Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 186 The Tyrant Moves into the Side Hall! He Accompanies the Crown Prince in His Studies Ever

Seven days after Prince Jing was executed.

The warm sunshine of early spring falls gently on the glazed tiles of Kunning Palace.

Shen Qingci had just finished reviewing a stack of memorials and rubbed his sore shoulders.

These days, with the promulgation of new policies, the entire court is in a state of chaos.

Those conservatives dared not oppose openly, but they kept making small moves behind the scenes.

Besides handling government affairs, she also had to keep an eye on the movements of various parties coming from Tingfeng Tower every day, leaving her with almost no time to catch her breath.

Jinshu brought in a bowl of bird's nest soup, but hesitated to speak.

"What's wrong?" Shen Qingci asked without looking up.

"Your Majesty..." Jinshu bit her lip, "His Majesty has come again."

Shen Qingci paused, his pen poised.

"This time he didn't come empty-handed." Jinshu's expression was strange. "He... he brought bedding."

"What?"

Shen Qingci put down his pen, walked to the window, and lifted a corner of the curtain.

Then, she froze.

At the entrance of a side hall of Kunning Palace, a dozen eunuchs were going in and out, carrying all sorts of things—

A box of books, clothes, a few potted orchids, and even a... sword stand?

Nangong Ye, dressed in a black casual suit, personally carried a bedding roll and stood under the corridor giving instructions:

"Be gentle! Those books in the box are ones I often read, don't knock them over!"

"Place the orchid on the windowsill; it needs sunlight!"

"Place the sword rack... put it in the inner room against the wall, don't block the door!"

Shen Qingci: "..."

Jinshu said cautiously, "Your Highness, should I go and ask...?"

"Need not."

Shen Qingci lowered the curtain, her lips twitching slightly.

She roughly knew what this person wanted to do.

Sure enough, half an hour later.

The side hall was tidied up.

Nangong Ye stood at the entrance of the main hall of Kunning Palace, straightened his robes, took a deep breath, and raised his hand to knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock".

"Enter."

He pushed the door open and entered.

Shen Qingci sat upright behind the table, holding a cup of tea in her hands, looking at him expressionlessly.

Nangong Ye paused, a rare hint of unease flashing across his face.

"Qingci."

He spoke, keeping his voice as soft as possible:

"I...I'll come..."

He paused, then changed his words:

"I want to...discuss something with you."

Shen Qingci didn't speak, but simply raised her chin, signaling him to continue.

Nangong Ye took a step forward, then stopped, as if afraid of startling her.

"The side hall... I've had it cleaned up."

He pointed outside:

"From now on, I'll live there."

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow.

"Don't worry!" he quickly added, "I didn't mean to disturb you! The side hall has a separate gate; I always go in and out that way, so I definitely won't disturb your rest!"

"I just..." he paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, "...just wanted to be closer to you."

I want to be closer to you.

Get closer to Bao'er.

To be closer to...this home.

Shen Qingci looked at him.

Looking at this emperor who was once high above her and could decide life and death with a single word, now standing in front of her, he was as nervous as a young boy.

A corner of my heart softened.

But she didn't show it on her face, only saying calmly:

"Where Your Majesty resides is Your Majesty's prerogative. There is no need to ask me."

"I have to ask," Nangong Ye said immediately. "This is your place. Since I'm moving in, I naturally have to ask for your permission."

Shen Qingci remained silent for a moment.

"what ever."

Two words, understated.

But Nangong Ye's eyes lit up.

He knew that this was already the biggest concession she could make.

"Then... I'll have someone put things away right away!" He turned to leave, then stopped, turned back, and said cautiously, "By the way, after Bao'er finishes his studies this morning, could I... take him to practice his sword?"

Shen Qingci looked at him.

Looking at the cautious anticipation in his eyes.

Suddenly I remembered that this person never used to ask "can I or can't?"

He always issues orders directly when he wants to do something.

"Okay," she said, "but don't tire him out."

"No, no!" Nangong Ye assured him repeatedly, "I'll just teach him some basics, to loosen up his muscles!"

After he finished speaking, he glanced at her again, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded, turned around and left.

Jinshu watched his retreating figure and whispered, "Your Majesty, His Majesty... seems like a completely different person."

Shen Qingci remained silent.

He simply picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

The tea in the cup was slightly bitter, but with a hint of sweetness in the aftertaste.

---

In the days that followed, Nangong Ye indeed moved into the side hall.

Every day at dawn, he would get up on time, practice swordsmanship for half an hour, and then go to Bao'er's study to wait for the little one to come to class.

At first, Bao'er was a little afraid of him.

After all, this "father emperor" used to be aloof and cold-faced.

But Nangong Ye wasn't in a hurry.

He spends an hour reading with Bao'er every day, not as a supervisor, but as a true companion—he sits beside her, also with a book in hand, and gently explains any parts Bao'er doesn't understand.

After school, I would take Bao'er to the yard to practice swordsmanship.

Start with the most basic sword-holding posture, and repeat it again and again, without getting tired of it.

"Father, my arms are sore," Bao'er pouted.

"Then take a break." Nangong Ye squatted down and massaged his little wrist. "Sword practice can't be rushed; it has to be done step by step. Your father went through the same thing when he was a child."

