Chapter 19 Tyrant's Intimidation: He Looks Like a Scholar, But He Did Some Strange Things

The atmosphere under the moonlight was cold and tense. The Imperial Garden was never completely dark even at night; the moon hung high, illuminating the entire sky. The shadows of plum trees could be faintly seen on the newly leveled ground, stretching all the way to the feet of these people, until they disappeared into the snowdrifts.

The wind was rustling softly, and the maids and palace maids following behind Xiao Xiaoyuan kept their heads down, not daring to look. They wished they had never been here.

Did the princess just mean to marry this palace servant who seems to know nothing about etiquette and manners?

That won't do!

Qiu Bai bit her lip in a hurry, twisting her fingers together. She rushed forward but was stopped by Chun Ya beside her.

who?

do what?

marry?

Yao Ruyi nervously hunched over, clutching the flowerpot, his back aching terribly. He secretly stood up; the princess opposite him was still waiting for his reply, and Yao Ruyi could tell from her expression that she wasn't faking it.

But marriage requires mutual affection, and when he first met the princess, he certainly didn't feel any attraction. Moreover, "No, I have other things to attend to, I'll be going now."

Yao Ruyi hastily bowed, then grabbed the flowerpot and tried to escape, wanting to return as soon as possible while His Majesty was still at the palace banquet.

Xiao Xiaoyuan refused to give up and reached out to grab him, but he was too agile. Holding a flowerpot in front of him, he could still twist his hips nimbly, and she could only touch his fluttering sleeve. In this cold winter, he was only wearing a plain gauze robe.

The fabric is of the highest quality; it's not something an ordinary palace maid could wear.

Xiao Xiaoyuan wanted to persuade him to stay, but then she heard footsteps behind her. The sound grew louder and louder as winter boots creaked on the scattered snowflakes. They stopped behind her a moment later. "Your Highness, this servant is here on His Majesty's orders to escort you back."

Xiao Xiaoyuan nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, Father-in-law."

Half an hour had passed, and the sky had darkened considerably. As they approached the main hall, they could feel the warmth of the braziers and lanterns. The arena had been removed, and the officials had returned to the hall, whispering amongst themselves. Gu Huizhou seemed to be taking a nap, leaning back on the dragon throne.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Gu Huizhou opened his eyes. "Hmm, has the princess made up her mind?"

The room fell silent again. Han Jiqing suddenly stood up, so fast that he knocked over two oranges on the table. Han Jiwen tried to pull him down, but couldn't budge him no matter how hard he tried. He helplessly shrugged at his father across from him, then ignored him.

"Your Majesty, it is my honor to have General Han's favor. However, since there is so much disagreement among you officials, I can share Your Majesty's burden and choose another candidate." Xiao Xiaoyuan paused before continuing, "But may I choose this candidate myself?"

As soon as she said this, the ministers on both sides started discussing it again.

What does that mean?

"Could it be that she didn't take a liking to General Han?"

"They clearly have ill intentions. How can they let the Xiao Kingdom choose the marriage partner!"

"Could this be another scheme by the Xiao Kingdom?"

...

"Oh?" Gu Huizhou sat up straight, a smile playing on his lips, his tone light and airy. "Could it be that Minister Han is not pleasing to Her Highness the Princess?"

"Xiaoyuan dares not. It's just that Xiaoyuan knows her identity is different and wishes to marry an ordinary person and spend her life with him."

Han Jiqing panicked. But at this moment, some young masters from prominent families who were not particularly outstanding on the stage perked up. "Ahem—" they all straightened their posture, stopped drinking, and looked eagerly at that slender figure.

Who is it?

Qiu Bai was unable to speak because Chun Ya covered her mouth. The two of them stood in a corner of the main hall where they were out of sight of others, watching the situation closely. Chun Ya also frowned, her face full of disapproval.

"Your Majesty, just now Xiaoyuan felt bored in the side hall, so she went to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers. She happened to meet a palace servant. The man had beautiful features and bright eyes. Even in the night, his handsome appearance and extraordinary demeanor were evident. He spoke with a gentle and refined manner. He was a truly elegant gentleman."

When Xiao Yuan saw him, he was changing the soil for bonsai in the Imperial Garden.

