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

Chapter 5: Her cold has subsided; he summons her to his bedchamber.

Jiang Lanye was engrossed in reading the memorials when he was suddenly disturbed. He frowned, glanced at her briefly, and then lowered his head to continue reading the memorials.

Xiao Jieyu's smile froze; she was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to get up or not.

The floor tiles were cold, and she was deliberately dressed very lightly; after a short while, her knees started to ache.

Jiang Lanye acted as if she didn't exist and focused intently on reviewing the memorials.

Only after he had finished reviewing the remaining few memorials did he finally raise his head and say, "Get up."

Consort Xiao felt as if she had been granted a pardon. He hissed as she stood up.

The bones in my knee felt as if they had been soaked in cold air, and I lost all feeling in them.

Jiang Lanye gestured for her to sit opposite him.

Xiao Jieyu sat down, shyly lifting her eyelids to look at Jiang Lanye.

She rarely had the opportunity to be so close to Jiang Lanye.

I had long known that this emperor was exceptionally handsome, but seeing him again now still makes my heart flutter.

Although his eyes were beautiful, the emotions in them were always as cold as ice. The lines of his nose and thin lips were perfect, and his eyes were long and narrow, revealing a captivating and wicked charm when he looked up.

"His Majesty."

She called out softly, then lowered her head, bewildered.

Why was Jiang Lanye's gaze so direct?

He's just staring at her like that, is he captivated by her outfit tonight?

There was no need for such an intense gaze; she felt a little uncomfortable.

Seeing Xiao Jieyu lower her head, Jiang Lanye said with some dissatisfaction, "Raise your head."

Xiao Jieyu quickly looked up again and stared directly at him.

She sat there stiffly for a full half hour.

My neck is sore.

Finally, Consort Xiao could no longer bear it and timidly spoke up: "Your Majesty, may I serve you to bed?"

Jiang Lanye frowned.

"Who gave you permission to speak?"

The only similarity she has is her face, but even that's only about 50% similar.

If you listen to the voice, it doesn't sound like it at all.

He hates it most when these stand-ins do things that make him realize the person in front of him is a stand-in.

Xiao Jieyu was taken aback, and shut her mouth in grievance.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Lanye seemed to be tired, and gently closed his eyelids, looking somewhat weary.

"You go."

Xiao Jieyu didn't understand why this was happening.

In the few times she served the emperor, it was always the same: she would inexplicably sit opposite Jiang Lanye, let him watch her for half the night, and then do nothing before returning to Xianyue Pavilion alone.

She stood up and, daring to ask again, "Your Majesty, may I serve you?"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly opened his eyes and said coldly, "Get out."

Consort Xiao was immediately terrified and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I will leave right away!"

Watching her fleeing figure, Jiang Lanye murmured, "How boring."

His Consort Yun would never behave in such a vulgar and obsequious manner.

Sure enough, no matter how similar someone is, they are never her.

Jiang Lanye lay on the couch, recalling how he had slept through the entire night, finding it unbelievable.

Maybe tonight too.

Has his habit of having nightmares disappeared?

With this thought in mind, he closed his eyes.

An hour later. Blood, cold blades, piercing screams, chaos ensued.

A woman dressed in gorgeous clothes knelt on the ground, tightly protecting a boy in her arms, while Jiang Lanye sat slumped to the side, watching the man holding a golden sword mercilessly stab it into her heart.

With a "thud" as the sword was drawn, bright red blood gushed out.

The boy's cries and the chaotic footsteps of the palace servants kept ringing in my ears.

Jiang Lanye curled up her small body, covered her head, and dared not look at the scene in front of her.

Suddenly, he was touched.

Looking up, the little boy, who had been crying pitifully, glared at him fiercely and demanded sharply, "Why didn't you protect Mother! Why!"

Jiang Lanye suddenly woke up.

He hadn't recovered from the nightmare yet; he was covered in cold sweat, his pupils unfocused, staring blankly at the blanket.

His chest heaved violently. After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Lanye came to his senses and called Eunuch Cao in a hoarse voice.

"Your Majesty? Did you have another nightmare?"

Jiang Lanye closed his eyes, gave a weary "hmm," and said, "Prepare hot water."

I was covered in cold sweat and felt extremely uncomfortable.

Jiang Lanye often wakes up in the middle of the night and then needs to take a bath. The palace maids outside are used to this and prepare hot water for him in an orderly manner.

Somewhat puzzled, Eunuch Cao asked, "Your Majesty, why didn't you have a nightmare yesterday?"

Jiang Lanye remained silent for a long while before saying in a hoarse voice, "It's just a coincidence."

Eunuch Cao remained silent.

Indeed, it was just a coincidence that I suddenly didn't have nightmares one day.

After taking a bath, Jiang Lanye had no desire to rest, so he simply lit a candle and dealt with the matters that night.

The next day, after Jiang Lan returned from court late at night, he finally remembered something and asked, "Is that concubine feeling better?"

Eunuch Cao immediately said, "Your Majesty is concerned about her, this servant will send someone to inquire immediately."

Jiang Lanye said, "If she recovers, let her come over tonight."

".yes."

Song Yi lay in bed for a whole day, during which she only drank two bowls of congee and managed to sweat it out until she finally stopped feeling dizzy.

She didn't see the other palace maid, Qiu Chan, all day. Instead, Xi Chun stayed in the room with her, serving her tea and water.

Song Yi understood Qiu Chan's thoughts.

She didn't want to dwell on these things, after all, she wasn't doing this for palace intrigue.

As darkness fell, Jiang Lanye's servant arrived.

"Lady Song, His Majesty requests your presence tonight. Prepare yourself."

Song Yi shuddered.

Xichun's eyes lit up, and she was quite pleased: "That's wonderful, Lady Xichun, His Majesty truly cares about you."

The corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

If Jiang Lanye truly cared about her, he shouldn't have summoned her to the cold and impersonal Golden Palace!
She had just recovered from her illness!
"Xichun, you can go out first, I'll get ready."

Xichun didn't think much of it and closed the door behind her.

Song Yi carefully washed her face, sat in front of the bronze mirror, and looked intently at herself in the mirror.

Even after three years, she still looked just like she did when she was seventeen or eighteen. Her skin was as white as porcelain, and her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting. Even without makeup, she was exceptionally charming and beautiful. In particular, her eyes were clear and bright, and when she smiled, they still revealed a hint of the cunning and liveliness she had back then.

She carefully selected some rouge, then meticulously applied it to a large burn scar in front of the mirror before putting on her veil with great satisfaction.

If Jiang Lanye goes crazy again and tries to tear off her veil, at least she can use this scar to disguise herself.

We just don't know what will happen tonight.

Night falls in the Golden Palace.

Song Yi stepped out of Chun'en's carriage, dressed in a neat and simple dress, and slowly entered the palace.

(End of this chapter)