Chapter 23 – The Movie King’s Son

Ms. Liu, scared of letting this child say anything else surprising, stood in front of her and said to Gu Xi: “I’ll take her to change.”

Gu Xi did not talk and held his forehead while looking at the camera. When he saw the female actress being reluctant to do anything, he couldn’t help but slam the script against the table. “Cut!”

Everyone knew that Director Gu was going to be mad, and everyone there wished Zhou Xuan good luck. 

After changing into the right clothes, Fang Jiu sat in the makeup room, letting the make-up artist do whatever he wanted. Ms. Liu came through the door, thought of something, and couldn’t hide her smile. 

“What are you laughing at, Ms. Liu?” Fang Jiu couldn’t move, so she looked at her from the side of her vision. 

Ms. Liu sat down and opened her bottle of water with an interesting expression, yet she did not say a single word. 

The makeup artist noticed and couldn’t help but whisper: “Our director Gu is handsome, tall and all, but when he’s directing a play, he holds no emotions. That Zhou Xuan already failed many times today. Director Gu must be angry right now, so you, Ms. Fang, better watch out.”

Fang Jiu was clearly uncomfortable about being called “miss” by someone older than her. But actors and actresses don’t look at ages… Yet, thinking about how Gu Xi scolded Zhou Xuan, she still felt hollow. 

“Ma is correct. If you don’t understand something later, ask. Don’t be shy. Gu Xi is not like those directors of literature and art movies. He’s not strict on the acting; as long as you don’t make mistakes, he won’t scold you.” Ms. Liu said, putting down her water bottle. 

Fang Jiu replied: “Mhm,” holding on to her script, examining it. Even Zhou Xuan, who is a popular actress, was scolded like that. She herself was merely a new actress. 

After her makeup, Fang Jiu, who looked originally shy and youthful, seemed beautiful and filled with feelings. The red decoration in the middle of her forehead made her bewitching, to the point that even the artist complimented her natural beauty. 

Scared of being scolded, Fang Jiu continued to stare at her script. She understood the mechanisms of her character yet still wanted to know more about it. 

Before the filming started, she met her partner for this scene: Zhao Qi, who is acting as a debauched monarch. Zhao Qi is known as the most popular actor, but he previously only went for the smaller movies. Now that he got his awards, he aimed for larger-scale movies, and it seems that he lowered his required payment in order to gain this role. 

Fang Jiu saw Gu Xi talking to Zhao Qi about the play, so she hurried with her jacket over. 

As Fang Jiu came over, Gu Xi lazily glanced at her. Seeing that her makeup did make her look like the role she’s acting for, he decided to speak to her: “I’ll give you the beat later. When I cue you, go propose the toast to the emperor. You…”

Gu Xi didn’t know how to explain it. This scene required her to seduce the emperor, and he had no way of explaining that to a young lady. 

“I understand!” Fang Jiu nodded her head. 

Zhao Qi glanced at the girl and thought that she was funny. Looks like this scene is going to take a while to film. 

Gu Xi did not say anything else. He waved his hand to get the actors in place. 

Fang Jiu took off her jacket and handed it to her manager. The red, flaming dress showed her figure. Zhao Qi wore a yellow, dragon emperor robe as he sat on the imperial chair, squinting at the female dancer beneath his place, evidently already in the mood of his character. 

Gu Xi decided that if this girl fails this scene, he will take her back to her parents. A girl shouldn’t be messing around in the world of actors. 

“Everyone ready….” Gu Xi stared at the camera. “Action!” 

The air blower started and Fang Jiu’s dress moved with the wind. The others around her started dancing, and she, with her veil, moved swiftly. She spun  softly, her eyes filled with flirtation. 

The actors inside the palace whispered and showed amazement towards Fang Jiu. Even the emperor stared at the woman. 

Fang Jiu took dance lessons at school and learned this dance with her teacher multiple times before taking this role. Now, all she needs to do is pretend this dance is an assignment. 

When the music in her earphones stopped, Fang Jiu walked barefoot to the emperor. She kneeled on the floor with a cup of alcohol with her head down: “Here’s to my emperor~”

Her tone seemed so flirtatious, to the point that Zhao Qi had to steady himself for a moment. He excitedly took over her glass of alcohol and stroked Fang Jiu’s hand for a moment. 

“Emperor~” Fang Jiu turned around to leave. Zhao Qi tried to grab her yet took only her veil. Her appearance became clear to everyone there. Each person took a deep breath. 

Everyone had to say that Fang Jiu’s look definitely satisfied the demands of this role. The other workers at the scene watched with disbelief, each doubting how an unexperienced actor could have adequate skills and not be scared in this sort of scene. 

Gu Xi stared into the camera with a complicated feeling. Fang Jiu isn’t the best at acting, but she’s good for being unexperienced. Like what her mom said, Fang Jiu definitely has the potential. 

“Beauty… Don’t leave!” The emperor Zhao Qi was acting for instantly stumbled after her. Fang Jiu left a flirtatious smile and ran in other directions of the palace. 

She did not run fast, and Zhao Qi reached her quickly, embracing her tightly. “I have finally caught you!” 

“Emperor~” Fang Jiu blushed, looking down. 

“Cut!”

At that moment, Fang Jiu pushed Zhao Qi away as her manager gave her her jacket. She ran in the direction of Gu Xi. 

Zhao Qi fell silent. Is he really that despiteful? 

“Director… Gu, anything I need to change?” Fang Jiu stood behind his chair, staring at the replay inside the camera. 

Gu Xi didn’t speak. He still had complicated feelings, and he feels that he should have a talk about life with Fang Jiu tonight. 

A little girl in the world of acting… hugging and kissing others… this is burning her alive! 

“No, you did very well.” His voice was still cold. 

The workers were all surprised as they looked at Fang Jiu. This is the first time their director complimented someone! 

Fang Jiu let out a deep breath. She suddenly thought of something, and moved a chair to sit down beside the director. “I have a little request.”

Gu Xi glanced at her. Instead of the flirtation that was previously on her face and despite her makeup, she had clear eyes and seemed shy as if she did not know how to phrase what she was going to say. 

“Yes?” He still did not have any emotions inside his voice. 

Fang Jiu hesitated for a long time, and at last said: “I… would like to find a substitute for my next scene.” 

The next scene, which is at the bathhouse, requires her to show her back. Fang Jiu did not want to be to exposed, even if this was the basis of being an actress. Well… who cares. 

After she said so, the vice-director couldn’t help but take a few glances at her, as if he could already see director Gu scolding her. 

Gu Xi was silent for a few seconds and said: “Yes.”

There was no need for Fang Jiu to show her back. Zhou Xuan already had the scenes with shady relations. 

Fang Jiu, after hearing his decision, happily ran off with her script to prepare for other scenes. 

The vice-director looked at what just happened in complete confusion. Isn’t the type of actors who find substitutes the type that their director Gu hated the most? 

The next two scenes weren’t difficult. Fang Jiu almost completed them on first tries. However, tomorrow she has a scene of a dance at a ball which she needs to practice. 

When the crew stopped filming, it was already six o’clock. Gu Xi was toxic, yet he never took time to rest from any celebrities or actors. As long as it’s not necessary for a night scene, he usually never filmed at night. Everyone respected him for this. 

After changing, Xiao Qi, Fang Jiu’s manager, asked her where they should eat. Fang Jiu wanted to practice dancing and decided to order food. 

The first thing Fang Jiu saw was Zhao Qi talking to her manager after Fang Jiu walked out of the makeup room. Fang Qi, seeing that Fang Jiu walked out, said: “We would have many scenes together. Do you want to eat together to get to know each other?”

Zhao Qi is 185 centimeters tall and handsome. At least he already enchanted Fang Jiu’s manager. 

“Next time maybe. I have an important scene tomorrow and I need to practice it.” Fang Jiu looked at the dim sky, reminding herself of how there will be all sorts of paparazzi out there. She had no interest for creating any gossip. 

Seeing that she’s leaving, Zhao Qi grabbed her elbow and asked seriously: “Then, tomorrow?” 

Zhao Qi’s manager stood silent the whole time. He did not know that his actor, who has never been involved in gossip, now asks other actors out. 

Who knows where he learned that. 

Fang Jiu scowled, looking at his hand on her elbow. He let go immediately, smiling awkwardly. 

“I don’t know whether I have time tomorrow. How about we talk about this when there’s time?” Fang Jiu did not want to anger anyone, but neither did she want to be too close with anyone. Zhao Qi does look very handsome, but the entertainment business never lacked handsome men. 

Surprised by being rejected, Zhao Qi felt destroyed. Is it because he’s no longer young? No young girls like him now? 

“What are you two doing!” Gu Xi stopped walking as he passed by this scene. He scolded: “It’s not time for publication yet!”

It seems that the public morals are declining day by day. 

Fang Jiu did not know what to say. 

She did not want to stay longer. Fang Jiu put on her hat and her mask as she slipped out of the set. 

Since the cast was filled with famous actors, these paparazzi waited every day for potential gossip. A few pictures of some scenes would be enough material for them. Fang Jiu already met many, many paparazzi on her way from the set to the hotel, yet all of them were kept at the hotel door. These people wouldn’t wait for too long unless they had mini-cameras, yet no one would usually be so manic to do so. 

After returning to her hotel room, Fang Jiu asked Xiao Qi to order food and then went to shower. After her shower, she ate and talked to herself about the script. 

At the same time, Gu Xi exited the bathroom of his presidential suite upstairs, looked at tomorrow’s schedule, made a few adjustments, and remembered, despite having prepared to go to sleep early, that a “friend from his childhood” was waiting for him to get his materials. 

He knew that his mom must’ve bought random, little gadgets for him, but he still put on a black jacket and hat, walking downstairs. 

Fang Jiu was practicing alone when her doorbell rang. She wiped her sweat and went for the door immediately. Opening the door, she saw Gu Xi standing at the entrance, wearing all black. 

“Where are the things?” Gu Xi looked at her body, noticing how the girl who used to chase him around has grown to become an adult. 

Fang Jiu wore a lose robe, showing her fair and clean legs. There was a thin layer of sweat on her face which was free from makeup. Seeing him, she turned to the side: “Come inside first. It’s not good for people to this.”

After hesitating for a moment, Gu Xi marched inside. His door was always the one knocked; he never had to knock on someone else’s door. 

“Wait for a moment,” Fang Jiu said, walking in and out of her room with an intricate blue bag: “Mrs. Gu told me to give this to you. She also wants to remind you to stay healthy and not be too tired.”

Then, she took a bottle of coke out of her fridge. “I didn’t know that you became a director. You said you wanted to be an astronaut, remember?”

Gu Xi fell silent. Why does she remember this? 

“No matter what you say, shouldn’t you think about what your mom will think of if she seems you hugging some other men?” Gu Xi walked towards the door with the bag. He glanced back before leaving: “If you like acting, go for plays and musicals. This place is not for you.”

Then, he opened the door and left, leaving Fang Jiu alone. 

How will I get closer to you if I don’t enter this field?

The next day, Fang Jiu went to the set early morning. She has a big scene today, which meant dancing on a high stage. This is also a scene with many others, which meant that every actor would be here. She’s not the center, but there would be a few scenes with only her. This is, actually, the hardest to control. 

Gu Xi dislikes people who are late, so everyone was punctual. Seeing Fang Jiu practice dancing, Zhou Xuan had to stop with her hot coffee. She studied her from top to bottom: “I heard that Xia Xi is your aunt?” 

Becoming still and seeing the eyes of other workers focusing on her, Fang Jiu replied instantly: “I don’t have such a good aunt like Ms. Xia.”

The entertainment field always exaggerates things. If someone says today that the main actress is her aunt, tomorrow someone will say she’s her mom. 

