Chapter 18: The Empress Dowager and Her Substitute Young Lover
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By the time everything was over, another quarter of an hour had passed.
All was tranquil once more.
Wei He had successfully reached the highest seat.
Drums and music resounded in unison as fireworks blossomed overhead. The court officials knelt on the ground, crying, “Long live Your Majesty!” Their voices shook the heavens, as though trying to drown out the mishap that had just occurred.
Hua Yue glanced at Wei He.
Good heavens.
He was blackened and hideous.
What on earth had he been doing?
She quickly shifted her gaze toward the direction from which the fireball had come, the corners of her lips curving faintly upward.
She was very curious.
How had Wei Yan managed it?
The distance had been so great.
“Goodbye, 404.”
[…Farewell, host.]
404 had noticed that ever since binding itself to this host, the number of times it had been rendered speechless had increased dramatically.
It seemed it would have to clear its memory.
At this rate, it would start lagging.
[My advice to you is… Never mind. I’m not giving advice anymore. You’re on your own.]
“Thank you, Forty-Four~” Hua Yue said with a beaming smile.
Forty-four?
Was that an affectionate nickname?
404 froze for a moment.
[…You’re welcome.]
Could she really not tell that it had not been saying anything nice?
For once, 404 felt a little guilty.
…
…
Brocade Splendor Palace.
By rights, Hua Yue’s status had now become that of Empress Dowager, and she ought to have moved to the Palace of Benevolence and Peace.
But because of the original host’s persona, she had been unwilling to move too far from the male lead. She had continued living in Brocade Splendor Palace until her death.
After she died, the female lead lost her memory and was placed in this very palace by the male lead.
Hua Yue: “…”
When the female lead found out, hadn’t she found it disgusting?
Who knew what the male lead had been thinking.
“Your Grace! The general has sent another letter.” Qing Li was all smiles as she handed the letter to Hua Yue.
Hua Yue accepted it and glanced toward the inner hall. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know, Your Grace. He’s probably chatting in one of the eunuchs’ rooms again.”
Qing Li pursed her lips.
What an unruly man.
Hua Yue: “…”
“He finally has someone to talk to. Let him be.”
She unfolded the letter and glanced at it. General Xiao’s handwriting was just like the man himself—bold and sweeping. He had filled ten full pages.
The gist of it was simple.
He was coming to the capital.
Hua Yue sighed.
There was more work waiting for her.
Now that she thought about it, wasn’t it time to find an opportunity to speak frankly with Wei Yan?
…
…
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Night.
“Where did you go today?”
Wei Yan, who had been serving as a human pillow for several days, froze. He almost thought he had imagined it.
During the day, Hua Yue stayed in the flower room tending to the plants and never allowed outsiders to enter.
He could see her only at night.
And even then, he could serve only as a voiceless pillow.
Ever since he had fled in disgrace that day, Hua Yue had never mentioned the matter between them again. Wei Yan had agonized over it for several days, only to realize that his face was not yet thick enough.
After all, she was a young woman.
With matters like this, he should follow her lead.
Wei Yan deeply regretted missing his chance that day.
He gave a quiet “Hmm?”
Hua Yue repeated herself.
“Where did you go today?”
“I went to have a chat with Little Zhu.”
“Little Zhu?”
“Yes. The plumpest little eunuch in my elder sister’s palace.”
Hua Yue thought back for a moment.
Her impression of him was exceedingly vague.
She lifted her eyes from Wei Yan’s arms. The light was dim, and she could make out only the faint outline of his features.
“A-Zhan.”
“Hmm?”
His voice was gentle.
Hua Yue blinked.
Come to think of it…
Had he not smiled in a long time?
Then again, they rarely saw each other.
The only time they spent alone together was at night, when they slept side by side.
“Are you unhappy?” Hua Yue withdrew the hand resting at the man’s waist and raised it to stroke his chin.
Wei Yan had indeed been somewhat dejected.
