Chapter 181
Chu Ying was frightened when he found himself immobilized.
Meanwhile, Jun Zishu took out the box containing the servant bug from her sash and pulled out one of the beaded hairpins from her hair. Then, she put the bug aside, lifted one of Chu Ying’s hands, and pierced the tip of his thumb with the hairpin.
“What are you trying to do?!” Chu Ying demanded.
However, Jun Zishu did not answer. After putting the blood-stained hairpin aside, she picked up the small box and took out the translucent bug inside it. Then, she displayed the bug in front of Chu Ying.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s just a cute little toy,” Jun Zishu said in a light tone as she gently poked the slumbering bug.
Seemingly realizing what Jun Zishu was trying to do, Chu Ying’s eyes widened as he yelled, “If you dare do this, I will never let go of this grudge!”
“Ha! With how ambitious your Chu family is, do you dare say you have never tried to kill me? Since you people are the ones who struck first, why should I be polite with you?” Jun Zishu said, sneering. Although she wasn’t sure whether Chu Meng sought to rebel and become the empire’s new ruler, she was certain that he had tried more than once to get rid of her and put someone else on the throne.
Tame the Chu family? Jun Zishu had not once thought of doing so. It was too much trouble, and the likelihood of success was close to non-existent.
Not to mention, the only ones she wasn’t allowed to touch in this world were the male and female protagonists. Secondary characters were nothing but disposable chess pieces for her, so she could do as she saw fit with them. If some of these chess pieces started misbehaving, she could simply get rid of them and be done with it.
When the servant bug smelled the scent of blood, it woke up from its slumber and slowly dug into Chu Ying’s wound and entered his body. Meanwhile, Chu Ying could do nothing but watch with an ugly expression as all of this happened.
“Don’t bother trying to get someone to remove this bug from your body. There exists only one pair of this bug in this world. As for their function…”
Jun Zishu let her words trail off as she gently stroked one of her loose hairs on her forehead, her actions appearing dignified and elegant.
“If I live, you live. If I die, you die. If I want you to die, you will die no matter what,” Jun Zishu stated indifferently. “Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t want to manipulate you using such a way, either. You might be the general’s son, but you lack talent and authority. There is no real purpose for me to control you.”
“Are you looking down on me?” Chu Ying asked, gnashing his teeth.
“I am only speaking the truth. You are young and impatient, and you don’t even know how to control your mouth… I am only planting this bug on you for fun. How do you think General Chu will react once he learns that I control your life and death? What will he do if I threaten him with your life?” Jun Zishu asked in a light tone.
Would Chu Meng choose to value love and righteousness? Or would he abandon his son like a disposable chess piece?
Jun Zishu couldn’t help but find being the villain quite a wonderful experience.
Chi Ying originally wanted to curse at Jun Zishu but swallowed back his words. Then, scrutinizing Jun Zishu’s face, he asked, “Who are you?”
He wasn’t a fool. He might be a little rash, but he still had a functioning brain. Meanwhile, the change to the empress’s personality was too significant to be normal.
According to his past observations, the empress was an arrogant, debauched, and short-sighted woman with a somewhat violent temper. Although her current behavior was still in-line with her character, he had never seen her eyes looking so clear and intimidating. He had also never felt such an imposing aura coming from her.
Of course, Chu Ying would never admit that he had gotten a little scared of Jun Zishu just now.
“What? Did you get so scared that you don’t even recognize me? No matter the circumstances, we have still slept on the same bed before,” Jun Zishu said with a frivolous smile. The way she looked at Chu Ying contemptuously was both aggravating and seductive.
Seeing this, Little Fairy had nothing but applause for Jun Zishu. She felt that her host was becoming more and more skilled at acting, and there was no role that she couldn’t play perfectly!
However, Chu Ying’s response was different, his face turning red from anger. He also couldn’t help but think that he must’ve lost his mind to ask Jun Zishu such a question.
“Stay here for half a month and reflect on your actions. You can return home after half a month,” Jun Zishu suddenly said.
