Chapter 15

Upon hearing the news, Wei Lenghou remained composed.

While listening to Eunuch Ruan’s report, he didn’t even pause his brush as he continued writing memorials, his voice steady and unruffled as he asked, “Has the troublemaking servant been punished?”

Eunuch Ruan, standing outside the study, lowered his voice and replied, “The one who stepped on the cat was Ping’er, the maid of the Grand Tutor’s fourth madam. How could the guards possibly… offend a madam?”

Wei Lenghou furrowed his brows slightly before asking again, “And what about the troublesome beast?”

Eunuch Ruan bowed his head and continued, “That Consort Yun did have her eunuch immediately kill the cat by smashing it, but…”

“But what?”

“But His Majesty said the cat was rather adorable… and took it back to his sleeping quarters…”

“…”

Though he had no desire to see that little brat, the fact remained that it was his concubine’s maid who had caused this commotion in full view of the court.

The ministers were all watching.

Wei Lenghou knew he had to go check on the Emperor’s injuries and exchange a few obligatory pleasantries.

By his own calculations, he hadn’t seen that little brat in quite some time.

These past days, he hadn’t really thought much about that useless brat.

His routine remained as it always was—handling state affairs, returning home to rest.

As expected, that slight wavering of his heart, that momentary distraction, had been nothing more than a passing whim.

It was simply the result of spending too much time around the young Emperor, getting caught up in some inexplicable nonsense.

Now that he had kept his distance, without that soft voice in his ears or those clear, indifferent eyes in his sight, his mind had regained its clarity.

He was still himself—the decisive, ruthless, and efficient Wei Lenghou!

With that thought, Grand Tutor Wei put his mind at ease, stood up, and left the study, ready to pay his respects to the Emperor out of duty.

With the herald’s cry of “Grand Tutor Wei requests an audience!”

Wei Lenghou strode into the inner chambers.

The sleeping quarters were pleasantly warm, and the incense burner emitted a refined jasmine fragrance, its delicate scent mingling with a faint trace of medicinal herbs in the air.

Amidst this soothing atmosphere was an even more captivating scene.

The young Emperor, whom he hadn’t seen in days, had his hair tied up in a simple bun and was dressed in a loose robe, reclining in a soft chair.

The stark contrast of the vivid red marks on his smooth, pale forehead was rather unsightly.

Even more displeasing, however… was the man standing behind the little Emperor.

Judging by his attire, the young man appeared to be an imperial physician.

His large hands were firmly grasping the Emperor’s slender, jade-like neck, massaging it with force.

As for the young Emperor himself, he seemed to be greatly enjoying the treatment.

His lips parted slightly, letting out small, breathy murmurs—like a chime of finely carved jade bells, rolling in the wind and striking the ear with a rhythmic clarity…

Even as Grand Tutor Wei entered, the physician did not stop to bow, nor did he so much as glance his way.

He remained entirely focused on massaging the Emperor’s sprained neck.

It was the young Emperor, Nie Qinglin, who first noticed the long-absent Grand Tutor appearing before her with a dark expression.

Enduring the pain, she trembled as she spoke, “Physician Zhang… ah… stop for now…”

Yet Zhang, the imperial physician, was a rigid-minded fool.

To him, the Emperor was the supreme ruler; whether Grand Tutor or even the Emperor’s grandfather, etiquette dictated they wait until the treatment was finished before speaking.

Hearing His Majesty say “stop,” the physician merely assumed the Emperor was struggling to bear the pain and softly reassured him, “Your Majesty, please endure a little longer, we’re almost done. If we stop now, we’ll have to start all over again later…”

With that, he slightly eased the pressure of his hands but continued to knead that delicate, smooth neck with familiarity.

What kind of ridiculous physician had the Imperial Medical Bureau sent!

The ever-composed Grand Tutor suddenly felt his anger flare violently.

He barked, “Guards! Drag this tactless physician out of here!”

Immediately, two guards entered the chamber, grabbed the bewildered Zhang, and hauled him away.

The Grand Tutor’s sudden outburst sent the attending palace maids and eunuchs to their knees in terror.

Nie Qinglin, seeing that Wei Lenghou had arrived in such an aggressive manner, was unsure whether he had come to vent the frustrations of one of the Shang sisters upon her.

But upon careful reflection, she had not blamed either of those noble ladies after hurting her neck, had she?

Could it be… that her cry of pain during the incident had been too loud, and disturbed those two beauties?

Unable to make sense of it, she raised a hand to her aching neck and softly spoke in defense of the dismissed physician, “That physician only recently joined the Imperial Medical Bureau, so he lacks awareness and proper etiquette. However, his medical skills are quite excellent. Grand Tutor, if your neck has been bothering you these past few days, you might consider having him treat you…”

She had actually heard about this from Eunuch Ruan earlier.

When the eunuch had come to check on her injuries, he had casually remarked, “How come Your Majesty’s neck is just like the Grand Tutor’s—sprained?”

Originally, Grand Tutor Wei had been fuming over the young Emperor pleading for that physician, wondering if he had developed a fondness for the physician’s youthful vigor and good looks.

