Chapter 169: Unsightly
After explaining the rules of the Ye Ting to Jiang Lan, the two men asked about her identity and what she did before. Jiang Lan said that she was just an errand boy. The two men then thought that she was a maid in some palace and was sent here because she offended her master.
Jiang Lan asked the two what they did before. They were assigned here as soon as they entered the palace. It was purely bad luck. Eunuch Cao thought their original names were not nice, so he changed their names. One was called Jinxiu and the other was called Linglong.
She was about to ask what the two of them did for work when suddenly a voice from an opera came over. The shrill voice sounded like a ghost crying, which was creepy. The two of them were frightened and hurried over to turn off the oil lamp, asking Jiang Lan to go to bed quickly.
Jiang Lan was sleeping on a bunk against the wall, feeling a little uneasy. The opera singing at night sounded like ghosts crying, and who wouldn't be terrified? She thought the singing sounded like Eunuch Cao, so she quietly asked Jinxiu next to her if it was Eunuch Cao singing. Jinxiu hushed her and told her to stop talking.
Singing opera late at night, this eunuch Cao’s hobby is really unusual...
The next day, Jiang Lan was woken up by the two men before dawn. In fact, she didn't sleep much and only took a nap in the second half of the night.
The two asked her to wash up quickly, as they had to clean the house and wait for Eunuch Cao to come and check.
"Was it Eunuch Cao who sang last night?" Jiang Lan asked while combing her hair.
The two men quickly hushed her and whispered to her that Eunuch Cao would walk around the garden every night. As long as she heard the sound of opera singing, she would know that someone was coming. If Eunuch Cao saw that the lights were still on in the house, she would be punished.
When Eunuch Cao came over, the three of them were standing at the door waiting. Eunuch Cao first went into the room and took a look. The three of them had made their beds neatly, swept the floor clean, and wiped the table and benches spotlessly clean.
Eunuch Cao went over and wiped the table, finding no dust on his fingers. He nodded with satisfaction and began to arrange today's tasks.
Linglong went to deliver meals and Jinxiu washed clothes.
When Jiang Lan was assigned to this place, Eunuch Cao thought for a moment and gave her a new name, "From now on, your name will be Mingyue."
"Yes." Jiang Lan nodded. It would be better not to use her real name.
Eunuch Cao assigned her the job of sweeping the floor.
"This floor must be swept clean, without even a leaf on it. If anyone doesn't do their job right, no one will eat today."
After Eunuch Cao left, the three of them went about their own business.
When Jiang Lan came to the front yard with a broom to sweep the floor, she saw Linglong hurriedly running out of the small yard, looking panic-stricken and her face turned pale with fear.
When she ran over, Jiang Lan asked her what happened. Linglong gasped, "His Highness... has gone crazy again..." She took a breath, then patted her chest and said, "I was scared to death. His Highness went crazy again, smashing things and cursing. The wine bottle almost hit me on the head. Jinxiu was fine when she went to deliver food yesterday, but today it's my turn and he's gone crazy. I'm so unlucky."
After pouring out her troubles to Jiang Lan, she left first.
When Jiang Lan looked outside the small courtyard, she turned her head and glanced inside before looking away.
At this time, someone came out of the house.
Jiang Lan turned her back.
The man staggered towards the door, holding a bottle of wine in his hand. He had an unshaven beard and was laughing as he walked, just like a drunk on the street.
When he was about to reach the door, the two guards at the door raised their hands to stop him and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered."
"I know, I won't make things difficult for you." He handed the bottle of wine to one of the guards. When his drunken eyes fell on Jiang Lan's back, he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Why haven't I seen you before? Are you new here?"
Jiang Lan swept the floor with her back to him and didn't answer.
"I'm asking you a question, are you deaf?" His expression suddenly became violent and his voice became rough.
Jiang Lan took a deep breath silently. She knew that she could not escape the consequences. Maybe tomorrow would be her turn to deliver food. If she offended him now, the wine bottle might really hit her head tomorrow. After all, this man's mind was not much bigger than a sesame seed.
"Greetings, Your Highness." She turned around and bowed.
Prince Rui was stunned for a moment, his eyes fixed on her face, as if trying to confirm whether it was her. The next moment, he smiled and said sarcastically in a very harsh tone, "I am not mistaken, the wife of the dignified Marquis of Jin'an has actually fallen to the level of a lowly maid sweeping the floor. It really is true that fortunes change."
