Chapter 650: Chapter 634 Let Her Treat You, As I Treat You

Listening to Huangfu Qing’s resentful voice outside the door, Xia Chichi stuck out her tongue, admitting she might have been a bit forgetful, which wasn’t very good…

Actually, it was only just beginning to get light outside and there wasn’t a real rush to attend the court session. Xia Chichi could detect the sourness in the words of her “mother.” The so-called court attendance was clearly just an excuse… The actual problem was that Xia Chichi was also trying her best to step into the role of an emperor, knowing that this night should have rightfully belonged to Tang Wanzhuang.

Once Tang Wanzhuang woke up and discovered her wedding night had been disrupted by a man sneaking out the window, her mood would surely be affected. It was one thing if a maid had interrupted to refill a cup, but quite another if it involved the emperor and a minister fighting over a husband. Did she now steal Bao Qin’s role in this sense?

No wonder her mother couldn’t bear to watch, and if the Venerable found out, who knew what storm would ensue…

It was the current situation and emotions that made her heavily reliant on this man who had always given her a sense of security and attachment, feeling safe as long as he was there. Thinking back to when they first met, she felt a bit of this psychology then too; alone in a foreign land, trapped in a dangerous place, he was the only one they could keep each other warm with. Now, even though identities had been turned upside down, the emotional value he provided remained unchanged.

Xia Chichi sighed as she got out of bed and picked up her casually thrown inner garments to get dressed, then she opened the door: “According to decorum, at this hour, shouldn’t I go and pay respects to mother?”

Huangfu Qing’s face was livid: “No need, with this situation, my heart can’t take it.”

Xia Chichi cheerfully leaned in and whispered, “Isn’t mother’s heart and liver still in bed, alive and kicking… does mother want it?”

Huangfu Qing: “…”

She sneakily glanced at Zhao Changhe, who was leisurely getting dressed, his eyes also looking at her through Xia Chichi, containing a strange flavor that made Huangfu Qing’s heart involuntarily skip a beat.

She quickly turned her eyes away and sternly told Xia Chichi: “The palace has just settled down, there are actually a lot of matters. From the perspective of the Holy Sect or as the Empress Dowager, I must advise you to not immerse yourself in these matters, and certainly not to compete with Tang Wanzhuang.”

After saying that, she stormed off: “This palace has its own pile of matters, no time to play with you kids!”

Watching her huffing back, Xia Chichi let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that Master Xuanwu was reliable, judging by the Empress Dowager’s attitude she surely wouldn’t tattle, so there was nothing to worry about.

Hmm… Master Xuanwu also said that after helping me handle the Venerable, I need to agree to one condition of hers, wonder what embarrassing thing that will be…

Turning to Zhao Changhe, she clenched her fist: “Soon I’ll resolve the issue with the Venerable, and we can be together openly! You go keep Tang Wanzhuang company, I’m off to work.”

Watching the spirited look of the young demoness empress, Zhao Changhe felt a softness in his heart. Chichi’s emotions were very restrained, and indeed, she always hid many matters in her heart… such as her thoughts about the throne this time and… her persistence for love, rebelling against the Venerable, that tolerance and resilience…

It was almost time for a turnaround… yet to find out the BOSS doesn’t actually exist?

Zhao Changhe really didn’t know what to say, he thought he had to find a way to teach “Vermilion Bird” a lesson.

He was planning to inquire with San Niang to confirm, but now felt there was no need. If it were the usual Huangfu Qing, she would have taken every chance to steal a warm embrace from him. The Empress Dowager was indeed very busy these days, but who was so busy they couldn’t spare a few words to ease the longing? Only someone being both Vermilion Bird and Empress Dowager, overwhelmed with school affairs in the palace and still having to play two different roles in front of her apprentice and her man, would truly have no time or energy, leaving only to storm off indignantly…

Before, he hadn’t noticed because his mind hadn’t gone there—who would normally suspect that the sweet girl making piggy eyes at him was that fierce Demon Sect Venerable? She was even willing to use her mouth, a rarity indeed; who would associate her with the haughty Vermilion Bird?

But once doubts started, many clues began to flicker through his mind, like the most typical one—Vermilion Bird and Huangfu Qing had never appeared together.

Vermilion Bird had been fighting Tang Wanzhuang for years, as had Huangfu Qing. The former was normal, but how could you explain the latter? A person who had been a long-standing adversary of Tang Wanzhuang still being of the Mystical Gate Ninth Layer? What exactly was your basis for fighting Wanzhuang? Wanzhuang had always suspected Huangfu Qing was Vermilion Bird, but she had no proof, and Old Xia was unhelpful as a minister who couldn’t keep on talking about the matters of the Imperial Concubine.

