TVAAMRF Chapter 30

Chapter 30 – Tyrant 2

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Xiao Chengyan noticed Su Tang’s resentful little glare, his expression a mix of anger and fear. Amused, he continued to pinch Su Tang’s chin, as if playing with a new toy, and lazily asked, “Didn’t the Marquis’s Estate teach you any manners?”

Su Tang paused, puzzled, then earnestly tried to recall what he had done wrong. The more he thought, the more flaws he uncovered in his behavior—he was riddled with them like a sieve! Even if Xiao Chengyan weren’t a tyrant, he could easily punish Su Tang for disrespect.

Su Tang’s face paled, and he immediately cowered, stammering, “This… this humble subject is guilty…?”

But the moment Su Tang showed fear and began confessing, Xiao Chengyan’s expression darkened. He interrupted sharply, “What ‘humble subject’? Is that how the Marquis’s Estate teaches its people to be so lowly? You are Gu’s Imperial Consort. You should refer to yourself as Ben Gong.”

Su Tang was stunned. What was going on? Was this some kind of joke? He was just a medicine sent to cure the tyrant’s illness—he had no status, not even that of a bed-warming servant. How had he suddenly become an Imperial Consort? As far as he knew, there were no other consorts in the harem. Did that mean he was now the highest-ranking consort?

Xiao Chengyan suddenly leaned in, closing the distance between them until their noses nearly touched. His warm breath brushed against Su Tang’s skin, tickling like a feather.

“Do you understand, Beloved Consort?”

Su Tang stared at the magnified handsome face before him, his dark, icy eyes. Instinctively, he wanted to retreat, but Xiao Chengyan’s fingers pinched his chin, immobilizing him. He could only obediently say, “Ben Gong understands.”

The moment the words left his lips, Xiao Chengyan’s expression turned peculiar, and Su Tang realized his mistake.

Damn it, I messed up again! There are too many self-referential pronouns in this era!

Xiao Chengyan gave him a pitying look, as if Su Tang were mentally deficient, and slowly said, “It seems the Marquis’s Estate truly failed to educate you. You don’t even know this? You should refer to yourself as ‘qie’ before Gu. But since you’re a man, never mind. It wouldn’t be appropriate. Before Gu, you have special permission to refer to yourself as ‘wo.'”

He sighed dramatically. “My Beloved Consort is too foolish. I’ll spare you the trouble of remembering so many rules.”

Su Tang: “……”

Damn it, how dare he call me foolish? I have a petty heart and a long memory. Watch out, I’ll beat you into an idiot and we’ll see who’s truly foolish.

Damn it, I’m so angry.

Xiao Chengyan said, “You’re cursing me in your heart.”

“How could that be? I was inwardly praising Your Majesty’s handsome and dashing appearance, and your impeccable manners.”

Su Tang smiled sweetly, but inwardly he seethed.

Isn’t that obvious? You insulted me first, so what’s wrong with me insulting you back? I’ll insult you all I want, you stinky idiot, you brainless moron, go eat shit and get struck by lightning!

Xiao Chengyan stared at him for a moment before asking, “Will you continue eating?”

Su Tang immediately nodded, snatched up his chopsticks, and channeled his fury into appetite. He pounced on the food like a starving tiger, terrified that the ruthless Tyrant might suddenly order the entire table of delicacies removed, leaving him to starve.

Bored, Xiao Chengyan propped his chin on his hand and watched Su Tang eat with gusto. For some reason, Su Tang’s enthusiasm stirred his own appetite, and he picked up his chopsticks to join in.

Before long, the two were childishly snatching food from each other’s plates. Imperial cuisine emphasized variety and refinement, offering numerous dishes in small portions. Even if one found a favorite, it would be gone after a few bites.

The Chief Steward watched the Emperor, who rarely ate so much, with tears welling in his eyes. He was immensely relieved. As the Emperor’s attendant, he was powerless to force His Majesty to eat. Even a few extra words of persuasion could cost him his life. Yet if the Emperor’s health deteriorated, none of the servants would escape punishment.

