The Sickly Emperor Is Only Immune to Me

Chapter 33: Chapter 033: Thousand Years

The sedan chair continued to move forward.

After passing the Imperial Garden, Sang Yan finally raised her head.

She had just faced the Emperor's concubine, inexplicably feeling like an adulteress caught in the act.

Ah, the Emperor had lost his humanity.

It's all about rules for him!

Though that was the truth, playing tough often brought hatred.

But nobody dared to hate the Emperor.

Even Qu Xueli, when she ran to the Empress Dowager, could only fault Sang Yan: "She has neither status nor official position, yet she dares to share a sedan with the Emperor. I heard she even ran into the Imperial Study to plead for her father. A shameless widow, seducing in the Imperial Palace, deserves to be beaten to death with sticks!"

Empress Dowager Pei Yiqing sat on her phoenix couch, listening without speaking.

She appeared indifferent, slightly squinting her eyes, twirling her Buddha Beads, as if she had truly become a Buddha.

Qu Xueli continued, "Empress Dowager, she disregards palace regulations and deludes the sage hearing. You cannot remain compassionate and soft-hearted!"

"Enough!"

Buddha Beads by the Empress Dowager's side became impatient first: "You lack the ability to please the Emperor's Heart, do not reflect on your behavior, yet have the audacity to babble complaints before the Empress Dowager. She let you out, not to bother her with every issue."

Qu Xueli, unexpectedly rebuked by a palace maid, wanted to scold her but restrained herself.

"It is my uselessness."

She lowered her head, adopting an obedient attitude.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager spoke as well, her tone still rather gentle: "Princess Consort Li, you should have learned from the Cold Palace incident. That Sang Family's daughter, even if favored, so what? If the Emperor really liked her, he would have favored her long ago, or even admitted her into his harem, leaving no room for your grievances."

"You're right, Empress Dowager."

"How far can a beautiful widow go in this harem? Just a plaything. If the Emperor likes her, so be it; if he really favors her, once the Emperor indulges, your good days will also arrive."

The last sentence enlightened Qu Xueli like an epiphany.

"Empress Dowager—"

Her eyes widened as she suddenly understood the Empress Dowager's intentions—to use Sang Yan to guide the Emperor closer to female charms.

The Empress Dowager was succinct, waving her hand, "Go back and think about it."

"Yes."

Qu Xueli suppressed her excitement and complied.

The Empress Dowager watched her receding figure, twirling her Buddha Beads, and sighed softly, "All are worthless."

Buddha Beads whispered, "Luckily, the Empress Dowager doesn't count on them."

The Empress Dowager slowly closed her eyes.

The hall quieted down again.

After a while, she asked, "How is the experiment progressing?"

Buddha Beads replied, "Ten women, administered continuously for seven days; results should be evident soon."

The Empress Dowager nodded: "I must have an heir."

She opened her eyes, mumbling as if aged, "I don't have much time left."

Buddha Beads quickly grasped her hand, reassuringly, "Empress Dowager, don't speak of such inauspicious things. You will live a long life."

"What's so good about living a thousand years?"

The Empress Dowager patted Buddha Beads' hand, offering a bitter smile of consolation, "Living less than a hundred years, yet always worried about a thousand. My life—"

Born into a powerful family, ranked as a concubine upon entering the palace, managing to firmly sit in the positions of Empress and Empress Dowager despite not bearing an heir, enjoying glory for most of her life, yet not being able to control a bit of it.

"Buddha Beads doesn't care, but Buddha Beads want you to live a long life."

Buddha Beads shook the Empress Dowager's hand gently, acting coquettishly.

The Empress Dowager looked at her, lovingly smiling, yet said, "It's been sixteen years. I miss Xiuming terribly."

Xiuming was the late Emperor He Zheng's style name.

Knowing that the late Emperor was the hidden pain of the Empress Dowager, Buddha Beads shifted from the coquettish daughter demeanor to the composed demeanor of the Lord Palace Commander.

*

Yuesang Palace, Side Hall

the moon on the willow branch

Sang Yan, looking at Sang Ruishui who seemed to want a long nocturnal chat, tactfully dismissed her: "I need to rest."

"I'll sleep with sister, so I don't open my eyes and find you gone again."

