The wicked imperial concubine is courting death again; the comments section teaches her how to win w

But how long can one's beauty last in serving others?

If we wait a few more years, or even a decade or more, she'll develop wrinkles and gray hair... By then, she might not even be as good as Consort Li.

"You called me by the wrong name." Xie Ling flicked her forehead with his finger. He had emphasized to her countless times that she should call him Yanzhi.

He is everyone's emperor, but only her Yanzhi.

"Oh," Qi Yitang said, sounding aggrieved, "Yanzhi."

Xie Ling: "I am indeed rich beyond measure, but the only person I desire is Qi Yitang."

"I was eight years old when I left the Cold Palace. Before that, I lived worse than a servant. In the dead of winter, the eunuchs were negligent and did not deliver my meals on time. I could only eat tree bark and my hands were covered in frostbite... Tangtang, you often brought me food, warm clothes, and various medicines for my wounds."

"If it weren't for you, I would probably have died in the cold palace long ago."

For Qi Yitang, this is a very distant memory.

When she was a child, she was very helpful. She would kindly lend a hand to those who were living in misery, who did not have enough to eat or wear.

Xie Ling was among these people.

The princes and princesses she met in the palace were all powerful and influential, followed by a large group of servants and maids, and could have whatever they wanted.

He, however, lived a rather pitiful life.

Therefore, Qi Yitang helped him a few times within the scope of her ability.

In that instant, Qi Yitang suddenly realized that Xie Ling's feelings for her were not lustful, but rather a way of repaying her life-saving grace with his body!

Qi Yitang then remembered that in the original story, Xie Ling died because of her.

The comments section also said that Xie Ling was a hopeless romantic, and even though she was stupid, frivolous, and empty-headed, he still loved her.

Perhaps it was the past that gave Qi Yitang confidence; she felt that no matter what she did, she wouldn't end up like Consort Li, so she asked, "Then, no matter what I do, Yanzhi won't be angry?"

Xie Ling did not answer immediately, but pondered for a moment.

"It depends on the situation."

Qi Yitang felt a chill run down her spine. It seemed that it was entirely up to his mood.

If he's happy today, she's the Tangtang he loves; if he's unhappy tomorrow, then she's usurping the throne and can be molded to his whims.

Hmph, being an emperor really makes a difference; the grace of being saved is completely useless!

When Qi Yitang is unhappy, her cheeks puff up, like a squirrel hiding fruit.

Seeing her like this, Xie Ling's eyes held a gentle smile. "I have no other taboos, except that I have a kind of fastidiousness when it comes to emotions. I cannot allow the person I like to have someone else in their heart. If Tangtang still has feelings for..." He drew out his words, implying something.

They both knew perfectly well who they were talking about.

Qi Yitang's heart tightened, and she quickly said, "Impossible! I'm a germaphobe too, I would never cheat on someone!"

Xie Ling naturally knew this.

She has strong likes and dislikes. When she liked Xie Jingyu before, she only had eyes for him and in her heart.

She didn't even glance at him.

Now, fortunes change every thirty years, and his treatment of Xie Jingyu has completely reversed.

"Tangtang, under the whole world, only I can protect you and your family..."

Although Qi Yitang had "changed her mind," Xie Ling still felt it necessary to make it clear that Xie Jingyu was unreliable. "Do you understand?"

Qi Yitang nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, I know."

If Xie Ling had lived a good life, she certainly wouldn't have ended up like the characters in those stories.

Now that things were out in the open, and she was no longer worried about her looks fading or her love waning, Qi Yitang felt a great weight lifted off her shoulders.

Xie Ling cupped her face and said, "Remember, you are a favored concubine, the only noble concubine in the palace. You are not allowed to hurt yourself for the sake of others."

"If you have any problems, come to me. It's more effective than any self-inflicted injury ruse."

Aside from her family, no one else treated her as well.

