Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Forced Kiss
"Your Highness, have you had your meal?" the woman asked without any reason.
Since leaving Changchun Palace, Li Cheng had been handling a day's work in Xuanguang Hall, having only taken a short nap on the inner couch after lunch. It was already late, and when the woman asked him this, he realized he was indeed hungry.
"Why don't you have some at Zhilan Residence before leaving, Your Highness? Drinking on an empty stomach is harmful to your health, so dinner is just the right thing to fill your stomach." The woman put down the blood-red wine, held her chin with her hand, and looked at him with a smile.
Li Yan had no reason to refuse, so he pondered for a moment and nodded: "Okay."
"Dongzhi, go to the small kitchen and ask the imperial chef to serve some of His Highness's favorite food," Liang Hanzhang turned around and ordered. Dongzhi uttered an "ah" after receiving the order and was about to run to the small kitchen.
As he ran, he thought to himself, His Highness has never stayed in the backyard, and no one knows his eating habits. When the royal chefs heard that His Highness had arrived, they would probably be busy.
Qiufen said from the side: "I heard that Your Highness likes to eat roasted rabbit meat, why don't you ask the kitchen to prepare it and serve it." Li Fu's pupils suddenly shrank when he heard this, and he took a breath of cold air.
Liang Hanzhang almost forgot about this and thought to himself that he was negligent. Then he nodded and said, "Okay, Qiufen has experience, so please go down and keep an eye on it."
"I'll take my leave," Qiufen's eyes flashed with joy. Just as she was about to turn around and leave with Dongzhi, she was stopped by the prince's indifferent voice: "No need."
His eyes were as sharp as a blade that could pierce through a person's chest. Disgust flashed across his face as he passed by Qiufen's figure and said lightly:
"Roasting rabbit meat is a complicated and time-consuming process, and it's getting late today, so there's no need to make such a fuss. I have to go back to the front hall to handle official business after dinner."
It was as if a basin of cold water was poured down on her head. Qiufen's face froze and her eyes were misty, almost as if she was about to cry. She looked so pitiful, but the man's eyes never fell on her from beginning to end, so Qiufen had to leave in embarrassment.
Liang Hanzhang glanced at the two of them, and seemed to discover the undercurrent between them, and couldn't help but frowning slightly.
The atmosphere grew strangely cold, and she could clearly sense the uneasy look on the man's face. Knowing that the Autumnal Equinox could bring bad luck to men, Liang Hanzhang, fearing the consequences, sat silently beside him, head bowed.
The man's slender white bony fingers tapped lightly on the table from time to time, his thin lips tightly pursed, and the majestic aura that only belongs to a crown prince is frightening.
As the only person besides His Highness who knew about the situation, Li Fu lamented that Qiufen was asking for trouble, while worrying about the Empress's indifference.
His Highness was clearly a soft-hearted person, and if Empress Fengyi didn't speak up, his face would remain cold until the end of the year. All she needed to do was offer some words of comfort to His Highness, to save the situation. Why didn't the Empress understand?
Liang Hanzhang was confused when she noticed the old eunuch behind the man winking at her. She looked at him with confused and innocent eyes. Li Cheng noticed that something was wrong with her behavior and asked, "What's wrong?"
As soon as he spoke, the old eunuch was obviously relieved and waved Liang Hanzhang to indicate that he didn't need to work anymore. How could he have forgotten the importance of the Empress in His Highness's heart?
The suggestion of roasting rabbit meat was made by Qiufen, that lowly maid. How could His Highness take his anger out on the Empress? If he had taken his anger out on her, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to defend the Empress at the door just now. Liang Hanzhang's eyes swept from the eunuch who shook his head and waved at him, then back to the noble man with a sullen face. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he couldn't help but say cautiously, "Your Highness is unhappy."
Li Cheng glanced at her expressionlessly and said, "No."
Liang Hanzhang: "Then why..."
