Chapter 74

The system remained silent for a long time.
In the end, it gave up on persuading her any further.
[Since the host has made up her mind, there is no use in saying more. Farewell. After the headquarters was destroyed, it can no longer support over two hundred task performers being online simultaneously. The longer this goes on, the higher the risk of me being destroyed by the target of the mission. Therefore, I will sever the connection with the host. Given that the host is the fastest transmigrator in history to complete a system task, the transmigration channel will remain permanently open for the host. As long as Xiao Changyuan still loves the host at the time of the host’s death, the host can still return to the modern era by submitting the task. I hope the host takes care.] With a click, the system cut off its connection with her.
Her mind fell silent.
An overly quiet world breeds fear.
Yun Pianpian suddenly felt a surge of regret and fear.
Although she had defended Xiao Changyuan so resolutely in front of the system, deep down, she wasn’t entirely confident.
Human hearts are fickle.
She didn’t know if Xiao Changyuan would still love her a hundred years from now. She wasn’t sure if she could forever remain his white moonlight. She worried that, like Lady Xu, she would end up with nothing, losing not only love but also her way home.
Suddenly, Xiao Changyuan’s cool, deep voice sounded beside her ear.
“Are you done talking?”
Yun Pianpian instinctively replied, “Yes…”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yun Pianpian’s pupils contracted in terror.
Her face turned as pale as paper.
She hadn’t expected that Xiao Changyuan hadn’t been asleep at all!
Xiao Changyuan reached out and pinched her chin, his expression was displeased.
His dark, cold eyes stared intently into hers.
“You really were talking to someone else.”
This scene felt familiar, Xiao Changyuan had once caught her talking to the system before.
But at that time, she had managed to deceive him.
Yun Pianpian’s lips were bloodless as she said, “Husband, let me explain…”
Xiao Changyuan watched her coldly.
Yun Pianpian, her face pale, said, “Actually, my time visa has expired, and the Time Management Bureau is urging me to return to the future.”
Xiao Changyuan’s handsome face turned cold, and a bloody, sinister ferocity tinged his dark, icy eyes.
“Don’t even think about escaping.”
“So I refused them.”
Yun Pianpian’s heart raced as she said, “I told them I’ve fallen in love with the tyrant who shook the world throughout history, that I want to stay with him forever. I said I don’t want to return to the future because the future doesn’t have my Xiao Changyuan…”
Xiao Changyuan stared intently at her delicate face.
In his cold, icy eyes, the bloody hue in their depths slowly dissipated like mist clearing after rain.
“Go on.”
Yun Pianpian leaned closer to Xiao Changyuan’s handsome face ad kissed his thin lips.
After she kissed him, his exquisite, pale ears quietly turned red.
Yun Pianpian’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she said shyly, “I like my husband, adore my husband, and can’t live without my husband. That’s why I chose to stay in this world. If one day my husband no longer loves me, you must tell me in advance, because then I can let go of my husband and return to the future…”
Xiao Changyuan couldn’t bear to hear her talk about leaving him. His eyes turned crimson as he leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss.
“You are not allowed to leave me.”
The man’s voice was low and hoarse, like a command, yet also like a plea.
Yun Pianpian grew weak all over from his kiss.
Her cheeks flushed, and she asked breathlessly, “Then, does today’s Xiao Changyuan still love Yun Pianpian?”
Xiao Changyuan fiercely pressed her down onto the dragon bed and kissed her.
“What do you think?”
Yun Pianpian's eyes grew misty: “Today's Xiao Changyuan loves Yun Pianpian deeply.”
On the day of the Empress Enthronement Ceremony.
Xiao Changyuan woke Yun Pianpian with kisses as early as 5 am.
“Pianpian, time to rise and become empress.”
Yun Pianpian was roused from sleep by Xiao Changyuan's kisses, opening her eyes to glance at him before immediately closing them again, complaining drowsily: “It's all your fault. You knew today was my enthronement ceremony, yet you kept me up so late last night.”
“Last night, it was Pianpian who begged me not to stop.”
The man's low, husky voice carried a hint of laziness, evoking memories of last night's passion. Her sleepiness vanished completely, replaced by a deep blush of embarrassment. This scoundrel's techniques for handling her were becoming increasingly masterful, last night he had driven her to lose all self, control, making her utter such unrestrained words.
