Chapter 22: If You Disagree, Bite Me

The sun blazed so fiercely that one could hardly open their eyes. Li Fuquan, waiting outside the Hall of State Affairs, scratched his ear as he listened to Vice Chancellor Yu’s earnest admonitions, rich with classical references, echoing from within. He truly felt sorry for His Majesty, now suffering under such “torment.” In Li’s opinion, His Majesty had been led astray by last night’s encounter with the imperial consort.

He recalled the seductive aura that had radiated from the consort the previous night—any man, save a paragon of virtue, would have found himself undone. Shielding his eyes from the blazing sun, Li Fuquan thought of that glimpse he’d stolen into the Eastern Warming Chamber, and for reasons he could not explain, a chill crept into his heart.

Heaven bear witness, that glance had not been born of wicked intent. What lay between his legs had long since been cut away, leaving not so much as a rise. His one moment of weakness was born purely from concern for His Majesty’s wellbeing.

He had seen the supple, serpentine queen entwine His Majesty tightly between her thighs, her brows and eyes brimming with an alluring, unearthly beauty, while His Majesty seemed lost in delirium, senseless and intoxicated. The sight had made Li Fuquan’s scalp prickle with terror, and for a moment, his heart turned cold, as if witnessing the collapse of mountains and rivers.

That single glance had gone unnoticed by the Emperor, sharp of wit and sense since youth, but the consort, as if possessed of eyes in the back of her head, had met Li’s gaze the very instant he cracked open the door. There was a lazy coldness in her beauty, laced with open threat; at that moment, Li Fuquan knew he had erred—he should never have disturbed their sacred business.

He shook his head, trying to banish the chill that had settled in his heart. His Majesty was a man of steadfast will, not so easily seduced by the supernatural.

“Supernatural?” The word startled Li Fuquan into a cold sweat. Yes, that was the strange feeling that had unsettled him: last night’s consort was both bewitching and sinister, and her threatening gaze resembled nothing so much as the little serpents in the Serpent Court.

His limbs turned to ice as he muttered, possessed, “It’s a serpent spirit come for revenge, it must be.”

“Good news! Your Majesty, urgent dispatch from the border!”

Lost in fearful speculation, Li Fuquan was startled back to his senses only when Minister of War, You Hai, hurried over, lifting his robes and carrying the black case reserved for confidential military reports.

At the sudden turn of events, his facial muscles twitched, but he reacted swiftly, announcing in a loud voice, “Your Majesty, urgent military news!”

Within the hall, all noise ceased in an instant; the air grew tense until Ji Ye’s unconcealed delight broke the silence. Only then did You Hai, obedient to imperial command, enter the hall, holding the black case high.

“Your Majesty, the Grand General of Cavalry has not failed you. We have triumphed over the Eastern Barbarians.”

Emotion caught in You Hai’s throat; the middle-aged man, usually the very image of the scholarly general, found his eyes reddening.

Since the war’s beginning, the You family had endured countless impeachments and slanders from the civil officials, along with innumerable political pressures that could not be understood without direct experience. Only the You family’s deep roots had enabled them to withstand the repeated waves of malicious political attacks.

It had been the Eastern Barbarians who provoked this conflict. It was You Hai’s own brother, You Jiang, who rose to defend the nation with pure intentions. All the officials in the hall knew the You family was blameless and deserving of merit, yet many still refused to accept them, and even the Emperor himself had harbored suspicions.

After so many years in the turbulent sea of officialdom, You Hai knew well the ways of politics, yet when he heard of his brother’s public censure and slander by court censors, he could not help but feel aggrieved on his behalf.

Now, their triumphant return, instead of being lauded as a great achievement, had become his original sin.

“Excellent!” Having swiftly reviewed the dispatch, Ji Ye rose to his feet in excitement, unable to contain his joy. “The Eastern Barbarians must be beaten until their teeth are scattered across the ground—only then will they learn obedience! The Grand General of Cavalry is truly worthy of his reputation. He is a man of great merit to the realm. I will reward him handsomely. Minister You, tell me, what do you wish for? Whatever I possess, you may ask for it.”

You Hai quickly composed himself and replied with care, “Your Majesty, my brother and I are of one mind. Though victorious in battle, we dare not claim merit—only wish to be spared blame. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for my brother and mete severe punishment upon the censor who slandered him.”

With that, You Hai bowed deeply, his resolve clear.

While hope and worry mingled in the Hall of State Affairs, in the Hall of Vigorous Origin, a lively commotion was underway.

Dai Dai had slept so long the sun was high in the sky. She rolled joyfully across her couch, unable to calm the elation in her heart. After a night of wild passion, she felt as though she had just begun to taste the pleasures of being human.

Lying on the couch, arching her back, her eyes wide and lips curved in a smile, her mind was filled with the memory of the one who had held and kissed her through the night.

She knew she was no longer the same. A yearning was now etched into every limb, every bone. Perhaps, she thought, being a woman was not so bad.

Her demonic nature remained strong, but she was now willing to try calling herself “she.”

No wonder he was called the Divine King—his taste was extraordinary, unforgettable.

She smacked her lips, savoring the memory.

Dai Dai stroked her belly, and by instinct, believed that she now carried enough essence to last her years. But since this was her first time laying eggs, and lacking experience, she made the bold decision to lay one first for practice. If it pleased her, she would lay more.

As a decisive serpent spirit, she never considered notifying the one who had provided the essence for this endeavor.

It was much like a lion marking its territory as it patrols, a matter of instinct. Before laying her egg, she began to prepare the nest, ensuring absolute safety in her domain.

She began with the Eastern Warming Chamber, which already carried her scent. Unfortunately, the human scent was too faint, and the love of incense muddled her own. Thus, she decided to dispatch small snakes to guard her territory.

Fortunately, the Serpent Court had no shortage of snakes.

She consulted Qiu Yun, who told her she was the greatest in the entire harem. Dai Dai, ever imaginative, took this to mean the whole harem was her domain. The females residing within were merely there for the period she would be laying eggs, the Divine King’s partners for breeding stock, much as she might keep a mortal pet in her lair. To keep her pet from loneliness, she provided companions.

So, she summoned five black pythons as thick as bowls from the Serpent Court—one for the couch in the Eastern Warming Chamber, and the other four to guard the four directions of the Hall of Vigorous Origin. Should any female approach, they were to be strangled on sight. That was the command she gave to the five pythons, whose fangs she’d already had removed.

The strong rule, and without order there is chaos. The other females, mere playthings, had no right to enter any place marked with her scent.

Her thoughts were somewhat jumbled; her demonic instincts outweighed her humanity. To a human, her preparations would seem outrageous, but to Dai Dai, they were perfectly reasonable, even admirable.

Returning to Ganquan Palace, she resolved to have the venomous flat-necked snake patrol regularly. The snakes, being lazy, would surely shirk their duties if not for the threat of a stronger force.

While Dai Dai was busy with her schemes, the Imperial Consort, upon hearing her bold declaration that the Hall of Vigorous Origin was now her territory, was so incensed that her face twisted with rage.

Without another word, she gathered her retinue, left the Virtuous Consort behind, and marched over in force—just in time to cut off Dai Dai’s path.