Looking at Xi Xizhi's peaceful sleeping face, An Honghan really couldn't bear to wake her up.
But that was just because he couldn't bear it; such emotions weren't enough to make An Honghan change his mind.
He reached out and gave Xi Xizhi's little bottom a hard slap, successfully waking the child from his sleep.
Pouting in dissatisfaction, Xi Xizhi hummed twice, turned over, and continued to sleep soundly while hugging the quilt.
He didn't care at all about the 'violence' used by An Honghan, and he didn't even open his eyes for a moment.
"Not bad, you can sleep quite a lot." An Honghan's expression remained unchanged, cold and aloof, as if keeping everyone out and not letting anyone into his heart.
Who said Xi Xizhi didn't wake up?
With her hearing, plus the slap that landed on her bottom, even a pig would never be able to sleep.
However... for the sake of her little chubby legs, Xi Xizhi only had one choice... that was to pretend to be asleep.
Just thinking about the size of the Panlong Hall made Xi Xizhi's legs go weak.
As long as she's thick-skinned enough, she can keep pretending!
If she could delay until the moment An Honghan went to the morning court session, she wouldn't need to go for a run.
As the ruler of a country, An Honghan could not neglect state affairs.
I estimated the time in my mind; there were about fifteen minutes left.
Xi Xizhi absolutely refused to get out of bed, clinging tightly to the quilt and refusing to let go.
The eunuchs and palace maids around were getting a little anxious. His Majesty's time was precious, and it was already quite an achievement for him to take some time to run.
An Honghan, who understood her thoughts, was well aware of Xi Xizhi's petty tricks.
His eyes flashed slightly, and he beckoned to Lynn, saying, "Go fetch a basin of cold water."
Ahhh!
Xi Xizhi was furious. Was this some serious game?!
An Honghan wanted to splash her with cold water?! Bastard! Beast! How could he be so heartless!
Lynn didn't react at first, and after a moment of hesitation, replied, "Your Majesty, the palace maids have already prepared hot water for Miss Xi to wash her face. Cold water... is not good for her health."
"The head housekeeper is such a good person!" Xi Xizhi praised in her heart.
An Honghan's gaze turned cold, seemingly displeased with Lin En's response. "I was referring to cold water."
As An Honghan repeated his words, a hint of anger crept into his voice.
Lynn trembled with fright and quickly bowed her head to instruct the palace maid to fetch water from outside.
Lynn wasn't the only one puzzled; all the palace maids and eunuchs present were very puzzled by His Majesty's actions.
Given His Majesty's affection for Miss Xi, even when eating fish, he would remove the bones before feeding it to her.
Should she wash her face with cold water?
Why would Your Majesty do something so bad for your health?
Xi Xizhi pretended to be asleep, but her ears were not completely concealed and twitched unintentionally.
No one dared to neglect the orders given by An Honghan. In no time, someone brought a basin of water into the room.
Hearing the footsteps of the palace maids, Xi Xizhi's heart sank.
"I'll ask you one more time, are you getting up or not?" An Honghan's voice was devoid of any warmth, as cold as ice that had been frozen for millennia.
Having spent a lot of time with An Honghan, Xi Xizhi was naturally not afraid of his voice, but hearing it now still made her feel uneasy.
Time passed second by second, but Xi Xizhi, lying on the bed, remained motionless.
The atmosphere around them seemed to become oppressive instantly. The palace maids and eunuchs all lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
The quieter it was, the more terrifying Xi Xizhi felt.
"It seems you've decided to continue pretending to be asleep."
Upon hearing the words "pretending to be asleep," Xi Xizhi's heart skipped a beat.
It turns out that An Honghan had seen through my plan all along...
Contemplating whether to get up quickly, Xi Xizhi's eyelids began to slowly open.
However, because her back was to An Honghan and the others, no one could see her.
"Give me the basin of water." Those four cold words sent a chill down one's spine.
All the palace maids and eunuchs watched His Majesty with trepidation, understanding what he was about to do.
Taking the basin of water from the palace maid, An Honghan first put his hand into the basin as if to test the water temperature. Suddenly, he raised his hand, and water droplets splashed everywhere, all flying towards Xi Xizhi.
The water droplets pelted Xi Xizhi, and she couldn't help but feel them. The water droplets slid down her pink face, down her neck, and onto the quilt.
An Honghan really splashed her with cold water?!
Are you kidding me?!
The idea swirled in Xi Xizhi's mind, and the next second, she jumped up from the bed.
Apart from the initial splash of water on her, Xi Xizhi kicked off the blankets and avoided the rest.
Seeing that Xi Xizhi had already stood up, An Honghan handed the basin of water to the maid and clapped his hands lightly, seemingly a little dissatisfied that Xi Xizhi had gotten up so quickly.
"I thought I'd have to throw a whole basin of water on you before you'd wake up. Now, have you had enough sleep?"
Have you had enough sleep?
Didn't you see she had two panda eyes?
Xi Xizhi pouted angrily.
Her rosy, peach-like lips evoke a tender, almost masculine, urge to caress them.
An Honghan only glanced at it before he almost couldn't resist and quickly looked away.
"I've had enough sleep." Xi Xizhi really wanted to say 'I haven't had enough sleep,' but when she met An Honghan's icy eyes, the words stuck in her throat.
Knowing that An Honghan was a monarch whose word was law, Xi Xizhi's mood was still terrible whenever she thought about An Honghan splashing cold water on her.
A surge of frustration rose within her, quickly engulfing her heart.
"Why aren't you getting up and changing your clothes?" An Honghan took Xi Xizhi's clothes from the palace maid and handed them to Xi Xizhi.
Xi Xizhi dared not disobey. Although she was angry, she did not lose her temper and anger An Honghan. She obediently took the clothes and put them on.
Seeing Xi Xizhi's sullen expression, An Honghan immediately frowned.
He was forced to do this; if he tolerated Xi Xizhi this time, what about next time?
Repeated indulgence will only make her lazier.
The consequence of laziness is falling behind, and once you fall behind, you lack the ability to protect yourself when you encounter danger.
Although he was willing to protect Xi Xizhi at all times, what if? What if there really was a time when he couldn't protect her anymore?
Although he was the ruler of a country, he was still just a mortal.
"If you don't get up now, you won't be allowed to have breakfast later." An Honghan turned around and took two steps outside, hardening his heart and ignoring Xi Xizhi's expression.
Xi Xizhi was so angry that she gritted her teeth. The two things she loved most in her life were eating and sleeping.
An Honghan ruined both things at once, how could Xi Xizhi not hate him?
With her teeth clenched so tightly they pounded, Xi Xizhi turned her head to the side and snorted.
Xi Xizhi was also wearing a loose gauze dress, which seemed to have been specially ordered to be made by Jinxiu Manor for running.
Xi Xizhi touched the fabric and immediately recognized it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com