Chu Ying was a little stunned when he heard Jun Zishu’s words. Never did he think this person was willing to let him go.
However, his expression quickly sank when he recalled the unknown bug inside his body.
Jun Zishu turned around to leave after she finished speaking. However, after taking two steps forward, she suddenly thought of something and turned back again.
Chu Ying had originally been glaring at Jun Zishu’s back hatefully, so he didn’t expect to suddenly see Jun Zishu’s beautiful face appearing in his vision, and he couldn’t help but be dazzled a little.
If he disregarded Jun Zishu’s identity and only looked at her as a woman from a man’s perspective, he had to admit that this woman was indeed beautiful. If she wasn’t the empress, she would definitely cause plenty of men to fight for her.
Meanwhile, Jun Zishu covered her lips and laughed a little when she saw Chu Ying’s dazed look. Then, she asked, “Do you wish to head to the battlefield, Chu Ying?”
“Didn’t Your Majesty just say that I have no talent? Or is Your Majesty hoping for me to die on the battlefield and never return?” Chu Ying said with a sneer. Inwardly, though, he indeed desired the thing Jun Zishu mentioned.
As a man with ambition, he, too, wanted to pick up his sword and gallop onto the battlefield to protect his family, defend his country, and build a successful career. The last thing he wanted to do was end up as a male pet in the imperial harem.
“Oh? Are you trying to say that your talent is something I can decide, Prince Chu? In that case, can you remove the tigers and wolves threatening the empire if I say that you have the talent to become a general?”
“What is Your Majesty trying to say? My Chu family is an ambitious pack of wolves. We do not deserve Your Majesty’s trust,” Chu Ying said sarcastically.
“I am not joking with you, Chu Ying. The empire might seem stable right now, but our neighbors have already started to grow restless. I require talent that I can use,” Jun Zishu said, taking on a more serious expression.
The reason she chose to keep Chu Ying alive instead of outright disposing of him was because Chu Ying had the potential to grow into a capable general. In the original storyline, he played a vital role in helping Yue Mingsheng and Meng Lanxi defend the empire’s peace and stability.
If Jun Zishu wanted to build a prosperous empire, she would need talented people to support her.
This was why she had planted the servant bug on Chu Ying to manipulate him. Of course, part of her also wanted to see what kind of choice Chu Meng would make when threatened with his son’s life.
“Is Your Majesty trying to use a carrot-and-stick approach?”
Chu Ying was having a difficult time figuring out what Jun Zishu was trying to do. If she wanted to kill him, why would she release him? If she wanted to release him, why would she plant a servant bug on him to control him? If she wanted to control him, why would she ask if he wanted to go onto the battlefield instead of commanding him to help topple the Chu family?
It should be known that he would definitely strive to make the Chu family better if given the chance.
“You are free to think of it that way if you want. Everything would’ve been fine had your father behaved and been of use to me. However, your father is loyal to the late emperor, not me. I wish to train my own confidants and talents to guard the rivers and mountains of this nation. Do you understand what I am trying to say?”
“You wish to trust me, Your Majesty?” Chu Ying asked in disbelief. Although he had heard of women having fickle emotions, wasn’t the empress’s emotions a little too fickle? Also, did she really think she could control him with just a bug?
Jun Zishu instantly knew what was going through Chu Ying’s mind just by looking at his face, so she manipulated the master bug inside her body.
Immediately, Chu Ying’s face gradually started to contort as an intense pain assaulted his heart.
Seeing this, Jun Zishu nudged Chu Ying’s acupuncture point again and returned his freedom of movement. Then, while watching Chu Ying struggle to cope with the pain, she said, “I trust in your sense of justice and your willingness to protect the empire’s people. However, that doesn’t stop you from seeking a new master to serve, so this bug is my sign of distrust toward your loyalty.”
Jun Zishu crouched down before Chu Ying, paying no heed to the dust and dirt on the ground staining her beautiful robe.
“I can give you a chance to do what you want. If you show even the slightest sign of disloyalty, I will not show you any mercy.”
