Chapter 35 Really Angry
Jiang Yingli felt embarrassed and lowered her head guiltily.
Whenever she saw others telling lies, she would look around guiltily. She thought, isn't this clearly a lie?
Therefore, she felt that when she lied, she should look directly into the other person's eyes, preferably with their eyes wide and round, in order to show that she had no guilt at all.
But it seems to have backfired...
However, the more crucial question is, when Your Majesty said this, did you really know that Zheng Baolin committed suicide today?
"Jiang Yingli." Xiao Chenglan called out coldly.
Jiang Yingli's nerves tensed up when she was called by her full name.
Now it was confirmed that His Majesty knew about it and was very dissatisfied with her for harboring a criminal.
Every time His Majesty called her full name expressionlessly, she couldn't help but feel scared.
This means His Majesty is really angry.
"You gave me a chance to speak, but you didn't. What's the point of hanging your head?"
Jiang Yingli slowly loosened her grip on Xiao Chenglan's hand, stood there with her head down, tightly gripping her sleeves, and stammered:
"I am silent because... I have already done something wrong and dare not argue. I will wait for your Majesty's decision..."
Jiang Yingli secretly raised her eyes and glanced at Xiao Chenglan.
His face was tense, and his eyes stared indifferently ahead.
"Do you realize your mistake?"
"I know I was wrong, Your Majesty, please don't be angry. No one else knows about this..."
"You say that, do you want me to protect you?"
"No! I just thought that Zheng Baolin is still alive, and no one else knows about this. I dare not ask for pardon, but only ask Your Majesty to be lenient..." Jiang Yingli's voice became smaller and smaller as she spoke.
Xiao Chenglan stared at her and said, "You said no one else knew, then how did I know?"
Jiang Yingli gasped and quickly argued, "Your Majesty is different from others. Your Majesty is the most powerful. He has eyes and hands that can see through everything. Nothing can be hidden from Your Majesty."
Xiao Chenglan turned his gaze towards the guilty Jiang Yingli and sneered, "Since you know, why do you still want to hide it from me?"
"This... Concubine..." Jiang Yingli finally got stuck, "Concubine..."
Looking at Jiang Yingli, who was frowning and racking her brains for words, Xiao Chenglan's eyes were filled with emotions, and he suddenly took a step forward.
Jiang Yingli was originally standing very close to him, face to face, with only half a step between them. With this step, Xiao Chenglan gave up that last bit of distance.
Xiao Chenglan was tall, and the moment he got close to her, he pressed down like a mountain. Jiang Yingli stepped back helplessly with her face raised.
However, before she could take a step back, Xiao Chenglan grabbed her waist tightly with irresistible force.
Since entering the palace, she had never seen Xiao Chenglan's expression so cold towards her. Jiang Yingli's eyes immediately filled with tears, and she tried her best to hold them back by biting her lips.
"His Majesty…"
Tears flickered in Jiang Yingli's eyes, she looked so pitiful. She had clearly done something wrong, but it seemed as if he was bullying her.
Xiao Chenglan simply turned his eyes away and didn't look at her.
"Don't cry, I have something to tell you. If you're just crying and can't hear what I'm saying, I..."
Xiao Chenglan paused.
However, even though Xiao Chenglan didn't say anything else, Jiang Yingli still imagined a bunch of punishments in her mind.
For example, I will no longer pay attention to you, I will punish you by making you face the wall and reflect on your mistakes...
Jiang Yingli was so scared that she shook her head repeatedly and said in a trembling voice, "Don't cry, I will listen to your majesty's words."
Xiao Chenglan lowered his eyes and looked at Jiang Yingli solemnly: "There are no impenetrable walls in this palace. You must consider the consequences of your actions. If what happened today is discovered, it will be Zheng Baolin's suicide, and you knew it but didn't report it."
"If someone reports you, I'll bring you up here and punish you according to palace rules. With so many eyes watching, what do you want me to do? I'll have to do it according to the law."
According to the palace rules, concubines who failed to commit suicide would be sentenced to death. Those who knew about it but did not report it would also be considered disrespectful to the emperor and would be imprisoned in a windowless room, forcing them to reflect on their mistakes day and night for a year.
