slim waist

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Imperial Marriage [Bug Fix]

In the depths of winter, a heavy snowfall covered the golden glazed tiles of the palace, making the majestic palace appear even more solemn.

A young eunuch hurried through the many vermilion gates and through the narrow passageway toward the emperor's bedchamber. His steps were so fast that he broke out in a sweat in the freezing cold. He stopped only when he reached the palace gate, wiped the sweat from his forehead, tidied his appearance, and, after being announced, bowed his head and went inside.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Qin has arrived at Wa'angou and will soon arrive in the capital."

He entered the room and spoke in a low voice, his eyes lowered as he looked at his toes, seemingly oblivious to the stench of decay in the air.

That special scent, which can only be smelled on the very old and dying, cannot be masked even by the finest ambergris.

"Wa'an Valley..."

The man, half-leaning on the dragon bed, murmured something, his eyes cloudy and sunken. His clothes could not hide his emaciated body, and his hands hanging at his sides were withered and covered with brown spots.

This was Wei Feng, the fourth emperor of the Liang Dynasty, who reigned for only five years.

Wei Feng is only 45 years old this year, but he looks like he's in his seventies or eighties.

Perhaps because he ascended the throne at the age of forty, he was afraid that he would not live as long as the previous emperor. So after ascending the throne, he devoted himself to two things: first, to try every means to get rid of his brothers who were young and strong and threatening him; and second, to seek the way to immortality so that he could really live ten thousand years.

But the elixir concocted by the so-called "celestial master" not only failed to prolong his life, but also made his body increasingly weak, and a serious illness a year ago almost cost him his life.

Even though he eventually realized his mistake and stopped taking pills indiscriminately, and even killed the Heavenly Master and the others, his frail body was beyond saving. No matter how hard the imperial physicians tried, they could only extend his life by one year. Now, he simply couldn't hold on any longer.

He glanced out the window, as if recalling something, and his cloudy eyes gradually brightened.

Wa'angou wasn't originally called Wa'angou. It was named after the late emperor who was nearly usurped by his brother. This brother had colluded with the Western Camp garrison stationed not far from Wa'an City, which nearly led to their capture of the capital's city gates.

Later, the late emperor suppressed the rebels and had the prince's body torn apart by five horses and burned in five different places in Wa'an City. He didn't even allow anyone to collect the ashes, but let thousands of people trample on them. He renamed the city Wa'an Gou, meaning "a rat in the gutter should die in the gutter."

Later, the Great Liang Dynasty added a rule that all vassal kings must pass through Wa'angou when returning to the capital, so that they would remember how the prince whose body was never found died, and be kept in mind so as not to have any improper thoughts.

"At the speed of fourteen, it should arrive in about two or three days."

Wei Feng spoke slowly from the bed.

The Crown Prince Wei Chi, who was serving nearby, nodded: "Your Fourteenth Uncle has always been close to you. He would have come immediately upon learning of your serious illness."

Upon hearing this, Wei Feng seemed to want to laugh, but he choked on a mouthful of phlegm, making it difficult to breathe. A sound like a broken bellows came from his throat, and his face turned red.

Wei Chi personally carried the spittoon over and patted his back until he coughed up phlegm and caught his breath. Only then did he hand the spittoon back to the servants so they could take it away.

Having caught his breath, Wei Feng twitched the corners of his mouth and leaned back on the pillow. For some reason, he suddenly said out of the blue, "Your fourteenth uncle is not young anymore. He has not married since the eldest daughter of the Ji family passed away. I have always been concerned about this matter, so I thought of arranging a marriage for him."

Standing to the side, Wei Chi remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Wei Feng continued, "Grand Tutor Yao has an only daughter, beautiful and talented, of marriageable age. I think..."

"Father!"

Wei Chi's expression changed when he mentioned Grand Tutor Yao, and when he finished speaking, he could no longer restrain himself and knelt down with a thud.

"Father, your son..."

“I know,” Wei Feng interrupted, not giving him a chance to continue. “I know you have a special affection for that Miss Yao. Back then, Cheng Lan specifically requested Miss Yao to enter the palace as a companion, also to help you, her brother, meet Miss Yao more often. That’s why she chose such a girl who doesn’t understand social etiquette to enter the palace.”

"I also know that you've always been hoping for my death..."

"Your subject wouldn't dare!"

Wei Chi hurriedly kowtowed, his forehead hitting the floor heavily with a dull thud.

Wei Feng coughed a few more times, then took a breath and said, "Whether I dare to or not is a different matter from whether I want to or not, and I know that very well. Just like when your grandfather was seriously ill, I didn't dare to, but I did want to."

He chuckled again, the drooping flesh at the corners of his mouth twitching, wrinkled like dry tree bark: "How can I not think about it? If he doesn't die, how can I ascend the throne?"

