Chapter 16 They all want you dead, I just crave you…
Upon hearing from the guards that Su Panyue's attitude towards one of the guards was unusual, Xie Lanzhou remained calm on the surface, but his fists under his sleeves clenched so tightly they turned white.
His tone remained calm: "Explain yourself."
Seventeen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this man is named Jianren. He has been working in the Sima Jian for three years. I have found out that he seems to have some grudge against Miss Su and often slanders and insults her among the palace servants."
Finally, Xie Lanzhou heard someone say something bad about Su Panyue, and he actually felt a sense of relief. He asked, "What did they say?"
Seventeen hesitated for a moment: "He said that Miss Su is barbaric and vulgar, big-breasted but brainless, and no man would dare to marry her. He also said some more vulgar things that I'm afraid would offend Your Majesty's ears."
Xie Lanzhou lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought, a faint smile playing on his lips, and then asked, "What did he mean by cursing?"
Seventeen lowered his head: "I don't know, I'll go and investigate."
Xie Lanzhou waved his hand: "No need, just kill them."
Seventeen agreed, but couldn't help asking again, "Your Majesty, should we only kill Jianren or all the other guards?"
Xie Lanzhou stroked his chin, seemingly hesitating, before saying after a moment, "Kill only one."
"Yes." Seventeen accepted the order and withdrew.
Xie Lanzhou looked out the window and a sinister smile crept across his face.
This woman is beautiful, popular, and has so many male confidants. How dare she provoke me? Has she thought about the consequences?
*
When Su Panyue, who had been placed in the inner hall, woke up again, it was already the next day at 9:00 AM. She turned over and felt a sore back and aching muscles, as if she had been pricked by needles.
She was startled, suddenly remembering the stories she had read before, where men and women would experience this kind of backache and soreness after doing "that."
She lifted the covers and looked down, only to find that she was wearing men's nightgown that clearly didn't fit her well. The belt was tied haphazardly and hung loosely on her body. She stared in surprise.
[No way? He really went berserk last night?! I don't remember anything about it!]
Su Panyue couldn't quite describe how she felt. She buried her head in the blanket and tried to recall for a long time.
All I remember is that after Xie Lanzhou carried me back, I went to the hot spring to soak in the water. I don't remember anything after that.
She vaguely heard his voice outside the door, and immediately thought of getting up to ask Xie Lanzhou, but as soon as she moved, a sharp pain shot through her ankle.
She then remembered that she had twisted her ankle yesterday. She lifted the blanket and saw that her ankle was wrapped in gauze, which must have been treated with medicine. There were also a few red spots on her calf.
I touched it lightly a couple of times, and it still hurt a little.
She was furious. She never expected that Xie Lanzhou was not only a capricious tyrant, but also a pervert. He wanted to sleep with her but didn't just say so. Knocking her unconscious wasn't enough; he even tried to prick her with needles.
However, he did keep his promise; she had survived for seven days, so a royal physician must have come to detoxify her.
Finding that her ankle was still too painful to put weight on, Su Panyue lay back down, tucked herself in, and changed to a more comfortable position.
Even though she was filled with mixed feelings of joy and anger, she had to admit that the bed in the Star-Picking Pavilion was even more comfortable than the dragon bed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Xie Lanzhou had been thoughtful in choosing this place for her first time.
As she thought about it, she blushed and started to let her mind wander again.
I've heard that a woman's first time is very painful, but I didn't feel anything. Could it be that he's impotent?
When Xie Lanzhou stepped in, he heard her innermost thoughts. He raised an eyebrow and walked closer.
Seeing Xie Lanzhou enter, Su Panyue became bolder. She remained lying still and even pulled the corner of the blanket up, revealing only her shy, pink face.
Then, feigning shyness, she said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, but it is really inconvenient for this servant to rise and bow."
Men are very concerned about their image, so even if I have to pretend, I'll act like I was exhausted last night. Considering he saved me, I'll let him satisfy his pride.
Understanding what she was thinking, Xie Lanzhou's face darkened. Looking at her obedient appearance, he didn't know how to explain that he really hadn't touched her.
In the end, he could only sigh in exasperation, completely baffled by what this woman was thinking. He decided to simply pretend he hadn't heard her thoughts.
Seeing that he did not reply, Su Panyue continued, "Thank you for saving me yesterday, Your Majesty. If Your Majesty had not arrived in time, I would have died long ago and would not have had the chance to serve Your Majesty again."
Xie Lanzhou glanced at her lying there perfectly still, her little mouth chattering incessantly, and really couldn't understand how she had the audacity to utter the word "serve".
Seeing that he didn't speak but just looked at her with a mocking smile, Su Panyue felt a little uneasy, wondering what he was thinking, and muttered to herself:
Why aren't you saying anything? Are you waiting for me to bring up yesterday?
After hesitating for a moment, Su Panyue said, "I don't know why, but I don't remember anything about last night."
She really wanted to ask Xie Lanzhou what had happened, but no matter how much she thought about it, it was still too difficult for her to ask such a question.
Seeing her nervous and conflicted expression, Xie Lanzhou didn't want to tell her the truth, and only gave an ambiguous answer: "You fainted last night."