Jiang Yingli shuddered, but then she keenly noticed something.
"Your Majesty, do you mean that if no one reports it, then Your Majesty can let it go?"
"It's hard for you to avoid being reported if you continue like this." Xiao Chenglan said coldly.
"You didn't call the imperial physician, probably because you were afraid he would leak this information. But if you did, there's no way Zheng Baolin's injuries would heal in just a few days. In a few days, when you go to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager, how will you explain the bruises on your neck?"
Jiang Yingli paused. She hadn't thought about this yet. She was just anxious to bring the person back and settle him down today, and hadn't figured out a complete plan to deal with the situation yet.
How do you hide bruises? Apply more powder? It just draws attention.
Wearing a high-necked dress? But this season, the palace is in fashion with off-shoulder styles, and wrapping your neck tightly will also attract more attention.
Asking for leave? I'm afraid asking for leave even though I'm paying my respects once every ten days...
Seeing Jiang Yingli lost in thought, Xiao Chenglan interrupted her thoughts.
He gently stroked Jiang Yingli's face, and spoke in a slow tone that seemed to be tempting:
"Just tell me that everything has been solved. I will have the imperial physician treat Zheng Baolin, and he won't dare reveal a single word."
"But you didn't. You hid it from me for her. Who knows, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, this matter might be exposed. Those who want to harm you will rush to accuse you. Then, you and Zheng Baolin will both end up in a miserable situation."
Jiang Yingli subconsciously clutched Xiao Chenglan's collar.
Xiao Chenglan looked at her frightened expression and gently tucked her hair behind her ears.
"Jiang Yingli, you underestimate the wickedness of human nature. In this palace, I am the only one who will not harm you."
Jiang Yingli raised her eyes to look at Xiao Chenglan. Because she was crying, she could not see the possessiveness in Xiao Chenglan's deep black eyes. She just felt that His Majesty seemed to be no longer angry, but became very gentle, and helped her clean up the mess.
She finally felt relieved and hugged Xiao Chenglan, choking with sobs, "Your Majesty is the only one who won't harm me. Your Majesty is so kind to me."
"Yes." Xiao Chenglan continued, "Although Zheng Baolin is pitiful, she also has hateful aspects. She is not a purely good person. I will agree to move her to a palace to recuperate, but please choose a place far away from Zhaohua Palace. You should not interact with her frequently."
His Majesty was no longer angry and did not punish them. He had arranged everything for her. Jiang Yingli no longer had to worry and just nodded blindly.
"Okay, I will obey your majesty!"
Xiao Chenglan stared at her with his deep eyes. Beneath his seemingly calm gaze was a possessive desire boiling with satisfaction.
He smiled, lowered his head and bit the corner of Jiang Yingli's lips. "Now, do you still want to cry?"
Knowing that His Majesty was not here to reprimand her but to help her, how could Jiang Yingli still cry?
She happily put her arms around Xiao Chenglan's waist, rubbing her cheek against his chest, and said softly, "Don't cry, don't cry, I'm not sad at all."
Xiao Chenglan put his arms around her waist and shoulders and rubbed her into his arms.
"So good."
Xiao Chenglan patted her back gently and praised her in a gentle tone:
"Today, apart from hiding this from me, you did everything else very well. You first noticed Zheng Baolin's intentions, and then rescued her in time. You are perceptive, smart, and kind."
Jiang Yingli suddenly felt a great sense of accomplishment. She was so happy that she couldn't hide the smile on her face and her eyes were shining.
She couldn't help but come out of Xiao Chenglan's arms, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him on tiptoe.
Xiao Chenglan curled his lips slightly and let her kiss him without responding, but slowly opened his lips.
Jiang Yingli was originally just pressing her lips against Xiao Chenglan's, but after those lips opened, she habitually moved deeper to get closer to the softer ones.
Xiao Chenglan half-closed his eyes and looked at her with deep and dark eyes.
Look at her kissing him obsessively with her eyes closed.
He retreated seductively, feeling her chasing him, the sound of her breath hiding his uncontrollable hum of satisfaction.
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