Saving the Obsessive Villain Boss [Quick Transmigration] (GL) - Chapter 20

The clear winter day’s gentle, warm sunlight fell everywhere, but it still couldn’t illuminate the momentary chill that permeated Xu Zhaosu. A deep shadow gathered between her brows and eyes.

“Do you think I could let go?”

Her voice was terribly cold, carrying a strange self-mockery and obsession.

She spoiled Shi Qingyi immensely. Except for using formal address occasionally during intimacy to deliberately provoke her thin skin until her ears were flushed red, she generally wouldn’t use the self-appellation “I/孤” (gu).

She stood there, blocking the warm sunlight from outside the door, silhouetted against the light, as if she had walked out of the darkness.

Shi Qingyi sat dazedly in the lounge chair, looking at her. The medicine had done severe damage to her mind, and her reactions were somewhat sluggish. She didn’t know what she was thinking.

After a moment, she reached out her hand and covered Xu Zhaosu’s palm, speaking in a tired and distressed tone: “Let go.”

The rough plum branch had dug into her tender palm, leaving several small cuts. Xu Zhaosu hadn’t noticed at all, her mind completely consumed by that single phrase, let her go.

The Empress injuring herself naturally led to another flurry of activity, but Xu Zhaosu did not allow outsiders to see this precious caged bird, and Shi Qingyi was also reluctant to see strangers. In the end, Shi Qingyi took it upon herself to bandage her.

In truth, it was only a small injury, not worth making a fuss over. Perhaps to avoid continuing the previous topic, Shi Qingyi bandaged her with extreme care. The silk cloth, dipped in warm water, carefully wiped away the bl00d from her palm. She then prepared gauze and finally took out several small white porcelain bottles from a box.

Perhaps she hadn’t held it steady; the first small medicine bottle actually dropped. Shi Qingyi was stunned for a moment, feeling that she probably hadn’t fully woken up and was still feeling a little tired. So, she calmly reached for the second bottle.

A porcelain bottle the size of a palm shouldn’t require much effort. She picked up the second small porcelain bottle, holding it a bit steadier this time, but before she could even open the lid, it dropped again.

She froze, her gaze somewhat blank and vacant. Xu Zhaosu had already reached out to grip her wrist, speaking in a hoarse voice: “Don’t touch these anymore. My hand is fine…”

Shi Qingyi seemed to realize something. For the first time, she very gently but firmly pushed away the girl in front of her, and as if possessed, reached for the third jade bottle. Predictably, it dropped. This was followed by the fourth, the fifth…

The crisp sound of shattering jade bottles spread throughout the silent hall, like a seemingly intact porcelain vessel slowly cracking with dense, fine lines.

It was only when she grasped the sixth one that Shi Qingyi realized her hand was trembling, trembling very badly. Xu Zhaosu held her hand, using great force to restrain her, placing her hand close against Shi Qingyi’s and coaxing her patiently: “Don’t touch these anymore. It doesn’t hurt me. I don’t need it…”

Their two equally cold hands were too close. The bewilderment in Shi Qingyi’s eyes suddenly disappeared at a certain moment. The medicine bottle was undeniably taken away by Xu Zhaosu. Her slender, soft fingers threaded through the gaps between Shi Qingyi’s fingers, locking their hands together.

Xu Zhaosu placed the freshly broken plum blossom on her lap, half-sitting on the floor and leaning over her knees, kissing her still-trembling fingertips. Soft kisses rained down on her pale, long palm: “Don’t be afraid. I won’t tire of you. I won’t tire of you in this lifetime…”

She seemed to be swearing an oath to herself, and also gently coaxing her, perhaps feeling that she had been too aggressive just now.

The sunlight outside the window was blinding for a moment. Shi Qingyi was forced to close her eyes and, with great difficulty, leaned down to gently rub her forehead against Xu Zhaosu’s, murmuring: “I’ve always believed that…”

This was how Xu Zhaosu had slowly cultivated her: unable to hold even a medicine bottle without dropping it, a complete and utter useless person.

These hands of hers had once drawn a bow on a snowy mountain and had once determined the fate of the empire stroke by stroke. In the end, they couldn’t even manage simple daily tasks by themselves.

That afternoon, she once again fell into a deep sleep on the small couch in the Mingze Hall. She now slept for more than six hours a day, and even when she wasn’t sleeping, she was in a daze for most of the time.

