Chapter 3 — I Can Hear the Emperor's Thoughts

Bùi Dữ was right. The new beauty really was interesting.

When she came to pay her respects, a maid asked why she did not kneel before me.

She merely smiled, her expression haughty.

“Everyone in this world is equal. Why should I kneel?”

The maid looked astonished. The new beauty gave her a pitying look.

【People of your era are so pathetic. You even accept being slaves and servants willingly.】

Then she turned her attack on me.

“You were simply lucky enough to be born into a better family. But I, Ninh Chi Chi, will kneel to no one except heaven, earth, and my parents!”

I smiled at her and said nothing.

Bùi Dữ was right. She really was interesting.

It had been a very long time since I'd met anyone with such little regard for her own life. I was so delighted that I ate two extra bowls at lunch.

Then I was too full and had to take a walk in the imperial gardens.

As luck would have it, Bùi Dữ and the new beauty were there as well.

I knew because the instant I entered the gardens, I heard his impatient thoughts.

【Unbelievable. Is this woman mad? Insisting on flying a kite in this heat. I could chop her legs off...】

【I hear she went to pay her respects to the empress today. Not only did she refuse to bow, she started talking about everyone being equal!】

【I worked hard to reach this position above everyone else. If we're all equal, what's the point of my sitting here?】

【Damn nuisance! Thanks to this idiot, I'm too ashamed to face my empress today.】

【I miss her so much. Maybe I'll sneak into her bed tonight...】

I already knew he had two faces, yet hearing that still made me stumble.

“Who's there?”

Bùi Dữ turned toward me, his eyes bright with surprise and delight.

【Aaaah! When did she get here?】

【Huh? Why is she walking so strangely?】

【Was I... that vigorous last night?】

I had no words.

Don't you know what you did?

I rolled my eyes inwardly.

A moment later, Ninh Chi Chi suddenly dropped the kite, ran over, and slipped her arm through Bùi Dữ's.

His face stiffened. Instinctively, he looked up at me.

【Is this woman insane? She was flying her kite perfectly well. Why the hell did she come over?】

【Damn it, she's taken my arm! My empress, look!】

【Come over and give her two good slaps! Tell her she isn't allowed to touch me!】

【Boohoo, I've been defiled...】

I was speechless.

His expectant gaze practically engulfed me.

【Why isn't she doing anything? Boohoo...】

【The new State Preceptor clearly said her love for me was five stars today!!! Was he lying?】

At last, Bùi Dữ pulled his arm free, then turned an indulgent look on Ninh Chi Chi.

“Why have you stopped?”

Only I could see the disgust and impatience deep in his eyes.

【Damn it, you wanted to fly a kite, and now you don't!】

【If you weren't still useful, I'd have you flayed alive!】

【What a nuisance! Can't you leave me alone with my empress?】

Ninh Chi Chi glanced at me and smiled.

“I'm tired. Let's go back.”

Under his sleeve, the veins on the back of Bùi Dữ's hand began to stand out.

“...Very well.”

【Go back, my ass! I haven't even had a chance to say a word to her!】

【I'd love to punch you dead!】

【Damn it, I can't stand another day of this misery!】

I saw it clearly: as she took his arm, Ninh Chi Chi turned to give me a provocative smile.

Bùi Dữ's favor soon made Ninh Chi Chi the center of attention.

Before long, I heard that she had composed a stunning poem called “Bring in the Wine.” Once it circulated beyond the palace, many promising young men and scholars in the capital began to admire her, praising her as an extraordinary woman.

Even the tribute jewels were delivered to her chambers by the chestful.

Everyone thought I had fallen out of favor. My worried father sent my younger stepsister into the palace to help me.

Though we were not related by blood, we were very close.

So when I heard she'd had an argument with Ninh Chi Chi by the lake, I hurried over.

“Pfft! You people from ancient times are so frail. I only gave you a little shove, and down you went. Do you know what we call behavior like yours in my era? A 'green tea girl.'”

I had no idea what a “green tea girl” was, but I could guess it wasn't a compliment.

I helped my stepsister, who had always been delicate, to her feet.

“Are you all right?”

“I'm fine.”

She shook her head and whispered, “Sister, there's something wrong with this woman. I suspect that poem isn't hers either. Be careful.”

Of course “Bring in the Wine” wasn't Ninh Chi Chi's.

It was Li Bai's.

Ninh Chi Chi gave a scornful little laugh.

“Your Majesty, this sister of yours has designs on Bùi Dữ. I'd advise you to be careful. She might steal him out from under you one day.”

I raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Don't you have designs on him too?”

Her face flushed red, then purple. Lifting her chin, she sneered.

“I'm not like you ancient people. I won't share my man with another woman.”

“I, Ninh Chi Chi, want one man and one woman, together for life!”

“You want to be empress?” I asked.

She shrugged.

“I simply think I'm better qualified for the position than you, because I can offer Bùi Dữ something better.”

I had no idea where she got such confidence. Supporting my stepsister, I turned to leave.

“You can tell Bùi Dữ that yourself. Ask him to depose me.”

After that day, Ninh Chi Chi and I became outright enemies.

She couldn't get at me. But somehow she heard that my stepsister had entered the palace to become a consort, and began inventing every possible way to make trouble for her.

Then a maid came with news that Ninh Chi Chi had pushed my stepsister into the lake.

I rushed over and pulled her out.

Trembling, she leaned close to my ear.

“Don't be frightened, Sister. I'm all right. Father planned everything long ago.”

I held her tightly without a word and immediately sent for an imperial physician.

In the short time it took me to change my clothes, Bùi Dữ had collapsed outside the door, sobbing.

【How could she fall into the water out of nowhere? You useless fools! What were you doing while you were supposed to be looking after her?】

【I'll give you three seconds. If she hasn't woken up by then, I'll be buried with her! Then you won't have an emperor at all!】

【Every one of you eats himself fat and round, but you can't do a single useful thing! I'll have all your heads!】

【Boohoo, my empress, don't leave me...】

I had no words.

Apparently the physician had never seen the usually cold, stern sovereign cry like this either. Trembling, he hurried to explain.

“Your Majesty, the empress is truly unharmed. It was her younger sister who fell into the water.”

Bùi Dữ fell silent.

His face went blank, though it still carried the embarrassment of having made a fool of himself.

“Do you doubt that I'll have all your heads?” he said icily.

I walked over, caught him by the hair, and said, “Be quiet. Stop making such a racket.”

He froze, then suddenly flung himself at me and nuzzled into me.

“Cẩm...”

My heart melted.

“All right. Stop crying.”

“Boohoo...”

“Your Majesty, people are watching.”

“Boohoo...”

“Stop crying. If you keep it up, I'll kiss you.”

Bùi Dữ: 【WAAAAH!!!】

I had no words.