The Palace Harem is a Mess (8): The Bastards

*Disclaimer: None of this work belongs to me. Credits go to the original Manhua.*

"His Majesty will be alright. The Physician will be here shortly. Before then, if anyone dares to cry again I will make it so that she will be crying at her family's funeral!" Su Luxia ordered as she approached the teary-eyed Liu Ruyan who was snot-full of tears with the unconscious Emperor on her lap.

Liu Ruyan softly asked, "When will the Physician be here–" However, Su Luxia cut off her weak voice and ordered, "Servants, carry His Majesty onto the bed, and wait for the Physician's arrival!"

***

The Physician examined the Emperor's condition carefully and studied him. "T-this..." The Physician said as he raised the Emperor's arm.

Liu Ruyan anxiously appeared by the Physician's side and asked, "Sir Physician, how is His Majesty?"

"My Lady, the Emperor seems to have caught the seasonal flu." The Physician said after inspecting the conditions. Liu Ruyan bit her lips as she wondered whether the Doctor was aware of the Emperor's sickness.

"This is an important matter, Sir physician. Are you confident?" Su Luxia asked, completely composed on this matter.

"This Old Doctor is 90% sure." The Physician answered, bowing at her.

"Since that is the case, then someone will have to take care of His Majesty. Are there any young sisters, willing to take care of His Majesty?" Su Luxia ordered. Liu Ruyan, who found that this was an opportunity, quickly raised her hands and volunteered.

"I-I shall take care of His Majesty!" Liu Ruyan said. She quickly bowed while saying, "This Consort, shall take care of His Majesty, and relieve Older Sister's burdens!"

Ah... Finally waited for you to take up this opportunity~

Su Luxia, who smiled at this anxious girl, approached her and patted Liu Ruyan on the shoulder saying, "Younger Sister, please don't force yourself."

"Lady Consort Liu, truly cares about His Majesty!" The rumors about Liu Ruyan spread. "How touching!"

Liu Ruyan wiped her tears and said, "I hope Older Sister will grant my wish." Liu Ruyan peeked out of her sleeves wondering if Su Luxia was aware of the Emperor's sickness. Afterall, it was a secret that only Liu Ruyan knew.

'Regardless of what she knows, I will not let this opportunity pass!' Liu Ruyan anxiously wondered as Su Luxia kept smiling at her.

"If that's the case, do as you wish then." Su Luxia said, patting Liu Ruyan's shoulder, and leaving the Imperial Quarters for her palace.

Liu Ruyan nodded, "Hopefully, His Majesty will recover quickly," as she smiled under her sleeves, knowing that all of this will be for her in favor.

***

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[HOST!] The System yelled at Su Luxia, who was returned to Prosperity Palace and was enjoying her time eating grapes.

[You already know that Emperor does not have the seasonal flu, so why did you give an opportunity to bolster your relationship with him to Liu Ruyan?!]

Su Luxia did not mind him this time and kept eating, knowing that whatever she does, the system will only yell at her continuously. After all, it took her this long for the plan actually work as she planned.

[HOST! Are you even taking the Palace Harem Mission seriously?]

Su Luxia sighed, as she sat up and faced the Chubby Bamboo Rat in the face saying, "Little One, did you know, in a cheating relationship, the Cheating Bastard deserves more death than the third party?"

"In the world, where Liu Ruyan died a tragic death, Su Luxia did not know that the Seasonal Flue was the wrong diagnosis of the Emperor, became fearful, and took care of the Emperor unconditionally without much rest."

"Soon the Emperor granted her the position of a Life's Glory of being the Empress."

However, this time–

"Liu Ruyan is trying to recreate the same event. She wants to nurse the Emperor back into health and win the title to control the harem, in the same path I did." Su Luxia said laughingly. "If that's what she wants, then I'll give it to her."

Su Luxia smiled sinisterly as she licked her lips.

[Host, you really scary.] The System complained.

