. She could be considered the one and only. How could that not be in favor?

Ji Yechen seemed satisfied and leaned back, half-closing his eyes to enjoy the moment.

He wondered what it would be like when Song Yu returned.

That old man was always worried the Song family would threaten his throne. Well, he would let him see for himself, and maybe even see how the lovesick young master of the Song family was faring in matters of the heart.

What had just transpired in the imperial garden didn’t escape the notice of the palace maids and eunuchs, especially the conspicuous bruises on Consort Yan’s neck as she left. It wasn’t long before the once quiet harem began buzzing with gossip.

In the Yongxiang Palace of Consort Xian—

“Did the emperor almost strangle her to death?” Consort Xian asked in disbelief, her face full of shock as she looked at the palace servant reporting the news. “She’s the prime minister’s daughter.”

“My lady,” the servant said sympathetically, “even as the prime minister’s daughter, she offended the emperor. Not killing her outright was already giving him face.”

Consort Xian bit her lip, her delicate face showing some regret. In a low voice, she murmured, “Why didn’t she… just die?”