Chapter 36: CH 36

Abandoned Empress 11

After listening to Qu Zhi’an’s words, Xin Lan’s face showed a hint of delight.

Upon careful consideration, it wouldn’t hurt to stay here overnight.

Considering how effectively she had dealt with the Emperor, he probably wouldn’t be able to attend the morning court tomorrow. He couldn’t even take care of himself, let alone have the leisure to seek her out.

With this in mind, Xin Lan nodded.

Qu Zhi’an felt delighted in her heart and didn’t let go of Xin Lan’s hand as they walked out in this posture.

“There’s another wing here, it’s the one Ah Rou stayed in last time. However, I haven’t cleaned it up since she moved out, so I hope you won’t find it too rudimentary to sleep in.”

Xin Lan followed Qu Zhi’an to that wing, but to their surprise, as soon as they opened the door, a mouse quickly darted into the bottom of a cabinet.

“Yan Yan, it seems like this place really needs a thorough cleaning.”

Xin Lan said jokingly, in a good mood.

Qu Zhi’an also noticed the fleeting little black shadow and awkwardly rubbed her nose.

“Well… I guarantee there are absolutely none in my room. I have no idea when these little things made their way in here.”

Qu Zhi’an muttered, feeling that even a place that hadn’t been cleaned for several days had collected some dust, which furrowed her brow.

“This room is definitely not suitable for you to stay in. How about tonight, you endure a bit and share a bed with me?”

Qu Zhi’an suggested, reminiscent of their first encounter, the scene still lingering in her mind.

The warmth on their cheeks at that time seemed to still remain, causing her face to immediately flush.

Although they were both women, whenever she thought about it, she felt a bit shy.

“Of course, but…”

“But what?”

“I’ve always detested being disturbed from my peaceful sleep. Yan Yan, please do not wake me up.”

“Naturally, since I won’t attend the court tomorrow, there’s no harm in sleeping together until late morning.”

The two of them reached a consensus and walked hand in hand towards Qu Zhi’an’s room.

In fact, this semi-drunken state was the most comfortable, not too clear-headed but not too impaired either.

They undressed and lay side by side on the bed.

Suddenly, Xin Lan remembered something and propped herself up on one side, looking at Qu Zhi’an.

“Yan Yan, does it not hurt when you bind your chest every day?”

Binding the chest is not a pleasant experience. If there weren’t many curves to begin with, it’s alright, but if someone is more well-endowed, forcefully compressing it to achieve a male appearance can result in bruises when undone.

When Xin Lan brought up the topic, Qu Zhi’an’s face almost started to smoke.

“It… doesn’t… hurt… It wasn’t really… I’ve gotten used to it… It doesn’t really feel like anything.”

Qu Zhi’an stammered. In the past, she hadn’t thought much about it, as it was convenient for her to present herself as a man. But the thought of Xin Lan’s softness in front of her left her feeling inexplicably frustrated.

It wasn’t exactly envy, but rather a more complex emotion that Qu Zhi’an couldn’t express.

Xin Lan’s care made Qu Zhi’an feel warm and comfortable inside.

“As long as it doesn’t hurt, then go to sleep. You don’t have to worry about requesting a leave tomorrow. I don’t think the Emperor will have the mood to attend the morning court.”

Xin Lan chuckled mockingly. If the Emperor could attend the morning court without batting an eye after such an incident, then she would truly have to reevaluate her opinion of him.

“Oh? Has something happened?”

“I just received word that he’s unwell, that’s all. Now, go to sleep.”

Xin Lan lay flat and had Zero Nine fetch her mosquito repellent. The spray was silent, and she held it in her palm, giving it two sprays before putting it back.

Qu Zhi’an nodded and closed her eyes as well.

Sleeping until midnight, in a drowsy state, they surprisingly felt much cooler than usual tonight, with even the bothersome mosquitoes not coming to disturb them.

While they slept peacefully, someone in the palace was filled with indignation.

Wu Yanqing had finally endured the effects of the acupoints, but when he found that he could move again, his whole body felt numb.

He had been acupunctured on his side, and now that he could move, he instinctively fell flat.

However, his finger was still inside his body hole, and due to the force of the fall, it went in even deeper.

Wu Yanqing’s face immediately contorted in an even uglier expression, and as soon as his hand was able to move, he quickly pulled it out.

Tonight was simply the most humiliating day in his 26 years of life.

He, the mighty Emperor, was actually treated in such a manner in his own palace, his own imperial residence.

Moreover, that person managed to escape, and Wu Yanqing had no idea what they looked like.

The pain at his back persisted, and he suspected that the bloodstains had already dried up.

Thinking about that audacious “sightseeing” act, he wanted to find the person and tear them into pieces, then feed them to the dogs.

He dug out the dagger from his own body. As he worked, his face alternated between red and pale. Nevertheless, he managed to retrieve the object that had been fully inserted.

The dagger was plain and unremarkable, as if it were just a common one bought from the street. There were no marks left on it, only the bloodstains from the reckless insertion.

Wu Yanqing felt disgusted as he looked at the bloodstains on the dagger. His stomach churned, and the pain emanating from his back and lower body made him even more restless.

He forcefully slammed the dagger onto the ground and loudly commanded the eunuchs outside to bring water for him to bathe.

He attempted to sit up from the bed, causing the wound on his back to be pulled, sending waves of pain through his body. What made him even more miserable was the discomfort between his legs. His eyes turned bloodshot, and in helplessness, he took a few awkward steps with splayed legs, his hips widely apart. Annoyed and embarrassed, he smashed whatever he could reach nearby.

Mei An waited outside the door, fearful and trembling, unaware of the reason for his master’s anger.