"Your Highness, do you have anything else to say?" Jiang Lan asked calmly, silently admonishing herself to stay calm and not argue with a drunkard.
Prince Rui raised the corners of his lips in mockery and sneered, "What else can you pretend to be in front of me? Where's that mad dog of yours? Why didn't he come to save you?" He raised his hand and made a gesture of wiping his neck, his tone full of malicious amusement, "Could it be that he has been killed by my father?"
This is intolerable. Does she really think she won't slap him to death?
Jiang Lan clenched her fists, raised her gaze to meet his sinister and mocking eyes, and sneered, "Your Highness, I am truly disappointed. The Marquis is still alive and well."
"Then why didn't he come to save you?" Prince Rui said, "I know. He has a new love, and you are his abandoned wife."
"I think Your Highness has drunk so much that he's lost his mind. Which of your eyes looks at me like a piece of chaff? On the contrary," Jiang Lan said as she looked him up and down, "it's really an eyesore."
Hearing the last four words, the corners of King Rui's mouth twitched, and he said with a sinister smile, "Say it again?"
"Your Highness, even your ears are not working well?" Jiang Lan asked.
King Rui was so angry that the alcohol started to rise and his face flushed red. "Get over here!"
Jiang Lan took a few steps back and sighed, "My current situation isn't much better than your Highness's. Why bother to embarrass me?" Prince Rui smiled and said, "You've given in now. When you said I was an eyesore, why weren't you afraid I might embarrass you? Well, I'm a magnanimous person and won't argue with a fool like you."
Jiang Lan silently clenched her fists and endured it.
"However," King Rui changed the subject, "you have to tell me why you are here."
Jiang Lan replied, "This is my business. Your Highness doesn't need to know."
There was a sinister look in King Rui's eyes, and he smiled and said, "It seems that I won't be too bored here." After that, he turned and left.
Jiang Lan had a bad feeling and thought that His Majesty might as well lock her up in the Sky Prison...
The next day, she was still assigned by Eunuch Cao to sweep the floor.
When she swept to the gate of the courtyard, she met King Rui again as expected.
Maybe he was still upset about what she said last time: "It's an eyesore", but he shaved off all the stubble on his face. However, what he said was still unpleasant as before. She would tolerate it if she could, but if she couldn't, she would just say a few words to him.
But when King Rui asked about the situation outside, she knew nothing.
That morning, Eunuch Cao came to arrange errands as usual.
This time it was Jiang Lan's turn to deliver the meal.
When Jiang Lan came to the courtyard with the food box, one of the guards guarding the door asked her to open the food box and check it before letting her in.
The door was closed and the person inside seemed to be still asleep.
Jiang Lan gently pushed open the door, not wanting to wake him up, so that she could leave quietly without having to deal with him.
When she pushed open the door, she first observed the situation in the room. The light in the room was a little dim, with only a small window. The furnishings inside were clearly visible: a dining table, a writing desk, and a wooden bed for sleeping.
Prince Rui was lying on his side with his back to Jiang Lan, looking like he was still sleeping.
She walked over quietly and placed the lunch box gently on the table. Just as she was about to turn back, she was startled by the sudden sound of voices.
"Why is it you?"
When Jiang Lan looked at the wooden bed next to her, King Rui had already turned over and was facing her, with his head supported by one hand and only wearing a single layer of clothes.
Jiang Lan turned sideways and said, "Breakfast is on the table, Your Highness, enjoy your meal."
After she finished speaking, she was about to leave when King Rui called her back.
"Wait, didn't that old turtle teach you the rules? You have to serve me and finish my meal before you can leave."
“.…..”
Just lie to her...
"If you don't believe me, I'll have that old tortoise called here, and you can ask him in person to see if I've lied to you."
“…”
I need someone to wait on me even for a meal, why are there so many things to do...
Jiang Lan took a deep breath silently, opened the lunch box, and placed the breakfast inside on the table.
"Come here and help me change my clothes."
“.…..”
How dare you to be so arrogant...
Jiang Lan stood still, pretending not to hear anything.
Prince Rui walked over wearing only a single layer of clothing, and Jiang Lan took two steps back cautiously.
"This king has no interest in a stupid woman like you."
