The gauze was lifted, revealing a face covered in bruises. The handsome features of before were gone, the sight unbearable.
His eyes were tightly closed, utterly still. Yun Xiao reached out a hand to feel him, then let out a sigh of relief. The man had fainted, or perhaps drunk himself to sleep.
Looking at his current face, her mood brightened. She had intentionally struck his face, eager to see how he would explain his bruised countenance tomorrow.
Her blows hadn't been heavy, just enough to make a point. Had she used her full strength, the man would likely have been dead already.
Now, she needed to think about how to cover this up. As the thought crossed her mind, Yun Xiao decisively tousled her own dark hair, tearing some of her clothes as well. She then sat down on the ground. With everything prepared, she let out a startling howl.
In the darkness of the night, the sound was like a thunderclap.
The eunuchs and maids outside the sleeping chambers were all terrified. Wanwan, standing at the forefront, immediately cried out in alarm.
"Heavens, could something have happened?"
She took the first step and rushed in, followed by a group of eunuchs and maids who exchanged glances before hurrying after Wanwan.
Inside the vast sleeping chambers, the Emperor lay on the ground, his face a horrific sight. The Empress, meanwhile, was crying and pulling at her clothes.
The onlookers' first impression led them to a quick conclusion: the Emperor had attempted to force himself upon the Empress, and she had struck him.
Good heavens, what a mess this was! With countless beauties in the harem, how could the Emperor have taken a liking to a fool and attempted such an act? Everyone pitied the Emperor, but also felt a slight disdain in their hearts. He wouldn't let even a fool go. Such a master was truly difficult to comprehend.
Shangguan Yao's personal eunuch, Xiao Tingzi, rushed to the Emperor's side, anxiously supporting him.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Your Majesty?"
Meanwhile, Wanwan rushed to Yun Xiao's side, weeping loudly. "Your Ladyship, what's wrong? Have you been violated by His Majesty? Oh, my poor Ladyship, why are you so ill-fated?
You were already foolish, and now you've encountered such a thing! Is it easy for you to live? Your Ladyship, please don't despair."
In the empty sleeping chambers, everyone felt a chill run down their spines. This maidservant was truly capable of wailing, her cries making everyone's hair stand on end and goosebumps erupt.
Even Yun Xiao forgot to play along, blinking her eyes. This girl was truly a gifted actress, her performance astonishing and soul-stirring. If she had lived in the twenty-first century, she would undoubtedly be a popular celebrity…
Shangguan Yao was taken back to Jingfu Palace by the eunuchs for medical attention. Here,
Yun Xiao calmly rose, elegantly adjusting her attire, and leisurely looked at the maidservant still kneeling on the ground. "Wanwan, I've discovered you're truly skilled at acting."
She then chuckled. On the other side of the sleeping chambers, Xiuxiu and Xiao He had faces as pale as paper. Xiao Yuan and Xiao Zhao weren't much better. These few were not on duty, but the commotion in the sleeping chambers had alerted them, and they had come to see.
The Empress had actually struck the Emperor! Their hearts leaped into their throats. Although the Empress was currently foolish, if the truth of her not being foolish were to spread, none of them would likely survive.
"Your Ladyship," a trembling voice, exceptionally despairing in the night…
Wanwan, however, was different from them. She leaped up from the ground, smiling happily. "It is my duty to satisfy Your Ladyship."
As soon as she spoke, there were two thuds behind her. Xiuxiu and Xiao He fainted on the spot, overcome by Wanwan's words.
Yun Xiao waved her hand, signaling Xiao Yuan and Xiao Zhao. "Take these two women away. They are truly timid."
Xiao Yuan and Xiao Zhao were speechless. It wasn't that others were timid; it was that their actions were too bizarre. With one foolish Empress already enough to cause a stir, now there was another, Wanwan.
Xiao Yuan and Xiao Zhao truly wished they could pack this woman away and send her off. The harem would likely never be peaceful again. However, they dared not utter a word. Each supporting a maidservant, they carried the two women away.
Wanwan, unaware of the trouble she had caused, looked puzzled. "They are so timid, fainting from such a fright."
Yun Xiao smiled at Wanwan.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Wanwan thought seriously and then answered honestly, "I am. It's only starting now."
Yes, Wanwan's personality was impulsive and difficult to change quickly. She was the type to act first and think later. This time, she had chosen to provoke the Emperor, a man who could take a life with a single word.
It was only now that she was belatedly experiencing fear. A layer of cold sweat broke out on her back, and she spoke with worry.
"Your Ladyship, will that fellow really kill us?"
"Isn't it a bit late to be afraid now?"
Yun Xiao smiled happily. She was certain that Shangguan Yao could only swallow his anger this time.
After all, he was the one in the wrong. Who told him to barge into Jinhua Palace in the middle of the night, intending to act inappropriately towards the Empress? She believed the eunuchs would relay the news to his ears.
If he were to truly pursue the matter, he would likely be subjected to widespread condemnation, and besides, it wasn't time to make a move against the Yun King's estate yet.
"Your Ladyship," Wanwan pouted, feeling wronged. She had done it all for her mistress, and as soon as she saw her, she went along with the act.
"Alright, it's fine. Get some rest. He won't do anything to us."
"Mm," Wanwan relaxed, grinning. Thinking of the bruised and battered Emperor, she couldn't stop smiling…
The next day, Jingfu Palace.
The moment Shangguan Yao opened his eyes, he felt a headache and body aches, even a pain in his cheeks.
His body remained still, but confusion flashed in his eyes. What had happened to him? Was it excessive indulgence?
This had never happened before. His thoughts gradually cleared. Last night, thinking that the fool had returned to the palace, he felt depressed and drank a few extra cups of wine.
The palace-exclusive floral wine was known to be potent. He seemed to have drunk too much, then went to find the fool. The events that followed were hazy. What was the current situation?
Shangguan Yao moved, and the sensation in his cheek made him frown involuntarily.
The movement on the bed alerted Xiao Tingzi, the eunuch who had been guarding him. He quickly and respectfully approached. He had stayed awake all night, guarding the bed.
Other eunuchs were on watch, but he didn't feel at ease, fearing the Emperor might need something. Hearing that the Emperor had woken up, he anxiously questioned.
"Your Majesty, are you awake?"
Shangguan Yao rolled over and sat up, unconsciously reaching out to touch his face. The white undergarment slipped down, revealing a small section of pale, fair skin.
Upon it, he saw that it was covered in bluish marks. He widened his eyes in disbelief, thinking he must be seeing things. Looking closer, he realized it was true. He had wounds on his body. The previous pain was not due to indulgence, but to the injuries on his body.
What on earth was going on? A bloodthirsty glint instantly appeared in his eyes, and the chill surrounding him felt like a frozen pond that never thawed.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Shangguan Yao pointed to his arm, his gaze cold and angry as he glared at his personal eunuch, Xiao Tingzi.