Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Sheng Zhaoning’s hands pressed into the frozen ground, the shattered feeling in her kneecaps searing with pain. She tightened her fists, but even shifting her weight a fraction brought unbearable agony. She stumbled, her body listing sideways, and she collapsed miserably into the scattered snow.

The young eunuch watched and let out a derisive laugh. “Is Lord Sheng pretending to be dead?”

For a mere eunuch to address a third-rank minister of the court like that was a blatant insult.

But then, a minister out of favor might not even be as highly regarded as a eunuch attending the Emperor.

Lying in the snow, Sheng Zhaoning heard a buzzing in her ears.

Searing pain stabbed through her entire body, and the cold was no longer just cold-it felt as if her very blood had frozen solid.

Standing had been bearable, but once she lay down, all her strength drained away, impossible to gather again.

The young eunuch’s brow furrowed. He waited a long time without seeing her rise, and his eyes hardened. Just as he was about to scold her, the heavy palace doors swung open with a creak.

Warm golden light spilled through the gap onto the tree, and a faint fragrance from the incense burner within drifted out, quietly spreading through the snowy night.

The eunuch turned. The brightness made him squint, and through his hazy vision, he saw a tall, imposing figure striding forth. When he recognized the face, terror seized him, and he immediately dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground, and cried out, “Your Majesty!”

Sheng Zhaoning’s vision went black for a moment, her consciousness fading.

In the darkness, footsteps seemed to approach through the snow.

“Is this all Lord Sheng is capable of?” A voice laced with malice and mockery sounded in her ear.

She forced her eyes open, and a flash of bright yellow fabric entered her sight. First, she saw a pair of boots embroidered with golden dragon patterns on Sichuan brocade, then her gaze traveled upward-legs, waist-until finally a cold, cruel face appeared, as flawless as jade, unbearably handsome.

Wei Yi crouched down, carelessly twirling a strand of her hair around his finger for a moment.

Suddenly, his gaze turned glacial. He brutally yanked the hair at the back of Sheng Zhaoning’s head, forcing her to look up. “What? Weren’t you mighty when you killed Xu Fu? Now you can’t even crawl!”

Her scalp burned with pain as she was grabbed by the collar and dragged into the hall. Her frail arms offered no resistance; her legs trailed on the ground, carving a winding, meandering trail through the snow.

The young eunuch was petrified, rooted to the spot, too terrified to move.

The Emperor was usually one to keep his emotions hidden; how could he suddenly erupt in such rage, his expression so fearsome it looked as if he might devour someone?

It was Eunuch Zhao, who had served the Emperor for many years, who reacted first. He swiftly followed behind Wei Yi, closed the hall doors with deft movements, and only after a long while did he return, saying gravely, “Not a word of today’s events must be spoken outside, unless you value your head!”

The young eunuch, whose soul had half fled in terror, snapped to his senses at these words and hurriedly replied, “Yes!”

“Furthermore!” Zhao Quan’s brows sank. He cast a distant glance into the hall, then turned and said with stern solemnity to the younger eunuch, “The person inside is not someone you can afford to offend. From now on, when you see her, you needn’t be overly respectful, but at least treat her like a plague god-keep your distance! Otherwise, you won’t know how you died.”

Zhao Quan had been with the Emperor since his days in the princely residence, so his words carried weight. Seeing even Eunuch Zhao show a hint of fear when mentioning Sheng Zhaoning, the young eunuch belatedly shuddered.

Yes, how could he have forgotten? What was the Court of Judicial Review? A place that devours people without spitting out bones!

Those who came out of that accursed place-how could they be trifled with?

Watching Zhao Quan walk back, the young eunuch felt a surge of panic. Trembling, he hurriedly followed, regretting bitterly how he had offended such a plague god, and from that moment on, he no longer dared look down on Sheng Zhaoning in the slightest.

Inside Changhua Hall, aloeswood incense curled in the air, and gold-thread charcoal burned red-hot in the brazier.

Sheng Zhaoning was dragged into the hall. The New Emperor threw her heavily to the ground. Her shoulder hit the wall with a dull ‘thud,’ causing a blunt ache in her bones.

Sheng Zhaoning broke out in cold sweat from the pain. Abruptly, someone seized her chin, and the emperor’s sharp eyes, hawk-like, stared intently at her. “Have you killed enough? When will it be my turn?”

When Wei Yi had just learned of Xu Fu’s death, he had nearly seen red with rage.

Since his ascension, Sheng Zhaoning’s hands had been drenched in blood. Anyone connected to that Palace Coup was either framed and imprisoned by her schemes, or assassinated. Even the court historian, who hadn’t been involved in the coup, couldn’t escape disaster, all because he had written the words ‘the Crown Prince plotted rebellion’ in his historical record. How ridiculous!

Sheng Zhaoning couldn’t break free from his grip, so she gave up struggling and said calmly, “Your Majesty exaggerates.”

Wei Yi sneered, his hand slowly sliding down to grip her slender, fragile neck.

“Do you love him that much?”

It sounded like a question, yet also like a low murmur to himself.

But Sheng Zhaoning seemed to have heard a joke; a strange smile even flickered at the corners of her eyes.

“What does Your Majesty think?”

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed intently on Wei Yi, as if seeing a trace of an old friend in those similar features.

But where was the resemblance?

That person’s brow should have been a little lower, his gaze gentler, his lips curved in a smile, his expression mild-a man like a refreshing breeze and bright moon. How could he bear any likeness to the villain before her?

“Who are you looking at?!”

Meeting her eyes, Wei Yi’s fury erupted. His eyes reddened, and his hand suddenly tightened, strangling Sheng Zhaoning’s throat.

He had never imagined that someday, Sheng Zhaoning would use him to reminisce about another man!

“If you were given the chance to kill me, you wouldn’t hesitate to do it, would you?”

Wei Yi’s eyes were fierce, his fingers poised with force, as though the moment he heard a ‘yes,’ that hand would unhesitatingly crush her throat.

Sheng Zhaoning had trouble breathing, yet the smile in her eyes didn’t fade.

She just spoke with difficulty, her eyes smiling, and asked again, “What does Your Majesty think?”

“…”

The fire in Wei Yi’s eyes seemed about to solidify. Sheng Zhaoning closed her eyes, her breathing growing more labored, yet she still felt the killing intent swirling around him.

She was almost certain he had already decided to kill her.

Indeed, this man was clear-headed and decisive, never one to leave himself with hidden dangers.

Wei Yi’s fingers slowly tightened, watching coldly as her face turned purple from lack of air.

His hand lingered on her throat, caressing, feeling the blood pounding beneath his palm. Just as Sheng Zhaoning was about to lose consciousness, his eyes darkened abruptly, and he suddenly bent his head to bite fiercely into the hollow of her neck.

The sharp pain made Sheng Zhaoning flinch violently; the scent of blood lingered in their breath.

Wei Yi ground his teeth and said, “What I hate most is that hypocritical look of yours.”

Seemingly aloof and indifferent, but in truth venomous, treacherous, and utterly heartless.

Murdering court officials, harming his trusted aides, stirring up trouble time and again.

All to avenge that man!

Wei Yi sneered, “Sheng Zhaoning, don’t forget who personally killed your beloved ‘Crown Prince’ during the Palace Coup.”

Seeing Sheng Zhaoning’s face suddenly pale, Wei Yi smiled with pleasure, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, “Revenge? Do you even deserve it?”