Delicate little white flowers

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and a breeze brought snow, filling the courtyard.

Su Manyan lay on her back in the comfortable bed, covered with a warm goose-feather quilt, her arms resting comfortably behind her head. All the hard work disappeared the moment she got into the dry and warm quilt.

She blinked her dark and bright eyes and stared at the lonely cluster of plum blossoms in the courtyard. For some reason, this reminded her of Xiao Lin.

She looks aloof and gorgeous on the outside, but honest and simple on the inside.

She had just made a slew of requests, and Xiao Lin had good-naturedly agreed to them all. The new room, just assigned that day, had already been furnished by the servants with a tea stove, a cushion, agarwood, and everything else you could need. If anyone else had seen it, they wouldn't have believed it was a eunuch's living quarters.

It seems like he’s a soft-hearted person… Now that’s easy.

Su Manyan despised this utilitarian and realistic society in her heart: The system's props are really useful. With just one such prop, the male protagonist's attitude towards me changed 180 degrees.

I don’t know how long she can enjoy such a good mood, tomorrow, or the day after?

No matter what! Let’s enjoy it first. Su Manyan pulled the quilt over her head and went to have a tryst with Zhou Gong under the quilt.

Early the next morning, Su Manyan wrapped himself in a thick coat, put on long boots and stepped on the snow accumulated overnight. He went to the kitchen to get breakfast - a small bowl of rice porridge and warm steamed buns.

Su Manyan was so moved that she almost wanted to hide her face and cry. This was the best breakfast she had ever had since she traveled through time. Before, she had only eaten hard steamed buns with cold water, which not only did not fill her up, but was also too cold for her stomach, which always gave her stomach upset.

Su Manyan buried her head in her food, seemingly eating simple food, yet she managed to make it taste like a delicacy. Yun Que, sitting nearby, smiled, thinking this new eunuch brother was quite adorable: "Eat slowly."

The maids and eunuchs in the deep palace had been there for years, so they were naturally adept at their duties, even eating quickly. Su Manyan had only eaten halfway when everyone around her had left. She felt embarrassed to continue eating alone, so she quickly picked up her bowl and gulped down the porridge. Before leaving, she even stuffed two steamed buns into her sleeves.

Winter days are short and nights long. It was already the morning of the 11th, and the sky was still dark, but there was a subtle light in the yard, perhaps from the snow. The only sound in the world was the gentle clatter of servants doing chores. Everyone, thinking their master had not yet risen, moved with deliberate gentleness.

Today was another day of chores. Su Manyan was sweeping the snow with a bamboo broom, from east to west, from south to north, and soon arrived at another yard - Xiao Lin's yard.

The door was still closed, and the people in the inner room were still asleep. Xiao Lin's courtyard was a far cry from the princely palaces Su Manyan had seen on television. It was small and sparsely decorated, with only a few tall trees and a few scattered red plum blossoms. It was understandable that a hostage from the Hu Kingdom, imprisoned in the cold palaces of the Southern Kingdom, was in a difficult situation. Su Manyan wanted to know the details, such as the grudge between the Southern and Hu Kingdoms and Xiao Lin's role between them. Perhaps these details would help her better heal Xiao Lin, but the system said it didn't know.

Su Manyan deliberately dragged her feet, sweeping the snow only half-heartedly. She didn't want to leave immediately. She asked the eunuch working with her, "When does His Highness usually get up?"

"Normally I should be up at 11:00 AM. I don't know what's wrong with me today. Maybe I was too tired yesterday."

Su Manyan stared at the room thoughtfully.

"Why don't the sisters go in and serve His Highness? For example, wash and change clothes?"

"His Highness usually doesn't ask anyone to serve him. He is a famous general in the Hu Kingdom. He is used to staying in the military camp and has to rely on himself for all the trivial matters in life. Unfortunately, now..." The eunuch knew that he had said too much and stopped talking.

