Chapter 34 – Tyrant 6
After Su Tang pushed aside the Palace Attendants, refusing to flee the imperial palace, the Tyrant’s attitude toward him underwent a noticeable shift.
The most obvious change was the absurdly lavish treatment he received.
The Tyrant practically emptied the imperial treasury, showering Su Tang with gold, silver, jade artifacts, and priceless treasures. The Emperor even used night-luminescent pearls worth a fortune as marbles and smashed jade scepters just to hear the crisp sound of their shattering.
If Xiao Chengyan hadn’t continued to diligently handle state affairs, and if Su Tang hadn’t refrained from abusing his favor by acting recklessly, they would have truly earned the titles of “deluded ruler” and “seductive consort.”
The Palace Attendants serving them moved with extreme caution, terrified of accidentally damaging any of the precious artifacts. Yet they were also overjoyed; their master’s favor with the Emperor meant good fortune for them as well.
However, the attendants were utterly baffled. The previous night, the Imperial Consort had driven the Tyrant out of his palace, refusing him entry. Logically, the Tyrant should have been furious enough to kill, yet the next day, he acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to dote on the Imperial Consort.
If the attendants had known modern slang, they would have been mentally screaming, “That Dog Emperor is totally a masochist! Case closed!”
The palace was filled with festive cheer, sweeping away the gloomy atmosphere of the past. The air felt as joyous as a holiday celebration. But on the other side, things were far from pleasant.
The most displeased was undoubtedly the person who had schemed relentlessly to get Su Tang out of the palace, the one who desperately wished to replace him as the protagonist shou, Su Anjing.
Locked in his room, Su Anjing gnawed frantically at his fingernails until they were jagged and unsightly. His eyes burned crimson with anxiety and frustration, making him look like a ghost.
The more Su Anjing maneuvered and dealt with Prince Jin in recent days, the more disgusted he felt. He couldn’t fathom how he could have been so blind in his previous life to fall for such a scoundrel.
Prince Jin had a handsome appearance, but that was all he had going for him. A perpetual smile hung on his face, yet the warmth never reached his eyes. He looked down on Su Anjing and his father with thinly veiled mockery and disdain, clearly repulsed by their fawning attempts to curry favor.
Su Anjing sneered inwardly. You’re exploiting us to the fullest while simultaneously looking down on us? How thick is your skin? It’d make excellent armor against foreign invaders!
Despite their mutual loathing, they were forced to maintain the pretense of cordial relations for the sake of their respective interests.
Even so, Su Anjing occasionally let his true feelings slip. For instance, when Prince Jin reached out to touch him with a somewhat intimate gesture, Su Anjing reflexively recoiled, a flicker of disgust flashing in his eyes. He vividly remembered how, in their previous life, this man had been all sweet talk and affection with him, only to turn around and dally with entertainers at Nanfeng Hall.
Yet back then, Su Anjing had been blind and foolish, seeing such behavior as mere jealousy-inducing antics that could be smoothed over with a few sweet words. He had foolishly overlooked the obvious truth: Prince Jin was a scoundrel.
Prince Jin’s face twisted at the rejection. Su Anjing forced a weak excuse, claiming, “I’m feeling unwell today.”
Prince Jin feigned concern, though his sincerity was dubious. “What’s wrong? I’ll have the physician examine you immediately.”
Su Anjing demurred, citing the recent chill and a possible cold. To avoid infecting the prince, he insisted on returning to the Marquis’s Estate. Prince Jin put on a show of concern and tried to persuade him to stay, but both men were merely acting. After a few perfunctory exchanges, they parted ways.
Back at the Marquis’s Estate, Su Anjing listened to the servants’ reports on the latest news. Su Tang’s favor in the palace had already made him famous, and rumors about him circulated widely in the Capital. Gathering information wasn’t difficult, but obtaining detailed intelligence required someone within the palace walls.
Even these incomplete reports drove Su Anjing mad with jealousy. Look at Su Tang, basking in the Emperor’s favor at court—how fortunate! Though the Tyrant was notoriously cruel, he fiercely protected those he favored, treating them like the apple of his eye. A man who would forsake the world rather than betray you—that was a true man. Prince Jin, that hypocritical scoundrel, couldn’t even compare.
Moreover, Su Anjing had always believed the rumors about the Tyrant’s hideous appearance. But when he finally saw him on the brink of death, he realized Prince Jin’s supposed handsomeness was nothing. Beside the Tyrant, he was no more than a shoe-carrying servant.
Su Anjing regretted his decision. He should never have given Su Tang the chance to enter the palace. All that glory, wealth, favor, and special treatment should have been his!
