Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

翌日清晨，天光微亮.

As Chu Mengtong straightened her clothes and stood up to leave, her slender toes barely touched the ground before her wrist was suddenly tightened.

Wang Jiling reached out and grabbed her wrist, his gaze fixed on her, his tone carrying a certainty:

"Mengtong, don't worry. I will never let Yu'er's revenge go unpunished."

He paused, his voice carrying the unique authority of an emperor: "I will immediately issue an edict to send someone to invite my eldest brother, Wang Shaobo."

Chu Mengtong was taken aback, then looked up and asked softly, "Your Majesty's eldest brother?"

Wang Jiling nodded and slowly said, "He is Wang Shaobo, one of the four grandmasters, known as Beiying Tingfeng and Zhanlong Zhuihun."

"As long as he's willing to take action, Xie Xiaoyi can be found no matter where he flees. Even if Xie Lingyun himself came, he might not be able to stop him."

Upon hearing this, Chu Mengtong gently curtsied, her voice soft yet respectful: "Thank you, Father!"

Father emperor?

Upon hearing the word "Father Emperor," Wang Jiling felt completely at ease.

Last night we were inseparable...

The image of her calling him "Father Emperor" immediately came to mind, and a secret pleasure welled up in her heart, which she secretly enjoyed.

Before Chu Mengtong could get up, he stretched out his long arm and pulled her back to him, his tone calm yet forceful:

"From now on, when no one is around, don't call me Father Emperor anymore."

Looking into her panicked eyes, he spoke each word slowly and deliberately, with unwavering resolve:

"Once Yu'er's matter is settled, I will issue an edict to announce to the world that you will be welcomed into the harem, and rightfully made a concubine."

Chu Mengtong shuddered, her face turning deathly pale. She hurriedly broke free from his grasp and staggered to her knees.

"Your Majesty! This is absolutely unacceptable! I am your daughter-in-law, and such behavior is contrary to etiquette and propriety!"

Wang Jiling looked up at her, then suddenly chuckled softly, a laugh carrying the unique disdain and arrogance of an emperor: "Rules?"

This vast land belongs to me, and all the laws and regulations governing the world are rules I established. I am the system of rites, I am the rules!

Chu Mengtong knelt on both knees, her body trembling slightly, and still pleaded in a trembling voice:

"But... but if that happens, Your Majesty will surely be ridiculed by the people and criticized in future historical records."

Wang Jiling leaned down, gently lifted her chin with his hand, his gaze filled with possessiveness, and slowly spoke:

"Throughout my life, I have established my rule over the world. I have never cared about the gossip of ordinary people, nor have I feared the few strokes of history in the annals of time."

All I know is—

Those I desire should stand by my side. Anyone who dares to ridicule me, I will silence them. Anyone who dares to criticize me, I will make them bow their head.

What are the people of the world worth?

What are history books worth? For me, my will is the way of Heaven, is justice.

Chu Mengtong was so shocked by his domineering and almost insane desire that her heart trembled, and she said urgently:

"Your Majesty...you're pushing your daughter-in-law into a corner..."

Wang Jiling's gaze fell heavily on her, his tone carrying a hint of interrogation: "Tell me, how did I compare to Yu'er yesterday?"

Chu Mengtong blushed instantly, too ashamed to lift her head, and dared not utter a sound.

"Speak, and I will pardon you!"

"His Majesty was in high spirits last night!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Wang Jiling could no longer hide his inner pride and laughed heartily.

......

The herbal medicine hut was filled with a light fragrance of herbs. Hua Lingshu was carefully preparing medicine with his head down, his posture gentle and his temperament serene.

Mu Pingting gently stroked her neck and wrists; most of the hideous red spots had faded, and her skin had returned to its smooth texture.

A warmth filled her heart, knowing that she was almost fully recovered.

She gazed at Hua Lingchu's gentle profile and said softly, "Young Master Hua, the red spots on my body have almost completely disappeared. It's all thanks to your care day and night."

Hua Lingshu paused in his movements, looked up at her, and spoke softly:

"It would be best if the girl could recover. From now on, she will never have to suffer like that again."

As he spoke, he took a medicine pouch and handed it over.

His fingers brushed against Mu Pingting's hand, a fleeting touch that caused both of them to pause slightly.

Mu Pingting's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her eyes and said softly, "Young master treats me so well. I am a woman of the night and I am truly unworthy of such kindness."

Hua Lingshu looked at her lowered eyes, his voice full of sincerity and earnestness:

"Young lady, why should you belittle yourself? In my eyes, you are different from others."

Mu Pingting felt a surge of warmth in her heart and gently curtsied, saying, "Thank you so much for your kindness, Young Master Hua. I... don't know how to respond."

No sooner had she finished speaking than light footsteps sounded outside the door. Hua Suwen entered carrying a basket of herbs and immediately began to joke with a smile:

"Sister Mu, please don't be so polite with Senior Brother! He always seems so old-fashioned, but he takes care of you willingly!"

Hua Lingchu smiled slightly and said nothing.

The room was quiet, with only the gentle tapping of a pestle, and an ambiguous atmosphere lingered, as if unspoken words were about to be spoken.

At that very moment, sword energy suddenly rose outside the courtyard. Xie Xiaoyi was descending from the clouds on his sword, sheathed his wooden sword, and slowly walked into the house.

As soon as Hua Suwen saw him return, she immediately put down the herbs in her hand and went to greet him, her eyes full of concern: "Junior brother, you're finally back."

A few days ago you said you were going down the mountain to find a good sword, but why are you still holding this paulownia wood sword that your senior brother made for you when you come back?

Xie Xiaoyi lightly tapped the blade with his fingertips, smiling casually:

"I've searched all over the mountain, but I haven't found anything that suits my taste. The wooden sword that my senior brother made himself is the best fit. I'll just have to make do with it."

Hua Lingshu, who was grinding medicine nearby, put down the pestle, looked at Xie Xiaoyi, and said with certainty, "These past few days, you haven't been going to buy a sword at all."

Xie Xiaoyi raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Hua Lingshu looked at him, his tone carrying a hint of an elder brother's seriousness:

"If you truly consider me your senior brother, tell me, where did you go and what did you do?"

Mu Pingting and Hua Suwen exchanged a glance, neither of them able to understand why Hua Lingshu, who was usually so easy to talk to, would suspect Xie Xiaoyi.

Xie Xiaoyi thought to himself, "Using whether or not I acknowledge him as my senior brother to blackmail me? Isn't this pure moral blackmail?"

He was silent for a moment, then finally spoke the truth, as if he were talking about something trivial: "I went to the capital."

"I killed the Second Prince Wang Yu, along with his guards Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Wu, Zhao Liu, and all of them."

The room fell silent after he finished speaking.

Mu Pingting snapped out of her daze, her heart pounding, her voice trembling: "Xie Mo! You...you really killed all those people who bullied me?!"

Xie Xiaoyi looked at her and smiled earnestly:

"Sister Pingting, didn't I promise you before? I'll cure your illness and avenge your grudge."

"But...but..." Mu Pingting stared at Xie Xiaoyi, her eyes filled with shock.

He spoke of it so casually, yet what he did was so earth-shattering!

Kill the Second Prince in the Forbidden City?

This is like punching a hole in the sky!