The Chief Steward’s gaze toward Su Tang softened into one of great tenderness.

Su Tang shivered under the intense scrutiny.

However, Xiao Chengyan had always been a light eater with a delicate stomach. His sudden overindulgence today was hardly a good sign.

That night, as he prepared for bed, the Tyrant’s stomach pain flared up.

Xiao Chengyan’s face darkened, the air around him heavy with oppressive cold.

The Palace Attendants trembled anew, fearing they might become victims of his wrath.

Too terrified to even glance up, they remained oblivious to the Tyrant’s true condition. Even if they had noticed, it would have made no difference.

Su Tang, however, was different. As a soul from another world who had arrived midway through life, he lacked the ingrained sense of hierarchy. Even knowing the man before him was the supreme Emperor, he couldn’t help but tease him, act spoiled, and throw tantrums when faced with that familiar face.

His willful, unrestrained behavior was clearly the result of someone’s indulgence.

Now, seeing Xiao Chengyan’s furrowed brow, Su Tang immediately understood what was wrong. A hint of schadenfreude crept into his smile as he chuckled, “Your Majesty, did you overeat and feel unwell? You should have let me suffer this discomfort instead. I could have finished everything myself!”

Xiao Chengyan turned his head, his gaze icy as if to say, “You’re dead.”

The Chief Steward thought, “This man is finished.”

But Su Tang stepped forward, grabbed Xiao Chengyan, and led him to the Dragon Bed. He firmly laid Xiao Chengyan down and began massaging his stomach with practiced skill.

Su Tang’s hands were warm, like built-in heating pads, and his perfectly calibrated kneading brought immediate relief.

Xiao Chengyan lay on the bed, watching Su Tang kneel beside him, diligently massaging his stomach. Su Tang’s long eyelashes, like delicate feather fans, curved in graceful arcs, casting soft, hazy shadows in the candlelight. His exquisite features seemed ethereal, like a bewitching spirit veiled in mist, on the verge of vanishing.

Xiao Chengyan reached out and pulled Su Tang down to lie beside him.

This didn’t hinder Su Tang’s massage, and lying down was more comfortable. Su Tang nestled against Xiao Chengyan, his slightly smaller frame making it appear as if he were snuggling in the emperor’s embrace, a picture of intimacy.

After massaging Xiao Chengyan for quite some time, Su Tang had been carefully monitoring his condition. Seeing that his complexion had improved significantly and he seemed to be fine, Su Tang gradually stopped, ready to withdraw his aching hand, exhausted and wanting to sleep.

But just as his hand was about to move away, Xiao Chengyan seized it.

Su Tang yawned, his voice heavy with drowsiness. “Your Majesty is alright now, right? It’s late. We should sleep.”

Xiao Chengyan held Su Tang’s fingers in his palm, idly playing with them. Suddenly, he chuckled softly, his tone laden with meaning. “My Beloved Consort speaks truly. It is indeed time for you to attend to My Majesty’s needs.”

Su Tang’s eyes were half-closed, his mind focused solely on sleep. Too sluggish to grasp the hidden meaning in Xiao Chengyan’s words, he was suddenly pinned down, a shadow falling over him as last night’s torment repeated itself. They struggled through most of the night, leaving Su Tang no chance for proper rest.

Su Tang’s hoarse voice pleaded, “No more…” But Xiao Chengyan acted as if he hadn’t heard, his movements still brutal. Sweat dripped from his forehead, staining the brocade quilt with dark, damp patches.

As dawn broke, painting the sky with pale streaks of light, Xiao Chengyan lifted Su Tang into his arms. Su Tang instinctively shuddered, feebly pushing against him.

Xiao Chengyan’s voice deepened. “Gu is taking you to wash. This is not a continuation.”

Su Tang’s eyes were rimmed with red, and he half-opened his hazy gaze to confirm it was real. Only then did he obediently nestle in Xiao Chengyan’s embrace, still as a stone.

After washing and changing, the palace attendants brought in breakfast and arranged it on the table.