Infiltrating the palace is a big deal, facing the most dangerous person in the world, and requiring extremely important organizational and infiltration work— if it wasn’t Vermilion Bird doing it herself, who else could manage? Even if she tasked a capable subordinate, where would Vermilion Bird hide herself daily? Such an important issue surely required frequent checks in the capital?

The final judgment was that, if Huangfu Qing wasn’t Vermilion Bird, she shouldn’t have been there when they first met at Taiyi Sect. Huangfu Qing was not just an attendant serving the Venerable, but an Imperial Concubine tasked with a heavy duty infiltrating the palace. How could she possibly just appear out of nowhere at Taiyi Sect back then? Only if Vermilion Bird herself swapped her mask and identity to gather information would it make sense…back then he had not thought of this, instead thinking Vermilion Bird had sent a subordinate to flirt, which turned into a romantic entanglement.

It was basically confirmed now… but how should he handle this situation?

Zhao Changhe couldn’t believe he’d bedded the Vermilion Bird Venerable, and she even initiated it…

Direct confrontation? How could Vermilion Bird’s dignity possibly survive?

As a result, in the past few encounters, Zhao Changhe hadn’t said much to Huangfu Qing, simply because he hadn’t figured out how to begin. Luckily, Huangfu Qing was preoccupied with his own concerns and didn’t notice Zhao’s unusual demeanor.

Zhao Changhe returned to the poolside, deep in thought. When he had awakened earlier from his sleep, he had already moved Tang Wanzhuang next to the dragon bed, dried their bodies with his internal energy and covered them with a thin blanket.

Now, as he returned, Tang Wanzhuang was still asleep, her usually furrowed brow now uncharacteristically relaxed, her face carrying a soft smile during her slumber. Her once pale complexion, kept rosy by the warm environment of the pool, visibly regained its health, both physically and emotionally.

Zhao Changhe sat beside her, quietly watching her face, a sense of guilt stirring in his heart. It was Wanzhuang’s first night, and he should not have left to engage in another dalliance… resulting in…

He silently sat beside her, watching quietly for half an hour, motionless.

From afar, the crowing of a rooster was heard, and Tang Wanzhuang suddenly opened her eyes and sat up abruptly, as if wound up.

It startled Zhao Changhe, “Your waking up poses are quite combative…”

“Ah?” Tang Wanzhuang let out a sigh, wiping the non-existent sweat from her forehead, “I’ve never slept so deeply before, and when I woke up, I suddenly felt like I was missing something important, so… thinking about it, Bao Qin hasn’t come to call on me yet, so it must not be too late…”

Zhao Changhe pursed his lips and caressed her face with a sigh, “It’s alright… Even before, I used to tell you to worry less…”

“Because of you?”

“Yes, because of me.”

Tang Wanzhuang’s eyes lingered on his face for a moment before she noticed that he was already dressed, her expression thoughtful.

Zhao Changhe whispered an apology, “I’m sorry, just now…”

“Shh…” Tang Wanzhuang placed a finger on his lips, “You didn’t lie back down to deceive me, that’s already very good…”

“Hey, is this self PUA?”

“What’s PUA?” Tang Wanzhuang retorted, not dwelling on it, just smiling, “The only ones who can come onto you here are Your Majesty or the Empress Dowager, and you couldn’t possibly refuse them at the door…”

She didn’t blame him at all, instead leaning into Zhao Changhe’s embrace again, “Changhe…”

“Hmm?”

“Calling her ‘Your Majesty’ is just a formality for appearances, but in my heart, you are my emperor.” Tang Wanzhuang said softly, “Regarding the Four Symbols Sect, Your Majesty should indeed use affection to win them over, not just Chichi, but also the Empress Dowager…”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but smile wryly, “You Four Symbols Sect Venerables and heads of the Demon Suppression Department, why do all your schemes involve the art of seduction?”

Tang Wanzhuang laughed, “Because it’s currently the most direct, effective, and cost-efficient method… Naturally, you might be reluctant to see it as utilitarian from your perspective, but that doesn’t hinder us from perceiving it as such…”

After a pause, she suddenly said, “I once advised the late emperor that Huangfu Qing should be the Vermilion Bird, but the late emperor ignored it. Do you believe it now?”

“I believe.”

Tang Wanzhuang sighed and smiled, “I was worried about how to find evidence, but since you believe, that makes things easier… Even though the Vermilion Bird had been involved with you long ago, her heart still prioritizes the Holy Sect’s affairs and is only willing to be with you as Huangfu. What you need to do now is make her prioritize you… just as once in my heart, Great Xia and you.”