How To Survive as a Villain

The wind coming from the North swept past the ground covered with white grass and snow in succession. Xiao YuAn woke up one night only to see the dead branches outside the window. Hanging from the branches were crystal clear ice flowers, and the crows were howling miserably from the cold. It was so quiet that if four needles fell, he would be able to hear the sound of them hitting the ground.

The maid who helped him fall asleep yesterday had already disappeared, and when Xiao YuAn had risen from his bed, what welcomed him was the sight of complete chaos. His Imperial bedchamber had been ransacked of valuables, and all the gold and silver had disappeared too.

However, Xiao YuAn wasn’t surprised. Ever since the Southern Yan Kingdom stationed themselves outside the Imperial City the previous day, the Imperial Palace had been in chaos. The Royal relatives, Minister and subordinates, all of them had run away. There were smashed things scattered all over the place, the original majestic and peaceful Imperial Palace has ceased to exist.

Xiao YuAn lifted the quilt to get up and began to dress himself. However, these heavy patterned clothing were so complicated that Xiao YuAn couldn’t figure out how to wear them properly. In the end, he just casually wrapped himself in a thick coat, a random outer robe, wrapped himself in cotton fur, and then walked out of the bedchamber.

All the Imperial guards and servants had already escaped from the Imperial Palace. The Ministers who had advised him several times to escape a few days ago, were also long gone. The Palace, which was originally full of songs and dances, now looked extremely desolate and chaotic. This was the sight of rising and falling; some people were so angry they could vomit, others felt such bitterness they could only cry like the crows.

Xiao YuAn stepped in the snow and walked all the way to Yongning Palace. When he passed by the Yingfeng Yulu Pavilion, he couldn’t help but stop in his tracks.

The original Pavilion with its golden tiles and red eaves, was now piled up with broken tiles. The original prosperity cannot be seen anymore. By looking at this Pavilion, he could almost see Yan HeQing sweeping the snow as if in a trance. After a while, he settled his thoughts and left in a hurry.

Yongning Palace was also a mess. There were clothes scattered all over the floor, and there were broken wood debris. Xiao YuAn suddenly felt very anxious and hurriedly rushed into the main Hall.

What Xiao YuAn never expected was that Princess Yongning’s bedroom was actually the same as usual. Princess Yongning was sitting in front of the dressing box, dressed in a plain white robe. There were no servants around, and she was alone, applying makeup on her eyebrows and lips. When she heard some noise, she turned her head. When she saw it was Xiao YuAn, she smiled warmly: “Imperial Brother.” Xiao YuAn saw Princess Yongning standing up, waving her sleeves and dancing. When she finished she asked him with a smile: “Was it beautiful?”

Xiao YuAn said: “Very beautiful.”

This was no longer a prosperous Imperial Palace, instead, this was a dilapidated Palace. And yet, there’s still a place to sing; where some things have remained the same, but people have changed, becoming completely fearless.

Princess Yongning drew up her sleeve and asked: “Imperial brother, do you have any regrets?”

Xiao YuAn was stunned for a moment, as if he heard the voice of the Nation ringing in his ears again. A voice that cursed him for letting Yan HeQing go, and even for the fall of the Northern Kingdom. But still, he said with a smile: “No.”

“Is that so?” Princess Yongning lowered her eyes: “I really envy Imperial Brother.”

Xiao YuAn stepped forward: “Ning’er, are you afraid of the breaking of the Country?”

The corners of Princess Yongning’s mouth were slightly raised, but she was inexhaustibly remorseful: “Yongning is not afraid of the Country’s destruction, nor do I fear the death of my family. The only regret I have is, that at that time, at that time… I didn’t show her my feelings, I didn’t speak with my heart, and now, if we don’t see each other again, I’ll be reduced to tears. I only wish for her to have a lifetime of peace and well-being.”

Xiao YuAn reached out and stroked Princess Yongning’s hair: “You will see each other again, don’t worry. I’ll let him¹ come see you.”

Princess Yongning suddenly raised her head, her breathing was unsteady: “But, but, how can I let her come see me, how can I let her see me like this, reduced in such a situation?”

“Don’t worry, he will definitely want to see you. You just have to wait here, you can wait for him, I promise you.” Xiao YuAn showed a shallow smile, but his eyes were full of pity: “Ning’er, don’t feel guilty. You don’t have to care about what happened, you must not blame yourself. Life is short, and there’s no way back to what home was before. Since you two adore each other, then you two must be together. And when you see him again, forget about everything else and just go with him.”

Princess Yongning’s eyes had a little bit of confusion in them, as if she was half-aware of what Xiao YuAn’s words meant, but she still nodded her head regardless.

Xiao YuAn breathed a long sigh of relief, as if he had dropped a big stone from his heart. He reassured Princess Yongning a few more times before turning away and leaving.

Suddenly, heavy snow fell from the sky, as if to add more desolations to the already depressed Palace. Xiao YuAn slowly walked back to his bedchamber, but suddenly stopped not far from its entrance.

Because there was a man standing at the entrance of his bedchamber.

A short chapter, and we get to see how almost everyone fled away while XYA just refused to leave ( •́ ∧ •̀ )

And his conversation with Yongning was kinda funny, not gonna lie, she was clearly talking about XPY and XYA still believes that she’s thinkng of YHQ lol, no my darling, she a lesbian (๑´ㅂ`๑)

Footnotes

1. Here’s a miscomunication: Princess Yongning is using 她 tā, which translates to She. But Xiao YuAn hears 他 tā, which translates to He. Both are pronounced the same, but the character is different. Which leds to the miscomunication of Yongning speaking about Xiao PingYang, but Xiao YuAn thinking she’s talking about Yan HeQing.