After these words, everyone in the hall shivered, their lowered eyes revealing fear and despair.

Those who served the emperor were ultimately destined to either be buried alive with him or guard the imperial tombs.

Now it seems... there's only one way out: death. Otherwise, Wei Feng wouldn't have said such a thing in front of them.

Only when you treat them all as if they were dead can you say whatever you want without restraint.

Wei Feng did not look at the servants and continued, "Although Miss Yao is virtuous and kind, she is too weak-willed and too compliant. I would never agree to your appointment of her as the Crown Princess."

"But Grand Tutor Yao has lost two sons in succession, and now he only has this one daughter left. He cherishes her like the apple of his eye. If he were to make her a concubine, it would inevitably displease Grand Tutor Yao, and there would be discord between the emperor and his subject in the future."

"So... only after I die can you make Miss Yao your principal wife. That's why you haven't made her a concubine all these years, isn't that right?"

"Your subject wouldn't dare!"

Wei Chi remained kneeling on the ground, his forehead pressed against the floor, as if he would never say anything else except this sentence.

Wei Feng chuckled and raised his hand: "Alright, get up."

Wei Chi then stood up and remained respectfully standing beside him.

Wei Feng had spoken a lot in one breath and was a little tired. He sat on the bed to rest for a while, but then he started to doze off again. Just as his eyelids were about to close, he woke up with a start, as if he had forgotten where he was in the conversation and started over.

"Looking at all the civil and military officials in the court, there is no one more suitable for your fourteenth uncle than Grand Tutor Yao's daughter."

“Your fourteenth uncle is brave and skilled in battle, a pillar of the nation. He must be a noblewoman from a high-ranking family. If his family is too low-ranking, people will inevitably say that I, as his elder brother, have mistreated him.”

"But many high-ranking officials in the court form cliques and pursue their own interests. Who doesn't have their own selfish motives? If... he forms a marriage alliance with someone else, it will inevitably be detrimental to you."

“Only Grand Tutor Yao has no sons, is extremely loyal, and has a long-standing grudge against the Fourteenth Prince. Even if they become related by marriage, he would never betray his master and commit theft or plot anything untoward for his own selfish gain.”

"Moreover," he smiled, coughed twice, and continued, "the Fourteenth Prince has been wary of me all these years. He will not treat any woman I have betrothed to well, much less be close to her. Because of his mistreatment, Miss Yao suffers greatly. And because of Miss Yao's suffering, Grand Tutor Yao is filled with worry and torment, which makes him even more dissatisfied with the Fourteenth Prince."

"He's dissatisfied with the Fourteenth Prince, so he's become closer to you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

The person who bestowed the marriage was Wei Feng. Grand Tutor Yao was an upright and incorruptible man. Even if he had any complaints, he would not take them out on Crown Prince Wei Chi.

At that time, Wei Chi could find an opportunity to express some guilt and reluctance towards Miss Yao in front of him, which might win him more favor and bring them closer.

Wei Chi lowered his head and remained silent, his hands clenched tightly together inside his sleeves.

Wei Feng waited a moment, and seeing that he remained silent, he said, "Then let me put it another way: the throne or a woman, which would you choose?"

...

Half an hour later, Wei Feng fell asleep on the bed, and the hall was quiet.

These days, Wei Chi gets up before dawn every day to attend court and handle state affairs on his behalf. After court, he rushes over without stopping to tell him in detail what the ministers said at the court. When he is sleepy, he serves him by his side until late at night. After returning home, he still has to review memorials. All in all, he gets less than two hours of rest each day.

Even the strongest body couldn't withstand such a long-term strain. He swayed after standing for only a short while, his brows furrowed, and he looked unwell.

A nearby eunuch quickly stepped forward to help him up, whispering, "Your Highness, why don't you go back and rest? We servants are here to look after His Majesty. If anything happens, we'll have someone fetch you. You must take good care of yourself; you can't fall ill too, otherwise who will take care of His Majesty?"

Wei Chi looked at the person lying on the bed, and after a moment nodded.

"Then I will return first. I will trouble Eunuch Liu to look after things here. If Father Emperor calls for me after he wakes up, please send someone to inform me immediately."

"yes."

Eunuch Liu bowed and agreed, then had someone escort him out.

Wei Chi returned to the East Palace. After entering his own palace, he took out a handkerchief from his bosom and vigorously wiped the hand that had held the spittoon. After wiping, he threw the handkerchief directly to a servant: "Take this and burn it."

The servant seemed used to it, took the handkerchief, and silently withdrew.

...

On the third day of the twelfth lunar month in the fifth year of Yongzhao, Prince Wei Hong of Qin, known as the God of War of Daliang, led three thousand Jingyuan soldiers into the capital. The army was well-disciplined and heavily armored, and the three thousand men looked like a vast army, inspiring awe in all who beheld them.

