Jun Zishu was startled by Yue Mingsheng’s suggestion. This was a possibility she hadn’t considered before.
[Ahhhh! You can’t, Host! The main characters of this world cannot be killed! At the very least, not deliberately.]
We’ll talk about that later.
Jun Zishu wanted to have a deeper discussion on this topic with Little Fairy, but she had to deal with the cousin before her first. For some reason, her cousin seemed to detest Meng Lanxi very much. This was very different from the original storyline.
“No need. I still have uses for him.”
“I apologize for overstepping my boundaries,” Yue Mingsheng quickly apologized and bowed when she heard Jun Zishu’s answer.
Seeing this, Jun Zishu walked up to Yue Mingsheng, held up the girl’s hands, and smiled, saying, “You don’t have to be so restrained around me. You and I don’t share an ordinary relationship, so no need to behave so tentatively all the time.”
For some inexplicable reason, Yue Mingsheng started to find herself constantly dreaming about this person before her. Moreover, there were even times when she held disrespectful thoughts about this person, her mind urging her to either pull the empress into her embrace or press the empress under her body.
Thinking about these urges, Yue Mingsheng couldn’t help but wonder where she had acquired such ambitions from.
“Your Majesty…’
“You are the person I trust the most in this world, Mingsheng, so you don’t have to be so formal with me. You have a lovely personality, so don’t keep it repressed,” Jun Zishu said as she affectionately tapped Yue Mingsheng on the nose with her forefinger.
Yue Mingsheng’s heart fluttered at Jun Zishu’s intimate gesture. However, the words that came out of her mouth were ones of refusal:
“Your Majesty is the heaven’s child and my master. I dare not treat Your Majesty with such disrespect.”
Yue Mingsheng had never forgotten her identity as a shadow guard, even if there were times when her memory of it blurred.
But if I’m loyal, why would I think of violating Her Majesty?
When Yue Mingsheng recalled her thoughts, she couldn’t help but feel guilty because of the absolute trust the person before her had placed in her.
“You might be one of my shadow guards, but we grew up together since childhood, Mingsheng. Don’t think of yourself too lowly,” Jun Zishu said with a gentle smile. Then, she let go of Yue Mingsheng’s hands and said, “Alright, you go and deal with the harem’s affairs first. I’ll be in the study working if you need me.”
“Understood.”
When Yue Mingsheng felt Jun Zishu’s hands moving away, she couldn’t help but feel a little empty inside.
Afterward, with the empress’s decree in hand, Yue Mingsheng started visiting the imperial harem’s various palaces with a group of palace staff.
Many of the harem’s members were taken aback when Yue Mingsheng told them about the empress’s decision to dismiss the harem. They never thought that a day would come where they could leave the imperial harem.
Meanwhile, after the initial shock, everyone’s responses were varied. Some eagerly packed their belongings, some carefully observed the situation, and some remained indifferent to the news.
There were also some people who reacted with reluctance.
“What did we do wrong, Your Highness? Why is Her Majesty driving us away?”
The person who spoke was Mozhu. He was 17 years old this year, and he possessed a pretty face. Although he didn’t have a magnificent body like other men in the harem, his appearance was outstanding and rather androgynous.
“Imperial Sister must have her own reasons for doing so. I am only carrying out her orders. You should quickly pack up your belongings and leave,” Yue Mingsheng said indifferently. She had never held any positive feelings for anyone in the imperial harem. Now that Jun Zishu had changed her opinion of these men, Yue Mingsheng grew to dislike them even more.
“I wish to meet with Her Majesty, Your Highness.”
“Her Majesty is very busy,” Yue Mingsheng said with a frown.
However, Mozhu persisted on the matter, kneeling as he said, “Your Highness, I am one of the earliest people to enter the palace and accompany Her Majesty. My feelings for Her Majesty are extraordinary. If I am driven away like this without being given a reason, I won’t be able to rest in peace even if I die. Please let me meet with Her Majesty,” Mozhu said sincerely. Paired with his pretty face, he portrayed quite the pitiful look.
However, Yue Mingsheng couldn’t help but snort inwardly when she heard Mozhu’s words. She couldn’t believe that this man was treating himself like a woman in a harem.