But at this very moment, in this very scene, with her hand caressing him—
In the darkness, Wei Yan’s eyes shone with astonishing brightness.
Had his second chance finally arrived?
Ha ha ha ha!
He threw his head back and laughed silently.
He managed to restrain himself and laugh for a full three seconds.
Then he rubbed his chin against Hua Yue’s palm and coaxed her in a low voice, “I entered the palace alone for your sake, Sister. You haven’t paid me any attention lately, so it’s only natural that I feel a little desolate.”
Hua Yue: “…”
Desolate, my foot.
Did he think she didn’t know how busy he was during the day?
That Little Zhu was probably one of his own people.
“But I know that you are now the exalted Empress Dowager, with countless affairs to manage each day. The fact that you can give me all your time at night is already no small thing.”
“So, if you kiss me once, I’ll be fine. Is that all right?” As Wei Yan spoke, a trace of uncontrollable laughter crept into his voice.
If Qing Li had been there, she probably would have rolled her eyes again.
That smug, sarcastic peacock was seducing her mistress once more!
Smack.
Hua Yue raised her head and swiftly planted a kiss on Wei Yan’s chin.
It was so quick that Wei Yan was caught completely off guard.
Wei Yan: “…”
Hmm?
What?
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Was that it?
Wei Yan’s whole body tensed, and his smile faltered.
This time, it was Hua Yue’s turn to laugh.
“How have you prepared yourself? If you run away again this time, I shall have to consider sending you out of the palace.”
“Sister.”
Wei Yan’s Adam’s apple shifted slightly. Without making it obvious, he placed a hand around Hua Yue’s waist, pressing their bodies tightly together. In the darkness, the man’s deepened breathing sounded especially suggestive.
Heat spread from his hand at her waist. Hua Yue’s heart gave a leap, and the tips of her ears tingled.
“What is it?”
Not that she would admit it—
She had never done anything like this before either.
How thrilling.
Hee hee.
“You should be referring to yourself as ‘this grieving one’ now.”
Hua Yue: “…”
She kicked Wei Yan in the leg, then shoved him away. “I prefer to call myself this way.”
“This grieving one” sounded awful.
And it made her seem old.
Hua Yue was remarkably strong. Those two movements sent Wei Yan crashing into the wall, and the man let out a muffled groan.
“Cough, Sister, I was wrong. I’m just a little nervous.”
In the darkness, a trace of disdain flashed through Hua Yue’s eyes. If he had not been so handsome, with such a fine physique, she truly would not have been able to tolerate him at all.
He was far too hesitant.
Hua Yue lifted a hand, seized Wei Yan by the lapels, and flipped over onto him, pinning him beneath her as she deftly undid his belt.
“Heh. If you cannot satisfy me tonight, you may get out.”
She deliberately emphasized the word “me,” a chill gleaming in her beautiful eyes.
Cool air brushed his body. Wei Yan drew in a deep breath, his heart seeming to contain something desperate to break free.
He could do this!
His trembling hand wrapped around Hua Yue’s waist from behind, his grip astonishingly tight.
Hua Yue frowned.
“Not so hard.”
“All right, all right. I’ll be gentler.”
Wei Yan loosened his hold and drew another breath, trying to steady himself.
If only he had known, he would have gone to Qin Ziyan’s place and found a few books to read.
“You don’t actually know how, do you?” Hua Yue asked suspiciously.
Wei Yan answered at once, “Of course I do not.”
“Sister.”
“Hmm?”
“Could you stop talking?”
Whenever she spoke, Wei Yan became unbearably nervous.
Hua Yue: “…”
Before she could even fall silent, a warm, smooth sensation touched her lips. The kiss began gently, then grew passionate, leaving Hua Yue almost no time to react.
His hand moved across her waist and abdomen, stirring an itchy, tingling sensation.
After several days of sharing a bed, Wei Yan had long since figured out the structure of Hua Yue’s clothing.
Today, at last, theory was being put into practice.