Li Cheng: "I'm just unhappy with that maid who just acted on her own." As if realizing his tone was a bit harsh, he subconsciously softened his voice, "It has nothing to do with you, and it's not that I'm unhappy with you."
The warm light from the room softly shone on the man's face, casting a gentle light on his handsome and majestic features. The main hall, which had been cold and silent just a moment ago, was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere because of his words.
Liang Hanzhang's face flushed, and the tips of her ears grew redder at an uncontrollable pace. Too embarrassed to look at him, she lowered her eyes and spoke in a muffled voice, "Mother Zhang knows."
The woman's eyes were as clear as water, and she was too embarrassed to look at him. When she tilted her head, her white and delicate neck was exposed, and her round and small earlobes were visible from under her hair.
Li Cheng felt his mouth suddenly dry. Without a second thought, he picked up the wine flask and poured himself a glass of blood-red wine, gulping it down in one gulp. The fiery wine exploded on his taste buds, numbing the tip of his tongue for a moment before he felt better.
Although the Queen Mother once said that this wine would not make people drunk and was good for the body, His Highness had always had a poor tolerance for alcohol on an empty stomach. Li Fu was afraid that he would get sick from drinking it, so he carefully advised: "Your Highness, although fine wine is good, drinking on an empty stomach will harm your health."
Li Cheng waved his hand impatiently, indicating that it was okay.
Liang Hanzhang looked at the eunuch who was bending over and trying to persuade him earnestly, and suddenly understood why he had been able to sit firmly in the position of the chief steward of the Eastern Palace for many years.
Facing this stubborn, arrogant and difficult-to-serve master, Li Fu advised him like an elder that drinking is harmful to the body and His Highness should not drink too much.
His words were not respectful enough but sincere. Li Fuxu was more than twenty years older than the Crown Prince, and to be honest, it was probably because the old eunuch had long regarded the Crown Prince as his own child.
Li Cheng was the crown prince, second only to the emperor. Around him were countless servile and fawning servants, but he only kept Li Fu by his side. Perhaps it was the tragic experience of his childhood that was the only warmth left in the old eunuch.
After all, the Eastern Palace is the residence of the crown prince. Even though Fengyi is only the one with the lowest status among the crown prince's concubines, her small kitchen is still equipped with several imperial chefs.
Now, hearing that His Highness is visiting Zhilan Residence, this is a rare opportunity that only comes once in a century. The servants in the small kitchen wish they could have three heads and six arms so that they can prepare a meal that will satisfy His Highness as soon as possible.
When dinner was served, Li Cheng was sitting on the couch, flipping through the travel books he had given to Liang Hanzhang some time ago.
He casually opened a book. The rest of the book was nothing special, except for the volume that recorded the customs and rituals of Nanzhou. It was obvious that it had been read frequently and the pages were yellowed.
I couldn't help but ask: "Do you like Nanzhou very much?"
Liang Han was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting him to ask such a question. She paused with her hand clutching the corner of her clothes. "I guess so. I've lived in Chang'an for a long time and have never been to such a place. But I heard that the vegetation in Nanzhou is evergreen all year round, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and a wide variety of species."
Talking about a topic that interested her, her voice suddenly became cheerful: "I can't compare with the grand ambitions of the saints and sages who looked up at the blue sea and settling in the dark woods, but if I am lucky enough in this life, I really want to go and see it." Her eyes were filled with longing.
Li Cheng was attracted by her lively eyes and eyebrows, and he couldn't help but stop turning the pages. He immediately reminded her: "The southern barbarian land is hot and humid, and the miasma is spreading. Even a strong man can't stand being banished there, let alone your small body."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and said in surprise: "If ordinary officials were demoted to this place, they would either cry and wail or be disheartened. It is rare for you to be not only not afraid, but even look longing on your face." It is really... ignorance is fearless.