Zhou Xuan sipped her hot coffee and lazily watched Fang Jiu dance. “Having a good aunt makes her different. She can get the role out of no where, and could even delete her scenes…”

Everyone knew that the scene at the bath place is gone now. Even Gu Xi had to allow Fang Jiu’s request, so Xia Xi must be her connection! 

Fang Jiu stretched, took her jacket from her manager, did not speak, and left silently. 

When Gu Xi was talking about the play, everyone had to listen. The workers all knew that it was time for director Gu to lash out at the actors. 

“Mr. Qi, you had a very good concept just then. When you slam the table, just listen to my beat.” Gu Xi said to the older main actor. Then, looking at Zhou Xuan who kept putting on more makeup, he slammed his script onto the desk, his face filled with apathy: “Are you trying to act as a corpse by making your face so white?” 

No one spoke. 

Fang Jiu couldn’t control it and laughed with a low volume. 

Zhou Xuan put her makeup tools away and glared at her. Zhao Qi tried to help: “Zhou always had beautiful, white skin. She’ll shine if she puts on more!” 

Everyone likes compliments, and since it was Zhao Qi who usually did not compliment anyone, Zhou Xuan immediately felt satisfied, holding up her script. She pretended to be curious and humble as she flirtatiously looked at Gu Xi: “Director Gu, I don’t really understand this scene. Could you explain it?” 

Gu Xi did not take an extra look at her. He commented coldly: “Spend your makeup time on your script and you would understand it.”

Then, he put his attention on the space around Zhao Qi and Fang Jiu. At last, his gaze landed on Fang Jiu’s dress: “This gown is too ugly. Let the people in charge of costumes find another one.”

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Translated by: Valerie

Edited by: Yutong/Puppxteer

Chapter 22.3 – The Movie King’s Son

With the female lead’s help, the original had a smooth debut. Her company was also owned by the female lead, then she filmed a typical idol romance film and made her debut. Now that she has gained some fanbase, today, she headed to a big movie’s acting set!

That’s right. This movie was directed by the male lead’s son, and she was forced into the cast by the female lead!

“We’re here!” Ms. Liu looked back at her and said seriously: “Gu Xi has a bad temper, not to mention that you were forced in by his mother. If he doesn’t respect his mother’s choice of putting you in, please just endure it and don’t have a temper tantrum.”

Looking at all the employees walking around, Fang Jiu nodded her head and followed Ms. Liu into the set.

In this show, the male and female leads were hot shots, they had both looks and acting skills. Even the side role casts consisted of actors who knew their way in the industry. Fang Jiu was the second female lead, an enchanting and charming dancer. Later in the show, she successfully seduced the Emperor and became the concubine of the sixth house.

As she walked further in the set, she saw more seasoned actors who were big shots in the industry. Even though some were just here for a cameo, they all arrived early since Gu Xi didn’t like it when people were late.

A man wearing black casual wear was staring at the cameras not far from the filming set. He wore a black hat and was currently carefully watching the replay from the security cameras. His side profile was comparable to an extremely handsome celebrity.

While Feng Jiu was still thinking about how this mission would be easy, she saw him suddenly stand up, and cruelly said to the actress: “Zhou Xuan, are you brain damaged or do you have a Myocardial Infarction?”

Fang Jiu: “……”

But, no one in the filming set dared to laugh, it was as if they were used to his insults. The one currently being filmed was the third female lead, she was also a popular actress. Since everyone knew that Gu Xi’s movies always have a good box office, being in his movies will definitely help Zhou Xuan with her future. Or else she would never be here to endure these insults.

Fang Jiu suddenly wanted to back away, since she was forced in here, god knows how she’d be insulted!

“What are you hesitating for? Just go!” Ms. Jiu dragged her towards the security cameras.

The second female lead had an important role, but she doesn’t appear on the screen a lot. Plus, Fang Jiu’s mother was sick, so she didn’t come to the set for the past few days. But the original had already completely understood the script, so Fang Jiu was confident.

“Mr. Gu, it’s been a while.” Ms. Liu seemed to know Gu Xi, she pulled Fang Jiu towards her while she spoke.

Retracting his gaze from the monitor, Gu Xi sat on the chair and glanced at Fang Jiu. His mother had already told him how good his childhood friend’s acting skills were, and that if he didn’t recruit her, he’d regret it for life. Now that he’s taken a look at her, he didn’t want to speak.

Today, Fang Jiu did not put on any makeup and only wore a set of simple sportswear. Her hair was tied into a simple ponytail. Although her face was delicate enough, it looked a bit immature. She was like a college student who had not graduated yet.

“Did you read the script?” He asked aloofly.

The staff around them continued with what they were working on. They were already used to Gu Xu’s aloofness. He never knew what it meant to be gentle towards ladies.

Fang Jiu nodded, and responded seriously: “I did!”

The latter gave a light glance and realized that the girl in his memories, who chased him all around, seemed to be much quieter. He wondered why she felt as if she had no choice but to enter such a messy place as the entertainment circle.

Seeing that all the staff around them were busy with their own business, Fang Jiu suddenly moved her head closer to his and said in a soft voice, “Gu Xi Big Bro, your mom made me bring you some gifts she bought you from abroad.”

Gu Xi: “…”

Miss Liu: “…” Why doesn’t this child know how to stay low-profile!

After taking a deep breath, Gu Xi scanned around them and discovered nobody seemed to have heard them. He frowned and said in a low voice: “I’ll come to your room to get it tonight!”

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Translated By: Puppxteer/Yutong

Chapter 22.2 – The Emperor’s Son

It wasn’t until the eunuch’s shrill sound came from outside the room that everyone in the room knelt to the ground. After the door was pushed open, they immediately stoof and shouted: “The servants and maids bring our greetings to the emperor. Long live the emperor!”

Fang Jiu did not kneel, despite the old servant who kept on tugging her sleeves. She sits there, still as a mountain.

Kneel?

This guy would have died long ago if not for her cure,  let alone become the emperor!

“Leave us.” Xuan Yuanfan waved them away, his bright red dragon robe made him look more extravagant than ever, the other servants and maids had no choice but to quietly leave.

When there were only two people left in the palace, Xuan Yuanfan then walks over to her, looking at the stunningly beautiful face he remembered from his blurred memories, he lowers his head and whispers “My empress really is the most beautiful of them all. ”

Fang Jiu: “……” Idiot!

She immediately takes off her crown, her brow slightly furrowed, “Let me tell you, I’m going to return to the countryside with my father. Trust me I’m not going to stay at your stupid harem and fool around tricking your other concubines.”

Xuan Yuanfan’s originally good mood took a wild turn, his face changing color, “What about me?”

How can an empress not be at the palace!

“Not my problem.” She rolled her eyes, then continued to take off the myriad of little accessories in her hair, god knows how many accessories were put in there.

Her long and silky hair fell down like a waterfall, Xuan Yuanfan couldn’t resist but princess hugged her and marched towards the bed.

“Why fight with the other concubines? I’ll pick you every night.” He puts her down on the bed; looking at her flawless face, he couldn’t resist her beauty, and leaned in for a kiss, while it turned into a french kiss…

“Who… needs you… to pick them every night….” Fang Jiu tried to push him aside. She’s seen ridiculous people, but none were as absurd and shameless as him.

Ignoring her struggles, he continues to rip open her bright red empress gown; the well-made gown was ripped in half with one swift motion. Fang Jiu was speechless, she didn’t understand, how could he possibly have interest when her face was covered full with makeup?

She suddenly felt a big hand slip in towards her waist, then she was suddenly flipped around like a pancake.

“Let’s try a new position today……” He whispers to her.

Fang Jiu quietly swore “F*ck”, but before she could say it out loud, her underpants were suddenly stripped away from her and a breeze of cold air suddenly rushed in…… 

“Just you wait, tomorrow I’ll go home with my father, you shouldn’t come find me anymore…… ah!”

Suddenly, a surprised moan came out of the bright red bed, mixed in with sounds of a man’s rough breath. Dim candle lights illuminated the entire room, showing a different kind of soft charm…… 

Fang Jiu, who returned to the system space, was indifferent, but still couldn’t help but ask: “008, did we have beef with each other?”

System: “Host, why would you ask this?”

Fang Jiu: “……” I don’t want to speak to you!

“This mission was indeed a bit dangerous, but it is truly random. Us systems don’t have the power to control the mission type.” The system’s mechanical voice felt as if it expressed a helpless emotion.

Fang Jiu didn’t want to believe her, and instead asked: “Then how many missions do I have to complete before returning?”

The system was silent for a while, then formally replied: “We don’t have permission to know that information, but since we were once colleagues, I’ll ask the director after my shift.

“Alright, I’ll stop speaking. You should enter your next mission, remember, if you fail, your mind will forever be stuck in the virtual space!”

After the system’s creepy words ended, Fang Jiu’s vision went dark. When she woke up, she found herself in an RV.

Looking at the scenery flashing by the window, her mind was completely in shambles!

If she fails she has to stay here forever? Can the system not be so bad!

“Xiao Jiu, you have to remember to be nice when we arrive. You’ve just made your debut not long ago, and this movie is full of big shots in the industry. Just try to make some connections with them.” The front seat sat a woman in white suit. She turned around to look at Fang Jiu with concern.

Fang Jiu tilted her head, and half seriously nodded her head.

Seeing this, the woman turned back, trying to trust her words.

This was an Entertainment circle novel, where the female lead couldn’t attend college because of her poor family background, then became the male lead’s assistant on pure chance. Even though she did not receive professional training, she had lots of talent in the acting field. After landing a role of the third female lead in a movie with the intentional help from the male lead, she had slowly but surely built up her reputation, then finally got picked up by a famous director. With the male lead’s help, she overcame obstacles and became the youngest movie star with double awards in China.

Although the process seemed to be very simple, the dramas in the entertainment circle would never end. The female lead transformed from her naive self, at the beginning, to being shrewd. The male lead had been secretly protecting her the entire time until the female lead was framed for sleeping with the director in order to get a role. The male lead finally couldn’t resist but stood out to announce that he and the female lead were already together. Although it was fake, since they had already poked through the ambiguity in the air, they got together on a rainy day.

Now that the male and female were married, the male lead had already been awarded as the film emperor twice in international awarding ceremonies. He had an important role in the international industry, not to mention just inside China; however, nobody could get him to act in a film anymore nowadays. This was also one of the regrets of many famous directors. 

While the female lead remained active in the entertainment circle. Well, slightly active. She only occasionally attends fashion events, guest-starring in movies with her acquaintances, because she already had a stable status in mainland China, almost with the elites. So, if the movie wasn’t good, she wouldn’t act in it.

However, their son did not become an actor, but instead became a director!

Their son was overpowered, he received the national prize for most talented new director at a very young age, winning this prize was extraordinary, plus he had already been awarded the best director prize twice in China. And their son was weird as well, he never shoots artistic films, even though this genre was easy to win prizes with, he always goes for high-end films, and the box office for every film of his goes higher every time. Actors who can appear in his films were all big shots. If you wanted trending topics, they had trending topics. If you wanted acting skills, they had the skills, and he never accepts actors who pay their way in. He didn’t care if you were the higher up’s daughter, and no one dares to bat an eye.

Nowadays, the directors in China are seen as very important people. Excluding those super top-tiered actors, basically no one would be foolish enough to offend a director. Nonetheless, the male lead’s son didn’t reveal his relationship with his parents. Only a few people in the circle knew about it.

And her role…… 

Fang Jiu’s mood was complicated. She was originally the daughter of the female protagonist’s best friend. When she was a child, she played with the male protagonist’s son for a while but followed her grandma to go abroad, waiting for her to be picked up by her mother. At that time, the male protagonist’s son had already studied directing abroad, and the two did not have time to meet, so the original Fang Jiu also went to learn acting, but she was very talented, and even the heroine felt very aura when he saw it, and then introduced Fang Jiu into the circle.

