After everything was settled, everyone in the bedchamber withdrew.
On the dragon bed, Emperor Jingcheng looked at the drowsy little girl with doting eyes. Her bright, lively eyes were filled with a misty haze, and her little hands clung tightly to his chest as she nestled obediently in his arms, panting, "You're a bad person, you're a bad person~"
Di Jingcheng gently stroked her smooth back: "Okay, okay, I'm a bad guy, don't be angry, Azi, okay?"
At this point, Azi had no energy left to refute, and she did not respond further.
The man embraced her with a blissful expression, and after the heat between them subsided, he said, "Baby, let's take a shower."
Having said that, he got up, picked the person up, and lifted the curtain on the dragon bed, revealing the ambiguous atmosphere inside. He walked behind the screen; fortunately, the room had underfloor heating, so it wasn't cold.
Immersed in the warm water, Azi became much more awake. The man was helping her wash her body, and she lazily sat in his lap.
The two were enjoying a cozy bath together when suddenly they heard voices outside.
Ah Zi was now fully awake and looked at the man in confusion: "What's wrong?"
"It's alright, we'll ignore them." Di Jingcheng continued to leisurely bathe with the beauty, occasionally taking liberties with her, which made her playfully complain.
Outside, Zheng He was surprised that Emperor Jingyuan had come in person, but it was clearly not the right time to come inside.
"Your Highness, the Emperor is taking a bath. You will have to wait." Zheng He stepped forward and blocked the main entrance of the bedchamber.
Di Jingyuan tried to knock on the door around him, but when he went left, Zheng He'er also went left; when he went right, Zheng He'er also went right.
Di Jingyuan glared at him, only to be met with his ingratiating smile, and instantly felt helpless.
Qinghe watched the interaction between the two and chuckled softly.
When Emperor Jingyuan saw that Zheng He and the other two wouldn't budge, he had no choice but to stick his head out and call out, "Brother Emperor, Brother Emperor, your subject is back! Brother Emperor!"
Zheng He was terrified. He instantly forgot the difference in their status and jumped up to cover the prince's mouth: "Ah! Your Highness, please keep your voice down! This servant only has one head! Please have pity on this servant!"
Di Jingyuan removed his hand and teased, "Why is Eunuch Zheng getting more and more timid as he gets older?"
Zheng He'er then realized how offensive he had just been and quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness: "Oh, Your Highness, this servant has just been disrespectful. Please forgive this petty person." As he spoke, he symbolically slapped his own palm.
Di Jingyuan waved his hand dismissively: "It's alright, get up first. You were only doing things for my brother, how could I punish you?"
"This servant thanks Your Highness!" Zheng He'er immediately thanked the prince and stood up, a sly smile on his face.
Just as Zheng He'er stood up and regained his footing, Di Jingyuan suddenly pulled him a little further away and leaned in to ask mysteriously, "Eunuch Zheng, I heard that my brother brought back a young sister-in-law. Is that true?"
Eunuch Zheng chuckled awkwardly and stammered, "Your Highness, you've traveled a long way, have you had dinner yet? This servant will go and prepare some for you!" He tried to slip away, but Di Jingyuan grabbed him and pulled him back.
“Eunuch Zheng, this is so disloyal of you. Don’t you remember when the little princess teased you before, it was I who helped her? I heard she’s going back to the capital in a few days, and then—” Di Jingyuan deliberately dragged out the last syllable, looking regretful, and turned to leave.
When Zheng He and his comrades heard the news that the little princess was coming back, they felt the hairs on their bodies stand on end. That little devil had played many tricks on them, and they couldn't fight back. It was Prince Yuan who helped them many times.
So Zheng He quickly put on a fawning smile: "Oh, Your Highness, it's not that it can't be said, it's just..."
Knowing his concerns, Di Jingyuan patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, Eunuch Zheng, I will definitely protect your head. I will also help persuade the little princess. So please speak freely!"
Qinghe stood there watching the two whispering to each other, finding it quite amusing. She hadn't expected that the seemingly gentle and refined Prince Yuan, as rumored in the folklore, was not only brave and skilled in battle, but also so gossipy.
Di Jingyuan heard what he wanted to hear. Don't get too excited, though the shock in his heart never stopped. Even his brother, who was so indifferent to women and as detached as water, had a day when his image collapsed.
Inside the room, the two emerged from the hot water. Di Jingcheng carefully dressed her in warm clothes, and then put on a dragon robe of the same style as hers.
“This dress is so beautiful, our clothes are so similar. Yours is a dragon, mine is…” Azi didn’t know what the embroidery pattern on her dress was called for a moment.
As Di Jingcheng dried her hair, he explained, "Mine is a dragon, and your baby is a phoenix. Dragon and phoenix are one."
Azi nodded: "I like it very much."
"Let's have dinner now. Azi must be exhausted today." The man put down the handkerchief in his hand and quickly combed her hair. The two of them then let their long hair hang loose.
The man called out to the outside, "Bring in the meal."
Qinghe outside immediately replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Qinghe first methodically delivered the prepared dinner, and then had time to call the two gossiping people over there: "Your Highness, Eunuch Zheng, His Majesty is about to have dinner."
Emperor Jingyuan was not annoyed when he was interrupted halfway through the conversation. When he heard that his elder brother had finally decided to come out, he immediately became serious: "It's already dark, and my brother has not yet had his dinner. How are you doing your job?"
As he spoke, he walked towards the entrance of the sleeping quarters, where heavy snow was still falling.
Zheng He'er blocked his way again: "Your Highness, Your Highness, please wait, allow this servant to go in and announce your arrival."
Di Jingyuan looked inside: "Alright, hurry up. Remember to mention what happened in the front yard, lest everyone really freeze to death."
"This servant understands."
Zheng He'er, now completely different from his earlier frivolous self, straightened his clothes before entering. Two people were having a meal inside, and he respectfully stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty, Prince Yuan has arrived outside. The concubines in the front courtyard..."
He dared not raise his head, anxiously awaiting the emperor's command.
Di Jingcheng did not speak; it was the girl in her arms who spoke: "Let them go back, and release the concubine who trespassed as well."
Di Jingcheng was not surprised by what A Zi said. Although she was a bit spoiled, she was still very kind.
"Do as Your Majesty says, but don't let anyone lose their life. Demote Mu to a commoner and confine her to the cold palace, forbidding anyone to take care of her," Di Jingcheng said calmly.
"Your servant obeys the decree." Zheng He'er stood up, bowed his head, and withdrew. Although it was snowing heavily outside, his palms were sweating profusely.
When Di Jingyuan saw the person come out, he raised an eyebrow: "How was it?"
Zheng He shook his head: "Your Highness, you should go back and rest. The Emperor will not see you today. As for the concubines in the harem, they are no longer a problem."
Di Jingyuan pursed his lips: "That's very good. Eunuch Zheng, go ahead and do your work. Don't worry about me."
"Then this servant will take his leave."
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