"Your Majesty, if we don't go soon, the ministers will probably get anxious." Lin En looked at the robes His Majesty was wearing. He would need to change into a dragon robe before going to the morning court, and changing clothes would take up a lot of time.
The more Lynn calculated, the more anxious she became. She wanted to say a few more words to urge him on, but she didn't have the courage. She could only stand there anxiously.
"You hurry up and go to the morning court session. I will definitely finish running." Xi Xizhi raised her small hand, snatched the handkerchief, wiped her forehead, and promised An Honghan.
But that's not what An Honghan is worried about.
The more he saw the child leaving to put his mind at ease, the more reluctant he became to leave him alone.
An Honghan ruffled Xi Xizhi's disheveled hair, his cold voice tinged with emotion, "Then let them wait. Didn't you say this is good for both body and mind? For my health, what's wrong with making them wait for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn?"
An Honghan's words made some sense, but was it really worth missing the morning court session just for running?
Lynn's mouth gaped open in astonishment, unable to close it.
His Majesty has never been late for the morning court session before, but today? For such a simple reason, he made the ministers wait?
Did he mishear?
Recalling the reasons His Majesty gave, Lynn found it increasingly unbelievable.
Turning around, he saw Xi Xizhi looking equally surprised, and suddenly he understood.
Your Majesty clearly can't let go of Miss Xi...
Otherwise, why wouldn't he attend the morning court session?
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go tell the ministers!" An Honghan hated anyone who dared to guess his thoughts. His gaze turned cold as he looked at Lin En, a gaze that seemed capable of freezing everything.
Lynn shuddered in fright and quickly lowered her head, not daring to think about anything else.
He has served His Majesty for many years, and hasn't he survived this long precisely because he 'speaks less and thinks less'? He almost broke His Majesty's taboo just now.
In just a few seconds, Lynn's life had teetered on the brink of death.
Xi Xizhi, being oblivious, failed to notice the unusual relationship between An Honghan and Lin En, and was still wondering whether she should persuade An Honghan to attend the morning court session.
Seemingly seeing through the children's thoughts, An Honghan spoke again: "I only told them to wait, not that I would skip the morning court session."
An Honghan spoke with a clear conscience, and he certainly had the right to do so, because he was the ruler of a country, whose position was above all others, and no one could question what he wanted to do or not do.
"Your servant obeys." How could Lynn dare to disobey? He immediately turned around and walked outside.
It seems the ministers are in for a long wait today...
"Keep going." These two simple words told Xi Xizhi that An Honghan would continue to run with her.
And so, the kid who was trying every possible way to avoid running was completely speechless.
Now, not only were the palace maids and eunuchs of Panlong Palace running alongside her, but even the civil and military officials knew that An Honghan had neglected the morning court session in order to run with her...
Only An Honghan would do something so reckless...
If she were a bit older, a graceful young woman, then who knows, from today onwards, rumors would spread that she was a "femme fatale who brought ruin to the country" and that "His Majesty neglects court duties every day just to please his beauty."
It's alright, I'm still just a little girl who looks seven or eight years old...
Xi Xizhi sighed.
He thought to himself that the spittle of the officials shouldn't drown him for the time being.
She was forcibly brainwashing herself into believing that An Honghan must want to go for a run, which was why he chose an excuse to stay here with her.
However, Xi Xizhi understood An Honghan's true intentions.
Only this man would be so tolerant and caring towards her.
"Why aren't you running yet? Do you think I haven't wasted enough of my time? Do you want your officials to wait for several more hours?"
Although An Honghan's tone wasn't exactly gentle, Xi Xizhi couldn't help but smile upon hearing it.
She guessed that An Honghan had probably been scheming and plotting with others in the deep palace, so much so that he had become accustomed to hiding his emotions behind a mask, making him unfathomable and impossible to guess.
"I'm going for a run right now." As if filled with energy, Xi Xizhi took a few quick steps, trying to keep pace with An Honghan.
Of course, this 'consistency' was only achieved because An Honghan slowed down.
If An Honghan really wanted to run fast, even if Xi Xizhi's short legs were shaking and smoking, she wouldn't be able to catch up.
After running a lap around the Panlong Hall, Xi Xizhi's face was flushed, and sweat had soaked the hair on her forehead.
The moment they stopped, Xi Xizhi fell directly into An Honghan's arms, her calves so sore she couldn't stand up.
An Honghan frowned, seemingly heartbroken.
But this expression only lasted for a second before An Honghan quickly covered it up, and no one saw it from beginning to end.
Xi Xizhi was so tired that she didn't even have the strength to lift her hand. She leaned her whole body against An Honghan's chest and was too lazy to move.
"If you're tired, just lie down." An Honghan picked up Xi Xizhi and carried her towards the inner hall of Panlong Palace.
At this moment, Lynn also finished informing the ministers and rushed back from outside. Seeing this scene, he quickly told the palace maids and eunuchs to be quick and not to anger His Majesty. At the same time, he urged the palace maids and eunuchs to prepare the dragon robe and serve His Majesty to change his clothes.
Xi Xizhi was exhausted and sleepy. She lay in An Honghan's arms for a short while before falling into a deep sleep and dreaming of playing chess with the Duke of Zhou.
Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, An Honghan's heart found a sanctuary.
Upon entering the Panlong Hall, An Honghan instructed Lin En to lift the quilt and carefully place Xi Xizhi on the bed.
Lowering his voice, he said to Lynn, "Have all the palace maids and eunuchs leave the inner palace so as not to disturb her sleep."
He gently covered her with a quilt, and An Honghan's voice seemed less cold than usual.
"Keep a close watch on it." These were the words An Honghan said to Lin En as he turned around.
The child's sleeping face, steady breathing, and pink cheeks made him look extremely cute.
Perhaps because running is extremely physically demanding, Xi Xizhi slept particularly soundly this time, unlike last night when she was filled with anxiety and couldn't sleep all night.
Sure enough, it's impossible to sleep well when you have something on your mind.
An Honghan stood quietly to the side and watched for a long time, showing no intention of leaving.
It's said that the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuchs are.
In some respects, this statement makes a lot of sense.
An Honghan wasn't in a hurry because no one dared to urge him.
However, Lin En, as the Grand Steward, was different. His status was not as supreme as An Honghan's. He had to be mindful of others' feelings in the court. Not long after, several ministers sent eunuchs to deliver messages.
Lynn paced anxiously, caught in a dilemma.
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