“Have you forgotten your identity? Imperial Sister has always been a whimsical person. If she likes someone, then she likes someone. If she stops liking someone, she will simply chase them away. You used to accompany Imperial Sister, so Imperial Sister won’t mistreat you. You will receive land and silver once you leave the palace. Correspondingly, you will also have to keep your mouth shut.”
“Since you also know that Her Majesty is a whimsical person, Your Highness, who is to say that Her Majesty won’t start to like us again tomorrow?”
Mozhu wasn’t afraid of the princess with an icy expression before him. Although he knew that he didn’t have the qualifications to stand on equal footing as her, it was also a fact that this princess didn’t possess particularly good origins. She was merely lucky to be conferred the title of princess.
Mozhu didn’t wish to leave the palace. He wished to continue staying here by the empress’s side. Although he couldn’t say that he loved the empress, he had developed a sense of dependence on her.
The other party was the most prestigious woman in the world they were talking about. Moreover, not only did she hold supreme power, but she also possessed a beautiful face. Mozhu couldn’t be any happier to be able to stay in the imperial harem.
Although the other men in the harem looked down on him for his submission, Mozhu also looked down on those men. After all, despite what those other men said about hating their situation, they still enjoyed the luxuries afforded to them happily. From how he looked at things, it was only the pride of those men having trouble accepting the situation.
Meanwhile, Mozhu’s words caused Yue Mingsheng to grow hesitant. This was also what she had been worried about.
When Yue Mingsheng first heard Jun Zishu saying that she would dismiss the harem, her first reaction was to inwardly celebrate with joy. Afterward, though, she started to grow worried. After all, it was well-known that the empress possessed a fickle heart. Jun Zishu might have said that she had grown tired of the harem, there was no saying whether she would regret her words later on.
However, Yue Mingsheng’s hesitation lasted only for a few moments. This was because Jun Zishu’s bright and clear eyes had resurfaced in her mind. When she remembered how Jun Zishu looked at her, she suddenly had an urge to entrust her all to this person.
Thus, Yue Mingsheng decided to believe in Jun Zishu. She believed that Jun Zishu wouldn’t go back on her words.
“I will let you meet with Her Majesty, then. Of course, that still depends on whether Her Majesty is willing to meet you or not,” Yue Mingsheng said.
“Many thanks, Your Highness.”
“Follow me, then.”
Afterward, Yue Mingsheng instructed her subordinates to continue carrying out the dismissal work. She also instructed them to keep a close eye on those people, ensuring that they didn’t take anything that didn’t belong to them out of the palace. Moreover, she also told them to make sure that all of the dismissed harem members leave the palace at the same time and not let anyone leave in advance. Then, once she was done passing down instructions, she started making her way to the imperial study.
Meanwhile, Mozhu quietly followed behind Yue Mingsheng, his eyes scrutinizing the princess as they walked. Although this princess had an attractive appearance, she had a somewhat dignified and aloof personality. Even though it had been more than three years since he entered the harem, he had hardly exchanged any words with her.
However, he, or, more specifically, everyone in the harem, knew that the empress trusted this princess very much.
“Your Highness, has Her Majesty found a new love? Is that why Her Majesty is dismissing the imperial harem?” Mozhu tentatively asked. Personally, he felt that the likelihood of this happening was slim. After all, how could such a flirtatious person give up on her entire harem because of one man? However, he also couldn’t rule out the possibility. After all, despite being the country’s de facto ruler, the empress was still a woman. Meanwhile, it was very easy for a woman to get hung up on a single man.
“That has not happened,” Yue Mingsheng said. The question Mozhu asked was also the question she wanted to ask Jun Zishu. However, based on her observations thus far, she had not noticed Jun Zishu clinging to any man ever since she made the decision to dismiss the harem.
Meanwhile, Mozhu sighed in relief when he heard Yue Mingsheng’s answer. It was fine so long as nobody had managed to monopolize the empress’s heart.
“What about…that person?”
If Mozhu were to point out the person the empress favored the most, his answer would definitely be the Yulan Palace’s Meng Lanxi. As someone who had willingly chosen to stay in the harem and desired the empress’s company, there was no way Mozhu couldn’t be jealous of Meng Lanxi.