Su Tang’s body ached all over, and he longed only to sleep. He sat at the table with half-closed eyes, his head drooping slightly—a clear breach of court etiquette.

Thus, the Imperial Consort, who should have been attending to the Emperor, ended up being served by him instead.

Xiao Chengyan, amused by Su Tang’s dazed and foolish appearance, picked up a pastry and popped it into his mouth. After Su Tang slowly chewed and swallowed, Xiao Chengyan fed him another bite.

The Chief Steward watched from the side, his expression darkening. While Su Tang’s ability to make the Emperor eat was commendable, it was unthinkable for the Emperor—such a noble figure—to be serving someone else.

Yet he dared not voice his disapproval, for the Emperor’s word was absolute. Moreover, Xiao Chengyan seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

They shared the meal bite by bite until finished, then the attendants cleared the table.

It was nearly time for the Emperor to attend court.

After breakfast, Su Tang rolled back into bed for a second nap, clutching the brocade quilt and curling into a tight ball.

Xiao Chengyan watched him, and his heart inexplicably calmed. Unlike before, when he always felt as if he had lost something precious, leaving him empty and restless, he now felt a sense of peace.

As they exited the palace hall, the Chief Steward bowed respectfully and asked, “Your Majesty has conferred the title of Imperial Consort upon Young Master Su, but he has yet to be assigned a palace. Does Your Majesty have a preference?”

Xiao Chengyan frowned and replied coldly, “If I give him a palace, wouldn’t he move out? There’s no need.”

The Chief Steward paused, but understanding the Emperor’s temperament and considering future implications, he reluctantly reminded him, “Your Majesty, an Imperial Consort without a palace would be against protocol. It would invite gossip—talk of a title without substance—which would reflect poorly on Lady Su.”

Xiao Chengyan’s eyes flashed with malice. His sinister smile sent a chill through the air. “Anyone who dares gossip about my consort has grown tired of living. Kill them all.”

His words carried a weight that left no room for doubt.

The Chief Steward could already foresee the bloodshed on the horizon. Lowering his head, he sighed inwardly, Trouble is brewing again.

But as the Emperor ascended the Imperial Dragon Carriage, surrounded by opulent ceremonial regalia, his deep voice echoed from above:

“Assign the nearest palace to Lady Su. Prepare everything thoroughly, but he will continue to reside in my imperial chambers. There’s no need for him to move. Also, since he is male, addressing him as ‘Imperial Consort’ is inappropriate. Refer to him as ‘Your Highness.'”

The closest palace to the Emperor’s residence was Ninghua Palace, the traditional abode of Empresses throughout history. Although Su Tang had been granted the title of Imperial Consort, second only to the Empress and currently the highest-ranking consort in the imperial harem, the difference in status remained significant. Did the Emperor truly favor Su Tang, or not? If not, why hadn’t he eliminated him as he had done with others in the past? Why bestow Ninghua Palace upon him? If he did favor him, why not allow him to move in and grant him authority over the harem?

Moreover, the Emperor had declared that “a man is unsuitable to be addressed as Imperial Consort.” Yet “Your Highness” was a title reserved exclusively for the Empress, the Crown Prince, and reigning Kings.

The Chief Steward couldn’t fathom the Emperor’s true intentions. One thing was certain: Lady Su held a significant place in the Emperor’s heart. He needed to devise a plan to curry favor with the Imperial Consort.

Meanwhile, at the An Yuan Marquis Estate…

During the midday rest, the Marquis’s eldest legitimate son, Su Anjing, who had been lying on his couch asleep, suddenly convulsed violently. His eyes snapped open, wide with terror, and cold sweat poured down his face.

Hearing the commotion, his attendants rushed in, their voices filled with concern. “Young Master, what’s wrong?”

Su Anjing whirled around, his face ashen, his eyes burning with resentment and bitterness, like a vengeful ghost risen from hell. The terrified servant froze, afraid to approach, and stammered, “Could it be… an evil spirit?”

Just as the servant was about to flee to fetch the Marchioness, Su Anjing stopped him with an odd question: “What time is it?”

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