“Stop talking about it!”
Flustered and angry, Yun Pianpian opened her mouth to bite Xiao Changyuan's pale arm.
Xiao Changyuan remained still, letting her bite.
Yun Pianpian increased the pressure, hoping to make him cry out, but her strength was like a kitten's scratch. Xiao Changyuan didn't even blink, instead tenderly stroking her head. Deflated, Yun Pianpian released his arm from between her red lips.
Xiao Changyuan smoothed her hair.
“Why did you stop?”
Yun Pianpian whispered: “I was afraid it would hurt you.”
Xiao Changyuan said: “It doesn't hurt me.”
Yun Pianpian mumbled: “But it hurts my heart to see you hurt.”
Xiao Changyuan's skin was very pale.
The saliva and teeth marks on his arm were clearly visible.
Feeling guilty, Yun Pianpian guiltily leaned over to lick his arm.
Xiao Changyuan's hand stilled, his eyes suddenly darkening.
“Pianpian, don't play with fire.”
The man's voice was low and dangerous as if suppressing some turbulent emotion.
Yun Pianpian shrank back in fear, immediately releasing his arm and pretending composure: “This consort needs to become empress. Husband, quickly help me dress.”
Xiao Changyuan reached out to pinch Yun Pianpian's pink cheek, not daring to use much force: “Yes, wife.”
Yun Pianpian couldn't help curling the corners of her lips.
Their forms of address were truly chaotic.
Xiao Changyuan wouldn't allow anyone else to touch Yun Pianpian, preferring to handle everything personally. He particularly enjoyed dressing and undressing her, Yun Pianpian privately thought he probably preferred dressing her, since several of her garments had been torn when he undressed her.
The curtains hung low, with incense burners emitting wisps of delicate smoke.
The young and handsome emperor personally helped his empress don the vermilion, gold, threaded phoenix, trailing robe and placed the golden phoenix crown adorned with pearls upon her head. He even picked up an eyebrow pencil to paint her brows.
But his efforts were so clumsy that Yun Pianpian wrinkled her nose in disapproval. She washed her face clean, leaving Xiao Changyuan standing idly by, and proceeded to do her own makeup.
Xiao Changyuan’s expression remained impassive.
As Yun Pianpian painted her own brows, she couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. Throughout history, she was probably the only empress who had to do her own makeup on her own coronation day.
But what could she do? She had fallen for this possessive, domineering tyrant.
The tyrant forbade anyone else from touching her.
So she had no choice but to rely on herself.
Fortunately, Yun Pianpian had fair skin and exquisite features, and her makeup skills were superb. In no time, she had transformed herself into a vision of celestial beauty.
She clearly saw the awe in Xiao Changyuan’s eyes.
Her heart swelled with delight.
Xiao Changyuan took Yun Pianpian’s hand and led her out of the bedchamber.
The imperial carriage and the phoenix palanquin were waiting outside the palace. The eunuchs knelt on the ground, offering themselves as stepping stools for Yun Pianpian. “We humbly welcome Her Majesty the Empress to ascend the phoenix palanquin.”
According to protocol, the emperor and empress were supposed to ride separately in the imperial carriage and the phoenix palanquin to the Temple of Heaven to pay homage to their ancestors.
But Xiao Changyuan ignored the imperial carriage entirely. Instead, he lifted Yun Pianpian into the phoenix palanquin and squeezed in beside her. Luckily, the palanquin was spacious enough to accommodate both of them. The eunuchs broke into cold sweats and turned pale at the sight, knowing full well that this breached etiquette, yet none dared to step forward and admonish Xiao Changyuan.
Yun Pianpian whispered into his ear, “By doing this, you’re making me look even more like a seductive empress.”
Xiao Changyuan comforted her, “A seductive empress is the perfect match for a tyrant.”
Yun Pianpian replied, “But what if I want to be a virtuous empress?”
Xiao Changyuan pursed his lips and said, “Being virtuous is exhausting.”
After a moment’s thought, Yun Pianpian said, “Then I’ll just be a seductive empress.”
