Chapter 99 · if: Tyrant x Imperial Concubine
After the imperial edict was issued, the atmosphere in the Hua family became even more somber.
Hua Deng couldn't stand it anymore, so he picked up his seven-year-old sister and left home without permission, running to a restaurant to relax.
She ordered a table full of dishes, but only ate a few bites before putting down her chopsticks and watching Hua Yuan devour the food, propping her cheeks up with her hand.
The parents in this family are unreliable, and the younger brother is still mentally challenged at the age of fourteen. Fortunately, Hua Yuan is quick-witted and doesn't worry even if she leaves.
"Sister, you're going to be a concubine, why aren't you happy?" Hua Yuan tore off a piece of chicken leg and asked. "I read in a book that a concubine has a very high status, she can do whatever she wants, do all sorts of evil deeds..."
Hua Deng picked up a shrimp dumpling and stuffed it into her mouth: "How did your husband teach you? You've only learned a few words and you're already using them haphazardly."
Hua Yuan chewed and chewed: "It would be so nice to be a concubine. I want to be a concubine in the future."
The streetlights remained silent: "Just eat yours."
She wasn't against entering the palace. Having been a companion to the Fifth Princess since childhood, she had long been accustomed to living in the palace.
She simply didn't want to see him with a full harem, becoming a ruthless emperor like the late emperor.
The streetlights seemed to close their eyes, and a strange tightness gripped her chest. She turned her head, opened the window, and took a few deep breaths.
Amidst the bustling crowds on the street, she rested her chin on her hand and gazed aimlessly into the distance.
Suddenly, her gaze sharpened, and she stood up in disbelief, leaning out of the window and bracing herself against the windowsill.
You read that right.
That figure strolling out from the street corner was indeed Shen Zhou!
She had imagined many times what it would be like to meet him, and how he would respond when she called him "Your Majesty".
But when he came into view, her first thought was not why he was there, nor to question him about why he had summoned her to the palace, but rather a sudden urge to burst into tears.
It's been a long time, really.
He had matured considerably; the traces of his youth had vanished from his face. He walked among the crowd with a composed gait and an outstanding presence. Though he wore a slight smile, his eyes held an almost cold indifference, as if someone nearby had said something.
Upon closer inspection, a deep, menacing scar was visible on the side of his neck, making it hard to imagine the perilous situation he must have faced.
Just as Hua Deng held his breath and clenched his fists, he suddenly raised his head and glanced at him, seemingly casually.
He glanced at her once, then looked away, his expression unchanged, as if he hadn't noticed her at all.
"Sister, what's wrong?" Hua Yuan craned her neck curiously, but saw nothing.
"It's nothing," the streetlights murmured as they slowly returned to their seats, "I saw an old friend."
After finishing their meal, Hua Deng abandoned their shopping plans and took Hua Yuan straight home.
She hadn't stayed in the mansion for more than a few days when, following tradition, the palace sent a matron to teach her etiquette and manners.
When Hua Deng was the Crown Princess, she suffered greatly because the tutor was very demanding. She had to get up early every day and practice secretly at night, but even that couldn't satisfy her.
Later, she gradually realized that this was just the Empress's way of suppressing her, and she had no choice but to endure it.
Over those three months, she lost a lot of weight, and her mother was so distressed that she almost stormed into the palace to fight the Empress.
Later, Yin Zejing got into a fight with the Crown Prince, and the Empress finally lost interest in dealing with her, so the matter was dropped.
So this time, upon hearing that someone from the palace was coming, Hua Deng was filled with despair and almost couldn't get out of bed.
However, in the end, she didn't dare to dawdle and quickly got up to see Granny Deng.
Granny Deng sat in the hall waiting for her. As soon as she saw her, she immediately stood up and bowed. She looked kind and had a smile on her face, which was quite different from the people sent by the late Empress.
Hua Deng returned the greeting, and Granny Deng first looked her over, smiled and praised her a few times, and then sat down with her to drink tea and chat.
The morning passed in this way, and after noon, Granny Deng leisurely took her leave, indicating that her work for the day was finished.
