SRAD Chapter 4

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Being woken up by the Emperor every day—surely, I must be the first and only person to experience such a thing. I lay sprawled on the stone table in the courtyard, unable to suppress yet another yawn.

The Emperor clearly has ulterior motives!

I knew it!

Bored out of my mind, I switched hands to support my head and glanced around… only to see Le Ping approaching with a beaming smile. My immediate reaction was to slam my head against the table.

Le Ping was the Emperor’s personal eunuch. If he was here, there was only one reason—His Majesty had summoned me to have a meal at Haiqing Pavilion.

That’s right!

The so-called “eat whatever you want, as much as you want” all happened under his watchful eyes!

I bit my chopsticks in frustration while sitting at the lower seat, exuding a gloomy aura. Meanwhile, Duan Mingzhang seemed to be in a great mood and even asked, “Why isn’t Huaizhen eating?”

Startled, I quickly released the chopsticks I had been biting—but I forgot to catch them with my hands first…

With a clatter, the ebony chopsticks inlaid with silver and ivory fell onto the table, knocking over my bowl of meat soup.

Soup spilled everywhere, even splashing onto my clothes, but I didn’t have time to wipe it off. I immediately stood up and apologized, “Your subject has lost decorum.”

Duan Mingzhang waved a hand dismissively. “I suppose Huaizhen hasn’t woken up yet—you were still daydreaming at the dining table.”

My face burned with embarrassment. Le Ping hurried forward, intending to escort me to change clothes, but I quickly refused, “No need, no need. It’s just a little soup, I can wipe it off myself.”

Duan Mingzhang chuckled as he watched me. “By the time you change and return, the dishes will have gone cold. Just eat first. Le Ping, give this to the Marquis of Chang’an.”

He pointed to the bowl of shark fin soup in front of him—the dish he seemingly had every day. But at that moment, I was too flustered to feel honored. After expressing my thanks, I sat down and took a bite. The moment it entered my mouth, it was unbelievably fresh and smooth…

And then, I knew nothing.

I had been poisoned.

The poison had been in the shark fin soup—the very dish the Emperor always ate.

I heard that Duan Mingzhang flew into a rage because of this, but unfortunately, I didn’t witness it. When I woke up, I only saw him resting at his desk, his profile bathed in the dim light—his well-defined brows, his handsome and serene face.

He really was good-looking, even as an Emperor… I stared at him for a while before yawning again and drifting back into sleep.

I was awakened by Duan Mingzhang. When I opened my eyes, I found his hand resting on my face, as if he had been about to brush aside my sweat-dampened hair. I was so startled that I nearly rolled off the bed and knelt before him in terror.

But Duan Mingzhang didn’t order me to kneel. Instead, he said solemnly, “Huaizhen, I will find the one who poisoned you. I won’t let you suffer in vain.”

A sudden realization struck me. “Your Majesty, the poison was in your soup!”

He patted my head. “Yes, you took the fall for me.”

Seizing this opportunity, I immediately began my persuasion. “To dare poison the Emperor—surely, it is the work of a traitor plotting rebellion!”

Seeing him deep in thought, I pressed on. “The army is currently away on campaign, leaving the capital’s defenses vulnerable. Your Majesty must remain vigilant and prevent any villain from taking advantage of this!”

I nagged him during the day, I nagged him at night—every time I saw him, I nagged him. My words revolved around one central theme: warning him against treacherous ministers and potential rebellion.

I must have truly worn him down, for he finally sighed and said, “Huaizhen, are you really so concerned about my safety?”

Of course! My life is entirely tied to your well-being! I nodded vigorously like a pecking chick.

“But this time, it was not an act of treason.”

“……What?”

Duan Mingzhang clapped his hands, and two guards dragged in a man. The autumn wind swept by, lifting the disheveled strands of hair on his face. When I met his scorching, resentful gaze, I was momentarily stunned.

It was… Lu Guiqing?

“The poison was administered by Lu Ziwei. He wasn’t plotting rebellion—he simply wanted me dead,” Duan Mingzhang said flatly. With another clap, the guards dragged the disheveled man—no, Lu Ziwei—away.

I stood frozen, hardly able to believe it.

That man—the noble gentleman once clad in embroidered robes, the only male concubine in the Emperor’s harem—was the same person as the wretched man who had just stared at me with eyes full of hatred?

I still remembered my past life. Back then, he had played a flute and said, “No matter what, I am the one who is most special to His Majesty.” His smile had been as bright as the moon.

If not for love… I lowered my head in thought.

Later, I requested permission from Duan Mingzhang to visit Lu Guiqing. When I arrived, he was sitting in his prison cell, a cup of wine before him. Without even looking at me, he spoke a single, cryptic sentence.

—“Love is not about who cares more, but about who takes it seriously.”

Without hesitation, he tilted his head back and drank the wine. A chill spread through my limbs. I turned away hurriedly and left, not daring to look back.

I realized then—I did not understand Lu Guiqing’s love.

If one truly loved someone, wouldn’t they be willing to die for them? How could they possibly bear to poison them instead?

…Wait.

A sudden, dreadful thought struck me.

The poison was administered by Lu Guiqing, and it wasn’t an act of treason.

Then, then, then…

All my painstaking efforts to lecture Duan Mingzhang about guarding against rebellion—were they completely useless?!

Heavens, I wanted to cry—this was it. I was done for!

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