Xu Zhaosu seemed to know that she wouldn’t wake up, and brazenly summoned the Imperial Physician. Before the person arrived, countless porcelain bottles had already been swept to the ground. She said sternly: “Didn’t you say there would be no other side effects? Why, why is it like this…”

She had never intended to destroy her like this. Shi Qingyi was such a cold and arrogant girl. She could remain ignorant of everything, like a sick person, forever confined by her side, but she couldn’t stand by and watch her dignity and pride be destroyed, inch by inch, while she was conscious.

The Imperial Physician’s medicine chest was tossed aside. The man knelt on the broken porcelain shards, trembling and kowtowing fearfully: “There is no such side effect. She will eventually become a fool, like a three-year-old child, possibly unable to speak or hold chopsticks, but she absolutely cannot be unable to hold things steady. I wouldn’t dare, I am innocent!”

The Lady Monarch’s expression was so ferocious that she might kill him at any moment.

As if to save his life, he kept kowtowing and suddenly spoke: “Perhaps it is due to other reasons. Or, to make her completely dependent on Your Majesty, doesn’t Your Majesty want that?!”

The words were powerful and resounding. The light and shadows flickered in the hall, revealing not a subtle fragrance, but complex human emotions.

After a long time, the Imperial Physician, with bl00d on his forehead, retreated. The Lady Monarch sat dejectedly in the sunlight, holding the unconscious girl. The ferocity and gloom in her eyes slowly dissipated the moment she touched her. She lightly kissed her eyes and eyebrows but remained silent.

She was not a saint, and what she felt in the sunlight was far from pure sincerity.

Whether it was years ago, when she forcibly brought the transcendental immortal down from the snowy peak, or now, going to great lengths to keep her by her side, her motives and desires were not entirely honorable or beyond reproach.

Only her heart ached faintly.

—

The System suddenly chimed with understanding: “Host, the hatred value has dropped another five percent. It is now thirty-five percent. Xu Zhaosu is finally starting to feel guilty towards you—is this the legendary kǔ ròu jì (a ruse of self-mutilation to win trust)?”

Shi Qingyi: “…You think I’m faking it?”

The System was blank: “Aren’t you?”

“Next time, I beg you to remember to take my physical data and not wait until I’m in fatal pain before coming to collect my body. Thank you very much.” She thought about changing the System every day.

The System said earnestly: “Then you must first agree not to forcibly shut down the System at any time.”

The conversation ended there.

Shi Qingyi grew weaker. As her spirits began to decline, Xu Zhaosu spoiled her more and more as if to compensate. Countless rare and precious treasures were sent to her hall, but they rarely brought a smile to her face.

The cold winter quietly passed, and another spring quietly arrived. The continuous spring rain spurred dry branches overnight. By the time the yingchun flowers (winter jasmine) were in full bloom, Shi Qingyi could only be awake for three or four hours a day, often curling up sleepily in the Lady Monarch’s arms, like a soulless, exquisite doll.

One day, Xu Zhaosu whispered in her ear: “Qingyi, don’t sleep. Shall we go out to enjoy the flowers?”

Xu Zhaosu would actually consider letting her out. While Shi Qingyi was still in a daze, Xu Zhaosu had swiftly put a cloak on her, combed her long hair, and quietly held her hand.

She didn’t let go until they walked out of the Mingze Hall. Shi Qingyi struggled a bit: “Your Majesty, please let go of this subject.”

She herself was fine. Confined in the golden cage, she didn’t know how the world outside had changed, and the rumors wouldn’t reach her ears. But Xu Zhaosu was different. She was, after all, the ruler of a nation. Openly doting on one woman was not considered a glorious matter.

Xu Zhaosu refused to let go, even taking advantage of the situation by placing her hand inside her sleeve. Her voice was cold and clear, like the first melting ice of early spring: “I want to see who dares to criticize.”

Wherever her sharp gaze swept, no one dared to meet her eyes, wishing only to sink into the ground.

When she was a wise monarch in the past, people naturally dared to step forward and advise His Majesty not to act so recklessly. But now, having gone through the ups and downs of life, she had used brutal methods to intimidate her officials. It was said that a few days ago, she had executed several corrupt officials with extreme punishment. Her reputation was already infamous and could be described as tyrannical.