Hua Deng: "...Take care, Granny."
Granny Deng came for more than ten days in a row, spending her time drinking tea and playing the zither with her. She also came later and later, giving Hua Deng plenty of time to sleep in.
Not long after, Hua Deng attended a flower-viewing banquet hosted by a noble lady. During the banquet, everyone praised her highly, saying that even the strictest nanny in the palace, Deng Mama, favored her, and that her etiquette and demeanor were unparalleled in Jianye and impeccable.
She truly deserved the title of Imperial Concubine.
Hua Deng: "..."
That might be true.
Some time passed in a daze, and then it was time for her to enter the palace.
The palace servants dressed her up early and brought her from the Hua residence to the palace. Her parents looked like they wanted to cry, but considering their status, they held back and said goodbye to her with smiles.
The streetlights didn't feel real; things happened so fast that she felt completely dazed.
The fact that her personal maids, Crescent Moon and Full Moon, who had been with her since childhood, were allowed to enter the palace brought her considerable comfort.
She stayed at the Jiaofang Palace.
Upon hearing the name, Hua Deng almost thought the palace servants had made a mistake.
The Jiaofang Palace is traditionally the residence of the Empress. It wouldn't be appropriate for her to live there, would it?
Whether it's suitable or not is not up to her to decide, especially since His Majesty's personal eunuch came to see her specifically, so there's no reason for it to be wrong.
Hua Deng then sat on the bed, waiting for the emperor to arrive.
She was dressed in gorgeous clothes and adorned with jewels. She was heavy and tired. At first, she sat upright, but soon she slumped over, looking bored. Crescent Moon and Full Moon were anxious and kept giving her meaningful glances.
Hua Deng didn't care. Shen Zhou wouldn't let Granny Deng teach her manners, so it was only natural that she was ignorant.
Besides, she got up very early today and couldn't hold on any longer. She couldn't eat anything in between and is now starving.
Where is Chen Zhou? Why hasn't he arrived yet?
She grew impatient waiting, and before she knew it, her eyelids began to droop, eventually closing completely.
Exhausted and sleepy all day, Hua Deng fell into a deep sleep despite constantly telling himself not to sleep.
When she was half asleep and half awake, she realized where she was and was instantly jolted awake, realizing something was wrong.
To make matters worse, she discovered that she wasn't alone in the room. Crescent Moon and Full Moon were gone, replaced by a familiar yet unfamiliar figure.
The man, dressed in a magnificent black robe, was tall and slender, casting a shadow that completely enveloped her. Half of his face was bathed in the lamplight, while the other half remained obscured. He stood silently to her side, watching her for an unknown period of time.
Hua Deng felt uneasy and was about to get up to greet him, but before he could even open his mouth, he interrupted, "Would you like something to eat?"
The tone was too natural, and Hua Deng's first thought was: Is this guy hungry?
Come to think of it, she was hungry, and the emperor must have been starving too.
He nodded.
Shen Zhou smiled. It might have been her imagination, but anyway, the person turned around and went outside, gave some instructions to the eunuch, and soon a large table of dishes was served.
The dishes, pastries, and even the tea were all things she loved to eat and drink.
Hua Deng hesitated for a moment, then thought that she had many favorite foods, so perhaps it was just a coincidence.
Her tastes have changed a lot in the past few years, so Shen Zhou shouldn't know that.
She instinctively reached for her chopsticks, but then remembered that this was the palace and she had to wait for His Majesty to speak first.
She watched longingly, but His Majesty remained unmoved.
she:"……"
Aren't you hungry? Eat up!
His gaze was so intense that Shen Zhou, who had been absent-minded, paused and looked at her face: "Not to your liking?"
It's perfect, so perfect, my mouth is practically watering.
She asked sincerely, "Does Your Majesty not have a meal?"
Shen Zhou seemed to realize something for a moment, picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of each food item, then put them down, nodded to her, and said succinctly, "Eat."
Hua Deng: "...Thank you, Your Majesty."