Su Manyan turned his gaze back to the eunuch and stopped asking questions. He just said, "Little brother, Sister Yunque asked me to add grass to the stable just now. I was lazy for a while while sweeping the snow, and you worked hard. I feel bad about it. How about you add grass for me, and I'll stay here and continue sweeping for a while." Su Manyan looked very ashamed and generously handed over the easy job of adding grass to him.

The eunuch was really beaming after hearing this. Who wouldn't want to do an easy job? He left happily.

Finally, they were sent away. Now, she was the only servant left in the entire courtyard. Su Manyan simply lifted her skirt, sat on the clean steps, took out a cold bun and ate it intently. The white porridge she had drunk in the morning had long been digested. There were so many rules in the palace. There was so much to do, but so little to eat. It was never enough.

From the moment he woke up until now, he had been sweeping the floor non-stop. It was really a physically demanding job. Su Manyan began to admire the father-in-laws of ancient times. It was really hard to earn the emperor's money.

When the sky turned into the white bottom of a porcelain vase and a faint rustling sound came from the house, Su Manyan immediately hid the remaining steamed buns, picked up the broom, and pretended to clean.

She listened attentively and glanced at the palace door. Sure enough, the door opened in just ten seconds.

Xiao Lin was wearing a dark blue robe today, with no extra fur thrown over it. Even with the dark color and simple style, he looked good in it, like a young pine or cypress in winter.

There was a white cloud ring with pine and crane patterns hanging around his waist. I had the impression that he always wore it, which added a touch of elegance to his temperament.

Su Manyan immediately bowed and said, "Greetings to His Highness."

Although Su Manyan was now a close eunuch, Xiao Lin had never seen Yun Que, also a close eunuch, that often. He almost suspected that he was trying to get close to him...

Xiao Lin nodded slightly, but he didn't stop walking as he passed Su Manyan without glancing sideways. Honestly, he found Su Manyan's bundled-up appearance somewhat amusing. Yesterday, he sent a servant to bring her some thick clothes, and she's wearing them all today, wrapping herself up in layers. Is it really that cold? She does look like a New Year's picture doll, with dark eyes and rosy cheeks.

Su Manyan saw Xiao Lin glance at her and then leave. Was he so cold? She quickly spoke up, "Your Highness, thank you for the clothes you gave me. I feel so comfortable wearing them today."

As expected, she came to see him on purpose. Xiao Lin's eyes flashed with interest. He turned around with his hands behind his back, curled his lips and said softly, "It's okay. I also want to thank A Yan for treating my body. If A Yan needs anything in the future, please let me know."

The first step to success is to start a conversation.

"Your Highness, you are embarrassing me with your words. It is my honor to treat Your Highness." Su Manyan said this while taking small steps to close the distance between them. "Your Highness, where are you going now? Do you want me to accompany you?"

"Have you finished Ayan's work?" Xiao Lin asked with a smile, his eyes drifting towards the broom and the snow in the yard.

Su Manyan: “…”

Seeing Su Manyan's frustrated look, Xiao Lin laughed so hard that his shoulders shook. He stopped laughing and suddenly asked, "Are you tired of sweeping the snow, Ayan?"

"Tired, tired, how can I not be tired." Su Manyan frowned and complained, and finally added: "But when I think about providing a better living environment for His Highness, and remember the grace His Highness has bestowed on me, Ayan is not tired at all."

After Su Manyan finished speaking, she deliberately shook her sleeves, and the remaining steamed bun fell and rolled to Xiao Lin's feet. She pretended to be terrified and hurriedly picked it up, lowering her head and explaining, "Your Highness, please forgive me. This is my leftover breakfast. I thought I'd eat some since I was tired from cleaning."

The tone is as aggrieved as it can be.

The second step to success is to play the victim.

A low, mellow laugh echoed from above Su Manyan's head, and the person in front of him said nonchalantly, "Thank you for your hard work, my savior. How about this, Ah Yan, from now on you will be solely responsible for my daily life and my medical treatment, and you can put these odd jobs aside for now. I will also give you a higher salary, as long as you can cure this king's illness."