Life was too short, after all. One must seize the day and live with abandon. Let the more noble and virtuous girls strive to be virtuous empresses.
In Yun Pianpian’s mind, two little figures, one white and one black, began to stir.
The white, righteous Pian spat blood in frustration: “Yun Pianpian, aren’t you falling too fast?!”
The black, wicked Pian gleefully changed into a miniature phoenix robe: “How is this fast? It’s only been a little over a month. Little Righteous, why don’t you put on a phoenix robe and share in the joy.”
The white, righteous Pian protested, “I don’t want to share. Well, maybe just a little.”
The civil and military officials, along with the court ladies, stood in orderly rows according to their ranks, quietly awaiting the imperial couple before the Temple of Heaven.
A soft red carpet stretched from the imperial pathway all the way up to the altar, resembling a dazzling crimson staircase to the heavens.
“The Emperor arrives! Her Majesty the Empress arrives!”
The announcement from the eunuchs echoed through the air. The civil and military officials and court ladies immediately knelt in reverence, bowing their heads and chanting in unison.
“Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years!”
“Long live the Empress, a thousand years!”
The Temple of Heaven had three tiers, each with nine steps. Xiao Changyuan held Yun Pianpian’s hand as they ascended the jade steps covered in red brocade. Though Yun Pianpian’s legs felt somewhat weak, with Xiao Changyuan by her side, she felt as steady as a boat reaching shore, each step firm and sure.
Amidst the melodious strains of bells, drums, and zithers,
the two slowly made their way to the top of the altar.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites began to chant congratulatory verses, and Yun Pianpian and Xiao Changyuan lit incense to pay homage to their ancestors.
The eunuch bowed his head and presented the white jade phoenix seal and the golden certificate. Xiao Changyuan reached out to take them and handed them to Yun Pianpian. She accepted the seal and certificate from his hands. The emperor and empress stood majestically at the highest point, looking down upon all beings from above.
The civil and military officials, along with the court ladies, knelt at the feet of the imperial couple, bowing in submission.
“Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
“Long live the Empress, a thousand years, a thousand times a thousand years!”
Suddenly, Xiao Changyuan spoke with a cold, eerie tone:
“Wrong.”
The crowd paled in fear, unsure of what the volatile and tyrannical ruler intended to do.
Xiao Changyuan lifted his icy, sinister gaze.
He coldly scanned the assembled ministers.
“My empress shall share my longevity, reigning together for ten thousand years.”
At these words, the ministers were all shocked.
They knew the emperor adored the empress, but they never imagined his affection ran so deep that he would even wish to share his eternal reign with her. An elderly, white, bearded official from the Ministry of Rites risked his life to admonish, “Your Majesty, this act violates ancestral customs and is improper. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider.”
Xiao Changyuan replied frostily, “If it violates ancestral customs, then amend them. If you cannot amend them, then we shall replace you with a minister who can.”
The old official nearly fainted from anger at Xiao Changyuan's mad words.
The other ministers dared not speak further and all bowed in obeisance, this time changing their chant.
“Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
“Long live the Empress, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
Aren't any of you going to put up a fight?
This is ancestral tradition!
Yun Pianpian accepted the kneeling homage alongside Xiao Changyuan.
After the empress enthronement ceremony concluded at the Altar of Heaven, Xiao Changyuan took Yun Pianpian in the imperial carriage to the outer walls of the palace.
The area before the walls was filled with kneeling commoners.
A vast sea of people stretched as far as the eye could see.
“Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
“Long live the Empress, a thousand years.”
Liu Shun immediately interrupted the crowd's cries: “It should be 'Long live the Empress, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!'“
The commoners paused for a moment, then quickly corrected themselves: “Long live the Empress, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
Yun Pianpian: “...” I'm already numb.
The imperial guards carried up five wooden chests painted red with gold trim.
Yun Pianpian was puzzled. “What are these?”
Xiao Changyuan waved his hand, and the imperial guards opened the five chests.
Yun Pianpian gasped sharply.
These chests were actually all filled with silver notes, she had never seen so much money in her life.
Yun Pianpian: “...”
Could it be…as I imagined?
Xiao Changyuan took a stack of silver notes and handed them to Yun Pianpian.
“Scatter them.”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
It really was as I imagined.
