Chapter 41 - 041 Strange Indeed

Sang Yan poured herself a cup of tea, not drinking it, just watching the tea leaves slowly unfold into shimmering green leaves.

He Ying sat opposite her, waited a while, and seeing she didn’t speak, he asked, “Why are you ignoring me? Are you feeling unwell? Should I summon the Imperial Physician?”

Upon hearing this, Sang Yan glanced up at him, her tone sour, “I just don’t feel like talking to you. If the Emperor finds it boring here, then find someone else who will talk to you.”

Her words were laced with acidity throughout.

Pei Muyang had already started covering his mouth, chuckling.

Sang Yan, catching this from the corner of her eye, felt even more embarrassed and quickly dismissed him, “I need to rest now. Please feel free to leave, Your Majesty.”

Saying this, she lay down on the bed.

Upon seeing her like this, He Ying extended an invitation, “You’ve been sleeping all day, sleeping too much isn’t good, why don’t you walk with me for a bit?”

Sang Yan wasn’t in the mood and didn’t want to go, her words still tinged with involuntary sourness, “There are plenty of people who would like to accompany the Emperor on a walk, no need to force me.”

Her tone was indeed strange.

Finally, He Ying picked up on the hint, “Are you… really upset about me having other women?”

Pei Muyang couldn’t hold back anymore, laughing as he reminded, “Precisely. Emperor, Lord Sang is jealous.”

It must have been after the Emperor complimented Princess Consort Sang.

He knew something was off from Lord Sang’s expression.

He thought so, no woman would be indifferent to the sincere heart of an Emperor.

Seeing her own feelings exposed, Sang Yan became furiously embarrassed, “What nonsense are you speaking? I’m jealous? Jealous of what?”

She sat up on the bed, huffing, “Don’t spout nonsense here, hurry up and ask your master to leave.”

Pei Muyang felt deflated and, with nothing good to say, just gave a sheepish smile and shut up.

One must be mindful of the dog’s owner when scolding a dog.

This Sang Yan, spoiled by favor, had developed arrogance that had not diminished.

He wasn’t sure how far she could go.

He would just watch.

He Ying didn’t think too much, indulging her with a smile, “Don’t argue with a servant, if you’re angry, direct it at me.”

He waved his hand, signaling Pei Muyang to leave.

Sang Yan stared coldly at him, finding his tone intolerably smug.

Indeed, men were an annoying species!

Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.

Honestly, so what if she liked him?

Who doesn’t like a handsome man with power and status?

She was merely seduced by his appearance and power, a flare-up of vanity.

Oh, and the meddling of a woman’s possessiveness.

After all, he had pursued her for so long, to turn around and look at another woman was naturally irritating.

Yes, that was it.

Sang Yan tried to analyze her feelings.

At that moment, He Ying spoke out, “I swear, whether in the past or in the future, you are the only one I care about.”

He raised his hand as a promise, his gaze sincere.

Sang Yan, afraid of being bewitched, quickly looked away, feigning indifference, “Emperor, care about whomever you want to care about.”

Some words inadvertently reveal the truth.

He Ying laughed, “You really are jealous.”

His confident tone stabbed at Sang Yan’s heart.

Is this what it’s like to like someone?

To feel unsettled by a single word of his?

“Actually, your jealousy gives me more confidence. I’ve never been an insecure person – I managed the coup against Pei Zhen at sixteen without feeling this powerless. But facing you, you’re like an immovable stone, leaving me at a loss.”

His tone was thick with sorrow and bitterness.

Sang Yan felt a pang in her heart, wanting to say something, yet unsure what she could say.

She wasn’t an emotionless stone or plant, how could she not have feelings?

She had always just been suppressing them.

Her best friend’s romantic tragedies all began with men, which had made her wary of men like snakes.

And he was the lofty Emperor?

“The Emperor really needn’t go to such lengths.”

After much consideration, that was her response.

He Ying said with a smile, “But I wish to. It’s a novel feeling. My heart is tied. It feels like I’ve found a place to belong.”

Everyone wants a place to belong.

Where was her place to belong?

Sang Yan eventually accompanied him out for a walk.