As the Tyrant ordered the execution with an icy expression, Su Anjing stared at him, his eyes burning with an unnatural, obsessive adoration. Driven mad, he screamed with all his might, “No! Your Majesty! I am destined to be Empress! Su Tang, that lowly creature, stole what was rightfully mine!”
But the executioner gave him no chance to speak further.
The blade rose, the head fell, and blood splattered across the ground.
And so, he died.
Even now, Su Anjing still remembered the pain. Before his death, he had endured countless tortures, fueling his hatred for Prince Jin to an astonishing degree. Carrying this resentment and regret, he was reborn. He vowed to reclaim everything that was rightfully his.
As Su Anjing fantasized about switching places with Su Tang, he couldn’t help but laugh aloud. The sound startled the servant who had come to deliver a message, who stammered, “Young Master, the Marquis requests your presence.”
Su Anjing composed himself, tidied his appearance, and went to meet his father.
The Marquis had summoned him for an important matter.
“Father wants me to visit Sixth Brother at the palace and ask him to speak well of our family to the Emperor, securing advantages for us?” Su Anjing’s expression stiffened.
The Marquis nodded, his brow furrowed. “Your brother is now the Imperial Consort. Remember to address him properly as ‘Your Highness.'”
In his previous life, a similar situation had arisen. His father had urged him to visit Su Tang at the palace, claiming the family still cared for him. He was supposed to apologize sincerely and remind Su Tang that imperial favor was fleeting, while family ties were eternal. But Su Anjing had refused without hesitation. He would never stoop to humbling himself before his illegitimate younger brother. Moreover, he was close to Prince Jin and destined to become Empress. Why should he bow to someone so lowly? Su Tang was unworthy of such respect.
Having been reborn, Su Anjing naturally agreed to seek an audience with the Imperial Consort. This was his chance to get closer to the Emperor.
The Marquis instructed him on what to say to Su Tang, urging him to bring two thousand taels of silver and Su Tang’s favorite childhood pastries, emphasizing the family’s high regard for him.
As Su Anjing listened to his father’s instructions, resentment began to simmer within him. He had always been the most favored child of his parents, yet now his father spoke only of Su Tang, throwing his heart into turmoil. Once the pampered eldest legitimate son, with Su Tang merely a servant, the tables had completely turned. Now he had to curry favor with Su Tang, who had risen to the lofty position of Imperial Consort.
Unable to contain himself, Su Anjing blurted out, “He’s the Imperial Consort! With all the treasures in the palace, why would he care about our gifts? Besides, two thousand taels? Our family is already in debt!”
The Marquis frowned, displeased. “Anjing, what’s gotten into you? I always thought you were clever and sensible. Why are you acting so shortsighted now? I used to leave domestic affairs to your mother, but her excessive jealousy led her to mistreat Su Tang when he was just a child. He must harbor resentment toward us. We must show him our sincerity. How can he bribe the Palace Attendants to gain the Emperor’s favor without money?”
Su Anjing scoffed coldly, “With his withdrawn personality, how could he possibly curry favor with the Emperor? If I had entered the palace back then, we wouldn’t be struggling now to win over Su Tang. He’s never truly cared for our family’s interests. It would have been different if I had gone.”
The Marquis was both astonished and furious, nearly slapping his foolish eldest legitimate son. “You’re going to inherit my title! How dare you suggest serving someone for their male beauty?! Do you want to disgrace the Su Family?!”
Su Anjing retorted, “What’s wrong with that? It’s all for power, isn’t it? If I became an Imperial Consort, or even the Empress, I could bring immense benefits to our family.”
The Marquis’s face darkened. For a moment, he couldn’t decide whether to beat his imbecilic son to death or shove him back into his mother’s womb for a do-over. Gritting his teeth, he said, “You were ready to die rather than enter the palace back then, and now you’re blaming me for not letting you go? Stop indulging in these unrealistic fantasies. He might have become an Imperial Consort, but you would have been dead long ago.”
Su Anjing bristled with indignation. “Why? What does he have that I don’t? Why can he succeed where I would fail?”
The Marquis sneered, “Do you think I fell for Su Tang’s mother because of her character? Her beauty was unparalleled in the Capital. Su Tang inherited that striking appearance perfectly. If he were a woman, suitors would have worn our doorstep to splinters long ago. It’s no wonder the Emperor favors him. Tell me, what exactly do you have that Su Tang lacks?”
Though the Marquis hadn’t physically struck his eldest legitimate son, these words cut deeper than any slap. They were a blatant insult to his appearance, implying he lacked self-awareness and should stop indulging in fantasies.
