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

Qi Yitang paused for too long, and even showed signs of nausea because of his approach. The invisible expectation in Xie Ling's eyes gradually faded away.

...Yes, what is he still fantasizing about?

Just as he was about to pull his hand back, he suddenly saw the person in front of him tremble his eyelashes, like a butterfly fluttering its wings.

[For a villain like that, all the misunderstandings are cleared up by a little kiss.]

[I agree! The male lead in this book is like a volatile maniac, and the female lead is like a masochist. I'd rather ship the female supporting character and the villain. You guys can go ahead and kiss, I've already started taking insulin.]

Qi Yitang steeled her heart and suddenly leaned closer, her soft lips brushing against the emperor's slightly cool cheek, leaving a warm mark on his cold and handsome features.

Xie Ling froze, even her breathing stopped.

This fleeting kiss was more lethal than any sharp blade.

"You!" He stood up abruptly, took a half step back, and his black dragon robe swept the teacup off the table in the chaos.

Amidst the crisp sound of the porcelain cup shattering, the emperor's earlobes visibly flushed crimson.

Qi Yitang lowered her head, her voice barely audible, "Your Majesty, I have no request... I simply wish to see Your Majesty..."

The last few words were so soft they almost disappeared into the air, but Xie Ling still heard them clearly. Each syllable was like a spark, crackling and burning his reason.

Tangtang said she wanted to see him, Tangtang missed him... She liked him!

She said it herself!

Is this a dream? Or just another elaborate scam?

Xie Ling couldn't help but ask, "Tangtang, are you sincere about what you said today?"

"Hmm." Qi Yitang nodded, blushing. "Your Majesty, actually, I..."

Xie Ling suddenly reached out and pressed his hand against her lips, "...Don't say anything yet."

He didn't want those unpleasant words to ruin the harmonious atmosphere today.

Qi Yitang was confused. Should she tell him or not?

Suddenly, a eunuch's voice came from outside the door, "Your Majesty, Prince Gong requests an audience."

Upon hearing this disgusting person's name, Qi Yitang felt a surge of anger. She had finally managed to appease him, and now he was meddling in her affairs!

Xie Ling paused, a chill settling in his eyes. "Send it."

……

As the beaded curtain swayed, Xie Jingyu stepped into the hall.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," he paused in his signature gentle voice, his gaze lingering subtly on Qi Yitang, "May Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine, be well..."

Ha ha.

With flies buzzing in her ears, Qi Yitang couldn't find peace no matter how hard she tried.

She used to think he was gentle, but now she sees him as just a lump of rotten flesh wearing a human skin.

hypocritical!

Xie Ling's expression was indifferent. "Rise. What brings Prince Gong here today?"

Xie Jingyu remained as refined and elegant as ever, a perfectly measured look of worry appearing between his brows. "Your Majesty, some time ago I happened to find a rare, out-of-print copy of the *Zhaoming Anthology*. I intended to discuss it with Grand Tutor Qi, but unfortunately, I heard that the Grand Tutor is ill..."

Qi Yitang's heart clenched suddenly. Her father was sick?

How come she doesn't know when this happened?

Her nervousness and worry were noticed by the two men in the hall. Xie Jingyu's smile deepened, and a hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

Sure enough, as long as you grasp a woman's weakness, she will definitely lose her composure.

Even if she is Xie Ling's concubine, she will always be on his side as long as he wants.

In matters of the heart, even the most powerful man was no match for him.

"I have already summoned the imperial physician for treatment. Although Grand Tutor Qi has improved somewhat, he is still deficient in both qi and blood, and his health requires further rest..."

Xie Jingyu bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty, I wish to request a favor for the Grand Tutor. I humbly request that Your Majesty bestow upon the Grand Tutor the thousand-year-old ginseng from the treasury to aid his health..."

[Huh? What's the male lead doing? He doesn't seem to get along that well with the female supporting character's father, yet he's acting like he's her father.]

[It's just for show; otherwise, why would the female supporting character be so devoted to him?]

[You male protagonist shippers are really something else. How can such a hypocrite be the main character? It's so degrading.]