TL Note: So sorry about the last chapter, but it’s only Sydney and I working at midnight on this so I just got lazy and used google translate.

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This was a hard chapter to translate, and for my fellow brothers out there reading this, it will be a hard chapter to read—and that can mean different things 😉

Translated by: Sydney & Michael
Edited by: Yutong/ Puppyxteer

Chapter 22.1 – The Emperor’s Son

Xuan Yuanfan: “…..”

“Then why were you crying just now?” He arched his eyebrows, looking subconsciously at her neck, which was covered in red marks. 

“I… I’m just mourning for my lost innocence,” Fang Jiu snorted softly. She ducked under her blanket on the bed before murmuring: “Even though you didn’t die, you still can’t erase the fact how you were taking advantage of others!”

 Fang Jiu was also very perplexed. She clearly remembered her mother, when still alive, telling her the method of detoxification and why touching women would be taboo. Her mother couldn’t have lied to her at that time, but this person looked very springy. How did he look as if he was dying?

“I’m trying to save you. Did you forget about this? Yesterday, you were the one who…”

“Shut up!” Fang Jiu stuck her head out of her blanket suddenly, her face already red, “You liar!”

Looking at her infuriated appearance, Xuan Yuanfan suppressed his smile, leaned over, buried his head into her neck, and sucked hard, “Okay, I’m talking nonsense. I took advantage of you. But things have already come to this step, so you can only marry me now.”

Fang Jiu’s heart skipped a beat. Wouldn’t marrying him be completing her mission? 

“Not answering would mean a yes.” He caressed her waist, his voice deep, “Does it hurt?”

If he didn’t say anything, she would’ve been less embarrassed. Now, she could feel her bones almost falling apart more clearly. Fortunately, all her memories from yesterday were blurry. She didn’t want to remember her own behavior after taking weird medicines. 

“Try being beaten up by me and see if it hurts?” Fang Jiu whispered lightly, using her hands to position his head away. “Get down. Don’t touch me.” 

If she didn’t know what she did last night, she would’ve wondered if she fell from the stairs. Or else, why would her bone crack every time she moved?

“This is not what you said last night,” He pursed his lips and whispered softly to her ear: “You said you are going to give birth to many of my babies.”

A rose-like color rose all the way up to her neck and Fang Jiu couldn’t stand it anymore. She pushed his shoulders forcefully and said: “I never said that. Go away!”

Bang, bang, bang!

Someone suddenly knocked on the doors, and Ming Yi’s reverent voice came: “Emperor, someone found a trace of Ms. Fang’s father in the capital.”

Just as the voice ended, Fang Jiu couldn’t help but change her expression a little. What was her father doing here in the capital for no reason? Did something happen?

“Rest some more if you’re tired. I will pass orders to bring your dad here.” Xuan Yuanfan ruffled her hair and stood up to walk away. 

Watching him leave, Fang Jiu wrapped herself in her blanket and called the maids inside to bring in some water and help her shower. 

After a bath, it was already midday. She was still eating her meal when she saw Ming Yi take someone into where she was. Seeing the familiar silhouette, Fang Jiu couldn’t help but stand up and called: “Father!” 

“Ms. Fang, I will leave you two to talk here,” Ming Yi said and walked away, taking all the servants and maids with him. 

Fang’s father looked around, admiring the luxurious palace and the table full of delicacies. His voice held the vicissitudes of life, “Your Shishu has told me all about it…”

Fang Jiu didn’t know how to explain. Some things weren’t explainable, so she could only say: “Sorry.”

“What happened to the previous generation remains with the previous generation. Your mother was faulty too. It is your own decision to marry the son of Feng Qingcheng or not. I just want you to be happy.” Her father took out a letter from the package behind him and pushed it towards her, “This is from your Shishu.”

Shishu? 

Fang Jiu took over the letter, confused. After opening it and seeing its contents, she was dumbfounded. 

“Shizhi, when you see this letter, Shishu, I, would already be down there with your mom.

I told your father to come to get you. No matter if Xuan Yuanfan is dead, I owe you an apology. Maybe your father is right. Maybe I’ve held on to the past for too long, but how could I forgive?

Shimei was the love of my life, but she didn’t love me. Even if the person that stays with her till the end is not me, I often find myself thinking why we’ve come to this step, but even until today, I still haven’t figured it out. 

Maybe this is all just fate. Feng Qingcheng and Xuan Yuanlin got everything, but their weakness is Xuan Yuanfan. Your mother sacrificed so much for Xuan Yuanlin but didn’t receive a single glance in return. If your mother knew that Xuan Yuanlin’s son is in love with her daughter, I don’t know what would she think?

Anyways, everything should end by now. Your Shishu, I, knows that I can’t make up for anything I’ve caused to you just by using these words. If you’re going to hate me, I can’t stop you. I’ll be down there with your mother to pay for my guilts! Left by Li Yuan!”

After reading this letter, Fang Jiu felt a mixture of feelings. Even though her Shishu did things too passionately, she couldn’t believe he just died like this. She still felt a bit incredible: Why did things have to come to this step?

“Aih, No matter if you choose to stay in the palace, our hospital will always be your home. If you ever want to come back, return and visit me. This palace is not as good as the outside. You don’t have a background, so you will receive prejudice and be discriminated against. If that Xuan Yuanfan is not nice to you, come back to find your dad. We don’t have to be the empress and all,” Her father patted her hand, his face filled with love from a father. 

Looking at her dad’s partly white hair, Fang Jiu couldn’t control the tears welling up in her eyes. Still, she nodded and didn’t say anything else. 

The ceremony for a new empress happened as planned, but Feng Qingcheng and Xuan Yuanlin left. They also left a condescending note for Fang Jiu: “Even if Fan’er accepts you, we will never admit you as our daughter-in-law! Look out for yourself!”

They must’ve had no choice. They didn’t want to stay here and watch her become the empress, so they left to travel and play.

On the day of the ceremony, the maids dragged Fang Jiu out of her bed before dawn. Shower, perfume, hairstyle, and all took four hours in total. They were finally prepared when the sky was mildly lit. 

Fang Jiu felt like she was in a dream when she saw the woman wearing a red, phoenix robe in the mirror. This mission felt too dangerous for her, and she almost died. That bastard system said it was easy. Sure, it was so easy to the point that she almost lost her life. 

After the rituals, Fang Jiu followed Xuan Yuanfan to receive the morning greetings from the court officials. After they went through the system of procedures, it was already noon. She sat in the wedding residence alone… eating food. 

“Oh my, your majesty, the emperor will be here soon… You…. You can’t be seen like this!” The old lady snatched the pastry from her hands and waved towards the other maids: “Quick, quick, add some makeup to the empress!”

Fang Jiu took only one bite and got dragged to the copper mirror for more makeup. The old lady said mysteriously: “Your majesty, remember: You are an empress, which means you’re different from concubines. You have to be demure all the time. Just do ‘that’ once. If you do ‘that’ too many times, the history will think you are the reason why there are so many troubles going on in the palace!”

Fang Jiu: “…” Did the system ever say she couldn’t get a divorce? 

“You are the representative of the palace! Do not be like those concubines. Every movement from you is being watched by the entire palace!” The old lady said worriedly, considering for Fang Jiu. 

Fang Jiu didn’t know what to say. She suppressed herself and could only let the maids work on her makeup. 

“The emperor is here!”

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Translated by: Sydney

Chapter 21 – The Emperor’s Son

The night sky was full of densely-packed stars, and the bright quarter moon hung high up in the sky, pouring down the glows of stars. The solemn and dry atmosphere outside the palace fell into a stalemate for some time. The dazzling torches kept swaying, brightening the surroundings.

At this time, a team of men in black armor and holding swords had already appeared behind Feng Qingcheng. Standing opposite from the guards at the entrance, the atmosphere gradually became murderous and menacing.

“Ming Yi, I was the one who saved you from a pile of beggars. I do not blame you for being loyal to Fan’er, but don’t forget that your stupidity will kill him sooner or later!” Feng Qingcheng tightened her grip on the whip, and her patience seemed to have reached its limits, too.

Ming Yi lowered his head, his voice desolate, “Ming Yi will never forget Taihou’s good deeds. However… This is an order from the emperor, and I, as an subordinate, do not dare to disobey him!”

He held tightly onto his sword hilt, and his eyes were red as if he saw the moment when his master got swallowed by the poison.

The night breeze was chilly. Feng Qingcheng suddenly laughed coldly, and her long and narrowed eyes were suffused with the same coldness, “If that’s the case, then don’t blame me for being merciless!”

She then instantly waved her hand, “Rush in!”

In that split second, the assassins behind her instantly waved their swords as they rushed to the guards at the entrance. The silent, dark night instantly fell into a killing scene…

At the same time, the room lit by the candle light shined with lust, underneath the bed sheet, the shadows of two people mingled together, filled with luring desire.

“Who says I’ll die…”

Xuan Yuanfan kissed onto her lean neck, and his hot kisses went down the path starting from her collarbones…

“My… My mother said… Tsk… It hurts…” Fang Jiu felt drowsy and nauseous. It took her hardest attempt to find her calm mind back, but now her sense of reality disappeared once again with the rush of drug effects.

“I’m curing you. There won’t be any effects if I go softer…” His voice was hoarse as his large hands slipped under her soft silk-made clothings and acted willfully.

Exotic sounds sounded in the mysterious palace…

Outside the door, however, was a massacre. Although Feng Qingcheng’s subordinates were impressive, this was the royal palace. They lacked nothing, especially the guards. When Xuan Yuanlin arrived, he saw such a macabre scene.

“Stop!”

Seeing him, everyone instantly stopped. Feng Qingcheng glared infuriately, “Something’s about to happen to Fan’er. Why aren’t you dashing in!”

Everyone still respected and feared the former emperor. At this time, they did not know whether to stop him or not. Even Ming Yi felt ambivalent; he didn’t want Xuan Yuanfan to die, but right now, he could only guard here.

Scanning around, Xuan Yuanlin still stepped up and pulled Feng Qingcheng back, saying in a lowered voice: “Fan’er has a similar personality to you. He will not change something he has decided on. Maybe… Maybe nothing will happen.”

“Xuan Yuanlin!” Feng Qingcheng shook away his hand. Her pretty eyes were full of anger and her reluctance to believe the reality. She pointed at the palace’s door shone with candlelights from the inside: “Your son is in there, and you can still say these words? Yes, you don’t have to feel anything, but that’s my blood-related child that I’ve spent so many years on educating. I can’t be so cold-blooded like you are!”

She then turned around and was going to dash in. However, before she had the chance to stride, her body shook abruptly. She instantly hollered angrily, “Xuan Yuanlin, f*ing let go of me!”

The latter picked her up into his arms in one go, turned his head, and looked towards Ming Yi, “Tell the imperial doctor to wait here.”

He then, holding the continuously yelling Feng Qingcheng, disappeared under the night sky. That group of assassins left too.

Tonight, the royal palace was destined to fall into a chaos. People who were smart definitely wouldn’t come out. The riot inside the palace would also attract many sly ones’ attention…

The sun hung high in the air the next day, and golden sunlight spilled into the room through the windows, shining on the pieces of clothings scattered around on the ground…

Fang Jiu rubbed her head and wanted to turn her body, but she realized that every bone in her body felt as if they were disassembled!

She randomly felt the bed space beside her, but she could only feel the icy bed sheets. Her heart skipped a beat, and she held back the panic inside as she tried her best to climb up, hugging the blanket. She was the only one on the entire emperor’s bed.