Xiao Changyuan said, “This is the two hundred thousand taels embezzled by the Prefect of Kuizhou. Pianpian has contributed to the anti, corruption effort, so these silver notes should rightfully be rewarded to her. But I thought Pianpian would prefer to scatter them to the people.”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
No, you’re mistaken.
Your Pianpian just wants to keep all the money for herself.
Wait, what does the Prefect of Kuizhou have to do with me?
Seeing Yun Pianpian hesitate, Xiao Changyuan assumed she was too shy. So, he stood by the city wall, raised his hand, and scattered the silver notes into the air. The breeze carried them away, and the people below erupted into cheers, scrambling to catch the notes drifting down from the sky.
“Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”
Xiao Changyuan turned back to look at Yun Pianpian.
“Pianpian, scatter them like I did.”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
City folks really know how to have fun.
Come to think of it, scattering silver notes to the people is no different from scattering rice to feed chickens.
Yun Pianpian quickly gave in to the temptation.
She ran to the gold, lacquered wooden chest, grabbed a large handful of silver notes, dashed to the edge of the city wall, and tossed them into the wind.
Silver notes filled the sky, floating down like snowflakes.
The crowd below erupted into thunderous cheers.
“Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!”
“Grab the silver notes!”
“Thank you, Empress!”
The people scrambled for the silver notes like chickens pecking at rice.
Yun Pianpian was having the time of her life.
She quickly emptied all five gold, lacquered chests of silver notes, her face flushed with excitement.
This feeling of throwing money around like dirt…it was absolutely exhilarating!
Xiao Changyuan pinched Yun Pianpian’s rosy cheek.
“Happy now?”
Yun Pianpian nodded excitedly.
“Very happy, very happy.”
Xiao Changyuan said, “Next time it’s your birthday, I’ll bring you here again to scatter silver notes.”
Yun Pianpian nodded eagerly like pounding garlic.
She was already looking forward to her birthday.
“Great!”
Is this the kind of joy only an emperor can experience?
She wanted to keep feeling this joy forever.
After scattering the silver notes, Xiao Changyuan took Yun Pianpian back to the palace in the imperial carriage. On the way, Yun Pianpian asked curiously, “Husband, why do you enjoy scattering silver notes so much?”
In the original story, Xiao Changyuan was unpredictable, sometimes scattering silver notes from the city walls when he was happy, and other times scattering heads when he was displeased, making the people both love and fear him.
Xiao Changyuan replied softly, “To give these ants hope.”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback. “Hope?”
Xiao Changyuan said indifferently, “Even ants cling to life. But if these ants only ever cling to life, they will become parasites of the empire, eroding my kingdom, causing the mountains and rivers to decay and the land to rot. So, I must give them hope. I must let them see imperial power, look up to it, crave it, and fight for it, even if it means shedding blood. Their blood will dye these beautiful lands.”
Yun Pianpian was confused.
“I don’t understand.”
Xiao Changyuan said, “It’s alright. My Pianpian only needs to dance atop the ruins. There’s no need for you to understand the ruins themselves.”
Yun Pianpian was even more bewildered.
“I don’t know how to dance.”
She could cook and apply makeup, but she couldn’t dance.
“You can.”
Xiao Changyuan gazed at Yun Pianpian with his dark eyes. “My Pianpian dances upon my heartstrings every day.”
Yun Pianpian: “...”
This brat's sweet talk and tactics are getting more and more impressive!
It's truly hard to resist.
After the coronation ceremony concluded, there was still a palace banquet in the evening.
Yun Pianpian sat beside Xiao Changyuan.
She noticed that not only did the palace servants dare not look up at her, but even the court officials and their wives avoided meeting her eyes.
Yun Pianpian whispered, “Do they all know about that incident with Chu Yi?”
Xiao Changyuan replied, “Isn't that a good thing?”
Yun Pianpian thought for a moment and said, “Actually, it is quite good.”
She used to think the palace was like a magnificent tomb, filled with schemes and intrigues, where anyone could take her life.
But now, no one dared to threaten her life because everyone feared whether she might end theirs instead.
Halfway through the palace banquet, the Minister of Honglu Temple presented a luminous wine pot. “Your Majesty, this luminous wine pot was offered by the Kingdom of Li. It is said that wine poured from this pot can make one recall past lives.”