Su Anjing’s vision blurred with anger, and he swayed, nearly fainting.
Yet his father, still exasperated, continued, “A man of your stature should have more self-awareness. You can’t even handle a few harsh words without losing your composure. What matters is ability, not looks. How have you grown more foolish with age?”
After attacking his appearance, the Marquis now targeted his intelligence, each insult piercing Su Anjing’s heart like a precise, merciless blade. If anyone else had hurled these insults, he would have retorted fiercely. But this was his own father—what choice did he have but to swallow his pride and endure?
Knowing he had no right to defy his father, Su Anjing gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and said, “Father’s reprimand is just. I will be more mindful.”
The Marquis added a few more words, urging Su Anjing to be cautious at court and avoid offending the Imperial Consort with careless remarks.
Su Anjing forced a smile, nodded, and assured him he understood.
Only then did Su Anjing gather his gifts, board his sedan chair, and depart for the palace gates.
The result?
He didn’t even get to see Su Tang’s face.
A palace attendant explained, “Your Highness is feeling unwell and unable to receive visitors. Please come again another day, Young Master.”
Su Anjing didn’t believe a word of it. Unwell? It was clearly just an excuse to avoid him! That damned, lowly creature!
A flicker of resentment flashed in his eyes, but he couldn’t let it show. He maintained his refined smile, feigning concern. “My Sixth Brother has always been frail since childhood. The whole family is worried. Has the Imperial Physician examined him? What did they say?”
The palace attendant bowed respectfully. “The Imperial Physician has already examined him and prescribed tonics. There’s no need for the young master to worry excessively.”
Su Anjing pretended to sigh in relief, entrusting the gifts to the attendant for delivery to Su Tang. He added a few words about the family’s concern for Su Tang before reluctantly turning away from the opulent palace. He glanced back several times as he slowly departed.
Upon returning to the Marquis’s Estate, the Marquis asked Su Anjing why he had come back so quickly. What had Su Tang said?
Su Anjing replied irritably, “He wouldn’t even see me. What could I possibly say?”
The Marquis, likely anticipating this, stroked his beard. “Very well. The Mid-Autumn Palace Feast isn’t far off. We’ll see him at the palace then. I’ll find an opportunity to exchange a few words with him.”
Hearing this, Su Anjing’s mood immediately brightened. How could he have forgotten about the palace feast? It was the perfect chance to get close to the Emperor. In his previous life, he had blindly followed Prince Jin, completely bewitched and wasting this golden opportunity.
Although Su Tang was wary of Su Anjing’s protagonist aura and kept his distance to avoid being influenced, his refusal to see Su Anjing under the pretense of illness wasn’t entirely a fabrication.
He genuinely felt unwell. The root cause was simple: the Medicinal Human problem.
From the beginning, his purpose in entering the palace had been to treat the Tyrant’s illness. As a result, he had been forced to drink countless medicinal soups and soak in medicated baths. Even after settling into the palace, these treatments continued unabated.
The medicinal soup was both bitter and foul-smelling, a true torment to drink. After each dose, Su Tang would immediately eat a candied fruit to barely suppress the bitterness. But the herbal bath was even more grueling. He had to sit in the tub for extended periods, the steam suffocating him, his chest feeling heavy and tight, and a persistent, prickling pain coursing through his body.
Fortunately, the System could block these unpleasant sensations.
Su Tang loathed the herbal baths, feeling like he couldn’t breathe. But when he remembered Xiao Chengyan’s headaches, which were many times more painful and had plagued him since childhood, he reasoned that if this could help treat Xiao Chengyan, it was worth the discomfort.
One day, Xiao Chengyan stumbled upon Su Tang during his herbal bath. Su Tang’s face was flushed an unnatural crimson, his body drenched in sweat, and he lay weakly against the edge of the tub, looking so frail he seemed on the verge of fainting.
Xiao Chengyan suddenly snapped.
He yanked Su Tang out of the water, draped a robe over him, and pulled him into a tight embrace. Then, with a furious kick, he overturned the tub, sending it crashing to the floor with a deafening roar, water gushing across the room.
Terrified, the Palace Attendants rushed in, only to find the Tyrant’s eyes bloodshot, his face dark and terrifying, looking ready to kill again.
Since the Imperial Consort entered the palace, the Emperor had rarely fallen ill and slaughtered his subjects. Yet today, he had suddenly reverted to his old ways, instantly reminding everyone of the terror of the executioner’s blade hanging over their necks, ready to fall at any moment. Their faces paled, and they trembled uncontrollably.
