Su Tang felt like she had been struck by lightning. This was a public execution! As soon as Qin Li gave the order, a young eunuch walked in.
The little eunuch had delicate features and looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old. Because his voice hadn't broken yet, his voice was very clear, and he read with great emotion. But Su Tang… she just wanted to die on the spot!
She had a look of utter despair on her face, but Qin Li was getting into it. Perhaps the little eunuch wasn't reading with enough gusto, so he kicked the little eunuch aside and started reading himself, "The little prince's face showed a mixture of pain and pleasure, his red lips slightly parted, and he didn't forget to say: 'No… don't… stop…'" He paused, seemingly very interested, "An Qing, tell me, did the little prince want him to stop or not?" He asked, but without waiting for Su Tang's answer, he continued, "Tsk, what an interesting little thing."
Su Tang: "..."
Screw this blackened male lead!
Su Tang wished she could faint again on the spot. Qin Li finally put down the novel. "An Qing, do you remember anything now?"
This was a trap! If she remembered, she wouldn't be far from death. If she didn't remember, the public execution would continue.
Her vision darkened. She leaned against the soft pillow and said weakly, "Your Majesty, this official feels a little dizzy. Can I have something to eat first?"
She hadn't eaten anything all day. Qin Li didn't make things difficult for her. He not only had someone prepare food for her but also made her take the medicine brought by the imperial physician.
She drank it all down in one gulp. Unexpectedly, Qin Li suddenly said coldly, "You drank it so readily. Aren't you afraid that I poisoned it?"
Su Tang almost spat it out. She forced herself to swallow and put on a touched expression. "This official trusts Your Majesty."
Qin Li scoffed. "But I don't trust myself. After all…" He picked up the novel again and pointed to a passage. "Look, didn't the emperor in here also drug the little prince? Speaking of which, 'Spring Breeze Intoxication' seems to be a good thing. I'll have to try it sometime."
Spring Breeze Intoxication was the name of an aphrodisiac that Su Tang had casually made up. She didn't know if such a drug actually existed in reality, but if Qin Li said it existed, then it existed.
Feeling utterly helpless, she couldn't help but ask the system, "System, to what extent has the male lead blackened?"
System: "Oh, it's not that bad. Just the usual kind of blackening, like killing people when he's unhappy and killing people when he's happy."
Su Tang sucked in a breath of cold air. "No, I remember that in the original world, although he was cold on the surface, he was essentially a benevolent ruler who loved his people."
The system sounded like it had heard a joke. "You're talking about before he blackened. Now, he doesn't love anyone, not even his own son. He's already killed quite a few people in the ten days since you left."
Generally speaking, Su Tang would return at the peak of the male lead's blackening. So now, facing a 100% blackened male lead, ordinary methods wouldn't work.
Su Tang looked at the male lead close at hand, her head pounding. At this moment, the system spoke again, "I forgot to tell you something. As punishment, you brought back a critically ill system with you. If you can't make the male lead recover within three years, we'll both die. Of course, everything will be fine if you complete the mission on time."
As for the other matter, like the male lead discovering her true gender, the system felt that these were trivial matters, not worth mentioning at all.
Qin Li looked at Su Tang, who was lost in thought for some reason, and his eyes narrowed. "I remember the An Prince's Mansion seems to have a Junzhu? Just right, I still need an empress."
Su Tang stiffened and immediately retorted, "My younger sister is mentally challenged. She's not worthy of Your Majesty."
Qin Li didn't care at all. "It doesn't matter. Everyone says I'm crazy. A madman paired with a fool, what a perfect match."
He spoke casually, but his gaze never left her. This little thing seemed very nervous about the people left in the An Prince's Mansion, so some things weren't that hard to guess. Why would something that had been hidden so well suddenly be revealed in the form of a novel? Thinking back to what she had said earlier about being sick and recuperating at home, it was likely that she had known for a long time that her days were numbered, so she had made plans in advance to protect the An Prince's Mansion.
It seemed that the mentally challenged Junzhu in the An Prince's Mansion now was probably the real Qin Anjing. She had taken her place and shouldered all the pressure alone. He had to admire her for that. After all, his cheap father had schemed to kill the An Prince. How could he be lenient towards his children? He just wanted to maintain a good reputation while secretly getting rid of them. And she had succeeded. At least, no one suspected anything.
He clicked his tongue. What a cunning person. If she weren't a woman, with her resilience, even the throne might not have fallen into his hands.
If it were anyone else, they might be grateful. But not him. He only felt like he had been played for a fool.
Qin Li had done many absurd things as emperor. Wanting to marry the foolish Junzhu of the An Prince's Mansion was nothing. No one dared to stop him, even though they were technically related by blood.
Therefore, Su Tang had to stop him. She had just regained some of her color when she threw off the blanket and knelt down. "Please reconsider, Your Majesty."
"Do you think you can stop me?" Qin Li narrowed his eyes dangerously at her. Su Tang knelt on the ground, the back of her neck exposed again. He had held back last time, but this time, Qin Li couldn't resist. He reached out and touched her skin.
Su Tang felt like her life was hanging by a thread. Look, what was he doing touching her neck? Could it be that he was checking where to strike and kill her?
"Beg me."
His tone, if one listened carefully, was very similar to how Su Tang used to speak to him arrogantly when they were young.
However, Su Tang couldn't remember any of that now. She only felt that those who said the male lead was crazy were absolutely right.
Beg?
There were countless people who had begged him. Who had he ever shown mercy to?
Besides, Su Tang had learned her lesson. She had just fainted from kneeling and woken up. She would beg her ass!
Qin Li looked at her. She was saying all the right words, but her back was straight. She didn't look like she was begging at all.
He curled his lips, his interest piqued. "Since the An Prince is unwilling, then you can get out." After saying that, he let go of her neck and roughly pushed her away.
Su Tang, still kneeling, stumbled. Although she didn't fall, she looked quite pathetic. She didn't know whether to leave or stay. After a while, she stammered, "Your Majesty, my younger sister… she can't bear children. She can't fulfill the duties of an empress."
Qin Li glanced at her. "It doesn't matter. I don't like children either. Her inability to conceive solves a problem for me."
Su Tang choked and said, "My younger sister… she's ugly…"
Qin Li interrupted impatiently, "Is the An Prince saying that I'm not worthy of your younger sister? You're right. I'm indeed not worthy of the esteemed Junzhu of the An Prince's Mansion."
If Su Tang dared to agree with his self-deprecating words, she wouldn't be leaving this bedchamber today.
She slammed her head on the ground, but she accidentally used too much force. Her forehead turned red, and she swayed.
Qin Li was even more annoyed. He almost had her dragged out and beheaded, but he held back. "I told you to get out, didn't you hear me? Or… after listening to that novel, do you really want to spend a night of passion with me?"