Chapter 277: Volume 1, Chapter 277 Empress x Top Courtesan (7)

Over there, the earnestly weeding Wen Ci heard footsteps, blankly lifted their gaze, and upon seeing the three people approaching, they were stunned.

The Blue-clad Concubine spoke first: "Do you know what shame is? In the Yuhua Yuan, exposing your legs—who are you trying to seduce?"

Wen Ci didn't really understand his words, lowered their head to look at their own legs, and blinked doubtfully: "What are you saying?"

The Blue-clad Concubine thought they were provoking her, shoved them hard, saw them fall into the flowerbed, crushing the flowers inside, and smiled smugly.

"These are the Cherished Consort's favorite flowers, and you actually crushed them all."

Wen Ci fell to the ground, their elbow striking the marble, sharp pain spreading through their body, their head buzzing, a wave of dizziness washing over, forcing them to take a deep breath to calm themselves.

A concubine behind the Blue-clad one stepped forward to stamp on their fingers, but before she could, the youth's hand tightly gripped her ankle.

The youth before them seemed like a different person, his expression gloomy, the former weak and bully‑able demeanor turning into a dangerous menace.

"You all deserve to die." He said each word deliberately.

His other hand picked up the nearby golden shovel and, with all his strength, smashed it onto the leg of the concubine who had stretched out her leg to step on his hand.

"Ah—!"

A heart‑rending, lung‑splitting scream echoed through the Yuhua Yuan.

…

After court adjourned, Jiang Zhi stretched her sore body, boarded the dragon palanquin heading for the Hall of Mental Cultivation, with Yan Yao following beside the palanquin, still having unfinished words from the court session, thinking of following her to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to speak.

Seeing Yan Yao gave Jiang Zhi a headache; she wished she could abdicate immediately and let him sit on the imperial throne.

Suddenly, a eunuch came stumbling over, fell to his knees before the dragon palanquin, and panicked, unable to speak clearly.

"Greetings, greetings, Your Majesty!"

Jiang Zhi frowned. "What is it?"

The eunuch replied in a flustered manner.

His words made her expression change; she immediately ordered a trip to the Yuhua Yuan.

This place is not far from the Yuhua Yuan; they arrived shortly.

Weeping and wailing blended together, the scene utterly chaotic.

All they saw was the boy wielding the golden shovel chasing the concubines fleeing for their lives ahead, as if intent on killing them.

Jiang Zhi watched the scene expressionlessly, her face suddenly darkening.

"Get out there and stop them!" she ordered the imperial guards following behind.

Soon several people were dragged before her.

The youth's black eyes were cold and deep, devoid of any light; his slightly pallid face was deathly still, and he knelt on the ground without uttering a sound.

Meanwhile, the three concubines let out pig‑like screams: one had a bleeding head wound, another suffered broken legs bleeding out, and the last had her shoulder drenched in blood.

It looked like a crime scene.

Yet the instigator was this frail‑looking, handsome youth before them.

No one could have imagined it.

Not even Jiang Zhi.

She had clearly sent Wen Ci to weed the Yuhua Yuan before morning court; the sleepless Wen Ci would not have switched to a second persona, yet now Wen Ci not only had a second persona but had almost killed someone.

Jiang Zhi ordered the palace servants to carry the injured concubines back for the imperial physicians to treat.

Finally, it was time to deal with the youth's matter.

After a long silence.

The Left Chancellor Yan Yao standing nearby reminded: "Your Majesty, Consort Sheng (Wen Wuhuan) harmed the consorts; she should be imprisoned in the Dali Temple as punishment."

"The Dali Temple? If Wen Ci comes out again, he'll likely be flayed alive; whether he can survive coming out is also a question."

Well done, Yan Yao—you really don't let any opportunity slip.

Jiang Zhi kicked the sedan chair hard with her foot, her gloomy, ferocious, and again mad aura making one's blood run cold.

