Lian Wei carefully sat up from the bed, his eyes remained locked on the Emperor's figure with slight trepidation, but he knew he wasn't showing any expression on his face.... or that's what he hoped so. Lian Wei never really makes any expression, always seeming calm and unperturbed on the surface even if there were some certain situations that invoked his feelings. He wasn't acting one, in fact, perhaps it was his innate ability to appear as though everyone are rocks to his eyes. His MBTI could be ISTP....
Side means, Lian Wei is 80% certain, that he adapted this ability of the original. And he definitely isn't showing any expression to his face, the only thing that pays it back is the fact that his heart is currently thumping so fast it's starting to ache his back and chest.
To his surprise, he doubted the Emperor could be also an ISTP...
He entered, looking majestic, proud and lofty like a wolf, his facial appearance deep and cold, yet extremely handsome; he's wearing a stony face even if his eyes landed from him to his baby, frightening Lian Wei even more. He knew that this Emperor also seemed to be suffering from a face-paralysis as Lian Wei, adding from his memories of this person which caused Lian Wei to assume that they had no feelings for each other despite what the public were blabbering, all due to the fact that the Emperor always threw him a cold look, as if he's condemning his entire being.
But Lian Wei himself could tell, that the original and the Emperor were actually a match-made in heaven...
Lian Wei instantly scrambled off the bed, jolting awake from his stupor, hurriedly landing on the ground and making a clumsy bow, when the Emperor ordered him in a similarly cold and deep voice, "Stop. You don't have to do this."
He looked up in surprise, but he saw the Emperor already sitting by the bed, staring with wide eyes at his baby on the bed, who apparently- is already awake, also staring back at his father with an innocent look. Lian Wei stood up, taken aback that his baby had already woken up and actually didn't cry, but he didn't dare to approach the bed, for the lion is sitting on it.
No one talked. The Emperor shifted from just sitting idly, by slowly taking the baby's small hands to his larger ones, then to the small foot, he could somehow feel the surprise brimming from this man, although he don't show much in face. It's all the more evident from the Emperor that he must not had any child before, until Lian Wei. Lian Wei didn't say a word, neither the other person is, the only one who's talking here is the baby, babbling and blowing bubbles like what a typical baby does. He also apparently seemed happy to see the Emperor, he must've sensed that the other is his father, for he can't stop flaying his limbs around, squealing and giggling from time to time- trying to converse with his father although no one could understand what he's trying to say. But the Emperor just held the baby's hands to his fingers with a stoic face.
Lian Wei somehow felt his heart going soft.
But then suddenly, the Emperor initiated a conversation, "Zhen received your letter."
Lian Wei didn't say anything, his head started hanging down, his sweaty and trembling hands rubbing with his other hands, thinking this could calm his tense self. However, regardless if he was telling the truth on the letter or not, he'd still feel nervous and guilty for sure. No one dares to refuse the Emperor's order after all.
"At the same time..." The Emperor continued, his eyes still locked on his baby, "Your brother came."
This time, the Emperor looked up at him dark eyes, expression vague. He must've only wanted to check on Lian Wei's expression after hearing his brother's name being mentioned, and actually, he did show some expression. A shocked, yet there's some curiosity to it with the way Lian Wei's eyes widened and his head slightly tipped forward, an action that indicated he wanted to hear more of what the other has to say.
The Emperor did not disappoint him, "He was bawling."
Lian Wei's eyebrows raised with interest. The Emperor opened his mouth to continue, but then his face suddenly turned dark, his eyebrows tightly drawn together. He said in a grave tone, "He told Zhen that.... He was about to visit you and Zhen's child, when he caught you still lying on your bed, no longer breathing..."
Lian Wei was taken aback.
"Zhen found it strange. You just sent Zhen a letter before that."
"Your Majesty.... uh.." Lian Wei quietly uttered, his eyes darting on the side, not knowing what to say. As far as he could recall from the memory reels, his older brother always put up a front of having a harmonious relationship with his younger brother. He never expressed, even the slightest bit of hatred towards the original Lian Wei in front of the Emperor. Side means, Lian Wei had no idea if the Emperor had been fooled by his "brother"s act, or that.... he could tell yet he only didn't say anything.
"Don't lie to Zhen," The Emperor threw him a serious and grave look. Lian Wei gulped. He didn't know why he suddenly felt guilty, although there's nothing wrong with putting up a front, it's not that Lian Wei was the one fooling the Emperor- he always turns a blind eye to his older brother's constant act of hypocrisy.
