Chapter 18 Settling the Bill "After dinner, are you going to eat me?"...

*Cining Palace.

"Line up one by one, those who are five and a half feet tall, step forward. The rest of you, go back." An elderly nanny, hands on her hips, directed groups of palace maids to enter the courtyard.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

As soon as Eunuch Fu spoke, the eunuchs and palace maids in the courtyard knelt down in a flurry: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Xie Lanzhou glanced at the palace maids kneeling in the front row. Some of them looked somewhat similar from behind, but their figures and appearances were far inferior to hers.

Prince Rui moved a grand chair to the entrance of the palace and sat down, fanning himself with a folding fan as he sized up the palace maids in front of him.

Upon seeing him arrive, he stepped out of the hall and called out, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Xie Lanzhou gave him a scrutinizing look, his gaze lingering on his right hand. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "I was unaware that my imperial brother was also here."

Prince Rui chuckled awkwardly twice: "My mother is not feeling well, and I was worried about her, so I came to the palace to see her. I haven't had a chance to see my brother yet, please don't blame me, brother."

Xie Lanzhou said, "I'll come and take a look too." He then walked past him and headed into the palace.

The Empress Dowager was lying on the canopy bed, her face was pale, and she looked quite sick.

Upon seeing Xie Lanzhou enter, he forced a smile and said, "The Emperor has arrived. Please have a seat."

Xie Lanzhou sat in the main seat: "I heard that the Empress Dowager is ill?"

Empress Dowager: "I am old and only caught a slight cold last night. I am sorry to trouble the Emperor."

Xie Lanzhou: "I thought the Empress Dowager was grieving for her younger brother."

Seeing him mention the Duke of Anguo, whom he had ordered to commit suicide on the spot, so casually, the Empress Dowager's face paled even more, and she almost broke the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand.

She could only grit her teeth and say, "Your Majesty has already seen it. I am fine. Your Majesty should prioritize the affairs of state."

This is tantamount to issuing an eviction notice.

Xie Lanzhou, however, slowly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and showed no intention of leaving.

"I would also like to ask, what is the purpose of such a grand display outside, Empress Dowager?"

The Empress Dowager's face grew increasingly grim, and Prince Rui hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, it was a high-ranking monk from Wanfo Temple who said that Mother's illness requires a special person to copy Buddhist scriptures for forty-nine days in order to cure all her ailments. I am only doing this to fulfill my filial duty, Your Majesty should be able to understand."

Xie Lanzhou drawled out an "oh".

"Of course, since the Empress Dowager's illness will take forty-nine days to recover, she should stay in Cining Palace to recuperate during this time, so as to avoid any unexpected incidents if she goes out."

He spoke of the last two unexpected events with particular sarcasm, and Prince Rui's fake smile froze on his face; this was the meaning of his words.

The Empress Dowager finally couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Emperor, I've watched you grow up, how could you..."

Xie Lanzhou didn't even spare her a glance, instead turning to Prince Rui: "I've heard that my brother is quite interested in the envoys from Yan. Why don't I send you to talk to them?"

Prince Rui was initially guilty, then his eyes widened in surprise, and he said suspiciously, "Your Majesty must have misunderstood. I do not know any envoys from the Yan Kingdom."

Before Xie Lanzhou could speak, he continued, "However, your humble servant is willing to share the burden for Your Majesty. I will submit a memorial on this matter at the morning court tomorrow."

Xie Lanzhou seemed uninterested in his words, staring blankly at his right hand again, and said indifferently, "I will pour you tea."

Prince Rui was flattered and hurriedly picked up the teacup on the table and brought it closer.

Xie Lanzhou picked up the teapot and poured the scalding hot tea onto his right hand, which was holding the teacup, without hesitation.

"Ah! It's so hot!" Prince Rui dropped the teacup he was holding, and it shattered on the floor. He clutched his hand and cried out in pain, "Your Majesty, what are you doing?!"

Xie Lanzhou looked down at the shards of porcelain lying at his feet, frowned in displeasure, and clicked his tongue softly.