“Hm?”
“I’m talking about Meng Lanxi. Will he be dismissed as well?” Mozhu asked, clarifying his question.
Yue Mingsheng remained silent. However, in a way, it was also her answer to Mozhu’s question.
“I understand.”
Mozhu’s expression darkened slightly, and he stopped speaking for the rest of the way.
When the two arrived in front of the imperial study, the doors to the study were shut, and Defu stood by the entrance.
“Her Majesty has gone to the imperial dungeon. You may head inside and wait in the meantime, Your Highness,” Defu said, instantly understanding the purpose of Yue Mingsheng’s visit when he saw Mozhu behind her.
“Okay,” Yue Mingsheng nodded.
If Jun Zishu had gone to the dungeon, she was probably there to meet with Chu Ying. Aside from this person, Yue Mingsheng couldn’t recall any person worthy of Jun Zishu making a trip to the dungeon.
As to why Jun Zishu had gone to visit Chu Ying, even Yue Mingsheng did not know. Ever since recently, that person had become a lot more unpredictable. Of course, that person had also become as fascinating as she was unpredictable.
…
Meanwhile, over at the imperial dungeon, Jun Zishu had come here with the servant bug in hand, deciding to get this matter dealt with as soon as possible.
The lighting in the dungeon was dim, and the only light sources in this place were the wall torches that were spaced out in intervals of ten steps.
The crime Chu Ying had committed was a severe one, so the guards had locked him up inside the imperial dungeon.
The cell Chu Ying stayed in was rather clean, and he sat cross-legged on the floor while fiddling with a dried stalk of straw.
When Jun Zishu arrived, the guard responsible for Chu Ying’s cell promptly got up from his seat and saluted.
“Your Majesty.”
“Open the door.”
“Understood.”
The guard removed the key on his waist and unlocked Chu Ying’s cell door.
“Step down. I want to talk to him alone,” Jun Zishu said.
“Understood,” the guard responded before walking away.
Meanwhile, Jun Zishu pulled open the cell door and closed it after she entered. Then, she condescendingly stood before Chu Ying.
Ever since Jun Zishu entered his cell, Chu Ying had been staring at her without saying a word.
Chu Ying understood that he had already messed up when he said those words before, but he didn’t regret his actions. After all, he had kept those words bottled up for a long time already. It was the Liang Empire’s misfortune to have a ruler like Jun Zishu. However, it also couldn’t be helped since the late emperor never had a son.
Chu Ying didn’t know how Jun Zishu would dispose of him. However, he was certain that she couldn’t kill him. She would definitely anger his father if she did that, which would also cause an uproar in court.
Since Chu Ying didn’t speak, Jun Zishu also chose to keep her mouth shut, and the two remained in this stalemate for some time.
Eventually, though, Chu Ying was the first to cave as he asked, “What business did Your Majesty come to this cell for?”
“Do you feel particularly emboldened now, Chu Ying?”
“Why would Your Majesty say that?”
“Do you think that I wouldn’t dare to touch you just because you have the Chu family backing you?” Jun Zishu looked down and locked eyes with Chu Ying, the corners of her mouth raised slightly. “Honestly, I could’ve continued making exceptions for you had you said anything else. However, never should you have said what you said that day. Even if I am of a female body, the Liang Empire still belongs to me.”
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“But other than lust for men, what else has Your Majesty done since ascending the throne?” Chu Ying asked derisively.
“I might not have made any great achievements after ascending the throne, but unlike what you said, I have not treated the empire with utter disregard, either, right? So, why is it considered normal for a male ruler to have a harem of 3000, yet it is a disgrace when a female ruler does the same?” Jun Zishu said. Then, she raised her right hand, causing her loose sleeve to slide down and reveal a small part of her delicate wrist.
Chu Ying was attracted by Jun Zishu’s movements. However, the next moment, he suddenly found that he could no longer move his body.
“You poked my acupuncture point?” Chu Ying’s eyes widened in disbelief. Since when did the empress know martial arts?
“I will let you see that no one is more suitable for this throne than me,” Jun Zishu said as she patted Chu Ying’s face with the back of her hand, the smile on her lips radiating a bone-chilling coldness.
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