Chapter 11: The King of Qi

[The system is generating your character card]

[Ding—]

[Character Card: King of Qi]

[Gender: Female]

[Skill: Two Rabbits Running Side by Side]

“When two rabbits run together, how could anyone tell which is male and which is female? Using this skill can confuse the characters nearby. If a character’s affection reaches 90, the skill becomes ineffective.”

[Enjoy the game]

..........................................................

Dawn had broken, and a shaft of golden light streamed into the splendid palace.

A beautiful palace maid approached the bed and called, “Your Majesty, it is time for the morning court.”

From within the curtains came a languid, aristocratic voice that made the listener’s heart itch with longing. “Let them wait.”

After that, silence descended.

The palace attendants could do nothing but remain quiet, standing watch within the hall.

Elsewhere, the civil and military officials had long since gathered at the front court, yet the king was nowhere to be seen. Confusion began to spread among them.

Gradually, daylight flooded the palace, and the exalted sovereign finally awoke.

A hand lifted the curtains, revealing a face impossible to classify as either male or female. The delicate brows and eyes seemed painted by an artist, carrying an air of careless indifference.

Long, ink-black hair poured down like a waterfall, setting off skin white as snow and lips red as vermilion.

The palace maids entered one after another to attend to the king’s washing and dressing.

Clad in a royal robe and wearing a crown, the young sovereign instantly appeared graceful, majestic, and utterly extraordinary.

At last, the royal carriage set out. King Qi finally arrived late, sauntered into the great hall, and announced, “From this day onward, court shall be held once every three days.”

Before the ministers could even begin their remonstrances, she dismissed the court and departed.

..........................................................

If you were given the chance to become the ruler of a kingdom, what would you do?

Work diligently and strive to bring prosperity to the realm?

Yun Yao declared that such a thing was impossible. Naturally, she would do whatever pleased her most!

It was only a game. Why take it so seriously?

Now that she possessed supreme power, of course she would indulge herself to the fullest. She absolutely refused to let herself suffer.

During the first month, the palace attendants presented her with fine wine and sumptuous delicacies.

Yun Yao glanced at the earthenware vessels and said, “Replace all these cups and bowls with jade. The chopsticks are to be made of ivory.”

Thus countless pottery vessels were smashed, while pieces of jade were mined from the deep mountains and sent to the royal palace to serve its exalted ruler.

The Second Page of Three

During the second month, the dancers presented an exquisite performance.

Yun Yao felt they were not beautiful enough and said, “Bring me every beauty in the kingdom and fill the palace with them.”

And so officials traveled throughout the land, selecting beautiful women and transporting them to the royal palace wagonload by wagonload.

…

Yun Yao acted on every passing whim, provoking resentment throughout the court and the countryside.

The crucial point was that she cared only for pleasure and ignored the affairs of state. What had initially been a court assembly every three days was later changed to once every five days.

When the day of court finally arrived, the ministers prepared to offer their remonstrances—only for her to simply refuse to appear.

Many officials were overcome with grief, convinced that the Kingdom of Qi was doomed.

..........................................................

It was another peaceful, sunlit afternoon. Yun Yao reclined within the palace, listening to musicians perform.

At that moment, a young eunuch stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the beauties selected from across the kingdom have entered the palace. Would you like to go and see them?”

Yun Yao had been feeling bored. The moment she heard this, a smile bloomed across her face, and she sat up from the couch.

Sunlight fell upon her jade-white features. Her smile seemed to illuminate the world, making her look almost divine.

The young eunuch was dazzled and revealed an entranced expression.

Yun Yao raised one foot, signaling a palace maid to put on her shoe.

But the young eunuch snatched the task from the maid. Kneeling at Yun Yao’s feet, he slipped the shoe onto her foot.

When he had finished, he tilted up his face and gave her an ingratiating smile, like a dog begging for affection at its master’s feet.

Yun Yao let out a soft laugh and rode in her carriage to the Supreme Clarity Palace.