The wheels of history rolled on. The original setting of the world was that Xu Zhaosu, after enduring inhuman betrayal, eventually became a tyrant, who was later overthrown by the female lead and forced to commit suicide in the Mingze Hall.

Shi Qingyi quietly held her pinky finger. The aggression on the person’s body finally dissipated somewhat. The chilly spring wind sobered up Shi Qingyi’s hazy mind a little.

The place with the most flowers and trees in the palace used to be the Yuming Palace, a place where two generations of monarchs sought to please their beloved, investing countless efforts. Other than that, it was the Imperial Garden.

Not many flowers bloomed in early spring. Shi Qingyi felt tired after walking for a short while. She hooked Xu Zhaosu’s pinky under her sleeve, wanting to sit in the pavilion and watch the fish swim.

Not far away, she heard the sound of pounding medicine. Shi Qingyi followed the sound and was immediately stunned.

A girl in a pink and white dress was sitting under a magnolia tree that hadn’t bloomed yet. Beside her was a small basket, and she was earnestly pounding medicine.

Her posture was graceful and delicate, and wisps of hair were tucked behind her ear. Her raven-black eyelashes cast a shadow beneath her eyes. Her eyes were clear, gentle, and carried an unspeakable resilience. Even among the countless beauties in the Imperial City, none could rival her beauty by half.

More crucially, aside from a difference in demeanor, she was almost identical to the late State Preceptor, Shi Qingyi.

Xu Zhaosu’s gaze instantly turned cold. Before she could even react to why there was still someone there after having everyone cleared out, the person who had been quietly holding her hand suddenly let go.

Shi Qingyi stared blankly at the beautiful girl for a long time. That face was so similar to hers, just like herself before she had endured half a lifetime of suffering.

She suddenly clutched her chest, unable to suppress the heart-wrenching pain that felt like her lungs were tearing apart. Before she completely fainted, she only saw spots of bl00d splattering onto the corner of her skirt.

She woke up in Xu Zhaosu’s arms. The lamp was burning brightly, making it impossible to distinguish day from night. Sensing that she was in her arms, she tried to struggle. However, the side effects of the medicine made her feel weak all over. Even struggling was a tragedy; she couldn’t break free.

“Where are you trying to escape to?!” Xu Zhaosu was like a startled person, tightly gripping her wrist. Seeing her try to escape, she subconsciously raised her voice, but then her heart softened when she looked down and saw the corner of the person’s eye momentarily moisten.

“We can go wherever you want to escape to later. A-Qing, shall we take some medicine first? Or eat something? You’ve been unconscious for two days and two nights. Don’t scare me like this again.”

—She could no longer bear this kind of shock.

The person, whose face was deathly pale from weakness, simply allowed the warm liquid to silently trickle down her cheeks. Her long hair cascaded down the side of her face. Grief, when reaching its extreme, turned out to be silent.

That was the first time in Xu Zhaosu’s life she had seen Shi Qingyi cry, and the only time. The girl she had doted on for years was crying so heartbrokenly and desperately. She was so flustered for the first time. In that moment, she even felt that if Shi Qingyi spoke, even if she asked for her life, she would give it.

Shi Qingyi just closed her eyes, either mocking herself or Xu Zhaosu. Her lips barely curved into a cold smile, her heart completely dead: “Since Your Majesty has already sought out another, why bother caring whether I live or die…”

Xu Zhaosu was stunned, her fingers trembling silently. She was momentarily unable to react, just staring at her blankly.

Seeing this, Shi Qingyi’s tears flowed even more profusely, almost to the point of drowning Xu Zhaosu. She frantically pushed back Shi Qingyi’s silken black hair, kissing away the relentlessly falling tears from the corner of her eyes, her voice inexplicably hoarse and yet seemingly containing a secret joy: “I have only ever had you, you know that…”

From the first time she held the hand of this cold, snow-like person, she had actually anticipated the end of her life. The one who falls in love first always bows down. She had always thought that Shi Qingyi would never be jealous of her in this lifetime.

Her heart felt slowly filled by something, and the agonizing wound was gradually healing. The joy of that moment was more moving than her regaining control of the world.

Shi Qingyi raised her wet eyes to look at her, extending a pale hand, as if desperately wanting to prove something, and began to undo her dress.

