Chapter 46 – Ancient Era: A Dance to Enchant the City—The Emperor’s Celestial Fairy (16)
The Prime Minister’s wife was too terrified to accept the emperor’s kneeling gesture. However, Prime Minister Bai stroked his beard, calmly held onto his panicked wife, and steadily accepted the bow.
It seemed the emperor truly loved their Tang’er. After all, for a man, kneeling was a matter of great significance—one would not do so lightly.
“Good, good, good. From now on, my Tang’er is entrusted to Your Majesty’s care,” Prime Minister Bai said with deep satisfaction.
…
The Prime Minister’s wife stepped into Bai Tang’s courtyard once more.
Her son had entered the imperial palace. The next time they met, it would be under the formal constraints of imperial etiquette, where they would have to observe the strict rules between ruler and subject.
“Tang’er, is the emperor treating you well?” she asked with concern.
“Yes, very well,” Bai Tang nodded, happily munching on the sweet pastries Jiang Liangwu had specially ordered from the imperial kitchen.
Seeing her son still so naïve and carefree, the Prime Minister’s wife felt a pang of sadness. Her lips parted several times, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, her worries won out.
She did not believe Jiang Liangwu’s promises. He is an emperor, after all. No matter how much he claims to love my son now, the three palaces and six courtyards of the harem will never remain empty.
“Tang’er, listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you—you must remember these words well…”
She then proceeded to teach Bai Tang everything about managing the imperial harem: how to deal with ambitious maidservants trying to climb into the emperor’s bed, how to place spies in the concubines’ chambers, and various other political maneuvers.
Bai Tang listened in stunned silence, his jaw dropping.
So many schemes… so much intrigue…
The imperial harem was far more complicated than he had imagined. He wasn’t interested in such matters, but the system, on the other hand, was utterly fascinated. It eagerly took notes in a little notebook while listening to the lecture.
If anyone dares to bully Tang Tang in the future, the system thought, I’ll use these methods to deal with them!
…
Meanwhile, Jiang Liangwu subtly probed Prime Minister Bai for information.
After much discussion, he reached a definitive conclusion: Bai Tang was indeed the Prime Minister’s biological son.
Then how did Tang Tang turn into a squirrel?
There was only one person who could answer that question—Bai Tang himself.
…
After listening to his mother’s lengthy lecture and enjoying a hearty meal at home, Bai Tang finally set off with Jiang Liangwu to return to the palace.
“Tang Tang~” Jiang Liangwu called teasingly, holding a small plate of peanuts. “Can you turn into a squirrel?”
Bai Tang tensed up instantly.
“W-what? I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
He had heard that humans despised demons the most. If they caught one, they would tie it to a pillar and burn it alive!
No matter how much Jiang Liangwu tried to tempt him, Bai Tang refused to admit anything.
“Y-you must have been drunk that night. You saw wrong! Yes, that’s right, you definitely saw wrong! I’m human—how could I possibly turn into a squirrel?!”
…
“Qiu’er, Qiu’er, what should I do?” Bai Tang desperately called out to his system in his mind.
Unfortunately, the system was still locked away in its little black room, engrossed in studying the Prime Minister’s wife’s teachings.
Oh, right. The little black room could no longer be called the “little black room” anymore. After completing the first world, the system had installed a bright incandescent light inside. Now, whenever the light was turned on, the room was completely illuminated.
…
Jiang Liangwu caught the panic in Bai Tang’s eyes.
He stepped back toward the window, where a small pond lay outside. Bai Tang’s shimmering, watery eyes began to fill with tears, his expression clearly saying, If you push me any further, I’ll jump out and die right in front of you.
Jiang Liangwu immediately stopped in his tracks and quickly reached out his hand.
“Alright, alright. I was drunk. I must have seen wrong. Tang Tang, come here first, alright?”
He slowly approached, but Bai Tang stopped him.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Just thinking about what he had read in the system’s library made Bai Tang’s heart ache.
According to the Records of Demonic Creatures, humans were experts at using sweet words to deceive naive little demons, extracting benefits from them. But once they were no longer useful, they would be mercilessly killed.
I have nothing. I have no treasures. I have nothing to offer Jiang Liangwu.
The thought of being captured and burned alive made Bai Tang shiver from head to toe.
“I have nothing, no treasures at all! Please don’t catch me, okay?” Bai Tang burst into tears.
Poisoned by the nonsense books provided by the system, he had become convinced that all humans despised demons.
He glanced outside.
If I stay, I’ll die.
Clenching his teeth, he leaped out of the window.
…
“Tang Tang—!”
Jiang Liangwu’s heart-wrenching cry echoed through the palace, startling Eunuch Li, who was standing outside.
By the time the palace servants rushed inside, they arrived just in time to see the emperor jumping out of the window as well.
…
Two consecutive splashes.
Each one louder than the last.
Eunuch Li’s heart nearly stopped.
“Quick! Someone, save the emperor!” he shouted in a panic.
Author’s Note:
System: It’s my fault! I was wrong! Tang Tang, I’m so sorry! Waaahhh! Please don’t die!~ (sobbing)
Jiang Liangwu: From now on, stop reading those ridiculous books.
Author: Hehe, the system is actually the most serious about completing the mission. In the original plot, the male and female leads were supposed to be separated, and now the male lead wants to form a new CP? Nope! Not happening!