After the Villain Was Transmigrated, the Protagonist and Female Leads Began to Panic - Chapter 4:

Chapter 4: The Noble Consort Who Didn’t Love the Emperor (4)

Chu Qingrou remained sickly for quite some time, but Tang Anzhi wasn’t in a hurry.

As the female lead and Heaven’s favored one, she wouldn’t die that easily.

Having played the villain for hundreds of lifetimes, Tang Anzhi had long mastered the art of psychological warfare. He knew from experience—

If he used brute force to eliminate the protagonist and female leads, they’d either reincarnate with even more advantages, or he himself would suffer immense backlash and be tormented by Heaven to the point of wishing he were dead.

After countless trials and errors, he concluded that attacking the heart was more reliable than attacking the body.

But while Tang Anzhi wasn’t in a rush, the idle scoundrels of the Chu family were.

The last time Chu Qingrou tried to soften her stance, it was because her family was in dire need of support from their daughter in the palace. Now that Tang Anzhi no longer showered her with endless rewards like the original fool did, the Chu family had lost their golden goose.

The Marquis Residence bled money like a sieve. Chu Qingrou’s father saw himself as the Emperor’s father-in-law, and her brothers called themselves imperial uncles, living extravagantly with silver flowing out like water.

In just over a month, the Chu family had racked up over 100,000 taels in debt.

Inside the residence—

Chu Ming’en, the eldest son of the Chu family, returned home after being turned away and complained bitterly, “Father, Tianxiang Restaurant is outrageous! My third sister is the most favored Consort Rou in the palace. I only owed 30,000 taels on credit there, but their manager dared to demand repayment and even refused to let me owe more!”

“What’s going on with your third sister? Isn’t she supposed to be His Majesty’s favorite?”

Marquis Chu waved dismissively. “Say no more. You know your third sister’s temperament. Always playing hard to get, looking down on everything and everyone—she even looks down on the Emperor. Every few days, she throws a tantrum with him. I hear she’s upset with him again.”

Even he couldn’t understand what went through his daughter’s mind.

The Emperor was a true dragon among men—the most noble and mighty man in the world.

Back when the Marquis Residence was in decline and he’d made a grave mistake, nearly losing his hereditary title, he heard that Prince An seemed interested in Qingrou. So, he made a desperate gamble and voluntarily offered his daughter to Prince An.

At the time, the Emperor had not mistreated Qingrou. He didn’t keep her as an unnamed concubine or maid. Instead, he knelt before the late Emperor, withstood his fury, and pleaded to take Qingrou as a side consort, begging for clemency on behalf of the Chu family.

That was during the height of the succession struggle—any misstep could have led to ruin.

That he risked so much as a prince clearly showed his deep affection.

Chu Shanyue just couldn’t understand. What was going on in his daughter’s head? If the Emperor had shown interest in him instead, he would have happily offered himself up without hesitation.

Men needed coaxing. If one kept acting haughty, even their pride couldn’t bear it.

Chu Ming’en said, “Father, you should go into the palace and persuade Third Sister.”

“Tell her to stop being so moody. If His Majesty truly grows tired of her, it’ll drag the entire family down.”

Chu Shanyue stroked the parrot perched on his hand. “That’s impossible. I know exactly how much the Emperor favors your third sister.”

He recalled that the last time he entered the palace, Grand Tutor Cui had also been present. Just as he was about to kneel and pay respects, the Emperor personally lifted him up, saying he considered him a father-in-law, and they were all one family—no need for formality.

Meanwhile, Grand Tutor Cui had knelt and kowtowed properly. The Emperor accepted the greeting with a neutral expression and treated him far less warmly. So what if he was the Empress’s father, or the head of the prestigious Cui family? If his daughter wasn’t favored, he was no better than a stranger in front of the Emperor.

“But I’ve indeed run out of money recently. I suppose I should enter the palace and help smooth things over. When the city gates catch fire, even the fish in the moat suffer. Without silver, everything becomes difficult.”

Chu Shanyue submitted a memorial requesting to visit the Emperor and Consort Rou.