Su Panyue's face looked like it was on fire, and she continued to shrink into the quilt, only revealing her pair of bright, watery eyes.
What does he mean by this? Did he knock me out? Help! I can't be that bad!
Xie Lanzhou couldn't help but smile. Looking at her fluffy hair, he couldn't resist reaching out and ruffling it, making her still messy hair even messier after waking up.
Not knowing what he meant, Su Panyue shrank back, her mind a complete mess.
Xie Lanzhou was in a very good mood and stopped teasing her. He got up and sat down at the table, asking, "Tell me, what happened yesterday that made things like that?"
When he asked about serious matters, Su Panyue put aside all her messy thoughts and, like a flood that had been released, began to accuse the Empress Dowager and her son of their actions, adding fuel to the fire.
She omitted the purpose of her sneaking away to find the Empress Dowager, only saying that she happened to see the Empress Dowager and Prince Rui talking furtively when she passed by the Imperial Garden, and then lightly glossed over her act of eavesdropping.
When she mentioned that Prince Rui had driven her to jump into the lake and that he had grabbed her ankle, causing her to sprain her foot, she conveniently wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes, her brows and eyes lowered as if she were deeply saddened.
If Xie Lanzhou hadn't been able to hear her inner thoughts, he would have been fooled by her seemingly weak and vulnerable appearance.
[This Prince Rui is wasting his long legs; he can't even outrun a weak woman like me.]
If he hadn't grabbed my ankle and twisted it, I wouldn't be in such a sorry state, having even lost a shoe!
[However, I should also thank him; without him, I wouldn't have had the chance to feast my eyes on such a handsome man as His Majesty. It's a pity I don't remember him.]
Why isn't the emperor in bed some more? I wonder what he's like now!
Xie Lanzhou's face darkened as he interrupted her reverie, asking in a deep voice, "The shoe you lost, did it end up in Prince Rui's hands?"
Seeing his sudden change in expression, Su Panyue was taken aback, not quite understanding why he was focusing on this, and couldn't help but remind him, "Your Majesty, Prince Rui said he wanted to murder the envoy."
Xie Lanzhou simply repeated, "Answer my question."
Su Panyue gave a soft "oh" and honestly replied, "Yes, he grabbed my foot when I jumped into the lake, which is why I twisted my ankle and lost my shoe."
Xie Lanzhou recalled the swollen ankle; when he held those jade-like feet in his hands, they were smaller than his palm.
A strange restlessness arose in his heart, making him want to cause trouble for Prince Rui.
Su Panyue was intimidated by his aura and asked weakly, "Your Majesty, everything I have said is true. His Highness Prince Rui and the Empress Dowager are indeed plotting something bad and are even sending someone to seduce Your Majesty."
Xie Lanzhou looked over with an unfriendly expression, his eyes seemingly able to see through everything, making people feel inexplicably guilty.
Facing his gaze, Su Panyue stammered, "Your Majesty should make plans as soon as possible."
Don't look at me like that. They all want you dead. I'm just lusting after your body!
Hearing her thoughts, Xie Lanzhou's eyes softened, and he said calmly, "I know. You have contributed to this matter. Now, tell me, what reward do you want?"
Su Panyue was surprised to receive a reward and immediately asked, "Your Majesty, has my poison been cured?"
Xie Lanzhou raised his eyes to look at her hopeful gaze and replied, "Not yet, you still need to take medicine every day."
Su Panyue gave a disappointed "oh," and couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, is there no cure for this poison? How much time do I have left?"
Xie Lanzhou patiently replied, "No, the imperial physician is preparing the antidote, but it will take some time."
Su Panyue nodded: "This servant has no reward she desires. It is already an honor for this servant to serve His Majesty."
Having died once, she saw things with exceptional clarity: "I'm content as long as I can live well and sleep with handsome men; everything else is meaningless."
Hearing her thoughts, Xie Lanzhou looked over inquisitively. He had thought that this girl would take the opportunity to make some unreasonable demands on him, but he did not expect that all she wanted was to live and be with him.
With a slight smile, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, nodded gently, and said "okay."
The hall fell silent. Su Panyue secretly glanced at him, wanting to ask about what happened last night, but Xie Lanzhou's expression was grave, as if he was deep in thought, which made her hesitant to speak.
She could only laugh at herself inwardly: "So what if I slept with her? I'm just a lowly palace maid, someone who can be summoned and dismissed at will."
Hearing her thoughts, Xie Lanzhou, who was pondering how to deal with the Empress Dowager and her son, came back to his senses. He inexplicably recalled the beautiful scenery he had seen by the hot spring last night, and his throat tightened. He didn't want to explain too much.
He simply stood up and said, "Don't move around, I will send someone over."
Before Su Panyue could reply, he hurriedly left Zhaixing Pavilion.
He didn't hear Su Panyue's inner thoughts the next moment:
Is this house arrest? This is kind of exciting.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Su Panyue: I'd like to ask, have we... you know...?
Xie Lanzhou: Guess
Su Panyue: I don't feel anything, it must be because you're not good enough!
Xie Lanzhou: ? I'll let you see if I'm up to the task.
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