Just as the palace attendants braced themselves for certain death, a faint rustling of fabric came from above. Su Tang had grabbed Xiao Chengyan’s sleeve and whispered, “I wanted to take the medicinal bath myself. I wanted to help you heal.”
Xiao Chengyan’s terrifying gaze shifted to Su Tang, his dark eyes fixed on him.
The atmosphere in the hall became suffocatingly tense, pressing down on everyone’s chests.
The palace attendants couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for the Imperial Consort.
But then, Xiao Chengyan swept Su Tang into his arms and strode toward the bed, his voice icy as he commanded, “No more medicinal baths from now on.”
Cold sweat dripped from the Chief Steward’s forehead as he unconsciously held his breath. He bowed respectfully and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
He then swiftly directed the palace attendants to clean up the mess and hurried them away. As they left, some were so terrified that their legs had gone weak, and they had to be dragged out by their companions.
Even so, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Serving the Tyrant was never an easy task; a moment’s carelessness could cost them their lives. And today, with the Tyrant in a fit of madness, escaping unscathed could truly be considered extraordinary luck.
Su Tang wanted to drink medicinal soup and take a medicinal bath to help Xiao Chengyan with his headaches, but after Xiao Chengyan issued his command, no one dared disobey. No one prepared a medicinal bath for Su Tang anymore. He only managed to salvage the medicinal soup by pleading and acting pitiful.
Su Tang didn’t want to speak, his heart heavy with bitterness.
I have to beg him to let me take my medicine? What kind of situation is this? This generation’s Tyrant is truly difficult to handle.
Every time Su Tang drank his medicine, Xiao Chengyan would glare fiercely at the bowl, like a rabid dog crouched on the ground, gnashing his teeth and ready to overturn the soup at any moment.
Of course, this was just Su Tang’s mental comparison, which he dared not voice aloud. He struggled to suppress his laughter as he drank the medicine.
As for the gift from the eldest legitimate son of the Marquis—the protagonist shou from the original plot—Su Tang received it as well. He hadn’t expected the Marquis’s Estate to be so generous, sending him a large-denomination silver note.
Though he wasn’t short on money, who would refuse more, especially when it was a free gift?
Su Tang’s eyes lit up, his mood instantly brightening.
In addition to the silver notes, there was also a box of exquisite pastries, said to be from the Capital’s renowned Dim Sum Pavilion. Even the box itself was breathtakingly beautiful, adorned with intricate and unique patterns. Inside were the pavilion’s signature pastries, each visually stunning and boasting a flavor that rivaled even the Imperial Kitchen’s creations.
Su Tang couldn’t stop eating them. He licked his lips, his eyes narrowing in pure bliss, like a cat savoring dried fish.
So engrossed was he in his feast that when Xiao Chengyan arrived, Su Tang barely registered his presence. He offered a perfunctory smile, treating it as a mere greeting.
Xiao Chengyan’s displeasure flared instantly. His expression turned cold, and he halted mid-stride before turning and walking away.
The palace attendants were stunned.
“Your Highness, the Emperor has left…”
Su Tang waved dismissively. “He probably remembered something urgent he needed to attend to.”
The palace attendants couldn’t help but wonder if the roles of Emperor and Imperial Consort had somehow been reversed. Normally, consorts would go to great lengths to capture the Emperor’s attention and keep him by their side. Yet with Lady Su, the Emperor actively sought him out daily. Even when the Emperor grew angry, the Imperial Consort showed no fear, making no effort to appease him, knowing the Emperor would soon return on his own.
See? Here he comes now.
Before long, the Emperor indeed returned, with the Chief Steward carrying a box behind him.
When the box was opened and its contents arranged on the table, it revealed a collection of exquisite pastries. These delicacies had been meticulously crafted by the Imperial Kitchen, each dish tailored to Lady Su’s preferences.
As Su Tang gazed at the spread, he suddenly found the food in his hands unappetizing.
Without hesitation, he tossed aside his current snack and reached out a greedy paw toward the pastries.
Xiao Chengyan watched, his expression softening slightly. He then pointed to the food Su Anjing had sent and coldly ordered a Palace Attendant, “Throw it all away.”
Hearing this, Su Tang instinctively reached out to stop them. “Why throw it away? What a waste! I haven’t finished eating it yet.”
Xiao Chengyan’s lips curled into a half-smile, his eyes glinting with a dangerous edge, as if daring Su Tang to try eating food from anyone else.
Su Tang pouted, withdrew his hand, and clutched the Imperial Kitchen pastries with both paws, forcing a polite but insincere smile that barely concealed his irritation.