"Besides, seeing a pair of lovers suspicious of each other, cutting at each other's throats, isn't that storyline much more amusing?" Su Luxia said.

***

***

The Emperor finally awoke himself and stepped down from his bed. His head started to hurt, however, he kept himself calm as he forced himself awake.

"Where is Lady Liu?" He asked to his servant. The Servant softly smiled and said, "Replying to His Majesty, Lady Liu went to the Kitchen to fetch some medicinal herbs for your meal."

The Emperor's expression turned soft as he said, "Such matters should be given to servants."

"This is just the token of the Lady's affection for you." The servant happily replied. The Emperor smiled even more thinking about Liu Ruyan.

"Oh, what affection?" A voice came from the other side of the room. The Emperor turned his head around to see Su Luxia smiling at him as she approached him.

"Su Luxia." He said.

"Seeing how High spirited His Majesty is, the Ninth Prince must have brought some good news then!" Su Luxia announced happily with her hands clapping together.

The Emperor's face quickly frowned as he heard the name of the "Ninth Prince" in Su Luxia's statement. "The Ninth Prince?" He asked in confusion.

"I bumped into him, hurriedly leaving on the other side?" Su Luxia tilted her head as she told the Emperor. "...Could it be?" Su Luxia faked a concerned look as she put her sleeves to her mouth hushing, "the Ninth Prince didn't come here to discuss pertaining matters with you?"

"I didn't." The Emperor frowned even more.

"That's odd then, I saw him coming from the direction of the Kitchen..." Su Luxia announced, tilting her head another way.

"The Kitchen?!" The Emperor asked in surprise when he heard Su Luxia mention this. His face turned into shock when he connected some dots together.

"...I found it odd too. Being the Prince that he is, why would he go that far to such a place?" Su Luxia questioned, faking her doubts. "Hm... unless..." She pondered.

"Unless?" The Emperor asked between her pauses.

"Unless he has an eye for one of the Maids in the Kitchen~but is too shy to ask for your blessing~" Su Luxia playfully told him with a soft smile.

The Emperor sighed.

"Your Majesty?" Su Luxia tugged on the Emperor's robe, "Considering the efforts the Ninth Prince has put into our country, you must help him achieve his goal~" Su Luxia told him softly with a soft smile on her face.

The Emperor sneered coldly as he said, "An effort heh? We fear that he has become ambitious and has set his eyes on something else."

Su Luxia smiled innocently and sat right beside him saying, "What does His Majesty mean? The Ninth Prince has been anxious about Your Majesty's health that he has been often visiting the Palace to pay his respects."

Leaning on his shoulder, Su Luxia murmured, "Compared to his devotion, I feel inferior, Your Majesty." She told him softly. Getting up from his chest, Su Luxia stood up and looked at him innocently.

"Oh, Your Majesty is already up? And Older sister Su is here to visit?" Liu Ruyan entered the Room with a medicinal drink in her hand and smiled politely at the two guests.

Speaking of the devil, Su Luxia looked at the all-polite Liu Ruyan who had a gentle face and kindly smirked at her.

"Ever since His Majesty has gotten sick, this is the first time I've seen Older Sister Su visit." Liu Ruyan said, as she placed the tonic down and went to sit next to the Emperor. "Is it because Older Sister Su knew His Majesty's sickness had finally gotten better so she specially came to visit?"

Liu Ruyan taunted Su Luxia, as she clutched the Emperor's hand softly.

The Emperor looked away from Su Luxia and said, "Consort Su, if there is nothing else, you may leave. It's only enough with Yan'er here."

Su Luxia, forcibly had tears around her eyes as she said, "Your Majesty..." Her eyes looked away as she said, "You have known that I never feared death, and only wanted you to live a joyous life."

Su Luxia wiped her tears under her sleeves. "This Consort shall take her to leave." She bowed leaving, after seeing Liu Ruyan smirk under her sleeves as well.

Su Luxia smiled as well. After all, this is all quite getting interesting.

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