But upon hearing the latter half of the sentence—a genuine expression of concern for himself—his temper cooled considerably.

His expression gradually softened as he stepped closer and asked, “Your Majesty has not seen this servant for days—how did you know about my neck pain?”

“Although the Grand Tutor has been busy with affairs of state lately and has not been able to see me, I have always admired his unwavering dedication to the nation, never loosening his robes in his tireless service. I often ask Eunuch Ruan about the Grand Tutor’s well-being. Hearing that he is in good health allows me to eat a few extra bowls of rice.”

Having been influenced by the refined ladies and elites in the grand hall earlier, this flattery flowed smoothly.

Unfortunately, with her head tilted and neck twisted, the effect of her praise was greatly diminished.

Wei Lenghou watched as the little one, with teary eyes from pain, still tried her best to express her admiration for him.

This clumsy yet earnest flattery unexpectedly warmed even his iron heart, and the intention he had to deliberately avoid seeing this young emperor faded significantly.

He waved his hand, ordering the palace maids and eunuchs to withdraw.

Then, he stepped closer to the little emperor, lifted her chin, and examined the wound on her forehead.

Fortunately, the kitten’s claws were still soft, and the scratches were not deep.

However, the child’s skin was far too delicate—despite the application of ointment, the faint red marks were still swollen, making his heart tighten at the sight.

Having just witnessed the Grand Tutor’s fury, Nie Qinglin dared not evade his overbearing hand, meeting his gaze instead.

Being this close, she could see his features more clearly.

His phoenix eyes were slightly upturned, his double eyelids carrying a hint of coldness.

His straight nose was rare in its perfection, though his tightly pressed lips gave him an air of aloofness.

His thick, sword-like brows, however, added to his striking and commanding presence…

Nie Qinglin sighed inwardly.

If only she could admire this face without fear of harm—what a truly pleasing sight that would be!

The child’s dazed expression did not escape the Grand Tutor’s notice.

Looking at her slightly parted, rosy lips, if not for the injury on her forehead being such an eyesore, he would have been tempted to steal a kiss.

Cautioning himself, he abruptly straightened and moved behind the emperor.

Taking a deep breath, he said, “My massage skills aren’t bad either. Let me tend to Your Majesty’s injury.”

Without waiting for her consent, he began at once.

As his large hands settled on that slender neck, he realized that every inch of the young emperor’s skin was incomparably smooth and soft, like warm jade—an irresistible sensation.

Nie Qinglin felt as though her neck had been caught in an iron grip, but the hands applying pressure did not exert force.

Instead, after briefly kneading her neck, they slowly began to slide downward along the collar of her robe.

Alarm bells rang in her mind.

She immediately raised her hands to clutch her collar, disregarding the pain in her neck as she cried out, “Grand Tutor!”

Yet in his ears, that soft, delicate voice sounded just like a coquettish plea.

Wei Lenghou could no longer restrain himself and pulled her into his embrace.

Nie Qinglin let out a small gasp, her wide eyes locking onto the Grand Tutor’s.

She noticed that his gaze had become the same as it had been in the forest before, and she shivered slightly.

“Grand Tutor, be gentle—my neck still hurts…”

Holding the small figure in his arms, Wei Lenghou felt an electric spark flash through him.

He had thought that distancing himself for a while would dull his feelings for this little emperor.

Yet, upon seeing this exquisitely carved jade-like figure again, all his repressed desires surged back with full force!

But this time, he had no intention of suppressing himself.

Wei Lenghou had always been one to act on his own will.

A true man should be like this! Conquering battlefields, overthrowing dynasties—who had ever denied him what he wanted?

So what if it was about cherishing a boy? Was he to be shackled by Confucian morals and deny himself his desires?

The one in his arms, though a noble imperial descendant, a little dragon pearl placed upon the throne, was still his for the taking.

If he desired something, nothing—no matter how untouchable—would escape him!

The little dragon pearl was destined to be a useless emperor, but such an obedient, delicate creature—keeping her alive was not difficult.

In the future, he could simply declare that the emperor had seen through the fleeting nature of the world and chosen to reside in a Buddhist hall.

That way, she would still remain in the palace, the empire would still be his, and he could continue to dote on this precious little being…

With this thought, all the turmoil in Wei Lenghou’s heart suddenly unraveled.

“Since Your Majesty praises that imperial physician’s skills, summon him again later for treatment. However, Your Majesty’s body is worth more than gold. How could you allow a lowly commoner to touch you so freely? Have the palace maids bring a silk handkerchief to cover your neck before that servant lays a hand on you again.”

Nie Qinglin dared not remind the Grand Tutor that his own ‘commoner’s hands’ were still pressing against her precious body.

She could only nod obediently.

At that moment, a soft meow echoed through the hall.

A fluffy white kitten timidly peeked inside, its tiny tail, freshly bandaged, wrapped in a gauze bow.

Wei Lenghou immediately recognized it as the troublemaker.

His expression darkened, and he was about to order its execution when Nie Qinglin quickly spoke up, anticipating his intentions.

