Chapter 28: Teaching by Words and Deeds
Jiang Yingli was stunned for a moment, her eyes gradually turned red. She slowly moved her face over and lay on Xiao Chenglan's knees, her voice muffled.
"Your Majesty supports me, but am I really that stupid? I can't even file a complaint, and I need Song Zhaoyi to do it for me."
Xiao Chenglan placed his large palm on the back of her neck, stroking it gently. "It's not that you don't know how to do it, it's that you feel sorry for me and don't want me to delay government affairs over these trivial matters."
"How could Song Zhaoyi think so much? She only cares about her own happiness and doesn't feel sorry for me."
Jiang Yingli opened her eyes wide on his knees, her eyes filled with water, her expression sad and happy: "So, Your Majesty knows everything. I am really worried that Your Majesty's body can't take it..."
Xiao Chenglan sighed softly, "I've already said, there's nothing I don't know about you. But you should also know that if you're punished and hurt yourself, I'll have even less energy to deal with government affairs."
Jiang Yingli stood up from his knees and suddenly hugged Xiao Chenglan's waist.
"His Majesty..."
Xiao Chenglan caught her with his arms, stretched out his hand towards Jiang Yingli's face, lifted it up with his tiger's mouth, and forced her to look at her.
His dark eyes were as deep as a dark lake under the night fog. He stared at her quietly and deeply, and spoke softly:
"Why do you only say the word 'Your Majesty' every time you hug me? Where are the rest of the words? Say it out loud."
Jiang Yingli was forced to look up at him, feeling a little shy, her eyes flickering, but Xiao Chenglan's eyes were encouraging, so she had no choice but to bite her lips and whispered:
"Your Majesty is the best...I love Your Majesty the most..."
Xiao Chenglan's eyes darkened, and an obscure and paranoid smile appeared at the corners of his eyes.
"good."
He hugged Jiang Yingli, letting her bury her blushing face in his clothes, and gently patted her back.
"There's one more thing. Listen carefully. The Queen Mother originally wanted to punish you today, but Concubine Song made you and Concubine Liang kneel together. Do you know why?"
Jiang Yingli thought for a moment and said, "Is she trying to make things worse?"
"Exactly. Punishing concubines is the Queen Mother's right, and there's nothing wrong with that. But punishing three at once is unjustifiable unless she has a valid reason. She's being unreasonable today, and if that's the case, I have every reason to stop her."
Jiang Yingli felt her thoughts suddenly open up, "Empress Zhaoyi is so smart!"
"You are also very smart, but your intelligence lies elsewhere." Xiao Chenglan said.
Jiang Yingli devoted all her thoughts to his and her flowers and plants.
Jiang Yingli smiled and said, "I have learned the method of the Concubine Zhaoyi!"
"I'm telling you, it's good to learn it, but you don't have to act this way. No matter who's right in your matter, I'll stand by you."
Jiang Yingli's heart was beating wildly because of these words.
She rubbed her head against Xiao Chenglan twice, causing his clothes to become loose.
His Majesty still treats her as well as before.
But...if Your Majesty dotes on her like this, will he be labeled a tyrant?
In her heart, His Majesty is to be a wise ruler whose reputation will be passed down through the ages.
She must be well and not cause trouble for His Majesty.
Xiao Chenglan looked at Jiang Yingli's happy little face, which was then covered with a layer of mist-like sadness, and guessed what she was thinking.
She watched today as Concubine Song ruthlessly attacked Concubine Liang and even dared to confront the Empress Dowager in court. She must have been very envious.
In this palace, Song Zhaoyi is so ostentatious that even if she attracts hatred, who wouldn't envy her?
A family of wealth and luxury, the Song family has endured countless reigns, yet they remain unshaken. Every child of the Song family is a cherished child, meticulously nurtured by the family.
He was also envious.
When he looked at Song Wanyan, he actually felt jealous, based on himself and Jiang Yingli.
He thought that if Jiang Yingli was also a member of the Song family, she would not have suffered so much when she was young.
She will also be raised to have this flamboyant and bright personality.
There's no need to be overly cautious or feel uneasy.