Tang Anzhi had originally wanted to say, “Who does this guy think he is, wasting my time?”

But coincidentally, he was flipping through a memorial that accused Grand Preceptor Chu and his sons of monopolizing the market, bullying merchants and commoners, committing all sorts of unspeakable crimes.

These weren’t recent events, but the court had always been selective in its actions.

Now that rumors spread that Consort Rou had fallen out of favor, the bolder ministers dared to submit such reports.

“Let him enter the palace, then.”

Might as well take care of these national parasites while he was at it.

…

Chu Shanyue had the nerve to act bold. His memorial only mentioned himself entering the palace, but he brought along his eldest son Chu Ming’en too.

The palace had strict rules about who could enter. Normally, such behavior wouldn’t be allowed.

But Tang Anzhi turned a blind eye. They were here already anyway…

What was even more outrageous was that Chu Shanyue and Chu Ming’en didn’t first go to see the Emperor—they headed straight to Qingwu Palace.

“Father, shouldn’t we greet His Majesty first?” Chu Ming’en felt something was off.

Chu Shanyue stroked his beard. “What’s the problem? The Emperor is my son-in-law—your brother-in-law. What’s there to fear? Besides, if I don’t scold your third sister first, how will she soften up toward His Majesty? In the end, I’m doing this for His Majesty’s sake.”

Tang Anzhi, who had planted secret guards to follow the two, heard every word they said.

“Zhou Dequan, between death by a thousand cuts and being torn apart by five horses, which one feels more comfortable?”

Eunuch Zhou wanted to cry. “Your Majesty, this servant is too foolish to say which is more comfortable… because this servant has never experienced either.”

Tang Anzhi chuckled and cursed, “You old fox. Always so slippery.”

“Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty. This servant is unworthy.”

“Go prepare a hollow bronze tube—large enough that three men are needed to encircle it. Heat it red-hot and have it ready.”

Zhou Dequan didn’t understand but went to carry out the order.

…

Qingwu Palace.

Chu Qingrou had remained bedridden until the last two days, when she could finally stand.

“I will never forgive him!” Chu Qingrou gritted her teeth in rage.

“That beast! That tyrant! He killed Magpie—how could he expect my forgiveness? Unless he kills himself to atone.”

Chu Shanyue rushed to cover her mouth, scolding her in a low voice, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Chu Ming’en, acting like a thief, immediately looked around.

This third sister of his had once been the most renowned scholar-beauty in the capital. He used to think she was just a bit proud. But now, he truly believed she was mentally unsound!

She actually thought a ruler of the Empire should commit suicide over a maid’s death?

If anyone else heard that, the Chu family wouldn’t have enough heads to roll.

Chu Ming’en couldn’t help but wonder: what exactly did His Majesty see in this sister of his?

“My dear daughter, I beg you,” Chu Shanyue pleaded. “Even if you don’t care for yourself, at least think about your brothers, will you?”

Huamei brought over hot tea. Chu Shanyue had talked himself hoarse, and finally took a sip—only to immediately spit it out.

He might not be capable of much, but he had a refined tongue.

“Daughter, what kind of terrible tea are you drinking here?”

Chu Qingrou’s face showed a trace of embarrassment.

Huamei quickly defended her mistress. “It’s all because of His Majesty. Ever since he got upset with Her Ladyship, he hasn’t sent a single reward. We don’t even have the Liu’an melon seed tea she loves most.”

Chu Shanyue continued his gentle persuasion. “Qingrou, in this world, the wealth and power you can grasp with your own hands is what truly matters. Look at you—arguing with the Emperor, and now you don’t even have decent tea to drink. Why suffer like this?”

“Even if you don’t love His Majesty, you shouldn’t let yourself suffer.”

Although Chu Qingrou looked reluctant, she still gave a half-hearted nod as her father urged her to make peace.

“If His Majesty is willing to admit his wrongs, erect a memorial for Magpie, and hold a Water and Land Ritual for forty-nine days, then I suppose… I can forgive him.”