So, it was waiting for me here! I originally wanted to transfer to the male protagonist's side to complete the system task. But when it comes to healing, how can I say it? I'm only a half-baked person, I really can't do it!

No matter what, getting close to the male protagonist is the first step. Well, it’s definitely not for the sake of enjoying life!

Su Manyan gritted his teeth, then raised his head with a smile on his face the next second, his tone filled with joy and gratitude: "Thank you for the promotion, Your Highness. A Yan will do my best to cure Your Highness."

Xiao Lin helped Su Manyan up with a gentle expression, and the two were polite to each other.

After saying goodbye, Xiao Lin turned around and his smile disappeared: "This eunuch has helped me time and time again, what's his background? He's good in everything, but he's just too cunning."

But fortunately, he has plenty of time to meet A Yan.

When Su Manyan saw Xiao Lin turned around, her face immediately fell. She rubbed her stiff face and snorted in her heart: "Don't you just like to see me playing tricks? As expected, you fall for the tricks of a weak little white flower, and you still play tricks on me."

At lunchtime, Su Manyan was sent to serve Xiao Lin. She was sitting on a bench, chopsticks in hand, ready to eat. Su Manyan's eyes widened, and she asked in surprise, "Is this really what His Highness asked?"

The guard who delivered the message said: "Yes."

"Doesn't His Highness never ask servants to serve him?" The maidservant beside her interrupted and asked Yunque, "Sister Yunque, has His Highness ever asked you to serve him meals?"

Yu Que shook his head, frowned, and told others not to talk too much.

"Okay." Su Manyan reluctantly put down his chopsticks and followed the servant.

Only a group of good brothers and sisters were left screaming silently: Is His Highness really a homosexual?

Su Manyan arrived at Xiao Lin's palace. The room was quiet. He was sitting alone at the dining table. There were a few dishes on the table. They were not shabby, but not rich either. There was not even a servant around. He did not look like a royal family, but rather like an ordinary family.

"Your Highness." Su Manyan greeted politely.

"Yeah." Xiao Lin raised his chin, looked at her and then at the dishes on the table.

Su Manyan: “?”

"Why are you standing there? Serve the food." Xiao Lin was very disappointed with his friend.

Even though Su Manyan had read a lot of novels and watched a lot of TV dramas, it turned out that seeing pigs run didn't equate to eating pork. She hadn't even learned how to serve the dishes.

"Your Highness, I don't know how to do that." He spoke confidently and forcefully.

“…”

Xiao Lin patiently beckoned Su Manyan to stand beside him and said, "Yu Que will come to call you in a while. You can be as casual as you want today. You can try it first."

Su Manyan, already hungry, salivated at the sight of the fish on the table. She scooped up everything on the table, choosing her own preferences, and placed it directly on Xiao Lin's small plate. Each chopstick filled the plate with more, until it gradually piled up into a mountain.

Xiao Lin: “…”

"Ayan, that's enough, I can't see you anymore. Don't hold it anymore, it really blocks my view."

Su Manyan swallowed his saliva and had to stop, feeling a little regretful.

With nothing else to do, Su Manyan felt the atmosphere was awkward, so she turned to Xiao Lin again. "Is your Highness feeling better? Honestly, I have some medical experience, and in my humble opinion, you should take better care of yourself." She only dared to subtly remind Xiao Lin of his condition, not directly mentioning the poisoning. Regardless of whether the male protagonist believed her or not, what if he got angry and killed her?

"Oh?" Xiao Lin looked surprised. "Ayan's implication is that the king is ill?"

"Your Highness, don't worry. As long as you take better care of yourself in the future, there will be no problem." Su Manyan secretly complained: What an exaggerated acting. I don't believe you don't know the problem with your body.

Xiao Lin's eyes flashed, and he turned the conversation back to Su Manyan: "Where did Ah Yan learn medicine? If you were castrated and entered the palace at a young age, could you tell me which master in the Southern Palace you learned from so I can visit him?"