Chapter 40 – Ancient Era: A Dance to Enchant the City—The Emperor’s Celestial Fairy (10)
Jiang Liangwu did not issue an imperial decree right away. After ten days of deep contemplation, he personally arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence with the most precious betrothal gifts to formally propose marriage.
Prime Minister Bai: ‘My wife and I are utterly shocked.’
After all, this was the emperor himself seeking a marriage proposal. Even though Prime Minister Bai was reluctant to see his son “married off,” he couldn’t outright refuse. Instead, he tactfully expressed that he needed to consult Bai Tang’s opinion. After all, he was an open-minded and loving father—his greatest wish was for his children to be happy. If Bai Tang truly entered the palace, as for the Bai family’s lineage… once his daughter was found and married, she could bear children, and their grandchildren would continue the bloodline just the same.
While the Prime Minister was discussing matters with Jiang Liangwu, his wife took the opportunity to visit Bai Tang’s courtyard.
“My dear son~” She stepped forward, taking Bai Tang’s hand in hers. “I have a question for you, and I hope you’ll answer honestly.”
Bai Tang, not understanding what was happening, nodded cooperatively.
“Do you… have feelings for His Majesty?”
Bai Tang was even more confused. What kind of feelings?
Seeing Bai Tang’s dazed expression, the Prime Minister’s wife gritted her teeth and got straight to the point: “Just now, the emperor personally came to propose marriage—he wants to take you as his consort.”
“Really?!” Bai Tang sprang to his feet in surprise and delight.
“It’s true.” A deep yet warm voice responded.
Jiang Liangwu stood at the doorway, backlit by the sunlight. His strikingly handsome features were obscured by the light, making him appear even more captivating.
“Y-Your Majesty, why are you here? Tang’er, hurry and pay your respects to the emperor!” The Prime Minister’s wife, still in shock, pushed the stunned Bai Tang forward, intending to have him kneel.
“There’s no need for formalities.” Jiang Liangwu couldn’t bear to see his precious one kneeling on the cold ground. Striding forward, he gently helped the Prime Minister’s wife up—taking the opportunity to brush against Bai Tang’s smooth, delicate cheek.
Mm, just as soft as it was that night.
“You truly want me to be your ‘junhou’?” In the Yi Dynasty, a female consort was called the Empress, while a male consort was referred to as Junhou.
“It’s true. My heart belongs to you.”
Bai Tang stood frozen, staring up at him in disbelief. The moment Jiang Liangwu uttered those words, joy burst forth in the little squirrel’s bright eyes.
Jiang Liangwu couldn’t help but tap the tip of Bai Tang’s little nose. Feeling the fine beads of sweat forming due to Bai Tang’s anticipation of his answer, his heart filled with joy. I’ve truly found a treasure. Fortunately, this treasure will soon be mine.
Bai Tang, following Jiang Liangwu’s movement, broke into a wide, radiant smile—an answer far better than any words could give to the Prime Minister’s wife’s question.
Prime Minister’s Wife: ‘Why do I feel so heartbroken? It’s like the precious cabbage I’ve carefully raised has been stolen by a pig…’
“Tang Tang, the male lead is a heartless, womanizing sc*mbag! Why do you still want to enter the palace?” The system grumbled. It never liked the male lead.
In the previous world, he had already stolen its host—wasn’t that enough?
Now, in this world, he was haunting them again.
Couldn’t he just patiently wait for Tang Tang to finish the mission and return to him?
Most importantly, in this world, wasn’t the male lead originally interested in the female lead? What if he was just using their Tang Tang as a substitute?
“I can feel it—he truly loves me.” Bai Tang had a strong intuition, and even more so when it came to his past-life lover.
The system glanced at the book in its hands, The Billionaire CEO’s Perfect Substitute Lover. The character used as a stand-in in that novel had suffered miserably. After getting together with the main lead, he was tormented both physically and emotionally—left cold and starving, forced to wear rags, and constantly at the mercy of nosy relatives and arrogant servants.
The system imagined Bai Tang in such a situation—wearing patched-up, tattered clothes, bullied by palace maids and eunuchs, mistreated daily, tears brimming in his eyes as he worked tirelessly, surviving on nothing but a single steamed bun a day…
The mere thought of it nearly made the system cry. “Let’s… let’s not enter the palace, okay? (〃＞目＜)”
“Why not?” Bai Tang asked in return. “If I don’t enter the palace, how will I break up the male and female lead when the heroine returns later?”
The system was momentarily speechless. It tossed the tragic novel aside and blurted out, “Because he has an entire harem!”
Now, it was Bai Tang’s turn to feel heartbroken…
Author’s Note:
These chapters are all about misunderstandings, misunderstandings! (sobs)
This chapter has a little fluff—stay tuned for even sweeter moments ahead! o(￣ε￣*)