Bao'er blinked: "Did Father Emperor have someone teach him when he was little?"

Nangong Ye paused.

He recalled his childhood—the Grand Tutor was strict, his mother was busy, his father… His father had already favored the wicked concubine and only had suspicion and estrangement towards him, the Crown Prince.

No one had ever been there for him like that.

"Yes." He smiled and ruffled Bao'er's hair. "So Father will teach you now."

Bao'er seemed to understand but not quite, but she felt very comfortable being massaged and smiled with her eyes narrowed.

This scene was witnessed by Shen Qingci, who was standing under the eaves.

She didn't say anything, just watched quietly for a while, then turned and went back to the main hall.

---

In the afternoon, Nangong Ye would go to the main hall to help her organize the memorials.

When we say "organize," we mean it in a real sense.

He categorized the memorials according to their importance and urgency, picking out those that required Shen Qingci's personal review and putting the rambling, nonsensical memorials in a separate pile—so she could just throw them away.

"This memorial from the Ministry of Revenue, no matter how you look at it, is all about asking for money."

He pointed to one of the books,

"The post-war reconstruction of the North certainly requires money, but the figures reported by the Ministry of Revenue are at least 20% higher."

Shen Qingci took it and glanced at it: "How much do you think should be approved?"

"Based on actual needs, 80% is sufficient," he said, then added, "However, this is just my personal opinion; you decide."

Shen Qingci glanced at him.

This person only offers suggestions and never makes decisions for her.

Sometimes when she got busy and forgot the time, he would quietly turn on the lamp, replace the cold tea with hot tea, and then step aside to continue reading his book.

On one occasion, Shen Qingci was reviewing memorials until midnight.

Looking up, I saw Nangong Ye still sitting in the corner, holding a book, nodding his head, already extremely sleepy.

"Why aren't you going back to rest?" she frowned.

Nangong Ye woke up with a start, rubbing his eyes: "Oh, I saw you weren't finished yet... I was thinking that if you get thirsty or hungry, someone would be there to serve you."

Shen Qingci remained silent.

"Go back to sleep," she said. "I'm going to rest too."

"Okay." Nangong Ye got up, walked to the door, then turned back. "Tomorrow morning, Bao'er wants to eat osmanthus cake. I had someone go to the imperial kitchen to tell them, and they'll steam it and send it over. You should try some too, don't always go hungry."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out.

Shen Qingci stared at the closed door, remaining motionless for a long time.

Jinshu asked softly, "Your Majesty, His Majesty... he does this every day, you..."

"Jinshu," Shen Qingci interrupted her, "Do you think he's faking it?"

Jinshu thought for a moment and shook her head: "This servant can't explain it... but the way His Majesty looks at you and the Crown Prince is different from before."

"What's different?"

"Before..." Jinshu hesitated, "Before, His Majesty looked at you as if you were something to be conquered. Now... now it's like he's looking at..."

She thought for a moment, then managed to utter:

"Watch the house."

Shen Qingci remained silent.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water.

The lights in the side hall have been turned off.

---

The third day of March.

Bao'er's birthday.

Early in the morning, Nangong Ye came in carrying a wooden box.

Bao'er was eating breakfast when she saw him and rushed over, exclaiming, "Father! Father! What did you bring me?"

Nangong Ye smiled, squatted down, and opened the wooden box.

Inside was a small wooden sword with the words "Bao'er" engraved on the hilt. It was also carefully wrapped in soft cloth so it wouldn't hurt your hands.

"My father made it by hand," he said. "It's not as exquisite as the ones from the Imperial Sword Workshop, but it's sturdier."

Bao'er's eyes lit up, and she clung to the wooden sword, refusing to let go: "Father made it! Father made it!"

Nangong Ye rubbed his head, looked up, and looked at Shen Qingci.

"Tonight... I'd like to dine with him here," he asked. "Is that alright?"

Shen Qingci looked at him, at the expectation in his eyes, and at Bao'er's joyful expression as she hugged the wooden sword.

She nodded slightly.

"it is good."

Nangong Ye paused for a moment, then smiled.

That smile was as radiant as the spring sunshine in March.

---

Dinner was served in the main hall.

Three people, one table of dishes.

There were no delicacies, just ordinary home-cooked dishes—sweet and sour pork ribs that Bao'er loves, stir-fried seasonal vegetables that Shen Qingci likes, and a steamed egg that Nangong Ye made himself…which didn't look very appetizing.

"This...was this made by Father?" Bao'er scooped up a spoonful, smacked her lips, and exclaimed, "Delicious!"

Nangong Ye breathed a sigh of relief and scooped a spoonful for Shen Qingci as well: "Try it, it's my first time making this, I don't know how salty it is."

Shen Qingci lowered her head and took a bite.

Indeed, it doesn't look very appealing.

But the taste... was alright.

"It's alright," she said.

Nangong Ye's eyes lit up again.

Looking at her father's silly grin, Bao'er suddenly said, "Father, you look like a little puppy today."

Nangong Ye: "..."

Shen Qingci almost choked.

"It's like... a puppy that wags its tail," Bao'er explained earnestly.

"Aunt Jinshu said that puppies wag their tails when they are happy."

Father, though you have no tail, you are always smiling.

Shen Qingci finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.