VHBF – Chapter 29 Emperor Daddy (Part 6)

Not all of this batch of palace people were simply beaten thirty strokes and released from the palace. For example, the few maids in Consort Duan’s palace who took part in abusing Yinyin were each beaten one hundred strokes. Those who couldn’t endure it were hastily wrapped up and discarded, while those who barely survived were carried home by their families outside the palace. Still, they would be bedridden for a year or more.

When the system learned of this, it sighed silently for a long time. As expected of the villain’s subordinates—even though Lord Lin appeared gentle, his methods were merciless. Moreover, this was one of Earth’s earliest feudal dynasties, where imperial power was absolute, and human life as light as grass.

The system pondered for a long while. After being in this world for a few days, it realized the little human cub had survived purely on dumb luck. Anyone could have snuffed her out easily. But…

The system looked at the little Yinyin, who was now locked in a glaring contest with the villain over the matter of braiding hair. It chuckled softly, its halo glowing faintly.

The system thought quietly: But now things are different. With the villain around, this little human cub can be as reckless as she pleases!

Lin Yi, having served at the emperor’s side for many years, naturally understood His Majesty’s intent. The truly guilty could not be let off, while the minor offenders were beaten thirty strokes and expelled from the palace—enough to hurt but not to kill, at most keeping them bedridden for half a month.

As for the four servants from Jingyuan Palace, old and crippled as they were, especially the elderly nanny, Lin Yi gave a subtle signal to the executioners to go easy. Of course, he did this for the little princess’s sake and dared not mention it to the emperor.

The old nanny didn’t suffer much, but she refused to leave, kneeling at the palace gate. Kneeling with her were the three originally assigned with her to Jingyuan Palace, as well as the tearfully miserable Eunuch Dou.

No matter how much Lin Yi tried to persuade, none of them were willing to leave. The four from Jingyuan Palace remained stubbornly silent. Eunuch Dou, having been beaten thirty strokes, for the first time lowered himself to beg his old colleague Lin Yi.

“Lord Lin, we’re old acquaintances. I beg you—please speak to His Majesty for me. I’ve served him for many years, how can I bear to leave? Besides, I only wish now to serve by the little princess’s side…”

Inside Longqian Palace, a pair of big and small eyes were locked in a stare-down. Yinyin had already been washed and dressed in clean clothes—light milky yellow garments, a shade softer than the emperor’s dragon robe. The gentle color made her look all the more tender.

Yinyin was very pleased with her outfit. Out of the few hastily tailored clothes made for her, this was her favorite—because it matched her daddy’s color!

After her bath, she had eagerly asked the palace maid to help her put it on.

The little one now stood on the carpet barefoot, her tiny feet in embroidered socks with little bunny heads. Her sparse wisps of hair scattered over her head. Hands on her hips, she glared at the man in front of her, round eyes blazing with childish fury—yet she looked so lively and spirited.

“Daddy, braid Yinyin’s hair!”

Yinyin had always been pushy before her father. Give her a bit of sunshine and she’d set the whole palace on fire. The palace attendants dared not look at the sight of the emperor being ordered around, all bowing their heads, wishing they could go deaf.

The man was silent for a long time. “…Let the maids braid it for you.”

But Yinyin refused to yield. When Daddy first brought her back, it had been the maids who did her hair. She puffed her cheeks and snorted, “Don’t want!”

The servants were terrified. Who dared speak to His Majesty like this? To tell him “no”? That was asking for death!

Yet the little one His Majesty had picked up dared to.

The standoff lasted quite a while. Then Yinyin suddenly had an idea—she rolled up her sleeve, showing her little arm covered in faint bruises from pinching. In her soft childish voice, she drew out the words pitifully: “Daddy, it huuurts…”

That one “Daddy, it hurts” was milkily plaintive, tugging at every heartstring, as though she’d suffered some tremendous grievance and was about to burst into tears.

Wei Jue froze, then spoke: “…Come here.”

The attendants: “…”

They all lowered their heads toward their toes. No mistake—if this wasn’t his real child, then they must all be blind!

No one in the palace had ever seen the emperor with his own flesh and blood—there had been no princes or princesses born yet. But considering his nature, even if he did have a child, surely he wouldn’t be so indulgent? What they were witnessing had already far exceeded anything they’d imagined of the emperor as a father.

Yinyin cheered happily, rushing to fetch hair ties and ribbons from the maid, even picking out a pretty little flower ornament. The maid had said only grown-ups could wear it, but Yinyin believed she could too—after all, Daddy said Yinyin was the prettiest girl!

Wei Jue stared at the ornate, colorful little accessories in her hands. He was silent for so long the attendants thought he had changed his mind and would throw her out of the hall the next second.

But though his face remained dark and stern, he did not order her away. Instead, he accepted the pile of pretty hair ornaments that Yinyin had carried so carefully.

That bright and delicate little bundle was held in the hands of the ever cold and ruthless emperor. His long fingers—accustomed to signing decrees and ending lives—clumsily fumbled again and again, trying to figure out how to braid hair.

The little princess was as chirpy as a bird, tirelessly instructing him, “Daddy, that’s wrong—ouch! Tie it looser…”

Her childish voice was sweet and crisp, enough to melt hearts. But the attendants only shivered, not daring to look or listen, slipping quietly out of the room.

By bedtime, Wei Jue’s brow was twitching again.

