Saving the Obsessive Villain Boss [Quick Transmigration] (GL) - Chapter 17

A slender arm climbed from her waist to her back, tightly entwining her like a vine, almost embedding her into her flesh and bl00d. Warm breath fanned her ear, urgent and fierce, yet the body was still subtly trembling.

The lamp Shi Qingyi held in her hand shook, clattering to the ground. The last trace of light was extinguished, and the vast palace sank into pitch blackness.

After a long while, a soft sigh seemed to escape someone in the prolonged darkness. The hand that had dropped the lamp hesitantly landed on the Empress’s thin shoulder, and she whispered softly: “Your Majesty, you have mistaken me…”

“This humble servant is not the Guoshi.”

Hearing the movement, the palace maids outside entered nervously. The palace lantern they carried barely illuminated this small area. The girl in coarse cloth knelt down. The Empress was like a frightened bird, subconsciously gripping her shoulder. Her five fingers were deeply entrenched and subtly trembling, as if with just this one action, this person might disappear at any moment.

Yet, she merely bent down. The palace maid with the lantern approached gracefully, and finally saw that the other hand of the kneeling girl was holding a pair of shoes and socks.

—The person who woke up to find her gone, panicked and searched everywhere for fear it was a dream, and afraid that she would escape again, hadn’t even had time to put on her shoes and socks.

The Empress’s lower legs were long and well-proportioned, though a little too thin. They were as cold as ice when held, yet the lines were extremely smooth, from the calf to the ankle to the toes, without a single flaw. Faint blue veins were subtly hidden beneath the pale skin, and the bare arch of her foot was smooth and lustrous like jade.

Stepping on the cold brick floor in late autumn, it trembled slightly, perhaps from the cold.

The girl half-knelt, placing the Empress’s foot on her knee, taking the shoes and socks and meticulously putting them on for the Empress. Finally, she straightened the hem of her skirt. Just as she was about to get up, she found the Empress’s hand still firmly pressing her shoulder, preventing her from standing.

With no choice, she could only look up.

The lantern light flickered. The Empress’s long hair, like a waterfall, was loosely scattered over her shoulders, flowing down her clean neck and over her waist. Her face, however, was extremely pale, thin to the point of being somewhat gaunt. At this moment, she was looking down at her, her gaze heavy, like a deep, dark lake.

The sight was somewhat frightening.

The hand gripping her shoulder tightened again. Xu Zhaosu’s gaze seemed to burn with fire, causing a momentary palpitation.

“How do you know that my legs are weak and cannot tolerate the cold?”

The voice was chilling. Shi Qingyi was about to explain when the hand clamped on her shoulder suddenly withdrew and reached for her face. In a flash of lightning, Shi Qingyi turned her head, narrowly dodging, leaving Xu Zhaosu grabbing empty air.

“You fear me?” Xu Zhaosu’s hand slowly clenched, and her expression darkened inch by inch.

It was a defensive posture, and she had even instinctively recoiled a few steps backward.

“No…” Shi Qingyi lowered her eyelids, “This humble servant’s appearance is ugly, I fear I would soil Your Majesty’s eyes…”

A cold laugh came from above, sounding somewhat sarcastic in the spacious hall.

Then, she fainted.

“…”

A pain tore at her heart, almost ripping apart her internal organs. She fainted from the pain, only to be awakened by it again. The torment was beyond what any ordinary person could imagine.

Icy fingers moved across her cheek, tracing the edge of the wooden mask inch by inch. It seemed that in the next moment, it might suddenly be ripped off. Shi Qingyi endured immense psychological pressure, grinding her teeth mentally at the System: “Where are you?”

“Still here,” the System silently activated pain-masking for her, deeply worried, “Once a month. If you survive this one, the next one might not be so certain.”

With the pain temporarily masked, Shi Qingyi finally managed to catch her breath. The icy fingers on her face finally ceased their torment and withdrew, only to quietly caress the corner of her lips, somewhat possessively tracing the contours of her face.

——

The Imperial Physician had already retired, claiming he couldn’t find the reason for the sudden fainting. Useless fools. How could a perfectly fine person suddenly faint without cause?

Xu Zhaosu closed her eyes and calmed herself for a long time before managing to suppress the surging hostility in her heart. She approached the silently sleeping person with a hint of attachment.

She had lost a lot of weight. She must have suffered greatly over the past six months. The intelligence gathered said her life had been quite impoverished.

She was said to have suddenly appeared in a sparsely populated, desolate village half a year ago, claiming to have fled famine. Her face and voice were ruined. She occasionally went up the mountains to gather herbs for sale, understood some medicine, and often helped diagnose the elderly and children in the village, barely making a living.

Although her life was meager, it was peaceful and quiet. Yet, half a month ago, she suddenly responded to the Imperial Notice and traveled north to the Imperial City…

Perhaps, she had heard the news of her serious illness.

A tickle arose in Xu Zhaosu’s throat. Fearing to wake the person, she forcibly suppressed it, covering her mouth and struggling to cough twice in a low voice. Her eyes were dim. Thinking of something, her hand trembled as she took two pills and swallowed them before the coughing gradually stopped.

She had personally ordered the Imperial Guards to set the great fire six months ago. She was so foolish, always believing that she wanted to burn her to death. But even so, wasn’t she still willing to come back?

It was she who forced her into this state. If the injury on her face was a scar that could not be uncovered, then she naturally could not hurt her again—even though she longed to see her face again day and night.

Xu Zhaosu fiercely suppressed the impulse to rip off her mask, withdrawing her hand with enormous willpower, only greedily touching the corner of her lips while she slept.

Warm, a person truly alive in this world, not a blurred illusion.

It was enough that she was still alive.

