How can one resist the temptation of remaining chaste?
Shi Yan's attention was focused on "His Majesty is going to the newlyweds' place tonight."
She murmured to herself, "So, does that mean I'll have to serve you tonight?"
Shi Yan was stunned. Her expression changed repeatedly. Li Yanzhang noticed and asked, "What's wrong? Are you shocked? Yes, what that Granny Jing did was indeed shocking."
After listening, Ji Xi looked at Shi Yan and wondered whether he should continue talking. Shi Yan heard Li Yanzhang talking to her and said, "I'm fine, you guys continue."
Ji Xi and Li Yanzhang exchanged glances, and Ji Xi said, "We didn't actually know any of this before, but Granny Jing went to the Emperor and Empress's wedding again, which completely angered His Majesty. His Majesty then told us about it. We went to visit the Empress and then returned to the Imperial Training Ground. On the way, we heard Granny Jing calling for everyone to testify for her outside Yonghe Palace, so we came in."
After hearing this, Shi Yan asked, "So what are you going to do with her?"
Li Yanzhang said nonchalantly, "What else can we do but bring it before His Majesty?"
He thought for a moment and then said, "Hmm... it should be execution! If it were me, I would hang her."
Ji Xi nodded in agreement, saying, "Indeed, if it were me, I would have torn her to pieces long ago."
After hearing this, Furong muttered softly, "That's a bit harsh!"
Zizheng, who was standing next to her, heard this and muttered under his breath, "So ruthless!"
Upon hearing Zizheng's voice, Furong screamed "Ah!" Everyone looked over and saw Furong fall to the ground, startling Zizheng as well.
Li Yanzhang asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Upon seeing that it was Zizheng, Furong quickly stood up and shouted at him, "Are you trying to kill me?! You scared me to death! And when did you get standing next to me?! Just talk to me, why did you scare me like that?! Were you doing this on purpose?"
Zizheng said a little angrily, "I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't mean to scare you. I've been by your side ever since the young master and the others started talking. You just didn't realize it."
Furong retorted confidently, "Then why didn't you say anything?"
Upon hearing this, Zizheng stammered, "I...I was just afraid you'd be frightened."
Everyone was stunned by what they saw, and Furong immediately retorted, "You've already scared me!"
After Furong finished speaking, she turned around and said, "Looks like he's a bookworm, really stupid."
The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone to hear. Zizheng heard Furong not only say that she was a bookworm, but also that she was stupid.
Zizheng immediately retorted angrily: "Hey! You shrew! What's wrong with being a bookworm? I've read a lot of books, I... I'm not like you who only knows how to be unreasonable!"
Everyone sighed inwardly upon hearing this, and Li Yanzhang covered his face and said, "It's over, his facial injury hasn't healed yet, it will probably take ten days to half a month to recover."
Ji Xi said with deep sympathy, "Sigh! Yanzhang, let's buy more ointment to have on hand later!"
Shi Yan quickly said, "Furong, aren't you hungry? Let's go eat!"
Furong ignored her and angrily retorted to Zizheng, "Huh? You bookworm! I told you you're a bookworm! Bookworm! How dare you call me a shrew! I'll teach you a lesson today!"
Having said that, he started hitting Zizheng. Zizheng was also furious and dared to fight back. The two of them hit each other like this, and all that could be heard was them shouting "Bookworm!" "Shrew!" Ji Xi and the other two were helpless.
Ji Xi looked at Li Yanzhang and said, "Those two have only just met today and they've already fought twice. Are they just incompatible? Maybe we should avoid letting them meet in the future!"
Li Yanzhang nodded and said, "That's the only way, otherwise I won't be able to explain it to my father when I go back."
That's true. If Li Fengtan saw Zizheng being beaten like this every day, he would definitely suspect that Li Yanzhang had gone into the fight, and that Zizheng, because he was one of Li Yanzhang's men, was beaten up by them as well.
Ji Xi pointed to the palace servants beside him and said to Shi Yan, "Your Highness Consort Duan, these people were originally assigned to you by His Majesty. Because they did not know the truth, they mistakenly thought that Granny Jing was really Empress Dowager Shi's person."
Ji Xi bowed and said, "I hope you can understand!"
