Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 18 Changing clothes, he saw it.

Consort Zhuang and her entourage slunk away, and the palace fell into silence.

Song Yi looked down at her exposed calves, which were casually draped on a small stool. Suddenly, she felt a little uncomfortable, forgetting about the wound, and subconsciously tried to pull her legs back.

Then, she cried out in pain again.

Seeing this, Jiang Lanye gently scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Song Yi looked up and glared at him, intending to ask him what was so fierce about him, but then suddenly remembered her own identity.

Suddenly, her fierce gaze changed, transforming into Song Cainu's cautious and timid demeanor.

Jiang Lanye didn't miss the change in her eyes, and frowned slightly.

Song Yi stammered, "I forgot for a moment, my leg is injured."

Jiang Lanye glanced at her and suddenly said, "Useless."

"You didn't even have the ability to protect yourself. You went to Weiyang Palace once. If I hadn't saved you, would you have lost your life there?"

Song Yi thought to herself, the infighting among the women in the harem is not essentially all because of his existence.

However, such thoughts are only suitable for keeping to oneself.

Why did His Majesty suddenly go to Weiyang Palace today?

Jiang Lanye paused, but did not answer.

He didn't know why, but it was just a fleeting thought, as if something in the dark was drawing him there.

Seeing that he remained silent, Song Yi said after a long while, "Your Majesty, I can't just sit here forever."

Jiang Lanye said, "Then walk over there."

She choked up for a moment and murmured softly, "Wasn't it His Majesty who carried me back just now?"

Perhaps because she was so pitiful, Jiang Lanye hesitated for a moment, then walked over and asked, "Where would you like to sit?"

In the entire Golden Palace, her only spot was the low couch by the window.

So she said, "I'll go lie down on the low couch for a while."

Jiang Lanye glanced at that spot and said in a low voice, "Let's go to the Zichen Palace next door."

Song Yi was startled.

She knew that Jiang Lanye's real palace was the Zichen Palace, but once he started reviewing memorials, he would ignore everything else and sit there until late at night. So, he often slept on the dragon bed in the Jinluan Palace.

As for the Zichen Palace, he rarely went there.

She hadn't expected Jiang Lanye to allow her to go to the Zichen Palace.

So Song Yi simply said, "Okay."

Jiang Lanye leaned down, and his unique scent wafted over her once more. Song Yi looked away uncomfortably, then felt a lightness in her body as he picked her up.

She raised her arm and hooked it around Jiang Lanye's neck, whispering, "Your Majesty, surely this is how it is, and I can't even return to Xianyue Pavilion?"

As Jiang Lanye walked, he asked, "You really want to go back that badly?"

"That's my room, after all. There's nothing here, and I'm not familiar with it, so naturally..."

Jiang Lanye said, "You can go back once you've recovered from your injuries."

"what?!"

She couldn't stop her voice for a moment, her eyes widened, her eyelashes were exceptionally long, her eyes were clear and beautiful, and her expression was exceptionally vivid.

Jiang Lanye's aura softened instantly. "If you go back, you won't recover properly. It's better to stay here. I need you by my side to avoid being tormented by nightmares."

Knowing she couldn't avoid it, Song Yi tried to negotiate in a gentle tone: "In that case, how about Your Majesty gives me a larger salary?"

For a moment, Jiang Lanye wondered if he had misheard.

Song Yi chattered on in his arms, continuing, "I'm just a lowly concubine now, my salary is pitifully small, I'm always hungry and sleepless, and now I'm injured."

It sounds really pitiful, as if they've suffered a tremendous injustice.

Jiang Lanye kicked open the door to the Zichen Palace and carried her inside.

Sure enough, it was as cold as ever. Sometimes Song Yi even suspected that there was ice hidden under these floor tiles.

Jiang Lanye said quietly, "I can give you a raise, but it depends on your performance."

As for what this "performance" was, Song Yi was unwilling to think about it further.

He put Song Yi down and let her sit in the chair.

Although Jiang Lanye rarely comes to Zichen Palace, someone comes to clean it every day.

Song Yi returned to the palace, looked around curiously, and then froze.

Inside, all of Consort Yun's belongings from three years ago were displayed.

Her dressing table, the hairpins and jewelry she usually wore, and her clothes were all here.

Three years have passed, and nothing has changed.

Song Yi was in a complicated mood, perhaps lost in memories of the past, her eyes fixed on the dress not far away.

Jiang Lanye followed her gaze and said calmly, "They're all hers."

Song Yi asked, "Your Majesty, since you hate the Imperial Concubine so much, why do you insist on leaving all her things in front of you?"

Why not just burn it down?

Jiang Lanye was silent for a moment, then said, "It is precisely because I hate him enough that I want to keep these things, so that I can constantly remind myself that I was toyed with by such a person."

Song Yi shrank back, not daring to speak.

She had no excuse; it was indeed the case. She had gone to great lengths to cling to him, to entice him, until he fell hopelessly in love with her, and then decisively left.

Because at that time, she only regarded Jiang Lanye as a fictional character who did not exist in real life, so she didn't care how much she hurt his heart.

But now
Jiang Lanye added, "I allow you to sleep on my bed, but there must be something separating us."

Song Yi:
Jiang Lanye's chastity was exactly what she wanted.

"Yes, Your Majesty understands."

Seeing that Song Yi agreed so readily without questioning or showing any sadness, Jiang Lanye became even more displeased.

"Your Majesty, may I have the palace maids gather up my clothes and belongings?"

Jiang Lanye said, "You can, but you are not allowed to touch anything in the hall without permission."

Xichun hurriedly returned to Xianyue Pavilion to tidy up Song Yi's jewelry, hairpins, and clothes.

After settling her in, Jiang Lanye left.

Song Yi sat in the chair, only able to stare helplessly as he left.

All he does is review memorials; he's left her here unattended.

When Xichun ran over, Song Yi hurriedly fiddled with her rouge and said, "Xichun, quickly go and stand guard at the door for me."

Xi Chun didn't understand what Song Yi was going to do, but she still did as he said.

Song Yi removed her veil, hopped across with difficulty on one leg, sat in front of the bronze mirror, and hurriedly began to draw scars on her face.

She was afraid that Jiang Lanye would suddenly turn back, and her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

Song Yi was becoming increasingly skilled at drawing scars, and she was doing it with great ease. Just as she was about to finish, she suddenly heard the noise she least wanted to hear outside the door.

After returning to the Golden Palace, Jiang Lanye thought for a long time and felt that Song Yi's appearance was indeed pitiful. He had just sat down when he stood up again and walked to the gate of the Zichen Palace.

Xichun quickly said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Jiang Lanye frowned. "Why don't you go in and serve her?"

Inside the hall, Song Yi overheard their conversation and was so frightened that her hands trembled. She quickly put her veil back on.

Before Xichun could figure out how to answer him, Jiang Lanye's expression darkened, and he was about to open the door.

In a moment of panic, Xichun shouted, "Your Majesty, the concubine is changing her clothes inside!"

(End of this chapter)