Xiao Chengyan chuckled, pleased with this display of possessiveness. His smiles were rare, often tinged with a sinister undertone.
Su Tang glared at the Emperor’s neck and bit into a honey peach pastry with a satisfying crunch.
So infuriating.
That night, Su Tang clung to the Tyrant and drank a few extra mouthfuls of blood, venting his frustration. But after years of enduring chronic headaches, this minor discomfort was nothing to Xiao Chengyan—like a mere scratch from a kitten. He remained pleased by Su Tang’s clinginess, chuckling softly as he stroked the cat’s fur.
The Mid-Autumn Palace Feast was a grand banquet attended by high-ranking nobles, officials, and dignitaries. It served as a social gathering, matchmaking event, and networking opportunity, overshadowing the holiday’s original celebratory spirit.
As the guests exchanged pleasantries, a eunuch’s shrill voice suddenly announced, “The Emperor has arrived! The Imperial Consort has arrived!”
The entire assembly immediately bowed their heads in unison, remaining in their prostrate positions until Xiao Chengyan spoke, at which point they slowly rose.
Many were curious about Su Tang’s presence. After all, he was the first person to survive by the Tyrant’s side and remain deeply favored.
The moment they saw him, they suddenly understood. A peerless beauty with celestial features, had he been born a woman, he might have become a femme fatale, igniting wars and driving men to madness for just a glance.
The entire hall fell silent, everyone momentarily stunned by his beauty.
After regaining their composure, they couldn’t help but wonder why they had never heard of the Marquis’s Estate’s Sixth Young Master possessing such extraordinary looks. He seemed to avoid public appearances, unlike the eldest legitimate son, who frequented every social gathering, was remarkably eloquent, and clung to Prince Jin like a leech. The entire Capital knew of his infatuation with the prince. This stark contrast between the treatment of the legitimate and illegitimate sons of the Marquis’s Estate was glaringly obvious.
In that moment, each guest harbored their own thoughts and intentions.
Su Tang felt countless gazes, both intentional and unintentional, but one gaze in particular made him deeply uncomfortable.
He glanced over and saw a man in a deep purple brocade robe, of average appearance but with a pair of upturned phoenix eyes that stared at him with keen interest, brimming with admiration for his beauty. When Su Tang met his gaze, the man flashed him a rakish smile.
Su Tang: “……” He tui! That was a bit too greasy.
To spare his eyes further torment, Su Tang decisively averted his gaze.
Unexpectedly, the System, which rarely appeared outside of lottery draws, sensed his confusion and suddenly offered an explanation, “That greasy man is the Main Protagonist Gong from the plot.”
Su Tang: “……” Ew.
His face still wore a fake smile, but his eyes now held clear disdain.
The System seemed to be suppressing laughter as it continued, “And approaching us now is the radiant Main Protagonist Shou.”
At first, Su Tang thought he was hearing the opening remarks of a sports meet and immediately looked over.
It was currently the time for each family to present their tributes to the Emperor.
Gifts were brought forward by eunuchs, while the donors offered their blessings from their seats. The gifts were largely similar—rare treasures gathered from across the land.
Su Tang paid little attention to these offerings. His focus remained on the protagonists from the novel, whom he needed to be wary of.
As the protagonist shou, Su Anjing, approached, he carried a faint, refreshing fragrance that was both invigorating and pleasant.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Su Anjing had meticulously prepared for this day. Thanks to his advantage from being reborn, he possessed many hidden secrets, such as a formula for a medicinal fragrance that could alleviate the Tyrant’s headaches. This formula effectively relieved pain and promoted relaxation, but overuse could easily lead to addiction.
Did Su Anjing care about this? On the contrary, he desperately hoped the Tyrant would become addicted, unable to live without him.
He believed that Su Tang’s rise to prominence in the Tyrant’s life in their previous life stemmed primarily from his ability to treat the Tyrant’s headaches. While becoming a Medicinal Human was out of the question, Su Anjing could use a formula developed in the future to create a fragrant sachet. As he approached, the Tyrant would inhale the scent, feel instantly relaxed, and gradually become addicted to the sachet, unconsciously relying on Su Anjing. With enough opportunities to spend time together, how could the Tyrant not fall for him?
Su Anjing, brimming with confidence, smiled and tilted his head to gaze at Emperor Xiao Chengyan, convinced his plan was flawless.
But he never anticipated…
The System swiftly delivered a bombshell: “Host, his sachet is problematic! He’s trying to steal your man!”
Su Tang: “…?!?!?!”
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