Perhaps due to her panic, the faster she tried, the less she could undo it. Her hand kept shaking. Xu Zhaosu gently cupped her hand and said softly: “I’ll do it myself…”

The silk material, a tribute from Jiangnan, slid down like water. The lamplight flickered, blown by the spring breeze.

Perhaps because of the lingering anger, this time was not as gentle as before. Shi Qingyi was increasingly controlled by the medicine. When she was weak, she relied on Xu Zhaosu. In the height of passion, she craved her assurance: “Say it again…”

“Only you, only you from beginning to end…” Perhaps due to guilt and a hidden joy, Xu Zhaosu indulged her in almost everything, agreeing to her requests, repeating it tirelessly.

“What about in the future?” She was even a little childish.

“In the future, too, there will only be you,” Xu Zhaosu’s dense kisses fell on her eyes and brows. She held her, promising and swearing: “For a lifetime, only you.”

—And she never even entertained the thought of having anyone else.

Shi Qingyi bit her, almost grinding her teeth. Her reddened eyes looked as if she had suffered an enormous grievance.

Xu Zhaosu’s heart melted completely. As long as it could make her feel better, she would agree to anything. In that moment, she suddenly felt that she understood the mindset of those depraved former emperors.

“A-Qing, don’t be upset. If you’re unhappy, I’ll send all of them away, alright?” To surrender everything just to win her happiness was probably what it came down to.

Those women were originally sought after she thought Shi Qingyi was dead. She had never let them touch her heart. Now that they were upsetting Shi Qingyi, sending all of them away was simple enough.

“Not a single one will be left?” Her tone was uncertain.

“Only you will remain.”

After saying this, a flash of thought suddenly crossed her mind: that extremely similar face, the people from Jing’e splitting into two groups, one going to the suburban palace, and one entering the palace. Who was the person they truly wanted to take away?

The scattered details gathered together. All the clues seemed traceable. Her gaze was gloomy for a moment, but it quickly faded. She only held the person in her arms tighter.

No matter the suspicion, at least at this moment, she did not want to hurt her heart again.

Later, in a daze, she seemed to hear someone sigh softly in her ear: “Even if I become a fool and don’t know anything in the future, will it still be like this?”

—You won’t seek out anyone else, only me.

Xu Zhaosu was startled by the question and abruptly opened her eyes. The person in her arms was already sleeping peacefully on her shoulder, a strand of her long hair wrapped around her finger. Even in her sleep, she was slightly frowning, troubled by something unknown.

How could that be?

A cold sweat broke out on the Lady Monarch’s back. How could Shi Qingyi know her sinister thoughts? If she knew she was so vicious, how could she still willingly stay by her side?

That last sentence was probably just a nightmare, just a moment of confusion.

Perhaps because of those words, she was still somewhat unsettled. She reached out and brushed away the loose hair on Shi Qingyi’s forehead, then turned over, got out of bed, lowered the curtains, and summoned the Imperial Physician.

She rubbed her temples, realizing herself that something was amiss.

The usual Shi Qingyi, even when in pain, was accustomed to enduring it. She was never this childish. While she was delighted by her rare display of emotion, she also knew it was not a good sign.

The Imperial Physician closed his eyes to take her pulse and then whispered: “Your Majesty, the medicine’s effect is becoming heavier, gradually eroding her mind. Such occurrences will likely become more frequent in the future.”

Becoming a fool like a child, dependent on you, and controlled by you.

Isn’t that exactly what you wished for?

A sense of melancholy filled the Imperial Physician’s heart. It was indeed like serving a tiger.

Xu Zhaosu was stunned for a moment. Her fingers reached through the gauze curtains to trace her eyebrows, inch by inch, caressing her eyes and brows. Nothing seemed to have changed, yet, everything seemed different.

Whether some wishes truly come true remains unanswered.

She tiredly rubbed her temples, realizing that she truly could not bear it. She couldn’t bear to see her suffer, and even more, she couldn’t bear to see her cry. It was like a knife cutting into her heart, a dull ache.

She was about to open her lips to say, Enough, stop the medicine.

No matter what the future holds, I accept it.

However, the Imperial Physician had already lowered his head deeply, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking: “Your Majesty, besides my medicine, there seems to be something else at work in this person’s body—”