"Dressed in a white gauze robe, holding a broken green porcelain flowerpot in his arms, he truly resembles a fairy under the moon. Xiao Yuan, though worldly, is delighted by such an ethereal figure. Yet, this extraordinary being is merely a gardener in His Majesty's palace. Xiao Yuan harbors feelings of admiration for him, but is it possible for her to have her wish fulfilled?"

"Who is this?! Who is this person?"

"You have the appearance of an immortal, could you please bring it to us for us to see?"

"Why would the Kingdom of Xiao agree to let her marry a gardener?"

"I've never heard of such a gardener in His Majesty's Imperial Garden. In that case, it's quite good. Why not build a princess's residence for this princess in the capital, and the gardener could become her husband? How carefree that would be!"

...

The diplomat from Xiao Kingdom suddenly felt dizzy, and a group of people with pale lips and anxious faces felt that the princess could choose between the Baili family and the Han family.

That won't do!

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness!"

They shouted themselves hoarse but no one paid any attention, and all they could do was pray that things would turn around.

Gu Huizhou remained silent and turned to look at Cui Xiangzhu, his expression not pleasant. "Where did you put the mushrooms just now?"

Cui Xiangzhu was taken aback. "Put it on the table in the Cloud Palace, Your Majesty?"

Xiao Xiaoyuan smiled, her eyes secretly filled with anticipation. She was 90% sure that the young man did not look like a eunuch. He was so handsome that he could be her consort.

Compared to marrying Han Jiqing, the Emperor of Yun must have had a better choice—

"Very well, I hereby bestow marriage upon the Princess and General Han, and the wedding will take place on a chosen date." After saying this, he quickly stood up, as if he had finally resolved an important matter and was now about to deal with another one.

Cui Xiangzhu smiled at the astonished princess who looked up, and hurriedly followed, "This old servant wishes Your Highness, and Your Majesty—"

Xiao Xiaoyuan thought she had misheard, her eyes widening in disbelief.

The diplomat finally breathed a sigh of relief and leaned to one side, exhausted.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Han Dahai glanced at his displeased colleagues around him, wishing he could kick his son, who was grinning foolishly, out of the room.

"This!" The adults stared wide-eyed, none of them understanding what was going on. "It's decided already?"

Xue Qingping angrily downed his drink in one gulp. The old man, who was over fifty, glared and puffed out his beard. Han Dahai glanced at him but didn't go up to say anything.

"His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, please slow down!"

Cui Xiangzhu, accompanied by a group of guards and eunuchs, followed behind Gu Huizhou, but was still several steps behind the emperor. Finally, Cui Xiangzhu waved his hand, "Why aren't you going forward to light the lamps for His Majesty!"

The group of eunuchs quickly ran a few steps to keep up with Gu Huizhou. They didn't dare to get too close, for fear of accidentally blocking the emperor's path.

"squeak--"

"Smack!"

The door to the Cloud Palace almost slammed into Cui Xiangzhu's face. He hurriedly stopped and quietly told the palace maids and eunuchs to go about their business.

The door slammed shut with a loud "bang!" jolting Yao Ruyi awake from her dream. What trouble had the emperor encountered this time? Could it be that Liang He was up to his old tricks again? Thinking of this, she became a little more sober. The Liang family had been quiet for a long time. Could it be that Liang He had taken advantage of the palace banquet again today?

Yao Ruyi blinked and stretched the roots buried in the soil; she had been sleeping in that position for too long and they were a little numb.

Seeing the emperor enter and, as usual, recline on the soft couch to drink, Yao Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief. He was somewhat frustrated; he had ultimately failed to help Mr. Li with his matter, but he would hold the Liang family responsible.

"cough--"

Yao Ruyi turned his head to look. Was his throat uncomfortable? He had just eaten a bite of the freshly changed soil. At first, it tasted sticky and pleasant, but it became a bit dry and irritated his throat. He only felt better after drinking some tea.

"cough--"

Still feeling unwell? But wasn't he drinking?

Gu Huizhou glanced at the mushroom out of the corner of his eye; its cap was slightly tilted towards him, and he wasn't sure if it was facing him.

Gu Huizhou held his wine glass without moving. The monk had told him that there was an evil aura around him. Was that all?