Qi Yitang's eyes welled up with tears, and she threw herself into Xie Ling's arms. "I definitely remember it. It's etched in my memory."

"I have wronged you today." Xie Ling stroked Qi Yitang's cheek, his gaze distant. "Don't worry, Tangtang, I will seek justice for you."

Qi Yitang dared not complain; compared to Consort Li's entire family, she was already enjoying the highest level of favor.

"I'm fine, Yanzhi. Take your time, don't be impulsive, and don't rush things."

Qi Yitang was afraid that Xie Ling would kill her in a few moves, then present her with a bloody, warm head and ask her if she was happy.

Qi Yitang was unhappy and dared not move.

The two cuddled tenderly for a while, then she suddenly remembered, "Are you staying for lunch? I'll have someone prepare it in the small kitchen."

Xie Ling asked, "Does Tangtang want me to stay?"

Qi Yitang thought for a moment and nodded.

However, Xie Ling ultimately did not stay at Yaotang Palace because a former court official requested an audience for a temporary political discussion.

Even though the person was gone, Qi Yitang smiled.

Hmph, so what if she's a villainous supporting character? Villainous supporting characters and ruthless villains make a great pair, okay?

……

After discussing state affairs with his ministers, it was already an hour and a half later.

The imperial kitchen delivered dinner to the imperial study. Xie Ling ate a little and then continued to review the unfinished memorials on the imperial desk.

A quarter of an hour later, two figures quietly entered the Imperial Study.

One is Xie Yi, the leader of the secret guards. The secret guards are like shadows, dedicated to protecting the emperor's safety, doing things that cannot be seen in the light of day, and dealing with people who should not exist.

The other is Li Fengyao, the leader of the Scorpion Guard, who is directly under the emperor.

Compared to the Qilin Guard, the Scorpion Guard was even more autocratic, handling everything from confiscating property and exiling people to beheadings and killings.

Li Fengyao was both a close friend of the emperor and the emperor's most useful weapon.

The imperial brush, dipped in cinnabar, left red characters on the folding paper, but Xie Ling did not look up.

"How's it going?"

Xie Yi's scalp tightened. "Your Majesty, I am utterly useless..."

Li Fengyao also touched the tip of his nose, looking embarrassed. "On my side, I only broke one of his arms."

Xie Ling's tone was unreadable, "Sent out so many people, and you couldn't even kill a single person?"

Xie Yi knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive us. We have tried everything we can, but for some reason, Prince Gong seems to be protected by a god and always manages to escape danger."

"Is he protected by a god?"

Xie Ling scoffed, "It seems my second brother has more of a dragon's aura than I, the emperor."

Xie Yi wanted to slap himself twice. "Pah, pah, pah, shut your mouth! What nonsense are you spouting?"

"It was my slip of the tongue."

Li Fengyao spoke up for Xie Yi, saying, "You really can't blame Xie Yi. That grandson of Prince Gong has some luck; he's really not easy to kill right now."

They used all sorts of methods—poisoning, assassination, hidden injuries—but none of them could harm his vital organs.

This is really weird.

Could it be that this person has connections down below? — This was the suspicion of Li Fengyao, the living Yama who struck fear into the hearts of the entire Great Qian Dynasty.

If Xie Ling and Li Fengyao also had the ability to see the comments, they would know why Xie Jingyu was not easy to kill.

That's the legendary protagonist's halo.

The protagonist is the center of the story. If the male lead dies, how can the plot continue?

In traditional Chinese stories, even if the villains have all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support, and use all sorts of schemes and tricks, they can never defeat the protagonist and will eventually be killed by him.

This is an ironclad rule.

"What heinous thing did Prince Gong do that His Majesty is so determined to kill him?" Li Fengyao asked curiously.

Could it be related to his beloved concubine again?

Xie Ling did not answer. At this moment, Li Degui cautiously entered to announce, "Your Majesty, the General Who Pacifies the Distant Regions is waiting outside the door. He says he has come to pay his respects to you."