Eunuch Fu immediately understood: "Your Highness has been disrespectful in front of the Prince; kneel down immediately!"

Prince Rui glared at Eunuch Fu with displeasure: "You, a mere servant, have no right to speak here. I didn't mean to. I suppose my brother burned me by accident."

After saying this, he gave Xie Lanzhou a hopeful look, which could be considered his compromise.

However, Xie Lanzhou clearly did not think that way. He coldly uttered two words: "Kneel down."

Prince Rui glared at him angrily, but was still intimidated by his instantly icy aura, and reluctantly knelt down a step away from him.

Xie Lanzhou glanced down at the broken porcelain shards in front of him, then beckoned with her finger: "Go forward."

Before Prince Rui could speak, the Empress Dowager on the bed couldn't stand it any longer: "Emperor, he is still your brother!"

Xie Lanzhou smiled. What a loving mother and filial son! It's a pity he'll never experience it in his life.

He didn't repeat himself, but his gaze gradually turned cold, and you could hear a pin drop in the hall.

Prince Rui closed his eyes resignedly, then knelt on the ground and crawled slowly to him.

His knees crushed the shards of porcelain on the ground, causing him excruciating pain that made his eyes widen in agony, but he dared not utter a sound, only lowering his head to conceal the anger and hatred in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I have acted improperly before Your Majesty and beg for your punishment."

"There's no need for punishment. Just kneel here for an hour, and that will be enough to pray for the Empress Dowager's well-being."

After saying this, Xie Lanzhou turned and left. When he walked outside the hall, he saw a group of palace maids kneeling on the ground and waved his hand.

Fu Gonggong understood: "What are you all doing kneeling here? Go do what you're supposed to be doing!"

After leaving Cining Palace, it was time for dinner. Eunuch Fu asked, "Your Majesty, shall we dine at Yangxin Hall?"

Xie Lanzhou raised his hand and pinched the space between his eyebrows, but it was difficult to relieve the dull, throbbing pain in his head. He then remembered the little palace maid who could relieve his headache.

"Let's go to the Star-Picking Pavilion."

Eunuch Fu responded and sent someone to make the arrangements.

When they arrived, it was already dark. The Star-Picking Pavilion was brightly lit. As soon as they entered the second floor, they heard a woman's silvery laughter coming from the inner room.

Su Panyue was still lying in bed, talking animatedly with Lu Tingyu and Shouxi, the three of them laughing more happily than the other.

Xie Lanzhou entered without being announced, so none of the three people in the hall noticed him immediately. It was only when Eunuch Fu coughed lightly that he was alerted.

Su Panyue was surprised that he would come again today, and opened her eyes wide in astonishment, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty."

Lu Tingyu and Shouxi were also startled and quickly stood up to bow.

Xie Lanzhou waved his hand, telling them to go out and prepare dinner, and then slowly walked towards the canopy bed.

Seeing him approach, Su Panyue nervously swallowed, clutched the quilt, and whispered, "Your Majesty, why are you here so late?"

[They're not here to sleep with me, are they?! I'm not ready yet.]

[Shouldn't you take a shower first? I didn't go out today and I'm very clean. This stinky man needs a good wash!]

Hearing her thoughts, Xie Lanzhou almost laughed in exasperation. He had always been a clean person, and this was the first time someone had ever said he smelled bad.

He closed his eyes, walked to the bedside and sat down, smelling her faint fragrance, and relaxed completely.

Su Panyue moved closer and poked his arm.

Xie Lanzhou tilted his head: "You don't welcome me?"

Su Panyue shook her head repeatedly: "No, no, I just haven't taken a bath yet."

Xie Lanzhou chuckled softly. Her mind was really full of those things, but at this moment she really wanted to tease this little yellow girl.

So he reached out and grabbed the hand that Su Panyue had used to poke him, pulling it towards him, and the distance between them suddenly shortened.

Su Panyue lay on the bed, meeting his unfathomable eyes, and muttered to herself:

[He's so handsome! Is he going to kiss me? What should I do? Oh no, I don't remember anything!]