Sang Ruishui said and lay down on the bed. @@novelbin@@

Sang Yan helplessly raised her hand, "I promise, I won't leave tomorrow."

Satisfied with the response, Sang Ruishui smiled and left.

After she had gone, Sang Yan went to wash up and then, with a long sigh, flopped onto the bed like a dead fish.

Today had indeed been a harrowing day.

He had been busy in the Imperial Study until evening, then returned to Yuesang Palace, finally managing to send away the despicable Emperor, only to be pestered by Sang Ruoshui until now.

The harem really wasn't a place for humans.

She felt weary.

Too weary to love.

"Miss—"

Qiuzhi finished wiping her wet hair, and seeing her asleep, gently applied the peach blossom face cream on her.

It had just been sent by the Emperor.

And he had instructed her to definitely apply it on Sang Yan.

Sang Yan, not sleeping soundly, felt someone touching her face and the cool dampness on it, which woke her up.

"What is this?"

She looked at Qiuzhi's hand reaching towards her, with a layer of white creamy substance that smelled fragrant and somewhat familiar.

"It's the peach blossom face cream Miss previously bought; surprisingly, the Emperor also purchased one."

Qiuzhi had accompanied Sang Yan on a trip and had seen the Emperor that day.

"What a coincidence, Miss rushed here today, and none of these items were prepared. The Emperor is thoughtful."

Actually, Qiuzhi was pleased that her mistress had caught the Emperor's eye, but she also worried, "But does the Emperor truly not mind Miss's background?"

A husband-killing fate, most men would steer clear of that, right?

The Emperor has still not granted Miss a title, could he just be toying with her?

Ah, Miss's fate is truly hard!

Unaware of Qiuzhi's thoughts, Sang Yan lazily waved her hand, "Don't apply anymore. Quickly get ready to sleep."

A woman beautifies herself for the one who cherishes her.

She did not want to adorn herself for the despicable Emperor.

Even thought about better to look uglier.

Her current predicament was caused by beauty!

Qiuzhi, unaware of Sang Yan's thoughts, was even more concerned with her face.

"This peach blossom face cream is very nourishing and fragrant. If Miss applies it, it will moisturize overnight; tomorrow you'll definitely be the most beautiful in the harem."

She said this and, even though Sang Yan told her not to, still applied a thick layer.

"Go to sleep, Miss. I'll help wash it off later."

She leaned over the bed, smiling as she watched Sang Yan's sleeping face, thinking she looked even more beautiful.

No wonder she had caught the Emperor's eye.

Even she herself felt her heart stir.

Sang Yan, unaware of all this, closed her eyes and fell deeply asleep.

During the night, vaguely aware of Qiuzhi washing her face, she did not wake up.

She slept until dawn.

When Sang Yan woke up, she saw Sang Ruoshui sitting by her bed, her face coated with a thick white layer... probably the peach blossom face cream.

"Is this really that miraculous?"

Sang Ruoshui held a mirror, looking left and right, admiring her already fair and tender face.

Qiuzhi whispered, "The eldest young Miss uses this too."

Sang Yan woke up, saw Sang Ruoshui, and frowned, "Why are you here?"

"I just wanted to see you, sister."

"Your face looks so dewy and tender, like a peeled egg, no wonder the Emperor likes it."

Sang Ruoshui's attention was fixed on her face.

Sang Yan, exasperated, pinched her forehead, "Here, it's yours now. Make yourself scarce."

Only then did Sang Ruoshui shift her gaze, looked at her, and with a bewildered tone tinged with innocence, "Sister always pushes me away. But where did little sister go wrong? Did I upset you?"

As she spoke, she apologized, "Little sister is naïve and straightforward, please don't take it to heart."

Sang Yan was speechless.

It seemed she hadn't really done anything wrong.

That day, she informed the Emperor and stopped her from leaving, but now she thought that even if she hadn't, it wouldn't have made any difference.

The Emperor, with his obsessive and authoritative nature, would do what he wanted, no one could say no!

Just thinking about the Emperor brought his decree.

"Milady, please rise, the Emperor has sent someone; he invites you to have breakfast together."

A palace maid hurried in, her address reflecting a new courtesy.

Sang Yan heard this and felt a headache coming— the despicable Emperor was closing in step by step!