"I know, I'm just curious," she retorted in a low voice, disapproval on her small face. "Although I'm small and thin, I've done a lot of hard work, so I'm certainly not as strong as an ordinary man, but I'm definitely not as fragile as Your Highness imagines." Otherwise, how could she have survived such a tiger's mouth?
He raised his head and glanced at him quickly, like a little squirrel that had been caught, and changed the subject: "Your Highness, please have your meal quickly, or it will get cold."
The man suppressed his expression, walked to the palace maid holding the copper basin, wiped his hands, lifted his robe, sat on the chair, and nodded, "Use it."
Liang Hanzhang had already eaten before he came, and was not hungry at all, so he just stood by and prepared to help serve the dishes, but Li Cheng stopped him with his eyes: "Sit down."
Liang Hanzhang:
"I don't like people serving me food when I eat, so you don't have to help me." He glanced at the crowd of people standing nearby and ordered, "Everyone, go away."
It was a rare sight to see His Highness willing to be alone with Empress Fengyi. Li Fu was overjoyed and quickly ordered the others to leave. He even thoughtfully closed the palace door when he left.
"You don't want to eat?" Li Cheng's face flushed as he watched the woman stare at him intently, her chin in her hand. He couldn't help but ask. The temperature in the room was really high, he thought.
"I have just used it."
Li Cheng: "Then go find something to do instead of just sitting here." The man was used to not talking while eating or sleeping, so he gave a few simple instructions and then stopped talking.
How could Liang Hanzhang be willing to leave him alone to do his own thing during their time together? If the two of them could get closer tonight, it would be best...
Her eyes rolled around, and she suddenly saw the wine jug next to her. She thought that this was a gift from the Queen. If she didn't taste it, wouldn't it be a contempt for the Queen's majesty? How could she be worthy of the kind-hearted Queen?
Besides, she really wanted to taste what such a precious wine tasted like.
Without saying much, she grabbed the wine jug and poured wine into her cup. The blood-red liquid reflected the woman's gentle eyebrows and eyes. She looked at the tiny bubbles floating on the wine, sucking her in like a whirlpool.
By the time she realized what was happening, the wine in the cup had already been drained. She sipped her lips to savor the taste, but apart from a slight burning sensation in her throat, she still had no idea what the wine tasted like.
Looking at the woman who had poured three glasses of wine in the blink of an eye, Li Cheng's eyes fell on her flushed face to stop her: "Don't drink anymore, be careful not to get drunk."
Liang Hanzhang's mind was blank, and she didn't know what day it was. After drinking, her bright eyes and eyebrows became more vivid. She shook her head and found that two identical men appeared across from her. She couldn't help but wonder, "Your Highness... Why are there two Your Highnesses?"
Hearing her incoherent words, Li Cheng knew that she was drunk, so he snatched the wine cup from her hand without saying anything.
Unexpectedly, the usually humble and obedient woman was like a furious lion at this moment. She dodged the attack nimbly and said fiercely, "Don't steal my things! I...I want to drink!"
Her clean, clear and slightly empty eyes stared at Li Cheng, and she laughed, "Your Highness has become a different person again!" Her eyebrows curved with laughter, revealing her white and small teeth.
Li Cheng tugged at his collar impatiently, once again feeling that the temperature in the main hall was too high.
The woman, still insistent, came over, holding a cup filled with fine wine to his lips and coaxing him, "Your Highness, drink." Her voice was so soft that Li Cheng felt like he was treading on cotton.
Knowing clearly that she was drunk, unconscious and talking nonsense, Li Cheng still opened his mouth and drank the blood-red wine from her hand.
His thin lips had turned a brilliant crimson, still stained with water droplets. The watery red lips looked incredibly voluptuous. Liang Hanzhang couldn't help swallowing, his mouth suddenly dry. He murmured, "Your Highness, you are truly handsome."
Before he finished speaking, the woman's chattering lips pressed against the man's bright red lips, and her slightly sharp teeth bit him gently, the sound lost in the two people's mouths.
Li Cheng's eyes suddenly widened.
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