It's true what they say, you only realize how little you know when you need it; I need to review my knowledge properly tomorrow.

Hearing her muttering to herself, filled with both anticipation and nervousness, Xie Lanzhou, as if possessed, slowly leaned down.

Since one of them was already sitting and the other was lying down, Su Panyue was now completely enveloped in his shadow.

As the man's face drew closer, Su Panyue subconsciously closed her eyes, held her breath, and her heart began to race.

"Your Majesty, it's time to dine." Eunuch Fu's voice broke the idyllic atmosphere in the hall.

Su Panyue opened her eyes and saw that Xie Lanzhou had already sat up straight, looking at her with a half-smile. She was immediately embarrassed and angry, and turned her head away angrily, but dared not say anything.

After learning that he had saved her and that they had slept together, Su Panyue was no longer so afraid of him. Sometimes she even thought he was a bit childish, which is why she dared to express her dissatisfaction at being teased so obviously.

Xie Lanzhou smiled and said, "Let's have a meal."

Su Panyue said sullenly, "I didn't know His Majesty was coming. I've already eaten."

"Have you forgotten that as my personal maid, you are also responsible for serving me meals?" He said the words "personal maid" slowly and deliberately, as if to emphasize or threaten.

Su Panyue felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this, and disregarding her embarrassment from what had just happened, she tilted her head in confusion and asked, "Your Majesty, how am I supposed to serve the meal like this?"

As she spoke, she pointed to her ankle, which was wrapped up tightly and could not be moved.

Xie Lanzhou shook the bell by the bed to summon Eunuch Fu, "Bring the meal to the bedside."

Soon a table was moved over and placed next to the bed. Xie Lanzhou sat at the table and handed Su Panyue a pair of bowls and chopsticks.

Since she was already there, Su Panyue readily accepted the offer and picked up her chopsticks to try and eat her favorite glutinous rice lotus root, but her arms weren't long enough, making it quite difficult.

The man then swung his long arm and placed a piece of translucent glutinous rice lotus root into her bowl.

Su Panyue looked up in surprise, wondering if she had seen wrong. The emperor was serving her food?!

As if to confirm her thoughts, Xie Lanzhou placed another crispy fried shrimp into her bowl.

[Wait, who's serving whom this meal?! Is this a deathbed meal?]

Xie Lanzhou glanced at her speechlessly, but continued with his work.

[Whatever, he picked out all my favorite foods anyway.]

Su Panyue picked up her chopsticks, took two bites, nodded beautifully, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

She was always the sweetest, and never stingy with praise: "Your Majesty treats the palace servants around you so well. The people of the world are so fortunate to have such a wise ruler."

After saying that, he continued chewing.

Xie Lanzhou smiled self-deprecatingly. The common people's evaluation of him was either that he was a tyrant and a foolish ruler, or that he was tyrannical and murderous. No one had ever called him a wise ruler.

Su Panyue: "Your Majesty, please have your meal."

Xie Lanzhou slowly began to eat at the small table beside the bed.

Su Panyue secretly glanced at him and couldn't help but sigh:

Good-looking people are a pleasure to watch even when they're eating.

Xie Lanzhou didn't care much for food and always ate little. Just as she was about to put down her chopsticks, her inner voice rang out again:

[You're only eating so little? Won't you be too tired later?]

Xie Lanzhou paused for a moment, then picked up a few more pieces of food and ate them, eventually stopping only after eating significantly more than usual.

With a look of satisfaction, Eunuch Fu ordered the table to be removed and gave Su Panyue an appreciative look.

Su Panyue had no interest in anyone else; her mind was completely occupied with:

"You've finished eating, are you going to eat me now?"

A note from the author:

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This man is so protective of his own; he won't let Yuebao suffer any losses for nothing.

Also, I'll be updating twice this weekend! Please add this to your favorites, it means a lot to me, thank you everyone! [Please][Please]

I just realized I forgot to turn on paragraph comments. No one's commenting, it must be because I forgot to turn them on, right? [shy]