Mo Ran pulled me closer to his chest, nervously but without real force, saying, “I think you have no right to command me, because Han is not yours.” I understood Mo Ran’s intention and cooperated, even though he wasn’t forcing me to stay.
Mo Ran was testing the man I loved to see if he truly cared. I wanted to know if Yu Mo really loved me. Although his name was in the marriage book and our red threads were tightly bound, Yu Mo had never confessed to me.
If Yu Mo were jealous of Mo Ran holding me, it would prove his love. I was anxious and desperately wanted to calm my unease. Yu Mo, say something! Why aren’t you speaking? Aren’t you angry? Don’t you know I like you?
Finally, I heard Yu Mo’s footsteps approaching. He pulled me from Mo Ran’s arms, holding me tightly–so tightly it was almost suffocating, but my heart was now at peace. Yu Mo cared about me. “I warn you, never touch Han’er again!”
He then threw me over his shoulder–couldn’t he at least do a princess carry? Hmph, a man without romance! I beat his back in protest.
When I looked up, I saw Mo Ran smiling at me–not his usual carefree smile, but a forced, bitter one. I was stunned, not knowing what to say to him. I chose silence.
Yu Mo carried me for a long time, stopping at my room’s door. He put me down resolutely and walked away, leaving me feeling hurt. Wasn’t he going to say anything? I couldn’t help but ask: “Yu Mo, do you care? About Mo Ran holding me?”
“I do,” he squeezed out the word without warmth.
“Do you love me?” I asked, waiting patiently, but he didn’t respond. Was Yu Mo’s coldness truly jealousy? Perhaps I’d gone too far.
I stood there feeling hurt and bitter. If he cared about Mo Ran holding me, why couldn’t he confirm his feelings? Did he never love me?
Out of nostalgia, I put on the guard uniform I used to wear in the palace, tied a precious sword to my waist, and felt incredibly heroic! I walked brazenly through the palace paths, teasing eunuchs and flirting with beautiful palace maids.
Although I am female, I believe my little Shang wouldn’t be angry about my antics. However, I now realize that cross-dressing, whether female to male or male to female, is generally considered a “human demon.” Ugh, that feels awkward.
Back when I worked in the palace, my “misdeeds” were well-known among eunuchs and those I deeply disliked. Due to the principle that “bad boys are attractive” and my beauty, I had many female fans; eight out of ten concubines in the harem were my admirers.
Li Gongong, who served beside Shang, treated me like his ancestor, always afraid I would cause trouble. I remember how many times he slipped on banana peels or scattered dice, even spraining his back badly once. Since I’m here rarely, I must tease him well.
Yang Ziru approached and spoke to Li Gongong, who firmly shook his head, saying the Emperor was handling official business and we couldn’t enter rashly. How frustrating!
I slightly lowered my hat and asked, “Is it really not possible?”
Li Gongong’s impatient voice replied, “It’s really not possible, you should go back!” Oh my, my goosebumps!
To punish him, I removed my hat and gave him my most brilliant smile, clearly seeing Li Gongong’s bulging eyes. I maliciously laughed: “Really, not possible?”
Li Gongong bent towards me: “No, no, how would I dare not allow it? I’ll report to the Emperor right away!”
Then he fled into the study. “Hehe, he knows his place,” I wore a mischievous triumphant smile. Yang Ziru wondered about my identity – why did everyone in the palace treat me with such respect?
I strode towards the study, but Yang Ziru fearfully called out: “Hey, Li Gongong hasn’t finished reporting! Aren’t you afraid of losing your head?” I glanced back: “I’ve never needed to be announced to see the Emperor, and I don’t even need to kneel! You can wait here if you want.”
I kicked open the study door. The guards, accustomed to this, cast me a “long time no see” glance. I smiled at them and strode into the familiar study.
Li Gongong’s jaw nearly dropped. Shang looked stunned, and I couldn’t help feeling proud. I raised an eyebrow: “Li Gongong, isn’t it time for you to leave?” He ran out, forgetting to close the door. I gave Shang a roguish smile: “What, don’t recognize me after a week?”
Shang’s stunned expression disappeared, replaced by a joyful smile. He quickly approached and tightly embraced me: “How could I not?
Even if I turned to ash, I’d remember you!” I hugged him back, giggling in his arms, thinking he’s quite good at romantic lines.
My face immediately darkened as I saw Yang Ziru looking like an aggrieved wife, squeezing out tears and wiping them with a handkerchief, “Brother Shang, she was so rude, she actually tore up the imperial edict of our engagement with Mo Ran…”
I couldn’t hold back my anger and slammed the table, standing up, “Damn! I didn’t tear you up, and that’s already good enough! You uncultured wild woman, stay away from my Shang! Politely call him ‘Your Majesty’! Otherwise, I’ll chop you into eighteen pieces!” My anger peaked, and even Yang Ziru, who never listened to anyone, obediently sat down farther from Shang.
I told Shang the whole story in detail. After hearing the events, Shang rubbed his forehead with a headache, looking like he was about to cry, “How could you cause so much trouble?”
“It’s her!”
“It’s her!” We both pointed at each other simultaneously.
“Why are you mimicking me?”
“Why are you mimicking me?” We spoke in unison again, and the smoke of war spread throughout the study. Shang’s eyebrows twitched, showing a painful expression: “Can’t you two be quiet? My head is about to explode…”
Looking at Shang’s painful expression, I could tell he was just short of banging his head against the wall.
A lightbulb went off in my head: “Ah! Shang, if you have a headache, you can try ‘Zheng Tian Wan’! It’s very effective!” A crow flew over Shang’s head with a “Caw caw~”, oh, it seemed I said something wrong.
Shang painfully held his head and pondered, “The previous emperor’s decree cannot be violated… but we also can’t sacrifice Mo Ran’s happiness…” Yang Ziru slapped Shang’s shoulder: “Brother Shang, don’t worry. Leave Mo Ran to me, he will definitely be happy. This way, we won’t violate the previous emperor’s decree.”
I chimed in, “Shang, you don’t know, this girl is a sadist. Mo Ran has almost been beaten to death by her giant flyswatter several times. Mo Ran doesn’t even like her; marrying her would be the beginning of hell on earth!”
Shang looked at the pleading Yang Ziru and then at me, who was giving him a ‘if you arrange this marriage, you’re dead’ look. He stood up and squeezed out a few words: “I’m going to the bathroom.” As he was about to leave, we both grabbed him back: “Don’t even think about leaving before making a decision!”
Shang helplessly sat down, his beautiful eyebrows furrowed tightly.
I muttered softly, “I really don’t understand what you’re thinking. It’s a waste of brain cells. The imperial decree is dead, and the previous emperor is already gone. What are you still hesitating about?” Shang’s eyebrows became even more tightly knitted.
Half an hour passed while I cracked melon seeds and Yang Ziru pretended to drink tea, when suddenly Shang uttered, “I have an idea.” The melon seed in my mouth almost choked me, and Yang Ziru nearly sprayed her tea. We both exclaimed, “Spit it out!”
On the day of departure to the Beggar’s Sect, I forcibly brought Yu Mo along, regardless of his willingness. As a result, the management of the First Under Heaven Hall fell to the manager of the four halls, who was left to grit his teeth without Moran and me. Xiao Yuan was also there, making me particularly at ease.
Yang Ziru led us in disguise to the Beggar’s Sect, aware that even among beggars, there might be martial arts masters.