"It's common for concubines to carry vengeance among one another, but Zhen would be more surprised if you and your brother had no quarrel going on behind my back."
Then could you have done something about it if you knew all along? It's no wonder the original Lian Wei always felt unsafe in this place. Well, it's not that you cared..... Lian Wei swallowed back the snide threatening to come out of his mouth.
"It is what it is, Your Majesty..." Lian Wei's head remained hung down.
"What is?"
"This servant is not particularly close with his older brother."
"Zhen already knew about that. Has Zhen seen you responding to his acts of intimacy? I don't think so... " The Emperor let out a huge sigh, as though annoyed. "Zhen only wanted to know whether you and your brother's hostility had already arrived to the point of wanting to murder one another."
Lian Wei straightened his back, his eyes meeting the Emperor's darker ones, "About that.... This servant has always known about his older brother's intention. But at least, for this servant, if Your Majesty chose to believe me- although this servant shares the same hostility as his brother's, this servant had never thought of..... murdering him."
"I see..." The Emperor hummed, his eyes now glaring down at the corner. Lian Wei is now wondering whether the Emperor also somehow...... dislikes his brother given his reactions towards him. Actually that's a bit reasonable, his brother was only chosen through the concubine selection administered by the eunuchs and ministers, the Emperor having been prohibited to disrupt according to the rules for equality sake, and for instance the Emperor chose a concubine unsuitable for himself in terms of physical and health condition.
"His" brother might have been good at seducing the Emperor, considering how he always looked smug and prideful sauntering everywhere, thinking he must be doing well attracting the Emperor's attention; but that might've actually invoked something opposite to the Emperor. "His" brother could not be his taste....
Suddenly, the other told him, "You're not safe here."
The Emperor had a dark look on his face, yet his eyebrows were drawn together in a way that Lian Wei could only interpret as..... Concern?
But why? Is it for Lian Wei, or for his heir? Well, the latter is a lot more reasonable. He HAS to worry about the safety of his child, for he already bore the title 'Future Crown Prince'...
'You're not safe here'
Hearing that phrase from the Emperor himself, Lian Wei started to feel a bit nervous. That could only mean one thing, if the Emperor was the one saying it when thinking he has the absolute power to protect his concubine (well he failed. Because Lian Wei died, if not for himself taking over his body). Honestly, Emperor still has the power to do so, perhaps send 10 times of the number of shadow guard Lian Wei currently has, but he probably had no freedom to protect him. Side means, if the Emperor is the one saying that he's no longer safe in this place, then he could no longer protect him as well....
"Zhen hid your letter not until I dismissed your brother, and showed it to the ministers, who had initially looked shocked and pale after learning that your 'dead'. Apparently, they had expressed the same feeling of suspicions as Zhen. After all, your letter only says that you're not feeling well, and you promised to visit the palace this afternoon along with Zhen's child. I also knew that it was written by you.... " The Emperor said, his voice suddenly sounding deep, "Zhen could never have mistaken your handwriting...."
Lian Wei was shocked.
Not because the Emperor's last line sounded ambiguous, but because that letter was written with HIS handwriting, not Lian Wei's!
Could it be that his and the original's handwriting were coincidentally similar? How's that possible? With the way Lian Wei ―a thorough chinese modern man― had struggled to write the traditional Chinese characters, even going all the way rushing to the original Lian Wei's library to look for a dictionary, which resulted in a sloppy and indecisive-looking letter!
Belatedly, Lian Wei reacted.
Huh?
What did he just say? He could never have mistaken his handwriting?
"Zhen didn't tell your brother about your letter so he could keep assuming that you're dead, and then you will be safe, but I had temporarily restricted him from coming out of the Qiongge Palace. There are actually three reasons why Zhen came here, other than to check on my child. Zhen wanted to make sure whether my consort was still alive or not..."
(A/N: Qiongge Palace- The palace where Lian Wei's older brother lives.)
Lian Wei, hearing that, he suddenly felt warm and fervent emotions rushing all the way to his chest and heart.
He instantly lifted his skirt and knelt on the ground, wanting to kowtow and deeply thank his Majesty for his thoughtfulness, but unfortunately, he was stopped once again- his shoulders being grabbed forward to keep him from bowing.
