Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Crown Prince Changes His Consort

That evening, Xiao Baojuan showed not a trace of sorrow over Emperor Qi Ming’s death. Instead, he ordered the entire court to halt the mourning rituals. Although the officials were deeply displeased with such a display of filial impiety, unfortunately, Emperor Qi Ming had already eliminated all members of the royal family who might have opposed Xiao Baojuan during his lifetime. Now, there was no one left among the royals who could challenge him. As a result, no matter what Xiao Baojuan did, no one could stop him.

“A cooking contest? Interesting…” Lounging on the imperial couch, Xiao Baojuan grinned foolishly, caring nothing for the dignity of his status as crown prince as he played with a filthy black rat he’d just caught from the corner of the palace garden.

Cooking contests were perhaps common among commoners in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, but to the royal family, such competitions were beneath them, and in theory, should never occur. Yet, the capricious Xiao Baojuan found the idea amusing and readily agreed to Ming Tian’s request.

The contest would be held the day after his enthronement. The next day he would ascend the throne; on the following day, the grand cooking contest would take place, a lavish banquet for all.

Thinking of the Phoenix Crystal he tasted yesterday, Xiao Baojuan couldn’t help but drool. Only the most skilled chefs could produce such a dish, and in all his years as crown prince, it was the first time he’d ever experienced such exquisite flavor. Doubtless, the upcoming contest would yield dishes even more delicious than the Phoenix Crystal.

Xiao Baojuan cared nothing for whether Ming Tian or Qian Shan Duo would cook a terrible dish; all he cared about was savoring more delectable food.

“Your Majesty.” Stepping forward, the eunuch addressed Xiao Baojuan as emperor rather than crown prince, wisely recognizing the shift in power.

Unlike their portrayal in dramas, eunuchs, though castrated, were still men missing only an organ; most appeared just as masculine as any other man, not at all effeminate as often depicted.

“What… what is it?” Xiao Baojuan asked impatiently, glancing at the eunuch. “If… if you have something to say, say it! If you have wind to pass, do it quickly!”

The eunuch bowed his head respectfully. “Now that the late emperor has been buried, and you have forbidden all mourning in the court, there is no need for you to remain chaste for half a month according to custom. Would Your Majesty like the crown princess to attend you tonight?”

The eunuch’s words snapped Xiao Baojuan to attention. He sat up and slapped his thigh. “Yes! How… how did I forget that? Summon… summon Xiao Xinzhu… have her… attend me tonight!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Receiving the command, the eunuch turned to deliver the message.

Xiao Baojuan rubbed his hands together in excitement, already imagining the many ways he would amuse himself with his cousin Xiao Xinzhu that night.

But before the eunuch had taken more than two steps, another eunuch entered and interrupted the order.

“Your Majesty, Lord Wang Jingze requests an audience.”

“Wang… Wang Jingze?” Xiao Baojuan clicked his tongue in annoyance and waved dismissively. “No… no time! Tell… tell him to get lost!”

But the eunuch didn’t leave. “Lord Wang says he has a peerless beauty to present to Your Majesty.”

A peerless beauty?

At those words, Xiao Baojuan’s eyes lit up with a predatory gleam.

Xiao Baojuan, known as the Marquis of Donghun, was infamous for his lust and debauchery. At the mention of a peerless beauty, all impatience vanished. Moreover, Wang Jingze, Grand Marshal of Wuxing Commandery, was well-known for presenting beauties to the imperial court—Xiao Baojuan knew this well. It could be said that at least a third of Wang Jingze’s official rank was earned by presenting women. Yet, no matter how many women he’d presented, no matter how beautiful, Wang Jingze had never once used the words “peerless beauty.”

This time, he claimed to have one. Having abstained for days due to mourning his father, Xiao Baojuan was instantly ravenous.

“Ah! Well then… forget my cousin for now. Summon… summon Wang Jingze first. I… I want to see this peerless beauty!” Xiao Baojuan laughed, his expression wicked and depraved.

Soon, Wang Jingze entered the chamber.

Despite being over forty, the Grand Marshal was a master at reading faces and moods, no less skilled than Ming Tian. On entering, he immediately knelt.

