Chapter 676 The Empress Regnant’s Enchanting Consort (8)
A country for a betrothal.
Feng Yunian’s inscrutable, nearly unshakable heart cracked at these words.
【Ding. The male lead’s favorability has increased to -30.】
His fingers pierced his palms, and the pain brought him back to his senses.
It was just a joke.
Bai Weiwei slowly walked until she stood before him.
She turned away from the light and smiled gently.
“What, so touched you can’t speak?”
Feng Yunian pressed down his anger. He had always done his utmost to suppress his emotions. To say it positively, he was composed.
To say it negatively, he was repressed1.
He looked down, his fingers digging into his palms. The bits of emotions in his delicately handsome face vanished.
Suddenly, he smiled faintly, and the gentle warmth in his eyes and brows became more pronounced.
“Your Majesty jests. How could a country be treated as a betrothal gift? Yunian dares not accept such a gift.”
Bai Weiwei looked at him, her gaze smoldering, and she smiled.
Her features were initially stunningly beautiful. This smile was like a peony2, with the beauty of flower bouquets and sumptuous brocades.
When Feng Yunian was in the palace, he’d come across many women.
But none of them could compare to Bai Weiwei’s charm.
There was a spark of amazement in his heart, but he suppressed it again.
Bai Weiwei suddenly said: “Then instead, let’s make a bet.”
Feng Yunian had already wholly calmed down. His voice was level. “What bet would Your Majesty want to make with an assassin like me?”
Bai Weiwei’s voice was gentle and solemn. “Just a bet on when I will fall in love with you.”
Feng Yunian’s thick lashes fluttered, and the indifference in his pupils once again began to billow and surge.
“Don’t you believe that I like you? I’ll give you a chance right now. You can use any method to tempt me into falling in love with you.”
Her tone carried a hint of sweet seduction.
It was such an absurd suggestion, but she didn’t sound the least bit like she was joking.
Feng Yunian finally raised his eyes to look at her. He saw in her eyes a searing honesty, as though she looked forward to seeing him.
He also didn’t know why he looked away.
She didn’t even use “Zhen” and used “I” instead.
This was calling each other equals3.
Feng Yunian just barely opened his mouth when the other party suddenly groaned.
He immediately looked up and saw Bai Weiwei frowning as she gripped her shoulder.
The shoulder of her sleeve was stained with blood.
This was… the wound he created.
Bai Weiwei secretly grimaced in pain. Just now, her posturing had gone too far and tore open her wound.
She clutched the system and cried, “Scumstem, It’s hurt.”
The system, who was immersed in its meal, said perfunctorily: “En, endure it til it doesn’t hurt, or ask your man to blow on it for you. It won’t hurt if you’re happy.”
Bai Weiwei: Good idea.
She was just about to use the manner of an overbearing president, making Feng Yunian bow before the force of her charm and blow on her wounds.
But a slender white hand had already tugged on her sleeve.
Feng Yunian had his head bowed. His face was slightly pale. His chillingly beautiful profile, in a halo of light, carried a hint of hesitation.
“Being granted Your Majesty’s favor, Yunian has committed a grave sin and doesn’t dare to think about the country anymore. If Your Majesty will believe me, I will remain loyal to Your Majesty.”
Bai Weiwei: Yo, she must look like a fool. The loyalty of a -30 favorability… was wanting a person’s life.
She revealed a wide smile. Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed his hand and stroked it.
“Welcome, welcome. Flirt with… oh, no, stay loyal to me.”
This dogleg4 smile made Feng Yunian purse his lips. Calculations flashed through his eyes.
Bai Weiwei, this tyrannical and cruel woman, what was her aim?
Feng Yunian sneered in his heart. Those cold calculations resurfaced.
1: The two words used to describe Feng Yunian are 沉稳 (heavy/profound + stable/steady) and 阴沉 (negative/secret/sinister + heavy/profound), which I usually translate to gloomy, cloudy, overcast, or some other similar word. None of the usual terms of choice fit this context very well. However, since 阴 can mean hidden, I figured “repressed” would still be an acceptable translation while also being a synonym with a negative connotation for his personality trait.↩
2: 牡丹芍药: seems to be two different species of flowers? 牡丹: Paeonia x suffruticosa, 1st photo, Mudan, or Moutan peony. P. suffruticosa has briefly appointed China’s national flower from 1903 to 1929, but even now, it is culturally significant and is known as “the King of Flowers.” 芍药: Paeonia lactiflora, 2nd photo, Chinese peony. P. lactiflora is sometimes called “the Minister of Flowers.” ↩
3: Equal in social standing.↩
4: 狗腿: flattering.↩