Jun Zishu grabbed her handkerchief and used it to wipe the sweat on Chu Ying’s face, her action looking warm and gentle. Yet, the words she just said were anything but warm.
Jun Zishu had a cheat named Little Fairy, so she wasn’t afraid that Chu Ying would betray her secretly. If Chu Ying really did betray her, she wouldn’t mind killing him, either. Although talented people were hard to come by, finding some in this big empire wasn’t difficult.
Afterward, Jun Zishu dropped the handkerchief on the ground and stood up. Then, after patting off the dust and dirt on her robe, she turned around and walked out of the cell.
Once the guard standing at the end of the hallway saw Jun Zishu coming out of the cell, he quickly walked over and locked the cell door again.
Meanwhile, Chu Ying sat stiffly on the ground, his hand picking up the handkerchief embroidered with peony flowers that Jun Zishu discarded and squeezing it tightly.
…
After leaving the dungeon, Jun Zishu returned to the imperial study after hearing from Little Fairy that someone was waiting for her there.
“Her Highness and Prince Mozhu are waiting for you inside,” Your Majesty.”
“Got it.” Jun Zishu nodded and walked into the study.
When the two people inside saw Jun Zishu coming in, they promptly stood up and bowed to her. Then, Yue Mingsheng stepped forward and said, “I have already dealt with most of the harem members, Imperial Sister, but there are still some who refuse to leave.”
“Why?”
“Your Majesty, I am willing to stay behind and accompany Your Majesty,” Mozhu said as he knelt and looked at Jun Zishu with eyes full of admiration.
Jun Zishu did not give an immediate reply. Instead, she propped up her head and sized up the man before her.
When the room fell silent, Mozhu grew a little happy as he thought that his words might have swayed Jun Zishu’s mind. Yue Mingsheng, on the other hand, grew worried as she looked at Jun Zishu.
“That won’t be necessary. You may leave.”
Jun Zishu didn’t consider for long before he shook his head. She wasn’t the original owner, so she didn’t need any men in her life.
“I do not need anything, Your Majesty. I only ask to remain by your side.”
Mozhu’s words were beautifully said, and those who didn’t know better would think that he was deeply in love with the empress.
“No need.”
“I have accompanied Your Majesty for more than three years. Will Your Majesty not consider my request even at the slightest?” Mozhu said with a pleading look.
However, Jun Zishu remained expressionless. If she were to be honest, she didn’t really care about any of the men in the imperial harem. Apart from a few exceptions, these men were nothing but unnecessary weights holding her down.
Not to mention, the original owner had mainly treated her harem members as toys, and who would develop true feelings for toys? Besides outstanding men like Meng Lanxi, everyone else was replaceable to the original owner.
“Why waste your youth in this cold palace? Wouldn’t it be better to take the silver, buy some properties, get married, and live happily for the rest of your life?”
“But Your Majesty isn’t outside the palace.”
There was a reason why Mozhu could stay in the original owner’s favor for so long. Not only did he have a glib tongue, but he was also skilled at serving others and behaving considerately.
Normally, Mozhu’s behavior would be seen as unmanly if he behaved as such in front of a normal woman. However, the original owner was an empress regnant. She needed a person she could depend on, not a person who was constantly disobeying her will.
Meanwhile, Yue Mingsheng’s face twitched slightly when she heard Mozhu’s sweet words. She also couldn’t help but worry if her cousin sister would get swayed by these words.
“Nothing you say will change my mind,” Jun Zishu said. Then, she looked at Yue Mingsheng and continued, “Mingsheng, if there are people refusing to leave, simply force them to leave.”
“Your Majesty!” Mozhu cried out. He didn’t think that the empress would be such a heartless person. Was she really dismissing the entire harem for the sake of that man?
Just when Jun Zishu thought of saying something else, she suddenly saw Mozhu’s body growing limp and collapsing to the floor.
Meanwhile, Yue Mingsheng patted her hands and smiled at Jun Zishu, saying, “I understand, Imperial Sister. I will make sure to get this matter done by today.”
Jun Zishu nodded in a daze, shocked by her little cousin’s ferocity.
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