Chapter 6: Farewell, Fourth Master

【Forget it. The dog emperor’s only love in this life is Chunyuan. I don’t even look like Chunyuan, so trying to imitate her would be pointless.】

The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Suddenly, he began to understand.

The depth of love, the intensity of hatred.

Consort Hua was a simple-minded person, always focused on herself. She had long-standing grievances with the Empress. If in her past life, she was indeed executed by the Empress without even getting to see him one last time, and then she suddenly woke up to find him not by her side…

It was only natural for her to harbor resentment and utter a few complaints.

But now was not the time to dwell on such matters. The Emperor was curious—since she had been reborn, she must know something about what happened afterward.

Before her death in her past life, were there any rebellious traitors who attempted to seize power?

Was the world at peace? Were there any natural disasters or calamities?

He had to find a way to ask her and prepare in advance—eliminate those who needed to be eliminated, guard against those who needed to be guarded against.

“Your Majesty, my leg cramped just now, and I accidentally kicked you,” Nian Shilan said weakly and pitifully. “You won’t blame me, will you?”

“It’s fine.”

【I should have kicked harder earlier.】

The Emperor: “…”

【What am I even worried about? Even if Huanhuan, Meimei, and Rongrong were here, with my brother’s influence, the dog emperor wouldn’t hold me accountable for such a trivial matter. Having died once, I’ve become even more timid.】

What Huanhuan, Meimei, and Rongrong? What kind of nonsense is this?

Even if new consorts entered the palace, whose favor could surpass hers?

A single troublesome Consort Hua was enough for him to handle. The Emperor had no intention of spending all his time on women. Huanhuan, Meimei, Rongrong?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

He suspected that Consort Hua might not be reborn at all—perhaps she had simply gone mad.

Well, with her limited intellect, what kind of treasonous acts could she possibly commit?

As long as she kept her distance from people like Cao Qinmo, she wouldn’t be able to stir up any trouble in the harem.

The Emperor reached out and pulled her closer, but the moment his hand touched Nian Shilan, it felt as if he had triggered some kind of mechanism.

【Old geezer!】

Consort Hua had learned many things from the bullet comments—Fat Orange, Fourth Master… all rare and fitting terms in the mortal world, she found them quite appropriate.

The Emperor frowned. “What did you just call me?”

【Those vile people in the bullet comments are trying to ruin me! How could I call the emperor an old geezer?】

【Wait, wasn’t I just thinking this in my mind? Could this dog emperor actually hear my thoughts?】

【With his petty and vindictive nature, if he knew I was cursing him in my heart, wouldn’t he immediately order someone to beat me to death?】

The Emperor gritted his teeth: Don’t get angry, don’t get angry. She doesn’t even know the phrase “petty and vindictive.”

Nian Shilan cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, what did you say?”

Although her words were harsh, between the lines, they were filled with her unrequited love for him. Besides, she still had some use.

The Emperor was afraid that Nian Shilan would restrain her thoughts from then on, so he didn’t want her to know that he could hear her inner voice.

So he said, “Did you just call me Your Majesty?”

【What kind of question is that? If I don’t call you Your Majesty, should I call you an old lecher? I dare to call you that, but would you dare to answer?】

Realizing that the Emperor had no idea what she was thinking, Nian Shilan’s courage instantly swelled.

【Could this person be an imposter? A guard disguised by the Empress? Trying to frame me for adultery? What a vicious scheme! I’m not like some people—how could I possibly commit adultery?】

The Emperor: “…”

【I’m going to see what’s hidden beneath this old face.】

Old face…

Just before Nian Shilan could scratch her own face, the Emperor spoke first: “I also want to hear you call me ‘Fourth Brother’.”

“…Fourth.” Damn it.

[Even the form of address has to be someone else’s leftovers. Does this old fool think I’m some kind of cheap person?]

Hearing her curse him so harshly in her heart, the Emperor also wanted to make her uncomfortable.

Since she didn’t like the address “Fourth Brother,” then… “You refuse to call me Fourth Brother—is it because you don’t like me? Was all your affection for me in the past just an act?”

“Do you know that deceiving me is a crime of deceiving the sovereign?”

[This old fool actually dares to threaten me! Today, you’ve messed with the wrong person… a cotton ball!]

“Fourth Brother”

With the power of life and death in his hands, Nian Shilan had no choice but to back down. She leaned into his embrace, gently pounding his chest with her small fists. “How could you not know how I feel about you, Fourth Brother?”

[Ugh, I really can’t pull off that cheap act.]

“I don’t know. You can explain in detail.”

“…”

[Looking for trouble on purpose, aren’t you?]

Su Peisheng bowed at the entrance of the bedchamber. “Your Majesty, it’s time. You should attend the morning court.”

Nian Shilan grabbed the lifeline and scrambled up, quickly standing by the bed with clothes in hand.

“This concubine will assist Your Majesty in dressing.”

[Thank heavens, thank you, Consort Su!]

Consort Su?

How did my brain become even more foolish after being reborn? Where did Consort Su come from? That’s Su Peisheng!

“I will come to you for a meal after court. You can explain in detail to me then.”

“…”

[Explain your history of being cuckolded?]

The Emperor glanced back at her. Nian Shilan immediately raised the corners of her lips, her face radiant with a charming smile. “Farewell, Your Majesty.”

[Fourth Elder, take care and don’t come back!]

Fourth Elder… it sounded harmless on the surface, but his intuition told him it wasn’t anything good coming from her heart.

The Emperor’s back stiffened: Sooner or later, I will uncover all the secrets in her heart!

After court, he indeed came as promised.

Not just that day—from then on, whenever he had free time, he would come to Yikun Palace.

Consort Hua’s immense favor spread throughout the rear palace, reaching unprecedented heights.

Even Nian Shilan, who had lived through this once before, found it unbelievable.

But the more it was like this, the more the downfall of the Nian family in her previous life terrified her. No matter what the Emperor asked, she felt he had ulterior motives, with only one thought in her heart:

[Is this dog emperor trying to kill me?]

Like a chicken talking to a duck, she perfectly avoided the Emperor’s attempts to probe her.

However, the Emperor did not give up.

The day before the Palace Selection, Shoukang Palace, Jingren Palace, and Yikun Palace all echoed the same exclamation.

“What? Consort Hua/I am also going?”

Whether in her previous life or the original plot, there had never been such a development.

Nian Shilan asked Su Peisheng three times in a row, “Eunuch Su, are you sure there’s no mistake? Is this truly the Emperor’s decree?”

She thought of the consort’s ceremonial attire and feared being tricked by the Emperor again.

“In reply to Consort Hua, His Majesty was afraid others might be careless and deliver the wrong message, so he specifically sent this servant here.”

These words clearly told Nian Shilan: When it comes to matters handled by me, Su Peisheng, you can rest assured—there will be no mistakes.