Jiang Cenyun tilted his head and uttered a single word: "Meow?"
Li Xiwei walked back to her original position leisurely. The other good girls gathered in front of the coffee table to admire the patterns on the teacups. Some of them were itching to try it themselves and picked up tools. Xue Fengyu simply explained to them step by step how to do it.
The only two people who didn't go to listen were the highly skilled Li Xiwei and the uninterested Zhuo Huanqing. Jiang Cenyun approached Li Xiwei but didn't stop. He turned and stopped in front of Zhuo Huanqing's desk.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Zhuo Huanqing. May I ask who the young lady is?"
"Director of the Shangyi Bureau, a subordinate of Xue Fengyu."
Xue Fengyu, who was paying close attention to the noise here, almost fell off the mat.
Jiang Cenyun lied without batting an eyelid, and Zhuo Huanqing took it seriously, waving at her. "Let me ask you something."
She leaned forward to listen. "What's that?"
"Have you ever seen Master Yao while walking around the palace?"
Jiang Cenyun glanced at the door, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I've seen it."
"Is she, is she living well in the palace? I haven't seen her go home recently."
"She's been so busy lately that she's often still attending to official business when the palace gates are locked. But how do you know she hasn't returned home?"
"She and I are neighbors."
"No wonder you know so much about each other." Jiang Cenyun said softly.
"Hmm? She mentioned me to you? Aren't you from the Shangyi Bureau? Why is she so social?"
"Teacher Yao is respectful to the wise and humble, and she cares deeply for even the insignificant people like us."
"Why do I feel like we are not talking about the same person..." Zhuo Huanqing muttered.
"Ahem."
Yao Yi's sudden appearance startled both of them. Zhuo Huanqing was surprised and was about to speak when Yao Yi pointed at Xue Fengyu. "Don't just stand there. Go learn from Fengyu."
"Whatever you say is true. Are you so eager for me to enter the palace and marry His Majesty?" Zhuo Huanqing said with a smile, "Or do you also want me to make tea for you?"
"Don't talk nonsense." Yao Yi said with a straight face. "Go quickly."
"Alright, alright." Zhuo Huanqing slowly stood up and walked over to push through the crowd. "Leave some space for me."
Li Xi leaned sideways, leaning on his elbow as he looked over. Yao Yi bowed and said to Jiang Cenyun, "Have you seen enough, Your Majesty? Please return with me."
"Let's go. It's boring. They didn't even look at me. They were looking at the tea that Lao Li ordered."
In the afternoon, Jiang Cenyun was reading in the imperial study until his eyes were dizzy. He stretched and planned to move to the bedroom. As soon as he went out, he bumped into Li Xiwei who was dressed in official uniform.
She took two steps back and looked at him curiously. "Oh, Prime Minister Li has changed back into his official robes? Does this mean he has come to his senses and returned to the right path?"
"I have not withdrawn from the draft."
"Will you continue to help me with my fortune-telling? Okay, I appreciate your kindness, my dear. The tribute of navel oranges from Jinan will arrive in a few days, and I'll give you a basket."
"To see you?" Li Xi shook his head slightly. "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood me. I sincerely wish to enter the palace. I am wearing my official robes today simply so that I can see Your Majesty more conveniently."
Jiang Cenyun couldn't help but poke his forehead with a finger after hearing what he said. "Have I been too harsh on you in the past? You're giving up your position as Left Prime Minister to become a Concubine? Are you thinking of retiring at such a young age?"
"If Your Majesty feels sorry for me..." Li Xiwei held her hand. "Why not grant me the position of empress?"
Jiang Cenyun narrowed his eyes. "When did the Ruzhou Li family develop such ambitions?"
"It's not Li's ambition." He pulled her hand down and tapped his heart. "It's my ambition."
"Hasn't what I've given you enough, Zhaiyue?" Jiang Cenyun pulled her hand away, avoiding his gaze and pacing. "Back in the Qiandi Residence, I asked you what your ambitions were. Yao Yi said she wanted to be a teacher for all people, and next year I'll transfer her to the Imperial College as Chief Academician. You said you wanted to be second only to the emperor, and I, against all odds, appointed you Left Prime Minister. Even now, the memorials impeaching you pile up like a mountain. I've been under so much pressure, and now you say your ambitions extend beyond that?"
"My ambition has never changed. Your Majesty has misunderstood me." Li Xiwei said in a steady tone.
"What do you mean?"
"The Queen is second only to the Emperor and above all others."
"Ha, the Queen is the head of the harem and the father of the world. She is not second only to me, but someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with me."
"I'm afraid that if I say that, Your Majesty will misunderstand me as wanting to usurp the throne."
"Why would a man like you want to usurp the throne?" Jiang Cenyun sneered. After a moment of silence, he continued, "I know there are many people who like me, but I thought you would be a special one."
"I do like Your Majesty very much."
"That's not what I meant!" Jiang Cenyun said angrily, like a cat with its fur standing on end. "What I meant was that I thought you wouldn't like me. I've always treated you as a sister!"
"Yes, Your Majesty has slept in my house before, the only difference is that we shared the same bed."
Li Xiwei looked at the girl's lively expression and recalled a rainy day years ago. He had just left the palace and boarded his carriage when he saw her huddled in a corner like a cat. She gestured for silence. He looked into her round eyes, then glanced at the driver, who seemed to be unaware of the situation, and told him to drive as usual.
She bit her lip and smiled, and as the carriage moved away from the palace, she gradually became bolder. She first took up most of the space without any hesitation, and still felt it was not enough, so she simply stretched her legs on his knees.
He pinched her calf, trying to warn her with his eyes, but she remained undeterred. She leaned close to his arm and whispered, "I had a quarrel with the Queen Mother over the Huzhou flood during the day, and then I lectured Cui Dongjun this afternoon. The Queen Mother is staying at his place tonight, and he's sure to persuade her to punish me. You know I'm afraid of the dark. If the Queen Mother orders the lights in the East Palace to be turned off, I'm afraid I'll be terrified all night."
He retreated, trying to avoid her, and said, "Your Highness means..."
"Let me take refuge at your house tonight. Your scent is soothing, and I'm sure it's the same at home. I'm sure I'll have a good night's sleep."
As she spoke, she lifted his sleeve and sniffed it. He moved away uncomfortably and asked, "Why don't you go to Master Yao's residence?"
"She will definitely take me back intact and order the palace maids to keep a close eye on me. I won't fall into their trap. Besides, there are so many people in her house, and you're the only one here, so it's quiet."
The most noble cat in the world had become attached to him, so he had no choice but to take her back to his house, ordering his servants to stay away and wait on her himself. That night, she slept on his couch and had a good night's sleep. But he stared at her sleeping face for a long time, unable to fall asleep.
Perhaps the delusion was planted at that moment.
Since she has never been on guard against him and trusts him so much, does it mean that he is the most important one to her?
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