With so many elements in one sentence, Wen Hemian didn't know which one to criticize first.
Xie Lang's residence was right next to hers. Regardless of why he had lived there for three years, how could the emperor's palace have been left unattended for three years?
Lai Xi wouldn't do something so stupid if he didn't want to lose his head.
Wen Hemian narrowed his eyes, noticing the key point: "According to Your Majesty, where did you stay last night?"
Xie Lang glanced at him, his meaning unspoken.
Wen Hemian: "..."
She shouldn't have asked.
That little brat is ruthless and cruel. She slept soundly all night, and when she woke up, there was no one beside her, so she didn't care what happened to her while she was asleep.
His arrival here at this moment clearly indicates ill intent.
Without realizing it, he fell right into the trap he was setting.
Xie Lang gave her ample time to think, and after a moment, he smiled and tilted his head: "If Han Shuang doesn't speak, I'll take that as a yes?"
"Stop!"
"What do you mean by 'default'?" Wen Hemian was getting impatient. She tossed him a pillow and pointed to the small couch by the window: "You can stay, but either Your Majesty can sleep there, or I'll leave!"
Both she and Xie Lang were people who planned ahead, taking one step at a time. Moreover, Xie Lang was the type who wouldn't give up until he achieved his goal, so they couldn't be driven away. It was better to simply find another way.
The small couch by the window is where she usually sits when she's bored and reading, and occasionally she'll curl up for a nap. It's just right, but for someone as big as Xie Lang, it's a bit cramped. If he doesn't want to make things difficult for himself, he shouldn't put it there in the way.
But Wen Heming underestimated Xie Lang's shamelessness. After catching the pillow thrown at him, he curled his lips into a half-smile, his voice cheerful: "Of course, we can't wrong the Grand Tutor, but I'm a little worried..."
Wen Hemian's heart skipped a beat. She had a feeling that the unfinished sentence was not a good thing. Just as she was about to warn him again, she saw Xie Lang produce another set of chains from somewhere.
The color is different from last time; it's silver.
...No, let's do it again?
Wen Hemian's eyes trembled as she stared incredulously at the handsome and imposing emperor before her. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Are you a pervert?"
She didn't even realize she was locked up last night, and she figured it was just to give Xie Lang a sense of security, so she didn't say anything about it.
But preparing two different chains, isn't that a bit of a problem on Xie Lang's part?
Xie Lang smiled nonchalantly: "If Han Shuang thinks so, then so be it."
After saying that, he casually put down the pillow, ignoring Wen Hemian's shocked and dazed state, took two steps forward, and quickly fastened one end of the chain to her hand, while fastening the other end to his own.
Having calmly completed all of this, Xie Lang acted as if nothing had happened. He walked to the side, thoughtfully lit a lamp, and said with concern, "It's late, Grand Tutor, you should rest early."
Suddenly everything went black. Wen Hemian blinked, not having had time to adjust to the darkness. In an instant, all she could see was a figure. A long chain dragged on the ground, making a crisp, delicate sound as he walked toward the small couch. It was particularly noticeable in the quiet night and hard to ignore.
Whether it was a misperception or not, Wen Hemian felt that the figure exuded loneliness and desolation.
Thinking of this, she sighed, too lazy to argue any further, and simply turned over, covered herself with the blanket, and went to sleep.
The small couch by the window was indeed a bit cramped. Xie Lang curled up, glanced at the moonlight streaming in through the window, and remained motionless for a long time.
The truth was certainly not as he described, and Wen Hemian must have guessed it, but even so, she still indulged his somewhat unsavory desires.
Despite his fierce appearance, Xie Lang only longed for the taste of kisses.
He really has gone mad; he's been mad since the day Wen Hemian left.
He only kept quiet because he was afraid of scaring her away again.
Xie Lang carefully turned over. He could hear soft breathing from the other side of the bed. He grasped the chain that was also fastened to his hand, and suddenly felt much more at ease. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
As long as Wen Hemian is by his side, he won't do anything more outrageous.
...
I slept soundly through the night.
After three years apart, Wen Hemian's vigilance had dropped terribly. When he woke up the next day, the palace was still empty. The chains had been taken down and placed peacefully on the bedside table.
She breathed a sigh of relief, washed up and ate breakfast as usual, while Lai Xi stood silently beside her.
Seeing his worried expression, Wen Hemian couldn't help but worry herself and asked while drinking tea, "Is there something troubling His Majesty?"
Upon hearing her ask, Lai Xi seemed to have opened a floodgate of words and couldn't wait to say, "Lord Wen, as you know, His Majesty hasn't attended court for several months, and all the ministers are anxious. Today, he finally did attend court, but it upset His Majesty. His Majesty is already... sigh, Lord Wen, why don't you go and take a look?"
Lai Xi stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence, as if there was something she couldn't say. She could only stare at Wen Hemian, looking like she had something to say but couldn't.
Wen Hemian skimmed the foam from the teacup: "What's wrong and you're in a bad mood?"
Lai Xi served the emperor and was cautious by nature. Wen Hemian continued to press for answers to what Lai Xi could say.
Lai Xi answered quickly: "It's about the harem."
This is a well-worn topic.
Over the past three years, some veteran officials have been unwilling to give up and have tried to send their daughters or relatives into the palace. Xie Lang has refused to budge on any of them and has truly managed to keep the harem empty. Now that things have come to this, everyone has basically given up hope.
But now, an exception has been made.
The fact that Xie Lang left the palace and brought Wen Hemian back is currently unknown to outsiders, but the fact that there is one more person in the palace is not so easy to hide... or to put it another way, His Majesty the Emperor never intended to hide it from the beginning.
Compared to the late emperor, although the current emperor is much more ruthless, he is clear-headed and decisive in important matters. If nothing unexpected happens, he will surely lead the Great Zhao Dynasty to a new peak.
After the Imperial Tutor left, His Majesty the Emperor was depressed and listless for a period of time, but this also indirectly made him shed his original childishness and become more majestic and awe-inspiring, with the glory of the Son of Heaven shining upon the four seas.
With the court in order, the ministers naturally hoped that the emperor would soon open a harem and have children to carry on the imperial line.
There's no question about observing three years of mourning for the Imperial Tutor. However, now that the three-year period has passed, His Majesty has taken the initiative to bring people into the palace. Doesn't this mean they have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation? Naturally, a quarrel broke out.
Wen Hemian finally understood the key point. Unable to describe her current feelings, she put down her teacup and agreed, "I'll go see His Majesty."
Lai Xixi beamed, as if she had been waiting for this very question: "This servant will lead the way for Lord Wen?"
Wen Hemian waved his hand: "No need, I still know the way."
Xie Lang didn't forbid her, so Wen Hemian could go wherever she wanted without anyone stopping her. She casually put on a veil and headed to the Imperial Study.
There was no one guarding the entrance.
As soon as she stepped inside, she smelled a strange, familiar fragrance.
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