Recalling yesterday’s charming night, her face instantly became extra pale.

Did… Did Xuan Yuanfan really die?

At the same time, there was only a grave silence in the Jin Luan Palace. All the courtiers were discussing each other, all frowning about something.

At this time, an old man with a white beard finally couldn’t help but take a step forward and said to the man above everyone: “Emperor! In history, there has never been a civilian’s daughter that becomes the empress, not to mention that her identity is still unclear. Aren’t us, the royal family, going to lose face!”

“Yeah, emperor. If we really make that woman the empress, we are going to be the biggest joke in the world!”

“Emperor, please think twice!”

Everyone fought to talk over each other, then they instantly knelt and said in one voice, “Emperor, please think twice!”

The thundering voice echoed in the entire palace. Xuan Yuanfan, who was above everyone, sat on his exclusive chair in a bright yellow robe. He had only a calm look as he watched the people below him suggest to him!

After a moment, when the silence was restored in the palace, he finally said with a slightly-cold voice: “Zhen recalls that the former empress used to be the daughter of a concubine in the prime minister’s house. The prime minister rebelled and became a criminal, which would make zhen’s mother the daughter of a criminal courtier. She was supposed to become a slave, but she still became the empress later on. Besides, it’s zhen’s own business who he wants to make the empress. You all want to decide for zhen?”

The voice that contained no warmness echoed in the entire huge palace. Everyone, kneeling on the floor, exchanged glances. Now that the emperor even mentioned the former empress’s case, what else could they say?

Besides, last night, there was such a huge farce in the royal palace. The emperor even rebelled against the taihou for that woman. What could they, as only courtiers, even do?

However, someone who “did not fear death” still stepped out. He went up and kowtowed with a “here goes nothing” look, “Emperor! Under no circumstances should you make that woman an empress! Taihou was born from a noble family. Besides, later on, the prime minister’s family got defeated, and they are no longer criminals. This woman has an unclear identity and has done nothing noteworthy. If the emperor really is determined on making that woman an empress, chen… for this Nan Dynasty… chen can only pose his judgement by dying!”

TL’s Note: “Chen” is how a courtier would refer to theirselves as.

Each of his kowtow made a louder sound than the previous one. Xuan Yuanfan, sitting above, laughed coldly, “Since Courtier Wang has such a loyal heart, how can zhen not make your wish come true?”

His expression immediately changed in the next second, “Someone come and drag him out, off with his head!”

In that instant, everyone stopped breathing. Two guards instantly walked in from outside the doors and dragged out that Courtier Wang, who was looking extremely confused!

The huge palace instantly quieted down. Nobody else dared to speak anything.

Seeing this, Xuan Yuanfan scanned all of them with a cold glance, “The empress’s ceremony will be hosted after half a month. If anyone else has any other suggestions, say it now. Zhen is listening!”

“…”

When nobody talked, Xuan Yuanfan finally got up slowly, “Since that’s all, then if zhen hears any negative rumors, you will get punished with the title of ‘disturbing the royal court protocols’!”

He then instantly walked out of the palace. The rest of them still knelt on the floor, not daring to murmur a single word.

When he returned to Qian Qing palace, there was still a large group of guards standing outside the door. When Xuan Yuanfan entered, he could only hear waves of sobbing from inside.

After he saw that they were coming from the silhouette on the bed, he couldn’t help but curled the corners of his lips and strode towards her.

“Why are you crying? Does it still hurt?” He lifted up her small face, which had traces of tears all over. Reaching out one hand, he helped her wipe away the teardrops at the corners of her eyes.

When she abruptly faced a familiar face, Fang Jiu froze for a bit, then reached out one hand to pinch his face, confused. When she realized his face was still elastic, she couldn’t help but frowned. She raised a hand to wipe all of the tear marks on her face, then looked at him, disgusted, “Why are you not dead yet!”

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Translated by: Sydney

Edited by: Yutong

Chapter 20 – The Emperor’s Son

“Shishu, you are literally crazy!” Fang Jiu was so angry at this moment she wanted to curse, but the strange feeling in her body rushed to her brain. As a doctor, it was the first time Fang Jiu experienced the helplessness of having a poison that she could not cure.

Li Yuan sighed, came up, and undid her acupuncture point.

In that instant, Fang Jiu felt for the needle in her sleeves. However, Li Yuan directly hooked his arm around her neck and brought her outwards, step by step.

“Shizhi, you know better than me that there’s no cure to this drug. Stop fighting back,” While he was speaking, he opened the door. A huge crowd of guards instantly appeared outside.

Seeing there was an assassin in the Qian Qing Palace, all the guards instantly pulled out their swords and surrounded the entrance. Ming Yi, who was in the lead, frowned as he hollered, “Li Yuan, are you crazy! She’s your Shizhi!”

The night wind breezed past them. Seeing the densely packed guards, Li Yuan continued to walk outwards with his arm hooked around Fang Jiu’s neck. As soon as he walked out of the surrounding circle, no one in the royal palace would be able to stop him.

“I naturally know she’s my Shizhi. If you move out of the way, I will release her!” Li Yuan walked out of the circle, step by step, still holding Fang Jiu as a hostage.

Those guards all looked towards Ming Yi. The latter, pausing for a moment, finally waved his hand dismissively.

As long as the other side was willing to release his hostage, it was not such a big issue whether Li Yuan gets away. After all, they had let him go once already. The only thing that Ming Yi didn’t understand was why and how Li Yuan got here?

In that instant, an exit suddenly appeared in the circle. Li Yuan, smiling, walked towards that direction, still holding Fang Jiu as a hostage.

“Kill him!”

In the night sky, a sharp female voice penetrated everyone’s ears. A silhouette with steady steps walked towards this direction from not far away.

Seeing the newcomer, everyone immediately fell to the floor with one knee on the ground, “We, servants, greet the taihou!”

In the night sky with firelights shining all over the place, that majestic silhouette slowly arrived at the circle. When she saw the Li Yuan inside the circle, she sneered, “Since you are coming here on a suicide mission, how can I not make your wish come true!”

Tilting her head, she looked towards Ming Yi, “Kill these two right here!”

Ming Yi did not move, and the other guards all exchanged glances, not knowing what to do.

“Hahaha, Feng Qingcheng, you still think you can do whatever you want in the world today? This world now belongs to your son. Your words no longer matter!” Li Yuan couldn’t help but laughed. His eyes, when he looked at the woman opposite to them, were full of hatred.

Fang Jiu shook her head. The weird feeling in her body felt stronger and stronger, and she could only keep herself awake by poking herself with the needle.

Seeing this scene, Feng Qingcheng directly slipped out a long, flaming-red whip from her waist and slowly walked into the circle, “As long as Lin Yin’s daughter is dead, that idiot naturally will wake up. You all can go down to the underworld to accompany Lin Yin!”

Seeing the swinging long whip, Li Yuan immediately released Fang Jiu, slipped out his long sword, and rose to the challenge!

The long whip made lashing sounds under the night sky. Everyone knew the taihou had quite good fighting skills back in the years; she even saved the former emperor from a riot. Now, as they watched her fighting, everyone had to praise how good her whip moves were.

Li Yuan was not a weak fighter, but when he faced Feng Qingcheng’s weird whipping moves, he still couldn’t bear them all. He was just stepping back and was about to lose when a long arrow that pierced through the air instantly separated the quivering duo.

Feeling the sudden tightening on her waist, Fang Jiu turned her head to look into a pair of dark eyes.

“It’s okay,” Xuan Yuanfan kissed her forehead and turned to look at Ming Yi, who was standing to one side, “Let him go.”

“Xuan Yuanfan!” Feng Qingcheng, infuriated, glowered at him. Her pretty eyes were full of the fires of anger.

“Hahaha!” Li Yuan couldn’t help but laugh out loud before giving Feng Qingcheng, who was opposite from him, a mocking look, “Hmph, you b*. You killed my mentor and my Shimei. Today, I will have you watch in person the entire process of your son dying!”

He then made a flip in the air and quickly vanished into the darkness with the help of the night sky.

Because of the emperor’s orders, nobody dared to stop him. Everyone only numbly stood there, holding their swords.

Fang Jiu had no idea how many times she stabbed herself on the leg with the needle. However, the aura from the man beside her attracted her so much like a poppy. In the end, she still resisted and pushed him away, “You… You get away from me.”

Her voice was hoarse and seducing, and her face was flushing. Xuan Yuanfan could see at first glance what was wrong with her, but at the same time, he still couldn’t resist getting angry, “He drugged you?!”

Feng Qingcheng, who had an astute hearing, immediately had a different expression on.

“Move!” Feng Qingcheng lashed her whip, and instantly, a whipping mark appeared on Ming Yi’s body. However, he stayed as an obstacle in front of her, not moving an inch, “Taihou, Miss Fang is different from her mother. She has now been curing the poison for the emperor, and she would never hurt him!”

“She would never?” Feng Qingcheng’s delicate face had already gone deformed a bit from her anger. She glared at Xuan Yuanfan and said angrily, “I’ve already found a way to cure your poison. Even if you don’t use this woman, you will be fine. She has already performed acupuncture on you. If you touch her, you will die!”

Feng Qingcheng has never been this angry before in her life. At this moment, what could she not understand after recalling Li Yuan’s words!

Even Ming Yi was stunned.

After pausing for a moment, Xuan Yuanfan still took Fang Jiu into his arms and lifted her. His eyes flaring, he looked towards Ming Yi, “Let no one inside the Qian Qing Palace today!”

“Emperor…” Ming Yi still wanted to say something, but when he saw the already closed door, he still clenched his teeth, waved his hand to call for the large group of guards, and blocked the doorway.

Under the night sky with piercing firelights, this silent royal palace didn’t seem peaceful at all. Looking at that closed door, this was the first time a redness appeared in Feng Qingcheng’s eyes. She would never dream that the son, whom she so delicately educated and brought up, would now give up his life for a woman!

Inhaling deeply, she glowered at Ming Yi, who was standing in front of the entrance, “Move!”

Ming Yi didn’t speak and still blocked the door.

Seeing this, a fierceness instantly flashed through Feng Qingcheng’s eyes. She took two steps back and took out a firework container from inside her sleeve. After she pulled on the lead wire, a brilliant glow immediately appeared in the dreary night sky.

Ming Yi’s pupils shrank. He knew that the taihou was calling for the bloodthirsty guards working for her. Back in the years, this team was the one that fought for and captured the emperor’s seat for the former emperor!

Different from the gravity outside, the room full of candlelights had a sense of mysterious atmosphere…

Fang Jiu, with her teeth clenched, cowered in the corner of the bed. She buried her head into the space between her knees and hollered: “Don’t touch me!”

If the male lead’s son died, what would she do with her mission…

The candle flickered, shining onto the golden bed sheet, revealing their erotic shadows. Looking at the petite figure curled up in the corner in front of him, Xuan Yuanfan pulled on her arms and pushed her underneath him. Seeing her reddened face, he couldn’t resist but kiss her teary eyes, “It’ll be all right. If I really die, there is a hidden passage under the bookshelves in the Qian Qing Palace; just go through there and hide. Don’t be discovered by my mother.”

“No… You’ll really die…” Fang Jiu bit her lips, trying to push him away.

Looking at her plump lips, he couldn’t resist but lower his head. His gaze was filled with lust while his tongue sought for an entrance, infiltrating her mouth.

Fang Jiu’s last strand of logic sense was washed away by the waves of her desire.

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Translated by: Sydney & Yutong/Puppxteer

Chapter 19 – The Emperor’s Son

“… Do they have as much medical knowledge as me?” She looked stern.

Xuan Yuanfan narrowed his eyes, skeptically staring at her with a subtle expression.