“…”
Thank you so much...
Jiang Lan took a deep breath silently.
"That old tortoise howls every night, disturbing my sleep." Prince Rui sat down on a stool beside the table and said, "They bring me this bland soup every day. Do they treat me like a beggar?"
"I eat worse than Your Highness. Your Highness, please don't complain. It's enough as long as you can fill your stomach." Jiang Lan said.
Prince Rui turned his head and glanced at her, saying, "It's been a long time since anyone has dined with me. Please sit down and eat with us."
Jiang Lan glanced at him strangely. She was used to his sarcastic voice, but when he suddenly became friendly, she felt like a weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken.
"No,"
"Don't let me say it a second time."
It would be a waste if you don’t eat it.
After Jiang Lan sat down opposite him, she didn't bother to be polite and reached out to take a steamed bun.
"How is father's health?" Prince Rui asked casually.
Jiang Lan simply replied with three words: "I don't know."
"According to the date, the Crown Princess will give birth soon. I wonder if it will be a nephew or a niece." Prince Rui said casually again.
Jiang Lan retorted, "What's it to you if someone gives birth to a child?"
"Yeah, what's the point of me knowing what's happening outside while I'm locked up here? I don't even know when I can leave this damn place?" King Rui said.
Jiang Lan asked tentatively, "Your Highness, do you want to go out?"
"Don't you want to be ordered around by that old turtle for the rest of your life?" King Rui sneered.
Jiang Lan said: "I think I should live longer than him."
"I have a way to help you get out. It depends on whether you dare to try it."
Jiang Lan raised her eyes and glanced across at the other side. Seeing that Prince Rui was looking at her with a wolf-like and tiger-like gaze, she decisively refused, "Don't bother Your Highness. I feel very good here. I have food and shelter, and I don't have to worry about anything."
"One day, you will ask me for help." King Rui looked determined.
Jiang Lan also said with certainty: "That day will never come."
King Rui snorted and laughed, "What a stupid woman."
Jiang Lan had the urge to slap him in the face.
…
In the evening, Linglong and Jinxiu invited Jiang Lan to eat melon seeds together again and asked about her relationship with King Rui.
"Are you here because of the Third Prince?"
“…”
"The Third Prince was very kind to you in the past. You must know what he did to be imprisoned. Tell us."
“…”
Jiang Lan explained that there was nothing between them, but Linglong and Jinxiu obviously didn't believe it. After repeated questioning, they couldn't get anything out of it. Then, the ghostly singing voice of Eunuch Cao was heard, and the room immediately became quiet.
The next day, Jiang Lan felt that the two men's attitude towards her had become much colder. Only after she apologized to them did their attitude towards her soften a little.
A few days later, Jiang Lan learned some good news when she went to get breakfast.
The Crown Princess gave birth to a little grandson through natural delivery.
Although she did not tell Prince Rui the news, he still guessed it from the wedding egg taken out of the food box.
"Your Highness is truly blessed." He picked up the egg and took a look at it, then tossed it to Jiang Lan. "You eat it. I don't like eggs."
Jiang Lan felt that he was just saying the grapes were sour because he couldn't eat them...
In the evening, when Jiang Lan came to deliver food, she smelled alcohol as soon as she entered the house.
She hesitated whether to go in, what if the other party got drunk and crazy...
"What are you still doing outside? I'm hungry."
King Rui's angry voice came from inside.
She thought it would be better not to go in, so she put the lunch box inside the door. As soon as she stood up, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled it roughly inside, almost dislocating her.
Prince Rui grabbed her arm and walked inside, his expression gloomy, as if he was holding back a lot of anger.
Jiang Lan touched the whistle with her other hand, and remembered what Ye Rushui had told her before: once an ice bee stung a person, it would take about forty days to reawaken, otherwise the person would die immediately.
She had awakened him once before when dealing with Wei Ping, and it has not been a month yet.
Fortunately, she still had some drugs on her, so she took out a packet of drugs and held it in her hand.
When she was roughly thrown onto the bed by him, she seized the opportunity and immediately sprinkled the drug on him when he leaned over.
Prince Rui felt dizzy and fell asleep within a few seconds.
Jiang Lan pushed him away and he rolled to the ground.
Then she punched and kicked him again, and drew a big turtle on his face with a pen.
......
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