They couldn’t return to Jingyuan Palace, and Yinyin had accepted that Daddy wouldn’t sleep with her. She was used to being alone anyway. Still, she wanted to say goodnight to Daddy.

Because of her, everything had been delayed. After she finished dinner and had medicine applied, Wei Jue dismissed her, ordering a maid to take her for a walk to help digestion.

He then instructed the newly appointed Xiao Yuzi, the eunuch who had filled Eunuch Dou’s place, to arrange Yinyin’s lodgings. His words were brief: “The side hall is vacant. Arrange it.”

Even so, it was rare for the emperor to say this much. Normally, he never bothered with such details.

Xiao Yuzi responded in a fluster, then immediately led maids to tidy up the side hall of Longqian Palace. The place was scrubbed spotless, and the softest brocade quilt from the storeroom was chosen. After all, the child’s skin was delicate—and she was someone the emperor valued now. She might even be his own flesh and blood, so of course she should sleep in the best bed with the best quilt!

Though less experienced than his master, Xiao Yuzi had learned under Eunuch Dou’s guidance. Without being emotionally involved, he could clearly see just how indulgent the emperor was toward this lively little princess.

Still, he fretted. He wanted desperately to save his punished master, but dared not mention it. Everyone in the palace knew His Majesty’s temper—if he spoke out of turn, tomorrow he’d join his master in disgrace.

Yinyin was overjoyed. Daddy had promised to braid her hair again tomorrow. She touched her two crooked little braids, smiling in satisfaction, whispering to Maid Xiaohua to share her happiness: “Sister Xiaohua, Daddy braided them for me.”

Maid Xiaohua was helpless. The little princess kept turning back every few steps to show off her braids, doing it over and over. She could only keep replying dutifully: “The braids are beautiful. His Majesty is so kind to Princess Yinyin!”

Yinyin turned back with a proud little look, then secretly grinned. “Sister Xiaohua has such good taste!”

Xiaohua: “…”

Just stay safe, please!

To Xiaohua’s eyes, those two braids His Majesty had done were hideous—crooked, uneven, loose, and messy. Her already thin hair looked even worse.

Worst of all, at Yinyin’s insistence, a pink peach blossom hairpin—the latest fashion, finely made—had been stuck in among the chaos. On its own, it was exquisite. But stuck in her messy hair… words failed.

And yet the emperor and the princess seemed perfectly satisfied!

Xiaohua had even witnessed the emperor’s expression subtly relax when he finished, as if relieved. And when Yinyin asked if it looked nice, that cold, merciless tyrant actually forced himself to nod??

Now seeing the little princess bouncing proudly, Xiaohua began to doubt reality. Maybe this really was the latest fashion in hairdressing?

According to their agreement, Daddy would braid her hair again tomorrow morning. After her evening walk, Yinyin should go straight to bed. But when she thought of Daddy, she felt something was missing.

She pondered for ages, nearly wearing out her little brain, before she finally remembered—she hadn’t given Daddy his goodnight kiss! She’d heard that people who got goodnight kisses would be happier, and have sweet dreams.

“Uncle System, I need to give Daddy happiness before I can sleep!”

The system: “…”

It remembered how, in the first life, the little cub had begged Luo Sheng for goodnight kisses the same way. Even now, though she’d forgotten everything from that world, she still clung to this habit.

Because of Yinyin, much time had already passed. After dinner, Wei Jue had gone to the imperial study and worked through most of the towering stack of memorials. Only when a young eunuch reminded him of the late hour did he finally put down his brush.

Wei Jue was not known for being a kind emperor. In fact, some whispered behind his back and called him a tyrant. But in truth, Emperor Wei was the most capable and formidable ruler his dynasty had seen in generations. The ministers often sighed—if only His Majesty were more humane, he would be a once-in-a-century sovereign!

“Your Majesty, will you be retiring?”

Xiao Yuzi almost asked whether His Majesty wished to summon a concubine. It had been months since he last visited the harem. But Wei Jue waved his hand, so Xiao Yuzi swallowed the words and quickly extinguished the lamps, leaving only a single flickering light.

The bedchamber plunged into dimness. Wei Jue, being skilled in martial arts, disliked anyone keeping watch as he slept. The vast palace was eerily silent.

Yinyin was startled by the darkness, suddenly uneasy. Clutching her clothes, she stammered to the system: “Uncle System, why is it all dark?”

The system snorted. This little cub had been secretly squatting here all this time, just to give the villain daddy a goodnight kiss. What could it say?

At the foot of the bed, the gauzy curtains rustled softly. Wei Jue frowned and looked over, his gaze sharp as a blade. “Come out.”

The rustling stilled. Wei Jue tugged the curtain aside with his large hand.

There was the little Yinyin, crouched in her nightclothes, looking up at him. His sudden movement startled her, and she covered her eyes with her tiny hands, peeking through her fingers, mouth forming an O.

Wei Jue stared at the terrified little bundle for a long moment. Then, as if recalling something, she squinted her eyes to a slit and mumbled: “Can’t see, can’t see, Daddy can’t see me.”

Wei Jue: “…”

System: “…”

Father and daughter faced each other—one tall and imposing, from her perspective like a towering tree higher than the palace roof; the other a tiny dumpling crouched on the ground like a little rice ball, nervously inching like a slow snail.

Yinyin tilted her little head back, her neck sore and stiff. Seeing her father still scowling down at her, she finally lowered her hands in defeat, lips pouting high.

“Daddy…”