Blood-Sucking Empress

Chapter 41: Testing Zixin

Sang Zixin’s eyes widened in surprise, and as if he thought of something, his expression showed a look of panic.  He was currently poisoned and could not survive for seven days.
If the poison flared up, and if the Empress connected his death with this bowl of soup, wouldn’t he have unfairly framed the King Consort? Thinking of this, Sang Zixin’s drained of color, his delicate face paling fear.
It did not matter if he died, but if he were to drag others with him, this would be a heinous crime!

When Sang Zilin had found him and made such a request, he knew his good days were over.
Furthermore, Sang Zilin poisoned him in order to intimidate and coerce him.
He had been too scared at the time and was panicked, unsure of how to react.
But, when Sang Ziling fiercely slapped him, seeing the vicious and ruthless glint in the other’s eyes, Sang Zixin awoke from his panicked stupor.
Unless he were to die, he would not be able to escape these people’s clutches for the rest of his life.
He could not pay any attention to these people, but his identity was a secret that could not be disclosed.
If the Empress were to learn of his real identity, he estimated that his ending would not be much better than death by poison, and moreover, he did not want to die in the hands of the Empress.
After interacting for such a short time, although he was still dreading what was to come, his heart was still…

Perhaps, it wasn’t love that was carved in his bones and engraved in the heart[1], but his heart had, little by little, come to be occupied by the Empress.
He liked the Empress…

“What are you afraid of?” Pulling the frightened figure towards her, Qianhe Liyou forced Sang Zixin to look at her.
Her deep, black eyes were like a bottomless whirlpool, which made people pulled in, entranced by that abyss.

“No, no.” Sang Zixin was stiff and robotic.
He was extremely nervous, but his head’s gears were turning, trying to think of a way to not implicate the King Consort.
It was a big deal that the Sang Empire’s envoys wanted to poison the Empress.
He had to tell the Empress the truth of the matter before he died, so that not only would it leave those innocent out of the matter, but it would also alert the Empress of hidden schemes. 

Qianhe Liyou did not want to continue to probe since it seemed like this little pitiful one seemed to have some thoughts himself.
She merely waited for him to make the first move.

“Is the ginseng soup delicious?” Qianhe Liyou quickly changed the subject.

“Delicious.” Sang Zixin honestly replied.

“Do you know how to make it?” Although the prince’s treatment had been absolutely pitiful and miserable, he had grown up in the palace after all.
Knowing this type of thing was not impossible.

Sure enough, Sang Zixin lowered his head in embarrassment and timidly clarified: “This servant only knows how to make some simple dishes, they are not very delicious.” In the past, when he was hungry, he would personally go to the kitchen in search of something to eat.
Sometimes, he was bullied by the palace attendants when he did so, and he often did not have enough to satisfy his growling stomach.

“If you want, you can go learn from the Imperial kitchen.” She did not mind giving him a chance to poison herself, whether it was tea or food.

“Really…Uh, I still have no desire to learn, I am stupid…” How could cooking skills be learned in such a short time.
He, at most, would only live for a few more days, what was the point of learning…

“Up to you. Zhen is thirsty, go steep a pot of hot tea.”

“Yes, this servant will go now.”

Soon, Sang Zixin came back, his hands clutching a pot of tea.
He poured the tea extremely gingerly and cautiously into the cup, then set it down in front of Qianhe Liyou.

Qianhe Liyou’s gaze swept over him once, and then she picked up the teacup…

Sang Zixin’s head was still lowered, his body making no movements whatsoever.
However, the Anhui that had been invisibly watching the entire time from the shadows could no longer bear it and he almost pounced out into the open…the tea could be poisonous, but he could not stop it.
The Empress clearly understood that there could be a problem with this tea, but she still seemed to want to drink it.
Just what was the Empress thinking? Anhui silently sulked in anxiety and confusion, waiting for the Empress’ next move.

Qianhe Liyou, sensing the obvious tension radiating from Anhui’s direction, gave a cold glare at the place where he was invisibly hiding.
Her warning had been obvious, and then she slowly put the teacup to her lips, taking a sip of the piping tea….it was not poisonous, she was certain of it.

