Five Years After My Death, the Mad Emperor Still Summons My Spirit

Ming Lingyi heard Li Yun’s footsteps as he left the bedchamber. She lay amidst the covers, her body so limp she couldn’t muster an ounce of strength.

A moment ago, as Li Yun had pulled away, he had whispered in her ear, asking if she wanted him to carry her to her bath.

Even though Ming Lingyi felt rather sticky, she had no intention of letting Li Yun carry her.

She had no idea if she could endure another round if Li Yun really did carry her to the bathing pool.

The hour was already late, and they had already fooled around when Li Yun woke up. If they delayed any longer, Ming Lingyi was genuinely afraid that the old saying, "From then on, the emperor skipped his morning court," might come true for Li Yun.

She had no interest in becoming a siren who led the country to ruin.

After quickly sending him away, she lay languidly on the dragon bed.

Her body was still steeped in a lingering afterglow, leaving her without a shred of energy, when suddenly, Ming Lingyi heard Li Yun’s footsteps approaching again.

Then, a large hand swept aside the bright yellow bed curtains, and Li Yun’s face appeared before Ming Lingyi once more.

"I’ll have Yu Yi and the others come attend to you. Do you want to bathe and then go back to sleep? Or should I have them bring some snacks first to tide you over?"

It seemed Li Yun was only just now remembering that after he had taken Ming Lingyi to the bathing pool last night, neither of them had eaten dinner.

Not that he could really be blamed.

After all, by the time they left the bathing pool, Ming Lingyi had already run out of strength and fallen into a deep sleep against his chest.

Even if he had thought of dinner then, Li Yun would never have woken Ming Lingyi from her slumber.

Ming Lingyi hadn’t felt hungry before Li Yun mentioned it, but now that he brought it up, she did feel a pang of hunger.

"Mm, have the Imperial Kitchen prepare something," Ming Lingyi said.

As she spoke, she warily pulled the blanket tighter, her eyes filled with a renewed sense of caution as she looked at the man before her.

Li Yun noticed her movement and chuckled softly. He didn’t say a word, simply lowering his head and, before Ming Lingyi could react, biting down on her lip.

It was a long, breathless kiss. Li Yun was thoroughly satisfied, while Ming Lingyi was left feeling weak and pliant.

Her lips and tongue had been thoroughly plundered, and every inch of her body felt steeped in the scent of the man before her.

By the time Li Yun pulled away, Ming Lingyi was still panting softly.

A moment ago, in a fit of pique, she had bitten his Adam’s apple.

For Li Yun, this action was clearly tantamount to opening a dangerous floodgate.

Li Yun’s prominent Adam’s apple bobbed, and his gaze darkened considerably.

He braced his hands on either side of Ming Lingyi, pausing for a long moment. In the end, reason prevailed, reining in the dangerous tension coiled within him.

"I’m going to morning court," Li Yun said, straightening up. His voice was a little hoarse.

Ming Lingyi was more than happy to see him go; there was never a moment she didn’t feel he was dangerous when he was near.

As Li Yun stepped out of the bedchamber for the second time, Liu Ye was holding the Emperor’s crown, about to place it on his master’s head. But then, he abruptly spotted a fresh, obvious love bite on his master’s neck. The Chief Eunuch’s hand trembled, and he nearly dropped the crown that symbolized the supreme authority of the Dayan Dynasty.

He drew in a sharp breath.

’Her Majesty is far too bold!’

’Of course, his master was just as audacious.’

’Otherwise, how could he dare appear before the court officials covered in such marks?’

It was only when Li Yun’s men went to the Eastern Palace to summon Yu Yi and Yanxia that Li Yan learned his mother had arrived at the palace yesterday.

He had wanted to go to the restaurant to join in the fun yesterday, but it had also been the birthday of his tutor, Wen Yunseng, the Minister of Rites.

As his student, Li Yan had personally delivered a gift to the Wen Mansion to celebrate his tutor’s sixtieth birthday.

By the time he left the Wen Residence, the festivities at Ming’s Restaurant had already died down.

He didn’t find his mother, but he did run into his uncle.

His uncle had a few friends with him at the time, and after exchanging pleasantries, Li Yan learned that his mother had likely gone off to discuss business and wasn’t at the restaurant.

With nothing else to do, and no idea when his mother would return to the restaurant, he had no choice but to head back to the palace.

But now, Li Yan suddenly realized that his mother had been in the palace all along yesterday. Taiji Palace wasn’t even that far from the Eastern Palace, yet he hadn’t known a thing. The feeling was incredibly vexing.

’If only I had known sooner! I could have seen Mother yesterday, couldn’t I?’

And now, even knowing his mother was in the palace, he had to go to his lessons. He didn’t even have time to go and pay his respects to her.

So, as Li Yan walked out of the Eastern Palace, his little face was puffed up with indignation.

’This is outrageous!’

Li Yan couldn’t help but think, ’Father could have summoned me yesterday. We could have dined with Mother together. But he just had to forget all about me! I didn’t even get to see her!’

As he was boarding the carriage, Jianzhen reached out to help his young master up, only to hear a small, aggrieved voice drift into his ear—

"How could he be so unfair!"

Jianzhen, thinking he had misheard, looked up in confusion. "Your Highness?"

’What’s unfair?’

’I don’t think I did anything, did I?’

Li Yan stomped up into the carriage, his little face, puffed up like a steamed bun, suddenly deflated. "It’s nothing..."

Those were words he wanted to say to his father, but for now, he could only rage impotently at the empty air.

Li Yan knew, of course, that even if he did confront his father with this accusation, the Emperor would just calmly ask, "And so what?" Then, he would still be left to rage impotently...

’So frustrating!’

Ming Lingyi had no idea that Li Yun, by summoning the two ladies-in-charge from the Eastern Palace, had nearly made his own son puff up with anger like a blowfish.

She was now ready, having eaten some pastries to tide her over before her bath.

After morning court, Li Yun had to keep some ministers behind for a "private meeting," so he hadn’t returned yet.

Seeing that the hour was growing late, Ming Lingyi prepared to leave.

Her decision to leave sent the servants of Taiji Palace into a panic.

Everyone serving in Taiji Palace was one of Liu Ye’s trusted subordinates. Who among them didn’t know this was the Empress?

The Emperor obviously didn’t want the Empress to leave just like that, but if Her Majesty was truly set on departing, could they possibly stop her?

A quick-witted little eunuch had already scurried off to find Liu Ye. This was not a decision they could make on their own.

Whether they detained the Empress or let her go, one wrong move could cost them their heads.

After all, everyone in the palace knew that when it came to matters concerning the Empress, the Emperor’s reactions couldn’t be predicted by common logic.

Before long, Liu Ye received the message on the other end.

Liu Ye was speechless.

He truly felt like kicking the little eunuch who brought him the message.