TFSRITA Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“Ah!” Yan Qing let out a low cry as her body slammed into the ground, causing her to scream in pain.

After the sensation of weightlessness, a sharp pain shot through her ass and abdomen, and she lay on the floor, the most excruciating pain coming from the foot that the villain had grabbed. It felt as though her bones had cracked, and the pain caused cold sweat to pour from her body.

Yan Qing gasped repeatedly, hugging herself and breathing heavily, the cold sweat dripping onto the dark floor beneath her.

It hurts so much, damn it!

Weren’t they supposed to give her an easy task to practice for the first world, with the simplest mission?

She’d been tricked!

Suddenly, a pair of black boots appeared before her eyes. The boots, embroidered with golden dragons and phoenixes, exuded a sense of nobility. As her gaze moved upward, she saw a black robe, the hem was also edged with gold thread, marking the wearer’s extraordinary status.

In this ancient world, only the emperor could afford to dress like this.

Yan Qing couldn’t see any further up. Her entire body was burning with pain, and her head, having struck the floor earlier, was now dizzy. She didn’t dare move.

But the man slowly crouched down, appearing in her line of sight. He extended a long, pale hand, gently resting his fingers under her chin. With a slight force, he lifted her chin, making that spot ache sharply. The pain cleared Yan Qing’s mind, and she saw the man’s lips curl into a cold smile. “Well done, woman. You’ve successfully caught my attention.”

Yan Qing: “Huh???”

This reaction wasn’t right!

Wasn’t he supposed to be a cruel, violent, and cold-hearted villain?

She had just kicked him in the face! Why was he not retaliating?

Ji Yechen paid her no further attention. He quickly stood up and walked out at a brisk pace, feeling utterly repulsed. This woman dared to plant her foot on his face, making his smile even more sinister, his presence radiating coldness.

…

Outside Lingyun Hall, the palace eunuch Jiang Wende was yawning in boredom. The emperor had not yet established an empress but had directly issued an imperial decree to bring the prime minister’s daughter, Yan Qing, into the palace with the status of a noble consort. It was clear she was likely the future empress and the emperor must have special feelings for her. It would probably be a long time before he emerged.

Who knows, after today, the future crown prince might even be on the way.

The Ji Dynasty had always had a sparse lineage. Apart from the current emperor’s generation, where the previous emperor had been somewhat more indulgent, resulting in more complications, the Ji Dynasty had only ever had one heir per generation.

This emperor, whom he had served for two months, had never shown interest in any woman before. This prime minister’s daughter was truly the only person to evoke some special feeling in him. Jiang Wende was just thinking this when he caught a glimpse of a black and gold figure appearing, making him instantly alert. He cautiously followed, “Your Majesty.”

But as soon as he got closer, Jiang Wende was so frightened that he shivered.

Ji Yechen’s face was even colder, but he said, “Bring me the Jinyu Balm.”

“…Yes.” As the chief eunuch by the new emperor’s side, Jiang Wende immediately responded, though his mouth opened slightly in surprise, almost failing to keep up with the emperor’s pace.

Jinyu Balm was priceless, only crafted by Master Lu, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. It was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and made from the best ingredients. In the entire Great Qian, only the emperor could use it. And now he was sending it to the one inside Lingyun Hall?

But the emperor had come out with a dark face?

Jiang Wende couldn’t figure it out, guessing the person inside must be exceptionally skilled.

In any case, he didn’t dare ask the emperor about it.

Another thing—wasn’t the emperor in there for too short a time?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Jiang Wende shuddered and immediately dismissed the idle speculation.

…

When the Jinyu Balm was delivered, Yan Qing was eating. Even though her entire body was in pain and she didn’t feel like eating, the newly bound living system forced her to eat, threatening punishment if she didn’t comply, which would only result in more pain. She had no choice but to endure it.

She was supposed to provoke the villain, and she could only let him kill her—she couldn’t die on her own. In this ancient world, even members of the royal family could easily die from a simple cold flu, so she had to keep her body in good condition.

This contradictory situation made Yan Qing frown as she ate.

The young maid, Ziyun, with red-rimmed eyes, was placing food on her plate, her voice filled with guilt, “Miss, they wouldn’t let me out, so I couldn’t call the Imperial Physician. It’s all my fault…”

She felt utterly useless, unable to fetch the doctor even when her mistress was injured. It was a miserable situation.

As the prime minister’s daughter, her mistress had never suffered such injuries before.

Yan Qing kept a flat expression, not wanting to speak. The back of her head, where it had struck the floor, was swollen and red, and her chin, where the emperor had touched, was bruised. On her fair skin, the marks were glaring, making even opening her mouth to eat painful.

However, the food in the palace was quite delicious. For instance, the piece of lean meat she had just bitten into was tender and flavorful, a true delight that slightly lifted her spirits.

At that moment, the voice of a eunuch at the hall’s entrance announced, “Your Ladyship, Eunuch Jiang is here.”

Jiang Wende?

The chief eunuch at Ji Yechen’s side?

She nodded, “Let him in.”

What should have been a soft and gentle voice was now hoarse, making the maid beside her even more concerned.

“Your Ladyship,” Jiang Wende bowed as he entered, holding his whisk, while his other hand offered a small golden gourd-shaped bottle, his expression respectful. “This is the Jinyu Balm sent by His Majesty. It’s extremely effective for treating external injuries.”

After speaking, he glanced at her face, his eyes narrowing when he saw the bruise on her chin, before he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look any longer.

Ziyun took the Jinyu Balm, her anger easing slightly, though her eyes were still red. “My lady, shall we apply it now?”

Yan Qing shook her head slowly, “Thank you, Eunuch Jiang.”

Jiang Wende bowed even lower, “Your Ladyship.” After a pause, he said, “I shall return to His Majesty’s side now.”