Chapter 11

I heard that Li Xingzhi went back that day and washed for two whole hours.

Afterward, not only did she search everywhere for incense and scented oils, but she also started bathing three times a day-morning, noon, and night.

When Doudou told me this, her face was all smiles: “Consort, you really are silent for so long, but when you finally speak, you amaze everyone.”

I had just heard this phrase from the female master; it probably meant she was praising how impressive I was.

I looked smug and accepted her compliment.

“But Consort, you and His Majesty have been sulking for days now,” Doudou began to persuade me again, “If you wear down His Majesty’s good temper, what will you do then?”

These days, Qi E had sent me all sorts of rare and curious things, but I refused them all.

I lay on the bed in a huff, pulling the covers over myself: “If it comes to it, I just won’t be his Consort Chun anymore.”

He still has Consort Shu anyway.

And maybe there will be other Consorts in the future.

Besides, the female master said the mistress of the harem is the empress.

With so many consorts, Qi E really is a super, unbelievably big bad guy.

Seeing my indignant face, Doudou didn’t say anything more, just tucked me in and quietly left.

Maybe I was too angry, because that night I had a terrible nightmare.

When I woke up, I was terrified.

I hugged my pillow and went out, but couldn’t find Doudou, so I ended up running to Qi E’s bedchamber.

Qi E’s bedchamber was very close to mine, and Steward Li was waiting at the door.

“Consort Chun, what brings you here?”

The hall was pitch black; Qi E was already asleep.

“I want to attend to the emperor at night.” I was half-asleep, clutching my pillow as I tried to go in.

Steward Li snapped back to himself and hurriedly stopped me, looking troubled: “Consort, attending to the emperor at night requires His Majesty’s summons…”

But I was too scared to sleep alone.

Just as I was about to speak, a foul smell wafted out from inside the hall.

My sleepiness vanished instantly, and I shoved past Steward Li and rushed in.

“Qi E, there’s a bad person!” I shouted.

At that moment, the person standing by the bed raised a sword, aiming to stab down at the bed.

All I could do was hurl my pillow at him.

The pillow hit him, but it didn’t stop his sword from plunging into the covers.

“Qi E!” I burst into tears.

Back when I was learning needlework, even a prick from a needle hurt.

Who knows how much it would hurt to be stabbed by such a long sword.

The person by the bed glanced at my pillow, cursed under his breath, then yanked out the sword and lunged at me.

Terrified, I stumbled back two steps, but tripped over the threshold.

Before I could hit the ground, a shadow swept over and pulled me into his arms.

One hand covered my eyes, the other flung a dagger.

I only heard someone grunt, and then something heavy hit the floor.

“Drag him out.” Qi E’s icy voice sounded above my head.

Delighted, I pried his hand off my eyes and looked up-it really was Qi E’s handsome face.

Steward Li stood not far away, respectfully saying, “Your Majesty, Consort Chun said she wanted to attend to the emperor at night.”

Qi E raised his eyebrows.

He asked me, “Not angry anymore?”

I puffed out my cheeks, slipped out of his arms, and silently pulled him this way and that to check him over.

Seeing he hadn’t been stabbed, I started crying again.

He seemed startled, his cold fingers hurriedly wiping away my tears: “Were you frightened?”

“If I’d slept in your place tonight, would I not have met the bad guy?” I asked, tears in my eyes, looking up at him.

Steward Li quietly withdrew, gently closing the hall doors.

Cool moonlight spilled in through the half-open window, falling into Qi E’s eyes.

His once dark, dull gaze now seemed to be dotted with tiny stars.

“Shen Lan.” He pulled me into his arms, his hand stroking my head over and over. “Only now do I realize this world isn’t just full of monsters and schemes.”

I sniffled: “What are monsters?”

He chuckled softly.

The rich agarwood fragrance spread all around us.

It smelled wonderful.

“You don’t need to know. You just need to know that you’re different from everyone else.”

I pushed him away and asked, “Then can you have only me as your consort?”

He pondered for a moment before replying, “Not for now.”

Big bad guy!