Xiao Changyuan had no interest in past lives, but seeing Yun Pianpian's eager expression, he said, “Reward him.”
Liu Shun awarded the Minister of Honglu Temple a hundred taels of gold.
Yun Pianpian took a sip of the wine poured from the luminous wine pot. It tasted mellow and sweet, no different from wine poured from an ordinary pot.
Xiao Changyuan took a disinterested sip.
After the palace banquet ended, Xiao Changyuan brought Yun Pianpian back to the bedchamber.
Once they had washed up, they lay down on the dragon bed and practiced their demonic arts until the third watch of the night.
Yun Pianpian was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep.
Hearing her soft, steady breathing, Xiao Changyuan's eyelids grew heavier, and he slowly closed his eyes, sinking into slumber.
In his dream, he seemed to hear the clear, crisp sound of a bell.
The sound drew nearer and nearer.
Xiao Changyuan saw a vast expanse of white, dense fog.
He pushed through the fog and found himself back by the stream in Jiangjia Village.
Two people lay by the stream.
The man was him, and the woman was Yun Pianpian, this was the place where he and Yun Pianpian had first met.
But Xiao Changyuan soon realized the woman was not Yun Pianpian because Yun Pianpian’s eyes were as clever and lively as a cat’s pupils.
While this woman’s eyes were dull, as if she had lost two of her three souls.
She was the little palace maid.
Yun Pianpian and the little palace maid were two completely different people.
Xiao Changyuan saw a completely different story.
The little palace maid told “Xiao Changyuan” that she had lost her memory, so the two amnesiacs became sworn siblings and lived together in Jiangjia Village. However, Xiao Changyuan clearly sensed that “Xiao Changyuan” did not trust the little palace maid. Zhou Qiren and two villagers were killed by a vicious tiger, and “Xiao Changyuan” slew the tiger.
Chen Fashan went to “Xiao Changyuan’s” house in the middle of the night to poison him but was killed instead. Before dying, Chen Fashan said that everyone here wanted to kill him, sowing discord between the little palace maid and “Xiao Changyuan.”
“Xiao Changyuan” grew increasingly cold toward the little palace maid. Zhao Rouyin was drowned in a pig cage, and the little palace maid dared not save her. Zhao Mao was beaten to death trying to rescue Zhao Rouyin, and Zhao Rouyin drowned as well. Xie Yu was killed by mountain bandits, and Mu Bai avenged Xie Yu by charging alone into the bandits' stronghold, only to be pierced by ten thousand arrows and die.
Later, “Xiao Changyuan” regained his memories, returned to the palace, and killed his way back. The little palace maid was killed by Chu Yi, and the palace was filled with rivers of blood and corpses everywhere. “Xiao Changyuan” stepped over mountains of corpses and seas of blood to reclaim the throne.
“Xiao Changyuan” stood on the city wall, accepting the worship of thousands, while silver notes were scattered all over the sky. The boisterous cheers could not fill the emptiness in his heart.
Though he stood above all others, there was no one by his side, no Yun Pianpian.
Xiao Changyuan jolted awake from this nightmare in terror.
His pupils contracted sharply, cold sweat drenched his back.
Instinctively, Xiao Changyuan searched for Yun Pianpian beside him. Seeing her sleeping peacefully by his side, his unsettled heart finally settled back into his chest.
He reached out and nudged Yun Pianpian. “Pianpian, I had a nightmare.”
Yun Pianpian mumbled drowsily, “What nightmare?”
Xiao Changyuan said, “I dreamed that you didn’t borrow a body to return to life, the little palace maid was killed by Chu Yi, and I was alone on the city wall scattering silver notes.”
Yun Pianpian was so frightened she immediately woke up.
“That wasn’t a nightmare.”
“Then what was it?”
Yun Pianpian hesitated before saying, “That was the real history. In history, my husband was a solitary tyrant.”
Xiao Changyuan gazed at her with deep, dark eyes.
“I don’t want to be a solitary tyrant.”
Yun Pianpian kissed his eyelashes. “That’s why I traveled through time.”
A butterfly flapped its wings.
And everyone’s lives began to veer off course.