He Ying had someone follow them at a distance, just walking around the Imperial City.

The two walked side by side, not speaking.

The moon hung high above their heads.

Beside them, each was accompanied by their beloved.

Unknowingly, they arrived at the Observatory.

The Observatory, built at the highest point to reach the Star Court, was a great place to overlook the scenery of the Imperial Palace.

However, the place was already occupied.

“Joy brings sorrow, Liao Liang’s heart tears apart.”

The man, clad in a black robe, with disheveled hair, leaned against the railing, drinking wine, and reciting poetry, shaking his head.

Sang Yan, curious, asked, “Who is that?”

He Ying, without even looking, replied, “A drunkard. Don’t bother with him.”

With that, he was ready to leave.

Sang Yan felt there was more to it—the man, clearly drunk yet eloquently speaking in poetry, seemed learned. She approached to greet him, “Hey, sir, are you alright?”

“Fine, fine, fine, my loyalty shall be recorded in history to serve the Emperor. Alas, the Emperor rides the winds away, and in the mortal world…”

The man took another drink, then ruffled his messy hair, looked at the beautiful face before him, and burst out laughing, “The world is not worth it.”

Sang Yan laughed along—this man was really interesting.

He was even using modern slang.

“Sir, drink less; too much is harmful.”

She could tell he was a disheartened man.

Indeed, in ancient times, frustrated poets and scholars were all crazed and eased their worries with alcohol.

Thinking this, she turned to the Emperor, “Hey, your subject, aren’t you going to take care of him? Didn’t you hear? He wants to dedicate his loyal heart to the Emperor.”

Such a loyal subject!

The Emperor doesn’t even know to cherish talent!

He Ying, meeting Sang Yan’s accusatory gaze, felt misunderstood, sighed, and walked over, kicking the man’s leg, “Wan Zhang, I’m not dead yet.”

He was truly wronged!

It was the late Emperor who had ‘ridden the winds away’. This old servant of the late Emperor was going crazy with his drinking here, causing misunderstandings about him.

Infuriating!

“Wan Zhang, if you truly miss the late Emperor, I’ll send you to reunite with him.”

He Ying had wanted to get rid of him for more than a day or two.

If it wasn’t for the fact that he and the late Emperor were brothers, this day-drinking drunk would have lost his nine lives due to He Ying’s wrath.

Sang Yan, hearing He Ying’s words, suddenly realized her mistake—it turns out this man wanting to dedicate his loyalty to the Emperor was a former servant of the late Emperor.

Brave!

To reminisce about the late Emperor right in front of the current Emperor!

What kind of person was the late Emperor?

As Sang Yan wondered, her face was suddenly cupped by hands—

“Ah!”

Startled, she immediately pushed the other person away, mistaking his intentions as lust influenced by alcohol.

He Ying also misunderstood and grabbed Sang Yan’s sleeve, pulling her behind him, delivering a kick to Wan Zhang.

Wan Zhang, kicked over, rolled down the steps without crying out in pain, just staring with wide eyes, muttering, “This physiognomy… how strange, how strange—”

Sang Yan quickly realized he had been reading her face.

They had both wronged the man.

Remorse instantly surged in her heart.

“You really are—”

Without saying more, Sang Yan hurried down to check on him, “Sorry. I misunderstood. Are you alright?”

Wan Zhang very much was not.

He had fallen face-first, his nose swollen, his forehead bleeding, dizzy—yet ignored all that, seeing her before him, again cupping her face, looking closely at her—

He Ying, seeing him so close to Sang Yan, wanted to kick him again,

but he restrained himself, warning in a low voice, “Wan Zhang, let go, don’t be presumptuous!”

This time, Wan Zhang obediently withdrew his hands, still uttering, “How strange—”

As for why it was strange, he said nothing more.

Sang Yan was both anxious and panicked, “Sir, where is it strange? Tell me!”

She thought of her own fate that doom her husbands, wondering if this eccentric man had noticed.

He Ying was on the same page, equally eager to know the details to prepare himself, stepped forward, kicked the man’s leg, and demanded, “What exactly is it? Wan Zhang, what did you see? Be clear!”@@novelbin@@