It was an act beyond the limits of a subject. Made only because no one was watching, but even more reason why it shouldn’t have been done.
Yet, His Majesty seemed pleased.
“Enduring it despite the fear.”
Realizing further prostration was futile, I sighed deeply and straightened up.
“Why do you do this? It’s really too much of a gift.”
“Because I want to. Is that reason not sufficient?”
More than sufficient. Excessively so.
But the burden remained.
“I understand your desire to ensure proper recognition of achievements and inspire the ministers, but this is just too much. What you’ve already given is more than enough─”
“Recognition of achievements?”
His Majesty chuckled.
“Do you really see it that way?”
Although I knew it wasn’t a genuine question, I had no choice but to respond honestly.
“There’s no other reason for this. It’s still too much.”
His Majesty’s favor had always been excessive. I had received the Emperor’s possessions several times, a privilege even once is considered an honor. I even had the permission to review and send His Majesty’s letters without his approval.
If it weren’t for my contributions, the ministers would have long since lined up to protest at the court.
Yet even considering my contributions, the recent gift was too much. Not an honor fitting for a mere subject.
“Sometimes, I…”
His Majesty sighed deeply. Whose sigh was it supposed to be, anyway?
“Whether you truly don’t know or are pretending not to know, I can’t tell.”
It was an unfair accusation. I hadn’t pretended to be ignorant, but I genuinely didn’t understand why His Majesty was behaving this way.
“I am too obtuse to understand…”
“Well, okay. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand.”
My humble words were interrupted. His Majesty clasped his hands together, lifted them, and smiled slightly.
“If you don’t understand, I’ll just keep giving.”
As His Majesty opened his hands, sparkling objects fell through them.
These were his gifts.
Carved jade inkstones, hairpins with jade in dragon mouths, intricately carved ivory, and various trinkets.
Silk embroidered with a phoenix, a turtle carved in gold, the Emperor’s seal, edicts for various titles, and tax-exempt territories.
These were all the favors I had returned, wrapped in silk, before my death.
Leaving me with no evidence.
Reasons unknown, even in rebirth.
I closed my eyes to the endless flow of gold and jewels. It was time to wake up.
Regaining consciousness, I was overwhelmed by such intense fatigue that I couldn’t even open my eyes. My body was soaked in cold sweat, as if I had woken from a nightmare.
Oddly, it wasn’t a bad dream. I tried to wipe my sweat-soaked forehead but failed due to my short arms.
“Never mind…”
I gave up, letting my limbs flop as I waited for the sweat to naturally dry. I felt a bit cold, so I covered myself up to the neck with a blanket, not too thick but better than nothing.
“Indeed, it’s better than before.”
I mused. It seemed humorous. Had my mind regressed along with my body? I would never encounter a problem more challenging than serving His Majesty, even if I lived a hundred lives.
He was a challenging master: capable, fickle, and with a certain captivating quality.
Yes, the issue was the last part – his personal charm. Apart from any benefits, it was purely a desire to be loyal to him.
Thus, I devoted my loyalty to him, knowing I couldn’t keep his favor forever. I was compliant when he dismissed me.
Then, instead of exploring other options, I chose suicide. Better to die than to turn against him.
In contrast, my dealings with the Emperor of Lertain are more transactional. I don’t pledge loyalty to him, nor does he show me favor. So, whatever the outcome, I could at least be a bit wicked.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
Once I discarded my delusions, the decision came easily. I had finally settled on my goal, methods, and limits.
Yes, let’s create a social circle.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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