Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

190 What jiejie? What meimei? Part I

“Your Majesty, it is time.”

As soon as the eunuch’s voice from outside the palace was heard, the warm embrace slowly moved away from Bai Yu’s back. His strong arm, which was used as a pillow by his wife, was carefully pulled out from under her head. Because he had been living on the battlefield almost all his life, Ouyang Feilong was quick to wake up, even though the eunuch only called him once with a considerably low voice.

It would soon be time for him to go to court. Tradition dictated that the emperor did not stay overnight in a consort’s or concubine’s palace, but if he did, it would indicate how much he favored her. Today, Empress Bai showed that she had a firm grasp on the emperor’s heart.

Yet, this was merely the opening night of a new reign. It was possible that the intimacy was merely an act by the emperor in an attempt to protect his empress’ honor.

No one knew that Ouyang Feilong’s every action contained nothing but love and sincerity, untainted by honor or power. The touch he gave to the woman in his embrace was warm and gentle. He had savored her until she lost all her strength while in his arms. This was certainly not one of the acts normally seen within the palace.

The current emperor was not raised within the palace grounds; thus, he would sometimes act strangely. One of the instances was his shielding the empress away from his other consorts.

“Mmm…” A soft moan came as Bai Yu turned over to face him, still asleep. Ouyang Feilong had to make his movements slower and more silent. Da Yang needed its ruler, and so he must attend the morning meeting, no matter how much he wished to stay and take care of her after their first night together. The most he could do was to not wake Bai Yu, though it seemed his attempt was useless now.

“Go back to sleep.” When they faced each other, he was met with a pair of gleaming black eyes in the darkness. She said nothing as Ouyang Feilong moved to sit on the edge of the bed. His hand gently stroked her hair, whispering softly, “You can sleep in a little more. No need to greet Empress Dowager this morning. Also, zhen shall forbid the consorts from bothering you.”

This was also a tradition of the royal palace. All consorts must come to greet the mistress of the inner court, and then the empress would lead them to greet the empress dowager in turn. Entertaining scenes were on display like this every day. However, Ouyang Feilong did not prefer it in the slightest. He did not want Bai Yu to be troubled by the women he had to begrudgingly take care of after being given by Ouyang Hongxian.

.....

Ouyang Feilong could fill Ouyang Hongxian’s shoes in all aspects except women. He had no intention of being close to any of them, and so he had no idea how to manage the problem. Especially with the women who were like poisoned flowers, they drove him to his wit’s end. The only thing he could do was to keep them away from his Bai Yu.

“Your Majesty is being too overprotective.” Her eyes never left him. Bai Yu pulled up the blanket to cover her naked body as she pushed herself up. She unconsciously grimaced as the sudden movement made the pain in the core of her body flare up.

Ouyang Feilong moved closer to help her sit up. His lips seemed to be suppressing a smile. “Zhen have troubled you.”

“And yet, Your Majesty did not stop.” The ‘troubled’ person could not hold herself back from glaring at the son of heaven.

“How can a husband hold back from admiring such a beautiful wife?” He said as he eyed her body that was not covered by the blanket. The pink marks he had left were still clear on her pure, unblemished skin, though it had now reddened the same as her face.

“Your Majesty can respectfully get out!”

“Hahahaha.” Ouyang Feilong burst out laughing. Despite the rosy trails and bright red face, her dark eyes could still glare daggers at him.

Bai Yu’s one hand tightly gripped the blanket while the other pounded on the bare chest of the person who had been relentlessly bullying her since last night. She fought against fatigue and drowsiness in order to talk to him, and yet… He should just get out!

“What kind of empress dares to chase the emperor out, hm?” After laughing to his heart’s content, Ouyang Feilong resumed teasing her again. The ignored servants who were waiting outside made no move to enter the room and help their masters with their morning routine.

Their conversation was not loud enough to leak outside, except for one sentence where Bai Yu had raised her voice in half anger and half embarrassment. The servants held their heads lower in an attempt to hide their surprise.

An empress trying to drive an emperor away? Did she no longer want to be favored by him?!

The only thing that could guarantee one’s survival within the royal palace was a favor from the son of heaven. Empress Bai seemed to have attained it only recently, yet now she chased him away as soon as they woke. And instead of being furious, the magnificent and silent emperor…smiled?!

“Your Majesty should focus on taking care of our nation. I also have my own duty to fulfil as well.” And that duty was to ‘take care’ of everything within the inner court.

Ouyang Feilong sighed. He did not want her to trouble herself with such a matter, not until he could find a solution. He must find it. “Xiao Yu…”

“It’s not that I don’t know Your Majesty’s mind.” Bai Yu shook her head, interrupting Ouyang Feilong. She understood his worry and care, but he had been doing more than enough for her. Being who she was, she would never let Ouyang Feilong protect her forever.

His large hand was clasped by the smaller hand that had been within his grasp all night.

“Trying to protect me to this degree… Does Your Majesty want an empress and not a wife to share Your Majesty’s hardships anymore?”

Ouyang Feilong immediately shook his head. “No.”

Bai Yu smiled. Their gazes met under the curtain of darkness that their eyes were starting to adapt to. “Then please, let me handle this.”

Ouyang Feilong frowned. All the deceitful women he hated were now gathered under one roof, within this inner court.

“Has Your Majesty forgotten what kind of woman I am?” She asked as she moved closer, slightly tilting her face to look at the frown on his face. Its cause was merely something she had faced countless times before.

“A foolish woman.”

“I’ll give Your Majesty another chance.”

“An ugly woman.”

“Is Your Majesty sure of that?” Bai Yu said through her gritted teeth.

Ouyang Feilong let out a smile. His knotted brows finally let go.

“You are a deceitful woman…”

“…”

“The wicked woman zhen loves the most.”

——————-

Bai Yu had to expend a considerable amount of energy in order to get Ouyang Feilong out of the room. Were it not for the possibility of being called a licentious emperor, Ouyang Feilong might have stayed in her palace all day.

Bai Yu did not go back to sleep since it would soon be time for the consorts to come and greet her. The time she had left after waking up was then spent getting ready. Today, Bai Yu let Xiao Xi and Xiao Chang dress her most elegantly. While there was a problem with the weight of the dress and the headpieces that she was not used to yet, it was completely dwarfed by the marks Ouyang Feilong had left on her body. The ones that were on her neck were the most beautiful and prominent.

Her two maids, who were recently promoted to empress’ maids, turned red every time they saw the trace that could not be hidden by the clothes. Seeing their reaction, Bai Yu suddenly felt shy as well. Still, she did not order them to cover the marks with powder. These were important weapons that she would take into her first round of battle today.