Lian Wei looked up at the Emperor, feeling unreconciled, "Y-Your Majesty.... Your help was already such a big deal for this servant...."
He's honestly feeling thankful right now. He only knew from the original's memories, that Lian Wei had been only favored because he's the most competent and intellectually gifted. He's convenient and useful, especially during court meetings and in times of wars. Lian Wei had mild impression of the Emperor, leading to Lian Wei thinking that he wouldn't be able to rely on the Emperor that much for his safety, especially now that his situation is more fragile this time due to the existence of his child which every concubine is coveting to murder right now, along with himself.
He had no one to rely on in this world, feeling tense ever since he woke up in this place, and he could only think of escaping and disappearing from this palace as his best resort to protect himself and his child. He's not a martial artist. In his perspective, everyone could be a danger for him, and he needed to be vigilant, possibly to his servant too, hence why he instantly kicked them out as soon as he entered his bedroom- even his maid-in-waiting was now waiting outside. Basically, he had no hope in this world.
Somehow, the Emperor made him feel safe.
But then thinking about it, the Emperor would have no reason to murder him or at least, harm him or so. In fact, in this horror story, he's that naive character who was always targeted first. And sometimes that naive character would gullibly cause more trouble to the main character. But then it appears, the Emperor was not a naive character, he knew what's happening, and that enough made Lian Wei feel relieved a bit. That he won't be dying yet, though he won't cancel his plan of escaping this place yet, but for now, the Emperor is his only hope.
"You're the mother of Zhen's heir after all." The Emperor stood up, grabbing Lian Wei's along with him, then he quickly removed his own hands from his shoulder, clutching his hands behind- as though Lian Wei's shoulder suddenly scalded him. Lian Wei didn't notice this. "And also, you need not express your gratitude to Zhen in such a manner, akin to those servant. Zhen had come here to tell you that you're no mere servant starting from next week."
....??
Lian Wei slightly tilted his head, confused. What does he mean by that? Would he get promoted next week from Consort to Imperial Consort?
His face ashened at the thought.
No more...
No more promotion for this pitiful person...
He silently waited in trepidation for the Emperor's next words, if there is, his heart thumping fast due to feeling nervous.
"Zhen will be announcing next week that Consort Lian will be taking the seat of the Empress Regent. We'll have to take care of your brother before that, only if you consent for his punishment. Also, for your own sake, do not come out of your palace for a week until Zhen makes an announcement. Zhen won't also allow visitors to enter your palace.... Though, Zhen knows you never receive any."
"The coronation preparation date will be discussed along with Zhen's mother, the Empress Dowager. Zhen hopes you will be well to attend it this time."
"Zhen is doing this so as soon as you become my Empress, you will be transferred in a palace that is only a five-minute-walk away from my palace, and Zhen could properly look out for you."
____________
"Fuck my life."
Lian Wei cursed under his breath, the heavy weight of his baby tied so tightly on his shoulder, along with another weight of his baggage on his bag, whilst he struggled to reach the top of the tree which is nearby a tall wall.
He's no martial artist, but the grievances he suffered back in modern times from running back and forth and acting as a substitute for actors when filming Wuxia or Xianxia films, were sufficient enough for him to become athletic. (luckily Lian Wei is not thoroughly weak at all, he has a surprisingly decent physical endurance.)
He could endure the heavy weight. He could endure the height.
Lian Wei had now reached the other side of the wall. Looking down, vaguely seeing the ground as it's currently 1 am in the morning and it's still dark, he could not see how low he'll drop. Until he finally lets his hands go, embracing his baby tightly in his arms just in case he'll fall flat on his front, his butt hit the ground.
He's really glad that his baby, instead of crying because he's been in an uncomfortable position all while his mother sneaked out of the palace for more than an hour, was giggling and babbling happily, patting Lian Wei's face from time to time with his tiny, soft hands- as though he's cheering him up.
In contrast to Lian Wei's tense feeling, his child is apparently thrilled with their escapade.
Lian Wei huffed amusedly as he cuddled and kissed his baby's soft and plump cheeks sweetly after landing barely safe on the ground.
His baby started squealing again.
~•~
A/N:
I guess I'm getting back on track! Celebrate!~ 🥳🎉
I think? I think the next chapter will be the final chapter?
Feel free to comment about your thoughts! (≧▽≦)
And oh, for those who are putting my story to their reading list, thank you so much for the support xoxo!! 😭❤️❤️