Elsewhere, a thousand beautiful young women had gathered together, whispering among themselves.

Every one of them possessed a face as lovely as peach blossoms and plum flowers, each displaying her own unique beauty. Seen together, they resembled a garden in full bloom.

Suddenly, an attendant called out, “His Majesty has arrived!”

A figure slowly approached. Her dazzling beauty was like the rosy glow of dawn, captivating the soul.

In an instant, every girl wore a dazed expression, as though unable to believe that anyone in the world could be so beautiful.

Then light kindled in their eyes, and their gazes grew fervent beyond measure.

Yun Yao took her seat upon the raised platform and had the girls come forward in batches for her inspection.

One was as fresh and graceful as a lotus, another as radiant as a peony. The profusion of beauty was enough to bewilder the eye.

Yun Yao spent the entire afternoon choosing five hundred girls she favored and allowing the rest to return home.

Who could have guessed that, upon hearing this, the unchosen girls would all drop to their knees, refusing to leave?

Yun Yao said, “I am allowing you to return home and marry as you please. Would it not be better than remaining here to serve others?”

One girl replied, “Even after marrying, I would still have to serve my husband. Since that is so, why should I not come and serve Your Majesty instead?”

Another girl said, “Rather than become the wife of some mediocre man, I would rather remain in the palace as a servant, if only I may see Your Majesty every day!”

The girls echoed one another, pleading, “Your Majesty, please let us stay!”

Confronted with those flowerlike faces and feverish gazes, Yun Yao could not bring herself to refuse them. She could only grant their wish.

“Then all of you may stay!”

In an instant, radiant smiles blossomed across the girls’ faces, like a hundred flowers blooming at once.

..........................................................

A thousand people suddenly flooded into the Palace of Qi, and the old royal residence no longer seemed large enough.

Yun Yao therefore ordered the construction of another palace—and it had to be magnificent, with carved beams and painted rafters, adorned with gold and silver.

They had stayed because they loved her. How could she possibly allow them to suffer?

An official in charge of the palace construction said, “Your Majesty, building such a palace will likely cost ten thousand pieces of gold!”

Before Yun Yao could respond, the young eunuch beside her immediately shouted, “Your Majesty is the ruler of an entire kingdom. Is she not even permitted to build a single palace? You draw a salary from the court, yet refuse to ease Your Majesty’s burdens. What exactly are your intentions?”

His words were sharp and his expression severe. Though his station was low, he was remarkably overbearing when berating others, like a dog barking on behalf of its master.

The official was scolded until his face flushed crimson, and at last he fell silent.

And so construction began on a grand scale throughout the royal palace. Ancient trees, each a century old, were felled and transformed into pillars for the great halls, which were then covered in gold leaf.

Chest after chest of gold was consumed, cart after cart of jewels was hauled away, and the royal treasury gradually grew empty.

When the ministers learned of this, memorials of remonstrance flew into the palace like snowflakes.

Unfortunately, the sovereign had never even opened a single one. The memorials, filled with loyal counsel, lay abandoned in a corner, gathering dust.

Since the palace could not be completed in the near future, Yun Yao decided to leave the palace for an outing. She brought along a grand escort and set off in great procession.

Yun Yao had never visited the world beyond the palace walls and was intensely curious about the sights along the streets. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside.

Suddenly, the entire street fell utterly silent.

Puzzled, Yun Yao turned her gaze toward a young woman.

The girl’s face immediately flushed, and she looked intensely excited.

Yun Yao smiled.

In an instant, the entire street erupted.

By the time of her second outing, Yun Yao simply had the four sides of her carriage removed, leaving only a canopy overhead so that the people could admire her openly.

Whenever she traveled, the streets became deserted, with crowds pressing along both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of her.

Those at the very front were always young women in the bloom of youth. The moment they saw the carriage, they began hurling flowers wildly.

Though the flowers could strike only the guards and never reach the carriage itself, nothing could dampen their enthusiasm.