While she ate, His Majesty kept watching her. She belatedly realized that he was probably not hungry at all. He was still the same as before, with a poor appetite, and preferred watching her enjoy her food.
I wonder if he ever had any food he liked during those years in Liguo?
Lost in thought, Hua Deng ate quite a bit, filling her stomach. Looking at the table full of leftovers, she pondered, wondering if this was against the rules.
But His Majesty seems to be in a good mood, so everything should be fine.
Soon, the bowls and plates were removed by the palace servants, and someone helped them wash and change clothes.
By the time Hua Deng realized what was happening, only the two of them were left in the room.
Hua Deng slowly walked to the bedside, and Chen Zhou pressed her shoulder to make her sit down. Hua Deng's body tensed up uncontrollably.
Is it coming? Is it coming? She's looked at the fire-avoidance diagrams her mother gave her countless times, but they're probably not very suitable for His Majesty...
"What is the Imperial Concubine thinking about?" Shen Zhou asked abruptly.
"I was trying to avoid it... Your Majesty's high regard for the Hua family is an overwhelming honor for me."
This time she saw it clearly; Shen Zhou did indeed laugh. After he finished laughing, he looked at her with his eyes as dark as the night and said casually, "Why do I feel that the Imperial Concubine seems to have some dissatisfaction with entering the palace?"
Hua Deng used the universal answer: "Your Majesty, I dare not."
Shen Zhou chuckled lightly and said unhurriedly, "It is only natural that the Imperial Concubine would be dissatisfied. After all, you and the Emperor are in love, and you should rightfully marry him as a concubine and then become the Empress."
"If my elder brother hadn't been so useless, and I hadn't chopped off his head with a single sword stroke, shouldn't I be calling your name right now...?"
"Royal sister-in-law."
He had gotten close without anyone noticing, his words falling on Hua Deng's ear with each breath. Hua Deng's eyes widened instantly, as if he wanted to hit him with a hammer.
"Will my sister-in-law hate me?" he said. "When I was in Li Kingdom, I heard everyone say that you two were a perfect match in terms of talent and appearance, and that only you were worthy of my brother. But I killed him. I cut off his head and tore him to pieces. Before he died, he cried and begged me for mercy, but unfortunately he didn't mention your name."
Hua Deng suppressed the twitching at the corner of her mouth and said weakly, "...Your Majesty and I have no affection for each other."
These words carried little weight, but Shen Zhou seemed quite pleased, raising an eyebrow and saying, "Is that so? It's good that the Imperial Concubine doesn't hate me."
They don't even use the word "朕" (zhen, meaning "I, the emperor"). Ha, men.
He pulled her onto the bed, and Hua Deng's body tensed up again. However, after covering her with the blanket, he did nothing more.
Shen Zhou casually said, "Let's go to bed."
The streetlights peeked out from under the covers, leaving me with a huge question mark in my mind.
Shen Zhou turned his head and glanced at her: "If the Imperial Concubine isn't sleeping, is there anything else she wants to do?"
Hua Deng immediately closed her eyes: "That's all, I'm going to sleep right away!"
Perhaps influenced by him, she unconsciously began to speak more casually.
Hua Deng was truly exhausted. Even with Shen Zhou, who had an incredibly strong presence, beside her, she couldn't resist her sleepiness and soon fell into a sweet slumber.
Many days later, Shen Zhou still sat there, using the dim light to repeatedly trace her eyebrows and eyes with his gaze.
On the way back, he thought about it many times, but he still couldn't quite remember what he should look like in her memory.
He tried to find and emulate that version of himself, but he could never succeed, so he never met her.
But upon seeing her today, he didn't need to pretend; he easily reverted to his former self.
Perhaps it was the way she looked at him, still as serene and pure as ever, her eyes crinkling when she smiled, reflecting his image like a clear spring in spring, shimmering with light.
After a while, he took out a hairpin from his sleeve and gently placed it beside her pillow.
There was a line of small characters engraved on the inside of the hairpin, in the language of the Li Kingdom.
[Author's Note]
I'll add an extra chapter tomorrow and finish this side story all at once!
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