“Your humble servant Wang Jingze greets Your Majesty.”

“No… no need for such ceremony, Marshal Wang,” stammered Xiao Baojuan, his stutter making him almost comical.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

As Wang Jingze rose, Xiao Baojuan could barely contain himself, fidgeting with anticipation. “Marshal Wang… this… this peerless beauty you spoke of… where is she?”

“Your Majesty, please wait a moment.” With a respectful bow, Wang Jingze turned and called, “Enter and pay your respects to His Majesty.”

At his words, Yu Nizi stepped gracefully into the imperial bedchamber.

At that moment, the air was filled with an intoxicating floral fragrance.

Exquisitely dressed, Yu Nizi was like a celestial maiden descended to earth, draped in lotus-red gauze and gossamer slippers, delicate and alluring. Her steps were so light she seemed to tread on lotus petals, her eyes both empty and bewitching, her air as noble and ethereal as if she belonged only in heaven.

Xiao Baojuan was utterly stunned at the sight!

Yu Nizi was so breathtakingly beautiful that even Xiao Baojuan, who had seen countless women, was left speechless. Dressed to perfection, her beauty outshone even Xiao Xinzhu by threefold. Even the eunuchs, despite their status, couldn’t help but swallow at the sight of her figure.

“Kneeling before Your Majesty, humble maiden Yu Nizi offers her respects.” As Wang Jingze had instructed, Yu Nizi prepared to kneel.

“A beauty like you need not bow!” Xiao Baojuan, not giving her the chance, suddenly found himself speaking fluently. Driven mad with desire, he all but defied the laws of physics as he heaved his corpulent body forward with astonishing speed, catching Yu Nizi before she could kneel.

Face to face with this peerless beauty, Xiao Baojuan drooled openly, his piggish expression betraying no self-awareness.

“Beautiful… so beautiful! Too beautiful!”

Watching Xiao Baojuan’s antics, Wang Jingze smiled. “Is Your Majesty satisfied?”

“Satisfied—completely satisfied!” Xiao Baojuan, for once speaking smoothly, cried out to a nearby eunuch, “Issue my decree: Xiao Xinzhu is to leave the palace! I will appoint a new crown princess!”

The eunuchs stared in shock. Appoint a new crown princess after a single meeting? Such caprice was unheard of. Still, they were all adept at reading their master’s moods and said nothing. Xiao Xinzhu was beautiful, but this Yu Nizi was beauty incarnate—it seemed reasonable enough.

Since Xiao Xinzhu was imperial kin, and the rule that royal women could not be concubines preserved the dignity of the house, Xiao Baojuan, for the sake of appearances, would not violate this rule.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The eunuch bowed and confirmed, “Your Majesty wishes to appoint Yu Nizi as crown princess?”

Xiao Baojuan paused, then seemed to recall something and lowered his head in thought.

“Yes, her. But her name is unpleasant. I’ll give you a new one. Let me think… I recall that during the Liu-Song dynasty, Emperor Wen had a Consort Pan renowned for her beauty. I always wanted a crown princess like that. From now on, your surname will be Pan!”

Unable to restrain himself, Xiao Baojuan began to grope and fondle Yu Nizi in front of the eunuchs and Wang Jingze.

Yu Nizi, however, showed no reaction to Xiao Baojuan’s lewd caresses. She maintained a mechanical smile, like a lifeless puppet.

“Very well—your new name shall be Pan Yunu!”

“Your concubine thanks Your Majesty for bestowing a name.”

In her heart, Yu Nizi—now Pan Yunu—thought only of An Luo. At this moment, as she received her new name from the emperor, a cold, cruel smile flickered across her face.

That smile was like a blade, severing her last ties to the mortal world, cutting away the last vestiges of conscience, leaving only her yearning for An Luo.

Young Lord An Luo, no matter what price I must pay, you will be mine.

Lord Wang, you have your plans. Yuer will cooperate and repay your kindness in raising me. But your plan ends here.

From this moment on, it is time for Pan Yunu’s plan to begin.

At that instant, Yu Nizi was no more; she was Pan Yunu. No one—certainly not Ming Tian—could have guessed that her entry into the palace today would bring disaster not only to him, but to every transmigrator.

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