——

When Shi Qingyi opened her eyes, she found herself in a carriage. Xu Zhaosu was physically frail and couldn’t bear the cold. The carriage was spacious, comparable to a small room, furnished with a good soft couch and a sandalwood table. Tea and pastries were set on the table, and the four corners were carefully stuffed with blankets to block out any cold air.

Xu Zhaosu was reviewing the memorials presented to her, leaning against the couch next to her. She glanced up, seeing her awake. Her pen stroke paused. The anxiety and unease of the past half-day seemed to settle the instant she saw this person. Perhaps unconsciously, her lips curved into a smile.

“Your Majesty,” that gaze was too fervent. Shi Qingyi instinctively avoided it. The carriage window was half-open. Through the gap, she could see the surrounding mountains covered in heavy snow, a silent world of silver. The carriage was slowly heading deeper into the mountains. “Where are we going?”

The first snow of the year had quietly arrived while she was unconscious.

It was winter again. Snow fell heavily. She was still a little groggy, quietly letting out a yawn. Only after a long time did she realize Xu Zhaosu was silently watching her.

“If you’re sleepy, sleep a little longer. We still have an hour until we arrive. I’ll call you when we get there. I’ve already instructed people to clean up inside. If you’re still tired, you can continue resting there.”

“This is the way to the suburban palace. There are natural hot springs there. You know I fear the cold, so going there for the winter couldn’t be more suitable. As the medical woman who came to examine me, isn’t it only right for you to come with me?”

Her voice was gentle and soft, a stark contrast to the gloomy and obsessive demeanor in Mingze Hall not long ago. But Shi Qingyi instantly felt a chill run down her spine.

The suburban palace was beyond the jurisdiction of the Eldest Princess. Courtiers couldn’t easily reach it. Unimportant documents and memorials could be decided by the Eldest Princess on her behalf. More serious ones could be delivered quickly by horse, but all of this required horses.

To think of it another way, the suburban palace was isolated from the world, especially when it was snowing heavily. Trapped deep in the mountains, there was no other way out except the main road, and leaving required a horse and the Empress’s personal order.

It was like an isolated island in the sea. The only way out was firmly controlled by someone, suitable for—

Shi Qingyi’s eyes were complicated. Xu Zhaosu looked at her, her gaze unwilling to leave for a moment. Seeing her difficult expression, she personally poured a cup of hot tea and offered it to her, with a concerned look: “Are you uncomfortable after waking up? Drink some tea to clear your mind?”

“I can do it myself.” Shi Qingyi half-sat up, not daring to trouble her to feed her. She took the tea and sipped it. Xu Zhaosu’s face turned cold for an instant, but she quickly masked it.

The tea was clear and clean. Even in the moving carriage, not a drop was spilled. Shi Qingyi drank a couple of sips, estimating the distance from the Imperial City. A faint ache lingered in her heart. She closed her eyes to rest, and shortly after, the carriage stopped.

The palace was built halfway up the mountain. It was previously used for autumn hunts. Its activation in winter was rushed, and there hadn’t been time to fully organize it. Snow fell heavily across the world. The land was pristine white, except for a few white plum branches extending over the courtyard wall, their sharp fragrance wafting through the air.

Shi Qingyi was slightly startled by the sight.

Someone approached. Xu Zhaosu wore a white fox fur cloak with white cloud patterns over her shoulders. Her eyes, deep as a cold pool, appeared particularly bright in the silent snow. Although her body and complexion didn’t look well, her spirit was unprecedentedly good.

“Do you like white plum blossoms too?” Xu Zhaosu smiled lightly, extending a hand. She coughed softly, “My beloved also loves white plum blossoms. I searched the world for rare varieties for her and planted them here in this palace for three years. They finally bloomed this year. Do you like the look of them?”

Her demeanor was so calm and collected. If her arm weren’t still being firmly held, Shi Qingyi might have believed her.

“Your Majesty’s beloved is truly blessed.” Shi Qingyi’s mouth twitched, offering a polite compliment.

“It’s good that you like it.” Xu Zhaosu answered on her own, her eyes clear and smiling as she looked at her, so gentle that the maids serving beside her couldn’t help but feel emotional.

This was probably the best mood the Empress had been in for the past half-year. Her sudden change of character today, being so tender and considerate, suggests this medical woman is truly skilled.

Xu Zhaosu held her hand and continued to walk forward, her voice warm: “This is deep in the mountains outside the Imperial City, dozens of miles away from the palace. The snow this year is particularly heavy. The mountains are sealed by snow, the roads are treacherous, and leaving is difficult. Just tell me if you need any medicinal ingredients.”

Shi Qingyi choked. In other words, running out without knowing the way might lead to freezing to death, and attempting to run away would definitely result in being captured and brought back.

Xu Zhaosu turned to look at her, her voice growing gentler, but a deep, cold glint emerged in her eyes: “Is there anything else you want to say to me?”

—It was a naked threat.

Her gaze was burning. This was practically an open secret. She wanted to see what else this person would say—would it be anger or resignation? Would she hate her or desperately try to escape?

Shi Qingyi thought seriously. For the first time, she met the Empress’s gaze and said: “Your Majesty, please remember to wear shoes and socks next time you go out.”

Her legs truly couldn’t stand the cold anymore.

Xu Zhaosu froze, her breathing halting. After a moment, she curved her lips into a smile. The smile didn’t reach her eyes, but the coldness did dissipate slightly: “Good. I understand.”

But her hand quietly gripped tighter, and she continued to ask: “Besides that, is there anything else you want to say to me?”

Shi Qingyi slightly narrowed her eyes. The snowstorm was fierce, blowing into her eyes, making them ache. She thought carefully for a long while.

“—The plum blossoms smell very fragrant.”

The System chimed: “Target hatred value decreased by five percent—You are still the best. Five percent with just one sentence.”