“If you don’t believe me, then try it on your wives. After all, dying under a pretty woman will make you quite a glory even as a ghost,” Fang Jiu turned her head and didn’t look at him.

Seeing this scene, Xuan Yuanfan finally kissed her face softly, “Even if I die, you will be the one I die under.”

Fang Jiu: “…”

It was until the man on her finally left did Fang Jiu got up and scanned the environment around her. The entire study was very large, and a benzoin fragrance was lit up. All the furniture and decorations were priceless; if anyone took and sold them, they would live the rest of their lives rich.

Seeing he was already sitting in front of his desk and reviewing bills, Fang Jiu moved a round stool and sat next to him.

“If you feel tired, go rest on the couch. We will go back to Qian Qing Palace together later,” Xuan Yuanfan lifted his head to glance at her, then, as if recalling something, he suddenly asked: “Are you feeling hungry?”

Fang Jiu did not reply to his question but instead enthusiastically stared at the chair he was sitting on, “I haven’t sat on the emperor’s chair before. Can you let me try?”

Who had never dreamed of becoming an emperor!

Xuan Yuanfan only laughed softly as he pulled her arm and let her sit next to him.

The chair was big, and it was just fitting for the duo to sit on. Fang Jiu, seeing the mountain of bills on the desk, couldn’t help but thumbed through a few. She realized it was all about how there was a famine in the north, and citizens were starving. They were requesting the court to send food to help with the disaster.

“You still haven’t provided them food?” He looked quite troubled to Fang Jiu as if he had met a hard problem to solve.

“It’s not that I’m not sending them food. It’s just that… mother seems to want to go in person, so we can only keep it on hold for now,” Xuan Yuanfan felt very helpless, too. His mother, the former empress, had always been very belligerent. If anyone dared to disobey any of her thoughts, they would be the prick in her eyes. If he sent food before she returned, she would get upset again. Then, Fang Jiu would…

She didn’t know he thought on so many aspects, but Fang Jiu did understand the female lead’s personality. Fang Jiu patted his shoulder, “Dragging on one day means one more day of citizens overwhelmed by famine. You are her son. Even if she gets unhappy, so what?”

Glancing with the corner of his eyes, he suddenly held her hand, “Even if you don’t say this, I would’ve sent people to help with the famine tomorrow. I’m not worried that my mother will get angry; I’m only worried she still is biased when it comes to you.”

No one knew his mother’s personality better than he did.

“Okay, okay. When the boat meets the harbor, it would automatically go horizontal. Okay, I’m going to stop talking to you. I have to find Eunuch Li so I can have my meal,” Fang Jiu thought it wasn’t that easy to sit on the emperor’s chair, so she stood up and went out to call someone to serve them.

Naturally, the food in the palace was the best. The rarest food was all served and seemed quite normal in such a luxurious palace. Fang Jiu got full after eating by herself, and when she finished, Xuan Yuanfan was still working on the bills. He had a serious expression on, and his rare, handsome appearance had a hint of anger. It was as if he had met something that angered him off.

The night wind outside the windows was as chilly as water, and the waning moon high up in the sky poured starlight onto the ground. Fang Jiu was not as energized as him, and she resolutely lied on the couch and slept.

When she woke up, the sky outside had already brightened. Shiny sunlight projected in from the windows, and the room was quite warm. She scanned around and realized she was lying on a large, bright yellow bed. Only the emperor’s bed in the Qian Qing palace would be able to use the bright yellow color in the palace!

Not knowing how she got here, she rubbed her eyes, got down from the bed, and came to the doors. As soon as she opened the doors, two long, cold swords blocked her way.

“Miss Fang, the emperor has ordered that you cannot come out!” One of the guards said coldly.

After last time, Fang Jiu would not randomly guess anymore. Xuan Yuanfan suddenly prohibited her from coming out, and there was an eighty-percent of chance the female lead was here.

Seeing the palace guards forming a tight circle around the building, she blinked. Deciding not to force her way out, she returned inside.

Not long after, maids came in to help her take a bath. Fang Jiu wanted to ask some questions, but these people had mouths more sealed than anything else in this world. Fang Jiu could get no information out.

When she was being served breakfast, Fang Jiu dismissed all other maids except for the youngest one. She then quickly stuffed a silver ingot into the maid’s hand.

“Mistress, where’s your emperor right now?” Fang Jiu took a mouthful of her porridge as if the bribe just now had not occurred.

That maid agilely put the silver into her sleeves. After glancing around for a moment, she said near Fang Jiu’s ear, “The emperor is in his study right now, and the former emperor and empress are back in the palace, too!”

Fang Jiu: “…”

Sure enough!

“Miss Fang, nubei still needs to remind you. In this world, no matter whom you offend, never make the taihou your enemy. Or else…” The maid, as if recalling something, trembled.

TL’s Note: Taihou = former empress.

Although it could be seen that the emperor adored Miss Fang from how he let her live in the Qian Qing palace, but the maid had heard rumors that the taihou disliked Miss Fang. With taihou’s presence, whether Miss Fang could even get married to the emperor was still a mystery.

Even if she didn’t say it, Fang Jiu still knew. However, she had no way. Even if she shouldn’t have made the taihou an enemy, she had already offended the taihou.

“Then…”

“Bam!”

The door suddenly got kicked open, and a dazzling ray of sunlight shot in. At the same time, a pretty woman also walked in.

She looked around 30-year-old, and her appearance was pretty but aloof. Her eyes carried a hint of mercilessness that could not be doubted. Even if she was wearing a long, blue dress that could be seen anywhere, the aura she carried could not be blocked by anything, making people not being to stare directly at her.

“Nu…Nubei greets the taihou. Taihou shall live a long, long life!” The maid was so scared she fell to kneel on the floor. Her entire body was shaking.

Fang Jiu’s body quivered at once when she saw the person coming in. This female lead seemed to be even harder to deal with than she imagined.

Glancing from the corners of her eyes, Feng Qingcheng strode up to Fang Jiu. She scanned Fang Jiu’s body with a fierce expression, then suddenly reached out a hand to clutch onto Fang Jiu’s neck. Pushing her onto the wall, Feng Qingcheng’s eyes were full of her intention to kill, “So, this is the revenge from Lin Yin?”

TL’s Note: Reminder that Lin Yin is Fang Jiu’s mother.

Fang Jiu could not breathe very well, and she knew if she tried to fight the female lead, she wouldn’t even make it past one move, so she could only incoherently said with a reddened face, “My mother… Is my mother, and I represent me…”

“Shut up!” Feng Qingcheng’s clutch tightened. Ignoring Fang Jiu’s red face, the smile on the corner of her lips was cold enough to penetrate bones, “Seducing my son? Is your next step killing me to avenge your mother? Huh?”

Fang Jiu really could not breathe. She tried as hard as she could to peel away the hand on her neck, “If you kill me, your son’s poison will never be cured!”

“So what?” Feng Qingcheng’s pinch tightened and tightened, “In my entire life, there is nothing else I hate more than threats!”

Noticing that flashing killing aura around the female lead’s body, Fang Jiu reached for the silver needle hidden up in her sleeves. However, she hadn’t had a chance to do so before she felt herself get pulled into familiar arms.

“Ahem, ahem, ahem…” Fang Jiu coughed incessantly, her face showing slight paleness.

Seeing her status, Xuan Yuanfan frowned and looked at the person to the opposite of them with an upset expression, “Mother, if you have spare time, go supervise father. It’s unnecessary for you to worry about my business!”

Even if he had a good temper, it all disappeared at this moment!

“Say it again!” Feng Qingcheng narrowed her eyes. Her expression, when she looked at Fang Jiu now, could not be described anymore as “killing to receive pleasure”.

Her son, who had never disobeyed her before, now talk to her like this for a woman?!

At this moment, Feng Qingcheng suddenly realized the woman in front of her seemed to be harder to deal with compared to her mother!

“I know her better than mother does. It doesn’t matter if mother agrees or not. She will be zheng’s empress!” Xuan Yuanfan’s tone turned colder, and his voice seemed as if he wouldn’t allow anyone to doubt him.

Seeing this, Feng Qingcheng burst into laughter. Watching the girl in front of her who had rare looks, Feng Qingcheng only felt Lin Yin was manipulative. Even if Lin Yin died, she still made her daughter come destroy Feng Qingcheng’s son!!

“Zhen?” She laughed coldly and looked at Xuan Yuanfan as if she felt ironic, “If I don’t agree, she will never be able to become the empress!”

The duo talked in indoor voices, not too loud and not too soft, but the guards standing outside could hear everything. They all had a different expression on at this moment as if they did not expect the emperor and the taihou to argue to this degree for a woman.

Fang Jiu: “…” Should she stand out and say something at this moment?

“Fan’er!”

At this time, a middle-aged, bold-looking man walked in from the outside suddenly. His aura looked restrained, and her eyes looked like cold stars. Although he was already over forty-years-old, these years only left a hint of matureness and steadiness on him, and his unique temperament still looked dignified and majestic.

Coming up to stand beside Feng Qingcheng, the man scanned Xuan Yuanfan with an upset expression, “You talk to your mother like this for the daughter of our enemy. Don’t you forget who gave you the spot of the emperor!”

“It’s just that father doesn’t want it!” Xuan Yuanfan, as if getting angry, too, had a dragged face, “If father emperor wants it, then take it. You think I want to sit on this spot?!”

Reading and passing bills every day. Xuan Yuanfan didn’t even know how he managed to spend those days. If it was all right, he also wanted to travel around the world with Fang Jiu. If Xuan Yuanfan’s father didn’t want the same thing, why did his father abandon the emperor’s chair when he was just sixteen? And now, his father was turning around to blame him?

“You are a disappointment!” Xuan Yuanfan was so angry his fist clenched, and he almost beat him!

Seeing this, Fang Jiu finally couldn’t help but tilted her head and completely “fainted”.

Seeing her feeble and slightly pale face, Xuan Yuanfan immediately held her in his arms and quickly put her onto his bed. Turning his head, he yelled at the people outside: “Call the imperial physicians!”

To prevent herself from getting exposed by the doctors, Fang Jiu intentionally and sneakily stuck her needle into her “sleepy” acupuncture spot, and in the next moment, she blacked out.

Evening came. The sky above the gigantic emperor’s city starry and full of stars. Teams and teams of patrolling guards walked everywhere at times, but nobody noticed that flash of a silhouette in the darkness…

When Fang Jiu woke up, she only felt her body was a bit too stiff. She thought she stuck her needle in too harshly, and she couldn’t help but felt regretful. When she tried as hard as she could and still couldn’t lift her arm, she completely got confused.

In the next second, she saw a familiar silhouette standing in the huge palace. Holding a cup of tea in his hand, a long shadow got cast below his feet with the light coming from the candles.

Coming to the side of the bed with a speed that wasn’t slow or fast, Li Yuan stared at her weirdly, “Don’t worry. Xuan Yuanfan is still arguing against her mother in the emperor’s study right now. Shizhi… I didn’t expect that woman’s son to fall for you. It’s such a pity…”

TL’s Note: Reminder that Li Yuan is her Shishu.

He then shook his head and sat down beside the bed with a pitiful look. Lifting one hand to crack open her mouth, he said, “Shishu doesn’t want to do this either, but you need to forgive Shishu. When the revenge is done, Shishu will go down to the underworld to accompany your mother as compensation for you.”

“Shi…Shishu…” Fang Jiu widened her eyes and watched as he poured that cup of tea down into her mouth. Although she didn’t want to drink it, the tea still streamed into her throat, “Ahem, ahem, ahem…”

Standing up, Liu Yuan looked out at the sky with a complex look, “It’s easy to enter the palace but hard to get out. Later on, Shishu will still need your help to exit.”