“This kitten, though it caused trouble, did not act with ill intent. A mere small creature knows nothing of right and wrong. If we were to take its life over such a matter, wouldn’t that tarnish the wisdom and benevolence of both me and my dear minister?”

Wei Lenghou watched as Nie Qinglin anxiously defended the kitten.

This little one had remained indifferent even when a blade had been raised against her, yet now, over a mere ball of fur, she was reacting as if her life depended on it.

“You like it?”

Nie Qinglin hesitated, uncertain of the right answer to please the Grand Tutor while ensuring the kitten’s survival.

After a moment, she nodded hesitantly.

Grand Tutor was rather easygoing this time and did not make things difficult for her.

He straightforwardly said, “Then let it stay in the palace to amuse you. But if it ever harms even a bit of the Emperor’s skin again, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”

The fact that the Grand Tutor was giving her, the Emperor, such face left Nie Qinglin somewhat flattered.

She quickly blinked her big eyes and thanked him.

Wei Lenghou had left his official duties unfinished to come over.

Now that he saw the little Dragon Pearl was indeed fine, he could rest assured and return to handle state affairs.

But before leaving, he tightly embraced this soft and fragrant Dragon Pearl once more, suppressing the urge to steal a kiss, then turned and left.

After the Grand Tutor had gone, Nie Qinglin did not immediately summon Imperial Physician Zhang.

Instead, she walked over and scooped up the fluffy little creature into her arms, gently stroking its sleek white fur as she whispered, “You and I are truly kindred spirits—both abandoned, at the mercy of others, nothing more than pitiful pawns in this palace. I spared your life today, but what happens to you in the future will depend on your own fate.”

After speaking, she let out a rare long sigh.

Outside, however, the Grand Tutor was in an exceptionally good mood, a rare occurrence in recent days.

In his mind, he was calculating: Anxi was yet to be eliminated, and in the Pingxi region, troops had been deployed, awaiting his command. He had no time to indulge in romance for now. Moreover, the palace was filled with watchful eyes; if he acted too wantonly, word would inevitably spread, giving those with ulterior motives something to use against him.

Once the matter of removing the feudal lords was settled, he would take the little emperor to the imperial villa on the outskirts of the capital for a hunting trip and stay there for some time.

By then, he would press this little Dragon Pearl onto the bed and finally indulge himself without restraint…

At this thought, Grand Tutor, who had abstained from desire for days, felt a sudden heat surge through him, his blood rushing.

His footsteps became increasingly light, while Eunuch Ruan, trailing behind, was nearly gasping for breath from trying to keep up.

As he exited the sleeping quarters, he noticed Shang Yunxiang, accompanied by her maid Ping’er, gracefully approaching under the escort of palace guards.

Earlier, she had lightly scolded Ping’er, but in truth, she was quite satisfied.

After all, the girl was simply a devoted servant protecting her mistress.

Just imagining how her elder sister, Consort Yun, had turned pale upon realizing her beloved cat had caused such a disaster was quite satisfying.

She even considered rewarding Ping’er once they returned to the residence.

After all, the only reason that little emperor sat on the dragon throne was because her husband had permitted it—nothing more than a figurehead.

What noble and precious body? His life and death were still at the Grand Tutor’s discretion.

How could he possibly slight his concubine’s dignity over such a trivial matter?

Even though it was her sister’s cat that had caused the trouble, taking the initiative to apologize would only demonstrate her reasonableness and ability to navigate courtly affairs.

“This concubine greets Lord Grand Tutor. Just now, my maid Ping’er carelessly caused a great disaster and injured the imperial body. I have come to plead for forgiveness.”

Though Shang Yunxiang was here to apologize, her expression remained composed and relaxed.

At this moment, Ping’er immediately chimed in, “It was my own clumsiness that led to this disaster. I accidentally stepped on Consort Yun’s cat, causing a great mishap. I beg the Grand Tutor for punishment. However… it is truly pitiful for our Fourth Madam. She has been sensitive to cat fur since childhood, yet Consort Yun entered the hall covered in cat fur. Poor Madam had only just stopped sneezing when she broke out in a rash all over her arms. And now she must also suffer being implicated by me and wait here for your judgment. This servant truly deserves to die!”

With that, she knelt down and began knocking her head against the ground, tears brimming in her eyes.

Hearing this, Fourth Madam felt another surge of satisfaction.

The Grand Tutor was a wise man—he should understand what kind of malicious intent lay behind her sister bringing that cat into the hall.

She only hoped her current pitiful appearance would earn her husband’s sympathy, allowing her to rekindle the tender affection of that night…

Yet, before the smile on Shang Yunxiang’s lips had fully faded, she heard the Grand Tutor’s cold voice:

“I had thought that a servant from the Shang household would be well-mannered. But looking at her now, she is nothing more than a sharp-tongued and cunning wretch, full of scheming thoughts. If she continues to serve her mistress, she will only lead her astray. Since she claims she deserves to die, then I shall fulfill her wish. Guards, drag her out and beat her to death.”