Xiao Chenglan hugged Jiang Yingli, his thoughts gradually becoming deeper.
He had said so many words to her today, trying to persuade her in a patient and persuasive way, but words were just words after all. If he wanted her to truly learn Song Wanyan's style of fighting back when she was wronged, he still had to give her some power behind her.
All hesitation comes from lack of confidence.
But, the Jiang family...
Thinking of this, disgust flashed in Xiao Chenglan's eyes.
Fortunately, Jiang Yingli's younger brother was not raised in a wrong way. If he was a capable person and knew how to repay his sister, he would have paved the way for him.
"Your Majesty, are you hungry?" Jiang Ying's pear-colored voice brought Xiao Chenglan back to his deep thoughts.
Xiao Chenglan shook his head slightly, "I'm not hungry yet. If you are hungry, then serve the meal."
Jiang Yingli rubbed her stomach sheepishly and said, "I ate too much in the evening, and I'm not hungry now."
Xiao Chenglan pulled a meaningful smile at the corner of his lips, "In that case, let's take a bath first."
Jiang Yingli read something else in his eyes and quickly stood up.
"Your Majesty, you didn't rest all night last night, and you only took a short nap at noon today. It's better not to do that. Have a good rest tonight."
Xiao Chenglan held her legs and waist while sitting, and lifted her up, causing Jiang Yingli to scream in surprise as she flew into the air.
"His Majesty!"
"I know my body well. Besides, your period will come in two days."
Even though they had done something very intimate, Jiang Yingli couldn't listen to these words without changing her expression and covered her face in shame.
With Qiuxia, who is always careful and meticulous, around, she doesn't need to remember her daily life specially. She didn't even think about this. His Majesty knows it better than her.
The water in the bathtub sways.
When Xiao Chenglan pulled the limp Jiang Yingli out of the water, she had already exhausted too much energy and her stomach was growling.
"Serve the food." Xiao Chenglan's smile turned sinister again, "You're such a glutton."
Jiang Yingli's face flushed and she glared at him.
"Your Majesty, why are you like this? You are obviously also very greedy..."
Xiao Chenglan loved Jiang Yingli's coquettish look so much that the evil smile on his face turned into a flamboyant smile, and he strode out of the bathtub with Jiang Yingli in his arms.
**
Su Xiuyi of Qixiang Palace heard that His Majesty had gone to Zhaohua Palace again, so she called Zheng Lan'er to her side at night to vent her anger.
"His Majesty is in Zhaohua Palace tonight. Why didn't you go to see Concubine Jia this afternoon? If you had gone, try to stay until the evening. Perhaps it would have been accomplished by now!"
Zheng Baolin lowered her head. "Empress Xiuyi, please calm down. This friendship is not something that can be achieved in a day. I have no reason to stay until the night. Besides, my knees are not working properly today, so Concubine Jia will inevitably notice something."
Upon hearing this, Su Xiuyi's anger escalated.
"For every word I say, you have ten waiting for me. Well, how dare you disobey me like this! Lan Xiang!"
A palace maid named Lan Xiang came forward with a ruler.
Su Xiuyi glanced at her and said, "Since you said the knees could reveal something, I'll be kind enough to hit you on the back. Take it!"
Lan Xiang hit Zheng Baolin on the back with a ruler, and Zheng Baolin felt a sense of security in his heart.
When she heard that Concubine Jia would be serving the emperor tonight, she became uneasy. She knew that Su Xiuyi would definitely take it out on her.
At this moment, the pain finally came to her, and she no longer had to worry.
After beating him thirty times, Su Xiuyi let Zheng Baolin go back, but detained Qian'er.
In the middle of the night, Zheng Baolin woke up from her bed and desperately called Qian'er's name. When no one answered, she finally remembered Su Xiuyi's threat.
"If you don't go to Concubine Jia and give the hairpin to her tomorrow, you will never see her again."
Zheng Baolin burst into tears and held his head in his hands.
The next morning, Zheng Baolin got up and put on some radiant makeup to cover up his haggard face caused by fear.
Then, she took the hairpin Su Xiuyi gave her and went to Zhaohua Palace...
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