“Ahem, ahem, ahem…” Fang Jiu focused on trying to cough out the water, but she couldn’t move and could only angrily stare at Li Yaun, “Shishu, you’re not worthy of my respect for you. You drugged me!”

As a doctor, of course, Fang Jiu could tell what was in the tea!

Joyous San. This drug has a strong effect. If the drugged individual does not sleep with another person within one hour, this individual would die from all seven openings of their head bleeding!

This was a low-tiered drug that used to be so prevalent in society. Because it had no other cure, it was the favorite among the r*pists. Fang Jiu had never thought her Shishu would treat her like this just for his revenge!

“Shizhi, Shishu did this all to avenge your mother. You have been performing acupuncture on Xuan Yuanfan for the past few days, and if he touches a woman during this time, his poison will swallow him. Since he likes you so much, he will not stand by and watch you die. As long as he cures your poison, his poison will start acting up. When that happens, he will die as your mom’s compensation. That disgusting couple will also have no child left!”

Li Yuan helplessly sighed and looked at her from a superior angle: “Although this is unfair to you… Shishu has no other way. If he dies, Shishu will send you back to your father before going to the underworld to accompany your mom!”

TL’s Note: If Fang Jiu was able to talk, that means she could feel her mouth? So why couldn’t she spit the water out? :’)

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Translated by: Sydney

Chapter 18.2 – The Emperor’s Son

“What am I doing?” Ming Yi laughed coldly, “A servant dares to order the emperor around? Laozi has been wanting to do this a long time ago!”

TL’s Note: Laozi = how one refers to themselves when they think they have a superior status than the other

He then instantly stabbed his sword in the man’s direction. The man quickly stepped back, and the other servants around them immediately encircled him.

Normally, Fang Jiu only felt Ming Yi could only pretend he was powerful because he was working for the emperor. However, when she saw his fatal sword moves down below, Fang Jiu instantly felt he was indeed skillful under his cover.

“His skills are only mediocre,” Seeing her admiring look, Xuan Yuanfan looked a bit upset.

Fang Jiu couldn’t help but gave him a light glance, but she didn’t speak.

Getting a little upset from her look, Xuan Yuanfan pulled her into his room by pulling her on the arm.

“Hey, why are you using your hands again?” Fang Jiu wanted to shake his hand away, but in the next moment, her shoulders got pressed on tightly and abruptly by someone. 

The two pair of eyes stared at each other, and his deep voice said, “Why did you come back that day?”

Fang Jiu: “…” How obsessed was the male lead’s son with this question?

“You don’t want me to die, right?” His steps made her cornered to the wall, and his hands held onto her shoulders. His eyes were flaring, “I know it. You just don’t want me to die.”

“…”

Turning her head because Fang Jiu didn’t want to look at him, she said, “Your servants are innocent, and they shouldn’t die such horrifically in their owner’s hands. Besides, my mother poisoned you. Now, it should be cured by me.”

If she was the one who got poisoned and she killed the people around her, Fang Jiu felt as if she would’ve gone insane. It could be seen how Xuan Yuanfan lived in his past few years. This kind of poison should not have existed in this world.

“I know you are lying to yourself, or else you wouldn’t have come that day!” He suddenly reached out a hand to lift her delicate jaw. His voice was deep, “Zhen wants to take responsibility for you.”

Fang Jiu, confused: “…”

“These past few years, mother, the former empress, and father, the former emperor, taught me one thing,” His eyes were deep and serene, “and that is to be loyal to one girl for my entire life.”

Then, Fang Jiu could only feel her jaw suddenly get raised by someone, and a warm thing suddenly pressed on…

Xuan Yuanfan gently rubbed her soft lips, and his eyes narrowed. It was as if he noticed she wasn’t protesting, he instantly summoned up the courage to deepen this kiss…

“Who… wants… wu…” Fang Jiu opened her mouth and felt something slip in. She instantly widened her eyes and bit on it!

“Ah…” He wiped the trace of blood on the corner of his mouth, and his eyes became more meaningful as he stared at her.

“How many wives have you kissed with this mouth?” Fang Jiu’s pushed forcefully on his shoulders, “Move. Do you think I’m like a three-year-old who’s easy to be fooled… Ah!”

She widened her eyes as her hands got pulled up to the top of her head by him. Xuan Yuanfan looked at her innocently, “I’ve never touched any women.”

If he hadn’t unintentionally kissed her that time, he still wouldn’t know how women tasted like today…

“You think I’d believe you?” Fang Jiu turned her head to the side to avoid him, but her voice level lowered by a lot.

How could she have known her kind return made this dude overthink so much!

“Then how will you believe me?” He said and went closer to kiss the corner of her lips, his lips gently and softly landing on her clean, white face.

Fang Jiu incessantly pushed his shoulders, her face blushing more and more, “Go away…”

“You will regret it if you let me die, right?” He had her soft waist in his arms, and his continuous kisses landed on her lean neck, “I would regret it if you die, too…”

“But your mother, the former empress, wants me dead…” Fang Jiu uncomfortably cowered her neck. She felt like this man hadn’t seen a woman in a few hundred years.

The candlelights shone on her delicate side face. Xuan Yuanfan’s adam’s apple bobbed in his throat, and all his calmness melted into desires at this moment.

“It won’t happen… With me here…” Her soft lips in his mouth, his hand tightly held onto her too-thin waist and was going to move upward.

“Emperor, that tyke has been taken… care…” Ming Yi numbly stood at the entrance. He swore, he didn’t even have to announce himself when he stepped into the royal palace study. But now…

“Ah!” Fang Jiu lowered her head. She felt that she was losing her dignity, getting bumped into by this boy.

Xuan Yuanfan inhaled deeply. Holding Fang Jiu’s hand, his face was grave as he looked at the person at the door, “Does this scene look interesting?”

His voice couldn’t have been colder. Ming Yi swallowed and instantly closed the door forcefully!

Fang Jiu lifted her head and coughed softly, “Don’t think I would believe your sweet words. Quick, take off your clothes. I still want to have my meal after the acupuncture session!”

She was starving to death.

Xuan Yuan fan looked down, and his voice seemed natural, “I haven’t had my meal yet, either.”

“None of my business! Take off your clothes!” Fang Jiu said, and as if she thought of something, she suddenly widened her eyes, “Where’s my medicine box?”

She got mysteriously kidnapped, so her medicine box must not be here with her!

Xuan Yuanfan didn’t talk. He only took a medicine box from another cupboard in the room and “obediently” started taking off his clothes.

As a doctor, Fang Jiu would not get seduced. However, when she looked at that naked body and curvaceous muscles, she still had to clench her teeth and remind herself not to look elsewhere.

After arduously performing an entire acupuncture session, she finally exhaled out of relief, turned around, and started cleaning up.

“I can’t touch you for 49 days?”

A low sigh came from behind her. Fang Jiu, with her medicine box, turned her head to give him an upset glare, “If you think your life is too long, go try it with one of your wives. If you die then, I will grieve for you!”

She then swiftly opened the door and went out of the room. As soon as she got out, she bumped into Ming Yi. The latter’s eyes were looking everywhere but her.

“What did you say just now? I’m your girlfriend?” Fang Jiu raised her brows, then immediately walked back into her room.

As if noticing the cold stare from inside the room, Ming Yi could only sense cold sweat all over his forehead. He would never dare to speak random things anymore!

After eating whatever was there, Fang Jiu put some more drugs and silver needles in her clothes. This way, she would feel safer.

It would take ten more days for them to go back to the capital. But because there was something he had to do there, Xuan Yuanfan moved at a very fast pace. Fang Jiu also gave up on riding in the carriage, and they had a very bumpy ride for several days on the horseback.

When they got to the capital, to avoid stares from passersby, she and Xuan Yuanfan finally started riding in a carriage. Seeing the crowds walking around in the city, Fang Jiu couldn’t help but put down the curtains, turned her head, and glanced at the man beside her, “How good are the imperial physicians here in your imperial physicians’ hospital?”

The latter put down the paper he was holding, which contained proposed laws from citizens, and looked up, “What do you think?”

TL’s Note: Basically saying no. :’)

After all, he had never gotten an imperial physician from there.

“That’s unfortunate. I still want to compete with them to see who has more medical knowledge,” Fang Jiu sighed, picked up a book about medical knowledge, and continued to browse through it.

Taking over her hand, Xuan Yuanfan kissed it and said seriously, “From now on, you can only be my doctor.”

Fang Jiu: “…”

“You are very healthy. Psychopath!” She took her hand back and gave him a weird look.

Just when the latter was about to speak, the carriage suddenly stopped. The sounds of a conversation between Ming Yi and the guards at the entrance of the palace came from the outside.

Everyone knew Ming Yi was the emperor’s right-hand man. At this time, no one dared to stop them, and the carriage was let into the palace directly, too. Those guards were also toadying to them. 

Fang Jiu stealthily lifted the curtains to see those luxurious and shining buildings along with the maids and eunuchs, all lowering their heads and acting discreetly. The entire atmosphere in the palace seemed extraordinarily suppressing. Fang Jiu suddenly thought of the saying, “as soon as you enter the palace doors, you will fall into schemes deep as the ocean”. It seemed to be a quite reasonable saying.

Fang Jiu realized she was in front of an empty yard when the carriage stopped. Everywhere else was deserted, with no servants passing by. There was only an old eunuch guarding there.

“Miss Fang, you don’t have an identity right now. Go sign up at the Imperial Household Department with Eunuch Li, and he will put you at the Qian Qing palace station,” Ming Yi didn’t even dare to use a loud voice when he talks now.

Fang Jiu glanced at the old eunuch, who was standing to one side, then she glanced at Xuan Yuanfan, who seemed to be changing in the room. She immediately had on a faint smile, “I want to be a female physician!”

They shouldn’t think she wouldn’t know. This imperial physicians’ hospital does have female doctors!

Not daring to offend this big character, Ming Yi only sneakily whispered a few words in Eunuch Li’s ears. Whatever Ming Yi said completely and instantly changed Eunuch Li’s expression now when he looked at Fang Jiu.

Shaking his horsetail whisk, he instantly grinned and came up to Fang Jiu, “Miss, it’s all right even if you don’t sign in. It’s just a title, and you will change it later on anyway.”

Fang Jiu felt terrified when faced with his stare, and she was too lazy to argue against him. She waved her hand and stopped talking.

Eunuch Li immediately brought her to a deeper spot at the inner palace.

They met many maids and eunuchs on the way, and every one of them greeted Eunuch Li. It could be told that his rank in the palace was high. Just when they turned the corner to the emperor’s garden, they saw two beautiful women. Fang Jiu was not too dumb to figure out they weren’t maids in any buildings, for they were wearing delicate clothing!

“Hey, who is this beauty behind Eunuch Li? She looks so pretty. Is she a present from any lords?” The one wearing a blue uniform with a good stature said with a strange tone.

That woman with beautiful looks also laughed as she covered her mouth, “Sister Liu, what are you talking about? Would any lord gift a beauty wearing such poor clothes?”

Fang Jiu lowered her head to examine her clothes, and she didn’t think anything about them was wrong. They cost five silver ingots!

TL’s Note: Five silver ingots are about 40-60 USD?

“Niang Niang will understand this later. Nucai will leave first with her,” Eunuch Li politely said a few words, then led Fang Jiu straight past them as if he wasn’t afraid of their identities.

TL’s Note: Niang Niang = how lower ranks call wives of the emperor. Nucai = how a eunuch refers to himself when facing the emperor or his wives.

It was only until the duo’s silhouettes disappeared within the emperor’s garden full of flowers did that woman with a good stature spit hatefully, “Pfft, that old man. A servant dares to disrespect bengong!”