She looks delicate and frail, as if a little more strength could break her in half.

What threat could it pose?

However, despite his handsome appearance and scholarly demeanor, he did some strange and monstrous things!

The emperor was surrounded by displeasure.

The emperor's lips curled into a mocking smile. He stepped forward and sat on the dragon throne, reaching out to press the soil in the flowerpot. It was soft and carried the fragrance of plum blossoms. He certainly knew how to find a good spot.

Yao Ruyi's nerves were on edge. What was the emperor going to do? Why was he pressing so hard against his groin? He knew without a doubt that once he transformed, his feet would be covered in red again!

"Cui Xiangzhu."

Cui Xiangzhu immediately pushed open the door and came in, saying, "This old servant is here."

"Go find the gardener the princess mentioned seeing in the Imperial Garden today, and send him to the princess's residence as a trinket."

The first half of the sentence sounded somewhat reasonable, but the second half...

The whole mushroom shrank back into the soil—

Cui Xiangzhu hesitated, "Your Majesty, General Han does have feelings for the princess. If we send him to her at this time, it would be—" too inhumane.

Who would send a concubine right after bestowing a marriage upon someone? And this isn't just a concubine, it's a male concubine sent to Her Highness the princess!

Could it be that His Majesty's relationship with General Han isn't as good as he perceives?

Cui Xiangzhu pondered.

It's unwise for a general fighting on the front lines to marry a princess from an enemy country. It would be one thing if the princess harbored resentment towards the Yun Kingdom's general during the war, but the war hasn't harmed civilians, and the soldiers' deaths on the battlefield are unavoidable. The eldest princess seems to be a reasonable person…

Are you suggesting we give him a sweet treat first and then slap him in the face? General Han's marriage proposal to the Princess is already settled. If word gets out that the Princess has a male favorite, wouldn't General Han become a laughing stock in the capital?

The two of them even stayed up together to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

"If we can find it, we'll deliver it; if we can't, we won't."

Cui Xiangzhu understood. "This old servant understands. I will immediately order someone to go and find him." As he turned to leave, he muttered to himself that he must find as many eunuchs as possible and hurry up and find the person.

Yao Ruyi continued to tremble...

If the tyrant finds out, wouldn't he be sent to that woman to do... that kind of thing? The mushroom face turned red instantly, and the cap of the mushroom seemed to turn even redder.

Gu Huizhou looked up at the mushroom cap and felt much better. "I have never seen a gardener with such a fairy-like appearance under the moon. She must be quite pretty. I have heard that the Princess is fond of handsome men. It is fortunate that the Princess saw this."

With a relaxed demeanor, the emperor uttered in a low, cheerful voice, “I have long heard that the previous emperor of the Xiao Kingdom was a licentious and dissolute ruler. His most beloved concubine loved to skin thirteen- or fourteen-year-olds and use their skins to make lanterns, which were then placed in the palace to bring joy to the eyes of all who saw them.”

"Even now, there is still a lantern left in the palace for people to admire. It is said that the eldest princess liked it very much, so Emperor Xiao gave it to the princess to play with."

Gu Huizhou chuckled, "If such a young and handsome man were sent there, what would his fate be—" He let out a laugh, "I really have too much free time."

Yao Ruyi listened attentively. Today, the princess looked delicate and beautiful, yet she liked lanterns made of human skin...

"They've all been given to the princess, what does it have to do with me?" After saying this, the emperor leisurely walked to the bed and soon blew out the lamp.

Yao Ruyi was in a daze all night thinking about the tyrant's words. The princess liked human skin lanterns and handsome men... He dared not think further. So, the princess wanted to marry him today because she wanted to skin him alive!

Mushroom gasped for breath. The earth dragon was burning too vigorously, drying out the soil. As he pondered this, he extinguished half of the earth dragon's fire.

He would spend the whole night pondering it.

After an unknown amount of time, the sky began to lighten. The mushroom finally drifted off to sleep, its cap swaying gently. It was still silently praying, "I mustn't be found by the princess..."

————————

Gu Huizhou: Intimidating, nagging, threatening

Mushroom: in terror

Gu Huizhou: Satisfied [shrug]