Volume One, Chapter Two: Rebirth

Liu Ruyi gasped sharply in pain.

She adopted what she believed to be her most beautiful posture, eyes brimming with tears as she looked toward Shen Ran. "Your Majesty—"

The two words left her lips, and their eyes met.

Suddenly gazing into those deep, dark eyes, Liu Ruyi’s heart faltered, and her voice abruptly ceased.

Shen Ran tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling upon the woman’s exquisite, flawless collarbone, a faint, ambiguous smile curling at his lips.

A subtle thrill stirred within him.

With just a little force, he could snap this woman’s neck and turn this bewitching beauty into a cold corpse.

But he had been reborn too late. By now, the influence of Liu Shizhuang had grown formidable, and Liu Ruyi had no faults to find within the harem—it was hardly the time to kill.

Yet since ascending the throne, Shen Ran had acted recklessly, fearing no one.

He was the emperor.

He cared not whether someone deserved to die, only whether he wished them to.

With that thought, Shen Ran released his grasp on Liu Ruyi’s hand, then extended a finger to touch her collarbone.

The pressure was neither light nor heavy, but teasing.

Liu Ruyi thought he intended something indecent and let out a soft whimper, a rosy blush spreading across her pale, jade-like face.

But a flicker of coldness flashed in Shen Ran’s eyes.

His palm moved forward, about to seize her neck—

When Yuanbao, his personal eunuch, hurried in, kneeling anxiously on the floor.

Trembling, he bowed his head repeatedly and stammered, "Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience."

Though Yuanbao served closely under Shen Ran, he clearly feared the capricious emperor who showed tenderness only to the favored consort.

Yet upon hearing the word "Empress," Shen Ran momentarily snapped out of it and instinctively withdrew his hand from Liu Ruyi’s throat.

No.

He could treat this kingdom as a game, and care little for his own life. But were he to fall into the same plight as before, his Empress would surely meet a grim fate.

The woman’s oil-streaked face flickered before his eyes.

Shen Ran glanced coldly at the blushing Liu Ruyi, then slowly wiped his fingers with his sleeve.

Enough. Let her play around a few more days.

Lowering his gaze, Shen Ran looked at the kneeling Yuanbao. "What does the Empress want?"

The Empress bore the surname Xue, given name Wu—a single character, meaning "charming." She was the only daughter of General Xue Yuandao, a figure of great prestige, no less prominent than Liu Ruyi. Yet in his previous life, Shen Ran had been wary of the stubborn, old-fashioned general who commanded vast forces, and Empress Xue was no different. Whenever they met, she was always solemn, urging him to govern diligently and care for the people.

The two mutually detested each other.

If there was nothing urgent, Xue Wu would never come to see him. Shen Ran had long since entrusted the management of the six palaces to Liu Ruyi, the favored consort.

This state of affairs reached its peak when General Xue was trapped on campaign, and Shen Ran, heeding Liu Shizhuang’s advice, refused to send reinforcements. Since then, Xue Wu had secluded herself within Yikun Palace, never stepping outside.

Seeing Shen Ran’s inquiry, perhaps fearing his anger, Yuanbao lowered his head even further, whispering, "The Empress is here to beg on behalf of General Zhao’s youngest son. She says if Your Majesty refuses to see her, she will kneel outside the palace gate and not rise."

Shen Ran was slightly taken aback, then recalled the name.

General Zhao Shoude was a trusted subordinate of Xue Yuandao, recently imprisoned on charges of treason and collusion with the enemy by Liu Shizhuang, who had ordered the execution of his entire family.

Only his youngest two children remained alive.

The youngest daughter, aged sixteen, had been consigned to the brothel department, while the youngest son, not yet fifteen, was to be castrated and sent into palace servitude.

Eunuchs were traditionally despised by the aristocracy; for a man, this was a profound humiliation. Especially since the family was of noble lineage, Liu Shizhuang’s cruelty was unparalleled. He made sure everyone believed it was his command, stirring sorrow among loyal officials.

Yet Shen Ran regarded it without concern.

He had always been one to "love means wishing them to live, hate means wishing them to die." When he liked Liu Ruyi, as long as she was satisfied, anything was permissible.

But now...

Liu Ruyi, unaware of Shen Ran’s change in mood, spoke softly, filled with tender affection: "Your Majesty, General Zhao Shoude is indeed a trusted officer of General Xue. It is natural for the Empress to plead for his son. However, this man committed treason and deserves punishment. If he is not severely punished, it will appear that General Xue harbors ill intentions and shows favoritism. To avoid troubling Your Majesty, perhaps I may go out and persuade the Empress."

Each word was a sting.

She accused General Xue of being implicated in Zhao Shoude’s treason. Though seemingly for his benefit, she was sowing discord between him and Xue Wu.

Behind every feigned gentle and magnanimous word from Liu Ruyi lay a dagger. And the more she pushed him away, pretending to care for others, the less he wished to see her wronged.

How did he respond last time?

He had said, "The wind outside is strong; don’t catch a chill. If the Empress prefers to kneel, let her kneel."

Then indeed, Xue Wu knelt through a bitterly cold night.

Shen Ran chuckled lightly, a murderous gleam flashing through his lowered eyes.

He pressed Liu Ruyi down on the bed and said calmly, "The wind outside is strong; don’t catch a chill. I will personally go see the Empress."

Liu Ruyi was speechless.

Everyone in the palace knew Shen Ran detested meeting Xue Wu.

She was momentarily stunned, about to speak, but saw Shen Ran leave without hesitation.

The bright yellow cloak billowed in the air, tracing an arc before vanishing from sight.