TL’s Note: Bengong = how a wife of the emperor refers to herself.

“He’s not necessarily disrespecting you. That woman has such a beautiful appearance, so whether the emperor would…” That other pretty woman frowned slightly as if she was worried.

“Ha, I haven’t seen the emperor come to the inner palace in so many years. She’s just a b*, and she’s an unimportant one at that,” The woman with a good stature then led the group of maids and eunuch, who were serving her, away to the other side of the palace, stumbling.

The other woman, however, laughed coldly, “Idiot!”

After following Eunuch Li to a room that was usually for high ranking maids, the sky had already darkened outside. Eunuch Li was still talking about protocols in the palace, but Fang Jiu felt very sleepy and didn’t want to listen. She chased him out, changed into a maid uniform, and took a nap on the bed.

When she woke up, Fang Jiu saw Eunuch Li, haunting her by standing beside her bed. Fang Jiu’s heart almost stopped beating from the scare.

“Miss Fang, the emperor would like to see you,” To be honest, Eunuch Li had already visited her several times, but Ming Yi told him that it was best not to wake this girl up. Of course, as an extremely clever person who had been drowning in the inner palace for several years, he naturally wouldn’t have done such a stupid thing.

Exhaling, Fang glanced at the already darkened sky and felt it was time for her to settle accounts with Xuan Yuanfan!

The emperor’s study wasn’t one of the most but was the most secured place in the palace!

Fang Jiu, staring at the rows and rows of guards, had no idea why she felt it was a wrong decision to come to the royal palace.

“Emperor, the person you want is here,” Eunuch Li said respectfully, standing at the entrance.

In the next moment, the door got opened by someone. The night wind continued to blow at his bright yellow dragon robe, and his handsome face became even more dignified at this moment.

Seeing the woman, at the entrance, who had changed into a blue maid uniform by herself, Xuan Yuanfan ignored Eunuch Li, took Fang Jiu’s hand, pulled her in, and shut the door.

Eunuch Li wanted to ask if he wanted his meal to get served, but seeing the emperor in such a hurry, he could only sigh and stop talking.

Pulling her waist into his arms, he pressed her onto the door. Xuan Yuanfan lowered his head and kissed her lips, “Why are you choosing to become a maid?”

After returning to the palace and seeing the mountains and mountains of policy documents on his table, Xuan Yuanfan found them very tedious. No wonder there were so many tyrants in history who failed their countries because of women. At this moment, he could suddenly feel how they felt.

“You have to ask Ming Yi about that. He made me become a maid!” Fang Jiu then turned her head away and avoided his kiss, “A certain someone said he has no wives. However, I just met two very beautiful women in your harem. Is that someone saying they popped out of a rock?!”

Becoming angrier by the moment, Fang Jiu put all her strength into pushing away the hand on her waist, “You are just a liar! Release me now!”

Seeing her angry appearance, Xuan Yuanfan was not getting hushed. He lowered his head to her ears and laughed softly, “Are you jealous?”

“You are shameless!” Fang Jiu bent her knee and kicked upward!

But in the next moment, she got held up horizontally and was put on the soft couch in three strides.

He lowered his body onto her, and with his head lowered onto her neck, he mumbled, “I never touched them, so they naturally do not count as my wives.”

He then continued, “My father, the former emperor, could promise my mother to be forever loyal to her. I can do that, too.”

Fang Jiu paused. To be honest, sometimes, she felt Xuan Yuanfan was just an inexperienced child in relationships; otherwise, he wouldn’t have liked her just because she returned that one time. However, he must’ve underestimated the female lead’s mercilessness. How could someone like the female lead accept her enemy’s daughter as her son’s wife?

Besides, her Shishu had disappeared even until now, probably planning on some big move. If he was determined in killing the male and female leads, what should she do?

As she pondered, Fang Jiu felt something slip into her clothes. She was so scared she hurriedly pressed onto the big hand on her waist, “You can’t touch women!”

Kissing her lean neck, her voice was extraordinarily hoarse, “One of the imperial physicians told me this is nonsense. Are you lying to me?”

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Translated by: Sydney

Chapter 18.1 – The Emperor’s Son

This is the first time we are dividing a chapter into two parts. Chapter 18’s length is two times the normal length for other chapters, so I couldn’t translate it all at once. Apologies~

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She didn’t know whether she should call him a psychopath?!

Fang Jiu shook away his hand and held a silver needle with her fingertips, her face alarmed, “I’m warning you. Stop putting your hands on me. Don’t think I’ve forgotten what happened last night!”

The silver needle glowed coldly under the sunlight, and the disgust in her eyes was very blatant. Xuan Yuanfan’s brows furrowed, “What happened last night?”

Fang Jiu: “…”

“I don’t want to talk to you!” Fang Jiu was so angry she turned around and walked away. She had seen perverts before, but she hadn’t seen perverts like him!

He did it, but now he wouldn’t admit it. What grown-up man was he!

As she continued to grab medicine at the counter, she saw that “pervert” mumbling something to her father. As if noticing her glance, the two of them resolutely went into an inside room together, and Ming Yi guarded them at the entrance.

He was an emperor, but he did lots of things that could not be seen under broad daylight. Fang Jiu didn’t want to mind their business, either. Within a short time, she saw the emperor and Ming Yi walking out of the hospital together, not even waving goodbye to her.

Seeing how now there was no one, she went into the room and saw her father, frowning as he pondered.

“Dad, what was your mysterious conversation about?” She asked out of curiosity.

Mr. Fang stared at her numbly before sighing, “Your mother surely made mistakes, your Shishu is too aggressive, and you are too young. How can you possibly win against those two?”

This was the first time her father mentioned what happened years ago. Fang Jiu knew what he meant. This female lead was not a Marie Sue, and she would never let anyone she disliked go easily. Fang Jiu was the enemy’s daughter, so the results would be easy to predict.

“I will cure the poison for him. After his poison gets cured, that woman probably won’t trouble us again,” At this time, Fang Jiu could only comfort herself like this. After all, although the female lead was merciless, she wouldn’t kill the innocent ones. As long as Fang Jiu cured her son’s poison, this grudge should be resolved?

Mr. Fang didn’t speak. He shook his head and went out of the inside room.

Fang Jiu felt as if Xuan Yuanfan said something to her father. Which emperor in history didn’t have secret schemes? What did Xuan Yuanfan say? If it wasn’t for him, why would her father be so sentimental?

Evening arrived. Strangely, her father cooked for her in person. Fang Jiu felt mysteriously flattered.

The candlelights wavered. As he watched her take small bites, eating slices of potatoes, the eyes on Mr. Fang’s wrinkled face narrowed. He said seriously: “In the outside world, you need to have a wary mind even with the closest people you know.”

Fang Jiu, confused, chew on her chopsticks. She didn’t understand why her father suddenly started teaching her philosophies?

But in the next moment, she felt a huge wave of dizziness fill up her head. Before she even had the chance to talk, she blacked out.

…

When she woke up, she could only felt everything around her was shaking. She drowsily opened her eyes and thick, heavy carriage curtains appeared in front of her. A light smell of sandalwood filled the large carriage. She was lying on a soft couch, and palatable snacks and drinks were placed on the wooden desk beside her. A gentle breeze incessantly blew in through the curtains.

Fang Jiu rubbed her forehead and randomly felt around. She suddenly realized the needles she carried were gone!

Lifting the curtains at once, she saw Ming Yi in the front, directing the carriage. Not far away in front of them, a familiar silhouette was riding on a tall horse. As if he was cooperating with the carriage’s speed, the brown horse under him was walking extra slowly.

“Where is this?!” Fang Jiu grabbed onto Ming Yi’s back lapels, her angry eyes continuously scanning over the bushes around them.

At that instant, the servants and guards surrounding the carriage all turned their heads to stare at her.

“This…” Ming Yi put a lot of his strength into pulling his lapels away, and he then guiltily glanced at her, “Your father probably thought being an emperor’s wife is better than being a female doctor, so he…”

“Bullsh**!” Fang Jiu couldn’t resist but cursed, “Stop right now!”

Now that she thought about it, Fang Jiu knew her father had drugged her. Logically, she should’ve noticed. However, they were too close, and she didn’t even think about the other aspects. She didn’t know her father would really drug her!

Because his ears ached from her hollering, Ming Yi could only stop the carriage. In the next moment, Fang Jiu leaped down from the carriage and directly ran in the direction they just came from, not caring about how rural the area they were in was.

She hadn’t run for a long time before horse hooves hitting the ground sounded behind her until it caught up with her. Xuan Yuanfan was sitting on the horse, looking at her from an above, supreme position as he said: “This is your father’s wish.”

“You think I would believe you?” Fang Jiu laughed coldly, her pretty eyes full of irony.

All right. Although she had already understood what her father wanted and could only complete the mission staying beside the male lead’s son if she just accepted this fact so easily, wouldn’t she lose her face!

“If you don’t come with me, you will only die in my mother empress’s hands,” As if recalling something, Xuan Yuanfan suddenly turned around and got down from the horse. Before Fang Jiu had the chance to speak, he took her in his arms in one go and put her on the horse!

Sitting behind her, his face showed an aloof expression. He slashed the whip, and the horse they were riding on instantly started galloping.

He had business in the capital, and he had been postponing his return for a very long time. At this time, it was such an emergency that it could not be delayed anymore. 

“You… Let me go back!” It was Fang Jiu’s first time riding a horse, and she felt very dizzy from the unstableness. 

Tightly holding her in his arms and protecting her, Xuan Yuanfan lowered his head and said sternly, “I’ll let you return once you cure my poison.”

Seeing how serious he looked, Fang Jiu felt a bit regretful inside. It looked like she was still only a doctor to the male lead’s son. She had to try harder now.

“You… What if you forget what you just said?” Her coquettish brows furrowed as if she felt unbelievable.

His eyes flashing, he said with a deep voice, “An emperor’s words are to be taken seriously.”

Sike!

Seeing his stern look, Fang Jiu blinked. As she watched the scenes flash by around her, she couldn’t resist but tightly held on to the horseback, “You… Slow down… Why don’t you let me go back into the carriage?”

“I have an emergency that needs to be attended to back in the capital, and taking the carriage is too slow,” Seeing how nervous she was as she held onto the horseback, Xuan Yuanfan suddenly got inspired. Giving a pull to the reins, the horse suddenly raised its front hooves and did a leap. It instantly dashed forward at an extreme speed.

The servants behind them closely followed, causing dust to fly into the air on the broad path.

Fang Jiu abruptly bumped into him, and her head seemed to crash into his jaw. However, this horse was too fast, making it a bumpy ride. She rubbed her head with one hand, and her other hand grabbed tightly onto his arm as she exclaimed: “Can you slow down?”

Reaching one hand to cover her eyes, he said with a deep voice, “Go to sleep. When you wake up, we’ll be at the tavern.”

This horse was way too fast that Fang Jiu could only close her eyes. She languidly leaned into his arms as if she had fallen asleep.

As if he had never seen her be so silent, Xuan Yuanfan couldn’t help but lowered his head again to say in her ears: “That day, why did you come back to save me?”

The mumbling made Fang Jiu feel helpless. Why was he asking the same question so many times! 

Ignoring him, Fang Jiu fell asleep in the end.

When she woke up, she realized she was already lying on a huge bed. Looking around at the room’s decorations, this should be the tavern.

As soon as she got off the bed, she saw two women in black next to the table. Seeing she woke up, they immediately stood up and asked: “Does Ms. Fang want to have dinner?”

Feeling these two might work for Xuan Yuanfan, Fang Jiu went to the window to look at the street outside. Although the sky had already darkened, the buildings outside could still be seen clearly. Just one glance made Fang Jiu sure that they were already in the city.