After the hot water was brought in, several palace maids prepared to serve him, but they were frightened off by the Emperor’s gloomy expression.

“There’s no need to have anyone attend to me here. Go fetch an Imperial Physician.”

“Yes, understood.”

Wu Yanqing soaked in the hot water, his fingers tightly clenched into fists, enduring the stinging pain from his back wound as he cleaned the injured area below.

The Imperial Physician arrived, but Wu Yanqing didn’t speak. He didn’t even dare to enter and waited in the outer hall.

When Wu Yanqing felt that he had cleaned himself thoroughly and that the words written in blood on his back had disappeared, he slowly put on his pants and moved back to the bed. With his upper body bare, he waited for the Imperial Physician to come and administer medicine.

The Imperial Physician walked in and saw the mark left by the stabbing on the Emperor’s back. His heart trembled, and he silently began applying medicine.

“Your Majesty, do you want a few doses of blood-nourishing and Qi-boosting medicine?”

“Mm.”

As the Imperial Physician finished tidying up the medicine bottles and prepared to leave, he heard the Emperor calling him back.

“A few days ago, a beauty was summoned to attend my bedchamber, but the movements were a bit excessive. Do you have any medicine for soothing and healing injuries?”

“We have it. I will prepare it and have it sent to you.”

The Imperial Physician replied, understanding the request.

Wu Yanqing nodded in acknowledgment, and the Imperial Physician quickly retreated.

Once the person left, Wu Yanqing’s expression changed.

In the realm of martial arts and the court, they had always remained separate. He didn’t have complete control over power yet, so if he were to launch a full investigation to pursue someone who might not even be apprehended, it would likely be reported to the court by his ministers.

But he found it difficult to swallow this resentment. The commander of the Imperial Guards happened to be his own person, and he couldn’t bear to issue a severe punishment. After all, the commander was a pawn he had painstakingly cultivated.

Due to his physical discomfort, Wu Yanqing tossed and turned for a long time without being able to fall asleep.

After preparing the medicine, the Imperial Physician quickly brought it to him. Wu Yanqing held the porcelain bottle, his face filled with deep solemnity.

As he extended a finger to administer the medicine to himself, he remembered the person’s mocking words.

Anger welled up within him, tempting him to throw away the item in his hand, but he forcefully suppressed it.

As the first light of day broke, warm sunshine bathed the earth.

Qu Zhi’an woke up with a slight headache and saw Xin Lan nestled beside her.

Last night, they had fallen asleep properly, but now Xin Lan’s body was pressed against hers.

Xin Lan’s sleeping expression was serene, emanating a gentleness that Qu Zhi’an rarely saw.

Qu Zhi’an looked at her and felt that her headache had improved somewhat. She continued to gaze at Xin Lan’s peaceful sleeping face.

In no time at all, Xin Lan opened her eyes, and her dark pupils met Qu Zhi’an’s gaze.

“What are you looking at, Yan Yan?”

It would be quite eerie for anyone to wake up early and find someone staring at them.

“Nothing in particular. I was just lost in thought.”

Qu Zhi’an’s denied, pretending to come back to her senses.

Xin Lan didn’t ask further and got up from the bed.

Her clothes still carried the lingering scent of alcohol from last night, but Qu Zhi’an was fine as she had spare clothes to change into.

Xin Lan intended to pick up her old clothes from yesterday to wear, but Qu Zhi’an stopped her.

“These clothes are already dirty. How about I go out now and buy you a new set? If you’re not able to enter the palace during the day, we can spend the whole day together, play and have fun, and you can return in the evening. It’s been a long time since you last went out for leisure, hasn’t it?”

Qu Zhi’an looked at Xin Lan with anticipation. If they could spend a day together, they could have tea and engage in various enjoyable activities.

Xin Lan thought it was feasible and nodded.

“Buy clothes in low-key colors, nothing too flashy. It would be best if you also buy me a veil. If we happen to encounter someone familiar on the way, it could be troublesome.”

This capital city, while not excessively large, was also not small. Although the original owner of Xin Lan’s body didn’t show herself often and never came out to meet people while she was in the Chamber of Literature, she had spent several years as the Empress. Even though she had abdicated now, the officials and their families who had seen her still recognized her face.

Speaking of which, these recent missions may have had elements that fit the image of the host, otherwise how would the names be exactly the same and even have a resemblance in appearance?

Qu Zhi’an listened to her instructions and nodded in agreement.

Qu Zhi’an went out, leaving Xin Lan alone in the room wearing her inner clothes. Xin Lan first studied the furnishings in the room and then pushed open the door to explore the other rooms.

The courtyard wasn’t big or small, consisting of three rooms. One was Qu Zhi’an’s own bedroom, another was a guest room that wasn’t frequently used, and the third was Qu Zhi’an’s study.

Without the owner’s permission, Xin Lan didn’t intrude but stood by the window, glancing inside at the books and calligraphy hanging on the walls. She then returned to her room and continued lying on the bed with her eyes closed.

Qu Zhi’an returned with the clothes and veil she had bought and placed them in front of Xin Lan.

After Xin Lan put on the clothes and freshened up briefly, she prepared to go out and have breakfast with Qu Zhi’an.

“There’s a delicious wonton stall in a nearby alley. I’ll take you there.”

Qu Zhi’an said excitedly, wanting to share all the good food and fun she knew with Xin Lan.

They closed and locked the door, then walked out together.

Xin Lan’s hand was held by Qu Zhi’an, and she didn’t resist, following her lead.

The street was bustling with people, an atmosphere that was impossible to find in the Cold Palace.

They arrived at the wonton stall that Qu Zhi’an had mentioned, and the lady wiped the table with a smile.

“Young master, you’re here again! Oh, and you’ve brought your wife this time?”