With such a blatant intention laid bare before him, Xie Ling could easily see through it. His eyes turned icy cold as he said, "Your Highness is too kind. Grand Tutor Qi is my father-in-law, so naturally he doesn't need anyone else's concern."

"Li Degui, go and fetch the Tian Shan snow lotus and the ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum from the warehouse. Also—"

He stared at Xie Jingyu with a sharp gaze, and said, word by word, "Prepare the carriage; I will personally visit the Grand Tutor."

The emperor's personal visit is a favor more effective than any elixir.

Xie Jingyu hesitated for a moment.

"Your Majesty!" Qi Yitang suddenly grabbed Xie Ling's sleeve, her fingertips trembling slightly, "I want to go too..."

Her eager eyes met Xie Ling's deep gaze, and suddenly she had a flash of inspiration, softening her tone.

"Yanzhi, please take me home to see my father, okay?"

Yanzhi is the courtesy name of Xie Ling.

On their wedding night, he told her that there would be no emperor or concubines in the future, and they would live as an ordinary couple, and she could call him by his courtesy name.

Unfortunately, Qi Yitang disdained it and never called out to her.

Now, the sound of "Yanzhi" was so soft and gentle, like a feather brushing against the heart. Xie Ling was stunned, and his cold and hard features softened at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In front of Xie Jingyu, he took her slightly cool hand into his palm as if no one else was around.

"Alright." His voice was deep and resonant. "I will accompany you."

Xie Jingyu's gentle mask suddenly cracked, and he stared intently at their clasped hands.

Tang'er has always despised Xie Ling to the extreme, how could she be so intimate with him? And even call him by his courtesy name?

What did Xie Ling do to her?

……

The imperial carriage waited at the palace gate, and Qi Yitang returned to the palace to change her clothes.

She had just passed by the Imperial Garden when a figure in moonlight suddenly appeared from behind the artificial hill.

Xie Jingyu grabbed her wrist with such force that he almost crushed her hand bones.

"Tang'er, what act are you putting on today?"

"Ouch!" Qi Yitang winced in pain, but a mocking smile played on her lips. "What is Your Highness doing? I am His Majesty's concubine; how dare you treat me with such disrespect?"

"Let me go!"

"Don't play dumb with me!" Xie Jingyu's face was as cold as ice, and there was no trace of his gentle and refined demeanor left.

"What did you call him just now? Yanzhi?"

[The male lead is such a hypocrite! He's allowed to be so charming and agreeable, while the female supporting character and the villain are the only couple. Who cares what they call each other? What's wrong with them being affectionate?]

[Ding! The villains have arrived on the battlefield—]

[What a fine emperor, why does he keep learning to eavesdrop on others? But... I like it.]

Hehehe, let the battleground rage on!

Xie Ling was nearby, and Qi Yitang felt a chill run down her spine; cold sweat almost broke out on her forehead.

If he saw her entangled with Xie Jingyu, she wouldn't be able to explain herself even if she had a hundred mouths.

Qi Yitang struggled to break free from Xie Jingyu's grasp, her tone icy, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect! I only address you as 'Second Brother' out of respect for His Majesty's elder brother. As for how His Majesty and I get along, that's none of our business!"

A red mark had appeared around that pale wrist.

Qi Yitang cursed inwardly, "That bastard really went too far!"

"An outsider?" Seeing her unusual behavior of avoiding him like the plague, Xie Jingyu suddenly sneered and took something out of his pocket.

"Does Tang'er still remember this?"

It was a handkerchief that had turned slightly yellow, embroidered with twin lotus flowers.

Qi Yitang's pupils shrank suddenly. Damn! That really was her stuff.

When she was young and in love, she thought Xie Jingyu was her ideal husband, and shyly gave him this.

However, every woman has a past.

—In my youth, my eyes seemed to be diseased, and I mistakenly held filth for pearls.

Xie Jingyu stroked the handkerchief, his voice softening as if he were reminiscing about something, "This is the token of love you gave me back then, twin lotus blossoms bloom at the Jade Well, mandarin ducks roost separately on Shanglin Island."

"You said you would marry me after you came of age and give me two children, a boy and a girl..."

He adjusted his expression to be flawless, a gentle smile, yet unable to conceal his sadness.

"Tang'er, have you truly forgotten all those vows of eternal love?"