But where was her Shishu?

Fang Jiu didn’t even have to think to guess he must be in the dark, sneaking looks at them. However, if the female lead was this easy to kill, she wouldn’t be the female lead.

“How long until we arrive at the capital?” Fang Jiu turned around and took a look at the two women.

“In around ten days,” one of them immediately replied.

Fang Jiu nodded and went to the doorway, pondering. However, before she had the chance to open the door, she got pulled back by the two of them.

“Miss Fang, if you would like to have dinner, just order us to serve you it,” The duo blocked the doorway as if they didn’t want her to go out.

It looked as if she was imprisoned. Fang Jiu frowned, “I’ve already agreed to go back to the capital with your emperor. What’s the point of you doing this?”

This was a joke. Even if they let her go, she wouldn’t. How would she complete the mission if she left!

“No, but… Today’s a bit special. Just one night!” The two women seemed to feel ambivalent.

Fang Jiu became even more confused when she saw this scene. Just one night?

It couldn’t be… Is that playboy already starting to find other women?

But he recalled her reminder of not touching women for 49 days, and he didn’t want to get scolded by her. So he prohibited her from coming out?

Fang Jiu became angrier as she thought about it. Infuriated, she glared at the duo in front of her: “Move!”

They exchanged glances, but they still didn’t plan on letting her leave.

“I’m telling you. Now I will need to perform acupuncture on your emperor. If I’m late and something happens, you will be criminals to the entire palace!” Fang Jiu said sternly.

The pair hesitated for quite a moment before they finally moved slightly, and Fang Jiu immediately pushed open the door and dashed out.

Xuan Yuanfan, who never liked publicity, took over the entire tavern. There were guards all over the building, no matter out in the open or the darkness. There were even rows of guards standing in the corridor, and they looked extraordinarily wary.

“Miss Fang, I’m begging you. Please go back!” Ming Yi, who was just passing by, immediately blocked her way. His face was looking very anxious.

Fang Jiu’s expression slightly changed. She was even more certain that the man was finding another woman!

“You, move…”

“Young Master, if that’s the case, then shuxia will return to report.” 

TL’s Note: shuxia = one’s way of calling himself/herself a subordinate

The door to Xuan Yuanfan’s room suddenly got pushed open by someone, and an aloof-looking man in a black robe and holding a long sword suddenly walked out. As if he heard something, he suddenly turned his head to see Ming Yi, standing there and awkwardly smiling.

“Ming Yi, who’s that standing behind you?” The man’s voice was extraordinarily cold.

The latter was so scared he hurriedly stood in front of Fang Jiu to hide her. His expression was looking very weird, “My girlfriend, okay?!”

Fang Jiu: “…” Is this man crazy?

“Nonsense. Give her to me!” The man flourished his long sword, a strong Qi straightforwardly hit the railing. In that instant, that part of the railing broke into two pieces.

TL’s Note: Reminder that the eastern doctors and ancient Chinese believe an element named “Qi” is the basic material supporting a human’s life. They believe it’s a power that’s within a human body. 

Xuan Yuanfan, who was behind him, walked out too. He looked at Ming Yi, who was standing to the side, before his darkened eyes turned to the man, “Sure, you are a subordinate of mother empress’s. However, if zhen kills you, zhen believes mother empress won’t say anything.”

The man took two steps back, and his eyes containing complex emotions looked towards Xuan Yuanfan. The long sword he held slightly quivered.

Until this moment, Fang Jiu fundamentally understood what happened. She hurriedly turned around, as if she was afraid that man would see her appearance.

The original novel recorded that the female lead herself trained an organization full of assassins. Every one of them inside was skillful enough to kill 100 opponents by themselves, and ever since the organization was founded, there wasn’t once when they failed their mission.

Fang Jiu only felt as if her brain was too relaxed. It looked like she needed to quickly finish the mission, or her weak life would’ve gotten taken away by the female lead at any time.

“Young master, the mistress is doing this for your good. Lin Yin is a vicious woman; your poison is a masterpiece of hers. That year, before she gives birth to you, the mistress was tortured as well. Once, when her poison got aroused, she even almost killed your father. All of this happened because of that woman. Such a vicious woman must have given birth to a vicious daughter as well. Young Master, you, shouldn’t get tricked by her!” The man, frowning, said a bunch. 

TL’s Note: Lin Yin is Fang Jiu’s mother.

Ming Yi could guarantee that he had never heard this man say so many words at once. 

Xuan Yuanfan strode to get in front of Fang Jiu before he pulled her to stand behind him. He looked at the man, his eyes fierce, “Begone!”

Different from last time, Fang Jiu now appreciated how good-sounding this “begone” was!

Holding tightly onto his long sword, the man scanned Fang Jiu with a meaningful look, “Young master, when mistress gets here, this woman still won’t escape her death!”

After he said his words, he flipped his body and jumped onto the first floor. Xuan Yuanfan glanced with the corner of his eyes, and in the next moment, Ming Yi leaped onto the first floor, too, with a tacit understanding. Many guards then instantly surrounded the man.

Turning his head, the man astoundingly looked at Xuan Yuanfan, who was still standing on the second floor, “Young Master, what are you doing?”

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Translated by: Sydney

Chapter 17 – The Emperor’s Son

Fang Jiu hesitated and couldn’t help but took another glance at her Shishu, who was on the ground, “But… Just now, I also saved you. Isn’t that enough for a trade-off?”

Even after so many calculations, Fang Jiu still did not expect her Shishu to take action!

“Then why are you here?” Xuan Yuanfan tilted his head to lock eyes with hers, which were incessantly dodging his stare.

Clenching her eyes, Fang Jiu resolutely decided to take a gamble and glared at him: “I’m being a b*, okay?”

She then didn’t want to care about anything else, turned around, and headed for the doorway.

Pulling back her thin arm, Xuan Yuanfan lowered his head, his voice deep, “Why didn’t you listen to your Shishu?”

Fang Jiu’s fist clenched. Her eyes flaring, she scanned Li Yuan, who was on the ground, “We, mediocre citizens, do not have the guts to take the blame for killing the emperor!”

Tightly pulling onto her arm, he put in more force, “You want to save him, all right. However, you have to promise zhen one thing.”

TL’s Note: Remember zhen = how an emperor called himself back in some dynasties.

He glanced out of the corner of his eyes. Although those few servants felt reluctant, they still put down their swords. Li Yuan, who was on the ground, had one hand on his chest. His eyes, infuriated, glared at Xuan Yuanfei. At last, he leaped down from the window.

The other servants were shrewd. They immediately left the room one by one, dragging out all the bodies in the room on their way out.

“If you are saying you want me to cure the poison for you, then sorry, I’m ‘going away’!” Fang Jiu, tightly grabbing on to her medicine box, laughed coldly and turned around directly to leave.

She had just opened the door when the door got shut suddenly with a bang. Fang Jiu turned her head to look at the man behind her, upset, “You told me to go away. I’m leaving now!”

Reaching out his hand to hold onto her shoulders, the bottom of Xuan Yuanfan’s eyes still had a hint of redness. They were flashing from time to time, “You want to go after you come. Do you think you can come and leave whenever you want at zhen’s place?”

Looking into his strange eyes, Fang Jiu subconsciously felt afraid, as if scared of his poison awakening again. However, because of her persona, she resolutely turned her head and softly snorted, “If you kill me, you won’t be able to live longer either!”

The candlelights shone on the side of her clean, white face. Those slightly pouted lips were pink and tender. Xuan Yuanfan lowered his head and abruptly kissed her lips. When that familiar sense of touch came again, he could only act based on his intuition.

“Wu… Psychopath…” Fang Jiu felt this playboy’s need for love was acting again. When he wasn’t putting his guard up, she straightforwardly stuck a needle on his Taigui acupuncture spot.

A huge, tall body immediately leaned onto her. Fang Jiu’s back stuck tightly to the door, and she directly threw the body on her onto the ground. Seeing his annoying face, she almost followed the thought in her head and kicked it a few times!

However, being scared that this person would wake up if she did that, Fang Jiu hurriedly lifted her medicine box and left the room. The servants outside wanted to say something when they saw her, but Fang Jiu immediately changed to her “business” expression and said: “Your emperor is resting. Whatever you do, don’t disturb him.”

Seeing how serious she was, everyone immediately nodded.

After tricking a bunch of people, Fang Jiu returned to the hospital with a lightning-like speed. However, the hospital’s lights, at this time, were all on. Her father was sitting there, silently looking at her.

Fang Jiu felt a bit guilty, so she stood at the entrance, not daring to go in.

Sighing, Mr. Fang lifted his lamp, and he looked at her as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know whether he should say it or not, “Your father, I, don’t wish… for you to retrace your mother’s path.”

Seeing the old silhouette gradually camouflage into the darkness, Fang Jiu’s emotions instantly became complex at that time. To be honest, all of this justice and villainess were related. Who could describe them well?

The next day, just when Fang Jiu thought the male lead’s son would come looking for trouble, he didn’t appear. Even her Shishu seemed as if he had vanished. 

It was only until 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. when two familiar silhouettes walked into the hospital.

Seeing the woman in front of the counter, busily grabbing medicine, Xuan Yuanfan’s eyes glued to her, and his foldable fan touched the counter. Ming Yi, behind him, belligerently slapped a palm on the counter, “We had a deal of you coming to visit the patient, but why didn’t you come today? You took so much money from our Gongzi. Is this how you do business!?”

At that instant, all the other people in the hospital looked towards them. They immediately started whispering, one by one.

Fang Jiu: “…” Did the male lead’s son turn dumb from her sticking a needle into his Taigui point?

They came to disturb her hospital business!

“You took the bottle of medicine from me yesterday, and I still haven’t asked for your money. Now that you’ve mentioned it, then give me the money for that medicine now altogether!” Fang Jiu snorted coldly, intrepidly glaring back.

As if feeling he was unreasonable, Ming Yi instantly and guiltily glanced at Xuan Yuanfan, who was behind him. The latter didn’t say anything and directly walked towards the backyard.

“Hey, you. Stop!” Fang Jiu couldn’t stand his breaking-and-entering action. She called the kid volunteer to help grab medicine and immediately chased after him.

Before she had a chance to speak, when they reached the backyard, Xuan Yuanfei stared at her meaningfully, “My mother, the former empress, will soon be here.”

Fang Jiu paused. She almost couldn’t pull herself back from her trance when she heard this thundering news. The female lead knew her identity and hated her mother. The female lead would kill her any minute!

“I will go back to the capital tomorrow. You will come with me.”

During their conversation, Ming Yi had already gone to the front yard. Such an insightful servant like him would not do anything to put his owner in a bad mood.

Fang Jiu furrowed her brows, and her face under the veil frowned, “So you can kill me in the capital?”

She then continued to say: “We are under the broad daylight, so let’s not insinuate anything or keep any secrets. I know why you intentionally try to get near me. I will cure your poison, but I don’t want you to continue passing the hate from your parents. And for anything else, if anyone tries to harm me, I will kill them as I die!”

She knew more than just medical knowledge!

Stepping up, he lowered his head and looked down at him from a supreme position: “Then why did you insist on coming yesterday?”

With her personality, when she got chased away by him like that, she would’ve stayed far away from him for the rest of her life.

Maybe it was because they were too close to each other, she recalled last night. When she remembered he was a playboy whose urge for love could come up anywhere, Fang Jiu’s tone immediately turned bad.

“I told you, I was just being a b*!” Fang Jiu was annoyed by his questions, so she turned around and walked towards the front yard.

Xuan Yuanfan grabbed onto her arm and tentatively held onto her shoulder. His eyes were flaring, “You’re lying!”

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Translated by: Sydney