After dinner, Qianhe Lyou headed over to King Consort, Luo Weiqing’s palace.
Luo Weiqing had also just finished up dinner, and he was currently reclining on the bed, leisurely reading a book.
He was dressed like he was just about to go to bed, but hearing the palace attendant’s report, he quickly stood up and greeted Qianhe Liyou at the entrance.

“Greetings to the Empress, has Your Majesty eaten dinner yet?”

After getting along and interacting these past few weeks, Luo Weiqing and Qianhe Liyou’s relationship had become quite intimate, their words were contained with a lot of the trifling, more colloquial words used daily by a normal family.

“En, just ate, came to see you.” Qianhe Liyou flourished her sleeve as she spoke, dismissing all the attendants, including Sang Zixin who had been closely following her.

Luo Weiqing glanced at Sang Zixin, whether intentionally or unintentionally, but he said nothing.
He simply poured a fresh cup of tea for Qianhe Liyou and quietly took a seat beside her.

‘Empress, Your Majesty has worked hard these few days.
This consort cannot share your burdens or worries for you, but can only hope that Your Majesty looks after one’s health.” War was about to break out again.
Naturally, the Empress had been extremely busy these days, making Luo Weiqing feel distressed just thinking about it.

“Do not worry, zhen is fine.” Qianhe Liyou placed her hand on Luo Weiqing’s hand in a comforting manner, gently stroking his hand with her pale, slender fingers…

Luo Weiqing flushed red in embarrassment, and lowered his gaze…

“Weiqing…” Qianhe Liyou leaned over slightly, whispering into Luo Weiqing’s ear.

Luo Weiqing raised his head in surprise and just happened to meet Qianhe Liyou’s dark eyes….this was the first time the Empress had called him by name.
Such gentle tenderness made him want to indulge in this warmth for an eternity.

“Endure a little…” After saying this Qianhe Liyou’s bloody fangs popped out into the open, and her head buried into Luo Weiqing’s neck.
The real meal had begun…She had missed his taste a little…

When Luo Weiqing heard the Empress’ words, he had still not fully recovered from his previous astonishment, but after feeling the Empress’ next moves, he just quietly shut his eyes, allowing the pain in his neck to increase as his blood was slowly drawn out.
He clenched his fists tightly together, not daring to make any other movements for fear of disturbing the Empress.

He had also given this matter some thought.
In the end, he came to the conclusion that the Empress was practicing some type of martial art and she needed to suck human blood to do so.
He was actually very happy to have been chosen by the Empress.

The piercing smell of blood was still incomparably delicious, making Qianhe Liyou lick her lips contentedly.
However, her movements had inadvertently touched Luo Weiqing’s neck, the feeling at that moment made Luo Weiqing’s entire body shudder.

“Afraid?” Qianhe Liyou naturally felt Luo Weiqing’s little movements and asked in a somewhat displeased tone.

“No, it’s not…this consort is…” Regarding this unspeakable matter, how could he say it aloud… would he really have to say it was because the Empress had accidentally touched him?

Qianhe Liyou had been secretly observing Luo Weiqing’s flicker of emotions and expression.
Thinking back to her actions, she wanted to get to the heart of the matter, and could not but show a wicked smile, “You felt it?”

“Empress.” Luo Weiqing’s gentle voice was shy, and his chin was already so low that it could not go any lower.

Qianhe Liyou found it amusing.
Using her hands to raise Luo Weiqing’s chin up, she gently kissed his lips.
She liked the feeling that Luo Weiqing gave her, and she also knew that Luo Weiqing enjoyed her kisses, and was even expecting some other things…

“Weiqing, zhen….wants you.” She did not consider this a lie, but this sentence had more come from a place of responsibility.
He was so expectant, and she could no longer reject it.
At this moment, it was a good opportunity…

Making Luo Weiqing really become hers…..this idea was really not bad.

Luo Weiqing was flabbergasted but shy.
He had to wait for so long and finally waited to hear this sentence…

‘carved in his bones and engraved in the heart’: idiom; etched in one’s memory or unforgettable back to text