"All of you, get out!"

At the sound, the palace servants withdrew in droves, leaving only three people in the vast Yuhua Yuan.

Jiang Zhi glanced at Yan Yao, pulled down the corner of her mouth, and gave a mocking cold smile: "Does the Chancellor also want to meddle in my household affairs?"

Yan Yao was not frightened by her fearsome aura; he stood in place for a moment, gazing deeply at the youth kneeling on the ground, his pupils an unfathomable depth.

"I take my leave."

Having said that, he turned and departed.

Only she and the youth remained.

The youth feared neither life nor death, but he regretted his impulsiveness; after killing the Empress, his psyche grew increasingly violent over the next ten years, until he finally destroyed the whole world, the inner turmoil never quelled.

He loved slaughter; if they hadn't stopped him, he would have killed those few people.

But he cannot die yet; the person he hates most has not been avenged—how could he willingly accept death?

Even in death, he would take her with him.

Hearing the approaching footsteps draw nearer, he clenched the golden shovel in his hand, the face hidden in the shadows gradually twisting.

Before he could lift his wrist, the person before him swiftly snatched the shovel from his hand, then hoisted him onto their shoulder and strode away.

The constant jostling beneath him rubbed his abdomen, discomfort rising; he struggled a bit, wanting to get down from her shoulder.

A hand suddenly slapped his buttocks, the force neither light nor heavy, yet it made Wen Ci feel an intense sense of humiliation.

She… she dares?! He wants to kill her! He must kill her!!

Soon they reached the Sleeping Palace; Jiang Zhi threw him onto the soft bed, then turned to light the calming incense on the table.

She could not punish him, for the youth's blackening value would only increase with her punishment, so she had to find a way to make him pass out.

This matter could also be brushed over in this way.

Sure enough, the boy lying on the bed, having not slept all night, smelled the calming incense permeating the air and soon fell asleep.

Jiang Zhi extinguished the incense, walked to the bedside, and gazed at the sleeping boy.

Tomorrow there is an important plot, so Wen Ci must be the first personality.

She smelled a faint scent of blood, lowered her eyes, and saw blood seeping out from his elbow.

That explains it.

The main reason he will switch from the first personality to the second personality.

Those few consorts hurt him, so the second personality emerges to protect his body.

Jiang Zhi ordered the palace servants to bring the ointment, then gently applied it to his elbow wound.

Large patches of bruises appeared on his snow‑white skin, likely from hitting the ground, scraping the skin raw.

After bandaging the wound, she stayed by the bedside and tucked the blanket over him.

The gray wolves outside had already been taken away by the palace staff of the menagerie, so the boy didn't need to feed the wolves tonight.

Wen Ci's sleeping consciousness briefly awakened for a few seconds, and in his hazy vision he once again saw the fairy sister from his dream.

He clung to her hand resting on the bedside, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Zhi didn't notice that he had awakened, picked up a book, and flipped through it.

…

The following night.

Inside and outside the imperial palace it was especially lively, for it was the emperor's birthday, and foreign envoys came in batches to present treasures.

A banquet was set up outside the hall, grand in scale, with music and dance celebrating peace, the sounds of pipes and strings booming.

The officials filled the seats, having removed their formal robes and dressed in splendid attire, while their spouses sat to the side. The higher the rank, the more likely even the Right Premier, who usually claimed illness to skip morning court, appeared at the banquet.

The Empress, wearing a fiery red brocade robe, slowly walked to the main seat and sat down. Her black hair was neatly bound behind her, the collar slightly open, she appeared flamboyant and unrestrained, her phoenix eyes slightly curved, captivating the heart.

Her whole being was like a ball of flame; every frown and smile made it impossible to look away.

Yan Yao stared fixedly at her profile; by the time he reacted, he found himself entranced.

After a long while, he affirmed it in his heart.

——She is not the Jiang Zhi who grew up with him.

"But who is she then?"