Upon seeing this, the palace servants hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, admitting their mistake: "Your Highness, we were truly unaware of the situation. We beg Your Highness to forgive our rudeness just now."
Shi Yan looked at them and said, "Get up, all of you! I will not punish you."
Then she said to Ji Xi, "Young Master Ji, please rise as well."
Ji Xi said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Shi Yan asked Ji Xi curiously, "Young Master Ji, could you tell me why you pleaded for them?"
Ji Xi pursed his lips and said, "Your Majesty, I only feel that they were forced to enter the palace as servants. If they have not committed any serious offenses, then let them be spared corporal punishment!"
After hearing this, Shi Yan looked at Ji Xi in silence.
After a while, Shi Yan said to the palace servants, "Although I will not punish you, I will not use you either. I will go and tell the Empress to send a different group of people to Yonghe Palace. You may leave now!"
After hearing this, everyone quickly thanked him and left Yonghe Palace. Ji Xi just listened quietly without saying a word.
Li Yanzhang asked in confusion, "Your Highness, why don't you use them?"
After glancing at Ji Xi, Shi Yan replied, "They have already made a mistake. Since I have been officially appointed and granted the residence of Yonghe Palace, I am now the master of Yonghe Palace. Before the master has even arrived, they have already listened to a few words from others and tried to deal with me, their master. It is already a favor that I do not punish them. Do you expect me to pretend that they did nothing and continue to use them?"
Although these words were spoken in response to Li Yanzhang, they were also meant for Ji Xi. There's no such thing as a free lunch; if you do something wrong, you won't pay the price. Besides, this is the imperial palace, and no one will consider whether palace servants were forced into becoming slaves or maids.
Ji Xi understood her meaning, bowed and said, "Your Majesty... I understand. I will take my leave now."
After saying that, she grabbed the unconscious Granny Jing with one hand and pulled Li Yanzhang away with the other. Li Yanzhang could only call out to Shi Yan, "Your Highness, I have to go too."
Then he looked at Zizheng and said, "Zizheng! If you're not leaving, I'll be going now!"
Zi Zheng hurriedly ran towards Li Yanzhang, calling out as he ran, "Young...Master! Wait...for me!"
Shi Yan watched their retreating figures in silence. Fu Rong clapped her hands and said, "Hmph! Let's see if you dare call me a shrew again!"
Furong didn't hear Shi Yan's voice, so she looked at Shi Yan and asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Shi Yan replied, "It's nothing."
Shi Yan then looked at Fu Rong and said with a smile, "Let's go, it's time to eat, we're all starving."
Furong was delighted and said, "Great!"
After finishing their meal, the two went to Fengyi Palace and recounted their previous experiences. Li Xingyi then reassigned some palace servants to Shi Yan.
Night fell quickly after she returned, and Shi Yan was at a loss for what to do, feeling distressed.
Furong could only stare at Shiyan without daring to breathe. Then, as if she had made up her mind, Shiyan said to Furong in a low voice, "Furong, help me take a bath."
Furong's eyes were filled with heartache as she spoke, "Your Majesty..."
Shi Yan could only offer a wry smile as she comforted Furong: "Furong, I'm fine. Quick, get ready... to take a bath, otherwise... we won't have enough time."
Looking at Shi Yan's eyes in the mirror, where tears were swirling but couldn't fall, Fu Rong felt a pang of heartache and could only force back her own tears, saying, "Okay."
Meanwhile, Li Xingyi was taking a bath.
Now that Granny Jing has met with this misfortune, her daughter will surely seek revenge. It's just unknown whether His Majesty is prepared for it.
After a long while, Li Xingyi finished his bath and looked at the empty room, feeling a strange emptiness in his heart.
"..."
Li Xingyi said to Qingyi, "Qingyi, Shi Yan should be serving His Majesty tonight. His Majesty must already have a beauty in his arms."
Li Xingyi didn't care whose palace Qi Dou would go to. After all, he was only going to the palace for the sake of his plan. He couldn't possibly compete for the emperor's favor, since he was different from other women. As for serving the emperor, it was just to avoid being exposed.
Qingyi said, "I'm afraid so."
Li Xingyi lowered her eyes slightly and said calmly, "Yes, I need to rest. You may leave."
Qingyi curtsied and said, "Yes."
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