That Scumbag Dad Was Green All Over, La La La~

The two were tumbling phoenixes and turning luan birds, lost to everything around them, when footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

"What was that sound..."

"Your Ladyship, there wasn't any sound. You must have misheard."

Just then, the door was kicked open. Lady Shu was sitting on top with her eyes closed; when she saw who had arrived, she screamed in fright.

Ye Yubei stared at the shameless pair before him, his face dark as stormy water. It was true after all. Tang Tang had been absolutely right: the green pasture of cuckoldry atop his head was vast enough to race horses on.

Lady Shu scrambled off the actor and fell to her knees at Ye Yubei's feet.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please let me explain. It was him! It was... this little slut seduced me! I didn't mean to do it! I know I was wrong!"

Ye Yubei's expression was terrifyingly dark, his piercing eyes like knives. "You didn't mean to? Guards, beat these two shameless creatures to death with clubs!"

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! I truly was wrong! I'm willing to shave my head and become a nun, to spend my life beside an oil lamp and an ancient Buddha, praying for Your Majesty's blessings. Please spare my life!"

Lady Shu knelt on the floor, begging pitifully. Her hand had barely touched the hem of Ye Yubei's robe before he kicked her to the ground.

"Don't touch me with your filthy hands. You disgust me."

Xiao Bai immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, Her Ladyship insisted that I come to the palace to keep her entertained. I never wanted to come! I was forced into it! Please spare me, Your Majesty!"

Ye Yubei sneered like a demon.

"I don't need you to spend your life beside an oil lamp and an ancient Buddha. You should thank me for allowing you to be with him. Why don't I have you buried together? That would grant both of you your wish."

Only now did Lady Shu truly see the man before her. He was a demon through and through.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I beg you today, for the affection we once shared, don't bury me with him. I belong to you."

Lady Shu knelt on the floor, knocking her forehead against it with audible thuds. She had spent more than a decade by this man's side without warming his heart in the slightest. Perhaps he had always been this way, never caring about any woman.

No, except for her...

Ye Yubei stood with his hands behind his back, looking down coldly at the two on the floor.

"You belong to me? I have no filthy woman like you. You don't deserve to be buried beside me. You deserve only to lie with him."

Lady Shu raised her head, looking as though she was ready to face death. "Your Majesty, I have a piece of information that should interest you greatly. Might you spare my life in exchange?"

"Oh? What is it?"

"Your Majesty, it's about thirteen years..."

Before Lady Shu could finish, a shrill voice rang out, and the Empress entered.

Lady Shu knelt on the floor, trembling even harder.

"Your Majesty, what happened here? I heard that Lady Shu..."

The moment the Empress entered, she saw the scandalous scene. Her expression shifted slightly, and she immediately turned away.

"Outrageous! Lady Shu, this is utterly outrageous! This is the imperial palace, yet you dared... dared to behave so shamelessly! Your Majesty, leave this matter to me. I will show no leniency!"

Ye Yubei nodded and continued questioning her.

"Lady Shu, what were you about to say? What happened thirteen years ago..."

The Empress turned and cast Lady Shu a cold glance. "Your Majesty, although Lady Shu is guilty, her crimes should not extend to her family..."

At the word "family," Lady Shu shuddered, then refused to utter another word.

Ye Yubei lost patience. "Empress, I'll leave her to you. Bury her with that lover of hers, lest she enter the Imperial Mausoleum and sully my sight."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will handle everything properly."

Ye Yubei turned and left the Palace of Auspicious Jade. Lady Shu raised her head and stared after his retreating figure, unable to come back to herself for a long time...

The Palace of Gathered Elegance.

"Your Majesty..."

Eunuch Wang's shrill voice had barely sounded before Ye Yubei stopped him.

He slowly entered the palace without having anyone announce him. He did not know why; he simply wanted to come here and see her.

Shen Qingqing and Ye Tangtang were taking an afternoon nap in bed. Ye Tangtang lay in Shen Qingqing's arms, sleeping soundly.

As Ye Yubei watched them, warmth filled his heart, a feeling he had never experienced before.

He walked over quietly, sat on the edge of the bed, and rubbed Ye Tangtang's fluffy little head. She was quieter when she was asleep. Every day, she chattered in his ears until his head ached.

Then his gaze fell on Shen Qingqing. Her face was delicate and tender; no one could have guessed that her daughter was already this old.

Ye Yubei stayed there watching them for a long time.

"Your Majesty, I didn't say anything. Please... please spare my family. I've worked for you for more than a decade. Even if I've earned no merit, I've at least toiled for you."

Lady Shu knelt at the Empress's feet. She was something of a veteran in the palace, having entered thirteen years ago and followed Ye Yubei ever since he had first ascended the throne.

"Very good. You know what's best for you. Don't worry, I will naturally protect your family. All you need to do is write them a letter, and... write it like this..."

Following the Empress's instructions, Lady Shu wrote a letter and sent it home. Her father was a prefect and provincial governor. Although he was not a member of the Grand Secretariat, he had close ties to its members.

Then Lady Shu was sentenced to death. She and her lover were beaten to death with clubs, and in the end, their bodies were tossed into the Mass Grave, without even a grave of their own.

It was a fate that drew sighs.

News of Lady Shu's affair spread throughout the imperial palace, though many thought she had deserved her punishment for daring to put a cuckold's green hat on His Majesty.

There were also rumors that Lady Shu had offended the woman in the Palace of Gathered Elegance and the Ninth Princess, which was why this calamity had befallen her.

Everyone in the harem feared for their own safety.

Ye Tangtang naturally knew nothing about this. She had just woken up and stretched lazily. She had slept so well today.

Ye Tangtang climbed out of bed, her hair a tangled mess. Shen Qingqing combed her daughter's hair herself.

"Mommy dear, what's wrong? Why don't you look well?" Ye Tangtang touched her mommy's face.

Shen Qingqing said softly, "It's nothing. My monthly courses have come. You'll have them too when you're a little older, Tang Tang."

[Monthly courses? Isn't that Aunt Flo? I've never had a period. I must be too young. But I drew a pack of sanitary pads today, so Mommy can use them.]

Shen Qingqing: ?

Aunt Flo? And what were sanitary pads?

Ye Tangtang pulled a pack of sanitary pads from her sleeve. "Mommy, you can try these."

"This is..."

"Let me explain how to use it."

After listening to her daughter's explanation, Shen Qingqing examined its construction. She had never seen anything like it, but it looked quite useful. Why not give it a try?