The King of Qin, who was at the head of the group, had a face as cold as iron and eyes as cold as stars. Although he was imposing and had an extraordinary appearance, he also exuded a cold and aloof aura that kept people at a distance, which made the young women watching dare not approach him easily, let alone throw out their handkerchiefs.

Wei Hong removed his armor and entered the palace. He lowered his eyes, stepped into the hall, and knelt down to pay his respects.

Emperor Wei Feng, who had been bedridden for a long time, forced himself to climb into the court, which he had left many days ago, and sat back on the dragon throne that had been empty for so long, just to see this prince.

One sat on a high platform, the other knelt below the main hall. The distinction between ruler and subject should have been clear, and the hierarchy obvious. However, because one was old, sick, and near death, while the other was young, strong, and full of vigor, the boundary seemed inexplicably blurred.

Wei Feng was still recovering from his illness and wouldn't last much longer. After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Wei Hong, they got straight to the point.

"I am grateful to the Prince of Qin for guarding the border, for his selflessness and dedication to public service, and for ensuring the peace of our Great Liang. However, while the safety of the border is important, it is not acceptable to sacrifice personal interests for public duty and disregard the continuation of the imperial family."

"There is a woman named Yao, the daughter of Grand Tutor Yao, who is virtuous, kind, beautiful, and intelligent. I wish to bestow her upon you as your wife. I wonder..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yao Yuzhi, the Crown Prince's tutor who was completely unaware of the situation beforehand, turned pale and stepped forward, trembling as he said, "Your Majesty! I...I only have this one daughter!"

He is already 51 years old this year. His eldest and second sons have passed away one after another for some reason. Now he only has a 14-year-old daughter by his side. However, the emperor wants to marry his only daughter to that murderous general and send her to the border.

Wei Feng lifted his heavy eyelids, glanced at him, and asked, "What? Is Grand Tutor Yao unwilling?"

Yao Yuzhi clenched her teeth, her hand holding the scepter trembled slightly, her knuckles turned pale, and she was unable to speak for a long time.

Seeing that he remained silent, Wei Feng looked at Wei Hong again: "What does the King of Qin think?"

Wei Hong frowned slightly, and his expression was not good either.

He glanced at Yao Yuzhi out of the corner of his eye, then at the silent Crown Prince, before finally looking up at Wei Feng, his older brother who was more than twenty years his senior, with a hint of offense.

Wei Feng stared straight at him without flinching, trying to maintain his imperial dignity, but a sudden itching in his throat caused him to cough violently, forcing him to look away.

Someone stepped forward at the opportune moment and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty, out of compassion for your many years without a wife, has bestowed a marriage upon you. Why don't you quickly accept the decree and express your gratitude?"

"Yes, Your Highness, even in his illness, His Majesty is still thinking about your marriage. How could you possibly refuse such an honor?"

More and more people echoed this sentiment, as if it were such a harmonious marriage.

Looking at his pale-faced, hunched-backed elder brother who looked like he was about to collapse, Wei Hong finally closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Your subject accepts the imperial decree and thanks you!"

A chorus of congratulations rang out in the court, addressed to both Wei Hong and Yao Yuzhi.

Unexpectedly, amidst the congratulations, Yao Yuzhi's face turned ashen, a dull pain welled up in her chest, and her vision went black as she fell straight backward.

The emperor's bestowal of a marriage caused a minister to faint from anger; if word got out, it would certainly not sound good.

Someone reacted quickly and shouted, "Grand Tutor Yao fainted from joy!"

Immediately, voices of agreement arose, and Yao Taifu was taken to receive medical treatment. The marriage was officially settled, and there were no further objections.

Author's Note: The Qin King Wei Hong, who appears later, is the male lead. A heads-up: the male lead's character is quite different from the male leads in my previous works—he's not the innocent type. Before his marriage, he had a concubine and a deceased fiancée, who was like a "white moonlight" (idealized love interest). To summarize in the words of a reader, "The male lead is a normal man with ancient ideas of polygamy. He had a 'white moonlight' in his heart, but he would also have sex with other women to satisfy his desires." From today's perspective, he's a complete jerk. So, this story could probably be titled "The Metamorphosis of a Jerk"?

If you don't like this character, you don't need to read any further~ See you in the next book if we're destined to meet~ *pats*~ Thank you to the little angel "gelena~" for the summary of the male lead~ It's spot on~ I'll borrow it directly~

Chapter 2 Shocking News

Before the imperial edict was even issued, the news of the emperor's bestowal of marriage had already spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

At the Yao residence, the maid Qiongyu ran into the courtyard, disregarding her composure, and rushed straight into the room.

"Miss, Miss!"